Seeking input on Pitts & Spitts Maverick 1250 vs. Yoder YS640 build quality

[avrignaud]

Hi folks,

I'm following what seems to be a common trend of starting smoking on a Traeger Pro, getting fed up with their thin metal/build quality/rusting out issues, and looking to upgrade. Been reading the forums, and I think I'm beginning to lean toward either a Pitts and Spitts Maverick 1250 or a Yoder YS640+Comp. Cart.

Primary reason these are floating higher on the list is claimed build quality and thicker gauge steel. Unfortunately I don't have dealers up here in the PNW to see personally, and so was hoping to get feedback from folks here.

For the Yoder YS640, I am curious how "bad" the rusting problem is today? I am aware of a lot of issues in the past, but many of those claims are older and I don't see much recently. Is this still an issue today, and if so, how bad is it? Are we talking a bit of surface rust that you sand off and repaint every few years, or serious pitting/metal degradation?

For the Maverick 1250, I am curious how the carbon steel cooking chamber holds up to rust? Similar questions as above. Related, my understanding is that the Maverick is built from heavier gauge steel than the Yoder - is this true of their all stainless steel as well? Ie, do they use the same gauge?

And finally, appreciate any general comments or opinions on selecting between the two!

Thank you for any feedback you might be able to share!

 

[rwalters]

Great questions! The Yoders and Pitts are definitely the two heaviest gauged units on the market today. The Yoder at 10 gauge and the Pitts at 7 gauge. I have my opinions about both cookers and for my personal needs/wants would not pick either. Doesn’t mean they aren’t good pellet cookers, it’s just that they don’t have what I am looking for in a pellet cooker. As to the rust issue w/ Yoder, from much of what I read, it appears that the paint issue is still alive and well. For many, it’s much more than a little touch up every couple of years. The Pitts on the other hand does not seem to have paint issues to the same degree that Yoder does.

A few questions for you:
-Will you be using this pellet cooker only for smoking, or will you want to grill with it as well?
-How many people do you cook for on a regular basis, what types of things do you tend to cook most often and do you enjoy entertaining?
-What are the 3 most important things to you in a new pellet cooker? In other words, what are your top 3 requirements that must be met?
-What are you currently cooking on right now, and what is it about pellet cookers that grabs your interest?

 

[Crispy Bacon]

Here's a link

https://youtu.be/cIdg5BIkK6U

I don't have a ys640 but here is a review about the rust issues & Yoder even tweets this on their Twitter page. I have only heard of rust issues, & that is a non PID controller & that the metal is pretty thick causing a little time to get to temp. Word of mouth is that it puts out great Q despite the issues.

 

[Inthewoods]

I'm in the PNW and our local grocery carries the Pitts&Spitts pellet cookers....odd isn't it?

Though I have no interest in a pellet cookers, I am a man...so I have found myself a time or two running my hand along it...sometimes whispering under my breath if it would like ta...nevermind..
Anyways it's built like a tank! They carry all three models and I could snap ya some pics if ya wish, since I stop in every day after work.

-D

 

[stljay]

People seem to love both. But if I was buying today, it would be the Pitts.

The Yoder also has bottom shelf radiant heat issues. You will find it discussed if you look around. The drip pan is so close to the bottom grate, food can get a bit scorched requiring you to move food around more.
The P&S is 100% welded. No silicone to worry about.
The Yoder controller may work ok but it appears to be a bit quirky. I'll take the tried and true Roanoke controller which can be made wifi if that is your thing.
Two slide out shelves on the P&S standard
Higher pellet capacity with dump feature.

Both can grill but it's a bit easier with the Yoder as there's no heat deflector under the drip pan to slide away after you pull the drip pan grill feature. So if you plan to grill a lot you might want to consider that. Either way you don't have the grilling area of a typical gas grill using that feature.

 

[avrignaud]

A few questions for you:
-Will you be using this pellet cooker only for smoking, or will you want to grill with it as well?
-How many people do you cook for on a regular basis, what types of things do you tend to cook most often and do you enjoy entertaining?
-What are the 3 most important things to you in a new pellet cooker? In other words, what are your top 3 requirements that must be met?
-What are you currently cooking on right now, and what is it about pellet cookers that grabs your interest?

I'd be using just for smoking, and keep the old reliable Weber for gas grilling in a pinch.

I tend to lean toward briskets, ribs, roasts, and turkeys on the smoker - and steaks/seared meats on the weber.

Top things in a smoker? Probably:
- ease of use/timer reliability - set it/forget it
- durability - went through 2 1/2 Tragers (with the company sending parts) to try and get to a single decent unit. They had a lot of issues when they offshored to China, and I don't want to go through that again.
- "rollability" - aiming to store in garage, and have some rough brick patio to traverse

Cooking now: tri tips (usually on weber), ribs, and now that summer is coming, thinking about doing some cold smoked salmon (which I cheat on the Traeger by propping open the door a few inches.

Thanks again!

 

[Bucknekked]

Hi folks,


I'm following what seems to be a common trend of starting smoking on a Traeger Pro, getting fed up with their thin metal/build quality/rusting out issues, and looking to upgrade. Been reading the forums, and I think I'm beginning to lean toward either a Pitts and Spitts Maverick 1250 or a Yoder YS640+Comp. Cart.


Primary reason these are floating higher on the list is claimed build quality and thicker gauge steel. Unfortunately I don't have dealers up here in the PNW to see personally, and so was hoping to get feedback from folks here.


For the Yoder YS640, I am curious how "bad" the rusting problem is today? I am aware of a lot of issues in the past, but many of those claims are older and I don't see much recently. Is this still an issue today, and if so, how bad is it? Are we talking a bit of surface rust that you sand off and repaint every few years, or serious pitting/metal degradation?



For the Maverick 1250, I am curious how the carbon steel cooking chamber holds up to rust? Similar questions as above. Related, my understanding is that the Maverick is built from heavier gauge steel than the Yoder - is this true of their all stainless steel as well? Ie, do they use the same gauge?


And finally, appreciate any general comments or opinions on selecting between the two!



Thank you for any feedback you might be able to share!

I am a longtime lump charcoal and BGE user and my interest in smokers is only about 2 years old. I have spent that 2 years using my BGE to smoke and reading up and looking at other peoples smokers. We have Traegers and others in the family.


My vote on this question: I'll answer by saying I just took delivery of a brand new Yoder YS640 on the competition cart. I vote with my dollars and out of all the pellet poopers I looked at, the one that struck my fancy hard enough to get out my wallet was the Yoder.


What I can say for sure about the "rust issue" is that it will heavily depend on your local micro climate and where exactly with the Yoder be sitting. I live in the Arizona desert, the smoker is covered, and it will get wet exactly zero days out of the year if things go right.


Yoder takes a preemptive move in that they include a rattle can of Black Satin paint that matches the smoker. Small surface defects take a small bit of sanding and then hit it with matching spray. Surface defect taken care of. I had a few blemishes from delivery and the spray took care of them so they are invisible

 

[avrignaud]

I'm in the PNW and our local grocery carries the Pitts&Spitts pellet cookers....odd isn't it?

Though I have no interest in a pellet cookers, I am a man...so I have found myself a time or two running my hand along it...sometimes whispering under my breath if it would like ta...nevermind..
Anyways it's built like a tank! They carry all three models and I could snap ya some pics if ya wish, since I stop in every day after work.

-D

Which store you do see these at, if you don't mind me asking? I'm in Seattle. Didn't see any local dealers when I searched on their website... so definitely curious!

 

[avrignaud]

I am a longtime lump charcoal and BGE user and my interest in smokers is only about 2 years old. I have spent that 2 years using my BGE to smoke and reading up and looking at other peoples smokers. We have Traegers and others in the family.


My vote on this question: I'll answer by saying I just took delivery of a brand new Yoder YS640 on the competition cart. I vote with my dollars and out of all the pellet poopers I looked at, the one that struck my fancy hard enough to get out my wallet was the Yoder.


What I can say for sure about the "rust issue" is that it will heavily depend on your local micro climate and where exactly with the Yoder be sitting. I live in the Arizona desert, the smoker is covered, and it will get wet exactly zero days out of the year if things go right.


Yoder takes a preemptive move in that they include a rattle can of Black Satin paint that matches the smoker. Small surface defects take a small bit of sanding and then hit it with matching spray. Surface defect taken care of. I had a few blemishes from delivery and the spray took care of them so they are invisible

Thanks for the feedback! The competition cart is one reason I was interested in the Yoder (so I can keep in garage more easily, and hopefully reduce the climate issues). My climate is Seattle - so, less rain than most think (New York gets more), *but* long, grey, and often drizzly winters.


I've also heard rumors that Yoder is about to update their line in May - adding WiFi, and one might hope addressing the paint challenges such they don't need to include a can of spray paint. Don't suppose anyone knows more on that?

 

[Bucknekked]

I forgot to mention, the food is delicious. No hot spots. No auger issues. No smoke leakage. The controller is a custom designed controller just for the Yoder units and just for the purpose. In my mind, a custom designed and purpose built unit is a best of breed solution. Its dead simple to use it as well.


My local distributor told me when they delivered he has sold about 75 of these since he began selling them with ZERO service calls. They are as reliable as a Rolex and built like tanks. Any problems though, he'll come out and address them. Customer service is something I will always seek out and it helped my decision.

 

[avrignaud]

I forgot to mention, the food is delicious. No hot spots. No auger issues. No smoke leakage. The controller is a custom designed controller just for the Yoder units and just for the purpose. In my mind, a custom designed and purpose built unit is a best of breed solution. Its dead simple to use it as well.


My local distributor told me when they delivered he has sold about 75 of these since he began selling them with ZERO service calls. They are as reliable as a Rolex and built like tanks. Any problems though, he'll come out and address them. Customer service is something I will always seek out and it helped my decision.

Good feedback! I agree on the customer service (one reason I'm so faithful to Weber for grills)... unfortunately, I couldn't find a Yoder dealer up here in Seattle area, so I sort of have to assume remote support.

 

[The Wookiee]

It sounds like for what you are looking for (worried about rust etc) should comsider mak 2 star and rectec bull or stampede to the list- great smokers lots of stainless.... but as to Yoder vs Pitts (having researched and spoke to both companies a great deal when deciding what to get after giving up on traeger timberline)- tight call. P&S if WiFi is important. Other than that back and forth coin flip in my mind. I came close to ordering both you are considering and ended up with a mak based on universal rave reviews and small local pacNW company. and if I had to do it all over I could likely end up with any of them; 6 of 1 half doZen of the other...

Make list of pros cons (controller vs looks. vs reputation and customer service vs grill or just smoke etc etc). Then pull the trigger cook on!

 

[Bucknekked]

Thanks for the feedback! The competition cart is one reason I was interested in the Yoder (so I can keep in garage more easily, and hopefully reduce the climate issues). My climate is Seattle - so, less rain than most think (New York gets more), *but* long, grey, and often drizzly winters.


I've also heard rumors that Yoder is about to update their line in May - adding WiFi, and one might hope addressing the paint challenges such they don't need to include a can of spray paint. Don't suppose anyone knows more on that?

The competition cart is a wonderful thing. I appreciated it the moment I tried to move the nearly 400 pound smoker. If any of your choices are big heavy items, the ability to move becomes pretty important to a lot of us. For me, knowing I can move it on a whim is a great thing. The cart looks pretty snazzy too. My wife even thinks it looks great.


As far as Seattle and water and rust go, I think it is a good thing to consider given where you live. The Rec-Tec units are a lot of stainless with ceramic coatings. The Memphis grill folks do a lot of stainless. If water and the resulting rust are a genuine problem, stainless is one solution worth looking at for sure. Get the cover as a minimum with the Yoder. Newly designed and of a better material than before.


I do not know about an impending controller update. I am sure if they come out with a new controller next month, my dealer will be offerring me an "upgrade". Probably for a "small fee". I can live with what I've got because its pretty stinkin' good just as it is. But new seems to have a nice cache

 

[rwalters]

I'd be using just for smoking, and keep the old reliable Weber for gas grilling in a pinch.

I tend to lean toward briskets, ribs, roasts, and turkeys on the smoker - and steaks/seared meats on the weber.

Top things in a smoker? Probably:
- ease of use/timer reliability - set it/forget it
- durability - went through 2 1/2 Tragers (with the company sending parts) to try and get to a single decent unit. They had a lot of issues when they offshored to China, and I don't want to go through that again.
- "rollability" - aiming to store in garage, and have some rough brick patio to traverse

Cooking now: tri tips (usually on weber), ribs, and now that summer is coming, thinking about doing some cold smoked salmon (which I cheat on the Traeger by propping open the door a few inches.

Thanks again!

That helps a good bit! Are you open to other suggestions/ideas, or is it the Yoder/Pitts only that you wanna stick with as far as this thread is concerned?

 

[njfoses]

Couple months back i sold my 640 comp cart that i owned for 5 years. Thoughts below that were also posted in the pellet grill thread here.


P&S Pros

7 and 10 gauge steel vs 10 and 14 on the Yoder

Marine grade stainless roll back lid

Tried and true Roanoke PID tuned for P&S vs Yoder proprietary controller. (This can be debated but i prefer the accuracy and predictability of a PID controller.)

WiFi capability (not necessary by any stretch but i am also a tech nerd )

Tighter temps left to right and upper to lower racks

Top and bottom sliding shelves vs top only on the yoder

Larger hopper

Pellet dump


Yoder Pros

Comp cart still sexy lol

Better high heat grilling capability

Lower price point entry

 

[Joshw]

I love my YS640, and IMO, it is the most versatile of the two. I have had some minor paint issues, just below the lid, but the rest of the grill looks new. It has been less maintenance than any offset I have had, so the paint would not stop me from buying another one. I don't live in Seattle though, and that might give me pause, just based on other people's complaints, not my own problems. The rain wouldn't concern me, but the salt off the ocean might.

I know the P&S says it is heavier metal, but somehow the Yoder weighs more? Either way, they are both very well built. If it is in your budget, I would give a real look at the newly designed Mak. It is probably the only pellet grill on the market, that could possibly stop me from getting another Yoder.

 

[Bacchus2b]

Sounds like you're getting a lot of good advice, just a couple more thoughts, as I have been researching the YS 640 for a while now and frequenting their Facebook fan pages.

- Aside from the known paint issues, they seem to go through fans and thermocouples. Again not a big deal if you know this in advance and can stock spare parts at home. I bought an extra fan for my FEC-100 five years ago and have thankfully never needed it!

- All that steel can take a while to heat up and keep it hot which means increased Pellet consumption, and or adding a thermal blanket depending on how cold it gets.

Good luck, and let us know what you buy! I was actually looking at the YS 640 to replace my Weber Gasser for grilling, and keep my FEC-100 for smoking. Never to many cookers!!!

 

[gtsum]

Seeking input on Pitts & Spitts Maverick 1250 vs. Yoder YS640 build quality

I had a yoder for a year. This is what it looked like

I had to redo the silicon around the firebox twice. Now, I did all my cooking on this so a lot of reverse sear grilling which imo was main reason for the rust and and silicon breakdown. People like to say the yoder is really high build quality, etc...it is good quality and certainly higher than a traeger, etc, but it can’t hold a candle to “build quality” of my Memphis (for example). The yoder does put out great food for sure

If you are using just for smoking, I’d go with the Pitts and spitts between the two. It’s built much heavier. I think the yoder is a very good pellet cooker that can grill very very good...but quality issues mentioned earlier and the lighter build weight would steer me to the P&S.


Memphis Elite





Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

 

[gtsum]

Being in Seattle, you should really check out Mak. Local up there and won’t have to worry about rust.


Memphis Elite





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[Hardhead]

I went to a dealer that had both, no question the better unit is the Pitts and spitts maverick 1250. And thats what I bought and i love it