SWEET RIG!!! Love the slide extension, too! Tons of prep space. Makes me wish I lived where I'd have easy access to hardwoods to fire a stick burner with. For now, I'll just have to settle for propane and charcoal...sigh.
From the thread title, I sensed you're looking for ways to start the fire, but I didn't see it asked in text. Some use a burn barrel with rebar grate to start the wood and burn down to coals before adding to the fire (helps to keep the heavy start-up smoke to a minimum?). Some use a few charcoal briquettes to get some heat going in the fire box and add smaller splits to get a small, hot fire for a coal base to build up initial temps, then keep adding small pieces for quicker starting and less heavy smoke.
Come on back if your needing help from experienced stick burners...I'm not one of them, just passing on what I've read that others have done.
Eric
