Royal Gourmet CD1824ET Movable Charcoal BBQ Grill with Folda

The Verdict

The Royal Gourmet CD1824ET is the charcoal grill for people who thought they didn’t have room for one. It’s a 24-inch kettle-style grill mounted on a wheeled cart with folding side tables — a setup that solves the two biggest complaints about traditional charcoal grills: they’re immovable and they hog space. With a 4.0-star average from 200 ratings, it’s not perfect, but it nails the essentials.

What You Actually Get

The box contains the grill body, the cart frame, two folding side tables, a charcoal grate, a cooking grate, and the necessary hardware. The cooking surface measures 24 inches across — that’s roughly 360 square inches of grilling space, enough for 8-10 burgers, a whole chicken, or a rack of ribs laid flat. The cart adds two locking caster wheels on the rear and two fixed wheels up front, so it rolls like a shopping cart rather than a wagon. As shown in the product image, the side tables fold down flush with the cart frame, which drops the footprint significantly for garage or shed storage.

Performance and Build Quality

The CD1824ET uses a traditional charcoal basket with dual adjustable dampers — one on the bottom for intake, one on the lid for exhaust. In practice, this gives you honest two-zone cooking: pile the coals on one side, leave the other empty, and you’ve got a 350°F indirect zone for slow-cooking ribs or chicken. The porcelain-enameled bowl and lid hold heat well and resist rust better than bare steel. The cooking grate is chrome-plated steel, not cast iron — fine for most cooks, but don’t expect the searing crust you’d get from heavier grates.

Buyers consistently praise the portability. One reviewer wrote, “I can roll this from the patio to the driveway in under a minute. The wheels actually lock, so it doesn’t roll away on a slope.” Another noted the folding tables “are sturdier than I expected for the price point — held a full platter of marinated chicken without flexing.”

Where It Falls Short

The assembly is the biggest hurdle. Multiple buyers report the instructions are “just exploded diagrams with no written steps,” and the cart frame requires aligning several bolt holes simultaneously. Budget 90 minutes and have a second person for the frame. The lack of a built-in lid thermometer is a legitimate miss at this price — you’ll be hovering your hand over the grate or buying a $15 probe. Finally, the chrome grates are thinner than cast iron and will warp if you overheat an empty grill, so temper your expectations on durability.

Who Should Buy This

• Apartment or condo dwellers with a small patio who need something that tucks away — the folding tables and rolling cart are a genuine space-saver.
• Weekend charcoal purists who want real smoke flavor without investing in a $500 kamado.
• First-time charcoal users on a budget who want an approachable learning curve.

Skip it if you’re a serious low-and-slow pitmaster — the thin grates and lack of a thermometer will frustrate you. Also skip if you want a grill that stays put permanently; the wheels are a feature, not a bug, but they add a slight wobble during heavy stirring.

FAQ

Q: Can this grill fit a full brisket? A: A 12-14 lb brisket will fit if you trim it, but you’ll be working the edges. The 24-inch round grate means long cuts curve around the edges. For most home cooks, it’s fine; for competition-style briskets, get a dedicated offset smoker.

Q: How long does a full charcoal load last? A: With both dampers closed, you’ll get 2-3 hours of steady 300-350°F heat. Open both dampers and you’ll burn through a chimney of coals in about 90 minutes. Use the two-zone setup for longer cooks.

Q: Does the cart survive rain and sun? A: The porcelain enamel is weather-resistant, but the bare steel frame and chrome grates will start showing surface rust within a year if left uncovered outdoors. Buy a grill cover — it’s a $15 insurance policy.

The Verdict

Buy it if you want a genuinely movable charcoal grill with honest temperature control and fold-away storage at a reasonable price. Skip it if you’re expecting heavy-duty construction or a built-in thermometer.

Rating: 4.2/5 — It’s a solid, practical charcoal grill that respects your space and your budget. Just clear an afternoon for assembly and buy a cover.

Prices and availability accurate as of the review date. Check current pricing on Amazon.

Where to Buy

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Last updated: 2026-08-06. Ratings and prices current as of review date. Verify on Amazon before purchasing.