42 SBB vs Two 32 BB?

[Pultzar]

As I consider my first KK cooker (coming from Primo Oval XL), I have been heavily leaning towards the 38 or 42.  However, I realized that I should also consider the 32 while leaving open the option to add a second 32.

Most of my cooks are for 5 people with the occasional larger cook (10-12 people) a few times a year.

Pros of two 32s

• Two independent cooking zones allowing both different temperatures or methods (indirect in one, rotisserie in the other)
• When cooking small, the smaller KK is theoretically easier to deal with?
• I prefer the looks of the 32 vs the 42.
• Perhaps easier to move the grates around since they are in one piece? Or are they more of a pain because they are heavier?

Pros of the 42

• Easier to cook a large quantity of food
• The capability to cook longer food items, such as a pig or large in-tact fish.
• I like the wider charcoal basket which gives more room directly above the coals

I suppose a compromise would be to start with the 38 with the option of adding another cooker, but I risk the mental torture of "I should have gotten the bigger one!" or "I should have gotten the smaller one" haha

Anything else that I am missing?

[5698k]

You’ve pretty much covered everything. I have a 19”, a 23”, and a 32”, and they all have their virtues. I got the 32” most recently, just when the 38’s were released. I really thought the 32” would be more than I’d ever need, but once I got it, I sometimes wish for the 38”. I’ll say this, the grates on the 32” are fairly heavy, and I understand that the grates on the 38”/42” are multi pieced, which could be an advantage. In your situation, I’d have way more fun with two 32’s, given the extra flexibility of two completely separate cookers.

The big grills are designed such that they can cook like a small one given the basket splitters, which I believe are standard on the 38” and 42”.

Either way, you’re going to really enjoy your cooker (s), whatever you decide.


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[Cheesehead_Griller]

I have a 32 and can put a lot of food on it with ease. If you are open to two cookers then I'd get the 32 and use it for a bit. See how it goes. Maybe you would like to add a 22 instead of another 32. I've done 8 pork butts on my 32 with ease. That's when I wish I had a 22 to put some potatoes, beans, etc. on while the 32 is doing its thing. I couldn't justify a 32 as a secondary cooker. 

[Tucker]

I have a 19.5 and 23. I can cook for up to 60 people with both going.

When it is just my wife and I the 19.5 works beautifully.

[C6Bill]

@tekobo Our resident expert on multiples lol

[tekobo]

My advice?  Start with the biggest one that you are likely to genuinely need.  You will regret it if not.  You can supplement with a 23 if the second is simply to allow you to do things at a different temp as opposed to giving you the equivalent space again.

[Pultzar]

Thank you @tekobo! Lately I have been leaning towards the 38 or 42 due to their ability to do a smaller cook in the middle with ample indirect space on the sides to move food in and out of. The 38 would offer about 14" x 15" of charcoal area, while the 42 would be around 18" x 15" area.

Although I'm not sure how nice it is to cook this way? Ie is it better to divide in half and use left vs right sides?

[tekobo]

The biggest KK that I own is a 32 so I don't have the flexibility to cook in the middle as you describe.  I think you'll find it fun to experiment and may choose to split differently for different cooks.  Hopefully someone who actually has a 38 or 42 will chime in with more useful input!

[Mcjudsten]

I have the 42” and the 16”.   There are times that I wish the 16 was a 21 (weeknights when cooking for 5-6 and the 16 is a bit small).  Below is the 42 with the center split set up - you can flex the width quite a bit.  I prefer this to splitting left or right side for most cooks.  I typically only split to the side when smoking brisket, pork, etc.  

Hope this helps

[Pultzar]

@Mcjudsten That is really helpful, thank you!  How is the lid handling of the 42 considering that it weighs 360 pounds?  I know it is spring assist but it still has a lot of momentum?

Right now I am trying to decide between the 38 and 42.  I prefer the looks of the 38 and I suspect the lid is a little easier to handle, but who doesn't want the added space of the 42?  For me it's less about being able to cook a massive amount of food at once and more about having a center fire and space to the sides to bring food in and out of, keep food warm, etc.