BBQ stands: we compare five different options

Getting your BBQ set up right is essential to perfect outdoor cooking, so we’ve compared five different BBQ stands to help you get it right.

Getting the right BBQ stand is fairly essential when you think about it. Some are great, and some not so much. But such a simple bit of kit will absolutely make or break cooking. We’ve gone through a bunch of different BBQ stands to make sure you get the right one for you the first time.

A couple of years ago, I was hot and bothered while packing the car for our annual summer getaway. I had my WeberQ and the Weber Rolling Cart left to pack on top of my rear drawers and was failing miserably. Due to the wheels and length of the stand, there was no easy way to fit it in. In the end, it went on the roof, and I swore it would be the last year I used the standard WeberQ BBQ stand. I just knew there had to be a better option out there.

So I did some research and found the two barbecues being mentioned regularly were the Weber BabyQ, which I used, and the Ziegler and Brown (commonly referred to as a Ziggy). In my search, I was mainly looking at BabyQ stands but some of the options suited each barbecue. Looking around online and on various forums, there were several off-the-shelf options regularly recommended. In a bid to work out which BBQ stand suited me best, I rounded up a few of these options. Even managing to put them through their paces on last year’s holiday!

WeberQ Rolling Cart BBQ stand

RRP: $99

The Weber Rolling Cart was my initial BBQ stand purchase and not one I would make again. The cart folds flat but is quite long when folded down and the wheels are not small. So it sits quite high even when lying flat on a flat surface. It’s not a standout as far as stability goes either and isn’t easy to level on uneven ground. The main thing going for the rolling cart is its ability to hold a BabyQ or a Q2000 Series.

Roll-up aluminium table BBQ stand

RRP: $85

The roll-up aluminium table is not a bad option for a BBQ stand and can be used as a table as well. It isn’t the sturdiest option once you put a bit of weight on it. Also, if it’s a cheaper non-adjustable leg version, it can be hard to level out. The roll-up table packs down long and quite skinny and is certainly better to pack than the rolling cart option.

Folding table

RRP: $49

This foldup table is the cheapest of the BBQ stands and one option that gets used by plenty of people. These tables pack flatter than the Weber Rolling Cart and can also be useful as a small table when not being used as a BBQ stand.

Depending on what your folding table is made from, it has the potential to melt with enough heat. The legs make it reasonably strong but also add to the weight. However, this type of table is reasonably sturdy when on flat ground. Overall, this is the cheapest option but still takes up a bit of room due to its length when packed.

Outback BBQ Stand

RRP: $242

The Outback BBQ Stand was designed by Adelaide local Torsten and is a high-quality, super-strong stand that’s designed specifically for the Weber BabyQ. He’s now also made one for Ziggy users. There’s a lot to like about the Outback BBQ Stand – it’s definitely the strongest of the options. Four adjustable legs do a great job of catering for uneven ground. The stand packs down under the WeberQ, raising it only by 4mm, and fits in the standard Weber bag for storage.

The basic pack comes with a chequer-plate side table that clips on and off in seconds. A second side table can also be purchased if required. There’s no chance of melting this bad boy! The stand has several small hooks built-in for storing utensils, and a washtub or chopping board insert can also be added. Weight-wise it’s a bit heavier than the other options at 7.5kg but in my opinion, the packability and features far outweigh the extra couple of kilograms.

It’s also a very portable BBQ stand so can be easily packed in the car or van. If you use a Weber, this would be my pick.

BBQ Arm

RRP: $275

The BBQ Arm stand was primarily designed to be used with a caravan and can accommodate Weber Qs, Ziggys or any other type of camp cooker that will fit on the tray. This makes the BBQ Arm a good all-rounder and one of our favourite barbecue stands.

There are several arm lengths to choose from and also two tray sizes – standard and large. The beauty of the BBQ Arm stand is the arm itself will securely fit in a jockey wheel holder. This allows you to move it around as you please. You can also use the supplied universal drawer bar mount, which simply slips over your drawbar and tightens in place with bolts.

The BBQ Arm is stable when locked into the holder and places the barbecue at an ideal height for cooking. The tray could also be used as a table and the arm can be left in the holder for travel. A standard tray easily fits into my front tunnel boot. Likewise, the large tray sits upside-down on top of my car fridge secured with a cheap ocky strap.

Something new in the works that I was lucky to test out was a tow bar mounting hitch for the BBQ Arm. This allows you to throw it in the car and use it away from the van. It works just as well and makes the stand portable. The stand is really well made and nicely finished. Once the tow hitch attachment is available in packs it will make it a great all-rounder. After testing both sizes on my trip, my preference was the smaller arm and tray.

So, what’s the verdict with the battle of the BBQ stands?

As expected, there were pros and cons to all the stands I tested. Some were appealing due to the lower price, while other stands were better to use design-wise, or easier to pack and store.

In my opinion, the Weber Rolling Cart would be my last pick as it’s the biggest to pack, costs as much as four of the five other options, and isn’t all that stable.

If you are after the cheapest, most basic option of barbecue stands– in other words, one that doesn’t do much other than hold a barbecue on reasonably flat surfaces – a folding table will do the trick.

While staying in the van at the caravan park, I mostly used the BBQ Arm. It was always on the drawbar out of the way, was the perfect place for my gas hose to reach and I was able to easily secure it to the drawbar when off adventuring. If you use a Ziggy or something other than a Baby Q, then the BBQ Arm would be the best option for you as it’s a one-size-fits-all stand. Adding the tow hitch makes it portable as well if you like to venture away from base camp occasionally.

When we had to pack the car and head off to the beach or away from the van, I picked the Outback BBQ Stand as it sits under the Weber in the standard bag for travel, so it takes up no extra space than the Weber itself. It’s also super-strong and the legs are easily adjustable, so stability isn’t a problem. If you use a Weber Baby Q and spend as much time car-based as van-based, then the Outback BBQ Stand is a clear winner.