If you’ve spent time trawling through the caravan groups on Facebook, you will be very familiar with the great BBQ grudge match: Weber vs Ziggy. Which is the best caravan BBQ? Let’s try to pick a winner here once and for all.
When we were doing up our wish list for our new van five years ago, one of the items we wanted was a BBQ on a slide-out drawer. Apart from the obvious convenience of having the BBQ out and usable in seconds, we both liked the idea of doing most of our cooking outside. At that time, I only ever considered one type of BBQ – the Weber Baby Q. We had seen many caravans with these fitted on pull-out kitchens and drawers and knew we wanted something similar.
The brand name Weber needs no introduction in this country. Virtually every household has had a Weber BBQ of one type or another. In our minds, there was no alternative. But not long after we picked up our van, we started to hear about this other BBQ – The Ziggy. Made by Ziegler & Brown, the Ziggy range of BBQs is a direct competitor to the Weber range and their owners rave about them. Even daring to say they are better than the Webers in the great Ziggy vs Weber debate.
Such is the rivalry between the owners of these two brands, that many an argument has ensued in happy hour conversations and on Facebook caravan and camping groups between the two camps. So which one is the best caravan BBQ when it comes to Ziggy vs Weber?
First, let’s look at the specifications for both the Weber vs Ziggy:
| Weber Baby Q Premium | Ziggy Nomad | |
|---|---|---|
| Number of burners | 1 | 1 |
| Main burner output | 10.6 MJ (10,000 BTU) | 10.8 MJ/h |
| Warranty | Five years | 7 years |
| Dimensions lid closed (cm) | 38(H) x 105(W) x 44(D) | 43(H) x 68(W) x 46(D) |
| Dimensions lid open (cm) | 64(H) x 105(W) x 56(D) | 29(H) x 68(W) x 46(D) |
| Primary cooking area | 1290 cm² | 1329 cm² |
| Weight | 11kg | 16.4kg |
| Grill Type | Porcelain-enamelled cast-iron | Vitreous enamelled cast iron |
| Flame Failure | No (must purchase an additional Weber Flame IQ for $199.95) | Yes |
| Cost | $399 | $499 |
Weber vs Ziggy – Flame failure safeguard system
Flame failure systems are safety devices that cut off the gas supply if the flame on a burner happens to blow out. This prevents a build-up of gas and, therefore, a potential gas explosion. It won’t stop the burner blowing out in windy conditions, it just makes it safer to use.
AS/NZS 5601.2 Clause 6.4 states that all gas appliances shall be fitted with flame safeguard systems to all burners. The note to this clause clarifies that this requirement also applies to appliances connected to quick-connect devices (such as gas bayonets). However, outdoor domestic BBQs connected directly to a gas cylinder do not require a flame failure device.
Does the Weber Baby Q and the Ziggy Nomad have flame failure installed?
Ziggy Nomad – The Ziggy Nomad does indeed have flame failure installed to meet Australian standards.
The Weber Baby Q – Weber has created the Weber Flame IQ, a safeguard system that can be retrofitted to your Weber Baby Q. Sadly, it costs an additional $199.95. The FAQ section of their website states that new Weber Baby Qs won’t be available to purchase with the flame failure device already fitted, and it will only be available as a retrofittable device.
But which is the best BBQ for caravans? Ziggy or Weber?
On the face of the Weber vs Ziggy debate, the two units are extremely similar. The Ziggy is slightly larger than the Baby Q. However, despite the grill’s slightly larger dimensions, the oval shape means it has much the same usable cooking area as the Weber’s more practical, rectangular grill.
In the great Ziggy vs Weber debate, a lot of Ziggy owners make a song and dance about cooking with the lid off being the Aussie way to BBQ. I think this is rubbish. Every BBQ I’ve ever owned has had a lid. This does three things – it traps the heat, so your food cooks quickly and more evenly; the smoke retained in the hood adds flavour to the meat; and most importantly, it keeps the flies off your food. Seriously, if you’re silly enough to want to cook in the Australian Outback with the lid off and nothing else will suffice, then the Ziggy is the one for you. From my perspective, cooking with the lid on is far more convenient.
So, while I rate the Weber, it’s not without faults in the Ziggy vs Weber debate …
I’ve been using our Weber for five years. While I’ve learnt how to get the best results, there are a few things that annoy me about it. The design of the lid allows air to travel through the cooking area thanks to small ‘vents’ at both ends of the lid. A decent breeze coming from the right direction is all it takes to blow out the burner. Sometimes, I have to position one of our chairs to act as a windbreak to prevent this from happening.
The other problem I have found with the Weber is the grill is not as non-stick as I would like. However, I’ve found that by allowing the grill to heat up before cooking eliminates this problem. A wipe over with an oil-soaked paper towel also helps. I imagine the same could be said about any other cast iron grill including the grill on the Ziggy when comparing Weber v Ziggy.
Still, the proof is in the pudding and, as far as I’m concerned, the Weber is awesome. Roasts are its forte, particularly a small 1.5kg pork or beef with vegies sufficient for a good meal for two, with leftovers. Steaks cook perfectly every time, the thicker, the better. Butterfly cuts of pork and lamb are perfect, and baked fish in a small pan takes just minutes. With the addition of a BBQ mat, bacon, eggs, tomatoes, mushrooms and onions cook in no time for a hearty breakfast.
In all fairness of the Ziggy vs Weber debate, all this great food should be just as easy to cook in the Ziggy, and everyone I’ve spoken to confirms this. So how do we decide which one is the better of the two?
Friends rate their Ziggy…
Friends of ours (Kevin and Sharon) recently changed their Weber for a Ziggy, and it is interesting to get their feedback on the differences between the two. Sharon told me that when they bought their ziggy, it came standard with more accessories including the half hot plate, roasting trivet, a grill rack and trivet separator that turns the grill into a two-burner stove. You can boil a saucepan and heat a small fry pan at the same time.
Sharon had more glowing praise for the Ziggy.
“There is definitely more heat from the Ziggy’s burner, and food cooks a lot quicker as a result. The heat seems to be more controllable than the Weber, and the flame won’t blow out in the wind either.”
“Storage is also better with the Ziggy. With its lid folded away, it packs down to about half the size of the Weber which, for most caravanners, is a vital consideration with limited storage options in many vans.”
Sharon said that the Ziggy’s biggest advantage in the Weber vs Ziggy debate is that the flame doesn’t get blown out by the wind. Even I have to admit, that’s a major selling point right there.
So, which is the best caravan BBQ?
The Weber is cheaper, lighter, and has a slightly more useful cooking surface. The Ziggy has better control over its heat, is more versatile, is great value for money and it copes with the wind. If you throw in the ability to cook with the lid up, then it’s a hands-down win for the Ziggy.
Whichever BBQ you chose in the Weber vs Ziggy battle, both have huge followings on social media, and both have extensive online resources, including how-to videos and recipe ideas. The ziggy offers two years longer warranty, but from all accounts, both companies offer their customers excellent support and spare parts availability.
As for me? Well, I’m not likely to throw my Weber away anytime soon but, when it comes to kitting out our new caravan, I may be looking more closely at the Ziggy before I make a final decision. I wonder if Sharon will let me cook a few meals on her Ziggy so I can try it out for myself?
Words by Marty Ledwich and Jessica Palmer
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