Pellet Hopper Clean Out

[isaiahfranco]

Has anyone been able to successfully empty out their pellet hopper without dumping a ton of pellets on the ground? If so, how did you do it?

 

[BigOlDOg]

Well I’ve taken a bucket and held it at an angle to catch a fair amount. They still hit the floor though but minimal

 

[Rodney007]

Yes I agree, slight "oversight" in the design department that one.

 

[isaiahfranco]

Glad I'm not the only one struggling with this. I think I'll try to come up with a way to guide the pellets into the bucket while they're exiting the hopper. Probably just 3 sides of a cardboard box oughta do it.

 

[dunawayfamily]

Glad I'm not the only one struggling with this. I think I'll try to come up with a way to guide the pellets into the bucket while they're exiting the hopper. Probably just 3 sides of a cardboard box oughta do it.

The hopper door is useless ... I reach into the hopper with my hand or a cup/dish and remove all the pellets down to the point I can see the auger ... then refill with whatever pellet I am switching too ... the "old" pellets in the auger will burn up during the ignition phase ...

 

[T Russo]

I tried to use the hooper door for two weeks then went searching the internet for a better solution. I found this guys solution and do the same thing. Changing pellets is a breeze and I routinely swap pellets based on what I’m cooking in under a minute.

Bought the same bucket vacuum from Home Depot for $26 and some 5 gallon buckets with lids.

 

[magoo40]

Has anyone been able to successfully empty out their pellet hopper without dumping a ton of pellets on the ground? If so, how did you do it?

This was my solution, works great.

Pallet Change Chute

The pallet change door at the back of the hopper is a great addition, but have you noticed how the wheel gets in the way for placing the bucket in the correct spot. Well today I had some spare time so I made this chute that attaches to the hopper with some strip magnets, problem solved. Edit...

www.traegerforum.com

 

[isaiahfranco]

This was my solution, works great.

Pallet Change Chute

The pallet change door at the back of the hopper is a great addition, but have you noticed how the wheel gets in the way for placing the bucket in the correct spot. Well today I had some spare time so I made this chute that attaches to the hopper with some strip magnets, problem solved. Edit...

www.traegerforum.com

Nicely done! My solution isn’t quite as elegant but it gets the job done.

 

[ChuckM]

Hving same issue. Already wrote to T w suggestion for simple design chgs to improve. All they need to do is reverse hopper door so it opens top/down and add side plates to make simple spout or shute. Then chg hopper grate from being screwed in and stationary to hinged so it can be flipped up. Easy. No cost.

 

[BlazinFred]

Has anyone been able to successfully empty out their pellet hopper without dumping a ton of pellets on the ground? If so, how did you do it?

 

[BlazinFred]

I found this works really well. Let me know if you want one. I bought a few extras for gifts.

 

[dunawayfamily]

I found this works really well. Let me know if you want one. I bought a few extras for gifts.

By the time i get that stuff plugged in and running, my hands and/or cup, will have removed the pellets all the way down to the auger manually ...

 

[isaiahfranco]

By the time i get that stuff plugged in and running, my hands and/or cup, will have removed the pellets all the way down to the auger manually ...

Which is one reason I keep my cardboard chute in the storage under my Traeger. I wanted something easy.

 

[Johngoetz73]

I tried to use the hooper door for two weeks then went searching the internet for a better solution. I found this guys solution and do the same thing. Changing pellets is a breeze and I routinely swap pellets based on what I’m cooking in under a minute.

Bought the same bucket vacuum from Home Depot for $26 and some 5 gallon buckets with lids.

Great tip. Thanks for the video

 

[Daddyman]

I was having issues too. Now I use a charcoal scoop from Ace Hardware. Oh, I removed the screen from the hopper to. Takes a couple minutes longer but no mess or pellets on the deck.