Gas Grill - Which to buy? UniFlame or Char-Broil

[noehlp]

I have a gas grill now, but it sucks and rarely works stays hot enough to grill on. So it's grilling season and I need to replace it. I've had it for 2 years I believe, maybe 3. It's a Char-broil I got from Wal-Mart for about $100. My biggest issue with it is it's actually caught fire 3 times, and I mean fire, glad I was outside each time. (and yep tried cleaning the inside and all that and still fire)

 

So, Wal-Mart slightly lowered some of their grills, not sure if online prices are same as store, but very close.

 

Questions:

• What one do you think I should get?
• Does anyone own a similar/exact one as the Uni-Flame?
• If I get one that doesn't include a tank, can't I just use my current tank attached to the dud grill?

Here they are:

• Uniflame 40,000 BTU 3-Burner Gas Grill

  $127

  No tank included - has a side stove-burner thing

  - I looked at this one today in store. It's grate is different than what I'm used to. It's not got a normal rounded grill grate, more like hmm.. can't explain it.

   

  http://i.walmart.com/i/p/00/72/86/49/73/0072864973124_215X215.jpg

   

  ---------------------------------

• Char-Broil B07 35,000-BTU 2 Burner Gas Grill LP

  $128

  LP Tank included

   

  http://i.walmart.com/i/p/00/04/73/62/37/0004736237308_215X215.jpg

   

  ---------------------------------

• Char-Broil 35,000-BTU 2-Burner Gas Grill

  $107 - no tank included

   

  http://i.walmart.com/i/p/00/04/73/62/37/0004736237310_215X215.jpg

[cpsagentri]

i hate to say it but save your money and buy a weber grill.

A weber will alst you at least ten years and you would have gone through five

cheap grills by then. the weber is a quality grill with stainless burners and stainles grates.

the warranty alone makes it the best choice.

[noehlp]

i hate to say it but save your money and buy a weber grill.

A weber will alst you at least ten years and you would have gone through five

cheap grills by then. the weber is a quality grill with stainless burners and stainles grates.

the warranty alone makes it the best choice.

That is good advice, and if I could do that I would. But Webers run a bit more than I can hack right now. And we need a grill so I can start grilling. :) Unless you know of a really good deal?

[dtwdmaty]

The 2nd one (char-broil with the tank) was highly rated by consumer reports in the "no-frills but good performance" department.

[dtdoda]

I am finally replacing my char-broil. It's going on 15 years old. I've replaced the burner a couple of times. That's it. In fact, it's still solid as a rock. I'm thinking of moving it up to the lake and getting rid of the hand-me-down that I have up there.

 

I'd go with the char-broil.

[kim_r4]

Hubby just bought a char-broil a couple of weeks ago. He did lots of research before buying it and said it got really good ratings.

[Scanner420]

I'm replacing my third Char-Broil after two years!

 

Don't know Jack about The Uniflame, but I'm going with a Weber when I see HD have their blow-out sale.

!

[littlesdcen]

http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=productDetail&productId=196124-52491-GGPL-2100&lpage=none

 

We have this one. Last year when they went on sale we bought an extra one because we liked it so much. So we have a spare when ours wear out. We have had our first one for 3 years and it will not wear out so we can use the spare. We also use ours a lot in the summer like 4 times a week. The grates are ceramic coated and it has electric push button light. We compared it to all the other grills in the store and this was the best bang for the buck. Get one of those 10% off moving coupons and save.

[KBsDarling]

our char broil has been nothing but crap and the idea of customer service for them is "oooo so sorry *click*" I would run so far while screaming NO NO NO from anything with a charbroil name I would qualify as a marathon running opera singer

 

We are in the market to replace as well because of just how crappy the charbroil(purchased last year) is I will say we grill 5+ times a week and year round so we will probably invest in a Weber just because of the reviews and how much wear they are supposed to hold up to

[tokanm]

Walmart has tons of gas grills, really cheap with free assembly. There were all different brands and most were under $150 and they had the side burners etc and were huge!!

 

I myself am afraid of gas grills:eek: I bought a nice Thermos charcoal grill from Target for

$6.xx. Of course it is still sitting in the box waiting to be assembled:rolleyes:

 

It is really ok..we are getting more snow tonight and soccer season starts here on Saturday

and it might warm up to 40 degrees!!!

[amberc]

Do you have a Big Lots near you?

They have a couple Char-Broil models right now.

http://www.biglots.com/LawnGarden/item.aspx?cid=24&scid=76&iid=3409

[noehlp]

Do you have a Big Lots near you?

They have a couple Char-Broil models right now.

http://www.biglots.com/LawnGarden/item.aspx?cid=24&scid=76&iid=3409

Closest one is 61 miles away. But thanks for the idea.

[dtdoda]

I really think that when it comes to grills, you get what you pay for.

 

Honestly, does anyone really think there is no difference between the stainless grill that cost 2X or 3X what the stainless grills cost at Big Lots or Walmart?

 

Take a magnet to those grills. Magnets will not stick to stainless. They'll certainly stick to those cheaper supposed stainless grills though. They're not stainless. That means they will rust just as any other grill will.

 

My 15 year old Charbroil is one heavy well made grill. I use it 5-6 times a week during the summer and in the winter whenever the weather is nice. It cost over $300 15 years ago. A grill that costs $100-$200 will be junk in a year or two.

[pryan67]

I have a char-broil...it's a decent grill...it's lasted me about 4 years...so far so good

 

 

BUT...I'd probably buy a new grill with a tank if you can...that way you won't run out of gas halfway through a BBQ...

 

I have two tanks now, and I'll be getting a third when I get my new grill this year (getting one cuz I want a big ole weber SS one *LOL*)

[Ripn]

I have a char-broil...it's a decent grill...it's lasted me about 4 years...so far so good

 

 

BUT...I'd probably buy a new grill with a tank if you can...that way you won't run out of gas halfway through a BBQ...

 

I have two tanks now, and I'll be getting a third when I get my new grill this year (getting one cuz I want a big ole weber SS one *LOL*)

Can you say, Natural Gas?

I never run out :)

WEBER rules, none better for the $$$.

[cpsagentri]

Can you say, Natural Gas?

I never run out :)

WEBER rules, none better for the $$$.

next weber we buy i'm getting ng.

[cpsagentri]

That is good advice, and if I could do that I would. But Webers run a bit more than I can hack right now. And we need a grill so I can start grilling. :) Unless you know of a really good deal?

try your local Ace Hardware. Weber recently changed the grills and the design so

maybe a few in clearance. the cheapest i've seen is 399 also take a look at

DUCANE which is made by weber. make sure its propane.

I personally hate Ducane the look is like a plane but a solid grill.

[Ripn]

try your local Ace Hardware.

That is where we bought ours...they even delivered it for FREE, the store was about 25 miles from my house...across the state line!

They are great!

[Scanner420]

The more I read this....the more I think I'm going to fix my current grill. I can't even afford the Weber Q.

[cpsagentri]

basic weber spirit i saw at my ace $299 with free assembly

[Gunnershorthair]

Weber Q grill for me, I bought mine at Ace too !

[DaveL]

I have a Kenmore grill that has lasted 10 years...no problems and the parts are very easy to get if anything breaks (mainly from my own doing) from sears parts direct.

[afrey66]

Personally, I LOVE my George Foreman indoor/outdoor grill. All you do it plug it in and it's ready to go. There's no canisters to worry about, etc. And the food doesn't get have the 'gas' taste that can sometimes happen with gas grills. You are also able to adjust the temperatures like on other grills. The grilling area is good sized.

 

For me, I have no desire to going back to a gas grill.

[amberleigh2]

I bought the Char~broil one right before X~mas that LNT had..we just finally got it put together & used it Sunday..it's great!! Actually you posted it!!lol... Don't know if they still have it but it's nice!! I also saw some Char~Broil ones last week @ Big Lots, they looked comparable but I can't remember the price, it was either the same or cheaper..HTH

 

 

This is the one I got @ LNT.com

Char-Broil Premium 48,000 BTU Stainless Steel Grill

 

NOW $199.99 Was $399.99

 

 

 

 

 

Features

 

* 48,000 BTU, 4 Main Burner Cooking System

* 13,000 BTU Side Burner plus griddle plate with teflon coating

* 858 Square Inch Cooking Surface

* Electronic Ignition

* Stainless Steel Burners

* 4 Concealed rolling wheels, 2 locking

 

http://lnt.imageg.net/graphics/product_images/p3442630reg.jpg

__________________

[tlklcox]

Keep in mind what you want to cook. We like to make beer in the but chicken over indirect heat when is warm enough to grill. I had bought a new grill two years ago and it is a very tight fit to put the lid down with our grill. I'm thinking of looking at getting a new grill with this being one of the many reasons why I want one. As for buying a new tank I got my second tank last year when going to a garage sale. It was $1 for the empty tank that I exchanged at the grocery for a full tank but now I always have a spare full tank. Hope this helps a little.

[JayR]

I bought the Uni-Flame last year and like it very well. We've had the gas company connect our grills to natural gas, so no tanks for us.

 

The same model Uni-Flame has 2 different styles. I wanted the one with the little shelf in front as the display model had, but ours didn't have that. It's the one you have pictured. It cooks very nicely, easy to clean, especially the little drip pan in back.

 

I put it together myself. The only mishap was the wheels were backwards, so the little hub caps wouldn't go on. If you were to force me to find something wrong with it, the best I can come up with is that the shelf is on the 'wrong' side. The grill it replaced, (10 year-old Charbroil) had the cooking element on the other side. It took a bit to get used to that.

 

If the tank fits on the grill you bought 2-3 years ago, it'll fit on any grill, as far as I've been told. Once they made the safety features mandatory, they should be all the same for home use tanks. Here, to get a tank filled, you drop it off and exchange to get a pre-filled one.

Edited April 10, 2008 by JayR
Edited to add