Life Span Of Higher Cost Pellet Cookers

[16Adams]

I'm hoping to get five full years of life out of My Pit Boss Austin XL. Retailed $500 I paid $249 06-2021. Talked to a friend and his Green MTN died during a Labor Day Brisket cook. The only hiccup in ELEVEN YEARS. (He had 4 hours smoking on the Brisket and did a Harry Soo oven finish and said it was one of his best briskets-ever)

Mak-Yoder-RT-Top Line Traeger, custom makers etc

From low end to high end Pellet Cookers are electrical and mechanical.
What are your expectations on longevity

 

[16Adams]

Another observation

It's interesting to me that folks will buy an offset cooker and strive for thin blue dang near invisible clean smoke. However they purchase a Pellet Cooker that achieves this thin blue invisible clean smoke efficiently and quickly, then they want to see smoke billowing.

Something to ponder
#gooutsideandcooksomething

 

[tom b]

my 2017 Mak 2* shows no signs of let up, may out last me. My partner has a cheap traeger, it is even older his is still going strong but he is considering turning it in for a newer model.

 

[WilliamKY]

I recently purchased a Pit Boss 700 (bare bones Classic model). $314 all in. Pit Boss seems to have enough faith to give it a 5yr warranty so I'll go with that. Any extra time is just a bonus.

 

[LYU370]

My FEC100 is a 2012 model I purchased in 2014. Needed to replace the auger motor a few years back and the hotrod just went out.

Also, since I keep it outside all year long, rain/snow/ice/heat/freezing, the plastic for the controller keypad cracked and water get in there, had to replace a 12v PS and the LCD display is almost unreadable. Had I kept it covered or replaced it earlier, probably wouldn't have had the issue, so that one is on me.

Thinking of replacing the Cookshack IQ4 controller with a WiFi PID controller.

 

[LYU370]

Another observation

It's interesting to me that folks will buy an offset cooker and strive for thin blue dang near invisible clean smoke. However they purchase a Pellet Cooker that achieves this thin blue invisible clean smoke efficiently and quickly, then they want to see smoke billowing.

Something to ponder
#gooutsideandcooksomething

I'll get white smoke as it's first starting up and getting to temp. After that, If I see smoke billowing out of mine, I know there is an issue with the fire and it's time to go out there and check it.

 

[SweetHeatBBQnSC]

My RT 590 comes with a 4 year warranty. I figure most things that mess up (from what I hear) are fairly simple fixes. So hopefully 7 or 8 years. After that I consider the time bonus. I do hope to get a little more longevity out of it, but main reason I spent a little more than on a Pit Boss or something like that is to not be as concerned with flame outs and over night cooks.

 

[jermoQ]

Good point! My $400 something Pitboss 820 has only been going for 8 1/2 years. We will see? I would hope all things considered, a high price one would last ten plus if you make sure it is taken care of. I have only replaced an ignitor on mine. However, the grease pan groove on the end has a small hole rusted in it so I will address that in the near future. I probably need to take it apart and clean off the fan to make sure the air flow is at max but I haven't yet.

 

[Back9Q]

I had a memphis Pro and absolutely loved it. Insold which was biggest mistake of like. I reached out to guy who I sold it to last year and said still going strong and smokes/grills on it 4 days a week. I was friends with a local supplier and paid $2200 for it at time


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Bob C Cue]

With a lifetime warranty I'm hoping my MAK outlives me.

 

[JIMSMOKES]

Bought my PB1150PS2 7/1/21 fer 399. Once it's past it's 5 year warranty. I'll replace it with a gravity feed.

 

[ssv3]

2016 Yoder YS640. Other than some surface rust in a few areas it's been rock solid. I actually bought the thing used in 2018. 6 years, going strong and never failed me. I upgraded to the "new" ACS controller a couple years ago along with the ceramic igniter and it's been even more kick arse. New controller is amazing (wifi) but even with old controller it ran like a champ.

I feel like I'm barely breaking it in like a Cummins diesel. No complaints!

 

[ssv3]

Another observation

It's interesting to me that folks will buy an offset cooker and strive for thin blue dang near invisible clean smoke. However they purchase a Pellet Cooker that achieves this thin blue invisible clean smoke efficiently and quickly, then they want to see smoke billowing.

Something to ponder
#gooutsideandcooksomething

Some people actually complain about that.:wacko:

 

[pjtexas1]

I only use my mak 1* about once a month and I keep it kind of clean. I expect it to last 10 years.

Sent from my SM-G996U using Tapatalk

 

[Mike Twangzer]

I bought an Assassin 36in a few years back Built pretty solid. Tinkered with it by adding a larger pellet hopper and changed the controller and upgraded the auger innards. Although it didn't need it. Happy with it. Don't see many around.

 

[4ever3]

Another observation

It's interesting to me that folks will buy an offset cooker and strive for thin blue dang near invisible clean smoke. However they purchase a Pellet Cooker that achieves this thin blue invisible clean smoke efficiently and quickly, then they want to see smoke billowing.

Something to ponder
#gooutsideandcooksomething

I’m nearly convinced at this point those are people who are never ever happy about anything! I started with a GMG (sold it but it’s still going) and moved to MAK and have never once thought there was a lack of smoke.

With a lifetime warranty I'm hoping my MAK outlives me.

Unfortunately I can find nothing wrong with this post… (sigh)

 

[sudsandswine]

I’m nearly convinced at this point those are people who are never ever happy about anything! I started with a GMG (sold it but it’s still going) and moved to MAK and have never once thought there was a lack of smoke.

Thin blue smoke from a stick burner actually does provide a lot of flavor....the difference between burning whole splits vs compressed sawdust I guess. Pellet grills have to billow (comparatively) to lay down some smoke flavor due to the way the pellets are burned...it's a comparison between two completely different things really.

I know my Shirley is running good when there's either TBS or just heat coming out the stack. I liked my Mak best when it was sending smoke signals to the next town over.

vs

 

[Cat797]

Another observation

It's interesting to me that folks will buy an offset cooker and strive for thin blue dang near invisible clean smoke. However they purchase a Pellet Cooker that achieves this thin blue invisible clean smoke efficiently and quickly, then they want to see smoke billowing.

Something to ponder
#gooutsideandcooksomething

This ^^^^.......One of the reasons I bought a pellet cooker. That, and my kids were little and it wasn't practical to stay up all night throwing sticks for dinner the next day. I loved my offset that I built with my own two hands.

But, I expect my Yoder YS640 will last forever. I bought it from a Brethren in 2016 for ~$1,500. She's a 2014 model. It just took a chit on me a couple weeks ago. Had to do buy a thermocouple and do the relocation kit. Cost me $49 bucks and about 30 minutes of time. I could have bought the ACS update for $500, but I don't need the fancy wifi crap with Fireboard. Hell, the only temp device I use is my turbo green Thermapen. It works just fine at whatever temp I set it.

Haven't looked back in 6 years and don't plan to.....

 

[Dweverett]

My Rectec 680 is I think 9 years old. The controller died last year so I updated with the newer Wi-Fi version. There is some surface rust but nothing that’s going to cause issues for many years even if I ignored it.

 

[Itsdone]

Ive Had my PB 820 i bought at least 5 years ago. I keep it over a covered porch. Not a spec of rust other then the heat baffle which is expected. To this day it is my go to with the addition of a smoke daddy heavy D stick burning heat diffuser. Add a couple chunks or sticks of post oak, set to 300F and you got yourself a stick burner you can get 3-4 hours of smoke, then drop temp and do a set and forget overnight cook.