Need a new grill

I'm giving up on my 20 year old Weber propane grill. It's been amazing for so long and still work okay but needs new burner tubes and new cooking grates. It has been outside, uncovered for all its life. I have replaced the the internals and grates once about 6 years ago. It'll cost me about 150 to fix it up again but idk if I want to. I found a 6 year old Weber 3 burner for 200 bucks locally that is good to go and I may just go that route. Not sure.

My budget is not huge...yet anyway. If I go straight propane I won't spend over $400. I'd prefer Weber if propane.

I like the idea of a pellet grill / smoker but not sure they get hop enough to sear a steak. And have no idea how long they take to heat up for say a quick burger or a few dogs.

I really like the camp chef pellet grill, smoker, with 900° propane side sear box. But those are about 800.

I do not want charcoal only, and while I do want an BG Egg, I am just not ready for that commitment and learning curve.

So for you traeger and other pellet grill, smoker guys let me know what you honestly think.

I have an electric smoker that I like and use. But could ditch that for something better, like a pellet pooper.

I like propane because its fast and hot and I have my deck plumbed from my whole house propane tank so no refills needed. I'd like something kind quick and that can get hot when grilling.

Lemme hear about what you have an how you like it.

I am also concerned about longevity. I don't wanna spend a ton on something that won't last. Itll be out on the deck. I will cover the new grill and if needed would build a small roof over it to help a little. I live in CT so I grill in the cold and snow and it will get snow and ice on it for 4+ months a year.

 

I guess there is no pleasing you, Mr. Powers.

 

Not sure if you have a Costco around you. If you do, check out their version of a BGE. I've seen them on sale around $600. If you can wait until Memorial Day (5/25), a lot retailers have grills on sale.

I own a Primo Oval XL and love it. I leave mine uncovered on the back deck and grill year-round. Most Komado style (clay) smokers are the same. The differences lie in the availability of accessories. Their longevity is fantastic as long as you don't go humpty dumpty on them.

 

This may not answer your question directly, but in any event, I went the best of both worlds for our use. I bought a cheap craigslist Weber Spirit a few years ago and rebuilt it. Then I got the cheapest entry level Traeger smoker with my Dad’s employee discount at a local hardware store. Combined those are about, maybe a little over the price you suggested.

I had a charcoal grill and smoker in the past - too hard to keep regulated especially if you aren’t on it 24/7. We use the Weber a lot. The quick heat and control is essential in my view. In fact my wife probably uses it more than I do getting veggies, chicken and pizza started on it before I get home from work. Simplicity is big. And we use the Weber 12 months a year, and we live in Pa. Now, the Traeger. You can cook on it, and it gets great, but there is a learning curve for it, and at higher temps, you will burn through pellets quick, and the bags run $10 to $20 a bag = spendy. Now, on the other hand, Smoking is a dream on it. Nothing like it when I have a whole day at home and can smoke and smell the smells all day in the yard. Lower temps so you don’t blow through pellets as quickly. Set and forget, just keep the pellet tub filled. You don’t need to be on it, 24/7, can fill the pellets, then take a trip to Home Depot, come home and check the pellets, fill again, mow grass, check pellets - you get the idea. Hardcore smoking dudes say it’s cheating, but I don’t care at all. I enjoy smoking and the food tastes much better on it, than the messes I used to get myself into with my charcoal smoker, so it’s a no brainer for me.

Hope that helps!

 

Sean,

Bare with me if I get long winded.....

In case you can't tell by the grilling and smoking forum, I am very active and have owned many grills and smokers. I have cooked on $20k gravity and offset stick burners to $100 charcoal grills.

You know the saying buy once, cry once? Well that comes into play with pellet grills. I am lucky and saved for 1 year and bought my $2,500+ Yoder and is one of the best things I have ever bought and the wife agrees!

I would for sure bite them bullet and go with a pellet grill. It smokes, grills, bakes, Sears, etc.... It literally can replace your gas, charcoal, and electric smoker. The reason they are expensive is:

1. They are popular and a fad right now.
2. They literally replace the 3 types of grills mentioned above.

My first pellet grill was a Traeger I bought was a package deal from Costco. It was on the lower to medium end from Traeger. It was okay. Food tasted great, but it was not consistent at all temp wise especially when it was cold out. If you set it at 250, it would range from 210 to 275 during a cook. This is verified with higher end temperature probes, not the reading on the grill. It got up to 400 or so and would lightly sear, but nothing crazy. I ended up giving it to my sister and her family.

I then bought a RecTec Bull and it was a significant step up. Can not remember, but I believe $900. It was a step up and well worth it. Much better quality and held temps better. It also got a little hotter and could sear pretty decent. I was still wanting more and wanting to try a true higher end pellet grill.

That led me to my Yoder YS640. I am not going to go too much into it, but it is on a completely whole other level. Really accurate temps and it is stupid heavy. Holds temps like you wouldn't believe and cold does not effect it. Can set it at 650 degrees, with grilling grates I am seeing 800+ degrees on them.

With all that being said, I also have a buddy that has had the Camp Chef with the searing station. He has had it for 1.5 years and he grills and smokes about 3x a week also. No problems and does a fine job. More on the level of RecTec or a Trager Pro line or whatever they are called.

I also have a couple buddies with the cheaper department store $400 pellet grills. Food taste pretty good, but they are very thin metals and really struggle in the cold. One is in its second season and really starting to see some wear in hinges, rust, etc....

If you can swing $800, I would hands down go with Camp Chef. My buddy got his on sale for $899, so they must be really dropping the price during the times. Another one I would look at is Green Mountain Grills. I have been looking at them in the local grilling store and they are around same price and pretty heavy also. RecTec is right there also. I would look at those 3 in that price range as they are pretty equal.

https://greenmountaingrills.com/products/grills/prime-wifi/jim-bowie-wifi-ss-prime/

https://www.rectecgrills.com/RT-590-Pellet-Grill_5


https://grillagrills.com/grills/silverbac-wood-pellet-grill/

 

Can vouch for the rec-Tec. I came from a thick walled stick burner with silicone & gaskets to help hold heat in the winter. It was work to cook on.
Really appreciate the set and forget convenience of pellets. Rec-tec holds the temp waaaay better and a tighter window too. That’s where you get better taste, juicy meat etc from.
It can get hot but it takes a while to get there (think charcoal time). I just use a propane grill for burgers/dogs/brats.

 

I'd just turn that 20 yr old propane unit into a Wood unit - nothing like Peach (luck finding it) smokiness IMHO.

 

I just retired my RecTec 680 and bought a Pitts & Spitts Maverick. Very heavy duty compared to the RecTec, but the RecTec was good to me for 6 years... can't say anything bad about it other than you need to get some fine mesh wire and intall under the shelf where the controller lives. Wasps built a nest under there on mine and shorted out the controller. Going to buy another controller and give it to my son.

I have the new one seasoned, but haven't cooked anything on it yet... hoping that happens this weekend. Wood pellets seem to be as valuable as TP here...lol

 

I have a Pit Boss pellet grill. I love it, and you can definitely get one in the price range you mentioned. This is the one I have. I paid 600.00, but it’s the biggest one they have:

https://www.lowes.com/pd/Pit-Boss-Pro-Series-1100-sq-in-Black-Pellet-Grill/1000601257

You can definitely sear with it. It also doesn’t take too long to heat up. 10-15 minutes maybe.

 

I picked up a Pitt boss around Christmas. Has the sear station and I love it. I literally gave away my 10 year old Weber Genesis on Tuesday. I paid $400 for it on sale at Academy sports and it’s the big one they sell. It isn’t the heaviest duty but I’m sure it will last a while. I’ll get something higher end when it gives up the ghost but I wanted to try out a pellet grill and I’m glad I did.

heats up in 10-15 minutes too.

 

X3 on the Pit Boss.

 

Very cheap: https://amazingribs.com/more-techni...eme-steak-wild-and-crazy-ways-get-killer-sear

 

X4 on the Pitt Boss, I’m on my third year with mine. Zero issues. Smokes and sears.

 

Thanks bud. This is definitely an option for me. I could pick up a weber or small propane camp chef for quick stuff and a pellet grill like a camp chef or pit boss for when I wanna smoke or spoil myself

 

Wow thanks man this is great info. I really like the idea if the camp chef with sear station. One concern is holding temps in the winter here in Connecticut so I'll keep your advice in mind cuz that's a big deal even though I don't grill a ton in the winter, I still grill and smoke year round. Thanks man!

 

Yeah, this is really how we use ours. The Weber gets used and abused a few times a week, all year long. The smaller Spirit has a hard time getting much above 500 degrees, but that is hot enough for all what we do. My dad has the really expensive top of the line Weber, Genesis maybe?, with the sear station. The sear station is nice, but frankly it burns to hot, and I am not used to it, and mostly overcook meat when I am at their house (I could get used to it though I think). I use the Traeger smoker probably once a month, but as others have said, ambient temperature impacts it pretty dramatically, and it is tough maintaining consistency in the colder, damp temps - and I even have the insulator cover for it. I use it much more in the warmer months.

 

20% coupons work for grills at moosejaw.com
@COMiamiFan you have a CC right? Let's talk!!!
I may just pull the trigger here. Free shipping too...and they have first responder discounts, unfortunately for me an ER Nurse doesn't qualify for that.

 

@Pudge , I own 9 grills (wood/charcoal grills & smokers, propane, electric, pellet). I used to alternate between them. I grill at least 5 times a week and sometimes twice on a Saturday or Sunday. Since I bought my pellet grill/smoker I have been using that about 90% of the time. The propane grill and charcoal grill only about once every other week. The pellet grill is so versatile you can do anything from smoking to grilling to pizza etc. I do whole meals on it - meat, potatoes, veggies etc.
I have a Z-Grills which is exactly the same thing as a Traeger for about 2/3 of the price. (Somehow it is built by the same company with same materials and were able to just use a different name. Some loophole with the patent or something - I don't remember the details.) Pit Boss is also a good budget option and the Pit Boss actually is better for searing steaks - it has a section where you can open the diffuser plate to get more direct heat.
It also heats up very quick. I get home at 6:00 in the evening, turn it on, go in the kitchen to get some brats, chicken, veggies etc. and by the time I get back outside to put the meat on it is hot. Dinner ready by 7:00 from start to finish - sometimes less time than that.

 

That's a good option also.

 

A used Ceramic or end of season closeout from Lowe's/HD/Costco should put you around that price point....and do everything you need and more.

It can heat up a chimney of charcoal in about the same time it takes to heat up a NG.

Sell your Weber for parts and you may be able to extend your budget for a Ceramic to $500-600 and you will definitely be able to get a PitBos, Vision or Louisiana Grills on sale. I think BroilKing makes a Keg which is Steel but they may be pricier

If I could only have one BBQ/grill/smoker in my yard, it would be a Ceramic Kamado type cooler.

 

I've been able to get really good results with steaks and other foods that need a sear on my Louisiana Grills pellet smoker. I can't speak for all of the other pellet smokers on the market but Green Mountain and Trager's firebox designs don't seem to work quite as well to crank up the heat, though theirs have some benefits over the LG setup in other ways. My model also has a slide down cover over the firebox so you can get direct flame if you want it.

 

I just bought a Camp Chef Woodwind with the sear box a few weeks ago. It's the latest version with the wireless control box. So far, it has worked great. There is some startup time, but it usually takes less time than expected. Cleanup is simple and easy.

I had pretty much talked myself into getting a Yoder YS640s, but I couldn't fins any place within a 3.5 hour drive that had one in stock, and ordering one had a lead time of 5-6 weeks.

Wanting something sooner than later, I checked around and was able to get the Camp Chef Woodwind and sear box for under $500 (thanks to a buddy of mine for the hookup).
With a 3-year warranty, I figured I'd get plenty of use out of it and if it's not working out by that time, then I'll get the Yoder.

 

Any chance he can ship via his hookup. If i can get that woodwind with sear for that price, I would send you and him some CASH!!! Hook me up brother!!! PM me if you want

 

I doubt it. He was already doing me a huge favor. Also, it's an outlet store and they don't get many of them. I got the last one that was still in the box.

 

You're a lucky man!!!

 

Cabelas brand, but yes, made by Camp Chef.

 

Just ordered 2 of these. I love cooking with wood. I have a standard propane grill for quick cooks so this will be for weekends when I have more time.

 

What version you got homie? I got cabelas a few miles away

 

They don't make my model anymore, but it's the 36" one. I got it 3 years ago so assuming it's the same manufacturer, quality, etc.

https://www.cabelas.com/product/CABELAS-PS-ELLIPTICAL-CAB-PELLET-GRL/2706547.uts?slotId=0

 

Thanks man! I was looking at the 24". Go big or go home?