Why did You buy a Traeger?

[Shedd]

I’ve been reading through the many many comments about issues with the grill’s I’ve noticed the majority have issues with electrical components. I’ve also scrolled some forums of other grills, they all have the same issues. However it’s really not a surprise because our landfills/recycling centers are full of major electronics. The problem is overseas JUNK that we’ve come to rely upon or in the end …..support. Mass production using components from the lowest bidders and they know they’ve created a cycle that will keep us coming back time and time again. It’s the price we pay for convenience!?

 

[RayClem]

I’ve been reading through the many many comments about issues with the grill’s I’ve noticed the majority have issues with electrical components. I’ve also scrolled some forums of other grills, they all have the same issues. However it’s really not a surprise because our landfills/recycling centers are full of major electronics. The problem is overseas JUNK that we’ve come to rely upon or in the end …..support. Mass production using components from the lowest bidders and they know they’ve created a cycle that will keep us coming back time and time again. It’s the price we pay for convenience!?

Absolutely!

I love my high efficiency washer. Using scrub boards is a pain especially when the creek is frozen over.

We could be cooking over an open fire. We could be using a coal-fired cookstove like my wife's grandmother used both for cooking and heating the house.

We could be cutting blocks of ice from the frozen pond in winter and storing them in an ice cellar for keeping food cold during the warmer months. But I will take my electric refrigerator any day.

Technology has eliminated many problems, but generated many others. Despite its shortcomings, I still would rather cook on my Traeger than on a simple charcoal grill that produces lots of ashes which must be cleaned up.

 

[Shedd]

Absolutely!

I love my high efficiency washer. Using scrub boards is a pain especially when the creek is frozen over.

We could be cooking over an open fire. We could be using a coal-fired cookstove like my wife's grandmother used both for cooking and heating the house.

We could be cutting blocks of ice from the frozen pond in winter and storing them in an ice cellar for keeping food cold during the warmer months. But I will take my electric refrigerator any day.

Technology has eliminated many problems, but generated many others. Despite its shortcomings, I still would rather cook on my Traeger than on a simple charcoal grill that produces lots of ashes which must be cleaned up.

So you don’t have any ashes to clean now? I can clean my egg just about as easy as you can clean your Traeger. I use a kick ash basket, easy to pull up, shake a few times, set to side, shop vac my ashes, put basket in, sometimes add a few coals, light and go! Obviously you’ve never used an egg so you don’t know or understand.
However my reply had nothing to do with going back to the old ages, really? I really wasn’t putting pellet grills down, simply saying if you buy a grill that’s controlled completely by electronics you can and should expect them to fail. It’s really bad to pay so much for bottom of the line electronics. However if you want to pay a whole lot more, you not only get a little bit better warranty (you paid for it) but they’re made by the same manufacturer in the same building so there you go.

 

[RayClem]

So you don’t have any ashes to clean now? I can clean my egg just about as easy as you can clean your Traeger. I use a kick ash basket, easy to pull up, shake a few times, set to side, shop vac my ashes, put basket in, sometimes add a few coals, light and go! Obviously you’ve never used an egg so you don’t know or understand.
However my reply had nothing to do with going back to the old ages, really? I really wasn’t putting pellet grills down, simply saying if you buy a grill that’s controlled completely by electronics you can and should expect them to fail. It’s really bad to pay so much for bottom of the line electronics. However if you want to pay a whole lot more, you not only get a little bit better warranty (you paid for it) but they’re made by the same manufacturer in the same building so there you go.

No, I have never used a Big Green Egg or Kamado style grill. My son-in-law has one, but he seldom uses it.

My experience has been with "simple" charcoal grills, which I gave up on many decades ago. I do realize that the Kamado style grills are better insulated; so they use much less charcoal and generate less ash than a simple grill, even the Weber grills, some of which are manufactured only a few miles from my home.

 

[Clint62]

I bought mine at ace on a whim..wanted a smoker for some time but didnt do a lot of research ahead of time. I got the 575, which unbeknownst to me at the time was essentially an outdoor oven. Was rather disappointed until someone told me about smoke tubes. If I had to do it over again I'd probably go another smoker route that makes a lot more actual smoke, although the 575 traeger has worked well with the tubes. I wish the grill was in 2 pcs..makes it unwieldly in the sink trying to clean it being one big rectangle.

 

[Shedd]

I bought mine at ace on a whim..wanted a smoker for some time but didnt do a lot of research ahead of time. I got the 575, which unbeknownst to me at the time was essentially an outdoor oven. Was rather disappointed until someone told me about smoke tubes. If I had to do it over again I'd probably go another smoker route that makes a lot more actual smoke, although the 575 traeger has worked well with the tubes. I wish the grill was in 2 pcs..makes it unwieldly in the sink trying to clean it being one big rectangle.

What part are you cleaning? I’ve had many grills and smokers and never clean the interior except the grates and vacuum the ashes. I do from time to time power wash the outside. On few occasions I’ve used a scraper on the inside my gas grills if the build up too much grease and grime. But I’m new to pellet grills and maybe they require cleaning/scrubbing the inside but I’m gonna pass on that part. I’ve always considered the coating inside as a bonus of seasoning.

 

[CMTiger]

What part are you cleaning? I’ve had many grills and smokers and never clean the interior except the grates and vacuum the ashes. I do from time to time power wash the outside. On few occasions I’ve used a scraper on the inside my gas grills if the build up too much grease and grime. But I’m new to pellet grills and maybe they require cleaning/scrubbing the inside but I’m gonna pass on that part. I’ve always considered the coating inside as a bonus of seasoning.

Same. Cleaning my 575 is really easy.

 

[Clint62]

Sorry, I meant the grilling surface/cooking grate. If the cooking grate is looking overly crusty I like to clean it off.. It's hard to pressure wash it during a wisconsin winter So I drag it in the house.

 

[Shedd]

Sorry, I meant the grilling surface/cooking grate. If the cooking grate is looking overly crusty I like to clean it off.. It's hard to pressure wash it during a wisconsin winter So I drag it in the house.

Sorry, I meant the grilling surface/cooking grate. If the cooking grate is looking overly crusty I like to clean it off.. It's hard to pressure wash it during a wisconsin winter So I drag it in the house.

Yeah I completely understand. Definitely two part racks would be better. I’ve got (luckily) a concrete pit inside my shop we pressure wash in and have heat when I need it, so it makes it easier for me. I also have an outdoor kitchen with a large sink if it’s not too cold. Sorry about my reply, I miss understood your post. I thought you was cleaning the inside of the grill.

 

[Antti]

I bought Traeger because my SmokeFire was absolut shite. Been happy so far.

 

[primeone]

I bought Traeger because my SmokeFire was absolut shite. Been happy so far.

What problems did you have with the SmokeFire? I was just looking at the new Sear+ model they announced this year.

 

[CMTiger]

What problems did you have with the SmokeFire? I was just looking at the new Sear+ model they announced this year.

I think their first generation of smoke fires, as with all sorts of other things, had several problems. These as I understand it have been cleaned up with their gen 2

 

[Antti]

What problems did you have with the SmokeFire? I was just looking at the new Sear+ model they announced this year.

Changing all gen1 parts to gen2, pellet auger assembly, blown pellet motor, glow plug went twice and second time the whole plug assembly melted, burn pot melted, inside metal sheet parts rusted and the flavororiser bars didn’t stay in position anymore, issues with uneven heat on the grate. Not heating up above 240 Celsius. Lastly the temp selection wheel or knob didn’t work and I could only start the grill at 95c a
needed to use app to change the temp. I think 7 customer support cases all together. And endless changing of parts… the warranty was about to run out and I didn’t want to start paying for the parts for myself the reseller made it right and gave me full refund after 2.5y.

 

[Antti]

I think their first generation of smoke fires, as with all sorts of other things, had several problems. These as I understand it have been cleaned up with their gen 2

Only partially. My Weber got all gen1 parts changed to gen2 and still issues. Also, while assembling my ironwood I noticed that the build quality is better than Weber.

Heard a rumor that the gen1 design team got fired. But that’s just internet talk and should be taken with ton of salt.

 

[FieldMedic]

Personally.... (let the beatings begin) lol.... I don’t know if I would own one of the newer Traeger’s... I was extremely fortunate to come across an older well kept Traeger ... Lil Tex 070. Purchased used from the initial owner... This smoker is old school with the original controller that is simple, easy to run and just plain works. I do use (highly recommend) the Thermo-Works “Smoke” Remote BBQ alarm that monitors ambient temp of the smoker and has an internal temp probe. The only other modification or addition I’ve made has been utilizing a smoke tube... I’ve since switched to the Heavy D Stick Burning Heat Diffuser.. that allows you to burn actual splits of wood.. This device is a must IMHO to obtain the stick burner results that pellet owners tend to be always searching for.... All pellet grills especially the newer models with all the bells and whistles PID controlled burn the fuel/pellets too efficiently to provide stick burner results. Having an older model that is built like a tank... I’m able to use an adjunct like the Heavy D whereas I don’t know if I would attain the same results or more importantly the longevity in a “newer” thinner walled smoker.