Stainless Lid Hinge Kit compatible with Weber Smokey Mountain Grill 18.5 22.5 quick release

Built to Last – Stainless steel construction means no rust, no cheap parts. Perfect Fit – Installs easily and works flawlessly with the WSM. Way More Convenient – No more setting the lid on the ground—just lift and hinge it back. If you use a Weber Smokey Mountain, this hinge kit is a simple but awesome upgrade. Makes smoking easier and keeps things tidy.

If you own this smoker, you need this hinge. There is no need for discussion, just go buy it and thank me later. The Weber Smokey Mountain (WSM) Smokers are great vertical water smokers. You know they are good, when you see them all over the place at BBQ competitions. Yet despite their simple, efficient design, there is one major flaw. Where do you put the lid when you need to access the meat? On a traditional Weber Kettle, they put a hook inside the lid that hangs off the side of the kettle, but this is not possible with the WSM due to the depth of the lid. As a result we are forced to look around to place the lid, often on the ground, while checking/mopping/wrapping our meat. The problem is this then transfers dirt and debris into the cooker. The solution comes in the form of this aftermarket hinge kit, which locks the lid into an open position, then easily allows you to re-close the smoker when done. The kit was developed by the guys at Unknonw BBQ, born out of their experiences in competitions and comes complete with all hardware needed for installation, and clear instructions that is little more than drilling 6 holes and attaching the hinge. The hinge itself is substantive and good quality, matching that you get with the Weber you will be attaching it to. Hinges come in two sizes, one that fits the 22 and 18 inch models, and one that fits the 14 inch model. The hinge is equipped with a quick release pin that when removed allows the lid to be removed for transportation, cleaning, or whatever. Things to note, when removing the pin you need to keep track of it, as it is easily lost. The Weber's factory cover will still fit over the WSM with this attached, though it will be a snug fit.

Heavy Duty, comes with quality mounting hardware and easy to read instructions. I bought hinge for 22-1/2" WSM and it works as described. This still allows for use of Weber smoker cover. Cover fits smoker as intended. Be sure to follow mounting instructions as it pertains to alligng hinge with a support leg of smoker.

Terrific upgrade to the 18.5 WSM! I was getting tired of putting the lid on the ground constantly during cooks and heard about this hinge but was reluctant about the difficulty of installing it. I’m not terrific with a drill and was a little scared of drilling into the smoker. I found the installation was very smooth and not too difficult at all. Reading other reviews on Amazon, I followed the instructions others have given. Started with a 3/32 to make a pilot hole after lining everything up and taping. Then stepped up to a 1/8 bit. Finally finished with a 1/4 and the fit for the screws was perfect. Lid lifts seamlessly and the build of the hinge is rock solid. As others have stated, the 18.5 WSM does not have a front handle on the lid like the 22.5 version does. This makes it slightly more difficult to pull the lid closed from an open position. Closing the lid can still absolutely be performed with one hand only. You just have to lift straight up to unlatch the hinge before bring the lid down. This was my only other concern after reading other reviews. Overall, this is such a huge upgrade for the WSM I really do wish this was a standard feature out of the box. Other than sealing the front panel door with high temp gasket tape (prevents smoke from leaking) this may be the best add-on you can purchase for your WSM 18.5 or 22.5. So convenient.

This is perfect . Heavy duty , all stainless including the hardware . Absolutely 5 stars for this product and 100% worth the price . You don’t find good build quality anymore and this is over built !!!!! A very useful and practical improvement to my Weber.

I have a Weber Smokey Mountain 18" smoker. This was fairly easy to install and fits the smoker great. It was a bit costly, but this is by far the best upgrade to the smoker. No more lifting the lid and setting it on the floor. Easy to raise and lower with a single hand.

This is one of the best upgrades you can do for your WSM. The installation is straight forward, take your time and be sure to mark the holes carefully. A center punch makes the job easier, and I recommend drilling a small starter hole and make sure the holes are in exactly the right position. Painting the holes with black enamel paint is recommended so have some on hand. All hardware is good quality and supplied. Since this hinge is for both 18.5 and 22" WSMs, it will not contour perfectly to your smoker without some modification. I found modifying the radius of curvature not so easy but am happy with it now that it is installed even with a slight gap between the smoker and the hinge at mid-point. No biggie. The hinge is very sturdy and easy to use. To open/set the top is very intuitive. To close, simply lift vertically up an inch or so to release the stop and close the lid naturally. You don't even have to think about it after a few tries. Highly recommended product. Hinge received earlier than expected.