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The Water Cooler
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Shopping for a new pellet smoker. Too many good choices!
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<blockquote data-quote="Shoot Summ" data-source="post: 3024212" data-attributes="member: 1055"><p>Found it...</p><p></p><p>1) Traeger is the original, although as a brand it has had it's ups and downs over the past 8-10 years. They used to be made in Oregon and at some point that manufacturing got outsourced to China. The quality went away and people started to complain about the light gauge steel and other "cheap" parts that were being used. This was all about the time that they started selling them in Costco and in shopping mall kiosks. I don't have a good feel for the current line but I am told that their new "Timberline" series is pretty nice. For reference, mine is the "Texas BBQ075" model, so the current Traeger Texas Elite is probably the closest to mine, at least in size. One advantage is that the Traeger architecture has become a standard for many brands so replacement parts and upgrades are widely available and interchangeable. I just replaced the firepot and ignitor in mine and added the Savannah Stoker PID controller. <a href="https://www.savannahstoker.com/collections/frontpage/products/savannah-stoker-pellet-grill-control-system" target="_blank">https://www.savannahstoker.com/collections/frontpage/products/savannah-stoker-pellet-grill-control-system </a> Everything was plug and play and easy to get.</p><p></p><p>2) Yoder YS-640 - <a href="http://www.yodersmokers.com/ys640-pellet-grill.html" target="_blank">http://www.yodersmokers.com/ys640-pellet-grill.html</a> This is a super high-quality, heavy duty model that's made in Wichita and currently has a 13-week back order :-( This one has many options and upgrades and you can customize it as you need. Lots of positive press from owners and seems to be an excellent choice. This one doesn't seem to be totally based on the Traeger model so replacement parts if needed may be harder to find. Built like a tank and heavy like one too. </p><p></p><p>3) Smokin Brothers <a href="https://www.smokinbrothers.com/PELLET_GRILLS_5.aspx" target="_blank">https://www.smokinbrothers.com/PELLET_GRILLS_5.aspx</a> These are locally made in Missouri and are based on the Traeger style architecture but with lots of improvements. Well made to last. The Premier line has insulated fireboxes to save on pellet usage when it's cooler outside, and also comes with the PID controller (Savannah Stoker - this is the one I added to my grill) Comes in 3 or 4 different sizes depending upon your needs. Available through dealers, they have a dealer locator on the website. My local shop <a href="http://code3spices.com" target="_blank">code3spices.com</a> carries this line and they are big fans.</p><p></p><p>4) Rec-Tec RT-680 -- <a href="http://www.rectecgrills.com/grills/" target="_blank">http://www.rectecgrills.com/grills/</a> This is the one that's getting all the buzz right now -- This one has taken the Traeger architecture and made improvements everywhere there was a issue or problem. Lots of stainless parts including extra HD grill grates, includes a PID controller, big pellet hopper, ceramic ignitor, cool stainless bull-horn handles, light inside the grill for late nite smoking etc etc. <u>If I was getting one for the first time I'd look seriously at this one.</u> Reports of over the top support in place including the cell # for the founder and the owners of the company.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Shoot Summ, post: 3024212, member: 1055"] Found it... 1) Traeger is the original, although as a brand it has had it's ups and downs over the past 8-10 years. They used to be made in Oregon and at some point that manufacturing got outsourced to China. The quality went away and people started to complain about the light gauge steel and other "cheap" parts that were being used. This was all about the time that they started selling them in Costco and in shopping mall kiosks. I don't have a good feel for the current line but I am told that their new "Timberline" series is pretty nice. For reference, mine is the "Texas BBQ075" model, so the current Traeger Texas Elite is probably the closest to mine, at least in size. One advantage is that the Traeger architecture has become a standard for many brands so replacement parts and upgrades are widely available and interchangeable. I just replaced the firepot and ignitor in mine and added the Savannah Stoker PID controller. [URL='https://www.savannahstoker.com/collections/frontpage/products/savannah-stoker-pellet-grill-control-system']https://www.savannahstoker.com/collections/frontpage/products/savannah-stoker-pellet-grill-control-system [/URL] Everything was plug and play and easy to get. 2) Yoder YS-640 - [URL]http://www.yodersmokers.com/ys640-pellet-grill.html[/URL] This is a super high-quality, heavy duty model that's made in Wichita and currently has a 13-week back order :-( This one has many options and upgrades and you can customize it as you need. Lots of positive press from owners and seems to be an excellent choice. This one doesn't seem to be totally based on the Traeger model so replacement parts if needed may be harder to find. Built like a tank and heavy like one too. 3) Smokin Brothers [URL]https://www.smokinbrothers.com/PELLET_GRILLS_5.aspx[/URL] These are locally made in Missouri and are based on the Traeger style architecture but with lots of improvements. Well made to last. The Premier line has insulated fireboxes to save on pellet usage when it's cooler outside, and also comes with the PID controller (Savannah Stoker - this is the one I added to my grill) Comes in 3 or 4 different sizes depending upon your needs. Available through dealers, they have a dealer locator on the website. My local shop [URL='http://code3spices.com']code3spices.com[/URL] carries this line and they are big fans. 4) Rec-Tec RT-680 -- [URL]http://www.rectecgrills.com/grills/[/URL] This is the one that's getting all the buzz right now -- This one has taken the Traeger architecture and made improvements everywhere there was a issue or problem. Lots of stainless parts including extra HD grill grates, includes a PID controller, big pellet hopper, ceramic ignitor, cool stainless bull-horn handles, light inside the grill for late nite smoking etc etc. [U]If I was getting one for the first time I'd look seriously at this one.[/U] Reports of over the top support in place including the cell # for the founder and the owners of the company. [/QUOTE]
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