[MtnClimber]

I just ordered a Traeger wood pellet smoker grill. At the altitude where I live (8,500 ft) it is hard to get enough heat with charcoal.

[eastforker]

I have used pellet grills and they do not do the same job as a indirect wood smoker. Using wood instead of charcoal and regulating with a good damper will deliver more heat than charcoal.

[Political Junkie Too]

I've been using a Traeger for about a year now. I have the smallest size, the Elite Jr.

What I've learned is that it is more of a convection oven, since it does not use direct heat. Therefore, you won't get the sear or grill marks that you would with a charcoal grill.

That said, there are some compensations. The best is to order a set of Grill Grates from a company called GrillGrates. They focus the heat into the grates, sort of like a reverse heat sink that you see on computer CPU chips. Instead of routing heat away, they concentrate heat in.

You might also want to read up on a forum site called Pelletheads.com. There is also a subforum for Traeger Grills.

-PJ

[867V309]

I just ordered a Traeger wood pellet smoker grill. At the altitude where I live (8,500 ft) it is hard to get enough heat with charcoal.

An electric smoker is the way to go. You don't need wood or pellets for heat, just for smoke.

And, sauce is for amateurs. Properly smoked ribs need nothing but hot sauce.