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Traeger Smoker / BBQer

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Joel:
We got 8 inches of snow Friday -Saturday and as I’m sitting in the kitchen drinking a barley pop I see the guy behind me has a Traeger sitting under cover for the last 5 years, probably fired it up to see it work if Evan that.
Looking at new ones lately and thinking they are priced high I started looking on marketplace, well those are at a price that would make me go buy a new one so I didn’t get a used rusty worn out pos at close to new price.
My question is to those who have 1 do you like it compared to a gas bbq, does it take longer to heat up to cooking temp and is it really worth the money?
We bbq 4-5 times a week
I’m assuming the pellets and refilling a 5 gallon bottle of propane are similar.

SIKBIRD:
I have no experience with Traeger but have used a pellet type smoker. I gave away my pellet smoker…never put enough smoke on the meat for my taste.  My el-cheapo Brinkman electric smoker has been my go-to for 20 years.  $75 at Lowe’s, has a water bowl that keeps the meat moist and I can control the amount of smoke with the size and quantity of hickory chunks.

RivRaptor:
Yoder Smokers, not ChiCom Junk.  Made in U.S., built like a tank, pricey but your Grand Children's Children will thank you.  I have a 640 with competition cart, cover and extra racks.  Great briskets, beef jerky, ribs etc.  Ours was around 3k shipped about 10 years ago.  600 pounds on the pallet if I remember,

Tractor Bubba:
We have a Pit Boss combo unit.  Pellet smoker on the left and a gas grill on the right.  Used a Big Green Egg for a few years, and it has it's advantages. When we moved we left the BGE with our son (it's a heavy SOB) - our retirement home is smaller, and I didn't want to mess with two units so went with the combo design.  It's handy - can use both at the same time if desired, and easy to watch 'em both.  The pellet smoker works fine for what we do.  I know there's the "purists" out there that talk smack about pellet grills - but it does what I want.  We can get a nice smoke ring into the meat, and the smoke/flavor is fine as far as we're concerned.  With the BGE, you can get it REALLY hot for cooking steaks and getting a nice char (Pittsburg style).  But, for low-and-slow smoking, particularly on a windy day, I struggled with maintaining the (low) temperature (we did not have any of the optional temperature monitoring or controlling attachments) with the Egg.  With the pellet grill, it's pretty easy to "set it and forget it" from a temperature control (high winds here along the front-range can cause some challenges, but I use my wheelbarrow as a windbreak and manage) standpoint - and with the smartphone app I can monitor & control temps remotely if we need to step away for a time.  I wish they'd have made clean-out a little more convenient - the BGE was quicker/simpler to clean.  And, the BGE uses chunk charcoal - which I think gives a different flavor experience.  But, the pellet grill does fine for us.  Others will surely disagree (as-is the inherent property and style of social media!)

2k:
I used a Traeger until it needed some repairs- bout 7 yrs. When I replaced it I did more homework and went with a RecTeq, mainly because the main parts were made of stainless steel. Love it and it appears to last, as I have had it 8yrs and still going strong. Pellets are cheaper than propane and do add extra flavor to the food. Once you get used to cooking with wood, you will never go back.

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