Poll: which pit do you suggest, and why?

Blaz'n Grid Iron - MSRP - $1449
Rec Tec - BULL RT-700 - MSRP $1798 (sale $1199)
Traeger XL  - MSRP $2000
Traeger Timberline  - MSRP  $2000
just build a custom monster pit and get it over with
other
I'm just here to laugh at people

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  • #1 by KrautBurner on 12 Dec 2018
  • Edit:
    adding a little background

    I currently own an old Traeger BBQ124 (22")
    I had a Traeger Jr for about 4 years (picked it up used when my father in law upgraded to a Texas (34))
    I've since done a couple small local competitions as well as provided food for friends events
    I've found myself volunteering a lot,  cooking for fundraisers and my church
    we often end up with my father in law and myself running 4-6 (or more) pellet grills at the same time in order to do our bigger cooks  (the last time,  we had 2 Traeger Texas Grills, 2 of the bigger Sawtooth grills, one Traeger Select, and my 124 (we've also had a couple Century's out at the same time too))

    my church is considering purchasing or building a large trailer type unit,
    but I won't always have access to this, and I've found myself doing more cooks for other people








    Blaz'n Grid Iron - MSRP - $1449  (total price about $2,000)
    http://www.blazngrillworks.com/the-grid-iron/

    •Cooking Surface - 36" x19.5"  702 sq. in.
    •Inside Shelf - 31" x 10" 310 sq. in.
    •Total Cooking Space - 1012 sq. in.
    •Weight - 224 lbs
    •Hopper Capacity - 30 lbs



     MSRP - $1449
    $328 for competition wheel kit
    $259 for Pro shelf unit  (I believe it adds about 1,000+ Sq-In)
    $76.95 for the lid insulator (not that important)




    Rec Tec BULL RT-700    $1199 (Sale price)
    https://www.rectecgrills.com/bull-rt-700-wood-pellet-grill/


    •Stainless steel cooking chamber • No paint to fade, flake, or fail
    •40 lb. hopper capacity • Up to 40+ hours of continuous cooking
    •702 sq. in. cooking area • Tall enough for turkeys or beer can chickens  • Fits 6 large racks of ribs
    •1054 sq. in. cooking area with optional large 2nd shelf • Cook more food
    •Interior light • Easily removed dishwasher safe glass lens • Grill day or night
    •2 grill grates made from 1/4" 304 stainless steel rod • Lasts the lifetime of your grill • Easy to remove and clean
    •304 stainless steel fire pot • Indestructible • Won't fail
    •304 stainless steel heat deflector with integrated smoke tray • Evenly distributes heat throughout cooking chamber
    •304 stainless steel drip pan • Funnels grease out of chamber into bucket for easy cleanup
    •HotFlash Ceramic Ignition System • State of the art •  Longest lasting ignition system on the market

    6 year warranty
    FREE SHIPPING


    grill price $1,199
    Grand Champion Bundle - Add $899.95
    ◦Includes 200 lbs. Assorted Pellets + Custom Fit Grill Cover + T-Shirt + Front Folding Shelf $104 + Searing Kit $84 + (2) Cooking Mats + Large 2nd Interior Shelf + Small 2nd Interior Shelf + Bullpen Instant Read Thermometer + Rub & Sauce Bundle + Large Rubber Pad + Smokebox $229+  (2) Premium Koozies + Grill Towel

    Competition Cart would be another $299

    $2397 (including lots of extras that I don't necessarily need)



    Traeger Timberline   MSRP $1,999

    Traeger XL     MSRP  $1,999
    this would match my old 124

    BTW,
    I can likely get either of these TRAEGERS for under $1500
  • #2 by Bar-B-Lew on 12 Dec 2018
  • What are you intending to cook that you need a bigger grill?
  • #3 by KrautBurner on 12 Dec 2018
  • What are you intending to cook that you need a bigger grill?

    multiple briskets, multiple pork bellies, multiple roasts.

    I've been doing a lot of bigger cooks (multiple medium sized grills at the same time)



    I recently upgraded from a Traeger Jr. (4 years) to an old 124 (basically a 22 cooking barrel size)
    my father in law has a Texas (BBQ075), my church has 2 of the larger SawTooth grills and a Texas
    we still end up borrowing 2 or more other personal pellet grills for our bigger cooks
  • #4 by bten on 12 Dec 2018
  • Yoder YS-640 has about 1080 sq. in. of space (includes second shelf)
  • #5 by KrautBurner on 12 Dec 2018
  • Yoder YS-640 has about 1080 sq. in. of space (includes second shelf)


    I was thinking the Yoders were significantly more expensive
    $2,045 + shipping (about $300)
    https://www.yodersmokers.com/ys640-comp-cart.html

    I don't know a lot about them, as I've never seen one in person
    they do look nice,   and I've never heard (read) anything bad about them

  • #6 by KrautBurner on 12 Dec 2018
  • as of right now,

    I'm leaning towards the BULL by Rec-Tec

    I love that it's all Stainless
    and it has the WiFi controller
    they are built a lot better than the Traegers
    and it's got the 40lb hopper (in the back)

    one of the main things I love about the Blaz'n is that its  MADE IN THE USA  (and that does mean a lot to me)
    I really like the competition shelving kit for it a lot
    I really like the idea of the firepot cleanout system they have
  • #7 by BigDave83 on 12 Dec 2018
  • I wish I had known of Blazin before I bought my Rec Tec I would have owned one of them. The Rec Tec isn't on sale that is their gimmick, show an inflated retail and sell it for less. They have always done that I paid 999 for mine 5 years ago and when they sold the last ones they were still the same price with a 1400 list. It is the same size as the treager texas.

     I would check out the Pitts and Spits line they have 3 different sizes now, and there is one or two on here that have gator pitts pellet cooker.

    Of your 2 I would go Blazin. 
  • #8 by KrautBurner on 12 Dec 2018
  • I wish I had known of Blazin before I bought my Rec Tec I would have owned one of them. The Rec Tec isn't on sale that is their gimmick, show an inflated retail and sell it for less. They have always done that I paid 999 for mine 5 years ago and when they sold the last ones they were still the same price with a 1400 list. It is the same size as the treager texas.

     I would check out the Pitts and Spits line they have 3 different sizes now, and there is one or two on here that have gator pitts pellet cooker.

    Of your 2 I would go Blazin.

    yeah,

    I'd definitely not pay the MSRP,   for that price it opens up a lot of options
    the BULL comes with a lot more stuff for the $2K price which makes it very tempting

  • #9 by bten on 12 Dec 2018
  • The Yoder without the comp cart is just $1449.  It is also made in the USA.  I would get the Blazen over the Rec Tec.  Just check out the weights. The Blazen is much heavier.  It will last a lifetime.
  • #10 by Bar-B-Lew on 12 Dec 2018
  • The Yoder without the comp cart is just $1449.  It is also made in the USA.  I would get the Blazen over the Rec Tec.  Just check out the weights. The Blazen is much heavier.  It will last a lifetime.

    Not sure how much sea salt moisture you get where you live.  If you do, I would not recommend the Blazn based on my experience of the used grill I bought from someone near Atlantic City unless you want to continue to sand rust and repaint frequently.
  • #11 by MP09 on 13 Dec 2018
  • I own the grid iron and i have no complaints. In the last year, several of my friends have purchase a BGW after having cooked on mine and a few other brands. A very solid cooker...
  • #12 by KrautBurner on 13 Dec 2018
  • What are you intending to cook that you need a bigger grill?

    multiple briskets, multiple pork bellies, multiple roasts.

    I've been doing a lot of bigger cooks (multiple medium sized grills at the same time)



    I recently upgraded from a Traeger Jr. (4 years) to an old 124 (basically a 22 cooking barrel size)
    my father in law has a Texas (BBQ075), my church has 2 of the larger SawTooth grills and a Texas
    we still end up borrowing 2 or more other personal pellet grills for our bigger cooks

    here's a couple pics of us loading up my father in law's 075 (Traeger Texas)
    and it's a foot longer than my 124
  • #13 by dk117 on 17 Dec 2018
  • KB needs more capacity period.  How can I be the only one to vote

    just build a custom monster pit and get it over with

    Do you want to purchase two or three of whatever is on the list?  Or make (have one customized) a single pit that will meet your capacity needs?  Say goodbye to your budget, but what you want is out there to be purchased. 

    DK
  • #14 by KrautBurner on 19 Dec 2018
  • KB needs more capacity period.  How can I be the only one to vote

    just build a custom monster pit and get it over with

    Do you want to purchase two or three of whatever is on the list?  Or make (have one customized) a single pit that will meet your capacity needs?  Say goodbye to your budget, but what you want is out there to be purchased. 

    DK

    I've also been eyeballing this monster  (the manufacturer doesnt have pricing on the site,  but I think this one is around $3K + the pellet kit and shipping)
    http://www.americanbarbecuesystems.com/Pit-Boss.html



    capacities
    Boston Butt
    20ea - Boston Butts 6 - 7lb

    Brisket
    8ea - Whole Briskets 9 -12lb
    16ea - Flat Briskets 5 - 6lb

    Pork Ribs
    Saint Louis Style Ribs
    16 slabs
    or
    Baby Backs
    20 slabs

    Chicken
    Using 8 Rotisserie racks
    32ea - Whole chicken


    SPECIFICATIONS
    Cooking Surface
    1704 sq/in
    432 sq/in of grilling surface
    4 Stainless Steel Rotisserie Upper Racks 25 x 7 1/2
    4 Stainless Steel Rotisserie Lower Racks 25 x 9 1/2
    2 Stainless Steel Grilling Racks 16 x 14 1/2
    Or
    4 Stainless Steel Flat Racks 29 x 27
    1 Stainless Steel Flat Rack 29 x 24
    2 Stainless Steel Grilling Racks 16 x 14 1/2

    Dimensions
    Smokebox/Firebox 30”W x 30”D
    Overall 37”W x 55”D x 63”H(top of stack)
    Weight
    560 lbs.


    https://youtu.be/hftL-xiq1Jw?t=28




    or maybe go all the way and get the JUDGE (this bad boy is probalby about $7K)
    http://www.americanbarbecuesystems.com/Judge.html

    it doubles the above unit's capacities



    Judge 4ft
    Cooking Surface
    5124 sq/in
    744 sq/in of grilling surface
    4-8 Stainless Steel Rotisserie Upper Racks 42 x 9 1/2
    4 Stainless Steel Rotisserie Lower Racks 42 x 11 1/2
    3 Stainless Steel Grilling Racks 16 x 15 1/2

    Dimensions
    Smokebox/Firebox 48”W x 56”D
    Overall 80”W x 100”L x 69”H (top of stack and tongue in place)
    Weight
    1500 lbs.

  • #15 by dk117 on 19 Dec 2018
  • now you're talking!   I think you need to assess how much money (protein, rub, injection, foil, pellets) are going into these cooks with 6 pellet grills all running at once.   If it's a bunch of $.98 a lb pork shoulders it might not be compelling.  When you go to Costco and purchase every single prime brisket  (4 briskets per each of the 6 pits, $50 a brisket, you just spent $1200 on protein alone) the discussion becomes more interesting.   

    I got to a point in my arrival at Gator Pit when I first declared this was a hobby I was passionate about.   Second I decided that the pit itself was not necessarily where the costs of this hobby lie. 

    Word of caution, if you do go big with a near custom pit from Kansas or Texas watch out for the shipping costs, they are not insignificant.  (I'm also Washington State).

    Good luck!

    DK
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