Traeger invented the pellet grill and remains the leading brand in the industry. The real question is: Are Traeger pellet grills worth the investment? And, if so, which model is right for you?

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The biggest advantage of buying a Traeger Pellet Grill is that it is a leader in the industry. They pioneered the pellet grill and continue to drive design and innovation. Traeger units are priced from $500 to $3,800, so there is a size and feature level for everyone. Warrantees are strong, and parts and accessories are widely available.

Summary of the Traeger Pellet Grill Models

• Pro – Small, simple, but affordable, the Pro Series Pellet Grills offer grilling and smoking at a highly competitive price.
• Ironwood – This is certainly an upgrade from the Pro series, offering larger sizes with more tech, like Super Smoke mode and a built-in pellet sensor.
• Timberline – This model is huge and loaded with features. The Timberline offers the most advanced technology, plus an electric induction side burner for maximum cooking versatility.
• Ranger – Traeger’s tabletop pellet grill offers wood-fired grilling on the go.
• Tailgater – A portable model with 300 square inches that is simple yet effective for on the go grilling and smoking.

What To Expect From a Traeger Pellet Grill

When Joe Traeger invented the pellet grill all those years ago, he was looking to replace the gas grill. What he came up with was a cooker that could smoke better than it could grill. Over the years, as these backyard smoke ovens improved, they got better at both. The modern Traeger Pellet Grill can hold low temperatures for smokers and still hit 500 degrees F. While this is at the lower temperature end for putting a sear on a steak, these are still good grills.

As far as smokers go, few are as easy to use as a pellet grill. They will provide smoky flavor and excellent bark on meats and also produce a good smoked salmon. With all the accessories available, there are very few things you can’t cook on a pellet grill.

What you should expect from a Traeger is the reliability of a company that has been building pellet grills for nearly forty years. They are the most widely distributed units on the market, and that means that parts, accessories, and support are available worldwide. The warranties are strong, and customer support is easy to reach. Plus, the Traeger app allows you to monitor your cooking remotely and also includes thousands of recipes and hundreds of tips.

The Digital Controller

The WiFIRE Controller is a next-generation digital pellet controller. Aside from the WiFi connectivity, the stand-out controller features include the Quick Start, Super Smoke mode, and Keep Warm functions. These are self-explanatory, and while available on other pellet grills, I like that this controller has buttons, and you don’t have to resort to using the Traeger app to activate them (though you can).

There is only one temperature probe port on the Pro Series and two on the Ironwood and Timberline. The Timberline also comes with Traeger’s MEATER wireless meat probes. The Pro Series has a small and simple control panel, while the Ironwood and Timberlines panel is much larger and intuitive.

This controller regulates the Traeger D2 drive system, which controls the auger and induction fans. This sets the flow of wood pellets and adjusts the combustion fan speed to hold the pellet grill at the desired temp.

See all my recommendations for The Best Pellet Grills

Traeger Pro

The Traeger Pro Series is the classic pellet grill. Starting at as low as $799, this is Traeger’s best-selling grill. You get plenty of space and a WiFi-enabled controller that allows you to monitor temperatures from your phone. This model is a continuation of the original Traeger but with the technology to make it completely modern.

Pro Specifications

Capacity

Pro 575: While small, the Pro 575 will hold up to 24 burger patties, 5 racks of ribs, 4 chickens, 2 pork butts, or one whole packer brisket. This model has two porcelain-coated steel grates, but the upper the upper is very small.

Pro 780: The larger Pro 780 will cook up to 36 hamburgers, 6 racks of ribs, 6 whole chickens, 3 pork butts, or one whole brisket. Again, the upper cooking grate is relatively small and best used for warming. After all, the main cooking area is much hotter than the warming rack due to the way air flows through the cooking chamber.

For both of these models, to smoke this many racks of pork ribs, it will be best to use a rib rack to hold them. Smoked on their sides gives you more space and maximizes smoke exposure and airflow.

Summary

The Pro Series Traeger Grills make an excellent entry point to wood pellet cooking. While there are less expensive pellet grills on the market, the Pro 575 offers you the right combination of functionality and high-quality construction. These features will keep you grilling and smoking for years to come, with a reliability that justifies the price.

Accessorizing Traeger Grills

The Ironwood and Timberline Grills offer the Pop and Lock (P.A.L.) rail system, a bar that runs around the front and side of the grill that holds shelves, storage bins, and even a butcher paper roll dispenser. There is a whole host of accessories now available for these models.

Traeger Ironwood

The Ironwood Pellet Smoker is a serious step up from the Pro Series. Here, you find an insulated body with a larger, more versatile controller. There are easy clean-out trays for ash and grease, and the modern design is built to incorporate all the accessories that Traeger has to offer. Starting at $1,799, the Ironwood is more efficient and user-friendly than the Pro and large enough for most gatherings. If you are serious about outdoor cooking, I strongly recommend the Ironwood.

Traeger Ironwood Specifications

Capacity

Ironwood: This size can accommodate 4 pork butts or 4 chickens as well as up to 8 racks of ribs (on a standing rib rack). The primary cooking space will hold up to 16 burgers. The cooking grates are porcelain-coated steel.

Ironwood XL: The larger upper cooking grate on this model nearly doubles the capacity of the smaller version. You can smoke up to 8 whole chickens or pork butts and 16 racks of ribs, though that will be a tight fit, and I wouldn’t recommend it. The main cooking grate will handle up to 26 burger patties.

The Ironwood Series is taller than the Pro Series grills, giving these units a larger cooking chamber on a relatively small footprint. The Ironwood is not dramatically larger than the Pro Series grills but has a more useful upper cooking/smoking area. Because of the airflow design of the Ironwood (and Timberline below), heat is more even from top to bottom, so the upper cooking area is much more useful for smoking.

Summary

The Traeger Ironwood is a serious improvement on their Pro Series grills and a considerable jump in pellet grilling innovation. From the connection of the motor to the auger to the controlled way air moves through the cooking chamber and the integrated computer controller, the Ironwood is truly a significant upgrade.

Traeger Timberline

Timberline is the top of the Traeger line. Starting at $3,299, this is a serious investment in a pellet grill. However, it delivers large capacity, better heat retention, and an electric induction side burner. With the Timberline, you can cook almost anything. It has nearly the same footprint as the Ironwood but is taller, giving it an extra rack of smoking space. It won’t hog your patio space but will provide plenty of smoking capacity.

Timberline Specifications

Capacity

Timberline: The smaller of the two Timberline grills can handle 9 chickens, 6 pork butts, or 8 racks of ribs. The cooking racks in this grill are stainless steel, as is the surrounding Frame that holds those grates.

Timberline XL: The huge Timberline XL can smoke up to 12 whole chickens or pork butts, as well as 16 racks of ribs. Again, those ribs need to be carefully stacked to fit. You can also easily smoke three full briskets at the same time.

The Timberline sits on the same footprint as the Ironwood. However, the cooking chamber is considerably taller. This provides the space for an extra cooking grate. These grates are mounted onto an adjustable frame that allows you to customize the amount of space you need. If you want to smoke a whole pork shoulder or two, you have the space (in the XL model, at least). But you can also cover those grates in chicken wings and feed a sports bar filled with fans. With the Timberline, space is not going to be an issue.

Additional Features

The Timberline also includes Traeger’s wireless MEATER temperature probes to monitor foods as they cook. This means no more wires running from the controller to the grill. The probes charge when they are stored, so they are always ready when you need them.

The Timberline can also be built into a custom enclosure. With a special trim kit, you can fit this model (both the standard and XL) into an outdoor kitchen. It adapts the standalone unit into an insert, so that is an option you can save for later if you are planning on such a customization.

Summary

The Timberline, fully accessorized, can run you up to $4,000. This is a serious investment. But it is also made with superior materials. The porcelain steel interior of the Ironwood is replaced with stainless steel in this unit. Plus, every feature comes fully loaded.

Traeger Ranger

The Ranger is Traeger’s tabletop pellet grill. It weighs 60 pounds but is the perfect pellet grill solution for the RV or picnic. This is really a grill, with only limited space for smoking, but it still produces smoke flavor in whatever you cook. With 184 square inches of cooking space, this little pellet grill will handle about 6 burgers or 3 strip steaks. The limited lid height means you can smoke a rack of ribs but nothing much thicker.

Traeger Tailgater

The tailgater is a classic style barrel-shaped pellet grill but on a collapsable set of legs so it can be packed into the RV or back of the truck. This is a basic grill, but it still functions like a full-sized one. Consider this the inexpensive and portable version of the Pro Series with a less sophisticated controller (no WiFi).

Because the the tailgater is designed like a classic pellet grill, it does have a large cooking chamber for a portable grill. This means that the 300 square-inch cooking surface can hold up to 2 whole chickens or 3 racks of ribs (in a rack). I have heard of people smoking a brisket in this unit, but the 8-pound pellet hopper will need to be refilled every few hours.

About Me

I have been writing about Barbecue & Grilling for 25 years. I have cooked on almost every grill or smoker ever built. In that time, I have endeavored to match people with the grill or smoker that was right for them. The ideal product is user-friendly, fulfills all your needs, and is dependable. If you have a good first experience, you will be back for more. In this way, we grow BBQ for the next generation. I want you to make memories that you and your loved ones will cherish.

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This article and the website it appears on use sales affiliates to cover the cost of operation. If you choose to purchase a product through the links provided, a portion of that sale will go to me. It helps me create content so I can help you and others have the best barbecue experience. I am grateful to all my readers over the years who have been so kind as to assist me in my exploration of outdoor cooking. Thank you.

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