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[pmillen]

I periodically see a post from someone asking advice on selecting their first pellet pit.  Although I firmly believe that any pellet burner is better than other alternatives, I also believe that the members here can increase the likelihood that the correct pit is selected.

The questionnaire that was posted on PH was a great way for the members to gather foundation information for offering suggestions.  Does anyone have a copy of it?

Can it be posted in such a way that users must copy and paste it with their answers into a new thread and not disturb or clutter the original blank document?

[dk117]

write up a new one.  Please!  PF has a place for it.  https://pelletfan.com/index.php?board=55.0

I normally recommend a GMG Daniel Boone.   I've sold at least four of those to friends and family (I'm not a dealer, but just suggested they go this route as a start after tasting my food).   Having never owned a GMG myself this might sound insincere, but it's a good place to start and one can move on from there.

The questionnaire on PH was ok, but discussion eroded into a choose my pit cause I love it thread. 

DK

[pmillen]

The questionnaire on PH was ok, but discussion eroded into a choose my pit cause I love it thread. 

I've often thought that as I read recommendations.  (I thought that as I read your comment about "selling" your friends on a GMG.)

Very few of us have had experience with several pits and as soon as that experience is a few years old it may become irrelevant because of newer vintages being introduced.  On the other hand, we know a bit about which pits fit a certain budget, offer the desired capabilities and so on.  So, we can be helpful.

[Bentley]

I have no idea!

Can it be posted in such a way that users must copy and paste it with their answers into a new thread and not disturb or clutter the original blank document?

Will let you take it from here.

   
Which pit to choose....A questionaire
« on: January 30, 2014, 04:05:19 PM »
The Beast

As many of you have noticed, there are a lot of posts that get created that say, in essence, “What pit should I buy?”  Obviously most people who ask this are looking for educated input to either confirm their choice or get another opinion.  These kinds of questions are difficult to answer without knowing something about the intended usage, experience, etc.  I am going to attempt to pull together suggestions for a “small” questionnaire that we can make a “sticky” so that if someone wants to ask the golden question, there is a better chance of giving a golden answer.

Please add to the list of questions that should be added to the sticky.  I will keep updating the list for a bit:

Have you ever eaten any meats/other foods cooked on a pellet pit?  Do you like the amount of "smoke" flavor you got from it

What is your preferred upper cost limit?

What is the absolute upper cost limit?

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

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

How many people will you normally cook for?

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

Do you need to be able to move the pit once you have it (take to comps, etc.)?

What features do you need in a controller?  Meat Probes? Remote Control?

From any previous research (Have you read any of the performance evaluations on this site?), what manufacturer/pit is possibly fitting the bill?

Do you have another grill that you will be keeping?

If you have had a pit before, what was it and what did you like/dislike?

Does the size of the hopper matter?

Do you care about stainless steel?

Do you want to buy from a dealer or direct from manufacturer?

Have you been able to physically see any of the pits you are considering?

How important is it to you for it to be made in U.S.A

[WiPelletHead]

I have no idea!

Can it be posted in such a way that users must copy and paste it with their answers into a new thread and not disturb or clutter the original blank document?

Will let you take it from here.

It could be locked and pinned along with instructions to copy and paste to a new post.

[Bentley]

Doh! 

A great idea!

[Bar-B-Lew]

I used to think that a Traeger was a good place to start as I used to consider them like buying a Weber gas grill.

Now, I think the Camp Chef, Pit Boss, Blazn, or Rec Tec may be equal to or better than in value than the Traeger.  Amazing what has happened in the last 10 years.

My advise to someone who wants to break into the game with a pellet grill would be to assess their budget versus the features available in the marketplace and always buy more than you think you need.

There are plenty of good entry level brands and products that are available now and will work for maybe 70%+ of users.  The other 30% comes down to the trade-off of additional features and expected longevity of the grill versus and price versus that of "base" brands.

I just got an email from Camp Chef (because I subscribe to them) about their $100 or so off sale on their pellet grill with either a sear station or griddle on the side. Quite a nice feature that no one else offers for those moving from gas to pellet.

Life is all about choices.  Only you can decide your equation of value.

[pmillen]

Bentley found it.  I don't think we need the parenthetical question, "Have you read any of the performance evaluations on this site?" 'cause we don't have all that many and don't expect many more.  But Bentley can decide whether or not to retain it when he posts, pins and locks it.

[Kristin Meredith]

I have pinned the questionnaire in the topic "Pit Talk" under the thread "Which Pit Should I choose" if anyone needs to reference it.