
Char-Griller
Char-Griller Dakota Offset Smoker
A newer Char-Griller offset that sits above the Competition Pro and below the Grand Champ: 580 sq in of cooking chamber, 141 lbs, and a firebox that takes splits rather than only charcoal. It is the model Char-Griller added when the entry-offset market moved upmarket, and at $400 it competes directly with the Oklahoma Joe's Highland Classic.
Goes to the manufacturer. We earn nothing on this one.
Specifications
Pros
- ✓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
Cons
- ✗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
Compare the Char-Griller Dakota Offset Smoker
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