To bbqmiller: Nice work. Well done!
To all: I'm a new Rancher and just loving the way this allows a person to do creative grilling, both direct and offset. It's so far superior to the small kettles I can't describe it. My first problem was getting a charcoal basket (or two) to allow for indirect cooking while maximizing my charcoal use. The ones I've found on-line were, I thought, prohibitively expensive especially after dropping $1,400 on the Rancher. So, found this gent's website on YouTube and recommend it highly. If the link doesn't make it onto the website just search for Ry's weld free charcoal basket:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O4mxUUE9OjIIt's his own creation that he calls a "no weld charcoal basket". My cost for a sheet of expanded metal was about $17.00 and that was my only cost. I've made a large one (why I'm not sure) and two smaller ones for indirect cooks. I've only used the large basket so far and it's a dream. Just shake it out after it has cooled and you've got a ready supply of broken in briquettes to reuse. I love his idea. I'll try to include a photograph.
My question to the group is this: how do you clean the ashes out of your kettle? The stainless cooking grill is heavy enough that it's a little tricky to move about. Then you've got the charcoal grill underneath as well. They're not the most user friendly equipment to move around. Still, once you have removed those two grill layers you've got this round bottomed kettle where your ashes reside. What's a good method to collect and dispose of those ashes please? Clearly the three air vents are not intended to be used for ash removal. I'm sure there's a great system out there, I'd just appreciate hearing about it.
Loving my Rancher. HD