Around the block on grills/smokers, and still going in circles.

[Inscrutable]

This may be just venting spleen and confusion, and I know what a lot of replies will say, not that I wouldn’t appreciate opinions and suggestions.
1. So like most of us I started with a simple cheap charcoal grill. Worked fine.
2. Then got into smoking with two cheap Brinkman bullet smokers. Worked fine.
3. Then attracted to the Bradley with pucks, easier.
4. Then got a Vidalia gasser for a present, built like a tank, could do indirect over a water bath. But cooking area kinda small.
5. Then got a Big Green Egg for a present. Great but grate too small for a full rack without ends overhanging the setter.
6. Went to an electric Smokin-It. Worked great, easy, cheap to operate. But can’t do high temp.
7. Gave away Vidalia, sold my Smokin-It, got a RecTeq to do it all. Worked great but had 2 impossible auger jams and got frustrated.
8. Gave RecTeq to SIL.
9. Got a Ninja Woodfire XL.
11. Charcoal a PITA, got a Weber Genesis and sold Performer.
12. Ninja works great, nice to control heat and smoke independently, but very small.
13. Gasser gets very little use.
14. Oh. There’s a Pit Boss electric vertical in there somewhere around 5

So I’ve done about everything except a stick-burner. And wife/family doesn’t like heavy smoke, and at this age and in our heat here I’m not up to it.

I just can’t seem to ever get it just the way I want it, every unit is a jack of all trades, master of none - at least without a complete arsenal. Which I did have about 4 or 5 together for a while, but had to thin the herd (chronology above doesn’t quite capture that). Honestly, if I wanted to hassle with the charcoal etc a Weber kettle might come the closest.

I am tempted to go back to a pellet pooper, or combine a Smokin-It with the gasser.

Sorry for the pointless rambling.

 

[normanaj]

Welp might want to rethink the Reqtec. If the only thing that caused the auger jam is not removing the pellets and letting mother nature do it's thing well then you know who's to blame. From all the posting you've done that Reqtec filled the bill and then some. A little due diligence on your part and life could be good.

 

[jcam222]

Two come to mind. Number one is the Weber Smokefire. It does have some potential bugs but warranty support is strong and I've never seen a pellet grill out out the type of smoke it does. Even up in the 300 range it puts out steady copious amounts of blue smoke. My friends who both have pellet cookers were blown away by it and the food. Number two is a Masterbuilt gravity feed. Same set and forget essentially as pellet but runs on charcoal and wood chunks. Light it, set temp and done. Gives legit smoker flavor for sure.

 

[SmokinAussie]

I've been through most options too.

Managed to thin the herd through necessity and not choice. Pellet Pooper, Charcoal WGA and a Flat Top is all I have now and those 3 options I can live with.

Cheers!

Bill

 

[Inscrutable]

Welp might want to rethink the Reqtec. If the only thing that caused the auger jam is not removing the pellets and letting mother nature do it's thing well then you know who's to blame. From all the posting you've done that Reqtec filled the bill and then some. A little due diligence on your part and life could be good.

Yes, and I told customer service it was my fault, and they still sent me parts gratis. Great CS.
I am very tempted by the Dual Fire.

 

[Inscrutable]

Two come to mind. Number one is the Weber Smokefire. It does have some potential bugs but warranty support is strong and I've never seen a pellet grill out out the type of smoke it does. Even up in the 300 range it puts out steady copious amounts of blue smoke. My friends who both have pellet cookers were blown away by it and the food. Number two is a Masterbuilt gravity feed. Same set and forget essentially as pellet but runs on charcoal and wood chunks. Light it, set temp and done. Gives legit smoker flavor for sure.

Not sure if the MB has resolved their issues, and typically not super well built.
The Weber is a possibility. And/but wife and family does prefer a light smoke profile, so even another pellet was and would be ok.