Are you hoping to find a pellet smoker that will take your BBQ to the next level? If so, then bravo—you’re on the right track. Let’s take a look at Rec Tec vs Green Mountain ( vs Davy Crockett) to see how their pellet grills compare.
Rec Tec
This brand focuses on delivering superb smoke flavor with grills that are both attractive and user-friendly. Rec Tec’s headquarters are based in Georgia, where grilling can take place all year long.
Rec Tec’s grills are available in several sizes. Most of them are traditional pellet grills with a barrel-shaped chamber, but there’s also a unique “bullseye” version that has more in common with kettle-style grills. In addition to customized pellets, Rec Tec sells a variety of hot sauces and rubs to liven up your results.
The company used to offer a “mini” grill with 300 square inches of cooking space. Since this offering is no longer available on their website, we’ve chosen the for this matchup. Be aware that this grill is sometimes called the “Trailblazer.”
Specifications
- Dimensions: 41″ H x 39″ W x 19.5″ D
- Cooking Surface: 340 square inches
- Grilling Grates: Stainless Steel
- Weight: 80 pounds
- Warranty: 2 years
Pros
- Fast assembly
- Can be programmed to within 5 degrees Fahrenheit
- Great heat retention
- Offers Wi-Fi capability
- Appealing design
Cons
- Hopper is very large for a portable grill
- Fairly expensive
Green Mountain Grills
Green Mountain is a Nevada-based company that specializes in pellet smokers. Like Rec Tec, they offer many accessories to help round out the grilling experience.
Because the business was founded in 2006, you can expect their products to have a modern bent. Many of them even offer Wi-Fi capability, a feature that Rec Tec also includes for the RT-340.
Green Mountain’s travel-sized grill is the Davy Crockett, a popular unit that’s exceptionally lightweight. Most people will gravitate toward this one when selecting a grill from the Green Mountain lineup. That’s why we’ve opted to review the Davy Crockett model here.
Specifications
- Dimensions: 31.75” H x 34” W x 23” D
- Cooking Surface: 219 square inches
- Grilling Grates: Stainless Steel
- Weight: 57 pounds
- Warranty: 3 years
Pros
- Plenty of storage space
- Wi-Fi compatible
- Decent price point
- Lightweight and easy to maneuver
Cons
- Works better as a grill than as a smoker
- Folding legs are on the flimsy side
Rec Tec vs Green Mountain: Features Face To Face
For this section, we’ll pit the RT-340 against the Davy Crockett in a head-to-head matchup. This should give you a clear idea of which grill is the better deal.
Affordability
First things first: Which one of these models will you be able to afford? A pellet grill is a sizable investment. You want a unit that performs reliably, but won’t make too much of a dent in your finances.
While the RT-340 isn’t all that expensive when compared to the rest of the Rec Tec lineup, that’s because it’s one of the smallest grills they offer. If you’re looking at price tags alone, the Davy Crockett comes out on top.
Winner: Green Mountain
Design
Most of Rec Tec’s pellet grills can be distinguished by their curved handles, which mimic the horns of the bull that serves as the company logo. The lid of the RT-340 is outfitted with two of these handles on the front-facing side. Another large handle can be found to the right of the unit, and a loop handle gives you access to the lid from the top.
The RT-340 has a barrel-style cooking chamber and a cart design with two wheels and a lower shelf. It features a two-tone black and silver profile to keep things interesting. The oversized hopper helps to balance out the profile, even if it does add too much weight to the grill.
The Davy Crockett has a black firebox and a silver lid with a large L-shaped exhaust chimney. The folding legs double as handles for transport, but they look slightly chintzy when the grill is set up. A wire rack offers extra storage (see separate section below).
Which one of these grills offers more convenience and eye appeal? In my opinion, the RT-340 is the clear choice. The Davy Crockett has its strong points, but the basic appearance doesn’t qualify.
Winner: Rec Tec
Materials
Despite the thin tubular legs, the Davy Crockett is durably constructed. It’s made of high-quality stainless steel, from the frame to the cooking grates. I also love the high peaked lid, which makes it easier to cook off whole rib racks.
Rec Tec also features high-end steel for the entire construction. The grilling grates are composed of 304 stainless steel, a restaurant-grade choice. Everything from the drip bucket to the powder-coated lid is sturdily built and designed to last for years.
As far as build quality is concerned, you could certainly be happy with either one of these choices. Because Rec Tec is more upfront about using 304 grade stainless steel, however, we’re crowning it the winner of this round.
Winner: Rec Tec
Grilling Capacity
The cooking capacity of the RT-340 is right there in the name. The main grilling surface is equipped with 340 square inches of space. This is a decent size for a portable unit, but it may not be enough if you plan to use this as your home grill. On the other hand, singles and couples might find that this unit is just the right size.
We should also point out that the RT-340 offers an optional second shelf. When this component is in place, the cooking surface measures 511 square inches in all. This increases the amount of space you have to work with. It also makes the grill a great choice for indirect cooking techniques.
On the lower end of the size spectrum, we have the Davy Crockett. The grilling surface measures 219 square inches, which isn’t great news if you like to cook large batches of burgers and hot dogs. That said, the high lid makes it easier to prepare large cuts of meat like pork butt and whole beef brisket.
You might be on the lookout for a grill that’s small and lightweight, and that’s fine. The Davy Crockett weighs just 57 pounds, so it’s easier to transport than the RT-340. The choice is yours, but we think Rec Tec’s grill offers more versatility due to the extra space.
Winner: Rec Tec
Storage
The RT-340 doesn’t have much storage space to speak of. Although there’s a lower shelf, it’s made of steel slats. The configuration makes it difficult to store anything on the shelf besides bags of pellets. The hopper lid can double as a shelf, but it sits a bit too high for that.
Green Mountain’s grill does feature a side shelf, but it has a wire mesh design that allows small items to fall through. The lid of the hopper is set in a more convenient location than the one on the RT-340, so that can be used to hold condiments or utensils. The rack is also outfitted with a set of tool hooks.
Overall, the Davy Crockett offers more space to store your grilling sundries. Even though there’s no lower shelf, there’s enough room beneath the firebox to store pellets if you need to.
Winner: Green Mountain
Temperature Range
Rec Tec’s RT-340 advertises a temperature range of 200 to 500 degrees Fahrenheit. This isn’t a very broad range, but it’s sufficient for slow-smoked meats and basic grilling.
The Rec Tec also has a LO setting for an extra dose of smoke, as well as a FULL setting that allows it to rise above 500 degrees for searing. The stainless steel cooking grates are especially effective at delivering sear marks to grilled steaks.
The Davy Crockett can be set to temperatures between 150 degrees and 550 degrees Fahrenheit. The difference is a major one. When you can set the grill to a temperature as low as 150 degrees, you can use it to make dehydrated meat products, such as beef jerky. Conversely, 550 degrees is hot enough to make excellent grilled flatbread pizza.
There’s another side to this story, as you’ll learn in the next section. For the purposes of this category, however, the Davy Crockett is the better option.
Winner: Green Mountain
Heat Retention
All superior pellet grills have one thing in common: They can hold their heat long enough to guarantee success. How well do the RT-340 and the Davy Crockett perform?
Let’s start with the RT-340. The hardy steel construction all but guarantees success in this regard. Quality materials mean better heat retention, and there’s no question about that with this grill.
Moreover, Rec Tec has outfitted this unit with a heat deflector. This component is made from the same 304 grade stainless steel as the rest of the grill, and it ensures even heat distribution throughout the entire cookbox.
Davy Crockett’s heat retentive capabilities aren’t exactly poor, but there are a few issues with it. For one thing, the temperature tends to run higher than the setting. That’s not bound to be an issue if you’re just grilling up a few bratwursts for the big game, but if you’re trying to get more creative, it could lead to trouble.
Another problem: The auger on the Davy Crockett is prone to jam-ups. This seems to happen more often when the grill is left unattended (see Technology, below). When this occurs, the grill’s temperature may drop below what you intended.
The bottom line is that both grills have thick steel walls that help hold the heat inside. Rec Tec’s model, however, allows for more precise temperature control. That’s why we’re giving it the edge here.
Winner: Rec Tec
Hopper Size
Because most people prefer to entertain while using their travel-sized pellet smokers, a decent-sized hopper comes in handy.
A pellet grill will typically burn through about 2 pounds of pellets per hour for smoking and dehydrating. At higher temperatures, it might go through twice as many. Depending on what you use your grill for, a larger hopper might come in handy.
In this regard, the Rec Tec RT-340 would be your best bet. The smoker boasts a 20-pound hopper capacity. As we’ve mentioned, this is huge for a portable grill, and it looks slightly weird as a result. Nevertheless, there’s no denying that the RT-340 will provide you with many hours of carefree smoking and grilling.
How does the Davy Crockett compare? The hopper on this unit is more reasonably sized, offering 9 pounds of pellet storage. That means you can probably run it for at least 9 hours before you’ll need to refuel. However, since this grill runs hot, you’ll probably be replenishing the pellets more often than you think.
There’s a case to be made for both grills in this category. Rec Tec’s hopper is much larger, which is great if you intend to use it for smoked meats. To be fair, though, this is billed as a portable unit. That means you’ll probably have to empty it out before you pack up the grill, whether you’re coming or going.
We should also point out that you would need to use the grill quite often to burn through 20 pounds of pellets in a reasonable period of time. Leaving the pellets in the hopper too long can cause them to become waterlogged, so they won’t burn as efficiently.
We wouldn’t recommend a 9-pound pellet hopper for a full-sized model. However, because the Davy Crockett is a travel grill with limited cooking space, the small hopper actually comes in handy.
Winner: Green Mountain
Ease of Assembly
As pellet grills go, the RT-340 comes together quite easily. Rec Tec includes clear and direct instructions for assembly, which helps to streamline the process.
Because the Davy Crockett is so small, it can also be put together in a hurry. It also packs up quickly when you’re ready to take it on the road. The folding legs are a definite plus in this regard, no matter what we think about their appearance.
Winner: Green Mountain
Cleanup and Maintenance
Both of these models are outfitted with stainless steel cooking grates. Some grillers prefer this construction, claiming that it cleans up easily and requires no other maintenance.
We’re partial to cast iron ourselves, particularly if it has a porcelain coating, but that’s of little consequence here. Cleaning the cooking grates on the Davy Crockett might be less time-consuming because the unit is smaller, but otherwise, the process is the same for both grills.
As far as grease management is concerned, the grills also have similar structures. Any grease runoff is directed into the drip buckets that are affixed to the right-hand side of the firebox. When the grill has cooled down a bit, you can remove and empty the buckets, then wash them for the next use.
The chimney and shelf configuration on the Davy Crockett makes it harder to remove the bucket. Otherwise, the system seems to work well.
The Rec Tec does a decent job with the grease runoff, and it’s easy enough to access the drip bucket. We think the bucket on the RT-340 is too small for a grill with 511 square inches of cooking space, though. The difference is noticeable enough for us to award the Davy Crockett higher marks in this category.
Winner: Green Mountain
Technology
The Rec Tec RT-340 is Wi-Fi enabled. For the uninitiated, that means you can hook up the grill to your smartphone and control the temperature from a distance. This perk comes in particularly handy if you’re hosting a tailgating party.
Green Mountain offers the same feature for the Davy Crockett. Considering how reasonable the price tag is, this is an impressive feature.
It’s worth pointing out, however, that the system doesn’t seem to work as well for this grill. We mentioned earlier that the auger can be finicky when it’s left unattended for long periods. That doesn’t bode well for controlling the grill from a distance.
Winner: Rec Tec
Warranty
The warranty on the Rec Tec RT-340 is in place for two years following the original purchase date. The company refers to this as a “bumper to bumper warranty.” To translate, that means the warranty covers all components of the grill.
Green Mountain Grills offers a 3-year warranty for its pellet grills and smokers. Though they advertise this as a “limited warranty,” it falls in line with the industry standard. To earn free replacements, the damages have to occur on account of the regular wear and tear associated with home use.
Winner: Green Mountain
Rec Tec vs Green Mountain: Standout Features
Here’s where the rivalry really sets in. Let’s find out whether the Rec Tec RT-340 has any individual features that make it superior to the Green Mountain Davy Crockett.
Rec Tec
- Rollerblade-style wheels: These make it easier to move the grill around the campsite or parking lot
- Spill-proof bucket hook: To keep the drip bucket in place during cooking
- Automatic lighting feature: Comes in handy for night grilling
- Automatic shutdown feature: Cools the grill down when you’re finished cooking
- Stainless steel heat deflector: For excellent temperature control
Green Mountain
- Bar-style folding legs: These can be used as handles when transporting the grill
- 12-volt Direct Power capability: Can be plugged into any 12V outlet
The Verdict
Use the Rec Tec RT-340 if:
- You need a lot of cooking space
- You would prefer a unit with a larger hopper
- You want to move the grill from place to place once it’s been set up
- You want the option of using it as a home grill
to begin a new stage of grilling adventures.
Use the Green Mountain if:
- You’re on a budget
- You want a lightweight travel grill with a small hopper
- Maintenance is your least favorite aspect of owning a grill
For carefree tailgating and camping excursions, take along the Green Mountain Davy Crockett.
