Ever Consider Another Brand Pellet Grill?

[Greg Jones]

The RT-700 was my first pellet grill, but before I bought it I did consider other brands. In particular, I was interested in the Traeger Ironwood series, as I thought it would be most comparable to the Bull. The only Traeger I was able to see in person was the entry Pro series, and after looking at it I decided to go with recteq. I’ve never regretted that decision, but then again sometimes I wonder “what if?”.

Well today I was watching some YouTube videos and YT suggested a video of a Traeger live event posted yesterday, August 7. The host is cooking on two grills, one of which is the top of the line Traeger Timberline 1300, a $2,000 grill! I don’t want to post a link to the video just because someone might frown about that, but a quick YT search for Traeger Kitchen Live: Diva Q should find it. I didn’t watch the entire video, as what I saw at the 6:50 mark was all I needed to see.

She first try’s to open the lid by lifting on the left side of the handle, and the entire lid twists so badly that it won’t open because it is binding on the right side. Then the camera angle changes, she shifts her grip more towards the center of the handle, and with a big groan she gets the lid open! Worth a watch to see this, and I know how I would feel after dropping 2k on a pellet grill and I had to be mindful of how to grab the lid handle so it would open without binding. Indeed, no regrets getting the Bull now, and I also no longer need to think what if.

 

[Bullporky]

All I can say is WOW!
A quick scan and it happens again at 18:50...

Perhaps I'm old, but once the price of a grill / smoker crosses over $600, there's a start to a level of material quality and build I expect - something that will last about 5 years or so. Approach that $1k mark, and it should last 10. Flirt with the $2k mark, and I'm looking for SOLID design, material, and warranty in the 10+ area.

Take for instance my 12 year old Weber S-670... I had some chipping of the finish on the firebox and Weber sent me a new one! Even though it's beyond warranty! They even included extras in the shipment when the CSR noticed some things in the pictures I sent them! Warranty aside, I'm now replacing the burners in it after 12 years - mainly because it's all apart. But, 12 years and the first bit of repair... That speaks volumes and is the kind of experience I expect for dropping $2k+.

From what I saw in that video, they have serious design problems that are causing it to twist (too thin of metal for the lid) or the edges need reinforced. Whatever the core design problem, it reminds me of the quality of a $200 horizontal smoker you can find at big box stores.

I'd be P.O.-ed if I dropped that kind of cash on one as well...

Nice write up and find BTW. It's always nice to get validation of your "gut"! Now with the $1k you saved, what are you going to buy?!

 

[Uncle Bob]

We've talked about this kind of stuff before and it sounds like some things continue. Traeger deserves credit (or maybe blame in some folks eyes) for bringing pellet technology to the outdoor cooking world. They've done a good job of getting themselves name recognition and representation in the retailer community. Not quite on the level of "Kleenex", but to the less informed group of potential buyers the name Traeger means pellet cooker. Sadly they appear to be riding on their historical laurels and haven't done much to keep up with the growing competition.

In a similar vein, what was very good value in the pellet market say three years ago, may be outdated today. That older piece of equipment, if well built with quality materials, will last and continue to be very functional if maintained. But if a buyer is looking in the current market they might end up finding the new offerings more appealing based on whatever features they value most. This is not a criticism, just observation. RT hasn't changed their product much in the past three or so years, a few minor tweaks, but that is also a good sign that they were "cutting edge" or close then. The popularity of pellet smokers has been very strong the past few years (even got Weber's attention, never mind they screwed it up) and innovations abound. I considered 7-8 different brands when I did my selection process, but today, both due to market growth and my expanded awareness, I'd probably be evaluating upwards of 15 competitors. Traeger probably survives with mediocre products because most people won't put that much effort into product evaluation, they just go with what they perceive as the consensus/popularity.

 

[charlesrshell]

I am brand new to pellet grills so did some extensive research. The three that kept catching my eye was Pit Boss Pro Series 1100, Grilla Grills Silverbac AT, and Rec Teq. The reviews weren't that good for the Pit Boss and it needed so many mods to make it work right so I quickly eliminated it. I was torn between Grilla Grills and Rec Teq. The Grilla Grills Silverbac AT is really awesome to me. It has a real nice all terrain cart and their customer service is known to be good too. The biggest reasons I went with Rec Teq is because Rec Teq has a much nicer control panel with WiFi and Rec Teq honors Veterans and First Responders with a discount on accessories.

 

[Beach Bum]

I considered Memphis, Yoder, Grilla and Traeger.

My buddy loves his Memphis, but I soon realized the pricing was going to kill me. With two kids in college and the older one applying to law schools, no way I could spend that much. Yoder and Grilla were solid options with some pretty good owner reviews. Traeger deserved a look, but the number of negative reviews about quality and support were concerning. A hands-on session at the local Home Depot was the final straw. For what they charge for an Ironwood or Timberline, I would expect more. That YT video that started this thread just says it all.

So onto Recteq. The comments on this forum regarding build quality and customer support were incredible. Then I asked someone else at the office who is big into the competition BBQ circuit. While he and his buddies don't generally work with pellet grills, he said the scuttlebutt regarding RT was all good. He had seen them in action and said they were a great option for anyone doing backyard smoking and grilling. That was two months ago and I have been very happy with my purchase of a Bull. I also agree with the earlier post regarding Weber. My S-620 natural gas is ten years old and has given us zero problems. I bought my Bull because I believe it has the potential to be another long term winner.

 

[DarkStar11]

Back when I got my 680, there were a lot fewer options than today. I remember ruling out Traeger after very little research. I think I was between Louisiana, Green Mountain, and Rec Tec. When it came down to the combination of quality, customer service, and price, Rec Tec easily won me over. If I were looking to replace my RT (hopefully not for several more years), I'm sure I'd revisit those and look at a couple of newer options - but I'd likely end up picking RT again. I know a lot of people rave about MAK grills, but the price difference between any MAK and the Bull would be tough for me to justify.

 

[Bullporky]

Before my (recent) purchase of the stampede, I was heavily considering the Camp Chef Woodwind and Grilla Silverback AT.

When it all boiled down, the warranty is better on the recteq, and the reviews of customer service were the deciding factor.

The camp chef had parts availability issues and mixed initial reviews (even though they had a 4 probe controller). The Grilla was a close second, but the service when I called to ask questions sold me on recteq.

Traeger was never in my mind when I was looking at quality builds.

Admittedly, I'm a Weber fan (and 670 owner) and wanted to like the "smoke fire", but they have a ton of issues from what I've read online.

 

[Bullporky]

Admittedly I use my stampede as a smoker mainly. I used to roll a vertical unit, but I'm doing less parties and felt like horizontal was adequate for home use and the occasional catering job for friends.

If I was in the market for a vertical smoker, I'd have gone the Camp Chef XXL. Or the Smoke Daddy Pellet Pro.

I'd love to see recteq come out with a vertical smoker though. You can't beat the capacity in such a small footprint!

 

[charlesrshell]

The Masterbuilt gravity feed grill + smoker sure sounds interesting. Wonder how they perform!

https://www.masterbuilt.com/collect...ity-series-1050-digital-charcoal-grill-smoker

 

[Uncle Bob]

The Masterbuilt gravity feed grill + smoker sure sounds interesting. Wonder how they perform!

https://www.masterbuilt.com/collect...ity-series-1050-digital-charcoal-grill-smoker

Terrific concept, lots of interest in the market place for the promise of it, but probably the wrong manufacturer. Lot's of complaints on reliability issues, particularly rust (the smaller version mostly but that's because it's been on the market longer). Classic example of a manufacturer who seems to have a "build it down to a price point rather than up to a standard" attitude/philosophy.

 

[DarkStar11]

I have the Masterbuilt 560 gravity, and I have to say, it cooks great food. I've taken it from smoking at 225 to searing at 700 in 4-5 minutes. It's built like a Masterbuilt, though - cheaply. The app is garbage. Knowing about its many flaws, I still bought it because I wanted to play with it. Some folks dump a lot of money into mods for the MB Gravity, replacing the controller with a fireboard, stainless steel liner for the firebox that burns though quickly "by design", etc. I'm not bothering with all that. If I get 18 months of cooking on it I'll be satisfied. If I get over 24 months I'll be shocked. I would love for Recteq to build their take on this type of grill/smoker.

 

[charlesrshell]

Terrific concept, lots of interest in the market place for the promise of it, but probably the wrong manufacturer. Lot's of complaints on reliability issues, particularly rust (the smaller version mostly but that's because it's been on the market longer). Classic example of a manufacturer who seems to have a "build it down to a price point rather than up to a standard" attitude/philosophy.

I bet Rec Teq could make a nice gravity feed model!

 

[charlesrshell]

I have the Masterbuilt 560 gravity, and I have to say, it cooks great food. I've taken it from smoking at 225 to searing at 700 in 4-5 minutes. It's built like a Masterbuilt, though - cheaply. The app is garbage. Knowing about its many flaws, I still bought it because I wanted to play with it. Some folks dump a lot of money into mods for the MB Gravity, replacing the controller with a fireboard, stainless steel liner for the firebox that burns though quickly "by design", etc. I'm not bothering with all that. If I get 18 months of cooking on it I'll be satisfied. If I get over 24 months I'll be shocked. I would love for Recteq to build their take on this type of grill/smoker.

Maybe Masterbuilt will wake up someday and build a better product. It is a neat concept for the charcoal / sticks folks.

 

[Bullporky]

My old vertical is a "Great Outdoors Smokey Mountain" made in Canada and purchased at Gander Mountain - if that tells you how old it is...

It hasn't been without it's maintenance issues, which is now why I have the stampede. But 18 years old, and 3-4 paint jobs later, it's served its purpose and life. Time for a retirement!

I'd love to see a vertical with downdraft by recteq!

I agree that the MB unit is very intriguing, but the build quality on it is the concern.

Come-on recteq! Build us a vertical smoker that's worth it's weight!

 

[Bullporky]

@DarkStar11 - what's the best aspect of the MB? And the worst? I love the concept admittedly

 

[BBQ Willie]

I also researched the Yoder and several others. It came down to a decision between Yoder and RecTeq. Got the RT-700. It was a good decision

 

[Gonefishin]

I was set to get a RT when the Weber was announced. I wasn't buying till spring so I had time to see how the Smokefire did when it finally came out, I am a fan of the older Weber products, or which I have 6. The problems encountered by those that bought it right off turned me off to it, too many issues for a $1000 grill. I continued with my initial plan to get a RT. I did change from my planned 590 to the 340. So far so good, not a single problem.

 

[Uncle Bob]

I have the Masterbuilt 560 gravity, and I have to say, it cooks great food. I've taken it from smoking at 225 to searing at 700 in 4-5 minutes. It's built like a Masterbuilt, though - cheaply. The app is garbage. Knowing about its many flaws, I still bought it because I wanted to play with it. Some folks dump a lot of money into mods for the MB Gravity, replacing the controller with a fireboard, stainless steel liner for the firebox that burns though quickly "by design", etc. I'm not bothering with all that. If I get 18 months of cooking on it I'll be satisfied. If I get over 24 months I'll be shocked. I would love for Recteq to build their take on this type of grill/smoker.

Very refreshing. You have a healthy attitude about the situation. We're kind of drifting off the RT thing that brought us together here, but there seems to be a somewhat different crowd here at this point in time. Quite a few folks with broad interests/experience in outdoor cookers. There was a time, not very long ago, we had a bunch of newbs jump on board. That in itself is not a problem, but they were more the whiney, inexperienced, "feed me" type. Such is life.

Your comment about the MB folks going to all lengths to try to make a silk purse out of the sow ear reminds me of my interplay on another forum with Pit Barrel Cooker folk. They are a near cult like devoted group to that little barrel. It is a fine smoker for what it is, and the owner of the company is active in the industry and has a compelling back story. But it has it's limits as delivered. Pretty much a 275-350 degree smoker that has little control capability. It makes the user adapt to it rather than the other way round. If you want to grill on it you can but you have to do some minor mods. To broaden it's temp control capabilities requires some skilled mods or spending of some moderately significant money compared to it's $350 initial cost. I enjoy poking the bear (who knew?) at times and remind them that my Oklahoma Joe's Bronco will do everything the PBC will do, plus is easily set up for grilling, and has fixtures that allow excellent temp control from roughly 200-500 degrees. That's out of the box, no mods, no add ons, just use it properly..............all for $300 retail and at times close to $100 on clearance. There's more to the story, but that would get more boring than this already is. Outdoor cooking people latch on to ideas sometimes that they are reluctant to let go of. Grab a bag of popcorn, sit back, enjoy the show.................................

 

[DarkStar11]

@DarkStar11 - what's the best aspect of the MB? And the worst? I love the concept admittedly

Best - It has all the flavor of charcoal/wood without the typical hassles. I think the time & bother of getting a charcoal grill going (and maintaining it) is the main thing that drives folks to gassers and pellets. This is a charcoal cooker that handles like a gas or pellet, except it is faster to temp than a pellet (or at least my 680). It is dead simple. Being able to go from low-200's to searing-hot 700 in just a few minutes is also pretty awesome.

Worst - That's a tough one. While you can still cook great food on it, there's a lot to dislike/improve upon. I guess the big one is the build quality. The company says the firebox burn-though exposing the soft insulation material is a design feature, not a flaw. While I'm not an engineer, I disagree with them. Overall, the metal quality is about what you see on cheap big box store grills - thin gauge powder-coated junk. Even the gaskets that seal the charcoal hopper and firebox (which are pretty critical to this grill design) are trash (and the one thing I will replace). I think assembly by the purchaser is also a must, because the store offering free assembly isn't going to re-drill the misaligned bolt holes... Beyond the build quality, the app is garbage - it's not even on my phone anymore. And don't trust the food probe temperature reading. And if you need customer service, talking to your rain gutter will be just as helpful.

There's a long list of other things that need improved or fixed, but I reckon those are the biggest ones in my mind. Great concept. Poor execution.

 

[Bullporky]

In all honesty, the controller on the recteq is what drew me to the grill / smoker. After 20yrs of cutting my teeth on other brands, and learning how to use them (in all their un-glory,) I decided it was a time for a change from my old unit.

In my humble opinion, if you think that you can jump in and make stellar Q, you've got a long hard road coming... Perhaps I'm pessimistic, but unless you understand vent control, temperature, smoke points of wood, wood flavors, rub components, and timing, you're only ever going to have moderate success no matter which unit you use. It's easy to follow a recipe, but making it your own is where that glorious road of hardship and failures really makes it all worthwhile to turn out something that is killer!

I myself used a $250 vertical for well over a decade. It wasn't great quality by far, but I learned the hard lessons of crap briskets, over cooked butts, and that fish makes your smoker stink for weeks on end, lol.

I'm not intending to come off a snob, but I will say I value my old smoker and the hard lessons I learned to get to the point where I can produce consistently good quality food. There is absolutely a place for low quality smoker... To get pp hooked on the love of Q and build their skills!

Recteq really does make a great quality product with lower barrier to entry (less the cost) for a lot of folks - as do other companies with a lower degree of quality.

It's all about what you can afford in the end and the investment you wish to make. A $250 smoke can still out out great food if your willing to learn, love, and maintain - but that's a topic for another thread I bet