Pellet Grill

[Hoosierhunting]

I think I’m ready to add a third grill to the lineup and this one will be a pellet grill. Traeger has the name but I see that there’s lots of companies making them now. Is there a better grill than Traeger? Just as good but less expensive? I don’t mind paying for quality but don’t like paying for a name/marketing. Would like to hear your experiences with pellet grills.


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[Triple C]

I've had a Traeger since either 2014 or 2015. Got the Texas Pro for the farm which is too big IMO for a residence. I love the darn thing. I recently bought the Cablela's brand smaller size that was a $100 cheaper than the same size Traeger. The Cabela's has a barrel shaped drip tray vs the Traeger's flat drip tray. Also, the Cabela's doesn't have a heat deflector over the fire box like the Traeger does, or at least mine doesn't. The Cabela's seems to have a lil hot spot right above the fire box but not enough to say I don't like it. I like the Cabela's so far but I haven't had it long. Prolly 10 to 12 cooks so far. If I had a do-over I would have bought the Traeger and paid a $100 more. Just picked our daughter up a Traeger.

A bunch of my buddies have pellet grills. The 2 high end ones are the Yoder grills and the Rec Tec grills. Both made in USA. The guys that have the Rec Tecs love them and say that should anything go wrong that customer service is excellent. If and when the one at the farm finally runs out of juice I'll prolly go with the Rec Tec. But...lots of makers out there today.

 

[Buckeye]

I was going to get a Traeger but I found a Pit Boss for half the price. Being it was the first time I ever bought a pellet grill I figured I buy it just in case I didn’t like the pellet grills. (It has been a really good grill.) Since I starting using a pellet grill the food taste 10x better I will never use propane or charcoal again.

 

[rusty1034]

I’ve had a traeger since 2016 or 17. Cant say that I’m in love with it. Biggest problem is that it looses its fire when on the lower settings. I did a 13 lb brisket yesterday. I had the temp set at 180*, the fire went out. I shut it off, relit it, and set it at 225. It went out again. Shut it off, restarted, set at 225 again, went out.

Usually when I set it at 350 or 400, it overheats, and goes out.

Also, the noise of the grill takes some getting used to.

On the other hand, I really like the smoke flavor it adds to the food.

If I had to do,it over, I would probably go for a Put Boss. I’ve heard lots of good reports about those.




Rusty

 

[catscratch]

I have a Green Mountain. Works great and is wifi connected. You can remotely change grill temperature or view the food temp (probe) from anywhere you can connect to the internet (usually use my phone since it's always on me and usually has service). I seldom leave the ranch when I'm doing a smoke but it's kind of nice to monitor the cook while fishing or sitting in a tree stand. This isn't a necessary feature but it is nice if you have a 10hr smoke going on.

The grill can also run off of the cigarette lighter in your truck. We lost power one time and I happened to be in town and was over an hour away. My wife went to check on the cooker and found a cord that plugged into a lighter, pulled her car around got the smoker going again without having a clue that it was even made for that! She just was snooping around and wanted to make sure to butt got smoked (she really likes pulled pork and brisket!). This thing is pretty much bullet proof and easy. They also make a blanket for it. If you live in colder climates it can save pellets.

 

[Elkaddict]

Traeger fan here, a big one at home and a smaller one at our upstate place. They’ve been great—we use a couple times a week. I like to supplement smoke with smoke tubes.

 

[Jeff H]

[QUOTE="
I will never use propane or charcoal again.[/QUOTE]

Blasphemy !!

 

[catscratch]

[QUOTE="
I will never use propane or charcoal again.

Blasphemy !![/QUOTE]
I haven't use propane or charcoal in decades. Wood fire or smoked for all my grilling needs. I might get a propane grill sometime just so I can grill something when I don't have time, but I vastly prefer wood fires.

 

[Jeff H]

Blasphemy !!

I haven't use propane or charcoal in decades. Wood fire or smoked for all my grilling needs. I might get a propane grill sometime just so I can grill something when I don't have time, but I vastly prefer wood fires.[/QUOTE]
Just joking really. I'm strictly a charcoal guy but have heard good things about the pellets. Very efficient!

 

[swat1018]

I have a camp chef PG24DLX. Great features for the money. Gets to 500F. I shopped around and it gets amazing reviews, I had a lightning strike and the board got fried. Called Camp Chef and they shipped one out, no questions asked, had it back in action in 3 days. I'd definitely do it again if I was buying another. Just wish it gave the smokey flavor like my stick burner or even my electric smoker. But, way better flavor than a gas grill with the same ease.

 

[Hoosierhunting]

I've had a Traeger since either 2014 or 2015. Got the Texas Pro for the farm which is too big IMO for a residence. I love the darn thing. I recently bought the Cablela's brand smaller size that was a $100 cheaper than the same size Traeger. The Cabela's has a barrel shaped drip tray vs the Traeger's flat drip tray. Also, the Cabela's doesn't have a heat deflector over the fire box like the Traeger does, or at least mine doesn't. The Cabela's seems to have a lil hot spot right above the fire box but not enough to say I don't like it. I like the Cabela's so far but I haven't had it long. Prolly 10 to 12 cooks so far. If I had a do-over I would have bought the Traeger and paid a $100 more. Just picked our daughter up a Traeger.

A bunch of my buddies have pellet grills. The 2 high end ones are the Yoder grills and the Rec Tec grills. Both made in USA. The guys that have the Rec Tecs love them and say that should anything go wrong that customer service is excellent. If and when the one at the farm finally runs out of juice I'll prolly go with the Rec Tec. But...lots of makers out there today.

Thanks for the feedback Triple C. Is the problem with the Texas Pro for a residence just the space it takes up or does a bigger grill consume too many pellets for a smaller cook? In my head bigger is better but I’m not familiar with the pellet consumption and preheat time for these grills and how that’s affected by size.


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[Hoosierhunting]

I was going to get a Traeger but I found a Pit Boss for half the price. Being it was the first time I ever bought a pellet grill I figured I buy it just in case I didn’t like the pellet grills. (It has been a really good grill.) Since I starting using a pellet grill the food taste 10x better I will never use propane or charcoal again.

I like the price on the pit boss and they look sturdy based on pics I’ve seen. I like the steel wheels. Have you had any trouble with the auger on yours? Read that in a couple of reviews. I like the build and price, going to try to see one in the flesh.


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[Hoosierhunting]

I’ve had a traeger since 2016 or 17. Cant say that I’m in love with it. Biggest problem is that it looses its fire when on the lower settings. I did a 13 lb brisket yesterday. I had the temp set at 180*, the fire went out. I shut it off, relit it, and set it at 225. It went out again. Shut it off, restarted, set at 225 again, went out.

Usually when I set it at 350 or 400, it overheats, and goes out.

Also, the noise of the grill takes some getting used to.

On the other hand, I really like the smoke flavor it adds to the food.

If I had to do,it over, I would probably go for a Put Boss. I’ve heard lots of good reports about those.




Rusty

Thanks Rusty. Is the low temp fire going out a common problem? Seems to defeat the whole point of a pellet grill, at least for me. I like smoking meat but want something easier than tending the firebox on the smoker. To me, that is the whole draw of the pellet grill but if the dang thing is going out regularly it’d defeat the whole purpose.


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[Elkaddict]

I have a camp chef PG24DLX. Great features for the money. Gets to 500F. I shopped around and it gets amazing reviews, I had a lightning strike and the board got fried. Called Camp Chef and they shipped one out, no questions asked, had it back in action in 3 days. I'd definitely do it again if I was buying another. Just wish it gave the smokey flavor like my stick burner or even my electric smoker. But, way better flavor than a gas grill with the same ease.

Swat, give a smoke tube or two a try. They make a difference and are cheap. Fill them up, light with a propane torch and they burn 41/2 to 5 hours. I use a couple for briskets and butts.

 

[Hoosierhunting]

I have a Green Mountain. Works great and is wifi connected. You can remotely change grill temperature or view the food temp (probe) from anywhere you can connect to the internet (usually use my phone since it's always on me and usually has service). I seldom leave the ranch when I'm doing a smoke but it's kind of nice to monitor the cook while fishing or sitting in a tree stand. This isn't a necessary feature but it is nice if you have a 10hr smoke going on.

The grill can also run off of the cigarette lighter in your truck. We lost power one time and I happened to be in town and was over an hour away. My wife went to check on the cooker and found a cord that plugged into a lighter, pulled her car around got the smoker going again without having a clue that it was even made for that! She just was snooping around and wanted to make sure to butt got smoked (she really likes pulled pork and brisket!). This thing is pretty much bullet proof and easy. They also make a blanket for it. If you live in colder climates it can save pellets.

Now that’s a good woman!!!!


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[Hoosierhunting]

I have a camp chef PG24DLX. Great features for the money. Gets to 500F. I shopped around and it gets amazing reviews, I had a lightning strike and the board got fried. Called Camp Chef and they shipped one out, no questions asked, had it back in action in 3 days. I'd definitely do it again if I was buying another. Just wish it gave the smokey flavor like my stick burner or even my electric smoker. But, way better flavor than a gas grill with the same ease.

Swat, I may not understand pellets grills. I thought that the draw was they could maintain a specified temp for a long period of time and impart smoke on the meat? I take it from your comments that they struggle to smoke meat. I have a Weber Summit with a smoke box, the problem is it doesn’t get results like a real smoker. I was thinking the pellet grills would do a better job???


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[Buckeye]

I like the price on the pit boss and they look sturdy based on pics I’ve seen. I like the steel wheels. Have you had any trouble with the auger on yours? Read that in a couple of reviews. I like the build and price, going to try to see one in the flesh.


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Not one problem so far.

 

[swat1018]

Swat, I may not understand pellets grills. I thought that the draw was they could maintain a specified temp for a long period of time and impart smoke on the meat? I take it from your comments that they struggle to smoke meat. I have a Weber Summit with a smoke box, the problem is it doesn’t get results like a real smoker. I was thinking the pellet grills would do a better job???


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Don't get me wrong, I love mine. But, I have 3 smokers and of all it imparts the least amount of smoke flavor. I've tried several brands of pellets, it doesn't matter. I have an old-school offset stick burner and also a vertical electric I do my summer sausage in. They both make for some smokey BBQ, the pellet grill, not so much. I have pondered adding the tubes, and I'll have to try it now, but I figured it wouldn't help that much.

 

[Triple C]

Thanks for the feedback Triple C. Is the problem with the Texas Pro for a residence just the space it takes up or does a bigger grill consume too many pellets for a smaller cook? In my head bigger is better but I’m not familiar with the pellet consumption and preheat time for these grills and how that’s affected by size.


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I think it pushes too many pellets thru in order to maintain the temp on more grill space. Plus, I prefer to fill it up with meat as it takes the same amount of pellets to do one small butt as 4. But, if you have decent crowds at your place then bigger is better. You certainly don't have to use the entire cooking area on the bigger one. At home, it's just me and the Ms.

 

[Triple C]

Swat, I may not understand pellets grills. I thought that the draw was they could maintain a specified temp for a long period of time and impart smoke on the meat? I take it from your comments that they struggle to smoke meat. I have a Weber Summit with a smoke box, the problem is it doesn’t get results like a real smoker. I was thinking the pellet grills would do a better job??? Sent from my iPhone using Deer Hunter Forum

Swat, my Treager puts out 3 times the smoke of my Cabela's. I mean it can throw some smoke out. Perhaps the pellets burn at a lower temp in the Traeger as compared to the Cabela's brand but the Traeger is a "smokey" pellet grill from my experience.