Traeger grills

My94GT

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Who has one, how do they like it?

thoughts on a pro vs ironwood?

I’m really interested in one with WiFi which either of these come with. Are there any other brands I should look at in the 1k price range?
 

AustinSN

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My dad has been looking at them for a long time (like a few years), but lately his tune has changed to "their quality has really dropped since they were bought out."
 

03Sssnake

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My dad has been looking at them for a long time (like a few years), but lately his tune has changed to "their quality has really dropped since they were bought out."

That happens quite often. A good company is sold by its original founders, usually to the detriment of the product, as the new owners are looking to turn a profit above all else. Once the investors/private equity group bought Traeger they fired everyone and moved the company. I'd look elsewhere, perhaps a Pit Boss.
 

Blown 89

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My dad has been looking at them for a long time (like a few years), but lately his tune has changed to "their quality has really dropped since they were bought out."
I'm curious what his complaint is because I feel like a lot of people default to that feeling when a company is bought out without any real facts to back it up.

I have their smallest smoker and am pretty happy with it. It does the job and I don't have any complaints. Initially I was having trouble maintaining a consistent temperature but learned what user error was causing problems and it's been great ever since. Their customer service is pretty good too. They staff techs over the weekends when you need it so if there's a problem you call them and they'll walk you through solutions.

I hear Yoder Smokers are nice too.
 

Rock20

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I've had my Traeger for going on 4 years and it's had some repeated downtime over that period. The upside is they are quick to send out replacement parts but for my motor to die within the first year is a little ridiculous especially for a $800 unit. I will say when it works it's great.
 

SolarYellow

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That happens quite often. A good company is sold by its original founders, usually to the detriment of the product, as the new owners are looking to turn a profit above all else. Once the investors/private equity group bought Traeger they fired everyone and moved the company. I'd look elsewhere, perhaps a Pit Boss.

Bingo.

From seeing them at WM the P.B.'s look solid and comparable with the much more expensive Traeger. I bet both are made in China so why pay more?
 

03Sssnake

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Bingo.

From seeing them at WM the P.B.'s look solid and comparable with the much more expensive Traeger. I bet both are made in China so why pay more?

Pit Boss builds in Canada and China. I believe only the low end, entry level grill is made in China. Traeger AFAIK has moved all manufacturing to China.
 

Four Door SVT

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I’m not totally impressed with treger, I had to modify it to my liking. With the open chimney and constant blower running I’m worried about drying out the meat so I made a cap for the chimney and then had to buy the blanket to keep it up to temperature. Constantly checking it for 12 hrs vs a smoker that is better temperature controlled. So I’m not a big fan


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Blkkbgt

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I seriously looked at them for about a year. What stopped me from buying one was the constant returns at my local Costco. Every weekend I saw at least 1 each time and one day 3 were returned. One guy I talked to said his lasted barely 6 months and wouldn't hold temp. I also have a friend whose lasted just 2 years. Now factor in the cost of pellets and them going through a period of time denying damn near every warranty claim under the sun and I was out.

This all led me to the pit barrel. Very easy to use and can actually cook more food then a traeger jr and only costs $300 shipped. Once I started reading it was a no brainer.

Now that I've had my pit barrel for about 3 years I've realized it's short comings and am looking to build a UDS for cheaper and has even more capacity. You can also buy a kit from big papa smokers if you dont want to find a drum. This is really where it's at as far as food quality, cost and footprint IMOP.

If you dont want to build I'd still take a pit barrel over a traeger any day of the week. No electronics or burners to die on you and of you loose power during a cook it wont matter.
 
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geoffmt

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I have been a Weber gas guy for decades, bought my first treager at Costco this spring. I have only used the Weber once since getting the very tiny treager. Yes it’s cheaply made in China, and I will probably have some issues in the near future. It’s a learning experience, and I kept the trusty Weber. But WOW what a better result with the treager. Yes I have to buy pellets and vacuum out the little pot every 2 bags, but the results come close to the ridiculous hard core bbq guys that import oak from Texas at a fraction of the effort. So no complaints yet


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SVTXTC

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I wanted to get one of these but anyone I know that had one isn’t happy with them.

My friend owns a pool store and picked up the grill dome line in 2010. I do own and would recommend a grill dome XL. Green Egg ripped them off and they are the original. I have had this for 9 years now and it’s still the same perfection as day 1 ownership. I moved and the ceramics did a hairline crack and grill dome mailed me a replacement. Best customer support ever.

Cons: takes a long time to get going. Once it does get going you could literally marathon cook for 300+ people for the rest of the evening. Takes a long time to cool down...keep it outside and away from the cobra and all the 55 gallon drums of ignite and c85.

Pros: excellent cooking. Makes a cheap ny strip taste excellent. If shit hits the fan, bury this in the ground and let the community cook from it.

You had asked for another brand recommendation and I would recommend the grill dome lines and anything charcoal grill wise. This is all subjective and to each their own and I would eat from all my traeger and propane friends grills.
 
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Papaw

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I received a Pit Boss 820 for Father's day 2 yrs ago, love it! I just set the temp where I want it and it holds that temp. I'll sometimes place a bowl of juice or broth in to add moistness. It has a slide over the burn box that can be slid over to expose the meat to direct flame or closed for indirect heat, so it can be used to BBQ, slow cook or a combination of the two.
 

Blkkbgt

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I have been a Weber gas guy for decades, bought my first treager at Costco this spring. I have only used the Weber once since getting the very tiny treager. Yes it’s cheaply made in China, and I will probably have some issues in the near future. It’s a learning experience, and I kept the trusty Weber. But WOW what a better result with the treager. Yes I have to buy pellets and vacuum out the little pot every 2 bags, but the results come close to the ridiculous hard core bbq guys that import oak from Texas at a fraction of the effort. So no complaints yet


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Damn near anything is better then a gas grill. I could cook a better steak reverse seared on a cheap shit walmart grill then Gordon Ramsay could on ANY gas grill.

I am no traeger fan but I'd take one over a gas grill any day of the week. When it comes to grilling I still think they fall short of a weber kettle though.
 

geoffmt

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Damn near anything is better then a gas grill. I could cook a better steak reverse seared on a cheap shit walmart grill then Gordon Ramsay could on ANY gas grill.

I am no traeger fan but I'd take one over a gas grill any day of the week. When it comes to grilling I still think they fall short of a weber kettle though.

I always used a natural gas because it was easy, fast and never had to refill a tank(plumbed into the house).
 

buffalosoldier

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I have had a Traeger for a couple of years with out any problems, and it has turned out some fantastic ribs, brisket, tenderloins, etc. I have a DCS gas grill that I haven't lit since I got the Traeger.

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My94GT

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I wanted to get one of these but anyone I know that had one isn’t happy with them.

My friend owns a pool store and picked up the grill dome line in 2010. I do own and would recommend a grill dome XL. Green Egg ripped them off and they are the original. I have had this for 9 years now and it’s still the same perfection as day 1 ownership. I moved and the ceramics did a hairline crack and grill dome mailed me a replacement. Best customer support ever.

Cons: takes a long time to get going. Once it does get going you could literally marathon cook for 300+ people for the rest of the evening. Takes a long time to cool down...keep it outside and away from the cobra and all the 55 gallon drums of ignite and c85.

Pros: excellent cooking. Makes a cheap ny strip taste excellent. If shit hits the fan, bury this in the ground and let the community cook from it.

You had asked for another brand recommendation and I would recommend the grill dome lines and anything charcoal grill wise. This is all subjective and to each their own and I would eat from all my traeger and propane friends grills.

I looked at those as well, for now I’m interested in the Traeger and similar for WiFi capabilities and easy of operation, like my wife would be able to operate it as well.

I do want a more traditional egg like smoker at some point as they really do turn out amazing tasting food.
 

03 DSG Snake

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Weber has a pellet smoker coming out early 2020. Taking a wait n see approach on on how that one is received.
 

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