Good but not too expensive charcoal grill

If you're looking to grill only, not smoke, roast et cetera, check out Tuscan grills.  There are a few styles out there, not super expensive and elegantly simple:  metal grate over bed of coals.  Some have lugs on the frame for height adjustment.  K.I.S.S. rule applies. 

Yeah I've been dreaming about good pellet grill too, but they're pricey...
Quick & easy solution, how about ceder-planks!? It does get the aroma.
I usually use the planks more for trout & kokes, but definitely helps.   

I purchased a Traeger yesterday. Bought it at the Costco in Folsom. I was surprised they had some in stock.

The model I bought is the Mesa 22. They included a nice cover and a bottle of dry rub. 
Cooked a whole chicken yesterday. Tonight I'll try a tri-tip.

Look for the Costco Roadshows in your area.
https://www.costco.com/traeger-schedule.html

Al

I'm a bit late to this but I've been shopping for a charcoal grill, too.  My Grandkid bought a $99 Expert (brand) grill at Walmart and when I looked it up on Consumer Reports, it was #3 on their list of of recommended grills, finishing well above any of the Weber kettles (which was what I planned to buy).

Not recommending it, and I have no idea about durability, but if CR is right, you don't have to go top dollar to get a good grill.

I purchased a Traeger yesterday. Bought it at the Costco in Folsom. I was surprised they had some in stock.

The model I bought is the Mesa 22. They included a nice cover and a bottle of dry rub. 
Cooked a whole chicken yesterday. Tonight I'll try a tri-tip.

Any issues w/it? I bought a Traeger Junior Elite back in 2018 and have used it less than 10x. I rarely return anything at Costco, but I'm about to go ghetto and return this POS. On July 4th, I was bbq-ing at 225 and the bish went up to 525! Totally unreliable.

I want to pick up a weber too, especially since time has slowed down w/this pandemic and there's more time to get the heat right.

You can check out the akorn kamado grill. It's cheap for like 300 bucks or so. Wont last you a lifetime, like those amado by big green egg. I have one it can go up to 900 degrees for direct searing.



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The costco roadshow Traeger does a great job  not quite hot enough to sear. For smoking ad a smoke tube for tons of smoke.  Turkey and Tritip  in it is amazing!
In 110 summer heat the smoke mode was at 225 instead of 180. Also my nephews wife left it on one time and it melted down luckily on concrete area and did not burn  the house down. Costco did  the return of a melted mess after some questions regarding what was it lol. The It almost burned my house down comment ended any pushback.

Next purchase is going to be the Traeger Ironwood model with remote control to phone.

The costco roadshow Traeger does a great job  not quite hot enough to sear. For smoking ad a smoke tube for tons of smoke.  Turkey and Tritip  in it is amazing!
In 110 summer heat the smoke mode was at 225 instead of 180. Also my nephews wife left it on one time and it melted down luckily on concrete area and did not burn  the house down. Costco did  the return of a melted mess after some questions regarding what was it lol. The It almost burned my house down comment ended any pushback.

Next purchase is going to be the Traeger Ironwood model with remote control to phone.

I used  Traeger grill for 12 years and Camp Chef for 6 years.  The Traeger used to be the only choice but now we have many other choices.  You might review Camp Chef models before you buy Traeger again.

Paul

Just get a Weber.  It gets the job done better than 90% of the fancier, more expensive stuff out there.

+1000

If you know how to work the coals and vents, you can do everything on a Weber that you can do on any of the above mentioned grills, except for the Hawaiian Tandoor looking thing.

Grills aren't supposed to be luxurious! You're cooking over a fire outdoors-keep it simple.

Just get a Weber.  It gets the job done better than 90% of the fancier, more expensive stuff out there.

+1000

If you know how to work the coals and vents, you can do everything on a Weber that you can do on any of the above mentioned grills, except for the Hawaiian Tandoor looking thing.

Grills aren't supposed to be luxurious! You're cooking over a fire outdoors-keep it simple.

Yep, got a Weber. Thanks!

Just get a Weber.  It gets the job done better than 90% of the fancier, more expensive stuff out there.

Get on Craigslist and look for a "Weber Charcoal Grill."  the 22.5 inch model is as common as they come.  If the cover and bowel  porcelain is still intact it is a good to go grill. Clean it with a can or two of dollar store oven cleaner. And go to town.  If you need a new grate, an awesome upgrade is the hinged weber grate.  You can grill, smoke, indirect or direct grill, beer can a bird, get the rotisserie for it and make the best smoked turkey you will ever eat.

More reasons why a Weber Kettler is better than some ceramic grill.

Drop a weber and what happens? Pick it up and keep grilling. 
Drop a Ceramic Green Egg/joe or any other glass grill and what happens?

You discover YouTube video's on how to put Humpty Dumpty back together again. If isn't steel it ain't real!

I have had my Kettle since 2006, I only bought it then because my previous grill was left with a coworker when I deployed to Iraq, he left the place and took my grill with it. I have the Weber rotisserie for it as well since 2007, My Q100 portable Gas Grill since 2008, my 18" Weber Smokey Mountain since 2016. I loves me some Weber, and they have never failed me.

The Weber kettles are great bbq's. I've owned a few over the years.