Talking myself up from the RT-700 to the RT-2500*

No waiting anxiety or agony. We have a GMG Jim Bowie that is less than a year old that works flawlessly, so we're still smok'n.
 
In watching a handful of BFG (Bacon Feels Good) videos on YouTube I noticed one in particular, where the guy had to put heat-proof silicone on the grease collector, drops/chutes. His video showed them only being tacked on the corners. Are the grills now coming with silicone on both of these, or is this a user fix? It seems (pun) like this would be an important seal, if for no other reason than to maintain the aesthetics, and slow down potential long-term corrosion.
Also noticed another look and feel thing from well-used grills. Below the main door the lower part of all the Recteq grills look like they are drooling, which looks like as the smoke and fat hit the door they run down onto the stainless lower portion. Any solutions that will help maintain the look of the grill? I see it as maintaining the surface of your car to extend it's life and looks. The only thing I've been able to come up with is an aluminum foil wrap that goes over that opening, and wraps under the grill surface. While not elegant, it is at least something.
My other thought was to find someone who can bend a thin sheet of stainless that can hang over the front, and again wrap under the main grill surface. The fact that there's a gap between the door caused by it sitting on the end caps v the lower portion of the 'barrel' seems conducive to such a removable and servicable mod?

To all who have given feedback that further helped influence my purchase decision, a big sweaty, fatty, well seasoned and crusty ends Thank you. It's my wife's birthday today so we're headed to Texas Roadhouse (that and the Rodizio Grill are our local favorites - local for us country folk is about 45 minutes away). I suspect if the grill were here she would strongly lean toward us doing our own. Our GMG Jim Bowie is a very nice and functional grill, but after almost a year of having it, it is commonplace and not special for such an occasion.
 
How much does the RT-2500 weigh?
450# +53# of pellets+ weight of meat. It's a big freaking grill. But with the big pneumatic tires it rolls effortlessly. I was able to move it to my back yard solo through 4in tall THICK st augustine.
 
Well the temperature went up a bit on the waiting thermometer, as we sold the Jim Bowie, and now we are grill-less until the BFG lands. A very weird feeling I must say.
 
What the heck is it with that astrix? Well, that would be the price difference. I'm still trying to justify almost triple the price of the RT-700 for the feature difference between it and the 2500. The racks, not really. We bought a rack for our GMG Jim Bowie, and it sits in the pantry unused. Surface to surface it seems like you go from 700ish to 1000ish inches of main surface grilling. While that is a huge jump, and not equaled as far as I can tell by other grills, does it justify the step up. Same electronics. A 4" taller opening, great for large birds. Mentally I've already spent the $3000 with tax, but I'm really trying to justify the difference. Help an old man finally make a decision with experience in ownership of both, that assumes there are those who have upgraded.

Thank you in advance.
I used my 700 for two years before deciding to make the jump to the BFG. I cooked 14 racks of ribs on my 700 (I was selling ribs) and knew more room would be better, plus the extra real estate would make cooking an entire meal an become an option as well. If you are patient, they have sold the BFG along with a FREE 340 on Black Friday the last two years. I drove down and picked mine and a neighbor's up that day. I sold my 700, so the cost to upgrade wasn't that painful.
 
My wife was initially a bit skeptical about a Bull purchase. A $1500 grill? Really? But here's what resonated with her:
  • The grill should be thought of as a durable appliance, like a dishwasher or washing machine. It will be with you for a long time, and if you spread the cost out over 10, 15, 20 years, it's not that much.
  • After battling with an egg smoker for almost 10 years, the RT was a game-changer because it was as easy to use as an oven. An outdoor oven that smokes, or in other words, an extension to our existing kitchen.
  • Amazing device for entertaining... Everyone loves to come over for an RT BBQ! And it's the easiest way to cook for large groups.
  • The RT doesn't make a mess in the kitchen.
Once you start producing one amazing dish after the next, there will be no regrets whatsoever.
 
You won't regret it! I got mine just in time for Easter and I friggin love it!!!!
 
well you get it yet? don’t forget to show us pictures thats a sweet grill!
It arrived on Monday the 19th, but the last mile carriers said they could not get to me for two weeks at the earliest (we're in the boondocks Utah), so I hooked up my trailer and went to pick it up. When I got there they hemmed and hawed, but after 30 minutes finally brought it out. The cheap Chinese crate was destroyed, the top three boards were all broken and the top of the cardboard was also opened. I took images, and wrote the externally visible damage on the paperwork. Then they did not want to give me a copy. With my legal education I was able to finally convince them that anything you sign, a copy is required to be offered or given upon request. The bad thing is I don't think they were the ones to damage it, so I did not understand the push back.

Got it home, called RT and asked what I should do to protect myself and them. After a short discussion I was told to unbox it. If there was big damage that they would send another and have this one picked up. The hopper was scratched up, there is a dent in the stainless body, and the RT BFG badge is bulged from the lid. Got it all set up and ran a startup test, which turned into seasoning the grill. It seems to work fine, but once it got to temp it started to drop after 15 minutes of being on. The temp went from 350 all the way down to 304. I used the app to shut it down, waited until the fan was off and did another start-up. This time it got to 355 and stayed there so I let it eat Cherry pellets for 2 hours.

Tonight I'll be doing T-bones, so not super fatty as suggested, but its a start. Not to bent on the damage to the grill, and certainly not RT because my three calls have been great, and they threw me a bone to make it right. I'm happy, and they don't have to waste more money shipping. My suggestion would be improve the quality of the crate to avoid future damage. Some of us know what happens in a semi-trailer does not stay in the semi-trailer, and those who load them see any flat surface as a place to put stuff.
 

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Glad you are happy & they were willing and took care of you. Shipping something like this around would freak me out if I were the shipper. You pretty much know something will go wrong. I guess it is part of the business they are in. Enjoy most of all! That is one kick A$$ Grill you have there.
 
What the heck is it with that astrix? Well, that would be the price difference. I'm still trying to justify almost triple the price of the RT-700 for the feature difference between it and the 2500. The racks, not really. We bought a rack for our GMG Jim Bowie, and it sits in the pantry unused. Surface to surface it seems like you go from 700ish to 1000ish inches of main surface grilling. While that is a huge jump, and not equaled as far as I can tell by other grills, does it justify the step up. Same electronics. A 4" taller opening, great for large birds. Mentally I've already spent the $3000 with tax, but I'm really trying to justify the difference. Help an old man finally make a decision with experience in ownership of both, that assumes there are those who have upgraded.

Thank you in advance.

I bought the 700 last May & as soon as I get moved into the new house this summer I’m ordering the BFG. Can’t wait to hear your thoughts once you get it!
 
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Congratulations on your new BFG. Sorry to hear of shipping damage.

I have zero regrets adding the BFG to my equipment. Prior to purchase, I did hear the question: "Why do we need another grill?" I heard that as a silly question so replied: "Because I didn't have the BFG and I wanted one."

Seriously as previously mentioned the BFG is built extremely stout and IMHO is worth "upgrading" to.
 
It arrived on Monday the 19th, but the last mile carriers said they could not get to me for two weeks at the earliest (we're in the boondocks Utah), so I hooked up my trailer and went to pick it up. When I got there they hemmed and hawed, but after 30 minutes finally brought it out. The cheap Chinese crate was destroyed, the top three boards were all broken and the top of the cardboard was also opened. I took images, and wrote the externally visible damage on the paperwork. Then they did not want to give me a copy. With my legal education I was able to finally convince them that anything you sign, a copy is required to be offered or given upon request. The bad thing is I don't think they were the ones to damage it, so I did not understand the push back.

Got it home, called RT and asked what I should do to protect myself and them. After a short discussion I was told to unbox it. If there was big damage that they would send another and have this one picked up. The hopper was scratched up, there is a dent in the stainless body, and the RT BFG badge is bulged from the lid. Got it all set up and ran a startup test, which turned into seasoning the grill. It seems to work fine, but once it got to temp it started to drop after 15 minutes of being on. The temp went from 350 all the way down to 304. I used the app to shut it down, waited until the fan was off and did another start-up. This time it got to 355 and stayed there so I let it eat Cherry pellets for 2 hours.

Tonight I'll be doing T-bones, so not super fatty as suggested, but its a start. Not to bent on the damage to the grill, and certainly not RT because my three calls have been great, and they threw me a bone to make it right. I'm happy, and they don't have to waste more money shipping. My suggestion would be improve the quality of the crate to avoid future damage. Some of us know what happens in a semi-trailer does not stay in the semi-trailer, and those who load them see any flat surface as a place to put stuff.
So now that you’ve had the BFG a couple of months, what are your thoughts? I’m a stick burner with an offset and been doing a ton of research on a new pellet grill and deciding between the RT 2500 and a Traeger Timberline 1300. I would love to hear your experience with the BFG and what you like and don’t like about it. TIA
 
We were effectively adown a month while moving to N, FL, but the day after our 28' trailer arrived with our household goods I unloaded only enough to get to the smoker so we could smoke that evening.

As to how we're liking it. My wife went from its a massive expense, to it being a valued investment. I was sold (mostly) as soon as I saw it.

Up's - I can't imagine a scenario where we'd need more grill surface than 2 grates' so I'm storing the additional. We have yet to exceed a need for the main surface. Wifi, did not think we'd use it, but we do. It does a fantastic job, although no better or worse than our GMG Jim Bowie. It looks bitch'n, and when people see it, it drives 30 minutes of impressive talking points. Weight, no one is going to have a desire to carry it off into back of their truck and call it theirs.

Down's - when the sweat an fat hit the inside front hood/lid/door, it drools down onto the lower face and looks like crap. A smallr ridge on the bottom inside of the door would redirect that sweat back into the grill.

Love it, we won't go back.
 
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Well folks I took a different approach. I showed my wife the gill after it was delivered and assembled. Too late to send back....
That is horribly unfortunate. I'm about to try that tactic with my new Kriss Vector KV90-PBL30. Fingers crossed.
 

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