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Upon unpacking the legs did not fit due to the collars being smashed during shipment. This was not a big deal and was easy fixed. Then I started assembling the grill and noticed that the handle was not level with the grill. Once assembled it was about a half inch out of level. The front meat shelve on the outside of the grill hung down about two inches out of level and would not hold a tray of food without it sliding off. Last but not least the top grill in the burner box would not sit level. The last three items could not be fixed without the use of some cutting tools and a welder. I thought for a second that I should fix it and move on. I later decided to just send it back.
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If you seek a small smoker grill that approaches performance of pro-quality backyard offsets, this is the one.
I've been through the small Char Broil and the Master Built before finding the Medina River Outdoors 65, and the performance difference is amazing. When outside temperatures dropped below 60, I couldn't maintain even a modest 220 degrees with the other cookers. This Medina has already performed down to 43 outside and looks like it'll hold cooking temps well into the 30s.
The difference is 14-gauge steel that's 25% thicker than 16-gauge found on most offsets. Other difference is the pro-quality design of a cooking chamber lid that fits tightly atop the barrel cut-out rather than a loose and leaky lid that's the entire top half of many other offsets. Chimney and thermometer placement also superbly follow top-line cooker design as do the firebox door and damper setup.
Construction and assembly materials are heavy duty throughout with quarter-inch bolts holding it together that are twice the size found on others. Fit is a bit less than top-line precise but very adequate and as good as or better than I was concerned it might be.
For those expecting a lot of modifying with an offset, the only I found needed for this one are those recommended for any offset like fabricating a charcoal basket to extend fire efficiency cooking time and to prevent coal burn-through contact with the firebox, and fabricating a firebox to cooking chamber deflector to shield food from hot coal "grill charring" while better evening out heat distribution across the cooking area. I did some minor high-temp silicone sealing around the thermometer mounting sleeve and the chimney where it attaches to the box, though this cooker tightness likely made any additional sealing unnecessary. A nice surprise was finding this the only offset I've owned with optimum spacing between fuel and cooking grates for grilling.
So far, I've slow barbecued some back ribs at 220 degrees and was quite impressed that a 5-pound loading of charcoal briquettes lasted the entire burn with plenty to spare at the end. I fully expect low and slow smoking to be as hassle-free as a top-line backyard offset something I've never found or expected with any lower price offset, no matter how much modified.
Patio space needed for this offset is a mere 24"x40" including wheel and front shelf space a nice design from sturdy legs angled just slightly out from attachment to the barrel. Other nice touch is a rail system for the cooking grates to conveniently rest on and a grease bucket sized perfectly for a standard soup can to throw away instead of having to scrape and scrub the bucket.
The small size of this cooker isn't without tradeoffs. With all its excellent qualities, it is very small for an offset. The firebox measures 12"x12" so you won't be throwing many logs in there, the cooking chamber is 12"x24" which makes for a limited guest list, and height from the cooking grates to the lid top is just 6-1/2" which does eliminate smoking a whole turkey. Cooking chamber grate area is comparable though to an 18.5" kettle grill (4 steaks 8 burgers) and addition of the firebox when grilling takes it just over a 22.5" kettle grill capacity (6 steaks 12 burgers).
I don't know how well the efficiency of this 14-gauge package translates to larger 14-gauge offsets. 14-gauge is way better than 16-gauge in this size range, though one might assume physics could cause larger 14-gauge cookers to begin performing more like the 16-gauge small models here. Getting the performance of this one in a large size might mean going for the 1/4" steel of a "big boy" backyard offset, though that's for someone else's review.
A final thought on this cooker is price. Shortly after I ordered mine, the price jumped $95 (40%) and the new price might well have kept me from buying. Knowing now that it performs near those costing about 3 times as much does seem to keep this Medina within an acceptable value range at the higher price as well, assuming there's comfort with its cooking capacity.
Update I see the price has dropped to what I originally paid for it, bringing this smoker back to the great value it was when I bought it.
Second Update Looks like the price jumped back up again. I paid around $250 with free shipping. Still love the smoker!
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Received this smoker is good order. Each part was individually wrapped in paper then, wrapped again with bubble pack and placed within the smoker body for even more protection! The exterior shipping container was 1/4" corregated and seemed bullet-proof.
Took about an hour to put together. All parts accounted for. Everything fit. If you can turn a 7/16" bolt you can assemble it easily because that's most of what you use. Unit is 14-gauge steel, weighs 106 pounds and will probably outlast me. (I'm 60.)
Never had a smoker before. Bought Medina River because it is made of steel...all of it including the grates. Normally, I'm a scrooge but decided to treat myself and spend a little extra. Glad I did!
Honest reviews on Medina River Outdoors 65 Patio Small Smoker/Gilll Combo
This grill/smoker combo is an unbelievable bargain. The quality of the materials is that of a much more expensive unit. I have been smoking and grilling in sub freezing temperatures and the thicker gauge steel really holds the heat well. The grilling surface is only large enough for a few items at a time, but the unit does not take up much space. I recommend this product for anyone looking for a quality barbecue that has limited space to work with.
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Brinkman, though an American company, outsources their barbecues from China and like so many items made in China, its barbecues and smokers are made from thin Chinese metals; the screws and brackets easily crack and split. After three times of use, the thermometer clouded up to the point in which the temperature was no longer visible . When I called customer service about the damaged thermometer, I was told that I can buy a replacement part. When I asked if Brinkman had better thermometers to choose from, the response was no. After a few months -even though it was convered -rust covered almost the entire front hood -even though I seasoned the grill with olive oil before cooking on it. There are many horizontal barrel smokers out there to choose from. I suggest choosing something with heavy gauge steel; it's with the extra $100.
