The bottom vent is identical to the lid vent, or the vent in the Smokey Joe, except the holes are elongated. No sweeper, but rotate all the way open, bump the bowl with your fist, and the ash dumps fine. Rotate closed, bump again, open, bump, 3 or 4 times and the excess ash buildup is in the catch tray.
The best way I can describe the Jumbo Joe Premium is that it really does seem to me to be an overgrown Smokey Joe Silver. It's not super pretty, or super fancy, but I have found the following with this grill..
#1. I can grill everything I want on it.
#2. Offset cooking, using the drip pan method works perfectly.
#3. The OEM cooking grate is garbage, but so is the one for the Original Kettle. Even if you don't need the hinged sections, if you get one of these grills, pony up the bucks and buy the hinged grate. MUCH better built grate!
#4. My initial concers about ash buildup in the lower bowl were misplaced. Managing ash for long cooks is really easy with this grill.
Is it worth saving the $30.00 compared to the regular street price on a Weber Original 22. kettle? Not really sure. The one touch sweeper is really nice, and long run probably a better idea, but if you bump & dump regularly, it is a non issue. Contrary to advice I have gotten here, I am keeping my JJP, I like it well enough, and I do want a second grill. I am seeing Original Kettles, 22" models on Craigslist estate sale listings for about $25.00. I am thinking about picking one of those up as I want a second kettle for larger cooks for things like Thanksgiving, Christmas, and big family gatherings. I figure if I can grab a used one for cheap, and swap in a hinged grate, as long as the used one is clean and in good shape, I will be money ahead, with the equipment to make it work perfectly!
I love my Smoke Joe, and oddly enough, have been considering adding a second. I have a friend that found one NIB on Craistlist he snagged for me for $10.00. I figure 2 of them at the beach would be more than enough for our famly beach gatherings on Galveston where I get together with a bunch of friends from college nd their families...