Okay, first let’s deal with a qualifier. Some folks on the internet seem to want to go to the negative quickly. This write up is intended to be informative for the folks who are doing some comparison shopping and are gathering actual user info to help them with their decision making process. It is NOT intended to be a slam on the Rec Tec Bull as an option. The Bull is a fine choice, and if the potential buyer has the physical space and monetary budget, the slightly greater internal space and additional two years of warrantee may be attractive enough to influence its choice.
In the Rec Tec hierarchy the most common (at this point in time) choices for the typical home user are the RT 590 Stampede and the RT 700 Bull, the Bull being the biggest seller and the one that RT pushes the hardest. The number part of those model designations refers to the nominal internal grate space of each. How that computes in functional application isn’t as dramatic as it might appear. Where the Bull enjoys its additional space is in the grate being approximately 6 inches wider. Its depth is 1/4 inch less than the Stampede, and the internal height about ½" taller. That added six inches is good to have, but probably less than some potential buyers might imagine. A space roughly 6 x19 is what you end up gaining with the Bull over the Stampede. The cost, if you’ve got patio/deck/yard constraints, is the larger outside dimensions of the Bull in depth, width, and height. If the Stampede is a better physical fit, or economical, fear not…………………you can still load a fair bit of product in there.
This past weekend we had 19 people to feed so we planned on two butts for pulled pork and two racks of ribs as alternative or additional choices. One butt was just over 8 lbs, the other just over 9. They were roughly 9” x 9” in size. The ribs were roughly 3 lbs. each pre trim. I do a semi-St. Louis trim to get the “skirt”, end, and top cross bone off (use the trimmings to grind for sausage or meatloaf). The rack ends up about 8” by 16-17” in size. Fully loaded, the Stampede took the two butts and two racks with ease (using the accessory shelf for the ribs). As you can see, I could have pushed the one butt to the back and had room for another 7-8# butt to the front with room to spare. It would have been pretty full, but with still enough spacing to not negatively affect the cook. So, you see, in the real world you can get quite a bit of food into a Stampede if that’s the better choice for your situation.
In the Rec Tec hierarchy the most common (at this point in time) choices for the typical home user are the RT 590 Stampede and the RT 700 Bull, the Bull being the biggest seller and the one that RT pushes the hardest. The number part of those model designations refers to the nominal internal grate space of each. How that computes in functional application isn’t as dramatic as it might appear. Where the Bull enjoys its additional space is in the grate being approximately 6 inches wider. Its depth is 1/4 inch less than the Stampede, and the internal height about ½" taller. That added six inches is good to have, but probably less than some potential buyers might imagine. A space roughly 6 x19 is what you end up gaining with the Bull over the Stampede. The cost, if you’ve got patio/deck/yard constraints, is the larger outside dimensions of the Bull in depth, width, and height. If the Stampede is a better physical fit, or economical, fear not…………………you can still load a fair bit of product in there.
This past weekend we had 19 people to feed so we planned on two butts for pulled pork and two racks of ribs as alternative or additional choices. One butt was just over 8 lbs, the other just over 9. They were roughly 9” x 9” in size. The ribs were roughly 3 lbs. each pre trim. I do a semi-St. Louis trim to get the “skirt”, end, and top cross bone off (use the trimmings to grind for sausage or meatloaf). The rack ends up about 8” by 16-17” in size. Fully loaded, the Stampede took the two butts and two racks with ease (using the accessory shelf for the ribs). As you can see, I could have pushed the one butt to the back and had room for another 7-8# butt to the front with room to spare. It would have been pretty full, but with still enough spacing to not negatively affect the cook. So, you see, in the real world you can get quite a bit of food into a Stampede if that’s the better choice for your situation.