This Newb Needs Help on what to buy

[DeRail]

Any insight you all can give me would be great. Here is where I am.

REC TEC the best but pricey and pricey to have it shipped on top of that.

Traeger- Everyone I know loves them but in reviews they seem to be lighter steel and missing some helpful features.

Other I am considering are Green Mountain, Grilla, and Camp Chef

Thoughts or would any of these do just fine as long as I maintain it?

 

[SmokinAl]

Have you considered a Weber Smokey Mountain (WSM).
They are about as set & forget as a pellet grill, but with a good charcoal/wood flavor.
If you add a BBQ Guru pit controller they are truly set & forget.
I have that setup & can run for 22+ hours on a single load of charcoal & wood.
The temp will stay where you set it until you run out of fuel.
Al

 

[PerazziMx14]

Please remove

 

[bluewhisper]

I've only seen a BGE at work once. I'd like to watch running one of those (or a kamado) from start to finish.

 

[sauced]

Hmmm.....I have never used any of those smokers, but have heard great things about the Weber Smoky Mountain. I would agree with Al, look into the WSM.

 

[PerazziMx14]

Please remove

 

[tbrtt1]

DeRail,

Any of the ones you mention would be fine. However, there a few questions you should ask yourself. Some of these things newbies don't think about until they get a smoker.

* What are you planning to smoke?
*How many people are you feeding regularly?
*Are you in a climate that has harsh, cold winters?
*Do you know what smoke profile you typically prefer?
*What is your budget?

I have a Traeger but updated the controller and did some other things to it. Rec-Tecs are great smokers, but there are pellet smokers that are equal or higher in quality, but more expensive. If you are prepared to spend $1K on a Rec Tec plus a few hundred on shipping, maybe do some further research and see if there is a dealer that carries another brand that would satisfy your needs and save some shipping money.

Also, I have a couple of charcoal smokers and I wouldn't rule out one. You could get a WSM 22 and a temp controller and you would be just as automatic and hands off as a pellet smoker. Plus you can get a heartier smoke profile if that is what you like.

I do have a nephew-in-law that has a Rec Tec and I must say, it is a nice smoker.

 

[ross77]

I’ve had my RecTec for just over a year and have enjoyed it. It also has a 6 year warranty. I started with a WSM and then a Masterbuilt.

I’ll have to disagree with the comparison to the WSM. I prefer the layout of the pellet smoker. It’s much more flexible IMO. I always felt like I was squeezed for space on the WSM.

The WSM will require a bit more work even with the BBQ Guru. Lighting the charcoal, waiting for it to burn down, add wood, fill the water pan. Then on longer cooks you’ll likely have to add water and fuel at some point.

A pellet smoker is definitely easier. I cooked a full packer brisket for 19 hours at a steady 225 with little to do except wrap it after it hit 160. No need to add more fuel or water. And it fits without trimming.

I also use mine as a grill and that’s how I justified the expense to my wife....

The WSM has its merits but it’s a different beast than a pellet smoker. You’ll get great tasting food from whatever type you chose. Except for the Masterbuilt. I was not a fan of the type of smoke flavor profile.

Again, these are just my opinions. ;)

 

[DeRail]

DeRail,

Any of the ones you mention would be fine. However, there a few questions you should ask yourself. Some of these things newbies don't think about until they get a smoker.

* What are you planning to smoke?
*How many people are you feeding regularly?
*Are you in a climate that has harsh, cold winters?
*Do you know what smoke profile you typically prefer?
*What is your budget?

I have a Traeger but updated the controller and did some other things to it. Rec-Tecs are great smokers, but there are pellet smokers that are equal or higher in quality, but more expensive. If you are prepared to spend $1K on a Rec Tec plus a few hundred on shipping, maybe do some further research and see if there is a dealer that carries another brand that would satisfy your needs and save some shipping money.

Also, I have a couple of charcoal smokers and I wouldn't rule out one. You could get a WSM 22 and a temp controller and you would be just as automatic and hands off as a pellet smoker. Plus you can get a heartier smoke profile if that is what you like.

I do have a nephew-in-law that has a Rec Tec and I must say, it is a nice smoker.

We do have colder winters here. What should I be looking for or considering since that is th case.

 

[tbrtt1]

We do have colder winters here. What should I be looking for or considering since that is th case.

You should be fine with a good pellet smoker like Rec Tec in cold climate. Maybe look at a welding blanket if your weather is really cold.

Typically the thicker the steel used to make the chamber the better it holds heat. But you should be fine but will use more pellets in Winter.

 

[gmc2003]

BGE's are a quality cooker, but they are expensive(1200.00+ dollars) and very heavy to move around. I would go the WSM route. A 22 WSM is 399.00 easily moved. You can add a kettle for 100.00 or less and be able to cook anything.
Weber's will last a long time not to mention all the aftermarket items available.

Chris

 

[PerazziMx14]

Please remove

 

[gmc2003]

For my BGE I simple push it around the garage or driveway on the 4 wheeled nest. Hardly something I'd consider to be a strenuous activity.

My driveway is gravel and I smoke on the lawn in my backyard. It's just my situation that would make it difficult. I didn't mean for my response come out in a negative tone. That and I'm not getting any younger.

Chris

 

[idahopz]

If you're set on a pellet cooker, then the GMG's are easy on the budget and in my opinion good machines. I have an older Traeger, and a newer GMG DC. I had to upgrade the Traeger with a PID to make it perform as well as the GMG did right out of the box. At the end of it all, I paid a few hundred dollars more for the Traeger.

I also have a BGE Mini, and while using charcoal is lots of fun under certain circumstances, it sure is nice to use my phone to control the pellet cooker from inside the house while it is bitterly cold outside. I regularly use both pellet cookers throughout the year - we are about 100 miles from the Canadian border, so it does become quite cold here.

 

[bregent]

Any insight you all can give me would be great. Here is where I am.

REC TEC the best but pricey and pricey to have it shipped on top of that.

Traeger- Everyone I know loves them but in reviews they seem to be lighter steel and missing some helpful features.

Other I am considering are Green Mountain, Grilla, and Camp Chef

Thoughts or would any of these do just fine as long as I maintain it?

RecTec is a fine grill, but I wouldn't call it the best - there are many others that are much better IMO, but also more $$. To answer your question, we need to know more:

What are you smoking on now, and why are you considering a pellet grill?
What are you planning to cook on it?
How many people do you typically cook for?
What is the maximum cooking area you require?
What is your upper $$ limit?
Do you care if the grill is made in the USA or not?
Do you want stainless steel components?
Do you want to be able to grill at high temp?
Do you need direct flame grilling?

Considering that there are more than 100 different pellet grills models out there now, choosing the right one is not easy.

 

[mneeley490]

So far, I've been very happy with my GMG Daniel Boone. Almost as easy as using a MES. And you can find them on sale from around $450-$600.

 

[DeRail]

RecTec is a fine grill, but I wouldn't call it the best - there are many others that are much better IMO, but also more $$. To answer your question, we need to know more:

What are you smoking on now, and why are you considering a pellet grill?
What are you planning to cook on it?
How many people do you typically cook for?
What is the maximum cooking area you require?
What is your upper $$ limit?
Do you care if the grill is made in the USA or not?
Do you want stainless steel components?
Do you want to be able to grill at high temp?
Do you need direct flame grilling?

Considering that there are more than 100 different pellet grills models out there now, choosing the right one is not easy.

Honestly I have I have been using a deflector and smoke box on my propane grill for the past 6 months. Never really smoked before, but now I totally have the itch. I have gotten pretty decent at controlling temp and getting a little pit of smoke flavor but ready to take another step.

Brisket, Ribs, and Steaks are my main smoking items. I would like to try a pork shoulder next.
I usually cook for 4-12
I am not sure on max cooking area. I have only cooked one bigger meal and we just did 2 rib slabs and a brisket. could have and would have loved to do more.
I always prefer US made but I am not bound to US only made.
As far as steel goes what I have read is just look for the heavier steel you can find.
I would like to have it be a grill at times.
Don't have to have it, I will be keeping my propane for quicker meals, and for searing.

 

[DeRail]

So far, I've been very happy with my GMG Daniel Boone. Almost as easy as using a MES. And you can find them on sale from around $450-$600.

I am going to look at a Green Mountain tomorrow in person. We will see if it sells me. Do you feel like the Daniel Boone has enough space?

 

[cornman]

For what it’s worth from a newer smoker, I love my WSM. Easy to use and makes great food. I’ve been using mine about a year and a half now in all types of weather (south central PA) and it’s never given me problems. Operator error, now that’s a different story. Seriously, I didn’t know what to start out with, but I am a WSM believer now. Good luck with your pick!

 

[bregent]

I am going to look at a Green Mountain tomorrow in person. We will see if it sells me. Do you feel like the Daniel Boone has enough space?

Hopefully they'll be cooking some food on it that you can try.