Hey KKer's, Since I got Saphira this summer and have loved cooking on her, I started thinking about a mini Kamado for camping. I joined the guru forum and looked around online. Funny how I had no problem spending money for Saphira, but wanted to spend as little as possible for a mini kamado, knowing it would not be a KK. Anyway, I saw some great posts over on the guru from a couple of folks who own Vision Ps (I think they were formerly called Kubs, so that is what I call it.) Found the Kub on Camping World for a screaming deal at approx. $145.00. I have since heard of folks who got one on eBay cheaper, but I liked the the price and ordered it. Camping World was fantastic to deal with, I had to call them since it was a "special" order, but they were very helpful, said they had 7 or so in stock and would ship one, at no charge for the shipping, right away. Received the Kub in less than a week, nicely boxed in its original Vision Grill box. It was nicely and securely packed and easy to put together, only had to put on the side shelves and handle. I didn't even need to ask for help! Charles are you proud of me?
My first impressions are this little guy is solid and pretty well constructed, but at probably 45 pounds will still take some special packing etc to ride securely in the camper. Second impression is the grilling area is tiny. The grate is round and 10.5 inches in diameter. Of course it is supposed to be a mini Kamado, so carry on. I looked around the house for small things to cook in and on and consulted the guru again for advice. My first cook on it was cornbread and it was an epic fail. Cooked in an 8inch round pie pan and tried to raise the cooking grate into the dome by perching a 10.5 inch round Weber grate I found at the local Ace hardware on top of the handles of the grill grate that came with the Kub. The thermometer is so long and sticks so far into the dome that it stuck in the cornbread, tilted the grate, pan and all and half my cornbread ran into the new Kub. Eek. No pictures of that failure, for obvious reasons, I was not at my best. Ok, new day dawns, regroup, decide my second effort will be my favorite most forgiving cook, beef ribs. From the guru tips I inverted a beer can chicken cooker in the fire owl of the Kub, placed the lump around it including a few pieces of cocochar and lit him up with the map torch just like I do Saphira. I had him pegged at 300 in no time and that little guy held there for like 4 hours rock solid. I used a small SS pan covered in foil on top of the inverted beer can chicken cooker to act as a sort of deflector and catch the drippings. I cooked a 3 rib rack of ribs directly on the main grate (could have fit 4) over the drip pan. Drum roll...they were excellent! The little guy totally redeemed himself after the failure. Or maybe I just got a lot smarter...not!
For some unknown reason I am having trouble posting pictures here that are not new ones, so once I get that figured out I will post a few more stand alone pics of the Kub and the ribs. Bottom line, I will be excited to use the Kub for camping. Usually we have just 2 adults, so I can make that work pretty easily. When we go with friends, I will still also take the table top gasser and the 12inch DO, because I will need all the options available. I will say after eating the ribs from the Kub my sweetheart asked if he could throw the table top cheapie in the trash! As for the Kub itself, I think Vision made a nice solid little kamado at a very affordable price, it is definitely for a very small niche market but it is capable of cooking great food. Last, I am posting this here because I appreciate you all so much and the group is so wonderful, I know some of you are campers and thought this might be helpful. I won't post the on the guru forum because I think they have covered the Vision P pretty well already. Any advice you would like to give about accessories or technique for me would be appreciated. First big camping trip planned for April, that is if it ever stops raining on the Oregon Coast! Happy trails.
