In light of my recent health issues as well as the COVID situation, it doesn't look like we'll be going back to Zambia. I've been offered an early retirement package by Presbyterian World Mission which is pretty lucrative. Melissa is four years younger than me and we plan for her to continue working in her position - her work is easier to do remotely than mine.

In the meantime, we have a contract on a house in East Atlanta which we'll close on September 8. We really like the house - it comes with chickens and a chicken coop as well as a water harvesting system. I'm starting to ponder a smoker and am starting to open up to the idea of a pellet grill (Wadd96 - don't judge me). I have long thought about a stick burner, but I'm not sure that I'm up to tending a fire all night long as I get older.

I know there have been threads about pellet grills before but I couldn't find them when I searched. Can you guys give me a synopsis on your thoughts, experiences and preferred brands? Thanks. OEFM.

I hated the thought of a pellet grill...until I got one. I won mine in a raffle. I got an Oklahoma Joe Rider DLX, and I love it. It has more cooking space than my neighbor's Pit Boss, is easier to clean, maintains better temperature, and can get significantly hotter on direct heat, which is great for grilling. Mine does a great job smoking whatever I throw on it. I think that the only real advantage a stick burner has is the ability to cook really large amounts Of meat at one time.

I've used two different kinds quite a bit now. We have a rec tec that is 8 years old that is awesome. It's broken a few times but every time it did the warranty and customer service was awesome. It's great as there is no hot spots but you can grill on it. I also have a pit boss. I don't recommend it. Hot spots and finicky. But you can grill on it and it's half the price.

I ordered a Yoder YS640s a few months ago and it has been amazing. Zero complaints and built like a tank. Warning: they are pricey, but I think it's been worth it every penny. Also, expect to add another $600+ worth of accessories to the price here if you want most of the bells and whistles. The competition cart version is even prettier, but the extra cost for the comp cart wasn't worth it to me since I'm not taking it anywhere.

https://www.yodersmokers.com/pellet/the-ys640s-pellet-grill/

I bought a traeger as the covid stupidity started. Best investment I could have made at the time. I use it all the time and it's freaking awesome.

I have had a Yoder ys640 for six years and it still runs like a champ, is built like a tank, and makes great food.

Bought a Pit Boss 800 Pro Series about 2 yrs ago, love it, use it about 8-9 times a month. Haven't touched my stick burner since. More importantly, my beer consumption did not suffer at all.

I don't have one but just from memory of the threads Weber has one out that I believe a lot of people complimented. If I get one that may be my choice

I just received a Traeger 34 pro as a gift. If I was spending my money I would have looked at other brands, but may have still gone with the traeger. I'm really happy with it but not sure it's the best value out there for a pellet.

I'm thinking about one of these:

https://www.masterbuilt.com/products/gravity-series-560-digital-charcoal-grill-smoker?_pos=3&_sid=a6ceb0c20&_ss=r

From what I understand it provides a better smokey flavor and is about as easy to use.

I have a Green Mountain Grill Daniel Boone since March and we've enjoyed it. Come with wifi control and uses any brand of pellet. Got it delivered from Texas Star Grill shop assembled for about $650-700 .

I have a Grilla Silverbac and it is amazing.

Sad to see so many great Ags tout faux BBQ techniques.

I have the Masterbuilt 560 gravity and I love it - pizza, brisket, peaches, steak, chops - cooks all great for me - yes the charcoal flavor is there in everything.

aggiedent said:

---

Sad to see so many great Ags tout faux BBQ techniques.

---

Exactly. Easy grill brisket.

Another Yoder YS640S user here. Picked it up a few months back with the comp cart. Wanted the larger wheels to roll around easier on our exposed aggregate patio given the weight of this tank. It's one of the best investments we've made in quite some time. Does exactly as advertised. Controlled by the Fireboard controller, wifi/bluetooth. Extremely accurate temp control. BTW, they will paint the competition cart Aggie Maroon if you
send them the paint code!

Thinking of ordering one of their charcoal grills soon.... yet another beast!

Hope the wife isn't reading any of this ....

Had a Green Mountain Daniel Boone we upgraded from. For the money, the Green Mountain Pellet Grills hold their own against most.

Purchased the Yoder through Atbbq.com. Yoder owns this grill shop in Kansas. Customer service is a+

I've got a pit boss 1000 and highly recommend. I wouldn't get anything smaller than the pit boss 800 though.

RecTeq 700 (Bull) 2 years in and not a single problem. Their customer service is second to none as well. The day I got it had a question during assembly, called the help number and the owner answered the phone. One of the best products I've ever owned

Highly recommend a pellet smoker. You won't regret it. Let that sucker go all night while you sleep and have brisket ready for lunch!

pablof said:

---

Another Yoder YS640S user here. Picked it up a few months back with the comp cart. Wanted the larger wheels to roll around easier on our exposed aggregate patio given the weight of this tank. It's one of the best investments we've made in quite some time. Does exactly as advertised. Controlled by the Fireboard controller, wifi/bluetooth. Extremely accurate temp control. BTW, they will paint the competition cart Aggie Maroon if you
send them the paint code!

Thinking of ordering one of their charcoal grills soon.... yet another beast!

Hope the wife isn't reading any of this ....

Had a Green Mountain Daniel Boone we upgraded from. For the money, the Green Mountain Pellet Grills hold their own against most.

Purchased the Yoder through Atbbq.com. Yoder owns this grill shop in Kansas. Customer service is a+

---

I also purchased through atbbq.com and it shipped several weeks earlier than estimated ... There are only a few places in DFW that carry Yoders (maybe only 1?), but they were pricing them about $500 more PLUS charging shipping. I was trying to support the local guy but that price difference was crazy.

I picked the Yoder based on my requirement that the smoker be American-made ... that knocked Traeger and most of the others off my list

My brother in law has a traeger. It's serviceable but not my thing really. I prefer tending a fire. My father in law has a pit with a propane burner in the bottom of the firebox that he will leave on low and run out every 30-45 minutes to throw a piece of oak on for smoke. It is pretty handy in the winter we will back it up to the shop door and drink scotch and bourbon by the wood burning stove he built. It's amazing how in the summer it's only necessary to go out every so often, but in the winter the fire has to be tended all night long for good brisket.

mm98 said:

---

I have a Grilla Silverbac and it is amazing.

---

Love my Grilla Silverbac. I use it 5 or 6 times per week. I also have a propane grill but rarely use it. The pellet grill works for everything.

jdubd34 said:

---

I have a Green Mountain Grill Daniel Boone since March and we've enjoyed it. Come with wifi control and uses any brand of pellet. Got it delivered from Texas Star Grill shop assembled for about $650-700 .

---

I too bought a Green Mountain Grill Daniel Boone this year, in July. Bought mine unassembled from the Waller Buccee's of all places LOL, for $599, which was way cheaper than anywhere else I had priced that model. Mine is the Prime with WiFi and stainless lid. Stupidly easy to cook. I love it. I've done brisket, ribs (beef and pork), stuffed boudain flounder, chicken, and meatloaf and all have been hits at the table.

Edited to add that I also bought the pizza oven attachment and that's great as well. Makes great pizza.

I sold a 17yr old vehicle and managed to get double the price than I thought it was worth, so I immediately went out and blew it on a Traeger Pro 780. I pretty much love it, but every system will have pros and cons.

Pros: ease of use, set it and forget it (make sure that hopper is full of pellets though), have done ribs, pork butts, brisket, chickens and will be doing smoked salmon tonight. Now whenever I'm firing it up I give a days notice to the family and they'll bring over stuff to throw in as well. I do not use mine as a grill though.

Cons: not as deep a smoke ring as I would like. I intended to buy the Ironwood series, but they didn't have it in stock, so I went with the Pro. Impulse buy, but the super smoke option would have been nice.

The Pro also maxes out at 500F, maybe 550F is you add in the Houston summer heat.

I've also smoked baked beans (Scratch recipe from the Food board, we call them Aggie Beans) and it gives a subtle additional dimension.

If buying a Traeger, buy the front shelf, easy to add on and totally worth it.

You'll also need a shop vac, I don't think mine has seen this much use since I bought it, clean after every 20 hours of use (when cold).

I have a green mountain and love it.

Anyone else have problems in humidity that are causing your pellets at the bottom of your hopper to turn to sawdust? I hate the humidity.

Rectec 700 here, easy as heck to use and being all stainless it should last a while.

P.U.T.U said:

---

Rectec 700 here, easy as heck to use and being all stainless it should last a while.

---

Big reason why I bought my Grilla. Full SS has definitely helped wear and tear.

I have the cheapest version of the pit boss and I use it 3 times a week at least. I've grilled just about everything from steaks to redfish and veggies on it, and smoked everything except a big brisket. It does everything I need it to and more. No broken parts in over a year.

We don't have double ovens in the kitchen and actually used the Traeger yesterday as the second oven. Put a pot roast in there for a couple of hours until the oven in the kitchen was available again. Great backup option.

aggiedent said:

---

Sad to see so many great Ags tout faux BBQ techniques.

---

You are right, us cavemen should also cease using the wheel, electricity and vaccines.

jdubd34 said:

---

I have a Green Mountain Grill Daniel Boone since March and we've enjoyed it. Come with wifi control and uses any brand of pellet. Got it delivered from Texas Star Grill shop assembled for about $650-700 .

---

Second on the GMG. Love that thing.

You do realize that what you just said is not a counterpoint to what I said, right? It makes no sense whatever.

Bought. Louisiana Pellet grill 5 years ago before they got stupid expensive. Ease of gas with taste of cooking cover wood. Get the largest size you can afford. Also buy a replacement heating element. Just replaced my first one, but you never want to be without.

Best purchase I ever made excluding firearms and jewelry for the wife.

Downside is that if you lose electricity you are out of luck, so make sure you keep an old charcoal grill around JIC.