Can’t say anything bad about the Rec-Tecs because I have never cooked on one. I can say that I have seen a good number of solid reviews and happy owners... BUT, I would not own one because 1) I cannot stand the way they market their product 2) I do not care for the bullhorn look.
As far as MAK’s, I have owned 2. Had an older 1 Star which I sold to fund a 2 Star. I love LOVE MAK’s. The 1 Star will have a smaller footprint but a surprisingly large cooking chamber when you add a full upper grate. The fit and finish is top of the line! Under the crazy thick powder coating sits aluminized steel. That’s means should you gets scratches, you will not experience rust. I loved that about my 1 Star. Also, the MAK’s put out serious volumes of smoke (something they are well known for). As finances permit, you can also deck a MAK out with some cool accessories.
Here's a cool thread I saw re: MAK awhile back:
"Many here may not know this, and I will try to be as accurate as I can, with my apologies to MAK if this is out-of-turn:
MAK Metals - the parent of MAK Grills - is one of the country's main providers of the equipment that most of us have ignored, but we pass by it every day. The big brushed stainless boxes that are on one corner of a light controlled intersection. These "boxes" contain some pretty sophisticated electronics that control the traffic lights and can link up with an entire network of others, which can be controlled remotely to alter traffic patterns/flow. So, the boxes must be robust - and the electronics MUST work.
This is the background - rugged weather durability and dependable electronics design/implementation - that MAK Metals brought into the outdoor cooking industry.
MAK is a true locally owned, American made product. It is well supported because they designed the controller themselves. ( reference above business experience - you can begin to see the relevance of their history and success in the outdoor cooking industry) The only other companies I have seen even attempt this - have been miserably poor controllers, that have needed ( and still need from everyone I know using them) constant firmware up-dates. MAK does have a few up-dates....but not because of "problems" with the previous ones. Just adding features and an occasional "tweak" . The rest of our industry buys their controller from 2 or 3 companies that make "canned" - or standard models which approximate different size pits in cooking volume. Whereas the MAK controller recognizes the air flow, and individual characteristics that make MAKS cook so evenly across the grill surface.
Just look at the awards they have won - from the same industry association that serious outdoor cooking manufacturers are part of:
https://www.makgrills.com/awards/
These are recognition by your peers/competitors that you are building a superior product, and offering the consumer great value.
Quality does not cost - it pays....because you will never need to replace a MAK because you "wore it out". Their focus is not the same as many companies - whose philosophy is based on "life cycle" . Those companies plan on trying to sell you another, and then another, and another grill when you "wear out" your grill.
Again - my apologies to MAK if I mis-spoke here....But they are one of those quiet, focused companies that does not do much advertising. They don't need to I suppose, when their customers are their marketing dept! [emoji3]
I am the 2nd owner of the 23rd ( #48 ) MAK ever sold. I have a thread here showing it's "refresh" - bringing it up to current model features and finish. I do not know of any other manufacturer that offers the up-gradeablity that MAK does. ( the photos are gone now...will show those on the next one )
I now have a 2nd one - first generation also - that I am about to embark on bringing it up to the same current condition."
