Caravan Outdoor Cooking Options

[C0ffin D0dger]

Having just returned from our first proper trip away in the 'van something I thought it might be good to upgrade is our BBQ options.

Currently got a cheapo Aldi/Lidl BBQ which I bought a few years back for camping, fine for what it is but now we've got the van and therefore a bit more space for carting stuff around I thought it might be time for something better. I like cooking on charcoal so definitely want that as an option. Quite like the look of the Weber portable range, either a Smokey Joe or a Go Anywhere, favouring the Go Anywhere at the moment as I think it would give a greater cooking area and packs down nicely. Would also get one of the Weber compact chimney starters as I've got a full sized one for the barbecue at home and it's simply brilliant. The thing I don't like about the Webers is that they're both quite low down and I'd prefer something a bit raised so I can tend to it more easily from my chair, seems like they do a nice table / stand accessory for them in the U.S. but not in the U.K.?

I'm also starting to "get" why folk buy / use the Cadac style outdoor gas cookers. A first I thought why as it's just a gas powered griddle / hotplate and not a proper BBQ but then the folk opposite us on our recent trip not only used theirs for dinner but breakfast too and I was very envious of the smell of bacon, sausages, eggs etc. drifting our way in the morning. Having suffered a downpour after lighting our BBQ I also understand the versatility of having a gas option. My caravan does also have an external gas point.

So what do you have / recommend and why?

Edited by C0ffin D0dger on Wednesday 6th June 13:01

[chasingracecars]

I have and use a Cadac most times and also a camping gaz two burner stove for other bits. A lot of sites in Europe don’t allow charcoal bbqs.

[bigdom]

chasingracecars said:

A lot of sites in Europe don’t allow charcoal bbqs.

Some also don't like an open flame. For difficult sites we use one of these - https://www.bbqworld.co.uk/weber-barbecues/weberq/...

The Q series also has a gas range. I have 5 different Weber bbq's to cover all eventualities :-)

[dugsud]

Lotus Grill....awesome bit of kit!

https://www.lotusgrilluk.com/

[Huffy]

We use a combination of a small Cadac on the BBQ point and a small kettle BBQ with charcoal like this

http://media.4rgos.it/i/Argos/3451656_R_Z001A_UC12...

We had the small Cadac when we were still in a tent but if I did it again I might consider the larger one (albeit this one stows nicely under one of the bunks with no dismantling or assembly) but feeding a family of 4 does sometimes require using both together.

[Sixpackpert]

Another vote for Cadac here. We use ours about 8 weekends a year along with a couple of 2 week holidays and it has been superb over the last 3 years. Carry bag is looking a bit tatty now but everything else is like the day I bought it.

[GreatGranny]

Another vote for the Cadec.

Bought our latest from Ebay. Absolute bargain and it was hardly used.

Use it at home as well as when caravanning.
Last year in Devon we only used the caravan hob a few times.

[pja]

I much prefer cooking on charcoal but after using a Cadac while away I wont go back!
much easier to clean & keep clean (the soot always found its way every where)

like you say dead easy to fire up for a quick breakfast or make a curry etc

[snake_oil]

I've got a go anywhere with a small chimney. Great bit of kit and packs up really small. Yes it's low to the ground but I cook on it whilst lounging in a camp chair with a nice cold one. Charcoal ftw.

[C0ffin D0dger]

Thanks for all the replies so far. Seems like a Cadac + a Weber Go-Anywhere is probably the way I'm heading. My wallet is not liking it though

Didn't really appreciate upon purchasing our first caravan at the start of the year just how many various accessories we "need" I guess the main thing is it's all transferable if we change to a different van in future.

So far, Kampa Air Awning (+ "carpet" etc.), pair of aluminium Kampa loungers, kettle, toaster, melamine dining set, extra gas bottle, and other stuff I can't think of. Luckily the dealers threw in a starter pack with the basics.

[Sixpackpert]

Just to add to your list we have these and they are excellent!!

https://www.vango.co.uk/gb/outdoor-family-essentia...

[Chrisgr31]

We have traditionally used a portable charcoal bbq and have a lidl starter chimney to get it going. I thought we were planning to get a Cadac for breakfast and those occasions where the weather looks dodgy. Instead my wife bought me a portable firepit BBQ. Off this weekend to test it out.

[tenohfive]

Beauclaire all the way - bullet proof, easy to clean and the claim to be able to cook for 6 is spot on. It's actually easier to cook on than the gas hobs at home.
http://beauclaire.co.uk/product_family_original.ph...

The griddle gets the most use.The paella pan looks like a bit of a novelty but it's basically one big pan you can use for chilli/curries etc - it's surprisingly handy.

[J8 SVG]

My dad has one of these - https://www.bbqworld.co.uk/weber-barbecues/weberq/...

it's great! planning on borrowing it for a camping trip in July

[Antony Moxey]

Interesting thread. We’re looking at a Cadac for when we take the motorhome to France this summer. We’ve discounted the smallest one as it’s simply too small but are really stuck on whether to get the medium sized one or the big one, with the main sticking point being is the bigger one really worth double the middle sized one (give or take if you look at Go Outdoors offers at the moment)?

[Mr Peel]

My campervan carries a Weber go anywhere. It cooks well and is as portable and compact as you'd expect.

[C0ffin D0dger]

Antony Moxey said:

Interesting thread. We’re looking at a Cadac for when we take the motorhome to France this summer. We’ve discounted the smallest one as it’s simply too small but are really stuck on whether to get the medium sized one or the big one, with the main sticking point being is the bigger one really worth double the middle sized one (give or take if you look at Go Outdoors offers at the moment)?

It is a bit of an odd pricing structure, after all the medium to large is only ~46% increase in cooking area but nearly twice the cost. It is a more powerful burner in the bigger one too I guess and you get a storage thingy on the bottom but even so.

Problem is I'd be going for the bigger one anyway as having more capacity has always got to be a good thing hasn't it

[C0ffin D0dger]

That said there's 10% off on eBay today and the cheapest big one is £192 - 10% = £172.80

Slightly better but unfortunately I don't want to spend anymore until payday

[Bill]

We got an Outback Trekker as it's cheaper than the Cadac and iirc bigger. For charcoal I have a " Son of Hibachi" which is a great bit of kit.

[oblio]

We have the Cadac Carri Chef 2 with the Braai plate. I wouldn't recommend the grill plate with holes in it as it just makes a mess. We like the Cadac so much we bought one for home as well...

Some folks have the pizza stone too but I got a G3 Ferrari pizza maker instead which I carry in the motorhome too, which is ace!

The Cadac is great for BBQ's and breakfasts as mentioned but it also comes with a pot stand so if you get a wok you can rustle up a fresh curry/chilli/bolognaise as well. That really does turn heads on a campsite I can tell you...

In a perfect world we'd all get a charcoal one and kick back and wait for it but sometimes if the weather isn't great or if you've been out all day, its just great to crank the cadac up and get cooking straight away.