Going from lump charcoal smoker to pellet?

I_load_my_own

I_load_my_own

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Anyone gone from using a lump charcoal smoker similar to the egg to a pellet smoker like a Traeger and then regretted it?
I am thinking of going to a Traeger but have read mixed reviews on the smoke flavor they provide. I would only use it for smoking, I have a charcoal grill for cooks like hamburgers.
 
I went a pellet grill a few years back an love it of course the pellets are somewhat more expensive but the convenience is worth it. Traeger is a great grill but I compared The Traeger to the PitBoss an bought not 1 but 2 Pit Bosses 1 smaller one an a Austin XL at Academy Sports for the same money that one Traeger would cost plus the Pit Bosses are thicker metal an has the same amenities as the Traeger jmho .
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I went from BGE to Pit Boss pellet. I don’t think the pit boss is going to last nearly as long as the BGE. The out boss just has so many moving parts. It is very easy and straight forward to use but I there is no way it lasts forever. My BGE I bought cheap from a guy that cracked it. It cooked fine for years then I moved and the crack got worse and wouldn’t hold a temp no matter what I did so I replaced it on a whim. I love my pit boss but dont buy one expecting it to last 10 years. I don’t see it happening and I keep mine out of the weather. It has been rained on once or twice but for the most part it stays covered and dry.
 
I_load_my_own said:
Anyone gone from using a lump charcoal smoker similar to the egg to a pellet smoker like a Traeger and then regretted it?
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I went from a $50 Home Depot special that I modified to make work decent charcoal smoker to a vertical Pit Boss Pellet. The pit boss works pretty good, but it’s for smoking, not grilling. I use a Weber charcoal kettle for that.
 
Bigdave0924 said:
I went from BGE to Pit Boss pellet. I don’t think the pit boss is going to last nearly as long as the BGE. The out boss just has so many moving parts. It is very easy and straight forward to use but I there is no way it lasts forever. My BGE I bought cheap from a guy that cracked it. It cooked fine for years then I moved and the crack got worse and wouldn’t hold a temp no matter what I did so I replaced it on a whim. I love my pit boss but dont buy one expecting it to last 10 years. I don’t see it happening and I keep mine out of the weather. It has been rained on once or twice but for the most part it stays covered and dry.
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Was/is there a big enough difference in the smoke flavor that you can tell or is it about the same when comparing the BGE to the PB?
 
I want a Kamado Joe Jr for lump coal grilling steaks. It’s a pain in the rear compared to my Pitboss butt I like the unique flavor. I currently smoke and grill both with the Pitboss. With the Pitboss heat deflector opened to the vent position you can sear a steak very well. Unfortunately you must attend to the process thru the cook time do to small flame area.

I also have a big stainless grill for down and dirty quick grilling for family guest gatherings. Lee Major gave me a location and heads up on a crazy one time deal on the PitBoss. Absolutely love it. I’ll put a prime rib or shoulder and never look at it again until final temperature.
 
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I guess I left this out in my prior post..but we also have a catering business as well as a few others. I use the Pit Bosses for a lot of my smaller events. I also have a large commercial Lang Smoker for the larger events. When you buy the Larger Models of Pit Boss you can grill as well a Used them for a smoker. I actually make casserole dishes, large apple an peach pies on them as well. It’s all about the multiple settings on the Pit Boss as well as the Traeger…
 
I'd like to get a komodo joe or something at some point but I love my Traeger. The smoke quality is great and the thing makes me look like a BBQ pro... Like Ronco, set it and forget it... As to it lasting, it's 10 years old and still strong. The new ones? No idea. They look a lot cheaper than my old Texas Pro 22...


FYI I use pit boss competition blend pellets. 40# for $14 at Walmart and they work for basically anything. Best pellets for pork, regardless. I add in a little mesquite for beef but that's about it.
 
Yeah, the issue I have with mine, it is a Vision smoker, is it will NOT keep a consistent temp. It will be at 225 for 30 minutes then if I check the temp, it has either gone to like 150 or 300.
I have tried every combo of the top and bottom vents and it just doesn't do well. I am constantly going out to make minor adjustments to the temp to try to get it close so basically I have to spend all day close to the smoker.
I was really looking at the Traeger 575, seems like the right size for what my needs are but now have a couple people saying Pit Boss works well for them so I guess I need to look into them as well. The ones at Lowes seem fine on prices but the larger one seems like really big smoker that I would never need that much space.
Ugg, I reckon the thinking will continue for awhile.
Thank you all for your post.
 
I_load_my_own said:
Anyone gone from using a lump charcoal smoker similar to the egg to a pellet smoker like a Traeger and then regretted it?
I am thinking of going to a Traeger but have read mixed reviews on the smoke flavor they provide. I would only use it for smoking, I have a charcoal grill for cooks like hamburgers.
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If you’re gonna spend the money on a traeger, look at the Oklahoma joe smoker. We had a traeger and replaced with the Oklahoma joe pellet smoker and I’ll never look at another brand. This thing has been a champ
 
I_load_my_own said:
Was/is there a big enough difference in the smoke flavor that you can tell or is it about the same when comparing the BGE to the PB?
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I don’t think so. If there is the fact That you push a button or go on your phone and adjust the temp and you come back it’s right there were you set it makes up for it.
 
Went from ugly drum smoker to Recteq Can't tell a huge difference but the Recteq is a heck of alot more convenient. Whole hog BBQ I'm still burning hardwood and shoveling all night into some cinder blocks set up as a smoker. Nothing beats that for whole hog.
 
If your goal is "set it and forget it" you don't have to go with a pellet grill. Buy a kamado and run a controller like the INKBIRD. Or get the Chargriller Autokamado. I have the regular Akorn kamado with an INKBIRD and although you have to stabilize it at your desired temp first the controller takes over then and you can forget it until it's time to take it off.

With the Autokamado you don't have to do anything but set the temp, light the charcoal, and come back when it's ready. Just like a pellet grill but with charcoal.
 
Burt Gummer said:
If you’re gonna spend the money on a traeger, look at the Oklahoma joe smoker. We had a traeger and replaced with the Oklahoma joe pellet smoker and I’ll never look at another brand. This thing has been a champ
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Which model did you go with?
 
Flashpoint said:
If your goal is "set it and forget it" you don't have to go with a pellet grill. Buy a kamado and run a controller like the INKBIRD. Or get the Chargriller Autokamado. I have the regular Akorn kamado with an INKBIRD and although you have to stabilize it at your desired temp first the controller takes over then and you can forget it until it's time to take it off.

With the Autokamado you don't have to do anything but set the temp, light the charcoal, and come back when it's ready. Just like a pellet grill but with charcoal.
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I put a SMOBOT on my BGE and I regret nothing.

SMOBOT

SMOBOT
smobot.com smobot.com
 
Okay, next question.
Is Pit Boss from Lowes the same quality as buying from the factory?
Lowes seems to have different models so the question is are they built cheaply for big box stores or are they still good quality?
 
I have had a Pitt boss for 5 years I guess maybe more. Strictly used for smoking. Never had a issue and I have always called it my lazy mans cooker. lol
Couldn't do with out it.
People actually think I know what I'm doing. :D

grill.jpg grill1.jpg
 
I_load_my_own said:
Okay, next question.
Is Pit Boss from Lowes the same quality as buying from the factory?
Lowes seems to have different models so the question is are they built cheaply for big box stores or are they still good quality?
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I bought mine from a damaged box store. Originally it was from Walmart. I actually inquired Pit Boss about the differences. I was told the differences were to identify which retailer they came from.

When I registered mine online in about 9 days I received a new control board and a letter stating they had some issues reported within my serial number range and was bein proactive.
 
I'll stick with my Webber Smokey Mountain. There's just something I dont like about having to be plugged into electricity to run my smoker.
I enjoy being able to take this on my extended beach camping trips and making a day of smoking fish or whatever I have.
Also, as for the set it and forget it... I have the Digi-Q temp controller. That thing is AWESOME. I can load the basket up with lump or charcoal and disperse some smoking wood in there and get a 10+ hour burn for brisket. It still has two other vents to breath if electricity isn't available it still goes.
WSM FTW

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The newer pellet smokers are easy to maintain a constant temperature, the smoke taste is a personal preference.
 
I_load_my_own said:
Is Pit Boss from Lowes the same quality as buying from the factory?
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Not quite, I noticed difference between the one Lowe’s had and the one we bought, though they were both the mid size vertical. There was a significant price difference too and my feeling wasn't that it was due to Lowe’s volume pricing or bargaining.
 
I got my pitt boss from academy On sale. I think it’s a 720 or 750 it was 499 or 599 I can’t remember.
 
LeeMajors said:
I'll not be swayed from my Pit Boss. I've had it going on 4 years and works and looks as it did new.
I put @BlackGun on the place I bought mine and apparently he is happy with his as well
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Happy is an understatement. 40% discounted. Mine has been a beast. Used every week for something. A steak reverse sear in Competition Blend pellets with black pepper, salt 24 hours in advance, dry steak butter, and a dash of Mango habanero spice.

I did a slow cook meatloaf that was killer as well. Smoked hundreds of oysters on it.
 
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I replaced my pellet smoker with a charcoal gravity fed. I never got what i considered a true smoke flavor from pellets, and I tried any and all brands and flavors. I bought the Masterbuilt 1050 at Wal Mart, to try it out. I figured when it craps out I’ll get a commercial type model. I’ve been running it for 3 years and am very pleased with the ease of use and flavor. It’s basically like a pellet, but runs on lump or briquette charcoal.

www.masterbuilt.com

Masterbuilt® Gravity Series® 1050 Digital Charcoal Grill + Smoker

With the Gravity Series® 1050 Digital Charcoal Grill + Smoker by Masterbuilt®, you can smoke, grill, sear, bake, roast and more. Set the temperature and the DigitalFan™ maintains the desired cooking temperature. The GravityFed™ hopper holds up to 8 hours of charcoal, gravity ensures you have...
www.masterbuilt.com www.masterbuilt.com

1706699613549.jpeg
 
SimpleMan said:
I replaced my pellet smoker with a charcoal gravity fed. I never got what i considered a true smoke flavor from pellets, and I tried any and all brands and flavors. I bought the Masterbuilt 1050 at Wal Mart, to try it out. I figured when it craps out I’ll get a commercial type model. I’ve been running it for 3 years and am very pleased with the ease of use and flavor. It’s basically like a pellet, but runs on lump or briquette charcoal.

www.masterbuilt.com

Masterbuilt® Gravity Series® 1050 Digital Charcoal Grill + Smoker

With the Gravity Series® 1050 Digital Charcoal Grill + Smoker by Masterbuilt®, you can smoke, grill, sear, bake, roast and more. Set the temperature and the DigitalFan™ maintains the desired cooking temperature. The GravityFed™ hopper holds up to 8 hours of charcoal, gravity ensures you have...
www.masterbuilt.com www.masterbuilt.com

View attachment 735433
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i have the gravity 800 and have been pleased with it as well. i bought a cable of amazon and a drill battery to usb power supply and i can use it off of the drill battery in the event of a power outage. easy to light, burns great, hopper lasts about 8 hrs. throw wood chunks in the hopper as i fill it with lump.
 
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