Genius tip! Finally found one of these back in stock and you saved me from a mod purchase.

Thank you! Still have my XD laid out in the garage waiting to be assembled, can’t wait to get it going.

@highergrillingbbq

3 жыл бұрын

You're welcome! What?! I hope it hasn't been there long?!?! Got to get it together and get it seasoned up and cooking. Really a great offset smoker. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.

I used to have a Char-griller Duo with the side fire box and I used to do that with the basket in that thing too. I was still always chasing temps with that thing but when I finally would get it stable, it was pretty even across the grates. Looks like the XD works even better using that trick! Seriously thinking about getting one of those Grand Champ XD’s after watching your videos!

@highergrillingbbq

3 жыл бұрын

Awesome! Thanks for that ~ I'm glad I'm doing the XD justice. It really is an awesome offset and pretty much covers everything you could want in an expensive offset but at an affordable price. I HIGHLY recommend this unit. The ash pan baffle works like a charm and I have consistent temps at every cook. Let me know if you have any questions. I'd be glad to help.

Awesome tip! Luv that sweater too

@highergrillingbbq

Жыл бұрын

🙌🏻 Thank You

Dude thanks a lot for the tip! I was looking for baffle plates to buy and man I came across your channel and you save me on some $$$. So thanks again bud

@highergrillingbbq

3 жыл бұрын

That's awesome to hear! I appreciate the support. Thanks! 👍🏻

Thanks for this. I tried it with my chargriller grill and it fits the same as you described. I've been wanting to get the side fire box and now I will. I already have 2 smokers. Thanks!

@highergrillingbbq

3 жыл бұрын

You're very welcome! I'm glad it works for you. The side fire box is essential for smoking. I never burn in the main chamber. You won't regret it for sure.

Just got my XD today. Got it all seasoned up, will be giving this a shot!

@highergrillingbbq

3 жыл бұрын

Awesome! I'm sure you'll love the grill. Please let me know how it worked for you.

i just bought this offset smoker and deff will be trying this baffle idea you have mastered, u just saved me $$$ 😍😍

@highergrillingbbq

3 жыл бұрын

Awesome! I hope it works as well for you as it has been for everyone else!! Appreciate it. 👊🏻 Money saved is always a good thing! 👍🏻

Great idea!!! I had done this with my superpro NEVER thought to try on the XD Thank you

@highergrillingbbq

3 жыл бұрын

You're welcome! I wasn't ever really satisfied with the ash pan as a baffle plate in the other offsets but the railing system and heavier metal really makes this work well in the XD. If I can save people some money somewhere then it was worth it.

Great idea man - looks like they included all the tools for creativity and even cooking! :)

@highergrillingbbq

3 жыл бұрын

Thank you sir! Yes, this XD has everything you need to have an awesome offset cooker. Plus, you can adjust the ash pan for hotter/cooler cooks.

I'm sooo glad I watched this video. I've owned this grand champ xd for about a year now and noticed the big difference in the temperatures on the fire box side vs the stack side. I am always saying that I'm going to build some sort of baffel for it. But now I don't have to!

@highergrillingbbq

2 жыл бұрын

Heck yeah! Glad to hear it!! Thank you.

Good tip and interesting idea. Thanks!

@highergrillingbbq

2 жыл бұрын

You're welcome! Thanks!

Did exactly as described last night and was getting a 50 degree difference from firebox side to smoke stack side. Seems to work great but just didn't get the temps at grate level closer to each other as shown. Food still came out great.

Got mine a few days ago, building it one night this week. Been looking for a baffle plate and couldn't find one for sale (as you know). I'm def going to try this 👍

@highergrillingbbq

3 жыл бұрын

Awesome! You'll love it...it's a great offset. Let me know how it works out for you.

Dude - YOu made the difference between hating this smoker and now super loving it. You are AWESOME. THANK YOU!

@highergrillingbbq

3 жыл бұрын

Wow...that's awesome...I appreciate that! Hope you get many satisfied years out of this unit. 🙌🏻

Great idea! I was going to throw out that Ash pan and try and make some plates but I'll try this instead, think I'll get a hole saw and drill some holes in it so smoke flows through it

@highergrillingbbq

2 жыл бұрын

Heck yeah ~ definitely don't throw it away!! Lol ..I hope it works out for ya.

Brilliant.

@highergrillingbbq

3 жыл бұрын

🙌🏻 Thank You!

Hey man this worked like a charm! Thank you. -Smokey_js_cue 👍🏽

@highergrillingbbq

3 жыл бұрын

Glad to hear brotha! 👍🏻 Look forward to more cooks.

I noticed the same thing. I'm thinking of drilling holes in it the length of the plate base to get even distribution throughout the cooking chamber.

@highergrillingbbq

3 жыл бұрын

No drilling needed! With just flipping the ash pan you get even temps distributed throughout the chamber (give or take 10°). The entire chamber still fills with smoke, so you get that flavor.

@johnmcgowan2585

3 жыл бұрын

@@highergrillingbbq Thanks, I'll give it a try for my next cook

@highergrillingbbq

3 жыл бұрын

You're welcome! Let me know how it works out for you.

Love these videos great idea!! Now to put it together! 😳😳😳

@highergrillingbbq

3 жыл бұрын

Thanks! Not sure by what you by "putting it together"? 🤷🏼‍♂️

@mikedidyouseethat2340

3 жыл бұрын

@@highergrillingbbq well putting the smoker together. First bolt half way in busted off so. 🤨

@highergrillingbbq

3 жыл бұрын

Oh wow...that's no bueno. I'd call Customer Service and let them know. Sorry your build was a bust. 😒

So glad I caught your vid too..just got my g champ xd last week..gonna flip that over and try it tomorrow..so you just discarded the baffle plate that comes w it right?

@highergrillingbbq

Жыл бұрын

I did keep it but didn't really use it. You never know. 🤷🏻‍♂️😂

Will this work at lower temps? You show 350, how about 225-250? I'm eyeing this smoker to add to my tool kit. I just picked up the masterbuilt gravity 560 instead of this 1. I might get this 1 also.

@highergrillingbbq

3 жыл бұрын

ABSOLUTELY! I want sure how it was going to work and built a hot fire and let it run; when I checked on it that's where it was at. Since then I've easily kept it in the 225-250° mark. This is a great smoker and you won't regret having this guy in your back yard.

Just bought the Grand Champion - what thermometers did you buy for the two additional ports? Did you have to drill out new holes? Link?

@highergrillingbbq

2 жыл бұрын

You don't have to drill out holes. It already has pre drilled holes. I ordered a set off Amazon. Gala Fire I believe.

I bought one of these... haven't done the first burn in or seasoning. Mine came with a small plate thing ... but I'm not sure how it's suppose to run. If I place it and it rest on the charcoal grate thing... it's open a lot... if it rest on the inboard side of the handle that you lift the charcoal grate thing out. If it rest on the two holder clips right by the firebox it hangs nearly straight down almost covering the firebox hole. only about a inch opening around the edges for the heat to come in. I'm just wondering if you know exactly how it is suppose to be.

@highergrillingbbq

5 ай бұрын

The baffle plate goes over the entry from the firebox. I think I set mine at an inch or 3/4 inch or something like that. Youve got this! 💪🏻

Do you still like your Grand Champ? I really want to buy an Old Country Brazos, but I’d have to drive down south to get one or pay $$$ to have it shipped to Michigan. I know having 1/4” steel would be better, but it just doesn’t seem like it’s going to happen.

@highergrillingbbq

Жыл бұрын

Honestly I sold that unit. I loved it but I ultimately switched over to Pit Barrel and sold off everything else. 😂 It's a solid unit for the price range. 💯

This looks very neat. I'm curious how this affects the draft/draw, and airflow over the food. Offsets, from what I understand, are special because you're cooking the meat with smokey convection. With this plate in the bottom, doesn't it divert most of the air under the food and directly out to the exhaust? (I know a bit of it escapes over the food, and that the chamber fills with smoke regardless. My concern is moving air in the upper/middle of the chamber being reduced. )

@highergrillingbbq

3 жыл бұрын

With the design of this unit and the 1" gap from the firebox, the entire chamber fills with smoke before exiting the stack. If you look at the beginning of the Smoked Veggie Platter video you can see how much it fills up. It works really well ~ I hope you invest in this smoker; I think you'll love it A LOT!

What kind of Temp gages you have at grate level

Grand idea

@highergrillingbbq

Жыл бұрын

Thank you ~ appreciate it.

Great tip! So no need for the the heat deflector?

@highergrillingbbq

3 жыл бұрын

Thank you. No, just simply flip the ash pan and slide it as close or far away as you want. I found the optimal setting to be around 1" from the firebox. That gave me the 5° difference.

Hey, that looks like a great solution! One question, since the ash pan doesn't have holes in it, how is the smoke distribution on the food? Does the smoke get enough contact time with the food to give it full smokey flavor? Have you thought about drilling some small holes along the ash pan bottom to allow smoke to flow through the baffle to the food as it passes underneath? Just a thought.

@highergrillingbbq

3 жыл бұрын

Thanks! 🙌🏻 The chamber fills full of smoke during a cook (and has enough of a flavor to my liking). I haven't tried drilling holes in the pan....not sure if that would affect the heat distribution? 🤔 Thanks for the idea.

Hell yeah.

@highergrillingbbq

2 жыл бұрын

👊🏻🔥

What temp gauges did you get to fit the two corners? Can’t find one that fits

@highergrillingbbq

3 жыл бұрын

Amazon ~ GALAFIRE 3 3/16 Inch BBQ... www.amazon.com/dp/B07VG6M228?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

I did a full baffle plate from Lava loc.... Trust me don't waste your time with that one. This method works better. I took it a step further and got 2 stainless, heliarc welded spackle pans from HD to use as water pans. They fit under the main grate, one in the front and one in the rear. Don't forget to season them to.

@highergrillingbbq

Жыл бұрын

Heck yeah! Glad this worked for ya! Great call on the water pans. 👍🏻

I got my Grand Champ 3 days ago. I turned the domed grate over, set 1/2" from firebox, front and back temps were 9* apart. I set it at 5/8" and it stays consistently, 3* apart. You had a brainstorm idea. I have a problem, My smoker is on my screened in porch and setting level but when the grease drips into the bottom of the smoker, it doesn't go towards the drain, it just pools and the front legs are longer than the back and the smoker looks like it is higher at the drain end, what do you think?

@highergrillingbbq

Жыл бұрын

That's awesome!!! I'm glad it worked out for you! That's strange....I'd double check the installation. Did you put it together or a business?

@goldsbywashington3509

Жыл бұрын

@@highergrillingbbq I put it together. Looking across the top, looks higher on the smoke stack end.

@patalston7093

21 күн бұрын

Get out your level and make sure...

@goldsbywashington3509

20 күн бұрын

@@patalston7093 1/2" higher at drain end. I installed bigger wheels and fixed the problem.

We’re those thermostats plug and play or did you have to do some drilling?

@michaelhellyer1157

3 жыл бұрын

No drilling required on the Grand Champ

@highergrillingbbq

3 жыл бұрын

They are plug and play ~ they fit right in the pre-drilled holes for them. 👍🏻

Will the smoke penetrate the meat when you do that? Seems like it will push the smoke down.

@highergrillingbbq

3 жыл бұрын

Absolutely! The chamber fills and penetrates the meats with smoke just fine. No problem!

@benh580

3 жыл бұрын

@@highergrillingbbq thanks. I'm really liking this smoker. Thinking about upgrading from my okj highland. Thanks for the reply

@highergrillingbbq

3 жыл бұрын

You're welcome! It's definitely a heavy duty smoker that I'd put up against any other smoker! It's a great affordable unit.

Did you remove the small baffle plate that comes with the XD?

@highergrillingbbq

3 жыл бұрын

Yes sir! If you don't it gets in the way of the ash pan.

Have you done a cook with it set up like that?

@highergrillingbbq

3 жыл бұрын

Yes! I've done multiple cooks. I average a difference of about 10° from firebox side to stack side.

What about the middle of the grill? My temps are lower in the middle and perfect on the ends

@highergrillingbbq

3 жыл бұрын

I haven't really tested the temps in the middle but I haven't had any issues with the food cooking unevenly.

@jamesgreen7789

3 жыл бұрын

@@highergrillingbbq yeah I haven’t loaded the smoker up yet but it looks like the temps are about 50-100 degrees less in the middle. I’m thinking of drilling holes in the pan and seeing if that helps. I only plan on using the XD as a smoker anyway so I don’t have use for the pan outside of its potential as a baffle plate.

@highergrillingbbq

3 жыл бұрын

@@jamesgreen7789 oh ok....let me know if that evens out the temps in the middle. I'm interested in seeing if it does. I don't use the pan other than as the baffle either.

@jamesgreen7789

3 жыл бұрын

It took a couple tries but by copying (from pictures) the graduating hole sizes across the length of the ash pan I was able to get the whole chamber within 10-20 degrees. Definitely a mod worth using!! Thanks for sharing the idea!!

@highergrillingbbq

3 жыл бұрын

That's awesome! So glad it works for you. 🙌🏻

Did you have to remove the heat deflector for this?

@highergrillingbbq

3 жыл бұрын

Yes I did. It will get in the way otherwise. 👍🏻

It is a great idea, but what about grease drippings? Need a way to put a pan on top of the dome.

@highergrillingbbq

Жыл бұрын

Check the comments above...someone found an idea to put water/drip pans on top. I personally just covered the dome with foil and replaced it as needed.

@goldsbywashington3509

Жыл бұрын

@@highergrillingbbq How do you keep the pans from falling off the dome. I did not see any thing above on relpies

@highergrillingbbq

Жыл бұрын

@@goldsbywashington3509 someone said something about a Heirtec water pan that fits under the main grate.

Well ain't that something!!! Im am curious about drippings though.

@highergrillingbbq

3 жыл бұрын

Right...so yeah, the drippings would fall into the ash pan and down to the bottom of the barrel. I'm going to see if you can balance a drip pan somehow on top.

@jfennell32

3 жыл бұрын

Wrap it with foil and you'll be good to go

@jfennell32

3 жыл бұрын

Also line the bottom of the smoker with foil. Easy clean up

@highergrillingbbq

3 жыл бұрын

@@jfennell32 those are great tips sir!

I’m trying it today

@highergrillingbbq

3 жыл бұрын

Awesome! Let me know what you think.

My grill gets delivered on Good Friday. Home Depot $399 ⬆️ Free assembly & delivery on all grills $538

@highergrillingbbq

2 жыл бұрын

Nice! I hope you're enjoying it!

Is there a cold spot in the middle tho

@highergrillingbbq

Жыл бұрын

It was cooler but only by a few degrees. Nothing major. 🔥

Well I'll be damned!! I was thinking last night, "just turn the ashcan upside down". Two seconds later: naw, that wouldn't work". Now I see this? Will try it.

@noeltaylor3594

2 жыл бұрын

Tried it last night. I got a little 23 incher. I didn't cook anything, but the temp from fire box to the opposite end seems to be close. Five degree difference? Yeah.

@highergrillingbbq

Жыл бұрын

Heck yeah!!!

@highergrillingbbq

Жыл бұрын

Glad you found great success in it! 🙌🏻

It works

@highergrillingbbq

3 жыл бұрын

Awesome!!!

How is the temp in the middle?

@highergrillingbbq

Жыл бұрын

Temps registered about the same all the way around. 💪🏻

This baffle is defeating the purpose of how and offset is suppose to cook. You want the heat and smoke to come up and over your food and out the stack (convection). And preferably you want an offset with a stack at grate level, which the XD has. The baffle causes radiant heat and cooks from the bottom up.

I did that, but what you do not realize is that that thing becomes a hot plate and will burn your meat. Because its comes too close to the grate, just couple of inches in height. Bad move brother!

@highergrillingbbq

Жыл бұрын

Hmmm....had no problem burning my meat....sorry it didn't work out for you brother. 👊🏻

I think a lot of people are looking at the heat dispersion and not thinking about the path of the air flow and smoke doing this may even out the temps but create more of a radiant heat off the “baffle” rather than traditional baffle that is only may the front with tapered holes to allow smoke and air flow noticing also the vent placement is wrong should be lower grate level going to either mid mine or sell it

@highergrillingbbq

Жыл бұрын

🙌🏻

I did something

@highergrillingbbq

3 жыл бұрын

Did you give it a try?

@jfennell32

3 жыл бұрын

Yes sir and it worked great

@highergrillingbbq

3 жыл бұрын

That's awesome to hear! What was your degree difference from side to side?

@jfennell32

3 жыл бұрын

@@highergrillingbbq 5°

@highergrillingbbq

3 жыл бұрын

Awesome! Glad you achieved the same results.