Charbroil Performance TRU-Infrared 5-Burner Cabinet-Style Propane Gas Grill

I was stunned by how easy & straightforward this was to assemble. It took me only about 90 mins, and that much time was only because I was being uber-cautious since I had never assembled a gas grill before. The instructions were almost entirely drawings- very few written words - but they were amazingly clear and precise. The best part was how they packed the nuts & bolts & screws & such; they were all blister-wrapped into sections onto a single piece of cardboard, the back side of which was printed with notes as to which section of the assembly each cluster of parts pertained. So clever! Why don't ALL manufacturers do this?! I have assembled an awful lot of DIY things in my life, some of them fairly easy, others inscrutably & devilishly IKEA-like. But this was actually a pleasure and a joy to build. It is a very solid grill for the price. I was concerned, because I was seriously "downsizing" from a fabulous workhorse Vermont Castings 3-burner (that cost me $398 way back in 2005!), that just could no longer be salvaged and repaired. I didn't want a flimsy or shoddy grill, but just wasn't willing to pay Weber prices....especially these days. It lights easily and gets to temp extremely rapidly compared to my old grill. I rubbed the grates with a little canola oil before first use. (But a day before that, i had done the "burn-in" at high heat for about 15 mins to get rid of all the manufacturing oils and such - whew that was smelly & smoky. You absolutely don't want to skip that step before you cook on a new grill.) The only downside is finding a good-quality grill cover that fits... this grill is very deep, even deeper than my old, larger grill. From handle to rear it is 25" deep but most covers are only 22" deep. So I will just have to keep the side tables folded down so that a decent cover can fit ...But then, that is another plus of this grill: those tables fold down easily. Meanwhile I am just using my existing (too-large) grill cover for now because it is still in great shape. (Word: Do not scrimp on grill covers! Get a good quality one, and it will last at least 2-3 years...or even longer if you patch any little holes on the underside with Gorilla tape 🙂) Very, very pleased with this purchase and the build quality of this grill.

Im happy with this grill it’s the perfect size for my patio. Easy to assemble by yourself. Great value for money! It heats up great. There was a small dent on the inside of the door. I had already assembled the foundation of the grill before I noticed. So I just continued.

The last grill we had was a Char-Broil unit my wife and I received as a wedding gift in 2000. That unit served us well for over a decade. We abused it, didn't cover it and let it sit out in the elements. So, 10+ years for a freebie was great. Fast forward to 2022 and the Mrs. has been bugging me for a new grill. So, I was dragging my feet and ended up ordering something from Amazon on Memorial Day weekend 2022. The big Charbroil box arrived a few days later and that was that. Into the garage it went, waiting for a time to put it together. Just so happened Father's Day weekend was soonest we could get to assembling it. The box with grill inside is fairly heavy but that is to be expected. Unpacking the unassembled grill was daunting. I struggle to assemble small Lego kits, so this was definitely a little intimidating. Real card-carrying persons versed in tools and do-it-yourself skills won't think twice. The only tool needed was a screwdriver. The instructions were illustrated well enough. With my son's help it took us about 2 hours to assemble the grill. Why do they always put the assembly instructions in the back of the manual? I cannot operate it, clean it or use it until it is assembled. Notable assembly comments. The first step where you literally assemble the stand portion of the grill was a little tedious. Once we were able to get the 2 panels attached to each other and then to the legs, things went quicker but this first step was challenging to get pieces lined up and screws to go in straight. Also, one of the panels has the sticker with make and model info on it. The panels are symmetrical so as long as the correct sides are attached to each other and to the legs in the correct orientation, it does not matter if the panels are upside down. However, the aforementioned model sticker will be upside down if you do not make sure to have it oriented correctly when assembling the grill in step 1. The instructions do not mention the model number sticker. Only after getting this together, did we notice it was upside down. Not a big deal but it was a bit demoralizing. It was a bit of a slog getting through each step. We were definitely stumped at Step 11. There was this clip in the illustration that we could not figure out how to attach. It was for the burner shelf and the burner. I actually called Char-Broil on a Saturday and was delighted that a guy named Jamie actually took my call. He told me that the clip, identified in the manual as Part M, was called a Venturi clip. He emailed me a link to the official Char-Broil YouTube channel showing me how to properly install the Venturi clip. Once we were past Step 11, the other steps were simple and quick. Put the grates in and small final assembly steps. I went out and got a LP propane canister from the local big box hardware store. We made burgers, brauts, potatoes, and cabbage on the grill that night. This unit is basic and is about the same as the unit we received as a wedding gift. One thing I did not notice and is a minor drawback is there are no tool hooks or rack. The wedding gift unit had these amenities. That being said, the official Char-Broil Tool Hooks and spice rack is also sold by Amazon. I ordered that kit, and it was easy enough to put into the predrilled holes in one of the shelves on the grill. SO now I have 4 tool hooks and a spice rack. I may also order the official Char_Broil cup holder/bottle opener. I also ordered the official Char-Broil grill cover that Amazon suggested, so now I have a cover to hopefully extend the longevity of this unit. Overall, I am happy with this unit. It is definitely an entry level unit. Still, it made the Mrs. happy and now that we have done a few meals now on it, including some steaks, I am glad we got it. Lastly, the father son time I mentioned in the review title while assembling the grill is something I will always look back on fondly.

I've had 3 Char-Broil grills. By far, this is the best engineered one of all! I was impressed by the fit and finish of all the parts. There were no misalignments in the entire assembly, and the instructions were very well set forth. The hardware was well thought out, making it unnecessary to have extra hands available. I notice things like that, and give them real credit for the design. I haven't cooked anything on it yet, but it lit up on the very first try. I've had good success cooking on my other two Char-Broils, and see no reason why this one should be any different.

I’m a little older so I took my time. 2.5 hours. All the parts were there. Follow the instructions. For its size, it’s a bit expensive but worth it. You put the propane tank inside. Great storage spot. The tricky part of the assembly is the clamp for the hose. Just screw it and don’t tighten it yet. Slip the hose in and then tighten it. It lit up in the first try. Outstanding. Run it for 15 minutes to eliminate any oils. Then cook your meats or fish. For long storage during winter, remove the AAA battery. I highly recommend this grill.

Third Tru-infrared grill I have owned in the past 12 years. If you are uncomfortable assembling things , this is not for you. The cabinet assembles easily if you follow instructions. Yes, it is lighter weight than my previous Tru-infrared, but the ballast weight keeps it on the ground. The back is open, but I added a plexiglass back panel below the hot parts to keep dirt and critters out. The infrared technology is different than the previous design. The emitter plates are integral with the ceramic coated grates. This is not a drawback. With a five minute warmup, the grill got up to 600 degrees. It actually cooked 3- 2 1/2" filets one minute quicker than the old grill. Very even heat distribution. The outrigger works very well. I am very pleased with the grill. Yes, I would rather have a more substantial cabinet and sub-structure. but this is what they are now providing. I have installed an aluminum liner, as suggested, to keep grease off of the bottom of the grill's heating chamber and have great hopes for longevity. The Tru-infrared cooking technology is truly outstanding. I got an extremely good deal on this grill, but received NO information on delivery except a statement that the delivery service would contact me to arrange delivery. After two weeks, I called the Amazon help desk and was told the delivery was at least two more weeks out. The help desk person was very helpful. The grill was delivered last week, after a month. This is not a reflection on the grill, but on the delivery service.

Great little BBQ for my small patio. Works great

I am so happy with this grill.. Exceeded my expectations...did delivery, setup, take away old grill.... Totally worth the $...stress free purchase.. It's my pizza oven & veggies grill...so easy to clean too...