New Weber pellet grills for 2020


 
Bob Correll said:
My interest in the new offering from Weber is waning.
If I do decide to add a pellet grill/smoker to my deck I have no need for it's grilling ability or high tech connections, much less its price, $1K will buy a lot of good meat.
My oldest son has a Pit Boss, lower end model, and it does what he wants it to do and loves it.
I would like to see if pellet smoking is for me, so perhaps a good, used, simple unit would suit me. My SMOKE can monitor anything I want to know about what's going on under the lid.
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Barb and I are starting to think as you do. Actually I started this journey to be able to smoke things in the summer when the fire restrictions on charcoal are in place and to be able to smoke things in the winter without running back and forth in the cold and snow to refuel or reset vents.
I would get a smoke also but I have six mavericks, don't ask how I ended up with six of them that do the job quite well for me. I don't need to monitor remotely away from home because I won't leave anything like that unattended.
I've been looking at used Traeger's which is what my Daughter has and loves it. There about the only ones I can find around here. For 1/4 to 1/3 of the price of the Smoke Fire that should be good enough it's not like it's going to be my daily driver.
I'll still have two gassers and the performer.
 
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ShaneF said:
Bob, as a pellet grill junkie I can say you are onto something. If you don't want to grill, you can likely get a pretty good feel from about anything. I will tell you though that all of the others (I've had multiple Traegers, GMG, CampChef, Memphis) will likely be more difficult to clean. It's not hard, but you need to remove most of inside to change foil on drip tray, vacuum out firebox and bottom of pit every 20-40 pounds of pellets burnt to keep them running the best.

I cannot tell you how excited I am for the SmokeFire. I know I love pellet grills, but the no stack, no bucket on the side, no drip tray, being able to grill if/when I want to (I have other grills for that most of the time), potentially disassembling quite a bit less to vacuum all seems too good to be true. The smoke stack and bucket aren't that big of deal for cooking, but they are a gigantic pain when you always keep your grills covered when their not cookin' food.
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Damn you Shane, lol. :p
 
Christmas came Early!
While discussing logistics for turkey day with my wife, I brought up pellet grills and my dilemma about the new Weber not yet released and a Camp Chef I had been looking at. Great sale online on the grill I was looking at. Camp Chef PG24-B with 2 probes. I will still using my Smoke with it which covers my entire house. I'm like Rich, I don't smoke often and I have no intention of getting rid of my 2007 NG Genesis which has been customized with blue doors, lid and sideburner. I have a complete grill I bought for parts only which will support my grill and my son's Genesis E-310 for decades. Just wanted a pellet grill for smoking. While I like many of the features and claims on the FireSmoke, I went for the Camp Chef since it is now a Christmas present. Probably the last grill I will be purchasing in my lifetime, especially since it is dry here so rust isn't really an issue. So $600 with a cover and tax is better than the $1100 inc. tax I was facing for an EX-4 with a lot of unknowns. Now if I can get the wife to venture into grilling......
 
Rich Dahl said:
Barb and I are starting to think as you do. Actually I started this journey to be able to smoke things in the summer when the fire restrictions on charcoal are in place and to be able to smoke things in the winter without running back and forth in the cold and snow to refuel or reset vents.
I would get a smoke also but I have six mavericks, don't ask how I ended up with six of them that do the job quite well for me. I don't need to monitor remotely away from home because I won't leave anything like that unattended.
I've been looking at used Traeger's which is what my Daughter has and loves it. There about the only ones I can find around here. For 1/4 to 1/3 of the price of the Smoke Fire that should good enough it's not like it's going to be my daily driver.
I'll still have two gassers and the performer.
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Rich,
For someone like you and me who already have an arsenal of gas and charcoal grills, the big plus searing capability the Weber SmokeFire offers is probably not as big a deal. For someone wanting just one grill - and that is probably most people - this new Weber has potential to be revolutionary.

I think if you can confirm that pellet grills are ok for you during restriction time, a mid-size used one is a perfectly good way to go. You are also blessed to live “where rust isn’t allowed” so the weaker construction of some cheaper models isn’t the huge deal it is here for me in Swamp - I mean South - Florida. There are many brands in that range, Traeger certainly being an obvious example. I only have direct experience with Rec Tec and would definitely encourage you to look for a used one if you can find one. Big reason is that I have confidence Rec Tec will give you good support. Of the rest of the moderate price names that get tossed around, I think I would look at Green Mountain Grills, but I am sure there are others that are good as well.
 
Jon,
I agree I really would be going over board spending over a grand for a smoker I would probably use less than twenty times a year. So I'm going to start researching other brands. The pit boss has a grease cup that's sealed underneath so the pups couldn't get their noses into it and supposedly an ash system that's easy to clean. Also a three year warranty. So far there's is the only one I've checked into and will have to scope out others and see what owners have to say about them.
I still have my 18.5 WSM so there is no urgency.
 
Rich Dahl said:
Jon,
I agree I really would be going over board spending over a grand for a smoker I would probably use less than twenty times a year. So I'm going to start researching other brands. The pit boss has a grease cup that's sealed underneath so the pups couldn't get their noses into it and supposedly an ash system that's easy to clean. Also a three year warranty. So far there's is the only one I've checked into and will have to scope out others and see what owners have to say about them.
I still have my 18.5 WSM so there is no urgency.
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Rich, I believe that Traeger also made/makes a 'Select' model that has an internal grease bucket. There's not a whole lot of pellet grills with this, especially on the more affordable end. I have seen a few Traeger Selects locally used. I think they may have been a Costco specific model originally. Other than Memphis (super expensive even used) and the new Weber, struggling to think of too many more that have a contained grease collection. Of all the pellet grills I've had and seen, Pit Boss gives the appearance of the cheapest/poorest construction and are often sitting on display with broken parts. I'm sure they must be somewhat fine since they've been in business a while, just sharing my impression of looking at them.
 
Good video review. I will be looking forward to some complete videos of actual use as people buy these things and start using them.
What I got out of this video is that it seems Weber did do a lot of R&D and testing that they incorporated into their pellet cookers. However, I also think that while they are releasing a capable product, I don't think it is complete. The reviewer mentioned there are a lot of accessories in the works as well as software that isn't yet ready. Extra shelves being one of them which a lot of people have already commented on.
I think Weber wants to get this on the market and get it established and ready for the prime spring time grill buying season. But, I think early adopters from January through April are going to be the real world test subjects.
 
ShaneF said:
Rich, I believe that Traeger also made/makes a 'Select' model that has an internal grease bucket. There's not a whole lot of pellet grills with this, especially on the more affordable end. I have seen a few Traeger Selects locally used. I think they may have been a Costco specific model originally. Other than Memphis (super expensive even used) and the new Weber, struggling to think of too many more that have a contained grease collection. Of all the pellet grills I've had and seen, Pit Boss gives the appearance of the cheapest/poorest construction and are often sitting on display with broken parts. I'm sure they must be somewhat fine since they've been in business a while, just sharing my impression of looking at them.
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Thanks Shane any and all information is appreciated. With the lousy weather coming up I can sit at my computer with a cup of coffee and check out all the brands out there. See what might work for Barb and I.
 
Bruce said:
Good video review. I will be looking forward to some complete videos of actual use as people buy these things and start using them.
What I got out of this video is that it seems Weber did do a lot of R&D and testing that they incorporated into their pellet cookers. However, I also think that while they are releasing a capable product, I don't think it is complete. The reviewer mentioned there are a lot of accessories in the works as well as software that isn't yet ready. Extra shelves being one of them which a lot of people have already commented on.
I think Weber wants to get this on the market and get it established and ready for the prime spring time grill buying season. But, I think early adopters from January through April are going to be the real world test subjects.
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A couple things to consider. The Traeger has already defined the pellet grill market as sell the bare bones grill and charge everyone for every accessory possible. Almost every other pellet grill manufacturer does the same thing in selling shelves, additional probes, extra racks, etc. as upgrades. Heck, pretty much the entire BBQ industry is that way. Weber themselves are already great at this as well with their gas and charcoal grills. This is no indicator of the product being complete or incomplete. Weber isn't going to give much detail into the accessories until shortly before or right when the units start shipping to save their dealers and support a lot of grief in questions and customer confusion. As well, it's more important to focus on anything related to the primary products successful launch than the accessories, they will sell themselves later if the product sell well and works as advertised.

I predict Weber is also not going to release the software until the grill is in customer hands. Again, this will limit customer confusion, calls to customer support, etc. They can't train support now and expect them to retain it well when these poor representatives won't use the product information for weeks or months yet. It's far easier to just say it's not ready than to explain all the logistics of why it's being withheld from public access at this time.
 
Does anyone know what the gift for pre ordering might be? I’ve seen it mentioned but wonder if it will be anything worth doing it for?
 
Lynn Dollar said:
BBM uploaded a lengthy review

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Did anyone notice that while he lamented the chrome plated steel grates (ala Weber Kettle grills) he stated that the grates were the same size as "Spirit" grates. I am thinking he means the 3-burner Spirit. If so, that means they are the same as the classic Genesis. So...you can easily (OK, not cheaply) upgrade to the stainless grate of your choice. That would not be the case for the single upper rack, but I think that it would last a lot longer since you wouldn't be using it when you do high heat grilling.

If this is correct, that is another clever and helpful thing Weber did in designing this pellet grill. And, you have a ready way to upgrade from the admittedly low-end OEM grate. I can understand Weber trying very hard to deliver this grill at a price point that wouldn't make this another Summit Charcoal. Baby Back Maniac mentions that. I think they overpriced the Summit Charcoal so that now it is just seen at a select few places that sell Weber grills. They can't afford that mistake with this grill which needs to be main mid-market. So, as has been noted, like others Weber has to separate out some of the extras to give a semi-reasonable entry price. I personally am OK with that approach. You can get the grill, enjoy it right away and then enjoy upgrades that seem relevant to you.

If I could buy one of these, I would also immediately look at what nuts, bolts, etc could be readily replaced with 304/316 stainless.

Still, I am very impressed with the engineering and initial results. Larry mentioned the demos being in a controlled environment which is true, but BBM quoted a lot of research done in various temperatures. Give Weber credit. They didn't just churn out a cheap copy with a Weber logo. This is their own grill based on some serious research. I enjoyed using my Rec Tec, as always, doing my Thanksgiving turkey. I have to say, though, that its design is starting to look a little out of date with the arrival of this new Weber. There are many things to like about Rec Tec pellet grills (great customer support, highly respected electronics, liberal use of stainless, and a solid, attractive grill at a mid-market price), but I do admit I don't really like the grease bucket. I will be interested in seeing more about how the Weber pellet grill cleans up and how easily grease and ash are actually handled.
 
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If you’ve ever listened to the BBQ Central Show, one of the Weber Pitmasters was on last week talking about SmokeFire. It’s a good listen if you are thinking about the grill. He talked about something like 800 hours of testing on it in his own back yard. Maybe he has a climate controlled he shed with a vent since he tests unreleased products, I guess he wasn’t asked about that.

He also said he tested about every other brand of pellet grill imaginable to know what they were up against and would be compared to.
 
Sounds like pellet grills are becoming like cell phones only the newest and fastest and most high tech will do. This is coming from a guy who still has a flip phone so I can't say I'm a player in this. If Weber's high tech SmokeFire causes the other manufacturers to step up their game, it's all good.
For me good enough will have to do.
I almost pulled the trigger on a Pit Boss yesterday that Target had on sale for $199, but it was too small to get a decent sized brisket on, so the search continues.
 
My flip phone is one step above two cans with a string!
1997 Genesis
Kettles in various sizes and conditions
18” WSM.
I don’t need one but is certainly interesting to see this conversation roll along.
And Yeah, good call Jon on the “upgradable” grates!
 
Looking at the other pellet grills the Weber sure looks a lot nicer. But like the old saying "Chrome won't get you home"
 
Lew:
That is a similar model to the one that is arriving Monday. I got a great deal on a Camp Chef SG24. I don't plan on using the Grill feature since my Genesis will be doing 100% of that. I'm very interested in how you added casters the legs on the left side. I tried moving the one on display around in the store and found it to be heavy to move and that was with no pellets in the hopper!
 
Lew Newby said:
Rich, here's a descent deal in your area. I have one and you can do a 24" long brisket on it. I modified mine with casters because it's 150 lb. and my back didn't like me lifting one end to move it. https://phoenix.craigslist.org/wvl/for/d/glendale-camp-chef-smokepro-dlx-pg24/7017884688.html
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Thanks Lew, I have that one already on my radar. Hoping to find one locally as that's a 200+ mile RT from here and I would have to rent a small trailer because there is no way Barb and I could stuff 140 pounds into the back of our 4runner.
 
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