So, it's been a couple years now with my Stok Tower charcoal grill and, despite this being an old discussion, the search engines put this as one of the top results when searching about the Stok Tower charcoal grill. I wanted to add my experience over the past couple years with the grill. The Stok Tower charcoal grill has served me well for over two years with both indirect and direct grilling and smoking. I've also made several modifications to improve upon the original design. First, let me address some of the negativity.
Parts are now available online at
Amazon and several other e-tailers and at the brick-n-mortar stores Cabella's and Target. The orange enamel paint has never chipped on my grill, but then I'm cautious with banging it against something. The plastic lid handle did have me worried, but again, I'm cautious about handling the lid and feel confident that I could make a replacement handle myself if it did break. Heck, even Weber sells a replacement handle for their kettle grill.
These are some design issues that I've overcome through modifications: the wheels, lid sealing, the lower vent, charcoal accessibility, and bi-metal temperature indicator (notice I didn't call it a thermometer). Because the wheels were individually attached to each rear leg, I created my own axle rod that spans across both legs and now the wheels aren't going anywhere. The lid seals much better when I use some strong metal clamps that I got from Harbor Freight; I just removed the clamps rubber parts. The lower vent was modified by cutting away with my Dremel Tool about 3/8" of metal where the bottom pan slides on the pins to allow the adjustable vent to fully close. And for access to add charcoal, I cut off a small portion of the iron grate and wired it together as a make-shift hinge, which allows me to flip up a small part of the grate to enable adding charcoal to the lower portion. It appears that Weber now sells a hinged top grill grate, so this idea is a popular one. And one of the best investments was a wireless temperature probe that I use on both my charcoal and gas grills. Because the "temperature indicators" on both my grills are far from accurate. This digital thermometer has dual probes, for the grill and meat, and it keeps me from opening the lid. And the temperature alarms are a great feature to have when low-and-slow cooking.
Some of my additional grilling gadget purchases have included: some stainless steel Weber charcoal bins for indirect heat. Initially, I used some modified aluminum pans, but eventually bought the "real deal" when the Weber bins were on sale. Other items that I bought and have found useful is a Weber chrome multiple tool hanger, some galvanized S-hooks on which I hang the metal clamps, some long heavy duty grilling gloves, and an official Stok Tower cover, and several smoking related items. The cover has lasted two Michigan Winters, albeit the grill is stored on a covered part of my deck. Many of the additional grilling things that I purchased would probably have been purchased if I had bought a
Weber kettle, so I don't feel this indicates something is wrong with the Stok grill.
In conclusion, I have found the Stok Tower charcoal grill to be a great value, especially for $49.00 that my wife paid when the product line was liquidated from a big box store. This is grill has many positive features, with it's taller stand, iron cooking grate, and the circular grill insert with built-in
charcoal chimney starter, and inserts that allow for specialized cooking. The grill insert design concept is even something that Weber now sells as the Weber 7420 Gourmet BBQ System Sear Grate Set. I have learned the art of cooking on a charcoal kettle grill and made some useful modifications, which is what many Weber grill owners have done with their grills too. So, would I buy another Stok Tower charcoal grill, probably, but I'll review the competition too. Happy grilling on whatever works for you.