Tripod Grill Stand Vs. Grill Swing Stand for Open Fire Cooking

How does a tripod grill stand compare to a grill swing stand? This post compares and contrasts the pros and cons of both to help you reach a decision that meets your cooking needs.

Both of these options are practical options for cooking over an open fire and share some similarities with a few distinct differences.

Similarities

  1. Both of these units can be used effectively for open fire cooking
  2. Both are relatively easy to set up and are user-friendly
  3. Both can be transported with ease because of their collapsible nature.
  4.  Both of these units can adjust the height of the grill over the fire to desired levels.
  5. Both the tripod grill stand and the grill swing stand are metal structures with decent stability and load-bearing strength.

Because of its simplicity and three-legged stand, the tripod can often be misconstrued as a structure that lacks strength and one that is seemingly easy to topple over. This thought may be true for a tripod that is made from flimsy or substandard material quality.

But for a good quality tripod made from strong metal with a decent height and an adequate diameter of splayed leg stands, that notion does not hold. The strength and stability of a tripod are predicated on the use of strong rods for the stands and the equidistant angle that the legs spread outwards.

For as long as the three rods are well fastened at the apex where they converge, and the angle of splayed legs is about 60 degrees, then you have yourself stable tripod that will not tip over even when given a good shove or is accidentally hit by some falling object or a curious animal coming to inspect the structure while you are asleep or away hunting hunt. The lesser the angle of the legs, the more stability is compromised in a tripod.

Stability when using a tripod is enhanced when the tripod is bearing a load such as a Dutch oven or a grill. The stability of a tripod is enhanced when you are cooking because of the added weight at the center that’s distributed equally amongst the three-rod stands.

In short, tripods made of good quality material, and a reliable joining system at the apex and whose leg stands splayed outward to a good degree, will not only bear weight well but also accord you and the cooking process impressive stability.

In contrast, the grill swing stand seems more stable, but in reality, the unit is just as stable as a well-built tripod. The stability of a grill swing comes from the A-shaped stand on either side. Like the tripod, the stability of this structure is improved by the use of strong metal and the use of a wider angle at the A-shaped stands. The difference between a grill swing stand is in its ability to bear heavier loads than the tripod because of the presence of two stands.

Differences Between a Tripod Grill Stand and a Grill Swing Stand

One of the clear differences is in the design structure.

The tripod comprises three rods that serve as stands while the grill swing stand structure comes with two A-shaped stands.

Because of the structural differences in these two cooking equipment sets, there is a difference in load-bearing capacities.

A tripod bears the cooking load at the center and can hold up to approximately 20 pounds while a grill swing stand also holds the load at the center and can bear a slightly higher maximum load of about 25-30 pounds.

The tripod grill will tend to be circular and can comfortably grill small to average-sized pieces of meat. A tripod can also be used to hold a large-sized option Dutch oven for making broths and stews. Additional hooks can be added to the top end of the chain to serve as holds for cooking utensils such as serving spoons and spatulas.

The swing grill holds a square grate. The grate on this structure will tend to have lipped edges that help keep the food being grilled confined to the grate. Different-sized grates can be used on this unit because the distance between the two chains holding the grate can be adjusted at the top bar.

When you are out camping and hunting large game with the intention to grill lengthy chunks of meat, then a bigger grill is called for and this unit can accommodate that. Other than grilling, the grate on a grill swing stand can be used to hold large pots for making broths or brewing tea,

The top bar of the grill swing stand offers more storage as the bar can be lined with removable metal hooks of varying sizes.

These can be used to conveniently hang larger game such as a wild boar which makes the slaughtering process much easier. Additionally, the hooks can also be used to hang pot and pans as well as cooking and serving spoons for easy reach during the cooking process. The side of the unit can take on a lantern(s) for illuminating the cooking and surrounding areas.

Tripod grill stand

Pros

  • Cheaper
  • Metal structure
  • Good stability
  • The grate is height adjustable
  • Easy to setup
  • Can be used to cook pot and grilled dishes
  • Great for cooking over an open fire
  • Collapsible
  • Highly portable
  • Can be used on earthen or concrete floors

Cons

  • Limited working space

Swinging grill stand

Pros

  • Metal construction
  • Great stability
  • The grate is height adjustable
  • Can accommodate bigger grates
  • The structure offers plenty of storage space
  • Can grill lengthier pieces of meat as well as cook pot dishes
  • Stable on both earthen and concrete floors

Cons

  • Involves more set up pieces
  • Slightly heavier and less portable

Conclusion

If you are torn between getting a tripod grill stand or a grill swing stand, your decision boils down to your cooking needs.

Both these units can be easily transported when you have a vehicle. In the case of trekking miles every other day on a hiking expedition, the tripod makes more sense because it easier to carry even when on foot and quicker to set up. However, if not much carrying is required and you are moving by vehicle with a sizeable group, the grill swing stand is a great choice as it can accommodate plenty of storage, more cooking space, and bear a wider food load.

 

 

About Kyle Gordon

Hey there! My name is Kyle Gordon, a part-time week-end home enthusiast who loves outdoor projects. This blog is the fruit of my extensive experiences performing outdoor home improvements. More so, I'm here to share with you a lot of great ideas and experiences you can use to make the outdoor life at your home fun and entertaining at the same time. Join me as we explore fire pits, grills, outdoor fireplaces, outdoor kitchens, pizza ovens, and many more outdoor improvements with lots of product reviews.

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