RE: RECTEQ, smokindawg and side note to JC and anyone that likes a long story

[kdsdawg]

Deck boss 900 arrived at my house Friday, video showed me how to put it together. Video is wrong, tech admitted it was wrong which messed me up and took an extra 30 minutes or so to fix. Anyway, finally got it together. Tech dept closes at 3pm on SAT. Finished after that and was going to burn off for an hour as instructed. Turns out the RTD is bad so it doesn't heat up. They have to send me a new one and install myself. I made a point not to ever buy anything I have to put together even though I am mechanical. Figure things cost so much they should come ready to go after being tested. Not sure why I did it this time. 
So far I am not happy at all. 

JC, I bought that model, I don't think it is too big. When I cook on it, half the time I cook full meals on there. Plenty of room for that and those times I need a couple of boston butts and a few racks of ribs during football season.

[JC-DAWG83]

Deck boss 900 arrived at my house Friday, video showed me how to put it together. Video is wrong, tech admitted it was wrong which messed me up and took an extra 30 minutes or so to fix. Anyway, finally got it together. Tech dept closes at 3pm on SAT. Finished after that and was going to burn off for an hour as instructed. Turns out the RTD is bad so it doesn't heat up. They have to send me a new one and install myself. I made a point not to ever buy anything I have to put together even though I am mechanical. Figure things cost so much they should come ready to go after being tested. Not sure why I did it this time. 
So far I am not happy at all. 

JC, I bought that model, I don't think it is too big. When I cook on it, half the time I cook full meals on there. Plenty of room for that and those times I need a couple of boston butts and a few racks of ribs during football season.

I looked it up.  I thought the 900 was 900 square inches on one level, it isn't.  I have a 680, which is 680 square inches and it is huge.  I can cook about 8 racks of ribs and God knows how many butts.  I also have a Bullseye, which is the small one and I use it more than anything.  In fact, since I got the Bullseye, I'm not sure I've used the 680 once.

Once you get it going, you will love it.  Recteq changed my outdoor cooking life.

[Punkin14]

I’ve had the Bullseye for about three years.. had a couple issue with the screw drive, was able to fix myself once. Took it in the second time and they fixed under warranty. I love the grill but have to admit it’s like owning an old car that you never know if it’s gonna crank.

[GriffWoody]

You boys aren’t encouraging me to buy a reqtec.

[dncdawg]

You boys aren’t encouraging me to buy a reqtec.

I've got an RT-590 (don't think they make it anymore).  I got it in 2022.  It's been pretty good to cook on.  I had never had a pellet grill before this one, so I have nothing to compare it to.  I liked that a lot of it is stainless steel, because I have no covered porch to put it under.  The downside is that where the stainless meets painted steel, there has been some rust development on the painted part.  No big deal, but surprised they didn't do a better job separating the different metals to inhibit corrosion.  It happens where the cart meets the cooker, mostly, but a few other places here and there.  

Assembly wasn't bad for me.  The cooker and the hopper were already assembled.  I basically had to assemble the cart and drop it on and unpack the grate and everything inside.  The cleaning isn't that big of a deal.  About 1-2 times a year, you have to pull everything and vacuum out the ash and pellet remnants.  

The biggest challenge that I've had in 4 years was a hurricane came through my part of the world when I left it uncovered and some water ended up getting into the the auger area, dissolving the pellets in there and basically turning them into cement.  I had to figure out how to clean it out.  I went through cut up clothes hangers, and a bunch of welding rods on a drill, but no success.  I ended up having to remove the motor and beat on the end of the auger with a 2x4, pushing it into the fire box to free it.  I was at my wit's end having tried to free the thing up for several days.  Haven't had a problem with it since.  I don't like the drip pan set up, but as long as it cooks food that tastes good, I don't really care.

[McDonoughDawg]

You boys aren’t encouraging me to buy a reqtec.

Agree, my Weber Kettle never fails…

[JC-DAWG83]

You boys aren’t encouraging me to buy a reqtec.

Agree, my Weber Kettle never fails…

Neither of my recteqs have ever failed me, but I do have a regular old charcoal grill as a backup.  

Growing up, my dad always cooked on a Weber Kettle.

[McDonoughDawg]

You boys aren’t encouraging me to buy a reqtec.

Agree, my Weber Kettle never fails…

Neither of my recteqs have ever failed me, but I do have a regular old charcoal grill as a backup.  

Growing up, my dad always cooked on a Weber Kettle.

Smart man

[kdsdawg]

I also have a Weber Kettle.
I have had pellet grills before and I love to cook meals on them. Looking forward to using it. Soon.