Jon B. Posted November 9, 2018 Report Share Posted November 9, 2018 I was just going to send these pictures to @Aussie Ora in a private message but then thought others may be interested in seeing the comparison. Maybe I can tempt Aussie to take one of the remaining 16's off of Dennis's hands . I have owned the Joe Jr. for about 3 years. Like Aussie, I love that little cooker for small and fast cooks. Used it so much that I told myself I would never be without a mini kamado. Thus when Dennis announced discontinuing the 16 size, I had to get one. The Joe Jr. is going to the family cottage. Here is a side by side picture of the two cookers. The Joe has a slide vent with a Daisy wheel. The KK comes with 2 grates. The Joe comes with one grate, a stand to support the upper cooking level and the heat deflector. I use a pie pan as a drip pan and it fits in between the deflector and the cooking grate. Here is a picture of the round Joe grate on top of the upper KK grate. Both grates are hinged to be able to add charcoal or smoking wood. Here is a picture of the charcoal baskets. The Joe Jr. has a Kick Ash Basket in it. Picture of the lowest cooking position. Picture of the upper cooking position. (no picture of the KK with the lower grate on top of the upper grate for the 3 position). Comments: The Joe Jr. is around 65+ lbs. and is more portable, however it was too heavy to use safely on the boat (bought an Acorn Jr. for the boat). At the same temp cook, the KK burns less charcoal than the Joe (and it hardly uses any) even with stabilizing the KK at cooking temp. They both heat up to temp in about the same time.......the Joe a little faster maybe. The KK holds way more charcoal than the Joe for longer cooks. I put a ceramic plate in the bottom of the Joe under the fire basket to protect the bottom of the Joe...appeared to be a weak spot to me. In just two cooks I found that I could control and maintain temps easier on the KK. The major difference is the quality. The Joe is fragile. The KK is a tank. I have been ready for a new gasket on the Joe for about a year. I have been lucky (careful) and have not cracked the Joe firebox....not going to happen on the KK. For me it boiled down to quality and longer life. I really like using this size cooker and wanted to make sure I would always have one. I was told by someone "in the know" that the Joe Jr. sales were not flying out the door, so who knows if it will be available in the future??? The KK will become my "go to" small cooker and the Joe Jr. will live out it's remaining years at the family cottage. Grab a 16" KK TT before they are gone (Aussie)(Ha!!!!!) 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MacKenzie Posted November 9, 2018 Report Share Posted November 9, 2018 Great comparison, Jon, like night and day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tony b Posted November 9, 2018 Report Share Posted November 9, 2018 Nice writeup, Jon! I have the baby Grill Dome, but haven't used it in years. With a basket splitter in the KK, I can do all the small cooks that I used to do in the Grill Dome. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tucker Posted November 9, 2018 Report Share Posted November 9, 2018 Very interesting, and validating for those of us that have not owned anything other than a KK. you can see the difference easily. thanks for sharing Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tucker Posted November 9, 2018 Report Share Posted November 9, 2018 BTW, is you cottage on the St Lawrence? Cousins have several places outside of Clayton, directly on the river, many a fond memory for me up there in the summer, and one winter. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aussie Ora Posted November 10, 2018 Report Share Posted November 10, 2018 Great write up Jon b you can definitely see the differanceOutback Kamado Bar and Grill Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jon B. Posted November 12, 2018 Author Report Share Posted November 12, 2018 On 11/9/2018 at 2:48 PM, Tucker said: BTW, is you cottage on the St Lawrence? Cousins have several places outside of Clayton, directly on the river, many a fond memory for me up there in the summer, and one winter. Tucker....our family cottage is in Michigan on the St. Claire River, northeast of Detroit. I have a buddy that has a cottage on the river across from Clayton....beautiful country!!! We visit him 2 or 3 times a year...............but only in the summer . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jon B. Posted November 12, 2018 Author Report Share Posted November 12, 2018 Important note................If anyone would happen get a little rolling cart like the ones I bought, be sure to place the KK so that the lid opens in the long direction of the cart. I had the 16" sitting on the cart the other direction (as pictured below), This weekend, I opened the lid quickly and the cart & cooker started to tip over. I was able to grab the rim of the cooker and keep it from tumbling but it was scary for a few seconds. The cooker did not tip over...it was the cart that tipped with the cooker sitting solidly on the cart. I rotated it 90 degrees and tested it.....no problems. The 19" was sitting in the "proper" direction because of the side shelves. I would not have been able to have stopped that from tipping if it started to go. Below.........This is the wrong way to have the KK on these rolling carts. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MacKenzie Posted November 12, 2018 Report Share Posted November 12, 2018 Good point, Jon. Now that you mention it the centre of gravity would have shifted as the lid was opened. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jon B. Posted November 12, 2018 Author Report Share Posted November 12, 2018 I thought about your rolling cart also Mac...............................................be careful!!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MacKenzie Posted November 12, 2018 Report Share Posted November 12, 2018 Just now, Jon B. said: I thought about your rolling cart also Mac...............................................be careful!!!!! I have a fairly big base so the wheels are far apart but I will check that out to make certain things are OK. Thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jon B. Posted November 12, 2018 Author Report Share Posted November 12, 2018 1 minute ago, MacKenzie said: I have a fairly big base so the wheels are far apart but I will check that out to make certain things are OK. Thanks. I let go of the handle and the lid flew open...that momentum was enough to send it toppling . 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MacKenzie Posted November 12, 2018 Report Share Posted November 12, 2018 I just checked mine and I am good to go. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonj Posted November 12, 2018 Report Share Posted November 12, 2018 Jon, thanks for sharing the tip. I noticed you had them rotated differently when you posted but didn't think about the weight shift being an issue. Glad you caught it! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bruce Pearson Posted November 12, 2018 Report Share Posted November 12, 2018 Disaster of averted! Wooo we 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tony b Posted November 12, 2018 Report Share Posted November 12, 2018 That was a close one, indeed! One of my favorite sayings - "Gravity always wins!" 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MacKenzie Posted November 12, 2018 Report Share Posted November 12, 2018 One thing we do know for sure, if the Joe fell over it would be humptidumpti all over again but I wouldn't be surprised if the KK was still an intact KK, mind you I don't want to test this theory. 1 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tony b Posted November 13, 2018 Report Share Posted November 13, 2018 34 minutes ago, MacKenzie said: mind you I don't want to test this theory. No, you really don't. Damage would be unavoidable, even if it were only cracked tiles. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aussie Ora Posted February 24, 2019 Report Share Posted February 24, 2019 Important note................If anyone would happen get a little rolling cart like the ones I bought, be sure to place the KK so that the lid opens in the long direction of the cart. I had the 16" sitting on the cart the other direction (as pictured below), This weekend, I opened the lid quickly and the cart & cooker started to tip over. I was able to grab the rim of the cooker and keep it from tumbling but it was scary for a few seconds. The cooker did not tip over...it was the cart that tipped with the cooker sitting solidly on the cart. I rotated it 90 degrees and tested it.....no problems. The 19" was sitting in the "proper" direction because of the side shelves. I would not have been able to have stopped that from tipping if it started to go. Below.........This is the wrong way to have the KK on these rolling carts. Wow that would have spun you out. Great saveOutback Kamado Bar and Grill Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
