Diving into pellet grills

[sandyut]

Second the vote for Rec Tec.

 

[dethpuck]

definitely avoid the camp chef woodwind. I've had nothing but problems with mine. I'm on a second one. The first went up in flames. The second has constant flame outs 4-5 hours into cooks.

 

[VileBooey]

definitely avoid the camp chef woodwind. I've had nothing but problems with mine. I'm on a second one. The first went up in flames. The second has constant flame outs 4-5 hours into cooks.

Yikes. Definitely will avoid them.

 

[Herbert Miller]

Just a couple that I have been interested in ,no particular order
Mak Star 1 $1800. ( to much for me)
Yoder 480 $1600 (Plenty)
Pit Boss 820 ( lower class but fine unit)
Camp Chef Woodwind/searbox. $900

Jim Bowie $800
Rec Tec Stampede 590 $900 (PID Controller)
Grills Silverbac Alpha $800 (PID Controller)
Bottom 2 is where I lean at this stage

Just bought a SilverBack and assembled it yesterday. All I can say is WOW I have never seen anything built as solidly as this SilverBack!!! There's a saying where I'm from that if something is put together well we say "It is built like a brick S--t House" This goes double for the SilverBack! Can't wait to try it out! If this company would ever somehow have a display model of their grills set up through out the country there would be a stampede to their door! Do you get the idea that i am impressed! Anybody interested in a pellet grill owes it to themselves to at least explore a Grilla Grill!

 

[Rmartinez2]

I have a few posts here where i talk about my process of selecting a pellet grill. In the end to me they're all the same man. I've seen some of the new features on the newest traegers and I'm pretty impressed. I think as with anything that is mass produced its just a numbers game, are you gonna get a shitty number or a good one.

Definitely decide whats important to you:

will you mostly just be smoking? (any pellet grill will work)
will you try to sear or grill at high temps? (some dont reach super high temps, some have features to allow you to sear)
do you want wifi controls? (this is newer in some but sounds like a cool thing to have)
do you need exact on the spot temps with little fluctuation? (PID vs non PID controller)
Do you need your grill racks to easily slide in an out (so jealous of those who have this, seems small but for me its so huge)
Do you need a lot of cooking space? (most brands have a large model anyway)

you get the picture. If you are looking at traeger, pitboss, z grills, campchef, grilla all of them you'll notice are damn near built the same. and really it'll just come down to what features are important to you.

rec tec, yoder and some of the more "higher end" ones are differentiated by the controllers some of them have so again just a matter of what you plan to do.

i know this likely leaves you in the same spot but goodluck nonetheless!

 

[ameskimo1]

Just bought a SilverBack and assembled it yesterday. All I can say is WOW I have never seen anything built as solidly as this SilverBack!!! There's a saying where I'm from that if something is put together well we say "It is built like a brick S--t House" This goes double for the SilverBack! Can't wait to try it out! If this company would ever somehow have a display model of their grills set up through out the country there would be a stampede to their door! Do you get the idea that i am impressed! Anybody interested in a pellet grill owes it to themselves to at least explore a Grilla Grill!

Congrats on the Silverbac and welcome to the jungle. Love my SB, I was about to buy another grill when I stumbled on Grilla, after checking them out I knew it was what I wanted. The build quality and customer service are awesome. They are the next big thing.

 

[boognish]

I have a few posts here where i talk about my process of selecting a pellet grill. In the end to me they're all the same man. I've seen some of the new features on the newest traegers and I'm pretty impressed. I think as with anything that is mass produced its just a numbers game, are you gonna get a shitty number or a good one.

Definitely decide whats important to you:

will you mostly just be smoking? (any pellet grill will work)
will you try to sear or grill at high temps? (some dont reach super high temps, some have features to allow you to sear)
do you want wifi controls? (this is newer in some but sounds like a cool thing to have)
do you need exact on the spot temps with little fluctuation? (PID vs non PID controller)
Do you need your grill racks to easily slide in an out (so jealous of those who have this, seems small but for me its so huge)
Do you need a lot of cooking space? (most brands have a large model anyway)

you get the picture. If you are looking at traeger, pitboss, z grills, campchef, grilla all of them you'll notice are damn near built the same. and really it'll just come down to what features are important to you.

rec tec, yoder and some of the more "higher end" ones are differentiated by the controllers some of them have so again just a matter of what you plan to do.

i know this likely leaves you in the same spot but goodluck nonetheless!

Great post that really sums up my research from the past few months. I bought a Traeger Elite 34 last year on a whim after a lucky night at a casino. Figuring it was all I needed and currently lacking space for both, I quickly sold my Weber Spirit. I've regretted that decision every day since because I partially feel duped by thinking the Traeger had the ability to sear but it's also my fault for not doing a bit of proper research prior to buying.

Then comes the new Traeger 2019 lineup and I started snooping around again and this time went down a massive research rabbit hole. I have faith that all of these brands produce high quality smoked product but I'm ultimately looking for a rig that gives me the flexibility to sear/grill also........with WiFi capability and PID controls as "Nice to Haves."

In my mind, from what I've read, that whittles it down to the Pitts&Spitts Maverick 1250 vs the Yoder YS640s for me. I was dead set on the Yoder for the longest time but during my time squirreling away the cash for it, I've been successfully seduced by the Maverick so if there's any feedback/input out there concerning the searing/grilling ability of either the Pitts & Spitts Maverick or Yoder, I'd greatly appreciate it.

 

[bregent]

I'm ultimately looking for a rig that gives me the flexibility to sear/grill also

I'll mention it again in case you're not aware, the Cookshack PG500 has the best char griller of any pellet grill and a very unique design that is much different than the rest. I don't own one, but know lots of folks that do and they all love it.

One of the main advantages is that the grease that renders from low and slow cooks goes into a different chamber than the fire pot, so there's less chance of grease fires when switching over.

 

[retfr8flyr]

Great post that really sums up my research from the past few months. I bought a Traeger Elite 34 last year on a whim after a lucky night at a casino. Figuring it was all I needed and currently lacking space for both, I quickly sold my Weber Spirit. I've regretted that decision every day since because I partially feel duped by thinking the Traeger had the ability to sear but it's also my fault for not doing a bit of proper research prior to buying.

Then comes the new Traeger 2019 lineup and I started snooping around again and this time went down a massive research rabbit hole. I have faith that all of these brands produce high quality smoked product but I'm ultimately looking for a rig that gives me the flexibility to sear/grill also........with WiFi capability and PID controls as "Nice to Haves."

In my mind, from what I've read, that whittles it down to the Pitts&Spitts Maverick 1250 vs the Yoder YS640s for me. I was dead set on the Yoder for the longest time but during my time squirreling away the cash for it, I've been successfully seduced by the Maverick so if there's any feedback/input out there concerning the searing/grilling ability of either the Pitts & Spitts Maverick or Yoder, I'd greatly appreciate it.

I have read nothing but good things about the P&S and if you look on their site you can find several guys went from the Yoder to the P&S. I was planning on getting one until I ran into a deal that I just couldn't pass up on my Timberline 1300.

 

[jlud]

Searing very well with Yoder 640. I am giving away my Weber genesis to my brother if that says anything....

 

[WBDubya]

The MAK Grill 2 Star does a great job of searing steaks and chops as well.

 

[VileBooey]

After a great deal of contemplation I think I am going to go with the RecTec RT-590. I’m thinking the stampede add on is worth it so I can get the searing kit 200lbs of pellets and a cover.

Anyone have experience with the pellets, cover, and searing kit from RecTec? Are they worth the extra $300? The RT-590 is only $899 right now.

 

[bregent]

Anyone have experience with the pellets, cover, and searing kit from RecTec? Are they worth the extra $300?

You can get better pellets for less $ elsewhere online.

 

[sandyut]

I got the competition bundle wit my RT-700. no regrets! cover is required here in UT, we live high enough to get a ton of snow. I liked getting the pellets and every thing i needs all at once so i could get righto it and sort out any other options later - like pellet types and crap. but he pellets it came taste and burn great.

 

[VileBooey]

You can get better pellets for less $ elsewhere online.

I figured. Sucks because I don’t think

I got the competition bundle wit my RT-700. no regrets! cover is required here in UT, we live high enough to get a ton of snow. I liked getting the pellets and every thing i needs all at once so i could get righto it and sort out any other options later - like pellet types and crap. but he pellets it came taste and burn great.

Awesome. Just ordered the RT 590 with 200lbs of pellets.

 

[SlowmotionQue]

I figured. Sucks because I don’t think

Awesome. Just ordered the RT 590 with 200lbs of pellets.

You made a good move on the grill of course, and the pellets.

Some of these highly touted and cheaper pellets that you could have bought, tend to leave a good bit of ash which can find its way into food.

Congrats on the Stampede. Ours has been an excellent purchase.

 

[megabrisket]

Just bought a SilverBack and assembled it yesterday. All I can say is WOW I have never seen anything built as solidly as this SilverBack!!! There's a saying where I'm from that if something is put together well we say "It is built like a brick S--t House" This goes double for the SilverBack! Can't wait to try it out! If this company would ever somehow have a display model of their grills set up through out the country there would be a stampede to their door! Do you get the idea that i am impressed! Anybody interested in a pellet grill owes it to themselves to at least explore a Grilla Grill!

I have to agree about the company. I just got my OG Grilla the first cook was AWESOME! The thing is build like a tank. The thing about the OG, it's much bigger than in pictures! Even my own pictures, I look at them and look at my grill and can't figure it out lol. My vote goes to Grilla!

 

[bones1]

Yeah she’s pretty great. We like to spoil each other when we can.

Never even heard of MAK grills. I will definitely check them out.

If she'll buy you a Mak you definitely have a keeper there.

 

[boognish]

Welp. Just threw down on a YS640s w/ Comp Cart. Bought the 2 piece diffuser also for searing which was high on my capability list. Should be here in about a month. Can’t wait!

 

[JWFokker]

Grilla Grills Silverbac is just a rebranded Z Grill 700, FYI.