quote:

Originally posted by Beancooker:
Skip Weber and Traegar and get a Rectec/Recteq. American made and does everything a Traegar does, but wil outlast a Traegar and give you far less issues.
Built with much higher quality materials as well.

https://www.recteq.com/

Agreed, Rectec is a great grill, I have had mine over 5 years and love it and never an issue.

I guess I've been schooled on using charcoal on a deck. I guess as long as you are careful and have an ash catcher. Weber now has the Master Touch Premium that has great options. Not available in a lot of places yet. But it looks to me like it's replacing the regular Master Touch. I plan to get one.

I can't offer advice on a pellet grill. I've been a wood/charcoal purist when not using gas for convenience. I use gas as an easy way to grill when I'm not concerned about BBQ/Smoke flavor.

As I mentioned the Napoleon grills used to be much higher end but they are trying to compete with Weber now. Here's a link to one in your price range. I think they actually sell a charcoal basket that you can put in it too.

https://www.bbqguys.com/napole...ss-steel-rxt425pss-1

Here's the Weber Master Touch Premium. One of the best upgrades on this is the lid hinge.

https://www.weber.com/US/en/gr...AkZHEALw_wcB&start=1

If you don't want Chinese don't buy a Webber. Look at Napoleon grills

I have a 20 yr old Weber Silver Gensis. Just replaced the flavor bars last month. 3 yrs ago I put cast iron gates on it. Still works flawlessly.. Oh, also replaced the igniter 4 yrs ago.

quote:

Originally posted by ruger357:
I’m happy with my big green eggs.

You know of a BGE under $700? Weber kettle is the way to go. Put a grill mat underneath a wood deck and you'll be good to go.

Grill Deck Protector

quote:

Originally posted by valkyrie1:
If you don't want Chinese don't buy a Webber. Look at Napoleon grills

Not all are made in China.

Weber Grills made in USA

Buy a Weber and never look back!!! You can thank me later.

quote:

Originally posted by Phantom229:

quote:

Originally posted by valkyrie1:
If you don't want Chinese don't buy a Webber. Look at Napoleon grills

Not all are made in China.

Weber Grills made in USA

So basically only one model is made totally in USA. The smoke fire which is an abysmal failure according to almost all reviews.

quote:

Originally posted by MikeinNC:
I have a Weber smoker..stand up..looks like r2d2..

Same here. The Smoky Mountain. It does a good job but I love my Weber kettle.

I've had a Webber Performer for 15+ years and quite like it.

I do plenty of grilling from hot dogs to whole turkeys.

Also have a rotisserie attachment to do chickens, roasts, leg of lamb, etc.

Also use it to smoke brisket, pork shoulder, ribs, chops, etc.

quote:

Originally posted by smschulz:
BIG GREEN EGG or the RED Kamado Joe ~ they cook the same but the KJ has more flexible cooking surfaces.

Then a Gas grille.

WHY you need both?

The Ceramic cooker for smoked, long cooks and the gasser for quick grill cooking.

The Ceramic cooker will provide better cooks albeit more work.

quote:

Originally posted by ruger357:
I’m happy with my big green eggs.

Now you guys are just egging the OP on.

Get 2. Weber gas grill and a Weber Kettle. You can do most all with those 2 tools and stay under 700.

Weber for gas, big green egg for lump charcoal, or Traeger or similar for wood pellets. Now for the real question! Is barbecue a verb or a noun where you’re from? I’m from Texas so BBQ is definitely a noun, but My wife is from Ohio and barbecue is a verb there and involves hotdogs and hamburgers on a gas grill. Blasphemy!

Spend a couple hundred more and get a Camp Chef Woodwind with a sear box. I've owned them all at this is the best setup, get a pellet grill and gas grill all in one.

I've had mine for a couple years and wouldn't switch for anything.

This is what you want...

WOODWIND WIFI 24 WITH SEAR BOX

This message has been edited. Last edited by: LBTRS,

I appreciate all the responses.

Would going up a few hundred make a difference?

I might be installing a gas line, called the city today.

quote:

Originally posted by leonidas211:
I appreciate all the responses.

Would going up a few hundred make a difference?

I might be installing a gas line, called the city today.

My gas grill is natural gas powered. Weber.
Yes, a bit more money but I'm not running out of fuel mid cook. We've all done it.
I do use the gas grill once in a while but not that much.

quote:

Originally posted by leonidas211:
I appreciate all the responses.

Would going up a few hundred make a difference?

I might be installing a gas line, called the city today.

On the Napoleon grills a few hundred more makes a difference. You can get a side burner or better a side infrared sear burner. Also I think you have to go up a bit to get a natural gas model. Also look at the Napoleon prestige models. Some are not that expensive but to get one may be too much of a price leap.

quote:

Originally posted by leonidas211:
I appreciate all the responses.

Would going up a few hundred make a difference?

I might be installing a gas line, called the city today.

If you've never cooked with a pellet pooper, I highly recommend it. I switched over to a pellet grill/smoker about 10 years ago and I'll never cook with gas again. No flare-ups and burnt meat due to flame. You can still overcook in a pellet pooper, but it takes longer and you really have to be distracted to overcook.

The RecTec models hit grill temps and your meat gets infused with the natural smoke flavor.

Tony.

you wanting something to bbq (smoke meat)that uses indirect heat or a grill for high direct heat cooking like steaks, burgers, etc.....or something to do both.

Lots of factors...I have all variants and some things hold true across board. If you want to smoke ribs, shoulders, brisket, etc....will want something that can maintain temps in all temps, has good heat retention (thicker steel) that wont be affected by gusty winds or temps as bad as sheetmetal versions from big box stores. Weber 22" kettle is good for everything with accessories...smoking, indirect heat, grilling, etc...but is charcoal so if want easy some of the Weber and other top gas grills can do a fair job at smoking but primarily set up for roasting/grilling even if you add the smoke box for wood chips/pellets to add smoke flavor.

Here is what I use and have used hundreds of times.... for whole hogs I use a Meadow Creek PR42...lets me cook up to 100lb hog but usually choose 50-65#. Also can cook ribs, shoulders, hams, brisket, etc...but takes same amount of wood/lump hardwood to heat up so I only use for big parties or whole hogs now.

Then I have a PK Grill...aluminum, great quality, excellent for doing steaks but can also do indirect heat for smoking meats but capacity is limited...and is charcoal/lump but may be good for just one or two people and will last forever as they dont rust...you can leave it to your grand kids.

For primarily smoking large cuts of meat (pork, beef, turkey/chicken, sausage, etc) I have a Yoder YS640 pellet grill. Convenience pretty much of gas as you clean it out of dust, light it, set temp and it keeps fairly consistent temps and feeds fire automatically so you are not continuously tending a fire like I am with my Meadow Creek, an offset or even a charcoal like PK or Weber for long cooks. Fill up bin with high quality pellets (hardwood, no filler or chemicals) and it will run all night. This allowed me to get some rest on over night cooks for family when they want to eat at noon...so I start at 8-9pm...get it going...sleep few hours...up at 6am and monitor, spritz, and finish her out. I have stainless steel shelves...and also have the two piece heat deflector as well so I can cook steaks on it if I want with searing heat of 500-600*F without warping heat shield. Usually, I put steaks on it to get to rare/m.rare...then put on high heat of PK or my wifes gas grill to sear them and get that flavorful crust on steaks.
Lastly, we have a gas grill I got for wife mostly but I use it too...it is a Fuego gas grill...small but will hold 4 good sized ribeyes...dual circular burners, high heat, and nice setup. This is what is used to finish steaks if dont want to mess with charcoal in PK....and wife uses during week for pork chops, burgers, lamb chops, etc
So while you can do a lot of things on all the ones I mentioned...the most versatile would be Weber kettle with a Weber Smokey Mountain kit for smoking meats....albeit with charcoal only.

Last option I would mention, that I may get one day still....to replace the PK...is a Kamodo Joe (or Green Egg) ceramic cooker. High heats, indirect heat, pizza stones, grilling, roasting, baking...does it all. COSTCO has a display every year and they will sell the disply models cheap. The ONLY REASON I did not get one is that was worried about wife using at high heat and not burping lid first before opening...as they seal so well and burn so efficiently...that you will get flashback when cool oxygen enters cooker from opening lid quickly....and can burn your arms...but outstanding cookers.
Good luck, do your research and will be okay.
The only import Pellet Smoker/Grill I would consider is the RecTec...built well, lots of stainless steel so easier maintenance...decent electronics, great customer service....made overseas and partially assmebled/inspected in USA...but quality product still.

Good luck....

I've got a Weber gas grill I bought in 2014 that's been great. However, that has pretty much sat on the deck unused since I got the Kamado Joe. It takes a little longer to heat up, but the food tastes so much better.


The KJ is a fair amount out of your price range, but Home Depot has Vision Kamado Grill as a "special buy" today for $604. I have no experience with it personally, but it seems to get good reviews.