Char-Griller Classic Cart Style Charcoal Grill vs Char-Griller Dakota Offset Smoker
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Quick take: The Char-Griller Dakota Offset Smoker offers more cooking space (580 vs 550 sq in); the Char-Griller Classic Cart Style Charcoal Grill reaches a higher max temp (700 vs 500°F).
| Spec | Char-Griller Classic Cart Style Charcoal Grill | Char-Griller Dakota Offset Smoker |
|---|---|---|
| Price | ~$400 | ~$400 |
| Rating | — | — |
| Type | Charcoal Grill | Offset Smoker |
| Cooking Area | 550 sq in | 580 sq in |
| Max Temp | 700°F | 500°F |
| Fuel Type | Charcoal | Wood/Charcoal |
| Build Material | Powder-Coated Steel with Porcelain-Coated Cast Iron Grates | Powder-Coated Steel |
| Hopper Capacity | — | — |
| Burners | — | — |
| WiFi / App | No | No |
| App control | No | No |
| Meat probe | No | No |
| PID controller | No | No |
| Side burner | No | No |
| Rotisserie | No | No |
| Searing | No | No |
| Dimensions | 57.3 x 28.1 x 51.8 in | 60.2 x 31.1 x 52.4 in |
| Weight | 86.4 lbs | 141.1 lbs |
| Warranty | 5 years | — |
Pros & cons
Char-Griller Classic Cart Style Charcoal Grill
- ✓810 sq in of total cooking surface for $400 — roughly three times a 22-inch kettle's grate for under twice the price
- ✓The charcoal pan raises and lowers on an external crank, so you change sear distance without opening the lid or moving coals
- ✓Cast iron grates are porcelain-coated rather than bare, which is the version that survives a season outdoors
- ✓Side firebox port is pre-cut, so the Char-Griller side fire box bolts on later and turns it into an offset smoker
- ✓Runs to 700°F, high enough to actually sear, which most thin-steel barrel grills do not reach
- ✓EasyDump ash pan pulls out from the front rather than needing the grill tipped
- ✗2 lb maximum charcoal capacity is small for the grate size — long cooks need refueling
- ✗Steel barrel, not insulated ceramic, so it leaks heat badly below freezing and burns through charcoal fast
- ✗86 lbs on two wheels with a fixed front leg; it rolls on a flat patio and fights you anywhere else
- ✗Lid seal is metal-on-metal with no gasket, so smoke escapes and temperature control is coarser than a kamado
- ✗No thermometer worth trusting at grate level — the lid dial reads dome temperature
Char-Griller Dakota Offset Smoker
- ✓141 lbs at $400 — noticeably more steel than the $450 Competition Pro, which matters for temperature stability on an offset
- ✓Firebox is sized for wood splits, not just charcoal briquettes, so it can be run as a true stick burner
- ✓580 sq in of main chamber holds two racks of ribs or a packer brisket without hanging
- ✓Rated to 500°F, so it doubles as a direct grill over the firebox
- ✓Sits between the $329 Smokin' Champ and the $729 Grand Champ, a gap the Char-Griller offset line previously had
- ✗Thin-gauge steel by offset standards — this is not a quarter-inch pit and will swing with the weather
- ✗Char-Griller does not publish a warranty term for this model, unlike the rest of the charcoal line's 5 years
- ✗141 lbs on two wheels means moving it is a two-person job
- ✗Stock gaskets and door fit on offsets in this price class leak; sealing it is part of the purchase