Kamado Joe Big Joe 3 III - My review after 30 cooks

[@davidbenson4472]

Thank you for your review. I recently purchased a Kamado 24 inch grill. It has not arrived as of yet. Your review has given me some of the things to look out for when it arrives. We need consumers to be fussy like you over small particulars after a large investment. Thanks again.

[@idlehands8942]

Glad it was helpful!

[@geordieryle1237]

Excellent review mate. Definitely buying one in a couple of months once I’ve saved my pennies.

[@kiweekeith]

Great Vidclip, really in-depth discussion .... Much appreciated .... Best to You and Yours .... Cheers from New Zealand ....

[@idlehands8942]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@The_Monkey_King]

Kapai bro

[@glengoodwin]

Thanks for the video. Did customer service ever sort your issues out!

[@DanielMedina-lq4br]

Hahaha! You said “Nitty Gritty”! Great review btw! Smoke on, brother!

[@vincentbevan2083]

In my opinion the distortion in the lid of the big Joe could be due to the way it's been lifted onto the stand, on the classic size Joe they do say say to lift it one side on the hinge the other on the ash tray opening, lifting with the hinge and the Joe being so heavy would have strained the hinge and causing the misalignment of the lid, hoping you got it sorted

[@idlehands8942]

No, Never got it sorted. Well, I would completely agree with you. I did not lift it by the band. I did use 4 Adults to lift it and set it without using the band and even then it wasnt fun.

[@idlehands8942]

I just got an email yesterday, so stay tuned...

[@xengthao379]

@@idlehands8942 muss as h

[@robertrankin6134]

you got it

[@texasnative]

I found this video on 1/25/2021. I just ordered the Big Joe 3 before I saw this video. Did you get your gasket/lid issue resolved? Has the issue caused any issues with temperature control or cooking performance?

[@idlehands8942]

Ok, So, KJ just now got back to me and told me "sorry" and ended up sending me a new band and hinge. Now, I haven't tried it yet, but hopefully it helps with the issue. No, there is no loss of temp or anything like that. This thing definitely holds temps. but the gasket will wear out earlier the way things are now.

[@thomasbello9732]

Great video. Those issues would bug the hell out of me as well -- glad that I am not alone. Planning to buy my BJ3 next week. Well done.

[@idlehands8942]

Thank you. Your comment is not making much sense to me at the moment, Your saying that " you are not alone" but you are "planning" to buy... I would definitely rethink this purchase, Its a LOT of money for something that doesn't fit together as it should. If you want to buy something that is junk there are plenty of other grills that you can get the same quality for a LOT less money.

[@nmjhd1234]

@@idlehands8942which one is comparable and as good as this? I am researching on this and may bite the bullet to get one. TIA

[@IanASykes]

what was the deal!?

[@jamesm.8392]

I was in HD yesterday and the entire seal on the base was hanging off . . . brand new never fired up. Those kettles are hand made in China BTW. No two are exactly alike. When they ship them those seals are crushed together extremely tight for shp'g. The sooner you loosen them up a little the better. After a period of time being crushed like that causes them to not spring back and create a seal.

[@TexasRanchu]

Bro..how do stay slim and eat alot of barbecue? I need to know ur secret.

[@idlehands8942]

Lol, if I knew, I would tell you... But it's just genetics I guess.

[@NikolaNovoselec]

I'm really glad I found this video, the misaligned lid and gasket problem was all but unknown to me. I still cannot decide between the Kamado Classic III and Weber Summit Charcoal, but with the problems you pointed out in this video it might be better not to risk it with the Kamado, it's a lot of money. Great video, thank you.

[@idlehands8942]

glad this helped you, To be honest, I wish I would have seen a video like this before purchasing. I havent checked out the webber you mentioned. Ill need to check it out. Knowing what I know now, I would have tried the Primo XL

[@idlehands8942]

And now that i know it doesn't work correctly, I really am starting to hate looking at it too.

[@NikolaNovoselec]

@@idlehands8942 I've ordered a Big Joe III in the local dealership (Switzerland) and I have also checked for the problems you've been having. The metal piece back at the spring mechanism is perfectly straight and not slightly tilted like on your unit. Also, I've tried opening and closing the lid many times with the SloRoller and the Divide and Conquer rack on top to see if the top of the rack will rub on the gasket. It's doesn't even touch it. I've made you a picture and a short video where you can see that for yourself - 1drv.ms/f/s!Aq_qTJVYv2cTtmH8cOSwYUbeIVZG. Maybe you should complain about it in your local dealership?

[@idlehands8942]

@@NikolaNovoselec I have reached out to the dealer I purchased it from and they are telling me that Warranty is through KJ's website only.

[@idlehands8942]

@@NikolaNovoselec Im glad you found one that works congrats on the new grill/ smoker

[@Dave-pp1td]

I just ordered this grill. I see what you’re talking about with the gasket in the rear. Does it leak any smoke?

[@idlehands8942]

No it doesn't leak any smoke at the moment. I've only used in on about 5 smokes and the rest of my 30+ cooks has been as a grill. But who knows when the seal finally rips we will see if it leaks then. But it really does smoke and grill extremely well. Check out the other big for videos I have, and if you have any questions please ask.

[@Dave-pp1td]

thanks buddy

[@idlehands8942]

I did just notice today that the seal on the rear is getting "crunchy" I'm guessing it's from hanging over the open flame when I grill with it. I usually grill with the lid down as much as possible.

[@jay_phil341]

Have the same issue on my classic 2.. The lid has as uneven gap on one side, kills me to look at it.. Had 1 customer service issues, but apart from that.. OK grill I guess.

[@idlehands8942]

sorry to hear that. I hope they can get what seems to be an ongoing issue fixed one day

[@The81titans]

I just got the exact same one about a week ago, and mine was rubbing what I did was I slid the ceramic fire box forward and it doesn’t rub anymore. It’s like the fire box needs to be evenly distributed all the way around.

[@idlehands8942]

I did try that as well but mine ends up hitting in the front then. I also just noticed my gasket is getting what seems to be crunchy as I push the seal flat with my finger and the lid open. I think it's from all my higher temp grill cooks at 400 is with the open flame. The fiberglass inside it sounds toast... No pun intended

[@The81titans]

Idle Hands did you ever figure it out

[@idlehands8942]

@@The81titans no, I didn't find a solution yet. I am thinking about using some spacers and adjusting the lid to set a bit better then I may be able to move the fire box area forward a bit to get it all to line up, but I do think it will need a new gasket for it not to touch at all. I'll tell you what I'm not really looking forward to taking the Old gasket off having a clean area so the new glue for the new Gaskell stick and then having to do all that on a grill in this price range.

[@The81titans]

Idle Hands I figure it out the rack the grates sit on it needs to be offset and not directly In front of the hinge so the grate will be at a 45

[@idlehands8942]

@@The81titans thank you, I will definitely give it a try. Hopefully this week.

[@robertrankin6134]

that lid hinge got bent some how take it apart and straiten hinge

[@ImHungryMK]

good video thank you!

[@idlehands8942]

Glad you liked it!

[@ImHungryMK]

@@idlehands8942 really been looking at the kJ pretty hard.. keep you videos coming

[@The_Monkey_King]

Lawn domination bro...nice!

[@idlehands8942]

Thanks dude

[@mrhardy7660]

What other kamado would you think is better value for money

[@idlehands8942]

If I had it to do all over again, I would probably go with the Primo XL

[@geezer2tech154]

@@idlehands8942 Perhaps like jumping from the frying pan into the fire! From what I've read the quality may be worse and the customer service seems to be a problem there too.

[@nvlass]

Maybe a monolith? I am looking to buy one a am between the Big Joe iii vs Monolith La Chef

[@calvinstulip]

Nice rig!

[@idlehands8942]

Thank you

[@brianbelliveau5551]

The gasket is under warranty

[@idlehands8942]

Yes, It is under warranty. But why do I have to spend a lot of money on an Item for it to arrive defected to then have to do labor on a product I paid for to already be put together. You can do that if you want to . Not me. Its not like it wore out from use, it arrived defected.

[@marlonsibal4951]

Max Holloway look-alike.

[@idlehands8942]

Thanks ...?

[@marlonsibal4951]

@@idlehands8942 Thank you for the review. Looking to get that big joe in the future.

[@tamashalmos7662]

OCD Big time.

[@Warrenhaha]

CHEERS BIG EARS

[@donhgr]

God knows what you’ve done to it the way you moved it by rolling it on it’s side. You really need to do some research on this product your completely lost. Watch a guy on KZbin called Smoking Dad BBQ then come back and Critique what you’ve done to cause most of this. I can’t believe you cleaned it with a hose. Your completely lost but with well intensions it sounds like. I own two Joes.

[@041319701988]

Too rich for my blood

[@idlehands8942]

It is quite a bit of money, I agree there. Do I think it's worth that much, no I don't. BUT, it holds temp amazing and will cook for a really really long time.

[@RumandCook]

Google Costco Road Show and wait till they go on sale near you. Worth every cent, no other type of grill can smoke, grill, bake, and cook pizza like a Kamado grill.

[@idlehands8942]

@@RumandCook it would have to be no less than 50% off sale for me to remake the decision of going with Kamado Joe brand at this point.

[@RumandCook]

@@idlehands8942 I haven't used the 3, but had a Big Joe 2 for 3 years and didn't have any of those issues. I can see why you would be frustrated. I didn't see the part about closing the lid and hitting the rack.

[@coonfreddy1957]

Man you need to ease off that weed.

[@brianbelliveau5551]

Maybe you shouldn't have adjusted the lid ijs

[@idlehands8942]

Maybe Kamado Joe should get back with me... Hmmmmmm.

[@mannyr8795]

@@idlehands8942 nah man, should have left that hinge alone. Even smoking dad bbq says big joe has no issues