Looking for tips of a pellet smoker pitboss vs Traeger vs camp chef (or any others)

[josephdetor]

Starting my preliminary research into what I want. I have been arguing with my dad who says the Pitboss is better because it’s a much better value than the other two. I’m primarily interested in this Traeger but he wants the larger pit boss I think with 700 square inches (is that how they are measured? Idk) anyways. What should I be looking for and what are your takes on these? Do the more expensive ones have better warranty/ components?https://solitaire.onl/ 9apps.ooo/ https://bluestacks.vip/

 

[SPD656]

Starting my preliminary research into what I want. I have been arguing with my dad who says the pitboss is better because it’s a much better value than the other two. I’m primarily interested in this Traeger but he wants the larger pit boss I think with 700 square inches (is that how they are measured? Idk) anyways. What should I be looking for and what are your takes on these? Do the more expensive ones have better warranty/ components?

My biggest thing with traeger is just the convenience. I literally feel like I’m cheating when I cook my food. The wifire capabilities and recipes on the app are stupid easy to use/follow. I started smoking meat about 2 years ago on a big green egg and was so frustrated with trying to control the temp. In just a few months with my traeger I am killing ribs, pork butt, and brisket. I would say if you are new to the smoker game traeger is the way to go. I live close to work and have the freedom of coming and going so when my traeger app alerts me that my internal temp of whatever I’m smoking is where I want it and I can run home and wrap it or even set it to warm from the app if I can’t get home makes things super easy. In reference to your question about traeger models I feel like the biggest difference I see in the timberline compared to the ironwoods and other models is the double insulated walls in the grill. For me that was huge because I live in Illinois and one day it can be -50 and the next day it can be 83. This grill holds temp like a beast in the winter no problem. Luckily for me my grill is inside on a screened in porch so it’s sort of protected from wind and weather but I truly believe I’d see more temp fluctuations if it wasn’t for the timberline design. Hope that helps.

 

[CampWhatnot]

Yoder ys640s. Best pellet smoker we can purchase in Canada in my opinion however it is costly.

 

[Dave1972]

RecTec is good as well. At times I wish I’d spent the extra dime and got that instead of my traeger pro.

 

[Johnmil2000]

Might want to take a look at Grilla.

 

[smithclarkson01]

I have a GMG at home, and a Cookshack Fast Eddie at the restaurant. Both are built like tanks, and both have had really good customer service.
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[Seed]

Dont get a Camp Chef. Tin cans of junk...

GMG, RecTec, Traeger are all good, some of slight pros over the others IMO, like GMG has the best mobile app, rectec and GMG cooked well, Traeger is good but their app is far behind the other two. I like the way the Traeger feels and looks better than those other two. Controller on Traeger is pretty solid just needs a little more refinement and features in the app side.

 

[johnsmith101]

hey,

That's the same thought I had when shopping for a pellet grill. Even the older Traeger models looked a little flimsy, but I got and Eastwood 34 from Traeger and it seems very sturdy. Very happy with the Traeger I purchased.

thanks and regards.
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[pkitch]

Just looked at some Yoder's this weekend (wasn't shopping, was just in a store that sold them), danger, danger, danger....

 

[CampWhatnot]

Yoder are the best made pellets in my opinion. The issue is the ys640s is 4k up here in Canada...

 

[BarricadeGT]

The GMG, Rec Tech, or Yoder look interesting to me. I'm a current Traeger Ironwood 885 owner, it cooks well, but a design flaw has me wishing I looked deeper at other brands.

I would start with a budget, and see what models you can get in that range, pick the best you can afford.

 

[rtb1982]

The GMG, Rec Tech, or Yoder look interesting to me. I'm a current Traeger Ironwood 885 owner, it cooks well, but a design flaw has me wishing I looked deeper at other brands.

I would start with a budget, and see what models you can get in that range, pick the best you can afford.

What design flaw are you referring to so i can be on the lookout on my 885?

 

[bfletcher]

.. so i can be on the lookout on my 885?

I'll share this detail with the acknowledgement that my viewpoint could change over time: I began smoking 4 years ago with charcoal. In September I acquired an Ironwood 885. Compared to using charcoal for fuel I feel there's a significantly more subtle smoke flavor from the Ironwood. But charcoal is my 4-year history and, so, it's my reference point. I've had some other folks say they taste a smoky flavor from my Ironwood smokes. I've made some tweaks in using the Ironwood these past few months that have resulted in a more pleasing bark but I still find myself yearning for a stronger flavor (which has also not been satisfied with a smoke tube).

Last week, I had opportunity to do a 12-hour pork shoulder smoke on a Rec Tec RT-700. I could not wait to indulge in that pulled pork because every moment that I looked at the smoker--even at temps of 270*f--I could see what I've always considered the coveted thin-blue-smoke. And whenever I opened the door to do a spritz the smoke danced from the pit and burned my eyes; it was friggin' awesome. Then I ate that pulled pork and, to me, there was no discernible difference between the RT-700 shoulder and one I had done the prior week on the Ironwood.

So aside from possibly damaged taste buds resulting from charcoal I honestly have ZERO complaints about my Ironwood. I am very well pleased with its performance and build quality (and aside from the RT-700 having a built-in light I in some ways prefer the Ironwood over the RT-700). If mine is flawed I am not wise to it. I hope you are well-pleased with yours!

 

[nirvanausual]

I did a bunch of research on pellet smokers and eventually settled on the Camp Chef. What my research on the Traeger told me was that the technology on the controllers is outdated compared to the newer competition, and the build quality has gone down since they moved a lot of the production to China (specifically the auger system). I've also heard a lot of bad stories about their CS. It also seems like you are paying a premium for the brand name, just compare the size of features of other smokers in the same price range as the Traegers, you'll see your dollar goes further with the other brands.

 

[Seed]

Camp chef controller died on me in the middle of a holiday weekend cook with 8 racks. It was two weeks old. Garbage.