Although I don't have the chops of some of the posters here, I am in agreement with the principal that multi-purpose products often fall short of the performance of a specialized single purpose product. It isn't a problem limited to grills and smokers. Its a problem that cuts across disciplines.
I too looked at the Louisiana Grills option at Costco. I stopped looking at it after I couldn't find any significant reviews or love for it in all the usual places I check. A few here or there, but nothing like I expected to see.
I am currently zoomed in on the Yoder line and the Rec TEc line. I like the idea of a premium product that does one thing exceedingly well. Both will allow direct grilling, but, it is not the center of the offerring. I do not mind a premium price if the object of my affections checks all my boxes and I get excited about it.
I haven't pulled the trigger yet, but, I'm a big fan of choosing a well made product
Sorry, just now seeing this...
Just my opinion. On paper, that looks like the dream pellet cooker. HUGE and can do it ALL! Knowing what I know about pellet cookers, that Louisiana pellet grill will NOT do it all AT the same time. Can you use it to grill? Assuming it gets hot enough, yes. Can you use it to smoke? Absolutely. Can you do both at the same time? Absolutely not! Why? Because in order to grill something, you need to take the cooker to high temp... and as soon as you do that, you are producing virtually no smoke in the cold smoking chamber. On the other hand, if you want to smoke, you are going to set the controller to a low temp so that you can produce the necessary smoke for whatever it is you are smoking. In other words, you will exclude the possibility of one cooking style when choosing it's opposite. Does that make sense?
If you want to set yourself to be able to cook anything and everything... it is my strong opinion that you are going to be hard pressed to beat a nice pellet grill/Weber kettle duo. After way to many cookers going through my backyard over the years, I have found this combo to be one tough cookie to beat. Oh yeah, and a nice large griddle (Blackstone or Camp Chef) if you have the room... lol.
I have to agree with the two members above.
You can use a pair of pliers to remove a bolt, but why? You can use a Phillips screw driver in a TORX fastener, but why? The right tool for the job. Use the correct size wrench.
Again, I own a Rec Tec Stampede, but it's part of a group of cookers which include a Kamado Joe and a 22in WSM.
For my long, overnight cooks, brisket, pork shoulders, it's the Rec Tec and a smoke tube, hands down.
When I'm too lazy or just have other chores around the house to do, grass to cut, errands to run, it's the Rec Tec for ribs.
When I want to kick back and BS around the smoker and have a beer with my buddies, it's either the WSM or the KJ. Maybe the Rec Tec if I'm grilling wings. Or if smoking and grilling on the same day, then ribs on one, low and slow, and grilling wings on one of the other, depending on capacity and how many wings and ribs I need.
When I want to sear sous vide steaks it's the KJ. When I want a rotisserie chicken, or kabobs, its the KJ with the Joetisserie. I want to grill oysters, its the 22in WSM with the midsection removed.
The one size fits all approach, is the reason why I didn't spring for the Rec Tec Bull, because I knew that a pellet grill wouldn't fit the bill across the board and replace my other cookers.
BTW, someone else mentioned that they would not own just a cooker which was dependent upon electricity or gas to operate.
Found this to be true as well. Some kid a block away, lost control of his car on a Saturday afternoon around 1:30 and hit a utility pole knocking out all of the power in our development for about 4 hours.
Had I been cooking on my Rec Tec, when that kid hit that pole, and than been all that I had, I would have been stuck.
