our Hobo story

The TX HoBo literally started as a “pipe” dream!

I’ve watched my family and friends dump charcoal and douse it with lighter fluid for 35 years in my Grandfather’s custom made pipe bbq pits/grills. That is how I learned to light the pits that were made by him for me for years. I never liked the smell or the pain of having to run to the store on a Saturday and wait in line for more lighter fluid because I didn’t have enough. Nor did I like the singed hair on my arms or having to re-douse a pile of charcoal that didn’t “catch” and attempt to re-light it.

One weekend we invited a wiley fella over who watched me do the dump and douse routine and he asked me if I’d ever tried one of those charcoal chimneys to start my coals? I had seen them everywhere and was always leery, but bought one on a whim the next day. I could not believe how well it worked! All I needed was charcoal, part of the bag it came in, and a light! 15 minutes later I had a loaded pile of coals ready to dump!  No fumes and extra trips to the store for more lighter fluid!
The only problem I had was this chimney was flimsy, cheaply made, and wasn’t going to last 6 months as much as we cooked out. That is when the HoBo was born! We took a great idea and made it something better!

It’s built to work, built to last, built by Texans!

It takes the genius of the original Hobo’s idea of turning an empty can of beans into a highly functioning portable fire, burner, & grill!