Pellet Fan
Pit Talk -- Comments and Questions Regarding These Pellet Pits => Which Pit Should I Choose? => Topic started by: Stinky1 on December 26, 2021, 12:16:15 AM
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Ok guys / gals ( and the rest of you ) . I’m in northern Ca looking to buy a new pellet smoker. I have ordered a new Memphis Elite ITC3 but it’s a no show . I’m not too price sensitive, I would be purchasing this as a more of a smoker than a grill as I have a good gas grill . I’m interested in the
following
1.Memphis Elite ITC3
2.Pits and Spitts Maverick 2000 with Side Smoke box
3.Yoder 1500
4.any thing else ?
I would need WiFi / Bluetooth, stainless would be a plus . I like large capacity, I do Salmon, beef jerky, and all the other traditional smoked meats . High quality and performance is a must
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If you are wanting large capacity, smoker not a grill. Then two that come to mind. Cookshack FEC100 or the Pitts and Spitts meat locker. If I were buying it would be the Cookshack, they have other models, not sure on Wifi, but a call to them would probably be worth the time.
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Welcome to PF. I have a P&S Maverick 850 and it is spot on with temps plus you can adjust left to right temps with the heat shield. That's a trial and error process but it's not hard. It just takes a few cooks to get right and then mark it so you put the heat shield in the same spot every time. They are so heavy gauge steel they take a while to heat up, especially in the winter but I'm in South Texas and it's nothing compared to what the Midwest folks go through (Brrrrrrr). The 2000 would take longer to heat up but once it does it would be a factory for jerky. I don't have the Wi-Fi because I have no need for it but it seems to be an easy add-on. The only problem I've had was a blown fuse when the igniter rod died a quick death but that was an easy fix with a new fuse. I had to light it manually a few times until I got a new igniter but that was an easy fix also. Good luck with your search, but why was the Memphis a no show?
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Looks like Memphis recently did some updates? The updates look interesting. Unfortunately, I haven’t heard much positive since they moved manufacturing to China.
Have you looked at the MAK 2 Star at all. If you buy a couple extra racks, there’s a lot of space for low profile foods like salmon and jerky and they also have a side smoke box available for tons of even more extra room specifically at lower temps.
I’ve never seen a Yoder, but they have a pretty solid rep outside of need regular paint maintenance to keep rust at bay. I was down to MAK vs Yoder for my last smoker. I have seen but not used a Pitts & Spitts and was very impressed with the build quality.
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I'm with Glitchy...
I have the Memphis Elite built-in made in China, and not overly happy with it.
The American made on I had at previous house was great , no problems.
This one has the WiFI and it is junk. Rarely works.
On one occasion, It lost my track of my username and password so I couldn't even log into the app.
Also, they changed the ramp the pellets slide down.
Now has a gap the pellets have to jump over to get into burn pot.
Many pellets end up down in the ash tray.
See my post here about an adapter I had made to correct the problem. --> https://pelletfan.com/index.php?topic=6894.0
Strictly for smoking, I would recommend one of the vertical smokers recommended above.
As big a Memphis supporter as I have been in the past, I cannot recommend this grill.
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I recently was in the market for a bigger smoker and I ended up with a SmokinBrothers PP36. These are made in Missouri and they have a bigger model also. It cooks different from my Traeger and GMG. It does not have the temperature swings the other two has.
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Look into the Camp Chef Wood Wind models. You can get them in different sizes. Has a High & low smoke mode that offers 10 different smoke settings.
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Thank you for the Memphis quality update , I’m out . So it’s at the MAK 2 with extra grates or the Lonestar 42 . Does anyone have feed back on the Mak 2 warming box ? If it could reach 185 that might be a great choice for jerky and salmon . Any feed back on the Lonestar Grillz ? Thanks again
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Thank you for the Memphis quality update , I’m out . So it’s at the MAK 2 with extra grates or the Lonestar 42 . Does anyone have feed back on the Mak 2 warming box ? If it could reach 185 that might be a great choice for jerky and salmon . Any feed back on the Lonestar Grillz ? Thanks again
The warming box usually runs 75-100 degrees below the cook chamber depending on weather. The Smoke setting varies some depending on the weather, but is usually around 180 in the main chamber and the lowest temp setting is 200, so you should be able to dial in the warming box pretty well. I’ve been able to smoke cheese in it when it’s colder outside (like below 60j, but I haven’t used the warming box a lot. Just a couple times.
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I would second looking at the MAK 2 Star. I have owned one since 2011. I upgraded to a new one in 2020. They have since added WiFi standard since I bought my second one, but not something I need. MAK’s are stout. The new ones have much more stainless than my first model. The heat is distributed much more evenly in the newer ones as a result of much better internals than my first one. I don’t have the side smoker box, but am very interested. They are expensive, but worth it in my opinion if price is not an issue. Best of luck in your search. There are a lot of good choices out there! PM sent to you.
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I have used the side smoker box to make smoked cheese many of times, but it needs to be cold outside. I've been able to get it close to 100° below the low set temp of 180°, but only when below 40° outside. It has a log of room and so does the chamber if you buy the two extra racks.
I have also made jerky in the main chamber with the grill set at 180° on many occasions too.
I think it is more versatile than the Memphis Elite, but the Memphis is better temp control when the weather is cold or windy and rainy. At least that is my experience with my USA built unit.
The Cookshack cabinet smokers are probably some of the best available for smoking large volumes of meat. Looks like 130° is the lowest set temp so that would be great for jerky. Not sure you could get it below 80°-90° to smoke cheese though. If it runs on fan only mode, you may be able to put a smoke tube in it and be able to keep it cool enough to smoke cheese.
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I just ordered my 3rd Blazin Griil Works Grid Iron. i've never had any problems and my 2 son-in-laws are happy with the first two. Thy continue to upgrade their products so i'm lookin forward to the new changes.
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I just ordered my 3rd Blazin Griil Works Grid Iron. i've never had any problems and my 2 son-in-laws are happy with the first two. Thy continue to upgrade their products so i'm lookin forward to the new changes.
I had a GridIron and had lots of Auger fires.
They eventually changed to shutdown code (after recommendations I gave Tim), but I had already sold mine because of the fires.
My sons both have them and they both have had problems with the Hot Rod going bad. One had a controller go bad.
I bought them for them over 8 years ago, so not bad considering the length of time they have had them.
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The Cookshack cabinet smokers are probably some of the best available for smoking large volumes of meat. Looks like 130° is the lowest set temp so that would be great for jerky. Not sure you could get it below 80°-90° to smoke cheese though. If it runs on fan only mode, you may be able to put a smoke tube in it and be able to keep it cool enough to smoke cheese.
Lew is probably onto something here. I never think about the FEC100 when people ask about pellet smokers as many people want some form of grilling too and it’s a bit pricey. I don’t have any hands on with one, but I believe they are popular on the competition circuit. If you want a dedicated smoker with lots of space, definitely worth a look.
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The Cookshack cabinet smokers are probably some of the best available for smoking large volumes of meat. Looks like 130° is the lowest set temp so that would be great for jerky. Not sure you could get it below 80°-90° to smoke cheese though. If it runs on fan only mode, you may be able to put a smoke tube in it and be able to keep it cool enough to smoke cheese.
Lew is probably onto something here. I never think about the FEC100 when people ask about pellet smokers as many people want some form of grilling too and it’s a bit pricey. I don’t have any hands on with one, but I believe they are popular on the competition circuit. If you want a dedicated smoker with lots of space, definitely worth a look.
I ate at a restaurant in the Northern Chicagoland area about 10 years ago that had two large commercial Cookshack pellet smokers. The BBQ was pretty good.
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There are way too many variables to consider in a pit purchase. It's such a personal thing. The easy parts are, pricing, size, features etc. Usually not considered are, how easy is it to take care of, factory
service and parts, rust, mobility, shelves.......
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For my price range I chose a Camp Chef 24SG. I like the quality and features for the price. The only complaint is the universal one of light smoke flavor. I've got an Amazen pellet tube to try for the next cook to overcome the problem.
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Congrats!!!
Show some pics of your first cook.
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I would want a 304 stainless smoker/grill combo. I would also like one with good wifi pid control. I would want a hx of reliability. I would like reasonable weight and proper wheels to move around easily. I would want large enough hopper to do long cooks, a ceramic starter, stainless grill grates, and either a pellet drop or an auger system with a reliable shut down program that almost always prevents any auger tube burn back. (and with an easy way to terminate a auger fire). And most of all--a long warranty, and a super service hx. And while price may not seem an object for many, the lower prices of the Recteq did not run me off. I will admit that it is not made in US, that it has a lighter gauge of Stainless than the more expensive brands, and perhaps there are some lesser tolerances in construction, and that the company tends to publish only the 4 and 5 star reviews. But, they have carved out a large clientele with great prices, great (maybe best) after sale service in the industry. I have the 590 and there are now 3 in the family. All have performed pretty much flawlessly. And while there is no open fire grilling option, we all get good grilling on "high" with added GrillGrates. And of course no pellet drop but as I said above, there is a great shut down algorithm to help prevent auger fire and also a way to resolve a tube fire if you can act promptly. (ask by PM if you wish) we 3 have never had a blazing fire in the tube or hopper. To me the most impressive point is their service. They answer promptly, and provide advice that works. And they are willing to replace parts without hassle when obvious need arrises. The only other unit that interests me is the Coyote. Made in US? but only has 12 lb hopper.