Last weekend I was out deer hunting. We were about to head back out after lunch when my phone buzzed. It was an email from WKC member GC8 alerting our area's WKC members of a Craigslist ad for a Weber grill. The WKC membership from the Twin Cities area always take care of each other, so I wasn't surprised to see this email. We're a pretty tight-knit group....It's what we do. What I was surprised about is that this wasn't just ANY Weber grill, it was a RANCH, and a NEVER USED one at that!
I never really wanted a Ranch, but the seller's price was pretty decent. On a lark, I sent him an email with a pretty low offer and went on with our quest for Bambi's parental-units. After getting home at about 6:30pm that night (no deer) I finally looked at my email and saw that the seller had responded with "Sure, I'll take that. When would you like to pick it up?"
Having gotten up at 4am that morning, the LAST thing I wanted to do was drive an hour one way to pick up a grill. But... off I went!
It turns out the seller was just an agent working for his boss. The plan was to meet the seller at the boss's house (which was in a VERY affluent neighborhood) to pick up the grill. The house it was at (which looked nice) was actually in the process of being torn down and rebuilt into bigger/better. The seller was sitting inside his Escalade in the owner's driveway when I got there. As I was backing up to the garage, the seller got out of his vehicle, phoned the owner and the garage door opened. There sat the Ranch in all of it's brand new glory.
The owner never came out. For all I know it was someone we would have known (locally famous?). The guy said that his boss had bought the grill brand new a few years back, and once he got it to his house he just realized that it was WAY too big for his needs and it just sat. When I handed the guy the money, he went over to the side door of the house, knocked and handed over the money to whomever opened the door. He then helped me load this beast into the Suburban. We put the lid in the back-seat and the rest of the kettle fit just fine.
(http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a387/saxart/Grills/Weber%20Ranch%20Grill/Burb.jpg) (http://s15.photobucket.com/user/saxart/media/Grills/Weber%20Ranch%20Grill/Burb.jpg.html)
As I was pulling out, the seller phoned the owner, the garage door closed, and he got in his Escalade and followed me out of the driveway. In hindsight, I should have asked WHO the "boss" was.
Anyway, I present to you. A brand new 2010 (AD-code) Weber RANCH!
(http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a387/saxart/Grills/Weber%20Ranch%20Grill/RanchSide1.jpg) (http://s15.photobucket.com/user/saxart/media/Grills/Weber%20Ranch%20Grill/RanchSide1.jpg.html)
(http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a387/saxart/Grills/Weber%20Ranch%20Grill/RanchFront.jpg) (http://s15.photobucket.com/user/saxart/media/Grills/Weber%20Ranch%20Grill/RanchFront.jpg.html)
(http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a387/saxart/Grills/Weber%20Ranch%20Grill/RanchBack.jpg) (http://s15.photobucket.com/user/saxart/media/Grills/Weber%20Ranch%20Grill/RanchBack.jpg.html)
(http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a387/saxart/Grills/Weber%20Ranch%20Grill/RanchCharcoalGrate.jpg) (http://s15.photobucket.com/user/saxart/media/Grills/Weber%20Ranch%20Grill/RanchCharcoalGrate.jpg.html)
(http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a387/saxart/Grills/Weber%20Ranch%20Grill/RanchGrateFlip.jpg) (http://s15.photobucket.com/user/saxart/media/Grills/Weber%20Ranch%20Grill/RanchGrateFlip.jpg.html)
If you've never seen a Ranch in person, here is a picture to give you some idea of the scale of these things. That's a 12-pack of Dr. Pepper sitting on the cook-grate. That's about the same length as a rack of ribs.
(http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a387/saxart/Grills/Weber%20Ranch%20Grill/RanchSize.jpg) (http://s15.photobucket.com/user/saxart/media/Grills/Weber%20Ranch%20Grill/RanchSize.jpg.html)
Another way to get some perspective on these things is to realize the size of the ash-pan under the grill. I believe it is the same stamping as the lid for a Weber firepit!
Since we're only a family of 3, this grill will be used almost exclusively for Low-N-Slow cooking, so I already did some mods to it last night in preparation of it's inaugural cook today. A 13lb spatch-cock turkey.
More pics to come as this grill gets wheeled out and fired up later today......
awesome score, better story!
THAT is very cool. Nice hunt & kill shot. :D
Great story.
As for asking who da boss was ... fugheddaboudit.
Dang that thing is brand new! Even better that your low ball went through. What a great start to the holiday shopping season.
Awesome! Nice score!
Great backstory, really gives the grill a lot of character
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Nice addition Sax....cant wait for some action photos. Either you have some stubby handled utensils or the SS tool hangers are on the wrong bar..... :)
Unbelievable....what an amazing score!
Nice work.
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This would also be perfect for band bbqs/fundraising events! Would your school reimburse you if you said this was for band events?
Awesome find and teamwork!
Awesome! I like the pic with the dr pepper!
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You could use that thing as a tornado shelter!
It should have bats hanging from lid.
Could be used as Hobbit home.
Christopher Columbus tried to get to the other side but gave up.
Chuck Norris was affraid to use it.
"no BoomBoom soulbrotha! Too bookoo!"
So big...its got an echo
So big...its got an echo
an echo
echo
All hail the full metal jacket reference!!!
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I have no clue what I would do with a grill that size, but I'd love to have one. That's a great score. I can't wait to see what you cook on it first (we expect PRON)
Nice score! It is in killer shape!
Very cool, congrats on your unexpected grail. I would have no place to put something like that.
Awesome grill.
I don't know why but I want one.
Speaking of cooking for band functions, when my daughter's marching band went to state championships this is what they were cooking on.
(http://i576.photobucket.com/albums/ss208/BigRix/null_zps535c415b.jpg) (http://s576.photobucket.com/user/BigRix/media/null_zps535c415b.jpg.html)
They guy with his back to us was not using that aluminum tray to put food in.
He was using it as a shield to keep the intense heat away. they had that thing really going, but it couldn't save the horrible burgers they were cooking.
I thought to myself, they should have used a Ranch Kettle.
Especially after looking up the price on that grill. Same as a RK new.
Congrats, sax! What an incredible find, and a great story.
I've often wished that someone would rent an RK for big events (in my case, for WeberFests). It'd be a show-stopping feature, and I'll bet folks would pay good money to have it delivered and taken back. You could charge even more for your chef services.
Great story and a great (unexpected) score!
I'm not sure what I am more taken aback by, the RK or the fact that it fits comfortably in the back of your truck. ;D
Ken
This thing is screaming for a Twin Cities area get-together!
Quote from: MINIgrillin on December 01, 2013, 10:32:52 AM
You could use that thing as a tornado shelter!
It should have bats hanging from lid.
Could be used as Hobbit home.
Christopher Columbus tried to get to the other side but gave up.
Chuck Norris was affraid to use it.
"no BoomBoom soulbrotha! Too bookoo!"
So big...its got an echo
So big...its got an echo
an echo
echo
Mini-
This made me chuckle so loud my wife came in and asked what was so funny... ::)
G-
Yeah, I realized those hooks were in the wrong spot right after I took those pics a couple days ago, and switched them out right after that.
Thanks for all of the comments guys. Well.................................we no longer have a "NEW" grill! :o
First off, I wanted to show the mods. Since this grill is going to be Low-N-Slow only, I wanted a charcoal basket so that it could keep things contained and not damage the side of the kettle by piling hot coals on it's side. After cutting two strips of expanded metal and welding them together end-to end I couldn't decide what size to make the basket, so I ended up just leaving it as a "wall" and tack welded it right to the charcoal grate. The welds are very small and could easily be ground away without ever knowing they were there.
(http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a387/saxart/Grills/Weber%20Ranch%20Grill/BasketMod1.jpg) (http://s15.photobucket.com/user/saxart/media/Grills/Weber%20Ranch%20Grill/BasketMod1.jpg.html)
(http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a387/saxart/Grills/Weber%20Ranch%20Grill/BasketMod2.jpg) (http://s15.photobucket.com/user/saxart/media/Grills/Weber%20Ranch%20Grill/BasketMod2.jpg.html)
(http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a387/saxart/Grills/Weber%20Ranch%20Grill/BasketMod3.jpg) (http://s15.photobucket.com/user/saxart/media/Grills/Weber%20Ranch%20Grill/BasketMod3.jpg.html)
Here it is with fire-bricks to keep the heat from "cooking" the food, and foil to help direct the airflow and catch the drippings.
(http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a387/saxart/Grills/Weber%20Ranch%20Grill/BasketMod4.jpg) (http://s15.photobucket.com/user/saxart/media/Grills/Weber%20Ranch%20Grill/BasketMod4.jpg.html)
The other mod I did was to remove the one hinged side of the cooking grate toward the back of the grill. Since this is primarily used for smoking/slow-cooks, this mod allows us to get to the coals more easily. A large cold-chisel driven between the crimp of the grate leg separated that section, and it can either be used separately if needed, or replaced as a hinged panel again by sliding it in place and closing the leg shut with a hammer. I'll probably hang that piece on a nail in the garage and never touch it again.
Here is kind of a funny size-comparison picture showing that grate-panel removed:
(http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a387/saxart/Grills/Weber%20Ranch%20Grill/Perspective.jpg) (http://s15.photobucket.com/user/saxart/media/Grills/Weber%20Ranch%20Grill/Perspective.jpg.html)
Here we are loaded up with the bird. (13.78lbs) (It looks like a tiny chicken on that huge grill!) We just coated it in olive-oil and gave it a shake of Lowrys Season Salt and Tyme to keep it simple.
(http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a387/saxart/Grills/Weber%20Ranch%20Grill/TurkeyOn.jpg) (http://s15.photobucket.com/user/saxart/media/Grills/Weber%20Ranch%20Grill/TurkeyOn.jpg.html)
Temperatures were tough to regulate until I realized that closing up the large lid damper about halfway would make things less "touchy". After that she hummed right along @ 325deg. Prior to that it had gotten as high as 365deg with only two of the three bottom dampers open and would have kept going up had I not reeled it in.
And we're cooking....
(http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a387/saxart/Grills/Weber%20Ranch%20Grill/Smoke.jpg) (http://s15.photobucket.com/user/saxart/media/Grills/Weber%20Ranch%20Grill/Smoke.jpg.html)
Two hours later, this is what it looked like. It was almost done, but I guess wanted to wait for the Vikings to finally beat those pesky Bears before emerging... :P
(http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a387/saxart/Grills/Weber%20Ranch%20Grill/Done1.jpg) (http://s15.photobucket.com/user/saxart/media/Grills/Weber%20Ranch%20Grill/Done1.jpg.html)
On the platter, going in the house for a rest. (I'm not sure why the breast-skin split like it did in the two spots)
(http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a387/saxart/Grills/Weber%20Ranch%20Grill/Done2.jpg) (http://s15.photobucket.com/user/saxart/media/Grills/Weber%20Ranch%20Grill/Done2.jpg.html)
It was a very juicy and well favored bird, so all was good with that. In the end, I'm hoping to try more in-direct cooks with this kettle. Ultimately I'd like it to replace the WSM, but only time will tell if that can happen. For now it's just going to need a lot more cooks done on it to get that nice rich coating on the inside so that it cooks better. I guess the family is going to have to suffer through some more of these 'horrible' cooks. Poor them!!! ;D
Here's the comical part to all of this. This past summer I sold my Performer because...... It took up too much space in the garage! LOL ::)
Quote from: GC8 on December 01, 2013, 03:23:48 PM
This thing is screaming for a Twin Cities area get-together!
GC8-
I was thinking the SAME thing as the bird was cooking. We need to figure out a date to cook some chow and drink some suds. Thanks again for your email on this kettle!!!
Very nice! I bet next time you will cook more food. Chicken, Ribs, Chuck and some turds, with a 14# Turkey. Would have used the same amount of fuel. Remember, you don't want to have to pay the price in March... Will be on my wish list.
Is this mothership V, VI, VII?
(http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a387/saxart/Grills/Weber%20Ranch%20Grill/SpaceShip.jpg) (http://s15.photobucket.com/user/saxart/media/Grills/Weber%20Ranch%20Grill/SpaceShip.jpg.html)
Sax, imo the ranch trumps the wsm for smoking due to ergonomics. I can't really comment on the fuel consumption because I've only smoked on the rk a few times.
PBE-
You have a Ranch too? (Pics!!)
I was told by a winning competition bbq dude that he cooks on his RK when at the house instead of firing up the 20k trailer pit and can turn out the same quality.
Now I need one too. I have already bumped into the capacity limit on the 26r with 8 pork tenderloins and since a RK makes turkeys look like Cornish game hens.... Anyone ever spatchcock an ostrich?
Did someone say SPATCHCOCK??
(http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a387/saxart/Grills/Weber%20Ranch%20Grill/BigBird.jpg) (http://s15.photobucket.com/user/saxart/media/Grills/Weber%20Ranch%20Grill/BigBird.jpg.html)
(http://images.craigslist.org/00F0F_1EmTBReCHCy_600x450.jpg)
Big Bird..we got this.
Quote from: saxart on December 01, 2013, 07:44:16 PM
PBE-
You have a Ranch too? (Pics!!)
Yep, at my parents house. Here's some old pics. I only get to use it a few times a year.
(https://fbcdn-photos-a-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/s720x720/401938_821281073988_1990064569_n.jpg)
(https://fbcdn-photos-g-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/s720x720/250643_821280934268_2131546664_n.jpg)
(https://fbcdn-sphotos-d-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/1077655_10100103437332558_1727520746_n.jpg)
In the car
(https://fbcdn-sphotos-c-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn2/979821_984286205398_2000618222_n.jpg)
Next to Brian's old ranch.
(https://fbcdn-sphotos-a-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn2/965207_984286434938_1216141604_n.jpg)
Next to my brother.
(https://fbcdn-photos-d-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-frc3/s720x720/577050_821280165808_1672064557_n.jpg)
I have somewhat of an update. I was curious to see how much charcoal this thing would use.
This morning I peeked under the lid to see this:
(http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a387/saxart/Grills/Weber%20Ranch%20Grill/image.jpg) (http://s15.photobucket.com/user/saxart/media/Grills/Weber%20Ranch%20Grill/image.jpg.html)
At the start of the cook I had dumped an entire small (15lb) back of K-Blue on the charcoal grate. As you can see it looks like it burned a little less than 1/3 of its supply. I'm estimating about 4lbs of charcoal for the cook. It would have been interesting to let it go until it burned out just to see how long it would have lasted. I'm guessing, just like a WSM, most of this was burned getting things heated up. If we're all buying charcoal on sale like good little Kettle Cookers, then it burned about $1.00-$1.50 worth of coals.
Hopefully this will "extinguish" any worries about these things taking 12-bags to a cook.