Comments or questions here!

The Performance Test her for the Camp Chef WoodWind

Folks, for full clarity, I thought we were going to get the model with the sear station.  Camp Chef advises that that model (PG24WWSS) has been so successful that they are on back order. They may be able to send that additional sear station before we finish the test.  Sorry not to be able to have it immediately for testing, but I love to hear about pellet pit manufacturers being so successful!!!

We would like to thank Camp Chef for sending a 20 lb bag of their Competition Blend (hickory, maple, cherry) pellets to use on their performance test.

A few photos of set up added.  I do like the wheels, seem a bit more sturdy.  Probably all for today, still summer here, hot and muggy!

Nice and shiny...  After eyes drawn away from the lid, I too liked the look of the wheels....

( weather person says it's going to be above average here in Michigan all week... upper 70s, lower 80s )

What is that coming out of the back of the pellet hopper?

Pellet dump.  We will get into it as we go, not unique any more, but very nice feature!  They also have an ash cleanout that I always thought would be the way to go.  Will get in depth to it also, but here is a tease!

What is that coming out of the back of the pellet hopper?

From the picture, that is what it looks like.  I don't know if a Camp Chef rep will come on-line for this thread.  If they do, they may be able to provide more detail.

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I have been advised by Camp Chef that someone who owns the WWS model can later elect to separately buy the sear box and add it to their pit.

With the sporadic post that I see from members saying they still use their semi evil gas unit fox X...or that they like to smoke the meat 1st then sear it on their semi evil gas unit...I would think it would be great!

Well then. That was a wasted attempt to post. 

For the side burner model the right shelf is just removed and a burner unit is screwed in it's place?

From the Camp Chef web site.

"Easily replaces existing side shelf with existing holes and hardware"

So it does look like it just replaces the side shelf.

Is that side unit a searing plate? .... Or, would you be able to put a pot on it and boil water and cook ears of corn in it, for example? It's attractive looking and certainly enhances the appearance of the unit with the additional stainless.

It is the sear station. I believe you can cook a pot of corn, etc, but I have sent your question to Camp Chef to make sure I am correct.  Will probably hear tomorrow.

The ash and pellet dump is something I use nearly every cook.
I wont consider another pit without these features.
What I'm curious to see is if the temp probe survives the length of the test.

I wonder why that ash can is powder coat instead of stainless steel.  I can't see that paint lasting very long.  But I like the concept.

I wonder why that ash can is powder coat instead of stainless steel.  I can't see that paint lasting very long.  But I like the concept.

 Not directly related... but one of the things that I've been concerned about  with the ash dump, is how well it all will hold up over time. Obviously on a short performance test that issue won't really be able to be tested in any way. But I am curious about how the whole mechanism will hold up over time.  Another related issue I have had concerns about is how tight the fit is around where the sliding bottom of the firepot is, and is there any air, or embers that can get blown out through whatever tiny gaps there might be where that piece slides out from under the cylinder shaped firepot???  not sure if Bentley can test in anyway, or make some comment about how much play there is in the mechanical fit of that sliding bottom part.