Choosing between charcoal flavor and pellet convenience used to mean picking a side. Combo grills pull both into one frame, so you can sear over real fire on Saturday and dial in a steady smoke on Sunday without owning two separate rigs. The lineup below covers compact travel models, full-size offset smokers, dual-fuel workhorses, and the cover that keeps them all standing up to weather. Each pick solves a different cooking problem, so the right match depends on your space, your fuel budget, and how much babysitting you actually enjoy.
The Leading Options At A Glance
Oklahoma Joe’s Rambler Portable Charcoal Grill
Oklahoma Joe’s Bronco Pro Drum Smoker and Grill
Comnova Grill Cover for Pit Boss Memphis Ultimate
Oklahoma Joe’s Firecraft Series Modular Open Fire Barrel Charcoal Grill
Oklahoma Joe’s Highland Offset Reverse Flow Smoker and Grill
Oklahoma Joe’s Canyon Combo Dual Fuel Propane and Charcoal Grill
Oklahoma Joe’s Longhorn Offset Charcoal Smoker and Grill
Meet The Standout Selections
Small enough to ride in a trunk, big enough to feed four hungry tailgaters. The Rambler puts real charcoal flavor on a 218-square-inch grate, which is roughly the area of two dinner plates laid side by side. It is built for people who chase parking-lot cookouts and river weekends more than full backyard spreads.
A height-adjustable charcoal tray lets you slide the fire closer or farther from the food, so seared steaks and slow-rubbed chicken thighs both work without swapping rigs. Compared to the larger offset and drum smokers below, the Rambler trades capacity for portability, and that trade pays off the moment you load it into an SUV.
Useful Strengths
- Adjustable fire height for true heat control on a tabletop frame
- Compact 218-square-inch grate handles burgers, kabobs, and a couple of chicken halves at once
- Lightweight build that travels well to campsites, parks, and away games
- Honest charcoal flavor without gas shortcuts
Things To Consider
- Too small for brisket flats or full racks of ribs in a single session
- Owners commonly report needing to manage airflow manually during longer cooks
- No lid handle heat shield, so a basic glove earns its keep
Quick Facts
Who Will Love This
Tailgaters, campers, and small-balcony dwellers who want charcoal flavor without a permanent backyard footprint.
Look Elsewhere When
Step up to the Oklahoma Joe’s Canyon Combo Dual Fuel Propane and Charcoal Grill if you host ten or more people regularly.
The Bronco Pro is a vertical drum smoker that thinks like a pitmaster’s tool. Its 366-square-inch grate and sealed lid work together to trap smoke and heat, so ribs and shoulders cook in their own aromatic envelope. This is a barrel smoker built for cooks who measure success in bark and smoke ring, not in convenience.
The oversized charcoal basket supports more than 15 hours of burn time, meaning you can load it before bed and wake up to pulled pork without middle-of-the-night refueling. Where the Rambler leans small and portable, the Bronco Pro stays put and rewards patience, and the airflow system gives real low-and-slow control once you learn its personality.
Positive Takeaways
- 15-plus hour burn from a single charcoal load
- Sealed drum body holds smoke and steady heat for competition-style results
- 366-square-inch grate handles multiple racks or two pork shoulders
- Vertical format saves deck space compared to offset smokers
Points To Note
- Vertical drum design takes practice to master heat zones
- Cleaning the charcoal basket after long cooks is a real chore
- Heavier and far less portable than the Rambler
Made For
Backyard pitmasters who want overnight cooks and authentic smoke without a full offset rig.
Consider Something Else When
Pick the Oklahoma Joe’s Highland Offset Reverse Flow Smoker and Grill if you prefer horizontal firebox access over vertical drum loading.
A combo grill left uncovered collects rust, pollen, and water in every seam. This 75-inch cover from Comnova wraps large pellet-and-charcoal combos like the Pit Boss Memphis Ultimate and Smoke Hollow 4-in-1 in a 600D polyester shell. It is a protective accessory, not a cooker, but the right cover extends the life of every metal surface on the list.
Adjustable Velcro straps cinch the sides down, which keeps the cover from ballooning off in coastal winds. Measure your grill carefully before ordering, since the 75-by-22-by-47-inch frame only fits full-size combo units. After a wet season, you may find this cover is the difference between pulling the rig out in spring or troubleshooting seized hinges.
The Practical Payoff
- Heavy 600D fabric resists UV, rain, and dust over long outdoor stretches
- Velcro side straps hold tight in wind, which cheaper covers rarely do
- Tailored fit for popular 4-in-1 combo grills, including Pit Boss Memphis models
- One accessory protects a major investment through off-season storage
Worth Bearing In Mind
- Dimensions are fixed, so smaller combos will have excess fabric pooling
- Polyester shell needs occasional wiping to prevent mildew in humid climates
- Color options are limited, which matters only on visible patios
Best Suited To
Owners of full-size 4-in-1 combo grills who keep their setup outdoors year round.
A Better Fit Elsewhere
Skip this if you only cook on the Oklahoma Joe’s Rambler Portable Charcoal Grill, since a small fitted cover handles that size more cleanly.
The Firecraft barrel is a different kind of charcoal-and-pellet-adjacent tool. It throws away the lid and trusts the cook to manage the fire directly. With 480 square inches of total cooking area split across two round grates, it functions as a grill, a fire pit, and a cooking station in a single open frame.
Twist-lock handles release the grates for stoking without lifting heavy lids or moving hot coals, and heavy-gauge wire construction holds up to repeated live-fire sessions. Compared to the Bronco Pro’s sealed drum, this Firecraft model invites interaction with the fire, which is exactly what live-fire enthusiasts want and what beginners sometimes find intimidating.
Standout Benefits
- 360-degree fire access without disturbing food
- Doubles as a fire pit when the cook is done
- Heavy-gauge wire grates resist corrosion over many seasons
- Modular frame scales up with add-ons from the Firecraft series
Honest Caveats
- Open frame means no wind protection on blustery days
- No lid, so true low-and-slow smoking is harder than on the Bronco Pro
- Takes up more deck space than a portable like the Rambler
Feature Snapshot
Whose Shelf It Belongs On
Backyard hosts who love live-fire cooking, want a grill that moonlights as a fire pit, and don’t mind working the flames by hand.
Skip It When
Reach for the Oklahoma Joe’s Longhorn Offset Charcoal Smoker and Grill instead if you want a sealed chamber for overnight ribs.
The Highland is the most refined offset smoker on this list. Reverse flow means heat and smoke travel across the cook chamber before reaching the stack, evening out the hot spots that plague cheaper offsets. With 1,093 square inches of cooking area, it handles two pork shoulders and a tray of ribs in a single load.
Removable baffles let you switch between reverse-flow and traditional offset layouts, so you can experiment with smoke profiles instead of locking into one style. Where the Bronco Pro is a vertical drum with one personality, the Highland hands you the keys to two, which is why competition cooks gravitate toward it.
The Upside
- 1,093-square-inch capacity handles serious cookouts without splitting batches
- Switchable baffles support both reverse flow and traditional offset smoking
- Heavy steel body holds steady temperatures across long cooks
- Indirect heat setup produces reliable smoke rings on brisket and ribs
Trade-Offs To Consider
- Larger footprint demands a dedicated patio corner or shed
- First-timers report a learning curve to balance baffle and damper settings
- Hardwood splits are sold separately, so fuel adds to total cost
The Right Fit
Intermediate to advanced smokers chasing competition-style bark without buying a custom-fabricated pit.
Swap It Out When
Choose the Oklahoma Joe’s Canyon Combo Dual Fuel Propane and Charcoal Grill if you also want propane for fast weeknight cooks.
The Canyon Combo is the most flexible charcoal-and-pellet-style unit on the list, in spirit if not in pellet form. A 3-burner propane side hits 36,000 BTU for fast weeknight dinners, while the charcoal side handles low-and-slow smoking with hardwood splits. You get both fuel worlds without managing two separate grills.
Across 1,031 square inches of total area, you can smoke two pork shoulders on the charcoal chamber and still flip a dozen burgers on the propane side. It is the rig for households where Tuesday is burgers and Saturday is brisket. Compared to the Highland’s all-charcoal dedication, this one trades purity for weekday speed.
Notable Upsides
- Two fuel systems in one frame for genuine cooking flexibility
- 750-square-inch primary charcoal chamber fits two pork shoulders at once
- Propane tank sold separately, which lets you choose your fuel supplier
- Fast propane startup for weeknight meals alongside weekend smoke sessions
Some Limits To Know
- Propane tank not included, so plan a separate purchase
- Wide frame needs a sizable patio or deck footprint
- More moving parts mean more seasonal maintenance than a single-fuel unit
Product Snapshot
Perfect Match For
Hosts who feed a crowd weekly and want smoke on weekends plus fast gas-grilled dinners during the week.
Reach For A Different Pick When
Pick the Oklahoma Joe’s Rambler Portable Charcoal Grill for tailgates, since the Canyon Combo is far too large to load into a vehicle.
The Longhorn is the classic horizontal offset that built Oklahoma Joe’s reputation. With 1,060 square inches split between a 751-square-inch primary chamber and a 309-square-inch secondary shelf, it covers family gatherings and small competition setups alike. It is a workhorse, not a showpiece.
Hardwood splits and chunks load into a side firebox for traditional offset cooking, producing the kind of clean smoke flavor that defines Texas-style BBQ. It lacks the Highland’s reverse-flow baffle system, so managing the damper takes more attention. For shoppers who want time-tested design without the extra engineering, the Longhorn delivers steady weekend results.
A Favorable Mix
- 1,060-square-inch capacity handles full cookouts with room to spare
- Traditional offset layout produces classic hardwood-smoked flavor
- Secondary shelf adds versatility for sides and warming
- Sturdy construction backed by years of proven design
Where It Is Less Suited
- No reverse-flow baffles, so heat balancing requires more practice
- Long body demands a sizeable flat surface for safe placement
- Single-fuel design lacks the propane flexibility of the Canyon Combo
Core Details
Built With In Mind
Weekend smokers who want a proven offset smoker with enough surface area for family-and-friends gatherings.
Where A Sibling Pick Shines
Step up to the Oklahoma Joe’s Highland Offset Reverse Flow Smoker and Grill if you want baffle-driven heat evenness.
Choosing The Right Combo For Your Backyard
The right combo grill depends on how you actually cook, not on which model has the biggest spec sheet. Match the design to your routine and the rest of the decision gets easier.
Fuel flexibility versus flavor purity. Dual-fuel rigs like the Canyon Combo give you propane speed and charcoal depth in one frame, which suits households that cook three nights a week. Pure charcoal and offset smokers like the Highland and Longhorn demand more patience but reward cooks chasing bark and smoke ring over weeknight convenience.
Capacity and footprint. Tabletop models like the Rambler handle small groups on balconies or tailgates, while full-size offsets and drums like the Longhorn and Bronco Pro need dedicated patio space. Measure the deck first, then match the grate to your usual headcount, since a 218-square-inch grate struggles with brisket but a 1,060-square-inch chamber handles a full holiday spread.
Airflow and chamber style. Reverse-flow offsets use baffles to even out heat across the cook chamber, while traditional offsets rely on damper management. Vertical drums like the Bronco Pro trade firebox access for compact footprints and long burns. Picking the chamber style that matches your patience level saves a lot of frustration on the first overnight cook.
Accessories and protection. A 600D cover like the Comnova extends the life of any metal grill left outdoors. Measure twice before ordering, since mismatched covers either gap at the seams or pool around smaller frames.
Key Considerations Across These Picks
Pitfalls Shoppers Hit
Many first-time combo buyers chase the largest cooking area and ignore the footprint. A 1,060-square-inch offset smoker takes up far more patio than its grate number suggests, so measure before committing. Another common miss is skipping a cover. Outdoor grills without protective covers accumulate rust in seams and around damper wheels within a single winter, and replacements are rarely cheap.
Where The Extra Money Goes
Higher-tier picks like the Highland earn their cost through heavier-gauge steel, thicker grates, and engineered airflow like reverse-flow baffles. That extra steel holds steady temperatures through overnight cooks and shrugs off dent damage from routine moves. For casual weekend grilling, the Longhorn or even the Rambler cover the same flavor profile at a lower entry cost. The upgrade pays off when you start timing brisket by internal temperature rather than clock.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a charcoal and pellet grill combo? A combo grill combines two fuel systems, typically charcoal and gas or charcoal and wood pellets, so you can smoke low-and-slow on one side and sear hot on the other. The lineup above leans into charcoal-forward combos with one dual-fuel option.
Can a charcoal combo grill smoke a full brisket? Yes, larger units like the Oklahoma Joe’s Highland and Longhorn have primary chambers over 750 square inches, which is enough for a whole packer brisket. Smaller models like the Rambler fit only trimmed flats.
Do combo grills need electricity or pellets? Charcoal-based combos on this list need only charcoal, hardwood splits, and a propane tank where applicable. Pellet components require electricity, so charcoal-focused combos remain usable anywhere a grill can sit.
How long does a charcoal basket last during a smoke? On a full drum smoker like the Bronco Pro, the oversized charcoal basket supports 15-plus hours of burn, enough for most overnight cooks. Smaller charcoal grills need refueling after two to four hours.
Is a cover necessary for an outdoor combo grill? A heavy 600D cover like the Comnova significantly reduces weather damage during off-season storage. Without one, grills left outdoors commonly show surface rust and seized hinges within a year.
Closing Remarks
The best combo grill is the one that matches your cooking rhythm, not the one with the most features. Pick the fuel style that fits your week, the footprint that fits your patio, and the chamber design that fits your patience. With those decisions made, any of the seven picks above will earn its space in your backyard for years to come.