Nothing makes a perfect evening like calling over your friends to enjoy some delicious BBQ together. However, that perfect evening can quickly turn into a nightmare if you find an undercooked steak or an over-smoked brisket. Nevertheless, if you’ve landed yourself in a similar position, there’s no need to worry because this Rec Tec Grills Review is on the rescue.
Rec Tec Grills Review
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With a decade of experience under their belt, Rec Tec Grills have successfully built a name for themselves in the market. What started off as just two guys trying to create the ultimate grill for the best BBQ experience, has now become one of the best brands for BBQ grills. With a huge team at their back, Rec Tec Grills now caters to customers all over the country.
Their journey wasn’t easy though. There were a lot of hurdles and obstacles on the path to creating the best grill with the highest quality. But they met each obstacle head on and now, that is precisely what sets them apart from the rest of the competition.
· Smart Grill Technology
BBQ is all about temperature control. Whether it’s beef, chicken, lamb, or any meat, keeping the temperature under control is an art that not many have managed to perfect. More importantly, with Rec Tec’s Smart Grill Technology, you don’t have to anymore.
Programmed with PID algorithms, the Smart Grill Technology in Rec Tec Grills ensures consistent temperatures throughout the entire cooking process. The sharp sensors and processors can detect the slightest changes in the temperature, be it inside the grill or outside, and adjust it accordingly.
· Grills made with Stainless Steel
No matter how much you care for them, ordinary grills eventually rust. Moreover, cooking on rusted grills can be extremely dangerous for your health over time. This is precisely why all Rec Tec Grills have stainless steel construction, on the outside as well as inside.
Even the smallest parts which you might not even know exist, are made of stainless steel. Their Bull RT-700 Wood Pellet Grill alone has more than forty pounds of 304 stainless steel in it. Head on over here if you have any other pellet grill questions.
· Pellet Hopper
Having to continually add more wood pellets to your hopper can get annoying pretty quickly after the first few times. Thankfully, with the Rec Tec Grills, that’s another thing you don’t have to worry about. Their pellet hoppers have a forty-pound capacity, which is twice of your typical grills.
Furthermore, Rec Tec Grills are designed to make sure all the pellets end up in the firebox as compared to ordinary grills, which run dry while there are still some pellets left in the hopper.
· The Rec Tec Guarantee
At Rec Tec Grills, each customer is part of the Rec Tec Family. As such, making sure each and every customer is 100% happy and satisfied with their Rec Tec Grill is their utmost priority. Moreover, in case someone is not satisfied, they offer a full refund within thirty days of the purchase.
Rec Tec Grills Review: Top Three Grills
Now that you know everything there is to know about Rec Tec, it’s time to see if they really do deliver on their promise. We’ll be reviewing three of their popular grills: the Trailblazer RT-340, the Stampede RT-590, and the Bull RT-700 Wood Pellet Grill. But before you make any final decisions, take a look at these tips for choosing the best pellet grill.
🥇 REC TEC Pellet Grill Small Size: Trailblazer RT-340 Wood Pellet Grill
Whoever said that a good BBQ could only be done at home, obviously didn’t know about the Rec Tec Trailblazer RT-340 Grill. With the Trailblazer, you can enjoy all the features that you’ve come to love, anywhere you like.
· Build
The Trailblazer has the usual Rec Tec stainless steel body. From the cooking chamber to the hopper lid to the bucket hook to even the logo, everything is made using high-quality stainless steel. It has fail-proof lid stops that are guaranteed to last you a long time without bending or breaking. The lid is powder coated and insulated for even heating and heavy-duty grilling or smoking.
It is also an easily portable grill. It weighs 80 pounds and has three sturdy handles for carrying it around. There are also rollerblade style wheels and folding and locking legs, which make it easy to move and store.
The interior consists of 304 stainless steel as well. It features a heat deflector which ensures even heating inside the cooking chamber. The drip pan helps collect grease directly into a bucket which makes clean up quick and easy. The Trailblazer also has state of the art HotFlash Ceramic Ignition System.
· Temperature Control
Along with Tec Rec’s signature Smart Grill Technology, the Trailblazer has Wi-Pellet WiFi Technology. This allows you to monitor and adjust your grill settings from your phone or any other wireless device. Moreover, it also has automatic lighting and shutdown features, all activated with a push of a button.
There are two meat probes so you can monitor two types of meat at a time. You can adjust the temperature from 200 degrees Fahrenheit to 500 degrees Fahrenheit, in five-degree increments. This allows you to smoke, grill, roast and pretty much do everything on a single grill.
· Capacity
Inside the Trailblazer, there is a cooking area of 340 square inches, which is enough for a large roast or even a turkey. Moreover, if you add a second shelf, the cooking area increases to 511 square inches. It also has a 15-pound hopper capacity which allows you to burn pellets for more than 15 hours steadily.
· Power and Fuel Source
This grill has a 110 volt AC GFCI outlet. It uses 100% natural hardwood pellets that bring out the best flavor in your food.
· Customer Service
The Trailblazer comes with a two-year warranty that covers every part of the grill. You can also refer to its detailed user manual for assembly instructions or in case of any problem. Along with the Trailblazer, you also get a bullpen instant-read thermometer, a premium grill cover, and a premium grill pad.
You also get 80 pounds of blending pellets. Although, if you want to go a different way, here are the best wood pellets for smoking and grilling.
🥇 REC TEC Pellet Grill Middle Size: Stampede RT-590 Wood Pellet Grill
With its unique octagon-shaped cooking chamber, the Stampede is not too small or too large, but just the perfect size for your needs. You don’t have to sacrifice quality for size or vice versa with this grill.
· Build
Along with the standard stainless steel body that doesn’t rust or corrode, the Stampede has a unique octagonal shape that provides more headroom than your typical barrel-style grills. It comes with high-temperature RTV caulk that helps keep any moisture out of the cooking chamber. All the wire holes are fitted with rubber grommets to protect them from damage.
Furthermore, the grill has a modular construction with vented component access panels for easy access and replacement. It’s equipped with rollerblade style wheels and locking casters so that your grill doesn’t move unless you want it to. There’s also a shelf at the bottom which provides stability and a convenient storage spot.
· Temperature Control
The Stampede has Rec Tec’s trademark Smart Grill Technology along with the PID algorithms which monitor and accurately maintain temperatures. The Wi-Pellet WiFi Technology also allows you to watch and adjust your grill temperatures wirelessly without having to be there.
There are additional LO and FUL temperature settings for maintaining temperatures below 200 degrees Fahrenheit or above 500 degrees Fahrenheit. The LO setting is a great help for when you’re smoking eat. Check out these common smoking mistakes which you can avoid for better smoke.
There are also three smoke vent holes for an evener heat distribution and better temperature control inside the chamber.
· Capacity
The Stampede grill is large enough for a beer can chicken or even a turkey. It has a cooking area of 592 square inches which can fit five large racks of ribs. Moreover, by adding a second shelf, you can increase the cooking area to 772 square inches.
The pellet hopper has a capacity of thirty pounds, which can last you for more than thirty hours of cooking.
· Power and Fuel Source
The grill comes with a 110 volt AC GFCI outlet and uses clean burning, 100% natural hardwood pellets.
· Customer Service
The Stampede comes with a four-year warranty covering all grill components. The grill comes along with a premium grill cover, 160 pounds of ultimate blend pellet, a thermometer, and two mesh non-stick grill mats. You can also refer to the Stampede user manual for any other information.
🥇 REC TEC Pellet Grill Large Size: Bull RT-700 Wood Pellet Grill
The Rec Tec Bull RT-700 Grill is a total game changer. It has all the features you can imagine on a grill and more. As their slogan goes, with the Bull, you get a flavor, convenience, and versatility.
· Build
The Bull is 2.5 inches taller than its predecessor, the RT-680. It has the same stainless steel body as all Rec Tec grills have, but it has more design features. It comes with a convenient towel ring to hang and keep your towel within reach. There is a controller shelf which can hold platters and dishes, and also protect critical components of the grill.
The stainless steel hopper can also act as a warming surface. It also has handles so you can access your grill from either side. The grill has a smokestack cap which can withstand high temperatures and is guaranteed to last a lifetime. Moreover, the lid has a baked-on porcelain enamel coating, which not only looks great but is easy to clean.
Additionally, the grill has a pull bar handle and four tool hooks. It also features a light inside the grill so you can comfortably do it during the day or at night. Similar to the Stampede RT-590, it has rubber grommets around the wire holes and high-temperature RTV caulk.
· Temperature Control
This grill has the usual Smart Grill Technology controller with automatic lighting and shutdown features. It has two meat probes. The temperature of the grill can be adjusted from 200 degrees Fahrenheit to 500 degrees Fahrenheit in 5 degrees increments. Furthermore, there are additional LO and FUL temperature settings as well.
More importantly, the Bull features new and more advanced Wi-Pellet WiFi Technology. This allows you to connect to your grill using your phone through the Rec Tec Grills App, which you can then use from anywhere you go. The app is available for Android as well as iOs users.
· Capacity
The Bull RT-700 has redefined the whole bigger and better concept. It has a 702 square inches cooking area which can be increased to 1054 square inches by adding a second shelf in the grill. This means you can feed pretty much your entire neighborhood.
Moreover, the pellet hopper has a capacity of forty pounds, which will last you through more than forty hours of cooking.
· Power and Fuel Source
Rec Tec’s Bull uses NEC compliant 110 volt AC GFCI outlet for power. For fuel, it uses 100% natural hardwood pellets which burn clean and bring the best flavor.
· Customer Service
Rec Tec offers a six-year warranty on the Bull along with an excellent customer service team. Along with the grill, you get a front folding shelf, a premium cover, and 160 pounds of ultimate blend pellets. You can refer to the Bull user manual for more details regarding assembly and specifications.
Final Words
It’s pretty clear that Rec Tec Grills is definitely worth the hype. Their specially constructed grills are long lasting, convenient, easy to set up, and most importantly, make the best BBQ. While they’ve got a whole range of grills that caters to everyone’s needs, our favorite was the Bull RT-700. Its advanced and superior features easily put it way ahead of all other grills and competition.
If you’ve done some research on your own, you must have seen another name popping up quite often: Traeger. Before you start having doubts, see how Rec Tec compares with Traeger. Moreover, if you’re a beginner, check out this handy buying guide and reviews of best pellet smokers and grills.
Last Updated on December 1, 2019 by Judith Fertig
Wayne Stewart says
I didn’t base my decision on any articles as I know writers can be biased and the opinion of one person is not worth much. I went with my Bull based on many opinions from not only on here but other places as well. Is this the best one on the market? That’s not for me to say as I just got mine but based on this site I went with the Bull mainly due to customer service and Rec Tec has proven their worth in this area as well as the best warranty on the market.
Daniel Overbey says
I will say I was turned on to Rectec by a friend who has and loves one. I have had mine for not quite six months and absolutely love it. The support is spectacular, and the recipes on the web site are all incredible. I would buy again in a heartbeat. Oh, and the ease of cooking great food can not be overstated. This grill takes a lot of the guesswork out of it…
Jeremy Gannon says
You will not go wrong with a RECTEC. Quality product. Great Customer service. Everyone’s budget and needs are different, However I started on a camp chef and have now moved up to the Bull. Wish I had found RECTEC from the start. It would have saved a few bucks in the long run if I had bought the right grill to start with.
Cynthia Stein says
I bought a car and the incentive gift was the Trailblazer and we have never looked back. Love it. We now have the 700 with searing grates and don’t miss our gas grill at all. The service is amazing from being able to contact via facebook to talking on the phone. I live in Augusta GA so I walk right into their store and they are the best customer service oriented company. We love our Rec Tecs.
Beth Reinemann says
We are anxiously awaiting the arrival of our new bull this week!
David Wallis says
I’ve had my Bull since 3/2018 you will not be disappointed awesome grill
Adam Pettichord says
Pros. It’s freakin awesome. Con: I had to pay for it. Rather have gotten it for free.
Michael Gutermuth says
Worth every penny and best bang for the buck for a quality smoker in my opinion.
Bryan Rife says
– Pros:
6 year warranty
Perfect size for family of 4 especially if you smoke a pan of Mac and cheese or vegetable plus meats. Stampede might be right sized if you don’t cook a pan of this or that. Stampede has a 4 year warranty. I was able to cook hamburgers on searing grates last week for the first time no problem on the bull.
– Cons:
Might be bigger than you need? Nice to have extra room in case you need it. For the extra 300.00 over the stampede the Bull is worth it.
Jarrod Robichaux says
Best grill I’ve ever owned. Best customer service. They back their products with a 6 year warranty. And the owners give you their personal cell phone number in case anything goes wrong with your grill. If that’s not standing behind a product, I don’t know what is. You won’t regret getting this grill.
Dayton Stone says
Pros easy to use, holds temp great cooks some of the best chicken I’ve ever had. Cons just in my opinion I would like a little more smoke taste on bigger cuts of meat like Boston butts or brisket. Overall it’s a great product that I like.
Rey Alvarez says
Glad I made the purchase. You won’t regret it. It is more than just a smoker. It gets big jobs done at once the oven can’t do. I can smoke long without being in the house and can adjust the temp. It’s convenient. Cons hmm that’s hard. Maybe could come with the second shelve and the comp cart instead of the wheels it comes with. No cons I can think of performance wise
Pat Reid says
This RT 700 Bull smoker cannot be matched by any other pellet Grill on the market. It is far superior to all I have seen or used. If you couple the great cooks you will get from this grill along with the incredible customer service that you receive from employees like Ryan,Jamie,AB,Zack , Adam and Eric just to mention a few employees, then you will have the best of the best . Each time I called Rec Tec whether it be to ask a question, order a part, or concerns about the grill, their knowledge and expertise and willingness to serve me with the up most respect and courtesy was insanely incredible. Some of you may think this grill is pricey, but if you couple the great cooks you will get , the incredible build of this grill and the insanely incredible customer service and willingness to make your grill perform at its best then the price is really cheap. For me personally, I cannot wait to add another Rec Tec grill to my collection. Thank you RECTEC and RECTEC Family for you dedicated service
David Pearson says
Like you have done, I reserched like crazy to make sure this was a good purchase. Looked and compared it to other brands and then pulled the trigger and bought. Getting a handwritten letter from the owners with direct lines to call was something you just dont get today. When I was having trouble installing into the outdoor kitchen I built on a Saturday at 4:30 in the afternoon and helped me with the questions and issues I was having, it was above and beyond expectations. I broke the wifii connector and let them know, shipped the part and had the next day at no charge made me the loyal follower like so many.
I have had “Bully” 11 months and cooked on it an average of twice a week. Easy to clean and more important easy for my wife to use also. I have just finished using the 160 lbs of pellets. Still works great and looks great.
Warning… you will become a smoke meister constantly looking for new recipes and your friends will want to know when your cooking next and asking to drop their meet off for smoking also.
James Sency says
Bought a ‘BULL’ last year after MANY hours of on-line researching/reading. The first one showed up with a torqued or likely hyperextended lid so that it did not seat close on the body when closed, and had bends at the hinge attachment points. Also one of the grates had a broken wire weld point. Not happy as the outer shipping carton was virtually unscathed and the lid was securely taped/secured shut. This strongly suggested that the damage occured BEFORE it was packed for shipment. Hmmmmm.
But REC TEC was very accomodating, and quickly shipped out a replacement. Imagine my dismay when the delivery truck’s door opened to reveal a BADLY mangled outer carton!! I had little hope as to what I would find inside. This time, I opened the carton while the delivery guy was there, and believe it or not, this grill was unscathed! Go figure.
Now to assembly and performance. Components seem sturdy and finished well. Not too happy with the sloppy fit of the legs to the body which allows wobble, but we’re not driving this thing down the road. Would have liked to see some type of soft-close or cushion device for the lid which is pretty heavy and needs a close watch when lowering.
Reaches set temp fast enough and maintains it very well (within a degree or 2) thanx to the PID controller; however, things go a little crazy after opening the lid e.g. to spritz, foil, or otherwise tend to your cook item, and also when trying to LOWER the temp say from 225 to 200. It ‘hunts’ around for a while before it actually gets a handle on the temp again. On the way down with a temp change, the combustion blower cycles on and off the whole time. The first time it did this, I thought the control unit was defective. Just an idiosyncrasy of the design I suppose.
All my cooks (pork ribs, spatchcocked poultry, brisket) have turned out very good so far. Pellet use is quite acceptable. All in all, I’m very pleased with the performance.
Now for the bad……and it’s really just ONE thing, and that is the quality of the stainless steel. I’ve read that it’s supposed to be 304 alloy, but if it is, it’s a poor grade as any magnet will readily adhere to ANY of the stainless components such as the hopper and it’s lid, the body, the side tray which houses the control unit, etc. I stored this grill INSIDE a climate controlled building only taking it out on a roofed over deck for cooks, and these surfaces have already developed pitting and surface rust!!!! WTF!
Now I also own two other stainless steel cookers. One is a 20 year old TEC (Thermal Energy Corporation) infrared gas grill, and the other is a 3 year old Karubecue stick smoker. Both are made entirely of stainless steel. Guess what?
No magnet will stick to any part of either and there is no evidence of rusting or pitting ANYWHERE. Mind you, the TEC grill has spent ZERO time indoors though it wears a cover and sits on a roofed-over porch.
So much for the REC TEC being a lifetime purchase.
Has anyone else noticed this?
Mike F says
I am considering a Stampede (only 2 of us). I have not read a single negative comment regarding Rec Tec smokers, this is a firs (for me). All I can say is WOW! Perhaps a isolated case?