Not trying to start a thing [I held off posting on this with fear of a riot - but that never happens here ;) ]...but I did read of a Yoder back burning into the pellet bin (he had pics it happened, I saw it - and no i dont have the link or reference/link anymore) when I was researching which pellet grill to buy a year ago. Just sayin it can happen - I dont think there is any smoker out there that cant or wont have an issue or a fire. there are so many factors that can lead to either. it was not a decision maker/breaker for me. It was all the options, differences, and costs that drove my decision.
There will always be outliers in experience, customer service outcome etc. as well. This is true on all products. there are lemon products made by mostly quality companies.
I have the "newer" version of the
Rec Tec RT700 which only has the door and power coated black - had it almost a year. I feel I got a very good pellet smoker for the money. I have absolutely no regret or complaints. As do many people on here who are happy
Rec Tec owners. I dont have a hang up with where the steel originated so long as it doesn't rust - I dont have rust. Not being unpatriotic or anything. Just being a consumer without an unlimited budget more focused on getting what works for my needs. My experience with the
Rec Tec Bull has been excellent to say the least. I did need to reach out to their CS for some questions and they have been insanely responsive and helpful. I would recommend them to anyone hands down.
Just felt there is another side to this conversation that was missing. If you need to thrash me for it - so be it.
Another Rec Tec owner here.
There has been talk about "rust" in this thread, and "quality of steel", paint flaking and such.
But as you allude to, issues can happen with anything and from anywhere.
Have a look. This smoker is said by the narrator to be 2 years old. It needs paint.
We've also heard talk about "American made".
I submit to you that hardly anything "electronic" in this day and age, is 100% American made down to it's circuit boards, down to the last wire, down to the last washer.
But stating "American made", is a very good marketing tool for some manufacturers of some products. Even if it's not 100% accurate.
Again, have a look. About 47 seconds into the video.
Is "Tamura" an American company?
Somehow, I doubt it. So then what is this likely "foreign", or more specifically Asian part doing in this "American made" product?
And so there is a lot of talk about "American made". Sounds good. Sounds great. But when we really get down to it, electronics, and electronic items, are rarely 100% American made these days.
Finally, we hear "built like a tank" and other euphemisms.
You know, when it comes to electronic equipment, which to some degree is what today's pellet grills are, it is reasonable to expect that at some point in time, in the "near" future, that which is considered "state of the art" today, will be looked at as obsolete up the road. And sometimes, not too far up the road.
As a kid growing up in the 1970s, we had Cadillacs. These 70's era Caddys were built like tanks. Thick steel, and chrome everywhere. Sheet metal which was "heavy gauge" if ever one could use the term. Body's by "Fisher".
Electronically, well there was, "State of the art" 8 track and cassette tape players. AM/FM radios. Built in CB radios, cable controlled cruise control, carbureted engines, shoulder harness restraints. Power elevating and retracting radio antennas.
But this was all the rage.
Now, even though "built like a tank", those cars and others like it, are obsolete. And obsolete from so many standpoints.
From a safety standpoint. From a driver comfort and ergonomic standpoint. From the ease of grip even on the steering wheel standpoint. From a driving in reverse or parking standpoint, (think back up cameras and back up sensors). From virtually any standard we consider "normal" today.
But it was built like a tank. It was American made. And still probably running today. But from an electronics standpoint, it's obsolete. Well beyond obsolete. But built like a tank.
Likewise, I know that my pellet grill will reach a state, and likely soon, of obsolescence.
Today, PID controllers, are the rage. Tomorrow, as the market drives improvement, something better than it will likely come along.
When it does, then I will likely want it. But if I've spent 2 grand on an obsolete "tank", well then how ready am I going to be to "replace it", with something which is more technologically advanced than it is?
