Upgrading Your Fire Pit for Open Flame Cooking
Transforming a fire pit into a cooking station requires balancing wood heat with flame control and surface protection. If you own a fire pit like the Solo Stove Bonfire, adding a functional solo stove grill setup lets you cook real meals over live firewood embers. Cooking over an open fire creates great flavor, but flare-ups and intense radiant heat can scorch food without proper distance control. Traditional camp setups often lack adjustability, making it hard to regulate heat while managing wood flames.
Upgrading your setup with dedicated accessories provides both heat management and property safety. The supplied equipment includes the Santa-Maria Style Rotisserie Rotating System by onlyfire, which adds an adjustable crank and rotating spit above the 19.5-inch Bonfire rim. Deck protection is equally vital, which is where the 36” Fire Pit Mat for Solo Stove Bonfire from Huchiz plays a critical role. Whether moving from a portable grill stove combo setup or adapting your patio for cookouts, these tools help create a safer, more predictable wood-fired barbecue experience.
Pros
- Smooth mechanical hand crank allows quick vertical height changes to manage live-fire heat
- Dual-power motor design supports both standard plug-in power and portable battery operation
- Accommodates simultaneous rotisserie roasting and grate grilling on a 19-inch cooking surface
- Sturdy 19.75-pound build stays seated securely atop the 19.5-inch fire pit opening
Cons
- Fire pit is not included and attachment only fits 19.5-inch circular fire pits like the Solo Stove Bonfire
- Batteries for portable motor operation are not included in the package
- At nearly 20 pounds, the assembly adds noticeable bulk when packing for remote camping trips
The Onlyfire Santa-Maria Style Rotisserie System is a heavy-duty live-fire cooking attachment specifically engineered for 19.5-inch fire pits, most notably the Solo Stove Bonfire. Designed for open-fire cooking enthusiasts, patio entertainers, and campers who already enjoy smokeless fire pits, this system turns a standard backyard fire pit into an authentic Santa Maria style open-hearth grill. Instead of balancing rudimentary grates over logs, this accessory delivers structured, multi-tier cooking capability right over your wood embers.
Live-fire heat management is the standout feature of this system. Because open wood fires fluctuate in flame height and coal intensity, traditional fixed grates often risk burning food. The integrated Santa Maria lift mechanism uses an intuitive hand crank to raise or lower the 19-inch diameter cooking grate smoothly above the heat source. Paired with this elevation control is an automatic rotisserie spit powered by a dual-mode motor. The continuous 360-degree rotation ensures whole chickens, roasts, or pork loins self-baste evenly without constant manual turning.
Construction quality centers on durability and structural stability. Weighing in at 19.75 pounds with an overall height of 18 inches and a 25.2-inch base rack, the frame sits securely over the fire pit rim. The manufacturer lists the materials as heavy-duty, heat-resistant, and treated to resist rust and corrosion in extreme weather. The modular layout includes motor mounting brackets on both sides, allowing you to mount the spit effortlessly or remove it entirely when you only want to use the primary 19-inch round cooking grate.
Everyday operation and maintenance are straightforward. The rotisserie motor gives you versatile power options: run it through the included AC wall adapter for patio gatherings near an outdoor outlet, or insert two D-cell batteries for cordless cooking while tailgating or camping. When cooking is finished, the open-air design makes grate scraping simple with a standard grill brush. Because the attachment lifts off the fire pit as an assembled unit, storing it between uses or breaking it down for transport is manageable.
There are a few realistic limitations to consider before buying. First, this attachment does not include the fire pit itself; it requires an existing 19.5-inch round fire pit such as the Solo Stove Bonfire. Second, open-fire cooking inherently requires more attentiveness to fuel management and wind conditions than a lidded gas or pellet grill. Lastly, carrying an extra 19.75 pounds of steel alongside your fire pit may be heavier than some lightweight campers prefer for quick weekend getaways.
For owners of a Solo Stove Bonfire who want to expand their backyard culinary repertoire beyond roasting marshmallows, the Onlyfire Santa Maria Rotisserie System offers outstanding utility. The combination of vertical grate height control, motorized spit roasting, and sturdy outdoor materials makes it a compelling, practical investment for memorable wood-fired meals.
Open-flame cooking over hardwood or charcoal requires adaptable distance management, which is where the Santa Maria style mechanism excels. Using the side-mounted hand crank, cooks can raise the 19-inch grate higher when the fire pit is throwing high flames, or lower it closer to the coals as the embers settle down for direct searing.
This elevation adjustment also pairs seamlessly with the motorized rotisserie spit. By controlling the height relationship between the cooking surface and the heat bed, you can manage internal cooking speeds while keeping meat drippings from creating excessive flare-ups on your roasts.
Versatility is the primary advantage of this attachment kit. The framework allows you to cook on the 19-inch round grate while concurrently running a whole bird or roast on the rotating spit above it, maximizing the available cooking zone across two distinct levels.
Powering the motorized spit is equally adaptable. Cooks can use a standard household AC electrical outlet via the included power cord or switch to two D-cell batteries for off-grid tailgates and remote campsite setups where extension cords are unavailable.
Frequently Asked Questions About Solo Stove Grilling
Can you adjust cooking height on the Santa-Maria rotisserie system?
Yes, the attachment includes a built-in hand crank to raise or lower the 19-inch cooking grate. This lift mechanism lets you adjust the distance between your food and the wood fire to control cooking heat. You can lift it higher to prevent burning or lower it near hot coals for searing.
How does the rotisserie motor receive power?
It operates on either two D-cell batteries or the included electrical power adapter. This dual-purpose setup makes the unit suitable for off-grid campsites as well as standard backyard patios. The motor provides continuous 360-degree rotation so meat roasts evenly without manual turning.
Is a deck protector mat necessary under a fire pit grill?
Yes, a protective mat prevents stray sparks, hot embers, and grease drippings from damaging patio surfaces. When grilling meats or basting an easy BBQ shrimp recipe, grease splatters can stain concrete or composite decking. The double-sided fiberglass pad resists heat up to 2000 degrees Fahrenheit while catching hot debris.
How do you clean grease and residue off the fire pit mat?
You can rinse the silicone-coated surface with a garden hose or wipe it down with a damp cloth. The waterproof, oil-resistant coating stops grease and sauces from soaking into the fiberglass material. Once cool, you can clear surrounding ash using a pellet grill ash vacuum cleaner to keep the patio tidy.
Does the rotisserie attachment include the fire pit itself?
No, the Solo Stove fire pit is not included with the attachment. The system is an aftermarket accessory designed specifically to fit 19.5-inch round fire pits like the Bonfire. You receive the 18-inch tall frame, 25.2-inch base rack, 19-inch grate, and motorized spit, but the fire pit must be purchased separately.


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