Pellet Fan
All Things Considered => General Discussion--Food Related => Topic started by: Kristin Meredith on October 21, 2017, 08:12:39 AM
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I started this poll many years ago (probably 7-8) on PH. Did not have all these manufacturers at that time and Traeger was the clear choice followed closely by GMG. I theorized that, over time, Traeger would lose its iron grip on the market. I re-did the poll on PH about 4 years ago, but it was kind of a muddled mishmash of too many years of voting.
So now I get to start fresh. Please vote and if you feel like it, tell us the year of purchase of your first pellet pit.
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Traeger XL 1st pellet pit
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Cookshack PG1000, Fathers Day 2011. After a year of reading and researching on the former site.
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Traeger lil tex in 2008.
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Rec Tec 680
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My CS 450 in 2005. Still have it and works great!
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A demonstrator Traeger junior elite June 2015
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GMG Jim Bowie in 2010. Probably at least 1000 cooks on it and still works just fine. Replace a control board and got the wireless remote. Had to replace the ignitor when new as GMG had a bad batch. Should replace the thermal blanket someday, as it's gotten savaged by cats thinking a warm grill in the Winter is a great place to sleep and scratch. The few times I've needed customer service, it was speedy and helpful.
Like the tattoo says, "No Regerts" :D
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My Traeger Jr Elite is now 4 years old. I didn't do any research before I bought it, but likely would have got it anyway.
At the time, I don't believe there were too many manufacturers that had a smallish smoker that wood fit on my deck.
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Lil Tex in 2008. Still in service.
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I read the PH performance tests on every unit evaluated. I selected a short list of five units and read the Tips and Tricks and Comments and Questions sections from the oldest to the newest.
Three units were eliminated and I agonized over the last two, Memphis and PG500/1000. The PG500's direct zone, the flexibility provided by the discrete temperature zones, the even heat in the smoking zone, the ability to adjust temperature swings and the adjustable smoke output swung my vote.
I'm still happy after five years and the Memphis line still tempts me.
EDIT: I've never talked to Cookshack Customer Service. They probably don't have that department.
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I bought a GMG Daniel Boone in 2012. My choice was based in large part on Bentley's evaluation on the old site. It's been a great choice. I've made awesome meals, and have enjoyed upgrading it as new tech (WiFi) has become available. I've been so happy with it that I also bought a Davy Crockett for camping. Very happy with both GMG's.
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Traeger Lil Tex Elite 2010. That means I only had it a little over 5 years. I thought it had been longer.
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I bought a Cabela's Camp Chef in March of 2016. Been very happy with it and smoke all year in North east WI.
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Bought the Memphis Elite, it has been a great pit.
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2002 Traeger 075.
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Traeger PTG in 2012
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GMG DB in 2012 about the only pellet grill available in the UK then.
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Traeger Lil Tex. 2010.
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I started grilling on a webber kettle, and smoking on a hand-me-down gas smoker from Wall-Mart. I upgraded to a Big Green Egg, and used that happily for several years. A colleague started telling me about pellet grills, and how much easier and less time consuming the were to use, so I started reading about them. I found PH, and the fantastic performance tests. I watched every video about Memphis, Mak, and FE that I could humanly find. I got down to either Memphis or Mak. My wife had a strong preference for the Memphis aesthetics, so my decision was made. We've been super happy with it. It has taken time for me to figure out how to produce the results we like, and I'm sure I couldn't have done that without the fantastic community support.
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I started on a weber charcoal, then got a weber gas. Upgraded to a Broilmaster Gas about 10 years ago.
Bought a Big Green Egg about 3 years ago, and sold it after a year and a half. Just more work than I wanted and it took some time to hone in on things.
Started researching pellet grills about a 18 months ago with a hopeful budget around $500 - 700 for a first grill.
I saw a lot more value around the $700-$1,000 mark.
Was down to Grilla, RecTec, Yoder, Firecraft, Blazn, and the Camp Chef with the gas burner.
Ruled out RecTec on looks and it seems a bit cult-like at times. I couldn't do the horns either.
Blazn and Yoder were just too much budget for me to justify right now.
Grilla, the videos I saw on it were usually produced by grilla. I didn't see much on the old forum about them so I have to say that swayed me away from going that route. Kind of felt like I'd be the only one buying one of those.
MAK and Fast Eddy were both too high on budget. MAK seemed small for the price and Fast Eddy makes it look like your a professional traveling chef with one of those things and I'm just a dad with a couple grills.
So I was sold on the Firecraft, but I was waiting for a deal that would never come. Started researching the new Camp Chef and stated thinking that for the price, that would be the way I'd have to go.
Then Dan at Firecraft put the sale price on the Q-450 and I had to jump. Didn't want to wait any more.
So far it's been everything I've hoped.
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Royall pellet grill
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This is a great thread, it kinda puts things in perspective. People see a lot of posts about problems with GMG & Traeger more so than other grills. Well this truely explains why, they out sell other grills by a large margin. I don't think there are any more problems with these grills than others when you look at the numbers that are sold. Maybe a few bugs to work out but that is like any grill, when you get to know your pit things are a lot easier.
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I bought my SB Premier last Nov. and have put about 300 lbs. of pellets through it since then. I love the convenience and temperature control, but found it to be short on the ability to simply grill. I did a Kuma style mod and have a lot more functionally now but I am still am looking for a grill that is designed with the bin pellet drop to fire pot design. A bin fire is no fun and I have had two of them; auger to pot just leaves too much room for error even with the long cool down cycles. Knowing now what I wished I had known last year I would have happily spent another $500. and got a Fast Eddie PG500 or Kuma. Leaning more to the PG500 every day, and wish I could find a dealer in St. Louis area; may have to bite the shipping cost if I have one more bin fire.
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PG500 I found on Cariglist
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First got into pellet cooking with a Pellet Pro frome Smoke Daddy, unit isn't used much anymore but still works as well as the day I got it.
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2000 Traeger BBQ 100
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Bought GMG Daniel Boone in 2011.
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Traeger LiL Tex in 2008.
Then added a GMG Jim Bowie, & got a Davy Crockett when they came out. Couldn't justify having 3 pits so I sold the Traeger & Kept the GMG's. In looking back I probably should of kept the Traeger & sold the JB instead since I'm just cooking for 2 most of the time I've rarely used the JB.
Seriously thinking of selling the JB & getting a CS450
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GMG DB in 2014. Spent WAY too long researching then found Bentley's review on the PH site which convinced me it was the correct choice. Zero problems with it and I've never looked back.
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Camp Chef SmokePro SE. They had a clearance, and it was at a price I couldn't pass up. I am using it as primarily a smoker, to go along with my gasser. It has worked great so far.
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Wife got me a Traeger 070 elite with digital controller in 2008 for Xmas. I loved that grill but within 2 years found Pelletheads which led me to a Memphis Pro.
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My first and still the pellet grill I use is my Louisiana Pellet LG900. I have had it a little over a year now and really enjoy grilling on it.