What's a good, reasonably priced gas grill?

[Silver Hilton]

We want to get a new grill. We've had a mid sized Weber for many years, but it's getting tired. It has never been really hot enough for my taste. What do you all recommend for a good portable grill that won't break the bank? I'd love to spend no more than 500 bucks.

We don't need to cook burgers for a party of 50, or whole pigs. We just eat a lot of steak, chicken, and the odd salmon. Gas is important, we don't want to mess with the prep time that charcoal requires.

[anglingaddict]

Well, if you are dead set on gas go to Costco and check out that nice stainless steel / granite like composite they have for $399! I believe it even comes with a rotiserrie. Too bad you didn't have this post up about 24hrs ago as I just sold my 2yr old stainless that came from Costco yesterday after work to one of my co-workers. Nothing wrong with it at all. We were just very fortunate this last Christmas courtesy of my wife's grandmother and were able to get ourselves a Traeger. The gas grill felt pretty lonely sitting next to that Traeger that was getting used almost every night since we brought it home! Check out some of the threads on here regarding Traegers. Ask some questions of the people who own them on here too. I can let you know where I purchased mine as well if you want to learn more about them. PM me if you want that link. You can pick up some pretty nice gas grills in the price range you are talking about. I think that you owe it to yourself though to check out the Traegers if you haven't already. I wish I had known about them before we bought that stainless grill from Costco!! I would have waited and saved some more money to get the Traeger for sure! Good grill huntin' to you!

[Something Good]

Just purchased a Weber Genesis about a month ago. I don't think you will complain about this one not getting hot enough. About $650.00 for the stainless version I have. I think the non stainless is about $100.00 less.

[lentz]

I bought a Weber last year and i really enjoy it. The one i have is the 3 burner model. It will get to 600 degrees within 5 minutes so it can burn off the cooking grills. I paid $450.00.

[Smj]

There's no such thing as "good" AND "reasonably priced" in my opinion. I'm also in the market for a new grill, the 9yr old Pro-Chef is getting a little iffy! I think 9 years was pretty good considering the way I abuse and neglect a grill, sits out uncovered all year, scrape the enameled grates with the steel edge on the brush.....

I've decided that heavy stainless for the grates is the only way to go, no issues with enamel chipping, rusting etc.. I also want flame under as much of the grates as possible, check under the grates on the Webers, there's flame under less than half of the grates. You may be able to get a Weber up to 600, but I believe you'll have cold spots if you're cooking with the lid up.

I almost bought the Costco unit here a month or so ago. I didn't like the way the back was wide open when the lid was closed. I do complete meals in my grill, baked/roasted potatoes, corn on the cob, chicken/fish/ roasts...With that open back I don't think I'd get the steady 350-400 degrees I want. I also got on the web sit for the Costco grill, to check parts availabilty and such, never heard back from them, not a good sign to me.

I really think the best grill was my old Arkla with the H burner and the red pumice stones, when the tops of the stones got dirty, just turn 'em over and start clean! Now some of the high end grills are going back to stones, such as Ducane.

I suggest you go to Hometown Hearth and Grill, and some of the other high end "Q" shops to get an idea what is available, that's where I got my Pro-Chef, and at the time it was a cut above all the "Qs" at the big box stores. At the time I thought I was nuts to pay what I did for it, but I feel now it was money well spent.

I think Joe's and Fisherman's are carrying a small Ducane, go look at that and see if you like it. At least with a name like that, you know if you need parts they would most likely be available localy.

Now I need to start looking again now that summer is getting closer.

Smj

[pdxkevin]

Thanks for some great ideas and tips.

I am in the same boat when it comes to needing a new grill. I had a nice one until that last big wind storm. It blow right off the back patio and ended up upside down. Just about all the cast-iron parts had shattered. There's over $150 in obvious replacement parts needed and then I still don't know if I would trust it to not have a gas leak. soo... I need a new one.

I would love a Traeger but can't afford that +$600 entry level version. I am in a price range about 1/2 that... where to turn?

I do a lot of burgers - not usually more than a half dozen at a time, but also cook some odd salmon, some beer butt chicken and once or twice a year I'll cook a whole turkey out on the grill.

I'm hoping a mega sale on grills is in the near future.

[Just_learning]

Isnt there a place with refurbished traegers? Just a thought.

[Smj]

Unfortunatly Kevin, the best "Mega Sales" on grills is at the grill stores in Oct. Nov. and Dec., they want 'em out before the new year.

Smj

[Danno]

I have the $500 Costco SS grill. It is made in China by a major grill manufacturer that I can't recall right now. It had served us well. We use it about three times each week between April and November. It has the rotisserie and the back burner for the rotisserie which cooks whole chicken and roasts better than any rotisserie I have ever used. It also includes a side burner but I rarely use that.

The construction is solid and you have the guarantee of Costco behind it. Mine came with a dented door and the manufacturer sent me a new door, no questions asked. Probably my only complaint is that I have to remove the shelf to use the rotisserie and that could have been made a little easier.

[Tony1831]

Here's my two cents...

I have a Pacific Gas Specialties stainless steel 40,000 Btu grill that I installed on my natural gas line from the house so I never run out of propane. It is used no less than three times week, even during winter, and has worked flawlessy for eight years now. Every other year I replace the AA battery for the ignitor, and I remove and clean the bricquettes and stainless steel racks and burner trays every year, or sometimes twice/year.

I worked at a company that sold them and ended up with a deal too good to pass up, so I bought a $1000 grill for <$400.

I dislike Weber grills as I think they are under-powered and never get hot enough for my liking.

I think you should be able to get a decent grill that has a 35,000 Btu rating for $500. Any less Btu's and it will likely have the same issues of a Weber- "it never gets hot".

[MacFish]

I've had my natural gas Weber for 8 or 9 years now and have been completely satisfied. I think it was called the silver C and it ran about $500. There are a lot of other good quality grills out there for the same money, but I would look for one with certain features, like 3+ burners, for indirect cooking and a lot of work space. I personally like my side burner for jobs I would rather not do in the house, like frying clams or even brewing beer.

[foxer]

Got my Weber for $499.00 36kBTU. Crank the heat and look out. Gets plenty hot to sear steaks. 3 burner.

[12244]

Did you try the portable weber for 50 bucks?

Dont be mistaken, this is a fantastic portable grill, no flareups, I throw a few mesquite chips on the flavorizer bar and it makes great burgers, chicken, fish. Can be used very hot to low and smokin. You can cook 4-6 med portions at a time.

[pdxkevin]

Originally Posted by Just_learning

Isnt there a place with refurbished traegers? Just a thought.

That would be sweet! I looked at the Traeger outlet... nothing refurbished or used :frown:

It doesn't have to look pretty... It just needs to get the job done, and done right.

Anyone looking to upgrade and want to sell theirs?!?

[nativedipper]

I was at the Roth's in Lebanon a couple of weeks ago and they had last years model of a little Tex for $525

[afrank250]

traeger is in Mt. Angel and Silverton and they used to have refurbished models at the factory might try giving them a call??

[choppers]

craigslist has a guy in N portland selling his costco one for 350. my friend has the same grill and it's pretty nice.

[Clyde]

Be wary of lower end Ducane...I had one for only 3 years and was so dissappointed that last year I went out and bought a Weber Genesis...love it. Cooks amazing and the heat is very well distributed.

[huntercgr]

Weber now owns Ducane I believe.

I also got the $400 grill from Costco, it's called the Tuscany. Just did
a whole chicken on the rotis. unit using the backside infared. It was awesome. The searing feature on the main grill is so sweet. My steaks have never been better. I think this grill is an exceptional grill, for the money.

I either threw the thumbscrews away or they were missing, but I called their C/S and they are sending me new ones.

This particular grill, and pertaining parts are not on their website yet.

[MarlinMark]

I've had a Weber Genesis Silver, 3 burner for 8 years now. I love it. I was fortunate to get a special Home Depot model that had heavy duty cast iron grates that really sear a steak. Plus, they are easy to heat up and brush off. Cast iron is the way to go if you can find it. I can do many, many diff. kind of meals on my Weber with direct and indirect heating. I like it a lot and it gets plenty hot believe me. The elements sometimes get corrosion in the little gas ports but I can wire brush them off and they are as good as new. That's what happens leaving it out in this environment. I would have bought a Traeger a long time ago but I don't have a place to put it inside to protect it.

Mark

[fish_on]

I have a Weber Genesis Gold with side burner it's natural gas. I just got a treager so I'm going to sell the Weber, you won't find a better deal on a year old Weber.

[husker]

brinkman at joes.....99,,,,,,,,3 in 1 bbq;.....bbq....smoker and it does 1 other thing.....

[Iwish]

Originally Posted by afrank250

traeger is in Mt. Angel and Silverton and they used to have refurbished models at the factory might try giving them a call??

The factory used to sell direct and when they did they would take trade-in models and refurbish them and resell them. Since they no longer sell direct they don't take trade-in models anymore either. There is still one person that takes them in on trade in the Portland area and then refurbishes them for sale. I can provide the name if interested, just PM me and I'll get the info for you.

Traeger will still refurbish yours for you at their service department for $120.00 but no more refurbished ones for sale.

I recall that the refurbished ones when I bought mine were around $450-$500 for the base model. You can get them brand new for not much more than that. Just a thought...

[RascallyRabbit]

For all you people that have mentioned Traeger's. I was at Joe's today and they were selling the LIL' TEX for $599.00. I realize that's the same price as on the Traeger website, but with the 20% Joe's coupons I've seen on here recently that would make the price approximately $479.00, also I checked the April 1st coupon and they're not excluded, and I don't think they were on the other coupon either. The one I saw was at the Hillsboro Joes.

Steve/RR

[Jettin' Fool]

I have a Vermont Castings Grill. These things are HEAVY duty and have been trouble free. I got the large size with the natural gas hook up for just over a grand. I think the medium size version with propane hook up was around $500.

Check them out. Nice grills.

JF