Frequently Asked Questions

I would love to use The Rib-O-Lator on my grill but I do not have a rotisserie rod and motor assembly – where do I get one?

We sell them on our “Products” page. We have tested them extensively and they work great.


What about a cordless motor . . . does that work with The Rib-O-Lator?

Yes, in fact that is what I use on mine. It takes two D-cell batteries (not included) and they last up to 50 hours — for some that is all season long. It will rotate up to 25 lbs of food — and that’s a lot! A battery-operated motor also gives you more freedom as to where you can take your barbecue since you won’t need to be near an outlet. That makes it especially great for tailgating and camping, but sometimes you’d like to move it around in your own backyard!


Can I use the Rib-O-Lator on a Weber Kettle, WSM or a UDS?

Yes, yes, and yes. Our regular 17″ fixed tray model will fit all of these. 

The Adjustable Rib-O-Lator will fit these too, but has the added benefit of being able to  adjust from 15″ or up to 2 feet which makes it the most versatile to fit the smallest and widest variety of barbecues. Serious barbecuer’s usually have 3 or 4 different types of grills and this adjustability allows it to be moved easily from one to another while adjusting the tray length as needed. Pick the one that works best for your set up.

We also have a stainless steel rotisserie Extension Ring that will fit them all (see our “Products” page). Important: this ring is required  for kettles and WSM’s if you wish to use The Rib-O-Later, or do any kind of rotissering for that matter…. you can’t rotisserie without it because an  Extension Ring adds height for the entire rotisserie assembly as well as giving you slots for the rod and holes to mount your rotisserie motor.

However, on a UDS this is OPTIONAL  — IF — you’re willing to modify it slightly with slots for a rod and drill holes to accept a motor. This will take only basic DIY skills so that’s what many people do. Otherwise, use the Extension Ring.


My Rib-O-Lator doesn’t rotate smoothly… how come?

Have you distributed your food evenly? For example, if you are cooking four hamburgers, don’t put them all on one tray. Put two of them on one tray and two on the opposite tray for balance. Always try to balance your food as much as possible.

Most rotisserie kits (including ours) comes with a “counterbalance” that fits on your rod and can help even out unevenness in weight. But even if doesn’t rotate smoothly it will not harm the motor or change your results.


The Rib-O-Lator doesn’t quite have enough room on my gas grill to rotate without hitting my grill. What can I do?

The first thing you should do is look at the will it fit my grill page to make sure your grill has enough room. If it does, then you can take a picture or video and send it to us and we will diagnose the problem for you. If you have a very slanted lid and it is hitting that, you might need to prop it open an inch or two for clearance — it won’t affect your cooking time hardly at all.


Can I cook different kinds of food at the same time on The Rib-O-Lator?

Yes, you can have fish on one tray, ribs on another, hamburgers, hot dogs on another, etc. — or — several different types of food on the same try. Your food will be done at different times so take each off when ready — for safety, stop the rotisserie first and use oven mitts, after all, everything is HOT!


Should my barbecue lid be open or closed when using The Rib-O-Lator?

Generally, it should be closed. This maintains the most even temperature within the barbecue. If you want to lower the cooking temperature quickly for some reason, you can open the lid which is also good to do if the food is cooked and you just want to keep it warm until serving.


Should I use oil on The Rib-O-Lator trays?

You can wipe the tray with any kind of oil you want to help the food release easier. You can also use products such as Pam spray. (CAUTION! APPLY OIL ONLY WHEN TRAYS ARE COLD, SO AS NOT TO BURN YOURSELF!)


What is the best way to clean The Rib-O-Lator?

The best way is to rinse them off while they are still warm (not hot!) You can also put the trays in your dishwasher – including the brackets if needed.

For heavy baked-on food, you can also soak the parts, and then use a metal or other type of scrub pad. But you don’t have to be to obsessive about it . . . just like your grates, they don’t have to be pristine.