The Official Pellet Grill Smoker thread.

After nothing but Traeger timberline frustration I recently went with Mak 1 Star... love love love it. Doing some slow roasted tomatoes on there now, searing steaks for dinner (1s time). It was between Yoder and Mak for me and ultimately no one ever seems unhappy with Mak; Yoder folks are also in love by you hear some whatnots of frustration here and there...

https://www.bbq-brethren.com/forum/showthread.php?t=260637 = my initial thoughts on it and lots of great discussion/input.
 
Last edited:
Reality off having kids, one of them figure skating year round has killed my stick burner dreams. So I asm looking for a pellet grill that can handle northern weather, and allows me to step out to a rink. Thinking either Rec Tec Rt700, Yoder 640, or maybe Pitts and Spitts. Thoughts suggestions, is a comp cart worthwhile?
 
SmokePigTails said:
Reality off having kids, one of them figure skating year round has killed my stick burner dreams. So I asm looking for a pellet grill that can handle northern weather, and allows me to step out to a rink. Thinking either Rec Tec Rt700, Yoder 640, or maybe Pitts and Spitts. Thoughts suggestions, is a comp cart worthwhile?
Click to expand...
Out of those 3 it would be the Yoder and I wouldn't own a Yoder without the Comp Cart.
 
Traeger Timberline suggested

SmokePigTails said:
Reality off having kids, one of them figure skating year round has killed my stick burner dreams. So I asm looking for a pellet grill that can handle northern weather, and allows me to step out to a rink. Thinking either Rec Tec Rt700, Yoder 640, or maybe Pitts and Spitts. Thoughts suggestions, is a comp cart worthwhile?
Click to expand...

You might want to consider one of the new Traeger Timberline models. They are double wall insulated. I have had my Timberline 1300 about a month and love it. It has lots of cooking capacity and very small temp fluctuations.
 
The Wookiee said:
After nothing but Traeger timberline frustration I recently went with Mak 1 Star... love love love it. Doing some slow roasted tomatoes on there now, searing steaks for dinner (1s time). It was between Yoder and Mak for me and ultimately no one ever seems unhappy with Mak; Yoder folks are also in love by you hear some whatnots of frustration here and there...

https://www.bbq-brethren.com/forum/showthread.php?t=260637 = my initial thoughts on it and lots of great discussion/input.
Click to expand...
I am having the same issue right now. I am getting ready to order a new pellet grill and was set on the Yoder YS640, then the MAK 2Star General came into play. I just do not know which one I want now. I do know the 2 Star General is pricy. I am just wondering if the Yoder will cook as good as the MAK 2 Star General? $3K is allot of money for a pellet smoker.
 
OklaDustDevil said:
I went thru the same debate/decision last year with help from this forum. Got down to Memphis, Yoder, and Mak.

Nixed the Memphis because too much $ and set up more for grillin. I wanted a pellet smoker for overnight automatic smoking, and plan to keep grillin on my Weber. But if you want to grill with pellets, Memphis might be the best choice.

I liked the Yoder because it's set up like my stickburners. But chose the Mak because 1- the Yoder 640 was more $ than Mak 1-star, 2- read about too many paint problems with the Yoder, 3- figured the smaller volume and profile of the Mak might make it smokier, 4- liked the Mak's center burn pot and exhaust louvres instead of a stack for pellets, and 5- IMHO Mak has the best controller. You can program cooks with different phases at different temp's for different times, including programming an IT meat temp using the included probe. And it shifts from one to the other automatically all night while you sleep.

I love it so far; no issue with lack of smoke flavour; no need for smoke tubes; built solid, great delivery, packaging, and assembly; and Mak are great to work with. My only complaint is the cover is sort of a one-size-fits-all, and since I didn't get the side shelf it hangs like a big baggie on mine.
Click to expand...
Sorry I missed this. Nice write up. I have looked at the 1 star and wondered if it would cook as good as the 2 star. I know the 2 star is allot more money, but I know if I get the 1 star, I will wish later that I bought the 2 Star and it will eat at me. Not something you buy all the time and would like this grill to be my last for along time. Just a question, do you believe the 1 star cooks as good as the 2 star and can you put in a top rack? I have never done an over night cook. I have gotten up early though to get things started. What do you cook overnight, Brisket? Thanks for the feedback.
 
Rib Rub said:
Sorry I missed this. Nice write up. I have looked at the 1 star and wondered if it would cook as good as the 2 star. I know the 2 star is allot more money, but I know if I get the 1 star, I will wish later that I bought the 2 Star and it will eat at me. Not something you buy all the time and would like this grill to be my last for along time. Just a question, do you believe the 1 star cooks as good as the 2 star and can you put in a top rack? I have never done an over night cook. I have gotten up early though to get things started. What do you cook overnight, Brisket? Thanks for the feedback.
Click to expand...



I have owned and cooked on both. They both are phenomenal cookers. Really depends on your budget and priorities as far as what you need in a cooker. If just going for a killer smoker, the 1 Star is very hard to beat! If you want more than a smoker, the 2 Star is where it’s at, IMO.
 
Rib Rub said:
Sorry I missed this. Nice write up. I have looked at the 1 star and wondered if it would cook as good as the 2 star. I know the 2 star is allot more money, but I know if I get the 1 star, I will wish later that I bought the 2 Star and it will eat at me. Not something you buy all the time and would like this grill to be my last for along time. Just a question, do you believe the 1 star cooks as good as the 2 star and can you put in a top rack? I have never done an over night cook. I have gotten up early though to get things started. What do you cook overnight, Brisket? Thanks for the feedback.
Click to expand...
If you have the Flame Zone they cook exactly the same, you like the additional features the 2 Star offers then get the 2 Star. I purchased the 1 Star because it has the same grate space as the 2 Star with a smaller footprint which is what I need.
 
stephan said:
New to the pellet scene, I just bought a Yoder YS640. I have only done 3 cooks with three different brands of pellets so far. So far so good as they say.
Click to expand...



Good looking rig, man I bet you burn allot of pellets keeping that thing in the heat..


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
 
Smokey Lonesome said:
Any love out there for the Blazin Grill lineup? Seem to have several nice features like pellet dump, stainless racks and drip tray, and double-wall construction.
Click to expand...



I just got the gridiron. Being delivered tomorrow..


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
 
Regarding the re-flash on the Timberline, the 2.0.1 update seems to have fixed the ambient temperature thermometer which always read 25 degrees higher than it should and IMO cause the cook temp to fluctuate +/- 40 degrees when the outdoor temps were over 75 degrees.

That said, I can't wait to get rid of it and get a Mak. Does Mak and/or Big Poppa Smokers typically have Cyber Monday sales?
 
KevinJ said:
If you have the Flame Zone they cook exactly the same, you like the additional features the 2 Star offers then get the 2 Star. I purchased the 1 Star because it has the same grate space as the 2 Star with a smaller footprint which is what I need.
Click to expand...
You are making sense. I certainly don’t need that warming box. I mean if they cook the same, then the 1 star may be good enough. Is the 1 star still insulated?
 
Rib Rub said:
You are making sense. I certainly don’t need that warming box. I mean if they cook the same, then the 1 star may be good enough. Is the 1 star still insulated?
Click to expand...



None of the MAK’s are insulated. The 1 Star is a smoking machine though! :)
 
Here's a few things that have come off my 1 star with the flame zone. Love this thing.

BTW, it puts out crazy smoke with good pellets. I like this more because I raise the temps to make for a cleaner burn. Makes the 275 that I like cooking my ribs at give a nice smoke flavor while having the meat the texture I enjoy. I'm not the biggest fan of the taste from piles of smoke even if it's coming from pellets and the ability to give smoke flavor even at higher temps is a heck of a plus IMO.



Oakridge chile lime rub wings



Jerk wings


a few quickie strips



Some pork shoulder





Pork belly and pork belly Oklahoma onion burgers with blackstone assist








 
lantern said:
Here's a few things that have come off my 1 star with the flame zone. Love this thing.

BTW, it puts out crazy smoke with good pellets. I like this more because I raise the temps to make for a cleaner burn. Makes the 275 that I like cooking my ribs at give a nice smoke flavor while having the meat the texture I enjoy. I'm not the biggest fan of the taste from piles of smoke even if it's coming from pellets and the ability to give smoke flavor even at higher temps is a heck of a plus IMO.



Oakridge chile lime rub wings



Jerk wings


a few quickie strips



Some pork shoulder





Pork belly and pork belly Oklahoma onion burgers with blackstone assist








Click to expand...
You are killing me!!!
 
Rib Rub said:
Sorry I missed this. Nice write up. I have looked at the 1 star and wondered if it would cook as good as the 2 star. I know the 2 star is allot more money, but I know if I get the 1 star, I will wish later that I bought the 2 Star and it will eat at me. Not something you buy all the time and would like this grill to be my last for along time. Just a question, do you believe the 1 star cooks as good as the 2 star and can you put in a top rack? I have never done an over night cook. I have gotten up early though to get things started. What do you cook overnight, Brisket? Thanks for the feedback.
Click to expand...

Hey, I totally understand about it eating at you, and if you feel that way then you should get the 2-star -- it sure as hell will look better sittin in your backyard. My 1-star looks like a WW1 tank!

I am sure the 1-star and 2-star cook the same. The controller, burn pot, and grill surface area are the same. I chose the 1-star because I didn't need the warmer or flame zone (for grilling) and I thought the smaller profile = smaller inside volume = more smoke. But I haven't heard any 2-star owners complaining about lack of smoke.

Re: overnight cooks, I cook briskets, pork butts, and turkeys overnight. My rationale for a pellet smoker was I got tired of ending up face down in my Thanksgiving dinner after pulling an all-nighter every year. My last overnight cook, I loaded 3 butts in the 1-star at 11 pm, programmed it to cook 4 hours at 180 (because pellets smoke more at lower temp's), then shift to 250 until the meat probe (included) showed the internal meat temp to be 203, then drop to 200 and continue. Went to bed and it smoked all night until I was ready to go out there the next day.

You can buy an upper shelf, either half, 3/4, or full. Although I'm not a fan of upper shelves in my stickburners, the smaller grate area in the Mak's makes an upper shelf useful. I bought the 3/4, plus a front external shelf to sit things on.

This past weekend I smoked some chicken breasts Peruvian style (check out my separate thread). First time I've used the Mak for a short cook. It was up to 250 in 5 min, amazingly quick, and did a great job. I'm more impressed every time I use it.
 
Rib Rub said:
You are killing me!!!
Click to expand...


LOL!!

By the way. I bought the flame zone a little later in my order with big poppa. I used his layaway plan so once the grill was paid and getting ready for shipment I bought the flame zone. So. My first cook was with the regular 1 star. The flame zone arrived the next day and was installed. I actually don't use the flame zone for direct grilling much at all. What I REALLY like about it is how it funnels the heat where it needs to be and doesn't waste it in the belly of the cooker.

What that means is not just higher direct temps. It means faster coming up to temp and less pellet waste. I dig that.

Now, I will be getting the sear grates at some point but NOT for searing as much as easier release of foods.
 
lantern said:
LOL!!

By the way. I bought the flame zone a little later in my order with big poppa. I used his layaway plan so once the grill was paid and getting ready for shipment I bought the flame zone. So. My first cook was with the regular 1 star. The flame zone arrived the next day and was installed. I actually don't use the flame zone for direct grilling much at all. What I REALLY like about it is how it funnels the heat where it needs to be and doesn't waste it in the belly of the cooker.

What that means is not just higher direct temps. It means faster coming up to temp and less pellet waste. I dig that.

Now, I will be getting the sear grates at some point but NOT for searing as much as easier release of foods.
Click to expand...
I could not take it anymore, I ordered the 2 Star General. I am joining the club. Now the wait for delivery begins. I bought the 2 star because by the time I ordered the flame zone it would be about the same money. I gotta say the add ons are nuts! I mean you can turn this grill into $5 grand easily. I will look at some of the additional adds on later, I am still trying come out of shock of paying $3K for a BBQ grill. I gotta admit that Baby Back Maniac and TROY Cooks pretty much sold me. They did that Brisket cook together on the 2 Star and it turned out incredible. You are not getting that Brisket on my Camp Chef.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

GrapeRadio
Pellet Smoker - Why less smoke?
2
Replies
20
Views
2K
Hinds15
H
creek bottom
Meadow Creek Chicken Cooker
Replies
10
Views
656
Pife
P
W
Wanting a new Pellet Grill
Replies
19
Views
867
Bury Me In Smoke
B
16Adams
Oakridge SPOGOS Pork Belly- Pellet Belly
Replies
7
Views
624
cowgirl
cowgirl
I
Issue with Memphis Pro Pellet Grill
Replies
2
Views
302
Vision
V
Back
Top