Wood pellet BBQ

[Wayne M.]

Thinking about buying a wood pellet BBQ.
I’m told Rec- Tec is top of the heap.
Their stuff looks pretty stout, and I know one (friend of a friend) real life excellent experience, but I’ve never seen one in person. They have a small one I think about 300 sq. in. I don’t cook for large groups, and I thought the smaller size lends itself to good smoking and heat retention. I just want it to fit a nice bird or roast as well as a bunch a burgers (not at the same time).
What do we have in TDR land?
What are your experiences with wood pellet cooking?

 

[DHayden]

I did a lot of looking around a year ago. Found lots of expensive stuff and I finally compromised on a camp chef. It was a little cheaper than the "well known" grills but had a higher temperature setting (I think 550deg) I also got the jerky racks and a sear plate. I have not used any other pellet grills but I can tell you I am thrilled with the camp chef. Keeps a steady temp even with the wind blowing pretty good, has a handle that opens the bottom for clean-out instead of having to vacuum and the jerky is awesome! First thing I cooked was a turkey for thanksgiving, was a bit apprehensive as my wife and I love to cook a good turkey and pretty much had it down to a science and didnt want to screw up a thanksgiving...well it was fantastic! 15lb turkey and was done in 1 hour 40 minutes...juicy as can be and had a great skin. Heres a pick of the first turkey....I didnt cover the legs with tin foil as I had never cooked a turkey in a pellet grill. Doesnt look 15lbs but it is. Juice oozed out when I pulled the temp probe out (built in so you can monitor as you cook without opening). Good luck!

 

[SnoKing]

My step son has a small and larger SOB pellet BBQ. I cooked salmon on them for their wedding rehearsal dinner. The larger one worked much between. Easier to control heat and the pellet feed was better.

 

[Wayne M.]

My step son has a small and larger SOB pellet BBQ. I cook salmon on them for their wedding rehearsal dinner. The larger one worked much between. Easier to control heat and the pellet feed was better.

SOB?

 

[AH64ID]

Personally I’m a Traeger man... just like I drive a Cummins, use Amsoil, Honda small engines/ATV’s, Stihl Chainsaws, and ORV campers.

There may be more popular options.. maybe “better”, but I’ve been doing the same thing for a lot of years.

On the subject of smokers I’ve been using Traeger since ‘94 and doubt I’ll ever change that. I now have 2, a lil Tex and a Ranger portable. They both work great. We did a smoked pulled pork shoulder today.

My brother wants a Rec Tec for his next grill. He currently has a Traeger Jr. Then again be went from a ‘93 Cummins to a ‘06 Hemi to a ‘17 powerstroke....

All joking aside I’ve also heard good things about green mountain.

 

[SnoKing]

SOB?

Some other brand. I think they were Traegers.

 

[Wayne M.]

I also don’t have any experience with pellet stoves, but I’m studying the pellet feed systems in both. I assume it’s an auger dropping the pellet into the fire box from the hopper, with feedback computer controlling the temps? I wonder about the reliability of the electronics/ mechanical/ feedback parts of these things. I know Traeger is the first brand of this type grille I’d seen over a decade ago. These grilles need shore power to operate, correct?

 

[JR]

I've also got a Camp Chef. Wife surprised me with it last year. I had been looking at them for some time and I'll be the first to admit it may not have been my first choice but I'm very happy with it now that I've got some hours on it. It's got two digital temp probes so you don't have to keep opening the smoker to check. Clean up of the pellets is efficient. Temp is very consistent so long as you don't open the door too frequently. I smoked out on the back deck in single digit temps and it did well. I can't speak to the longevity of the electronics but All in all it's built well.

Wayne whatever you decide on, I'd definitely go with an electric smoker. They are just so much easier to maintain constant temps which is critical to a good end result.

 

[Wayne M.]

I don’t know how bad I want a purpose built smoker right now, but I think a pellet grille may lead to it. I do need a new grille now and that why I need to act.
I read some reviews and the ash dump of the camp chef has my attention, but I’m starting to see why the rec tec is so expensive. Everything is 304 Stainless and appears to be overbuilt.
Ok keep ‘em coming! I got a urge to do a brisket the right way!

 

[Wiredawg]

I have a Traeger Tailgater that fits in the RV basement that I bought an after market folding shelf. It cooks flawlessly. 300sq inches.

About a year and a half ago, I purchased Pit Boss Pro 820 sq inches at Lowes when a medical issue kept me from handling the wood in my wood smoker's and grills. This is good and what I like best it has a sliding plate that allows you to grill over FIRE. Perfect for steaks and burgers. Flame area is small, so starting meat there to get nice scald and moving to rack to finish cooking. It has dual integrated meat temp probes so you get most temps without opening grill. Pellets are $15 for 40lbs at Lowes.

Anyhoo, you cant go wrong with a pellet grill.

Cheers, Ron

 

[AH64ID]

I also don’t have any experience with pellet stoves, but I’m studying the pellet feed systems in both. I assume it’s an auger dropping the pellet into the fire box from the hopper, with feedback computer controlling the temps? I wonder about the reliability of the electronics/ mechanical/ feedback parts of these things. I know Traeger is the first brand of this type grille I’d seen over a decade ago. These grilles need shore power to operate, correct?

Yes that’s the gist of it. There are also induction fans to bring the combustion air in. Modern controllers are much better than the older ones and keep a steadier temperature. 50° swings used to be common but with my current controller, and older style Traeger, they are down to 25° and with the insulated blanket normally lower too.

We have had this current Traeger since 08. I’m on my 3rd controller, but really 2nd as one was a non-OEM unit sold as OEM that failed in 90 days and they gave me an actual OEM one, 2nd induction fan (this last winter) and 3rd or 4th hotrod (wear item). I can’t really complain about that considering how much we use it.

They do take shore power.

I don’t have a dedicated smoker and use the Traeger for all my smoking. We make bacon, wild game brats, kielbasa’s... etc. The only thing it gets too hot for is cheese, but I plan to use a small pellet tube for that in my little Traeger.

You really can do a lot with these pellets grills.

 

[Timd32]

I'm not familiar with the brands, my friend has an Egg coal fried deal.

My BIL has a pit boss at the house and just got this for the camper. He posted this today. He uses the one at the house all the time. This will be used alot this year.

He also uses SlickDeals a lot to find stuff, might be worth a search to see if there is anything pricing wise out there.

 

[Wiredawg]

You can get poor buying the next best thing, but I was pretty impressed with this Pit Boss that has cold smoking capability at Walmart

See, all this for under $800.

Cheers, Ron

 

[AHutson]

I have the middle model, believe it's the David Bowie, of GMG (Green Mountain Grill) and it works great. It's big enough I can do a lot on it when we have family gatherings, and place a full chicken or turkey on it should I choose to. I also have an electric smoker that was a college graduation gift from my parents. Both get used a lot, must be doing something right with them as leftovers are almost always non-existent. One thing I would buy if the one you decide has it available is the heat blanket. The grill will use less pellets and hold consistent temperature better with it. They also cook slower than gas grills, or maybe that's just me using the low and slow method.

 

[Wiredawg]

I thought I would add another experience with my Traeger and Pit Boss. The burning is so complete that there is very little ash to clean out. I'm a type A and it might be unnecessary, but I remove the grates after each use and clean them. Started this with the Traeger as I store it in the basement of the RV and didnt want to smell up the storage compartment.

Both my Traeger and my Pit Boss, I crank up for 30 minutes after removing food, then after cooling, i remove grates, clean them in the sink and wipe down the interior. This might be overkill, but that's what we type As do.

Shop on the Internet.... I got my Traeger $285 and free shipping on Ebay 5years ago. Got my Pit Boss on sale at Lowe's $100 off, then got my 10% off military discount, so $380.

FYI, I still cook old fashioned wood fire too.

Let us know what you get.

Cheers, Ron

 

[Superdawg]

I have an old Traeger, BBQ124. Discontinued now. I think that model cost a little over 1k new. I found it used on Ebay 10 or 15 years ago for about $250?. It was abused and needed lots of work. Made in USA back then. I like that the components are modular and can be replaced. And they do need replaced (temp probe, fan, igniter, control panel). It's been more than once it quit during the middle of the night, midway through a brisket and have to finish it in the oven. That said, I love having a smoker in addition to my natural gas fired bbq. It's usually reliable, just set it and forget it. If I do a brisket for work or family, I start it in the evening and get up once in the middle of the night to check/add pellets to the hopper.
I do like the Traeger brand pellets much better than others. Keep them dry.

 

[Wayne M.]

I dunno.
I’m really impressed with the visuals with the Rec Tec. The 340 looks like a great deal. They’re all pretty close in price with the Rec being most expensive. The negative is that I can’t go look at one. Seems they only sell direct.

 

[Wiredawg]

Wayne Skywalker,

Follow what the force tells you... hit the order button and git it. Be sure to get a quality cover for it if its going to be outside... these smokers don't like being in the elements. I roll mine into the mancave, but I bought my BIL a Pit Boss who lives in Houston TX with real high humidity. He keeps his under the awning with cover on and has not had any problem with pellets getting moist and swelling.

Whatever the reason, I seem to never take pics of my briskets, chicken, ribs... etc cooking or coming off the pellet grills.

Cheers, Ron

 

[BoeingDiesel]

Wayne, FWIW we've had our Traeger Texas 34 for several years and I'm guessing it's got over 500 hours on it with no problem. I did upgrade the controller and now thinking I might wire it with a PID controller for more precise temp. control but not really needed as it only bounces 15- 20° for the first 20 minutes, or so. Whatever you choose you are going to enjoy it!

 

[Cummins12V98]

They were displaying Treager's at Costco. Stopped to look, Made In China I kept walking!!!

Plenty of US Made models to choose from.