CGS Chariot - Ceramic Grill Mover CGS Chariot - Ceramic Grill Mover

How We Move Heavy Kamado Grills

Moving a heavy ceramic kamado grill is no small job—especially when installing a Kamado Joe, Big Green Egg, or other full-size and oversized kamado grill into a table or outdoor kitchen cutout.

We learned that firsthand years ago delivering ceramic grills across Dallas-Fort Worth. After trying nearly every method imaginable, we developed the CGS Chariot as a faster, and significantly easier way to lift and carry the odd-shaped kamados.

We've used the Chariot for our own installs and offered it to customers doing self-installs. The customer response has been remarkably consistent: it makes moving a heavy kamado much easier.

Local to Dallas-Fort Worth? Rent a Chariot

If you only need the Chariot for a one-time grill move or installation, we also rent Chariots locally at our Denton TX store.

The two-day rental is just $25. We collect a $100 refundable deposit when you pick up the Chariot, then refund $75 when it's returned within two days.

Do I Really Need a Chariot?

While that is ultimately your decision, we will not lift or move a round kamado with an 18-inch or larger cooking grid without one. Heavy ceramic grills are bulky, difficult to grip, and expensive to repair or replace if accidentally dropped or damaged.

With very few exceptions, such as the Kamado Joe Konnected series, ceramic grills feature no dedicated lifting handles. The dome handle, hinge assembly, metal bands, and side-shelf brackets are not intended to serve as lifting points for the full weight of the grill.

What Can Happen If You Lift by the Bands or Handle?

Lifting a kamado by its hardware subjects the band and hinge assembly to vertical shear forces it was not designed to carry. How that stress affects the grill depends partly on whether the band assembly uses locating pins.

What are locating pins? Some kamado grills use small metal pins built into the band assembly that sit in corresponding holes or recesses very near edge. Kamado Joe and some older Big Green Egg models use this type of band system.

The locating pins help position the bands, but they are not lifting points. If the grill is lifted by the handle, bands, hinge, or side-shelf brackets, a large amount of the grill's weight can be transferred into the band assembly, placing unnecessary pressure on the ceramic around those small pin locations.

That can create several serious problems:

• Bands Slipping on the Ceramics: On grills without locating pins, the bands rely primarily on clamping pressure around the smooth ceramic shell. Lifting by the bands or dome handle can cause a band to shift or slide out of position, potentially allowing the dome or base to separate from the band assembly.
• Band and Hinge Misalignment: Even if the bands remain in place, excessive lifting pressure can flex, twist, or shift the hinge and band geometry. Once misaligned, properly aligning the dome and base—and maintaining a consistent gasket seal—can become difficult.
• Ceramic Damage Around Locating Pins: On grills that use locating pins, including Kamado Joe models and some older Big Green Eggs, lifting forces can become concentrated where those pins contact the ceramic. Excessive stress can chip, crack, or break the ceramic around the pin location and, in severe cases, require replacement of the affected ceramic component.

What Comes in the Chariot Kit

The Chariot kit supplies the key custom-made components required to assemble the mover:

• Two Custom Cut-to-Shape Wooden Support Braces: Contoured to fit the side profile of your specific kamado size.
• Two Heavy-Duty Threaded Steel Rods: Complete with the necessary nuts and washers.
• Mounting Screws: Used to securely fasten the contoured braces to your 2x4 carrying arms.

Included Specialty Drill Bits

We include the essential drill and driver bits needed to assemble the Chariot:

• Pilot drill bit for the mounting screw holes
• Phillips-head driver bit for installing the screws
• Spade bit for drilling the threaded-rod pass-through holes

What You Supply: Two Standard 2x4 Lumber Arms

You will need to source one basic item locally: two standard 8-foot 2x4 wood studs. Pick up two straight, clean 2x4s from your local lumberyard or home improvement store. Avoid studs with large knots, as those can create weak points. Most folks trim the studs to approximately 5- to 6-foot overall lengths for easier handling.

Why don't we include the 2x4s? Shipping 8-foot lumber creates substantial oversize carrier charges. Buying two 2x4s locally costs far less and keeps the Chariot kit economical.

Tools you supply: A saw, drill, tape measure, and pencil.

Chariot Build Video

Every Chariot kit also includes access to our step-by-step video build guide and instructions. Once built, the Chariot can be stored for future grill moves, outdoor kitchen projects, upgrades, or helping out a friend or neighbor.

Installing a Kamado Joe into an Outdoor Kitchen?

Kamado Joe Classic and Big Joe grills are among the most common kamados we move with the Chariot. Watch the video below to see how we lower a heavy Kamado Joe into an outdoor kitchen cutout using the Chariot setup and the original Kamado Joe shipping box.

Kamado Joe Disclaimer: Ceramic Grill Store is an independent company and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Kamado Joe. Kamado Joe, Classic Joe, Big Joe, and Konnected Joe are trademarks of 26North Partners. Brand and model names are used solely to describe product compatibility and application.