Portable pellet Smokers

[batman]

I have been looking for a new pellet smoker that can travel with us. The research I have done has lead me to two of the contenders with the best features for us. Yes you can grill on these however they are Smokers primarily.

First, the Camp Chef - Pursuit 20. Next, the Green Mountain - Davy Crockett.

I am leaning toward the Davy Crockett because it is 12V, but, I do like the size and features of the Pursuit.

Just wondering if some of you may have any input on these two portable smokers. Do you like it, hate it, why?

What do you have? Do you like it, hate it, why?

-Dennis

[kscherzi]

I own the Davy Crockett. I've smoked pork butts, leg of lamb, ribs, chicken and others. I'm still in the learning phase but having fun. Everything I've cooked is delicious. I like the wifi app where I can program in a routine. Like smoke at 225 for x hours, when meat probe reaches a certain temp, increase smoker temp to say 275.

It's pretty good at maintaining an accurate temperature. Though I also place a oven thermometer inside to double check and adjust if necessary. I find if it's a cold and breezy day it tends to overcompensate and run hot. It also just barely fits under the tonneau cover in the truck bed.

What I don't like it it's weight. It it an awkward thing to lift, and of course it now has a persistent layer of dirty smoky grease stuff on the outside the never seems to come off, unless I am hoisting it. But that's probably the case for any portable smoker.

All in all I'm pretty happy with it, and mostly use it at home, mostly for 6 to 8 hour smoke projects.

[Bigventure]

I had a Traeger TPG, its like the current Ranger model. Anyway I sold it because it was to small. You could only do 1 slab and you had to cut it in half. It also did not hold to many pellets.
I replaced it with the Davy Crockett. I like it a lot. The only issue i have is the racks are not that good. There to thin for my tastes. They haven’t broke yet or bent yet. But any day its going to happen. I got the insulation bracket to go with it. It hold temp good.
Check Walmart...I saw a small kamado grill for $199 in blue. Pretty good deal.

[bweybright]

Just wondering how you all deal with the weight of these things? And where you store them so you don't blow your back out?
Sorry....showing my age here with these questions I guess....

[OTRA15]

Good questions!

https://greenmountaingrills.com/prod...et-grill-wifi/
https://www.campchef.com/pursuit-pellet-grill.html
https://www.walmart.com/ip/Lifesmart...over/619151564

OP Dennis and others, please detail how you transport these large-ish units on the road.

For the KISS crowd, why not use a Weber charcoal grill with some smoke chips added? More labor intensive and harder to control, but simple as can be IMO.

https://www.weber.com/US/en/grills/p...s/1211001.html

Definitely portable!

Thanks,

Peter

[cwf]

We have the small Weber grill 9 years. Works great!! Easy to clean, all aluminum. I have a 30” wide “step ladder” with folding legs... and a long enough fuel hose to connect to AS cylinder. The smoky part can be done by putting a wet chunk in the bottom...

[batman]

Kscherzi, Great review, Thank you. Bigventure, I thought the Traeger was too small also. bweybright, Great questions! I have not pulled the trigger on one yet still looking. However, The weight will have to be a factor. The Green Mountain is still manageable for me at 57 lbs. About the same as a Honda EU2200 with fuel. Now the Camp Chef, is 80 lbs but has wheels and some other cool features. I would store either one in the back of my Yukon for travel. OTRA15, I have Small, medium and large Webers. I do like and use them alot. The small one is great for a quick burger or steak just not big enough to smoke a Turkey, pork butt, racks of ribs or a nice brisket. Even the large one is difficult to control for that. I have done turkeys, ribs and pork butts in my large Weber kettle and they turn out ok. But is is a constant battle for smoke and heat every 1/2 hr for 12 or 14 hours some times.

I like fussing with stuff while I'm cooking as much as the next guy, but, I am thinking a little bit of technology can produce a better product and make the chefs life a little easier.

[OTRA15]

Thanks for the details.

Peter

[GMFL]

We use a Traeger Tailgater and it is AWESOME. Legs fold up for easy storage and it cooks like a big grill when in use.

[batman]

Originally Posted by GMFL

We use a Traeger Tailgater and it is AWESOME. Legs fold up for easy storage and it cooks like a big grill when in use.

GMFL, I am glad to hear you like the Traeger brand. My only real experience with them is from a close friend who had a terrible time with his and got no where with cust service. He returned his to Costco and bought a Green Mountain and has had zero issues. How does your Traeger hold a steady temp when you set the controls to say 225 degrees? I have heard these do not stay at temp very well. I have also heard the customer service is terrible or non-existent. Have you had to contact cust service at all? I like that it has wheels. over 60 lbs. How easy is it to load? Where do you store it for travel?

-Dennis

[GMFL]

Dennis,

It hold temp decently well. Wind is the only temp killer I have found. Never had to deal with customer service so I have no input there.
As far as loading and storage, the legs fold up under the grill and it has handles on both ends making it manageable to pick up and load. We keep ours in the truck bed when traveling and it takes up about the same footprint of space as our WeberQ with the collapsable stand does.
I do believe they make a smoker quilt that you can put on the grill to help with temperature if you wanted to. I know I guy who gas one on a larger Traeger that he uses in the winter.

Anyway. They are not perfect I guess but they are easier to use and make better tasting food than our WeberQ

[batman]

Originally Posted by GMFL

Dennis,

It hold temp decently well. Wind is the only temp killer I have found. Never had to deal with customer service so I have no input there.
As far as loading and storage, the legs fold up under the grill and it has handles on both ends making it manageable to pick up and load. We keep ours in the truck bed when traveling and it takes up about the same footprint of space as our WeberQ with the collapsable stand does.
I do believe they make a smoker quilt that you can put on the grill to help with temperature if you wanted to. I know I guy who gas one on a larger Traeger that he uses in the winter.

Anyway. They are not perfect I guess but they are easier to use and make better tasting food than our WeberQ

Thank you, The size sound about right and I like the folding legs and wheels idea as well. Good to have a positive review on the temperature fluctuation issue.

How easy is it to clean for travel? Will it do a 12 or 14 hour smoke without cleaning out the ash from the smoke box or auger?

-Dennis

[GMFL]

Originally Posted by batman

Thank you, The size sound about right and I like the folding legs and wheels idea as well. Good to have a positive review on the temperature fluctuation issue.

How easy is it to clean for travel? Will it do a 12 or 14 hour smoke without cleaning out the ash from the smoke box or auger?

-Dennis

I’ve used mine for a year and never cleaned ash out of it. I use only Traeger brand pellets.
Cleaning is a snap. I put a Traeger disposable foil pan under the rack and just trash it when it get nasty.

[batman]

Originally Posted by GMFL

I’ve used mine for a year and never cleaned ash out of it. I use only Traeger brand pellets.
Cleaning is a snap. I put a Traeger disposable foil pan under the rack and just trash it when it get nasty.

Actually it sounds pretty sweet. I will have to reconsider the Kraeger. However I still like the 12 VDC option that the Green Mountain has to offer. I am putting Kraeger back on the list.

Dang it, the list is getting longer not shorter.

-Dennis

[evans]

Take a look at what they offer here. Reviews are very good, with all pointing to high quality construction and exceptional customer service. They only sell direct to customers and are able to keep their prices down that way:

WWW.rectecgrills.com

[SilverFire]

If you have the room look at the Pit Barrel Cookers. Superior cooking to any of the pellet grills, since the meat is hanging vertically there is not a hot and cold side as with a horizontal grill. The Pit barrel is cooking with a 360 degree for vortex for better results. They do not require any power. The Pit Barrel Junior is portable, inexpensive, and easier to manage than many of your traditional pellet grills.

The Achilles' heel of pellet grills is the cheap Chinese supplied auger prone to failure. When Traeger (originally produced in Oregon) sold years ago, Q&A declined. Production was moved to China, the pellet auger (as with other brands) have been problematic with pellet grills. The vertically oriented pit barrel cookers are inexpensive and provide more consistent smoked results with ribs, butts, whole chickens, etc... They come with a horizontal grill too (burgers, veggies, etc), however, hang the meat for best results.

The ease of use is the best part, hang meat place the lid and forget about it. No power required. Minimal fuel required (just a little charcoal and flavored wood of your choice. Resist checking the meat, the Pit Barrel Cooker provides the most consistent results of any smoker out there at minimal cost and fuss.

SilverFire Off-Grid Stoves & Cookware.

[scott05]

Rec Tec Rt-340. Awesome pellet grill! www.rectecgrills.com

[Yooperchick]

Blue Beret article this month on Brad Badjes, Pit Master extraordinaire. He uses a Chimp grill from Gorilla Grills. Made in a Michigan. .

[TXGal]

https://countrysmokers.com/grills/CS150PPG We have this one, and so far have been very happy with it. It’s not a huge cooking space, but it meets our needs for camping. Last weekend, we were able to smoke 6 chicken quarters on it just fine. The price has come down since we bought ours. I’m seeing good sales on it.

[forestgirl]

I have an electric smoker for salmon but in our AS, I bought a Nordic Ware stovetop smoker from Amazon. The chips are fine, like sawdust, and come in so many varieties of different wood flavors. It is light, portable, has a thermometer, cookbook, and has a domed lid so I can smoke a chicken it and has a liquid tray if you want to add beer or water for a wet smoke. We will be full-timing next year so I’m trying to be mindful of space and weight. This works on the Weber grill outside or the propane inside. Really happy so far and it’s a treat to have smoked salmon when camping!
Nordic Ware 36556 Stovetop Kettle Smoker, One, Red https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07FPXMHKF..._BQYSEbS5CR4ZW

***so sorry, my brain is in a pandemic fog. I now see you asked about a pellet smoker. It might help if I can remember how to read. Good luck with your decision!