Royal Gourmet CD1824EC 24 Inch Movable Charcoal Grill with Cover Review: A Budget Griller’s Dream or a Quality Nightmare?

There’s an undeniable romance to charcoal grilling. It’s a primal, sensory experience—the smell of smoldering briquettes, the sizzle of meat hitting hot grates, the patient dance of managing fire and smoke. For years, my trusty old kettle grill served me well, but I found myself craving more control, more convenience. I wanted the precision of a height-adjustable charcoal bed and the practicality of prep space, features often reserved for grills commanding a premium price. The problem is a familiar one for many backyard chefs: how do you get modern, high-end features without venturing into the high-end price bracket? It’s a frustrating search that often leads to compromise, forcing you to choose between the features you want and the budget you have. This exact dilemma is what led us to the Royal Gourmet CD1824EC 24 Inch Movable Charcoal Grill with Cover, a grill that, on paper, seems to be the perfect answer to this quest.

What to Consider Before Buying a Charcoal Grill

A charcoal grill is more than just an item; it’s a key solution for unlocking authentic, smoky flavor in your outdoor cooking. It’s the centerpiece of summer barbecues, family gatherings, and quiet evenings spent perfecting your craft. The main benefit lies in the unparalleled taste that charcoal imparts—a rich, complex smokiness that gas grills simply cannot replicate. Furthermore, charcoal grills can achieve searing temperatures that are difficult to reach with many gas models, creating that perfect crust on steaks and burgers. A quality charcoal grill offers not just a way to cook, but a hobby to master, turning every meal into an event.

The ideal customer for this type of product is someone who prioritizes flavor over convenience and enjoys the hands-on process of fire management. They are patient, willing to learn the nuances of vent control and charcoal arrangement, and they see grilling as an art form. This grill might not be suitable for those who need to cook a meal in a hurry or who dislike the cleanup associated with charcoal ash. If you value push-button simplicity and minimal maintenance above all else, a gas or electric grill might be a more fitting alternative. But for the purist, the flavor chaser, and the weekend warrior, a charcoal grill is the undisputed champion.

Before investing, consider these crucial points in detail:

• Dimensions & Space: A grill’s footprint is a critical, often overlooked, factor. Measure your patio, deck, or balcony space before purchasing. Consider not just the grill itself, but also the “breathing room” required around it for safety and maneuverability. The Royal Gourmet CD1824EC 24 Inch Movable Charcoal Grill with Cover has foldable side tables, which is a great space-saving feature, but you still need to account for its full 47.44″ width when they are up.
• Capacity/Performance: Think about how many people you typically cook for. The 490 square inches of total cooking space on this model is ample for a family or a small gathering. More importantly, look at performance features like adjustable charcoal trays and air vents. These elements give you precise control over heat, allowing you to go from a low-and-slow smoke to a high-heat sear, dramatically expanding your cooking capabilities.
• Materials & Durability: This is arguably the most important consideration, especially in the budget category. Look for heavy-gauge steel for the main body and cast iron or porcelain-enameled steel for the grates. The finish is equally vital; a proper high-temperature, powder-coated paint is essential to prevent peeling, flaking, and premature rusting. Thin metal and poor-quality paint are hallmarks of a grill that will not last more than a season or two.
• Ease of Use & Maintenance: Grilling should be fun, not a chore. Features like a front access door for adding charcoal, a removable ash pan for easy cleanup, and built-in thermometers significantly improve the user experience. Consider how easy the grill will be to clean after a long cooking session. A simple, well-designed ash management system can save you a lot of time and frustration.

These factors will guide you toward a grill that not only fits your space and budget but also matches your cooking style and will provide years of reliable service.

While the Royal Gourmet CD1824EC 24 Inch Movable Charcoal Grill with Cover is an excellent choice for a certain type of buyer, it’s always wise to see how it stacks up against the competition. For a broader look at all the top models, we highly recommend checking out our complete, in-depth guide:

First Impressions: A Promising Design Met with A Challenging Reality

Upon arrival, the box for the Royal Gourmet CD1824EC 24 Inch Movable Charcoal Grill with Cover showed some signs of rough transit, a sentiment echoed by several user reviews noting dented and bent parts upon unboxing. Our unit had a few minor scuffs but was largely intact. Laying out all the pieces, the design intent is immediately clear and quite impressive for its price point. It looks like a modern, well-appointed grill. However, the assembly process was where we hit our first significant snag. The instruction manual is purely pictorial and lacks detail, which led to several instances of disassembly and reassembly. As one user noted, it took “over 3 hours to put it together,” and we can confirm it’s a project that requires patience and a bit of mechanical intuition. We also noticed, as others have, that some screw holes didn’t align perfectly, requiring some force to get bolts through. The metal itself feels lightweight, particularly the side shelves, which are thin stamped steel rather than a more robust material. Once assembled, the grill looks fantastic and feels reasonably stable, but the initial build experience was a definite prelude to the quality control issues we would later discover.

A Deep Dive into the Royal Gourmet CD1824EC’s Performance

A grill can look great and have an impressive feature list, but the only thing that truly matters is how it performs under fire. We put the Royal Gourmet CD1824EC 24 Inch Movable Charcoal Grill with Cover through a series of tests, from high-heat searing to a longer, slower cook, to see if its performance could overcome its initial shortcomings. The results were a study in contradictions—a mix of genuinely clever design and deeply disappointing execution.

Design and Feature Set: Brilliant on Paper

The standout feature, without a doubt, is the crank-operated, height-adjustable charcoal pan. This is a game-changer in the world of budget grilling. Being able to raise the entire bed of coals for a powerful, steakhouse-quality sear and then lower it for more gentle cooking of chicken or vegetables provides a level of heat control that is typically found on much more expensive models. We found the crank mechanism to be smooth and easy to operate during our tests. It allowed us to dial in the perfect distance between the flame and the food, a feature one user celebrated, saying they could get their food “more or less kissed by the flame.”

Other design elements add to the grill’s appeal. The front access door with its cool-touch handle is incredibly convenient for adding more charcoal or wood chunks during a long cook, eliminating the need to remove the cooking grates and disrupt the food. The two foldable side tables offer much-needed prep space for trays, spices, and tools, and they fold down easily for more compact storage. The built-in thermometer, while not perfectly accurate (we always recommend a separate digital probe), gives a good general sense of the chamber temperature. Combined with the adjustable smokestack and side damper, it’s possible to achieve decent temperature regulation. The easy-to-remove ash tray also simplifies one of the most tedious parts of charcoal grilling. On paper, this collection of features represents an incredible value, and it’s easy to see why so many are drawn to this thoughtfully designed grill.

Build Quality and Assembly: The First Major Red Flag

Assembling the Royal Gourmet CD1824EC 24 Inch Movable Charcoal Grill with Cover was a frustrating endeavor that immediately tempered our initial excitement. The minimalist, picture-only instructions are a significant hurdle. They lack the necessary detail to prevent common mistakes, leading to a process of trial and error. We had to backtrack several times, just as one user reported, after realizing a part was installed incorrectly two steps prior. This isn’t just an inconvenience; it’s a sign of poor product planning.

The more concerning issue is the material quality itself. The alloy steel frame feels thin to the touch. The side shelves, in particular, are flimsy and feel like they could easily bend under the weight of a heavy platter. During assembly, we confirmed what some users experienced: misaligned screw holes. While we managed to muscle the bolts into place, we saw one report where a user “had to drill out at least 4 holes to a larger size just to make them align.” This level of poor manufacturing tolerance is unacceptable, even for a budget-friendly product. The silver handles are not stainless steel, but rather a cheaper metal with a finish that feels like it will not stand up to the elements. This initial hands-on experience with the components raised serious questions about the grill’s ability to withstand the intense heat and weather exposure it’s designed for.

The Grilling Experience and a Critical, Deal-Breaking Flaw

With the grill finally assembled, it was time to cook. We loaded the pan with 4.5 lbs of charcoal and lit it up. The initial heating process went smoothly. The adjustable vents provided good airflow, and the coals were ready in about 20 minutes. We raised the charcoal pan to its highest setting to sear some thick-cut ribeyes. The grill performed admirably here; the porcelain-enameled grates produced excellent grill marks, and the adjustable heat source worked exactly as intended. However, as the grill reached peak temperature, we noticed something alarming. The black paint on the lid and firebox began to smoke and bubble.

This is the critical, deal-breaking flaw of the Royal Gourmet CD1824EC 24 Inch Movable Charcoal Grill with Cover. The manufacturer appears to have used a standard paint rather than a high-temperature-rated coating. As our cook continued, the paint began to flake and peel off, both inside and outside the lid. We immediately recalled the numerous user reviews that showed photos of this exact issue. One user stated, “the paint began to start flaking off the first use,” while another lamented, “All paint gone at first time use!!!” This is not merely a cosmetic issue; it’s a potential safety hazard. Flaking paint can fall onto your food, and without knowing the chemical composition, we couldn’t continue cooking on it in good conscience. A product designed to contain fire must be coated with a material that can withstand high heat. This failure is so fundamental that it overshadows all of the grill’s clever design features.

What Other Users Are Saying

Our experience aligns directly with the polarized feedback from other customers. There is a small but happy contingent who, like one user, “absolutely love this grill,” focusing purely on the functional aspects like the adjustable charcoal height and ease of cleaning. Another happy customer noted their husband “loves it” and that the included cover was a major plus.

However, the overwhelming majority of detailed reviews point to the same critical flaws we discovered. The most common and severe complaint is about the paint. One user put it bluntly: “Definitely didn’t use a heat resistant paint.” Another shared a photo after their third use, showing paint from under the hood had fallen onto their foil, stating, “we weren’t going to cook on it.” Beyond the paint, complaints about thin, “cheap material,” shipping damage (“severely dented,” “bend and damaged”), and long-term durability are rampant. One user reported that after only eight uses, the grill “has begun to rust” despite being kept in a shed with the cover on. This feedback paints a clear picture of a product with great ideas but a deeply flawed execution due to poor material choices.

How Does the Royal Gourmet CD1824EC Compare to the Alternatives?

It’s crucial to understand where this grill sits in the market. While its feature set is impressive for its price, its quality issues force us to look at other options that might better serve your needs.

1. MAISON HUIS Portable Charcoal Grill

If your primary need is simply to grill over charcoal without the bells and whistles, the MAISON HUIS Portable Charcoal Grill is a compelling alternative. It trades the large size and complex features of the Royal Gourmet for simplicity, portability, and what appears to be a more durable, enameled finish. This is the ideal choice for campers, tailgaters, or those with very limited space. You lose the adjustable coal bed and large prep areas, but you gain a straightforward, reliable grill that focuses on doing one thing well. It’s for the griller who values simplicity and portability over advanced heat control features.

2. Captiva Designs Extra Large Charcoal BBQ Grill

For those who were attracted to the Royal Gourmet’s size and features but are now wary of its quality, the Captiva Designs Extra Large BBQ Grill presents itself as a potential step up. It boasts an even larger 794 sq. in. cooking area and a unique dual-zone setup with two individual lifting charcoal trays. This allows for true two-zone cooking, a feature even the Royal Gourmet lacks. While it sits at a higher price point, it’s aimed at the serious backyard entertainer who needs maximum space and versatility. It’s the logical upgrade for someone who wants the same feature-rich experience but is willing to invest more for potentially better build quality and more advanced cooking capabilities.

3. Weber Performer 22-Inch Charcoal Grill

If the quality control issues of budget grills have scared you off completely, the Weber Performer is the gold standard for a reason. While it carries a significantly higher price tag, you are paying for unparalleled build quality, legendary durability, and a massive ecosystem of accessories. The porcelain-enameled bowl and lid are virtually indestructible and will not peel or rust. Features like the One-Touch cleaning system and high-capacity ash catcher solve major pain points of charcoal grilling. This is the “buy it for life” option for the serious enthusiast who is done with replacing their grill every few years and wants proven, reliable performance every single time.

The Final Verdict: A Grill with a Flawed Heart

The Royal Gourmet CD1824EC 24 Inch Movable Charcoal Grill with Cover is a product we desperately wanted to love. Its design is ambitious and intelligent, incorporating features like the adjustable charcoal tray that genuinely enhance the grilling experience and are rarely seen at this price. The included cover and foldable side tables are practical, thoughtful additions. On paper, it’s the perfect budget-friendly grilling machine.

Unfortunately, the execution is fatally flawed. The use of non-heat-resistant paint is a baffling and dangerous oversight that renders the grill unusable for anyone concerned with safety and food purity. This single, massive issue, combined with the reports of thin materials, difficult assembly, and questionable longevity, makes it impossible for us to recommend. The grill’s heart—its firebox—is simply not built to withstand the fire it’s meant to contain. While the price is tempting, the cost of replacing it after a season or the potential risk of ingesting flaking paint is far too high. If you’ve weighed these significant risks and are still curious, you can check its current price and full specifications online, but we strongly advise considering one of the more reliable alternatives mentioned above.