Traeger Tailgator too hot

[Metalgator]

I just bought a Traeger tailgator for our motorhome. I have cooked on it a few times using high heat (350-450). Today, I am trying to cook ribs low and slow and the temp keeps creeping up. I turned it on (165 degrees) and its running between 230-260. I have read about a P setting that can be changed on Traegers but on this new grill, I don't see anyway to adjust the P setting. Any ideas on what I can do to keep this grill running low and slow? The main reason I purchased it was for low and slow and was suprised how hot this thing will get.

Burch

 

[miguelb]

No idea. Just curious does it have keep warm or super smoke as option?

 

[Timmy]

I just bought a Traeger tailgator for our motorhome. I have cooked on it a few times using high heat (350-450). Today, I am trying to cook ribs low and slow and the temp keeps creeping up. I turned it on (165 degrees) and its running between 230-260. I have read about a P setting that can be changed on Traegers but on this new grill, I don't see anyway to adjust the P setting. Any ideas on what I can do to keep this grill running low and slow? The main reason I purchased it was for low and slow and was suprised how hot this thing will get.

Burch

What were the outside weather conditions? Was it in the sun?

 

[Metalgator]

No idea. Just curious does it have keep warm or super smoke as option?

Yes, it does have a warm mode. That is what I put it on and then temps were topping out at 260. Warm mode is supposed to be 165.

 

[Metalgator]

What were the outside weather conditions? Was it in the sun?

It was an overcast day in the high 80s and the smoker was in the shade.

 

[DVSCYCLES]

Traeger Pellets?

 

[Metalgator]

Traeger Pellets?

No, but two different brands of pellets. Both I have been using in my two green mountain pellet grills with no issues. One brand was Pit Boss but I'll have to look at the other brand. Both brands of pellets were also used with my old traeger from 3-4 years ago with no issues.

 

[DVSCYCLES]

No, but two different brands of pellets. Both I have been using in my two green mountain pellet grills with no issues. One brand was Pit Boss but I'll have to look at the other brand. Both brands of pellets were also used with my old traeger from 3-4 years ago with no issues.

Maybe a bad sensor. Try the P setting first. I messed with it on my tailgater but returned to factory after I had a flame out.

 

[Timmy]

What controller does it have? Maybe a pic of it?

 

[Metalgator]

Just checked my mixed bag and it's also Pit Boss. I know both my Traeger's and Green Moutain's say to use their brand pellets but I don't think this is a pellet issue. I used a brand new bag of Pitt Boss hickory and my normal Pitt Boss mixed bag (I think it has apple, hickory, and a couple other wood flavors). I have used Traeger and Green Mountain pellets in my other 3 pellet grills and noticed no difference in heat or control. Just slightly different flavors. I just can't seem to keep the temps down in this tailgator grill. I don't see any instructions in the manual or online on how to change the P setting. I think it needs to be bumped up one number.

Maybe a bad sensor. Try the P setting first. I messed with it on my tailgater but returned to factory after I had a flame out.

I don't know how to change the P setting. Nothing in the manual about the P setting and when I look online, it looks like there is a hole where to stick something in it to change the P setting which I don't have on my controller. My controller doesn't have the knob to turn to change the temps. I just have 5 buttons.

 

[Metalgator]

This is a picture of the controller.

 

[Metalgator]

Talked to Traeger today on the phone. Not really sure what the issue is but I am going to try some different pellets. The pellets I am using are good pellets but they are pretty old. I live in Florida and there is probably a lot of moisture in the pellets so I am going to fill the hopper with some new pellets I just purchased.

 

[Timmy]

View attachment 6086

This is a picture of the controller.

Yours is there new ARC controller, I believe it came out mid 2020. It’s digital so it won’t have a P- setting. My Bronson was purchased at Christmas 2020 but hat the old style controller. If you remove the black circle tape next to the number readout there is a hole to set the p setting.

I would try a new bag of pellets and see what happens.

Edit: The Bronson 20 and the Tailgater are the same grill. The Tailgater has foldable legs the Bronsons are more beefy and don’t fold.

 

[Metalgator]

I did another cook and it seems the grill seems to start working correctly when you set it around 230 degrees. If you set the temp any lower, the grill will creep up to 260+. Once I set it to 230, it crept back down to close to 230. Very strange. I like the grill but have been very disappointed in the temperature fluctuations. The grill works great at high temp. It will get to 450 degrees, no problem. Only have issues with low temps.