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[dman1101]

I've been doing research on here, youtube, pelletheads (which I'm still waiting on admin approval), SMF, and talking with friends who have pellet grills (one has a daniel boone the other a traeger lil tex) I like the idea of the camp chef ash clean out and hopper drain but those aren't that important, I think I'd prefer a PID controller but I know in my price range I may not get one.  Any other ideas or things I should also consider would be greatly appreciated.  Thanks for any input.

What is your preferred upper cost limit?
500-600

What is the absolute upper cost limit?
750

Are you looking for the ability to direct grill, or just low and slow?
both

What region of the country are you in (helps determine the weather you might cook in)?  Do you need an insulated pit?
PNW

How many people will you normally cook for?
4

What is the largest number of people you would need to cook for?
8+

From any previous research, what manufacturer/pit is possibly fitting the bill?
I've looked at GMG daniel boone, pellet pro 440/680, grilla grills silverback, rectec trailblazer, and some of the camp chef ones.

Do you have another grill that you will be keeping?
I have a WSM, a WSM mini, weber kettle and a weber smokey joe

[Goosehunter51]

Another $50 and you can get the Firecraft Q450.

[GREG-B]

Ever eaten stuff from a pellet cooker?   What part of the PNW are you located in?

[reubenray]

Unless you are figuring in having the smoker shipped to you what you get may be what brands you can find in your area of the country.

[dman1101]

Yes I've had stuff off a GMG and a traeger, I'm looking shipped or store picked up for my price range, I'm located in north Seattle.

[pmillen]

Do you like a rather strong smoke taste?

I ask because you mention that you're considering a PID controller.  I think (no proof) the PIDs provide a more subtle smoke taste that a controller that's based on timing the pellet delivery.

Most of the smoke is produced when pellets are dumped into the burn pot and they smolder before burning.  More pellets delivered results in more smoke.  Additionally, the more pellets delivered, the larger the fire when they eventually burn and the greater the temperature swings (which are not very important IMO). 

Tight temperature control, although not of major importance, is a lot of buyers' hot buttons.  It appears to me that the PID-controlled pits focus on reduced temperature swings.  So...I think that a PID pit will not only give you relatively small temperature swings but it will also give you a lighter smoke taste.

Consider this...the two pits from which you've eaten product are not PID pits.

My  , maybe 

BTW, welcome to Pelletfan.

[reubenray]

I am able to adjust the PID on my Traeger Junior.  This may have been changed since I got mine.  I looked at a new Traeger recently and it did not have the hole for adjusting the PID.

[Bobitis]

1st off...

Welcome to the family dman, from just a tad south of the airport.

I've looked at any number of bbq tools, but cooking for 8 could be difficult (at times) in your $ range.

I've never been a fan of Rec Tec (no idea why). Were it me, I'd look hard at the Camp Chef and Firecraft.

[dman1101]

Thanks for the welcome all the help, I like a smokey taste but the wife doesn't so a pellet should be good if I want more smoke I'll add my A-Maze-N to it as I cook.  I've looked at the camp chef a bit and the q450 I showed the wife the q450 she said it was small for the price but she hasn't looked around lol.  I'm going to go out this weekend with her and look at a few and see what she says, hopefully I can get the budget up a bit 

[BigDave83]

My personal opinion on the brands you mentioned, would be the Pellet Pro followed by the GMG. I remember Bentley reviewing the pellet pro unit on the other site and he gave it great reviews. I have bought parts from the company and had and issue with one of them and it was handled quickly.

The 2 choices above I like because of the extra head room.

I own an RT 680 and a GMG Davey Crockett I rarely use the Rec Tec unless I really need the space.

[dman1101]

I saw a used GMG him bowie with wifi for 700 is there any thing I should look for when I go see it?

[pmillen]

There are probably more checkpoints when buying a used pit, but I think you'd want to consider–

• Checking for even heat distribution by taking some oven thermometers with you and setting them on the grate.
• Checking for a warped grease tray.

[pmillen]

I am able to adjust the PID on my Traeger Junior.  This may have been changed since I got mine.  I looked at a new Traeger recently and it did not have the hole for adjusting the PID.

I didn't know that the Traeger Junior was PID controlled.  I see that it's advertised as digital but I'm not convinced that digital means PID.

Nevertheless, you own one so I'll take your word for it.

[dman1101]

Thanks all, ended up with a daniel boone

[reubenray]

I think you wlll be very happy with the DB.  As any smoker it will take some time to get it working the way you want it to.  I write down what I do on 99% of my cooking to find out what works best.