Hard to put a % better on the smoke flavor. Is it better, In my opinion, yes. But that also depends on the pellets I use. Using the same pellets side by side on both grills when I did the suckling pig, the Yoder generated more smoke. There was no denying that. But, it is still pellet grill smoke. So do I notice more smoke in my cooked foods, yes. But is it worth the extra $. That's an individual decision. I have used a smoke tube in it only once. I just don't feel I need it. I wasn't unhappy with the Traeger smoke, but I did augment that with a tube a lot of the time.
The Yoder has its shortfalls. But they seem small when I look at the things I like about the Yoder. I wanted more space for cooks. If I didn't want that, I would probably still only have my Traeger.
On the Yoder I like the fact that you can dump out the burnt pellets and whatever ash is in the firepot between cooks. I did a brisket cook, pulled pork cook and beef bacon and then a pork loin roast cook with only dumping out the ashes in the firepot between cooks. A long cooks, two overnight cooks. Then cleaning up the two grills. The hardest part about the Yoder is the weight of everything you take out. It is solidly built including all of the parts inside. Not really a fault, but definitely harder that the Traeger there. But cleaning it is way easier. Maybe because it is so much bigger? I don't dread cleaning it.
I like the sear functionality on the Yoder. I still use my gad grill, but to use the Yoder is not a hassle at all. It works as advertised. Temperature comes up quick, the firepot is open under the grates and it sears like a BBQ would.
It isn't a night and day difference between the Traeger and Yoder. But there is a difference.
I would like to see a Lonestar Grillz pellet grill in operation and taste the food from it.
All the grills have the potential to make the same smoke generated like the LSGz, but will they ever implement the change into their controllers? The TimberlineXL seems to pump out a lot of smoke, so Traeger can do it with some programming changes. Or do they keep it to their high end product to try and force the upgrade to the consumer side...
If there's something specific you want to know about the Yoder experience so far, let me know and I will do my best to answer it in an unbiased way. I like both my Yoder and my Traeger, but only one is really seeing any use right now (especially seeing I have been on a Kamado kick of late)
