Updated October 2026.
Short answer: the Thor TPG3601-G is the bigger, higher-output grill and drops into a countertop cutout. The Thor MK04SS304 is smaller and sits on top of Thor's 32" grill cabinet or a custom cabinet.
- TPG3601-G: 36" wide. Three 18,000 BTU cast stainless steel burners, a 15,000 BTU infrared main burner and a 15,000 BTU rear rotisserie burner, 84,000 BTU in total. A 630 square inch main grilling area.
- MK04SS304: 32" wide. Three 12,000 BTU tube burners, a 13,000 BTU infrared burner and a 10,000 BTU rear infrared rotisserie burner. 480.3 square inches of cooking space.
Both are 304 stainless steel, both come ready for liquid propane, and both convert to natural gas with a kit sold separately.
Side by side
| TPG3601-G | MK04SS304 | |
|---|---|---|
| Width | 36" | 32" |
| Main burners | Three 18,000 BTU cast stainless steel burners, plus one 15,000 BTU infrared main burner | Three 12,000 BTU tube burners, plus one 13,000 BTU infrared burner |
| Rear rotisserie burner | 15,000 BTU infrared | 10,000 BTU infrared |
| Total heat output | 84,000 BTU | Not listed by Thor |
| Cooking space | 630 sq in main grilling area, plus a 211 sq in warming rack | 480.3 sq in total cooking space |
| Fuel as shipped | Liquid propane | Liquid propane |
| Natural gas kit (sold separately) | NGKRGB3601 | MK04NG |
| How it installs | Drops into a countertop cutout and hangs from the countertop | Sits on Thor's 32" grill cabinet (MK03SS304) or a custom cabinet |
| Cutout (W x D x H) | 36" x 20-1/2" x 10-11/16" for the grill alone. With the IJBG3626 jacket, build to the jacket cutout in Thor's installation manual | Not listed in Thor's current spec sheet |
| Insulated jacket for a combustible enclosure | IJBG3626 | None listed in Thor's current documents |
| Lights | Interior halogen lights and illuminated control knobs | Two interior halogen lights and blue LED knob lights |
| Weight (net) | 156.5 lbs | 94.8 lbs |
From Thor Kitchen's spec sheets, product pages and manuals. The installation manual that ships with your grill governs the install, so confirm every figure against it before you build.
How to choose
- Cooking space. The TPG3601-G has more room: Thor lists a 630 square inch main grilling area, plus a 211 square inch warming rack, against 480.3 square inches of total cooking space on the MK04SS304. Its burners are also rated higher, including a 15,000 BTU rotisserie burner against 10,000. Pick it if you cook for a crowd. The MK04SS304 suits a smaller outdoor kitchen.
- How you are building the island. The TPG3601-G is a drop-in grill that hangs from a countertop cutout. Without a jacket, Thor's spec sheet gives that cutout as 36" wide, 20-1/2" deep and 10-11/16" high. If you use the IJBG3626 insulated jacket, the cutout is different: Thor's installation manual says to build the island to the jacket's cutout. The MK04SS304 is made to sit on top of Thor's 32" grill cabinet, the MK03SS304, part of Thor's Outdoor Kitchen Suite. Thor says it can also go on a custom cabinet.
- What the island is made of. Combustible means anything that can burn, such as wood framing or plywood. Thor's TPG3601-G installation manual says: "If using combustible material within 24" of the grill frame, you MUST use the corresponding Insulated Jacket." Thor's installation manual and Thor's jacket page both name the IJBG3626 insulated jacket for this grill. In a non-combustible enclosure, the manual says the jacket is not required. The manual also says using the jacket does not waive any other standard installation step, such as ventilation and connections.
- Your gas. Both grills ship set up for liquid propane. For natural gas, each grill has its own kit: NGKRGB3601 for the TPG3601-G, and the MK04NG natural gas kit for the MK04SS304.
Installing a Thor built-in grill
- Outdoors only. Thor's use and care manual says the TPG3601-G is designed for outdoor use only. Its safety warnings say never to put the grill under a roof or overhang, in a garage, building, shed, breezeway or other enclosed area, or under unprotected overhead combustible construction. A later section of the same manual says that if the grill is installed under any combustible construction, the cooking area must be covered by an exhaust hood approved for outdoor installation, with 3 to 6 inches of overhang on all exposed sides, at least 1,200 CFM and its own GFCI protected circuit. Because these instructions differ, plan any covered or roofed location with your installer and local code official before you buy.
- Distance from combustible materials. The TPG3601-G installation manual says combustible material cannot be within 24" of the grill frame unless you use the insulated jacket. Thor's manuals give different figures in different places, so go by the installation manual that ships with your grill, and your local code.
- Room behind the grill. The TPG3601-G installation manual calls for room behind the grill for the hood to open, and at least 7" to any wall or partition behind it so exhaust can vent. Check the figures in the manual that ships with your grill.
- Power. The TPG3601-G use and care manual calls for a 120 volt, 15 amp GFI outlet, installed by a qualified electrician.
- Gas hookup and conversion. Have a licensed gas professional connect the grill, leak-test every gas connection before first use, and do any natural gas conversion.
- MK04SS304 in a custom island. Thor's current spec sheet and Outdoor Kitchen Suite manual for the MK04SS304 do not list a cutout, distances to combustible materials or an insulated jacket, and the manual does not cover building it into an island. Do not build it into wood or other combustible framing without Thor's written installation requirements. Call us before you build.
- Local rules. Check with your local building department about permits and inspection before you start.
Questions buyers ask
Which Thor grill is bigger?
The TPG3601-G. It is 36" wide, with a 630 square inch main grilling area and a 211 square inch warming rack. The MK04SS304 is 32" wide, with 480.3 square inches of total cooking space.
Can I run either grill on natural gas?
Yes, with the right kit. The TPG3601-G uses Thor's NGKRGB3601 kit; call us to check availability. The MK04SS304 uses the MK04NG kit.
Do I need an insulated jacket?
For the TPG3601-G, yes, if any combustible material is within 24" of the grill frame. Use the IJBG3626, and build the island to the jacket's cutout. For the MK04SS304, Thor's current documents do not list an insulated jacket. Thor's installation manual for its 32-inch built-in grill, the RBG3201-G, pairs that grill with Thor's 32-inch jacket, the IJBG3226. Thor does not list the IJBG3226 for the MK04SS304. Call us before you order any jacket for an MK04SS304 install.
Do both have a rotisserie burner?
Yes. Both have a rear infrared rotisserie burner: 15,000 BTU on the TPG3601-G and 10,000 BTU on the MK04SS304. Thor lists a rotisserie kit with a rear storage hook among the TPG3601-G features.
What warranty comes with a Thor grill?
Thor sets the warranty. Check Thor's warranty page for the current terms for your model before you buy.
Before you order
Our shipping policy covers how orders ship. Planning an outdoor kitchen? Call (708) 765-6925 with your island plan, what it is built from and your gas type, and we will go over the parts Thor lists for your grill. Your installer and the installation manual have the final say on fit.
