Pellet Fan
Pit Talk -- Comments and Questions Regarding These Pellet Pits => recteq => Topic started by: Ralphie on February 11, 2018, 04:24:19 PM
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I think I’m going to order the new Rec Tec Stampede this week. Anybody have a reason to talk me out of it?
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The Rec Tec Stampede is ordered! But man, it ships in May. Gonna be a loooooong 3 months. In the meantime, I also ordered a Blazn Grillworks Smoker Pro box to have fun with while I wait. But now I get to go buy a blow torch! Such a great day.
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I think I’m going to order the new Rec Tec Stampede this week. Anybody have a reason to talk me out of it?
There are a lot of things to like about this grill. Lots of stainless, included wi-fi, large grate, large hopper. The two cons for me were no removable insert for an easy direct grill option (like the Firecraft and Yoder) and only 9-inch clearance. I do a 20 lb turkey in a roasting pan and don't think it would fit. Otherwise looks like a great setup for everything else!
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I think it's a good looking grill... Pricing is pretty reasonable... only time will tell if it's newer octagon design really gives more space inside or not....
Yoder pricing is such, that it's almost pointless to compare a Stampede to any of the Yoders...
If you want to compare Q450 to it, that's a bit more reasonable... but then, Q450's main grate is just 24x19", compared to 29.75x19.75" of the Stampede...
In terms of the Stampedes headroom.. that 9"... compare that to any more traditional 20" barrel design, which yields about 9.5" of headroom at the very center of the grill... With the Stampede, that loss of 1/2" apparently is only at the very center of the grate, on either side of that lip ( that's apparently there to give that long horizontal surface some additional support )... one could argue that there's more room in the Stampede than any 20" barrel shaped design... FYI I fit a 18 pound turkey in a Traeger Junior and it's only got about 7.5" of headroom right at the center, so I doubt there'd be a problem getting a 20 pound turkey in a Stampede... heck you could probably get two of them in there.
With Wifi, all it's stainless and $900 price ( shipped )... I am betting that the Stampede will become Rec Tec's biggest seller.
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My decision ultimately came down to the RT590 Stampede and the Firecraft 450. More specifically, direct flame insert vs more cooking surface. But I know my cooking habits and preferences, which means I'll be using the unit for low and slow or indirect cooking more than 90% of the time, often for entertaining. So I opted for more cooking surface. And honestly, I was a little enamored with the RT590 stylistically.
Either way, I'm sure both would make me more than happy. But when the day comes that my budget will allow it, I see myself getting a PG500 or similar.
As for the turkey issue, if needed, I'll just throw two 14 pounders in there and call it a day!
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I just pulled the trigger on one also Ralphie. After a lot of thought and research I have decided the 590 is best for me.
For just my wife and I, maybe a few friends and neighbors, looks like the perfect size. RecTec knows what they are doing and I think this model will be a home run. Well worth the wait.
This will be my first pellet grill as I am coming from a Camp Chef Smoke Vault which I love by the way.
Oh, yea just joined this forum to soak up as much knowledge as I can. So Thanks to everyone
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Make sure you post some pics. Seems like RecTec hit the sweet spot with the size and price on the Stampede.
Did you get the SS smoke vents?
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Yes, I bought the SS smoke vents. For the Stampede, it's a set of 3 for $24.95.
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Waiting to see how this new pit works out.. One thing for sure, Rec Tec isn't in a stagnant design mode.
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I did not buy the smoke vents maybe I should since they are not that much. Are there better grills out there, of course but I would get divorced spending 2000 to 3000 on a cooker thats insane.
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The vents would allow you to operate the smoker in the rain without it getting inside.
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The vent covers (all wether smoke vents) may end up being more important than thought as they should help reduce water entry if the pit is left uncovered.
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My name is Anthony, and i purchased the rt 590 stampede. I read some of the posts and all i can say is the best way to pass the time while we wait for our grills, is there is a ton of youtube videos to see and learn from. Like the best pellets to use, the correct temps for different times of the cook.
Welcome Anthony. Or you can pass the time by tapping into the wealth of knowledge on this forum from a great group of Rec Tec owners specifically and knowledgeable and experienced pellet pit owners in general. You can pose those questions about pellets to use and temps for different cooks right in this board and received some great replies.
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My name is Anthony, and i purchased the rt 590 stampede. I read some of the posts and all i can say is the best way to pass the time while we wait for our grills, is there is a ton of youtube videos to see and learn from. Like the best pellets to use, the correct temps for different times of the cook.
Another welcome Anthony! The wait should be well worth it:new pit and better weather.
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Just passed the 2 month mark on waiting for the Stampede. Not easy. I've been collecting recipes and stockpiling meat in the deep freezer. I have 2 whole packer corned beef briskets (for pastrami), a tri tip roast, a turkey, a few chickens, and a whole packer prime brisket waiting to be smoked.
It's going to be a fun summer....but a long spring.
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We skipped spring and summer in Minnesota. April 14th and it’s blizzard conditions.
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We skipped spring and summer in Minnesota. April 14th and it’s blizzard conditions.
DANG Ross... 25 and snowing in Minnie?
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We skipped spring and summer in Minnesota. April 14th and it’s blizzard conditions.
DANG Ross... 25 and snowing in Minnie?
7 to 15 inches of snow by Sunday. We may hit 40 degrees by Thursday.
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Hang in there brother, the weather needs to break eventually. Ugh!
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Anyone get shipping confirmation yet? I’ve seen a couple on FB.
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^^^ I have not received my shipping date yet but I sent an inquiry about it a week or two ago. A rep responded with an email saying that although they aren't making an announcement, they believe they will be able to start shipping 2 weeks earlier than the advertised May 31st date.
Needless to say, I'm watching my email closely!
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Been a few people that already got them... and clearly those who ordered early on are getting their shipping notices...
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Boom! Just got my shipping notice! The email says “awaiting pickupâ€. I need to call them to find out what that means. No other instructions or addresses or tracking numbers were included.
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Boom! Just got my shipping notice! The email says “awaiting pickupâ€. I need to call them to find out what that means. No other instructions or addresses or tracking numbers were included.
It means that it's ready to go and they are waiting for the truck to pick it up. It can take a couple of days before pickup though. My Bullseye was awaiting pick up for 2 days and I saw someone else waited maybe 3. They may only do 1 or 2 pick ups per week.
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Boom! Just got my shipping notice! The email says “awaiting pickupâ€. I need to call them to find out what that means. No other instructions or addresses or tracking numbers were included.
It means that it's ready to go and they are waiting for the truck to pick it up. It can take a couple of days before pickup though. My Bullseye was awaiting pick up for 2 days and I saw someone else waited maybe 3. They may only do 1 or 2 pick ups per week.
I've seen status going from waiting for pickup to shipping in a single day. I bet they have a ton of grills go out and probably easily packup a whole truckload more than once in a day... especially when they've got a backlog of Stampede orders to be shipped.
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Status = Shipped 8) :bbq:
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@Ralphie Awesome! When did you order? (I want to compare to my order date! :)
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I looked back.. Feb 16th.. I was March 26th... we'll need a few more datapoints to work out their delivery rate..:)
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Ordered February 12th.
Shipped May 14th.
Delivery scheduled for 5/17. Would have been tomorrow but I won't be here to receive it. Two full weeks earlier than advertised.
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Nice that folks are getting theirs. Has anyone seen any reviews on the Stampede, other than what is on the RecTec website? Sure would be nice to hear what those who have them so far think about it....along with some pics and/or videos.
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I’ve only seen a few posts on the RT Owners FB page. They seem to like them but are very biased....
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I'm starting to think the pony express wandered off the trail.
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What TimeZone are you?
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The eagle has landed. Assembly, pictures, burn in, and updates to come this weekend.
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I'll generally follow the manual's recommendations but I was curious how ya'll would break in a new pellet grill. I'm going to assemble it either tonight or tomorrow. Any advice on seasoning or certain things to cook while feeling things out?
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I used to advocate a complex seasoning ritual. Now—not so much. The only reason I can see for seasoning a pit beyond the first burn to remove oils and whatnot that were left by the manufacturing process is to season areas that might rust. I was told that the seasoning would capture unburned pellet dust and fly ash that might blow around in the pit. Not so on my stainless steel pit. The seasoning is hard, thin and crisp. It periodically flakes off requiring scraping to prevent it from dropping on food.
So—if you feel the need to season an area that might rust, rub it with lard, shortening or similar, or just spray it with cooking oil and run it at about 350° for an hour or so.
EDIT: Then cook bacon at 300° (best BLTs ever) and hamburgers at whatever temp you think is appropriate. You'll have plenty-good seasoning.
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+1.
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Nice. Thank you. I won't argue with bacon.
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Burn in, and then cook
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Can't wait to hear your opinion on the Stampede!
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About to pull the trigger on the Stampede.
Can anyone confirm that the WiFi features allows you to monitor and adjust from any WiFi connection and that you don’t need to be connected to the same network?
Also curious why RecTec didn’t add a cleaning access drawer or trapdoor to the firebox and a chute to empty the hopper. Those appear to be the only negatives I can see. RecTec did everything else.
Also glad to see those vent covers as I was figuring out how to make my own...
Been using two electric smokers for the last few years, a master built with an added smoke box on the side and a Bradley smoker. Time to move up to the pellet smoker.
Almost bought the big red RecTec (the 680?) but glad I waited. This one looks good. Looking forward to hearing everyone’s comments on the Stampede.
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As long as it's connected to your home WiFi it will allow you to adjust from anywhere you have internet access.
The trapdoor would be nice. As far as the hopper is concerned I use a plastic scoop but I pretty much just leave 100% hickory in there and rarely change it.
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Burn in is underway. Gonna cook bacon next but have never done that on a grill before. Do you put it directly on the grate or on the frog mat?
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You can do either. Mats would be easier. Make sure the bacon doesn’t go past the drip pan.
Where are the pictures!!?!?
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Hello grill heads! First time poster, longtime griller. I went from a gas grill to a Kamado Joe with a CyberQ Wi-Fi controller many years ago and am now seriously thinking about pulling the trigger on a RT-590 for me and the Mrs. I think it will be big enough vs. the RT-700 and it is clearly bigger than the Kamado Joe I have. There is not a lot of info on the RT-590 just yet and my calls to REC TEC just yield a sales pitch from someone that doesn't really know the details of the grill.
I do understand the RT-590 is made in China and was disappointing to learn on here that the chamber on the RT-590 is made of thin 18 gauge stainless steel. I will be storing the grill out on a uncovered deck and am concerned about longevity though a cover will be used when cooled down from a burn.
I see the RT-700's chamber is made with 14 gauge SS and would like to know if you pros think that it will hold heat and perform noticeably better than the RT-590 would. I asked REC TEC why only a 2-year warranty and was told it was because people will be hauling the RT-590 around in their vehicles. I didn't like that answer, but it is what they said via the phone conversation. I now believe I know the truth and it is due to the thin steel chamber.
I really don't see any other grill in this $900 price range that looks better to me, but I welcome all input here for sure. My wife doesn't really want a 54" grill added to the deck TBH, but if the RT-700 is much better then I well have to consider it over the RT-590. I do Briskets, Pork shoulders, and everything in-between for mainly just the two of us.
Thanks for any input. I do have more questions, but don't want to make this read too long. Thanks again!
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The 590 just came out so you won't find much on it. I think only one member here has received one.
I'm not sure why they went with 18g steel but it is stainless so it shouldn't rust through. You'll likely have an issue with one of the other components; fan, auger, electronics before the stainless steel becomes a problem.
I can't imagine many will be hauling this around in a vehicle. They have the Trailblazer model for that. Odd answer.
I would say the 700 is certainly a better built smoker if only due to the thicker steel.
There are lots of options out there now so it makes for a tough decision.
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I see the RT-700's chamber is made with 14 gauge SS and would like to know if you pros think that it will hold heat and perform noticeably better than the RT-590 would. I asked REC TEC why only a 2-year warranty and was told it was because people will be hauling the RT-590 around in their vehicles. I didn't like that answer, but it is what they said via the phone conversation. I now believe I know the truth and it is due to the thin steel chamber.
I really don't see any other grill in this $900 price range that looks better to me, but I welcome all input here for sure. My wife doesn't really want a 54" grill added to the deck TBH, but if the RT-700 is much better then I well have to consider it over the RT-590. I do Briskets, Pork shoulders, and everything in-between for mainly just the two of us.
I got my Rec Tec RT-700 about 1-1/2 weeks ago. I am extremely happy with it. I've cooked on stick burners and gassers. When my oldest son told me about pellet grills, I was intrigued with not spending all day/night minding the fire. I paid the extra for the RT-700 because of what I read about the build quality. It's well deserved praise. All that thick stainless is well placed. In the past week I've done tri-tip, chicken thighs, chicken legs, sweet potatoes, and Friday night I smoked two boneless pork shoulders. I cooked them low and slow @ 225 and they came out FANTASTIC! No trouble holding temp. The right side appears to cook a little hotter, so half way through I swapped the meat. It evened out things nicely.
I've had a couple of minor problems. 1. The app puts out a wifi disconnected message every once in a while. I called them at 10 am PST on Saturday. They picked right up. I spoke with a gentleman that definitely knew what he was talking about. He said this was an app problem when it sleeps. He said they're working on changing the app to make it work correctly. No biggie. 2. Both probes read 10° high compared to my ThermaPen. Easy math to correct that in my head. I told the gentleman that I could find calibration for the temp sensor, but not the meat probes. Is there any way to calibrate those? He walked me though checking the board version in my grill. He determined that it wasn't the latest version of firmware. With no coaching, he offered to cross ship me the latest board with instructions for install and probe calibration. Included is return shipping. Two bolts to install. The latest version has meat probe calibration. Excellent, top-of-the-line customer service, excellent grill with superb customer service. I am extemely happy with my purchase.
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Grilltreats,
I have the RT-590 and used it yesterday for the first time. I will post a recap and pics a little later but here are my thoughts for you.
- The warranty: I had a conversation with a Rec Tec rep maybe 2 months ago and he told me they felt the 2 year warranty was on par with the industry norm for a unit in this price range and size. He also explained that the RT-700 Bull is now their flagship product so they want to sell as many as possible both for market share and for revenue since it's more expensive. Therefore, he said the 6 year warranty is merely an inducement/perk to sell more of them.
- Components: I was nervous about the stainless steel gauge of the body (mostly due to ignorance) but after knocking around it and feeling it out, I'm perfectly satisfied. The internal components like the fire pot, deflector, drip pan, hardware, etc are thick 304 SS and feel like they could withstand anything. I'm not worried about deterioration, although I keep mine uncovered in the garage.
- Size: I could feed a party with this thing. It's bigger than my 3 burner Weber Genesis gasser.
- After putting it through test runs yesterday I can say that I'm happier than I ever expected. My prior grilling/smoking experience is with gassers, eggs, and stick burners. But this was an eye opening experience and I already know I'm hooked for life.
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Many thanks for the comments so far! I basically have approval from the wife for either one, but the RT-590 fits my space better and I don't think I really need the 36" cooking width of the RT-700. However, the RT-700 has the front shelf option and the thicker steel and the towel ring and hooks for my implements. I know the electronics will be the biggest issue being exposed to outdoor humidity, but am willing to gamble on that for the built-in probes and Wi-Fi over the 680. I am glad to hear that RT is working on the probe calibration and App woes. The six year warranty is a plus on the RT-700 for sure if it covers the electronics too.
I am really curious if the sear plates will work well for searing steaks and such. I figure I may have to remove the steaks and turn up the temp before searing them. I think I read somewhere where the sear plates run 100 degrees hotter than the grid does. I would like some comments on this part. My egg has no issues with searing, but don't plan on running both to cook a steak.
I am ready to order today, but am just hung up on the thinner steel of the RT-590 with no front shelf and only a 2-year warranty. Also the big size of the RT-700 so kinda stuck right now on which way to swing. I do like the price of the RT-590, but long-term, I am thinking the RT-700 is a better choice.
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I bet they will have a 2nd shelf at some point.
As for searing. You can get a good sear with Grill Grates. For steaks I smoke at 200 until the internal temp hits 115 then pull and turn the temp up to 500. Then sear until your desired doneness.
You can also just fire it up to 500 and cook them as you would on a gas grill. The grill grates get very hot.
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I chose the 590 for the price. If I were you, I would get the 700 Bull if price isn't the primary hold up. Based on what you have written, my gut tells me that if you get the 700 Bull, you will never look back at the 590. But if you get the 590, you will always keep your eye on the 700 Bull.
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I am thinking also that the 700 will gobble up more pellets than the 590 per cook and cost me more in the long run due to the difference in air space/size. Also, that the 700 with the thicker steel may take longer to get to temp, but once going will payoff over the thinner steel of the 590 which will have to work harder to keep the temp as it looses more heat from the thinner steel given the same ambient temps. So basically it would be a wash between the two there, but the 700 would retain the heat better and cook more evenly on the long, overnight cooks.
I do plan on ordering the package that includes the 200lbs of pellets, sear kit, cover and shelf. It also comes with two mats which brings me to the question of does these grills drip stuff onto the floor requiring a mat?
P.S. My bad, I see now that it is two "cooking" mats and not the pad underneath. I would still like to know if these type grills drip stuff on the floor and need a matt under them. Thanks!
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All the seams in my 680 are caulked so I haven’t had any drips. I assume the other models are the same.
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Thanks to everyone for the input! I couldn't take it any longer and pulled the trigger on the RT-700 with the Backyard bundle. $1600 is a lot of money for me, but I think it will be a good investment in the long run. My brother-in-law just bought a Traeger which set me in motion on this pellet grill journey. In my search for a pellet grill, I kept coming back to the REC TEC over the other options available. I did go up the ladder to even more expensive grills, but they just didn't have the SS or the PID controller I wanted. Mostly they are controlled by time which is not as smart of a pellet feeding method and are more prone to have temp swings and flare ups. I saw one where it really flared up because the end user didn't keep enough pellets in the hopper and it literally burnt the paint off of the grill from overheating.
I first thought I wanted one with the easy hopper cleanout so I could swap wood flavors, but soon realized that moisture/humidity could get in from that cleanout opening too and so I moved away from that thought. Also, the easy cleanout of the ash from the removable burner cup or with a pull rod for an easy dump option. After watching some videos, I soon realized that I would need to clean the rest of the inside ash out too so another bee and insect opening eliminated with the REC TEC.
I am happy about getting the thicker stainless steel, the extra hopper capacity (I will never fill completely) the added shelf space and above all the two built-in probes and the Wi-Fi. Oh yes the light, lol.
I will stay subscribed to this thread and offer any help to newbs like me when I can talk with some experience behind me.
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Nice! Best to just go with what you really want without breaking the bank. You’ll enjoy it more in the long run.
Looking forward to all the great food pictures.
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Nice! Best to just go with what you really want without breaking the bank. You’ll enjoy it more in the long run.
Looking forward to all the great food pictures.
Thanks! I do have a 6lb brisket on stand-by :)
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For what it's worth, I bought a RT700 which was delivered last week. That thing is definitely stout, very heavy and seems well constructed.
When I was unpacking it, I noticed the porcelain coating was missing in a few places, like it had rubbed off by hitting high-spots on the barrel during transit. I wouldn't have normally even bothered about it but it had left some rust on the nearby stainless and I live in a very humid environment so I figured i'd get ahead of it. I called Rec Tec just to let them know (so I wasn't calling 3 years later with a "It was always like this!" call) and expected to get some touch up paint. Without hesitation, they offered to ship me a brand new lid. That's impressive CS!
One thing I did notice, however, which disappointed me a bit - the stainless on the barrel and exterior is 430, not 304. I found this out accidentally because my Smoke fell off its stand and stuck to the side shelf, which I thought was going to be non-magnetic. that prompted me to test a few other places. Basically, the bull horns, the pull handle, grates, drip pan and deflector are 304. The rest (side shelf, barrel, smokestack lid) are 430. I don't need to have 304 just so I can brag about the quality of my stainless, but I do hope that the 430 holds up well.
I called RecTec about it and they said not to worry about it, that barrels and side shelves never go bad, it's the internals that matter. Of course they're biased on that front, so we'll have to see. I only mention it as I thought the stainless steel barrel was going to guarantee longevity when I ordered it and I'm now wondering a little bit. I'm sure it'll probably be fine though.
Interestingly enough, according to the product description page, the 680's side shelf and smokestack lid are 304 stainless. I asked Rec Tec if they changed it recently and they said they weren't aware of a change and that they didn't think they'd ever used 304 for the side shelves.
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Thanks, No I never thought that the barrel was 304 SS. Just thicker steel than the 590 model. It would be nice if everything was 304 SS, but then they would be out of my reach price wise. I do wish the lid was. I am not sold on the lid coating as I have seen some of the older 680's that look pretty bad and faded now.
These reps on the line are clearly salesmen and with all sales reps you have to understand their position and weed through the "white lies" or the info they leave out. I drilled one of them fairly hard but didn't get very far as he was just trying to make a sale and all potential negative points I brought up were simple distilled so I didn't really get any straight answers from him like I wanted. I wished he had been honest and more straightforward, but that ain't happening with a sales rep anywhere. They could not have run me off either way as I was going to get one anyway. I just wanted to know what to watch out for. Thanks to this forum and some videos, I got the answers REC TEC tried to hide.
Hopefully my RT-700 will arrive in good shape. If it doesn't then I will see firsthand just how good the REC TEC name really is. Either way, You can be sure that everyone will know the outcome of my experience on many media sites. I prefer to brag about them, but am not shy about warning others either.
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The Grill
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The Burn In, Bacon, Tri Tip, Wings
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The Recap: Rec Tec Stampede RT-590
- Packaging - no visible or detectable damage.
- Assembly ~ 30 minutes. Just had to attach 4 legs, lower shelf, and 3 handles. 12 bolts total. Could do it in 10 minutes a 2nd time.
- Burn In - Manual recommended about an hour at 400 degrees. I decided to do yard work so I let it go closer to 2 hours.
- Cooks - Bacon, Tri Tip, wings.
Notes:
- I used Pit Boss hickory pellets which I believe are blended with oak.
- Took ~20ish minutes to hit 400 degrees for the initial burn in.
- Took only a few minutes to decrease to 300 degrees to cook the bacon.
- After the bacon I wanted to experiment so I shut the unit down completely for about 30 minutes.
- Linked my iPhone app with the cooker and my wifi. I followed the directions on Rec Tec's 3 minute youtube video for this. Piece of cake.
- Fired up the cooker set at 225 degrees and loaded the tri tip and wings.
- Achieved 225 set temp in ~10-15 minutes and produced a lot of pretty blue smoke. I determined it was proper blue smoke by watching videos about it and comparing it to my old stick burner videos. No question here.
Food:
- Bacon - followed recommendation of a fellow Pellet Fan poster and cooked it at 300 degrees on a cooking mat (Rec Tec brand frog mat) until done. I got distracted and overcooked it by just a few minutes but still fantastic.
- Tri Tip - 1.75 lbs. My first tri tip cook ever and only 2nd experience tasting tri tip. Seasoned with "Plowboys BBQ Bovine Bold". Smoked at 225 degrees until internal temp hit 130ish (a little less than 2 hours). Cast iron sear for ~2 minutes on each side. Delicious.
- Wings - wing drums marinated in Wishbone Italian salad dressing, then seasoned with "Meat Church The Gospel BBQ" seasoning. Smoked at 225 degrees for just under 2 hours (the tri tip was in charge of the set temp for this cook). Removed tri tip and set the temp at 400 to get a better crisp on the wings. Only took another 10 minutes to get them right. Dipped in "Mac's Speed Shop Red BBQ Sauce".
Delicious.
General Cooker Thoughts:
- I was happy with the speed it took to reach set temp.
- I like the app and did not experience any bugs in my limited use. I used my phone to turn the machine on and set the 225 temp.
- Actual temp stayed right on the money most of the time and never varied more than 2 degrees from set temp.
- Meat probe said the tri tip was 125 degrees when my Thermapen MK4 said it was 118 and then again at 135 & 128 respectively. Gonna need to address that meat probe if further experiences are similar. But it was my first time using the probe and the Thermapen.
General Food Thoughts:
- The bacon was awesome. But when is it ever not?
- Wings - let's just say that wings are back in style in my household!
- Tri Tip - a true revelation. This cut is new to me but I had to try it after all the positive posts on Pellet Fan. I'm a believer now and this will be a regular beef offering in our house for as long as I can get my hands on it. Just so delicious. Tender, juicy, flavorful, and very easy to handle.
Hope this feedback is useful. I know it was only one date, but I'm in love with this cooker.
:beer:
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The older 680s were powder coated. I think the porcelain enamel will wear better.
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The older 680s were powder coated. I think the porcelain enamel will wear better.
Thanks Ross...Good info. I am switching over to the RT-700 thread since that is what I have coming, but still learning from this one as well 8)
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Stampede
Order Date: 24th Mar 2018
This order is marked as Awaiting Pickup
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The Recap: Rec Tec Stampede RT-590
Really useful information. Thanks.
Good lookin' food. How was the smoke flavor?
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The Recap: Rec Tec Stampede RT-590
Really useful information. Thanks.
Good lookin' food. How was the smoke flavor?
More smoke flavor than I expected, which is a good thing for me. I’m used to using stick burners but this pellet grill provides as much or more smoke as I will ever desire. The flavor profile was great.
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Ralphie thanks for the pics and summary!
I have a tri-tip in the freezer I'll be giving a go of... out here in Cali they are almost always in the grocery store..
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Ok, I give up. What is a stick burner? I know gas, charcoal, eggs and such but the "stick burner" eludes me.
Great pictures and glad to hear there is some smoke flavor happening with pellet grills. Awe maybe pellets are called sticks, lol.
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Thanks for that!
Anyone know what type of pellets ship with the 200lb bundles? It just says assorted pellets and that definition does not match the two pellet mixes named over on the pellet ordering tab. I am thinking these that ship wont quite be as good, IDK.
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Likely RecTec Ultimate Blend or Cookin’ Pellets Perfect Mix. The RecTec pellets are also made by Cookin’ Pellets I think.
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Ralphie thanks for the pics and summary!
I have a tri-tip in the freezer I'll be giving a go of... out here in Cali they are almost always in the grocery store..
In Raleigh, NC I’ve only found tri tip in Publix (a large Florida based grocery store that is spreading in NC) and at Trader Joe’s. Although the ones I’ve seen at TJ’s are cost prohibitive by comparison.
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Likely RecTec Ultimate Blend or Cookin’ Pellets Perfect Mix. The RecTec pellets are also made by Cookin’ Pellets I think.
Hey Ross. You are correct. I ordered the 680 with the same package and it shipped with 3 bags of the Rec Tec Ultimate and 2 bags of Cookingpellet Perfect Mix. Both were great pellets.
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The Recap: Rec Tec Stampede RT-590
Really useful information. Thanks.
Good lookin' food. How was the smoke flavor?
More smoke flavor than I expected, which is a good thing for me. I’m used to using stick burners but this pellet grill provides as much or more smoke as I will ever desire. The flavor profile was great.
I’m new to pellet smoking myself but I think the smoke is a good level also. I do t wind up burping up smoke for a few hours. Plus, to borrow from photography, the best smoker is the one you use. I’ll get more smoky flavor on foods because I don’t have to futz with firing up the bar pal smoker every time. Is it the perfect amount of smoke? Not exactly. But if I can get 90% of the smoke flavor 10x as often, I’ll take that
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I'm going to do longer cooks this weekend. BBQ classics like ribs and either pork shoulders or brisket. Then I'll settle into the more convenient weeknight meal recipes. I also have two 16 lb whole packer corned beef briskets in the freezer so pastrami is in my near future as well.
I will document as I go. Always fun to show off a new toy.
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Sounds great Ralphie.... mine just changed to "shipped".. I don't think it'll make it for the weekend though... west coast is pretty far..:( I need to come up with a meal plan. Kids want smoked Salmon really bad.. so that will be early on my list.. hmmm
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Likely RecTec Ultimate Blend or Cookin’ Pellets Perfect Mix. The RecTec pellets are also made by Cookin’ Pellets I think.
Thanks! I have five bags of something coming with the RT-700. I haven't received anything since the order except a thank you for the order e-mail. Maybe I should check the site and see if there is any updates on my order. ???
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I'll be cooking ribs on the Kamado Joe this holiday weekend. With the RT-700 on the way, I'm thinking this will be the last rib cook on the egg. I'll be cooking two racks cut in half to fit the egg and using the extended rack on the egg too. Sure wish I had the real estate and control of the RT for them, but do have more ribs and a brisket on standby when it arrives. I ordered it on the 21st and spoke to RT yesterday who said the grill would probably ship out tomorrow, Oh yeah!
I love the egg and have used it for a number years. I do plan to rebuild it (new seals, shelves and handle), but am undetermined about its future. I believe it will still cook the thick steaks better, but we'll see. I did order the searing kit for the RT.
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^^ Nice!. I know waiting for the grill to arrive is excruciating but it's worth it! But it sounds like you have a great weekend planned anyway. Cook it up!
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^^ Nice!. I know waiting for the grill to arrive is excruciating but it's worth it! But it sounds like you have a great weekend planned anyway. Cook it up!
Even though the RT hasn't arrived yet, I am already looking at the Kamado Joe differently now. Funny how that works. The Joe has been and still is a great grill, especially with the Cyber Q Wi-Fi controller I added to it, but it's clearly a lot more trouble to work a 16 hour pork shoulder with it than the RT will be, plus any other cook.
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I cooked on primo oval xl for 8 years before trying a pellet cooker....i had many, many fantastic meals off it, but I honestly do not miss it all. In fact, I was using an akorn jr kamado last year in the camper and since I had gotten used to the cleaner taste of the pellet cooker, I didn’t like the food coming off the kamado nearly as much...it is sitting in my shed and I have a Davy Crockett pellet inn the camper now:)
Memphis Elite
Yoder YS640 - sold
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro
I think I can understand what you are saying about the difference in smoke quality. When I first add wood chunks to the egg they smell really good coming out of the cooker. I really like the Fig wood as it smells so sweet. After awhile though that smell goes away even though the chunks of wood are still large and plentiful, but now chard and doesn't smell so sweet. If the pellet grill retains that initial smell throughout the cook I will be a really happy camper.
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It’s certainly a lighter/cleaner smoke. You can barely see it after it gets up to temp.
IMO it’s the smoke you want. Thin, blue smoke.
For some it’s not enough and they use a smoker tube. I tried it and thought it was too bitter. The tube gave off white smoke the handful of times I used it. It reminded me of the Masterbuilt electric smoker I had.
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It’s certainly a lighter/cleaner smoke. You can barely see it after it gets up to temp.
IMO it’s the smoke you want. Thin, blue smoke.
For some it’s not enough and they use a smoker tube. I tried it and thought it was too bitter. The tube gave off white smoke the handful of times I used it. It reminded me of the Masterbuilt electric smoker I had.
Sound really good for sure. I do like Mesquite smoke on my beef and Apple and sometimes Cherry, and especially Pecan on my chicken. Pork usually gets Hickory. This 200lbs of mixed woods coming is going to be new for me and something to get use to. I am fairly open minded and don't like to get stuck in a rut so this is exciting and new for me and I can adapt easily if for the better, which I am thinking it will be.
P.S. I just received my shipping notification Whew hew !!! :clap: :cool: :lick: I am so glad to see RT is using a freight carrier, which with the size and weight probably not much choice here.
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I am new here and new to pellet smoking but I have been smoking for a while now. I have an offset stick smoker, a gas smoker and I got ride of the electric smoker. I have smoked everything from brisket to trout and love the taste. I just received my RT Stampede on Wednesday, came around 4:00 pm. I Put it together and seasoned it that night, no time to cook on it yet. I am going to try a porterhouse on it tonight and see how the sear racks do. I want to season the sear racks with bacon before cooking the steak so nothing sticks to it. Has anyone else done that? On Monday I want to smoke a pork shoulder to see how the smoke turns out. I did order the stainless steel vents but they are on back order as well as the cover.
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I'm waiting on the vents as well for the Stampede. But I didn't get any other accessories. Be sure to let us know how the sear grates perform.
I cooked last weekend (tri tip, bacon, wings) and the smoke output was fantastic, particularly at 225 degrees for more smoke. And as mentioned earlier, the type of smoke is a little different. Coming from the world of offset stick burning (which I loved) and kamado cooking (which I did not love), I couldn't be happier with the conversation to pellet cooking. But not just for the relative ease of it, primarily for the taste and quality of the food.
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I see the RT-700's chamber is made with 14 gauge SS and would like to know if you pros think that it will hold heat and perform noticeably better than the RT-590 would. I asked REC TEC why only a 2-year warranty and was told it was because people will be hauling the RT-590 around in their vehicles. I didn't like that answer, but it is what they said via the phone conversation. I now believe I know the truth and it is due to the thin steel chamber.
I really don't see any other grill in this $900 price range that looks better to me, but I welcome all input here for sure. My wife doesn't really want a 54" grill added to the deck TBH, but if the RT-700 is much better then I well have to consider it over the RT-590. I do Briskets, Pork shoulders, and everything in-between for mainly just the two of us.
I got my Rec Tec RT-700 about 1-1/2 weeks ago. I am extremely happy with it. I've cooked on stick burners and gassers. When my oldest son told me about pellet grills, I was intrigued with not spending all day/night minding the fire. I paid the extra for the RT-700 because of what I read about the build quality. It's well deserved praise. All that thick stainless is well placed. In the past week I've done tri-tip, chicken thighs, chicken legs, sweet potatoes, and Friday night I smoked two boneless pork shoulders. I cooked them low and slow @ 225 and they came out FANTASTIC! No trouble holding temp. The right side appears to cook a little hotter, so half way through I swapped the meat. It evened out things nicely.
I've had a couple of minor problems. 1. The app puts out a wifi disconnected message every once in a while. I called them at 10 am PST on Saturday. They picked right up. I spoke with a gentleman that definitely knew what he was talking about. He said this was an app problem when it sleeps. He said they're working on changing the app to make it work correctly. No biggie. 2. Both probes read 10° high compared to my ThermaPen. Easy math to correct that in my head. I told the gentleman that I could find calibration for the temp sensor, but not the meat probes. Is there any way to calibrate those? He walked me though checking the board version in my grill. He determined that it wasn't the latest version of firmware. With no coaching, he offered to cross ship me the latest board with instructions for install and probe calibration. Included is return shipping. Two bolts to install. The latest version has meat probe calibration. Excellent, top-of-the-line customer service, excellent grill with superb customer service. I am extemely happy with my purchase.
Thanks for the insight. Can you remember what the latest version number is? I want to check my board version when my 700 arrives.
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Others are getting indications that Rec Tec are working on a way to update firmware remotely and that future calibration of food probes might be a month or more out. I haven't heard anyone else indicate they were sent any new boards...
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Not happy to hear the Stampede vent covers (I ordered the three-pack) are on backorder... Any idea when they are supposed to ship? Can't sit in the rain without them. And since they don't have covers, I'm not waiting.
Anyone find a decent cover that will fit the Stampede? Guess I'll have to check the dimensions and hit Amazon...
I did buy some pellets, that arrive today, but I've clearly got some time since mine is not likely to ship until next week.
Thanks for the updates everyone - I'll keep you guys posted on what I learn (and find). And for the record, I have gotten some amazing results out of my Masterbuilt (with the bigger smoker box on the side) and my Bradley, but I hear the comment above - I'm looking at them differently as well, now that I've ordered the Stampede. :D
- Dan
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It’s certainly a lighter/cleaner smoke. You can barely see it after it gets up to temp.
IMO it’s the smoke you want. Thin, blue smoke.
For some it’s not enough and they use a smoker tube. I tried it and thought it was too bitter. The tube gave off white smoke the handful of times I used it. It reminded me of the Masterbuilt electric smoker I had.
Sound really good for sure. I do like Mesquite smoke on my beef and Apple and sometimes Cherry, and especially Pecan on my chicken. Pork usually gets Hickory. This 200lbs of mixed woods coming is going to be new for me and something to get use to. I am fairly open minded and don't like to get stuck in a rut so this is exciting and new for me and I can adapt easily if for the better, which I am thinking it will be.
P.S. I just received my shipping notification Whew hew !!! :clap: :cool: :lick: I am so glad to see RT is using a freight carrier, which with the size and weight probably not much choice here.
For the most part, you will not be able to taste the difference between apple, cherry, and pecan pellets so if that becomes the case don't be alarmed. The pellets burn so clean it is hard to distinguish a particular pellet flavor of the wood for most people. An exception is usually 100% hickory for most.
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Thanks! That's good to know.
I see you have a MAK 2. I checked those out last night and was very impressed with the design of them. Kinda more of what I would like but the price of them was out of the ballpark for me. Still, very impressive grill design. Maybe not having a pellet clean out like the MAK won't be as big of a deal with the REC-TEC for changing wood flavors as I was thinking. I still would like a cleanout for preventing humidity problems when not grilling for a spell. REC TEC could have done something similar to the MAK and made a cleanout that prevented humidity from entering the hopper IMHO. Many grills have the pellet cleanout on them and it just makes good sense to me to incorporate that option for any pellet grill.
I don't plan on filling the 40lb hopper full to begin with, but maybe for the summer I will. I do have a cover ordered and will just have to see how much of an issue humidity problems will be with pellets. I can always dig out the hopper contents with a couple of bowls or use a clean shop vac and do it that way. I am just guessing at this point since I have no experience or the grill yet.
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I’ve never had an issue with humid pellets in my 680. I leave it filled 24/7.
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I’ve never had an issue with humid pellets in my 680. I leave it filled 24/7.
That's good news and wouldn't think with the overlapping hopper lid and cover that it would be a big issue here in TN. The manual is recommending removal of the pellets if not cooking for 6 weeks or more. I can never think of a time I went that long without grilling as I grill year-round so will be adding fresh pellets as I go.
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I have a plan to cover the light lens with thin aluminum foil if I can (I'm thinking I can) to prevent the lens from getting all smoky during daylight cooks. If I know that my cook will extend into darkness then I will remove the foil before the cook or maybe even during the cook carefully. This just sounds like a good way to extend the life of the lens and have a nice clear lens for nighttime cooks. I have a very nice light on the deck anyways so it's not a big deal for me anyways, but the interior light will still be beneficial.
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This is the cover I use for my 680. You'd probably want a smaller size for the Stampede.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00D2VUN7E/?coliid=I3B6Y7BJPIGQCB&colid=1YDPF5KKCIYPV&psc=0&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it
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I've had an aversion to covers that go all the way to the ground since mice used a cover to climb into my grill and raise a family. The cover doesn't have to be much longer than the parts I want to protect so I trim those that are.
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I have the RT custom cover that is coming with my RT-700. It has a cinch cord at the bottom or some Velcro straps as I understand it to keep it from flying off in strong winds.
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The only issue with the custom cover is that it fits really tight and can be hard to remove and install.
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The only issue with the custom cover is that it fits really tight and can be hard to remove and install.
I forgot to say thanks for the link. I have watched the RT cover video install/removal and have it down pat in my head at least. I read where it had a vinyl outer which I have had them crack up with sun exposure. I am not saying the RT cover will but will be watching for it.
Ross, what do you do about the smoke stack part. The link is not showing that part of the grill. I think you assumed I had a RT-590 coming and that's fair being I am on the wrong thread here.
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The Amazon cover is big enough to cover everything. Smoke stack isn’t an issue.
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Those do look like really nice covers. I read the detailed description and was impressed with the features. I will obviously go with the Rec Tec cover I ordered for now, but will save the link for future reference.
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This is the cover I use for my 680. You'd probably want a smaller size for the Stampede.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00D2VUN7E/?coliid=I3B6Y7BJPIGQCB&colid=1YDPF5KKCIYPV&psc=0&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it
Thanks for the link. I’ll see what I can find.
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Is RecTec still providing a free bag of pellets with the smoker? I got one with mine when I ordered it almost 2 years ago. Curious if they are still doing it.
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Is RecTec still providing a free bag of pellets with the smoker? I got one with mine when I ordered it almost 2 years ago. Curious if they are still doing it.
Not with mine. My Stampede only came with the frog mat I ordered and two notes saying my vent covers and t-shirt were on back order.
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woo woo woo... hold the horses.... the t-shirt was on backorder???!??!? :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :( :(
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^^^ Haha, I know. It's the "free" t-shirt that comes with the grill. It just made me chuckle to see that note in there.
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Was just about to pull the trigger on a Stampede, but saw another post comparing the Rec Tec models and noticed that the RT700 has a 6 year warranty and RT 590 only has 2 years. Also, the RT700 is made of heavier gauge stainless. Think I'm going to change my mind to the RT700 for those reasons. Too bad because the RT590 is exactly the size I wanted. :(
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Was just about to pull the trigger on a Stampede, but saw another post comparing the Rec Tec models and noticed that the RT700 has a 6 year warranty and RT 590 only has 2 years. Also, the RT700 is made of heavier gauge stainless. Think I'm going to change my mind to the RT700 for those reasons. Too bad because the RT590 is exactly the size I wanted. :(
That's exactly what happen to me when I saw the comparison chart for the first time here on this forum. It was a close call as I was ready to pull the trigger on the 590. I really like the size of the 590, but much thinner steel than the 700. I did call RT and tried to get the differences out of them. They never mentioned the steel and basically said they were the same quality. I really didn't like that after I found the truth here. I think we'll appreciate the extra cooking space of the 700 once we get going with it. I'm waiting on the delivery truck as I type!!!
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I wouldn’t worry too much about the thickness of the SS. It’s still SS.
The warranty could be an issue. I’ve had a few parts replaced in the two years that I’ve had the 680. Two of those were ignitors but they are using better ceramic ignitors now.
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I wouldn’t worry too much about the thickness of the SS. It’s still SS.
The warranty could be an issue. I’ve had a few parts replaced in the two years that I’ve had the 680. Two of those were ignitors but they are using better ceramic ignitors now.
There were other difference too like no optional shelf which will probably come out later. The RT rep said many were requesting that. I also didn't care for the rain holes in the back and even though there is a fix option available, I was worried about less smoke flavor and being near my vinyl siding, plus with the smoke stack I can put in a damper for different results. I still really like the 590, but am trying not to look back.
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The body of the Stampede measures about 0.031". Feels solid enough, I wouldn't expect any problems related to the stainless steel's thickness.. I doubt the way the exhaust exits is a significant issue, yeah, I suppose rain could get it, but it's never been much of a issue on my Traeger Junior which also has exhaust holes that are very similar. The little louvered exhaust things certainly would help with rain.. I doubt there are many who intentionally leave their pellet grill out in the rain though, I do understand that there very well could be times when rain comes up unexpectedly , or you just need to cook with a bit of rain... yet, I still don't see it as a major concern.
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I am sure the 590 is just as good a grill as the 700, but I really am happy with the additional space on my 700 now that I have done a few cooks on it. I cooked some breast on one side and seared some chops on the sear plates on the other side all in one cook. After cooking on the 18" KJ this is more to my liking with all the extra space.
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I've broken in my Stampede fairly well... bacon to start, brisket, salmon, ribs (I forgot the ribs) and shoulder. Other than the brisket being a little dry, everything was great. I think I'll stick a pan of water in there for the next smoke.
ANYWAY - quality is good, seems very solid, the Wi-Fi control is excellent. Size is perfect.
Steel seems plenty thick, fire box very stout. I'm extremely happy. Would like to see a pellet dump so I can switch wood type without scooping, and maybe a quick access to clean out the firebox, but this thing is great. Super consistent, plenty of smoke, and great results. AS long as you foil the drip tray, clean up is easy.
Two thumbs up.
-Dan
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I find it very easy to get pellets out of the Stampede. I have a plastic container, rectangular shape, I stand to the end of the hopper, place the container between myself and the hopper, this holds that container right next to the hopper, I reach down inside the hopper with both hands, and pull upward on pellets. I could empty the entire hopper in probably less then 5 minutes this way.
I suppose , technically a well designed pellet dump could be easier, but I really don't think it's worth giving a second thought to myself.