Comments on: I have a man-crush on my Traeger Pellet Grill

By: Oldschool

Oldschool — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 23:06:53 +0000

Wow – what a thread. Yea, they dont really advertise that the grills are made in China. PGO (www.pelletgrilloutlet.com used to be http://www.traegeroutlet.com) now offers like 3 or 4 American made grills and I got my Memphis Pro there after using Traeger grill for years. Absolutely love it! Took as look at the MAK too – both looked great!

Anyway, got to go eat some ribs now!

By: Steve

Steve — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 16:13:46 +0000

I have bought 3 Traegers in all and all USA built, as soon as I saw one cooking and ate food off it I had to have one! I still have 2 of them an 020 and a 125 and they are excellent smokers! I recently borrowed a chinese built 075 while I remodeled my 125 (thats another story) anyway it is a disappointment to see how bad the fit and finish is now. I doubt I would buy one now even though the one I used still worked ok the lid was held on with small sheet metal screws and the shelf held the lid open so far it wouldn’t hold a consistent temp at all and smoking temp was very inconsistent and I feel it was the huge amount of air leak around the lid. My impression was they look cheap now and feel flimsy but still cost and arm and a leg that’s not good in my opinion. Apparently Traeger has turned their back on their loyal dealers also since anybody can become a dealer now if they buy 4-5 grills they are a dealer that hurts the small guy that helped build Traeger. We have several dealers now in my town and it seems like its quantity is more important than quality now its a chinese built unit. Same old thing in retail now a days sub out of country and stab the little guys.

By: Will

Will — Fri, 28 May 2010 03:28:36 +0000

Not being made by AMERICANS has me looking for used Traegers, if a source in KS comes through I will post. New China style cookers have screws over welds and thinner gauge steel, but still cost the same.

By: Bruce

Bruce — Fri, 23 Apr 2010 23:37:21 +0000

Jason—you’re in luck! MAK GRILLS of Dallas, OR makes an AMERICAN MADE WOOD PELLET GRILL! It’s got more bells and whistles on it that you can count on two hands. Check out the website…www.makgrills.com
It’s an unbelievable cooking machine! I’ve been cooking on pellet grills since 1991, and the MAK by far outcooks, and outshines any other brand of pellet grill available today!

By: Roman Zak

Roman Zak — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 22:44:43 +0000

Bought a Traeger last spring and was disappointed to find out it was built in China – website said “Made in USA”. Secondly was disappointed with how cheaply made it was when putting it together. It didn’t help that on the second barbecue the igniter failed. This spring when I pulled the cover off for the first barbecue of the season there was a rust mark all around the lid opening. Have been looking at U.S. made Mak grill.

By: Jason Neal

Jason Neal — Mon, 12 Apr 2010 19:24:47 +0000

I am in the market for a Pellet Grill and will gladly pay double for a unit that is made in the USA only, I am still researching, out of all the Pellet Grills that I have researched Traeger is on the top of the list as far as the design, but I will keep searching or build my own.

By: David

David — Mon, 29 Mar 2010 22:14:18 +0000

I’ve used, sold and demo’ed Traegers for five or six years, when I worked for a dealer. I was disappointed when production moved to China, and I agree that the build quality is not up to the American-made units, but the cooking quality has not changed a bit. Besides, as I drove my Japanese car to the store after watching my Taiwanese TV, powered by my Korean DVD player while wearing a pair Asics made in China, it became apparent that what was most important was the whole chicken I’d just pulled off my Lil Tex. High for 45, smoke for 45, baste with Traeger Mandarin Glaze and enjoy. As always, a simple recipe, and the finest chicken I’ve ever cooked.

By: Lou Novak

Lou Novak — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 22:20:41 +0000

I have a stateside made unit, and I am very familier with the overseas made units…. if both units were on the showroom floor, side by side, I would absolutly pay the extra 200-300 dollars for the solid made unit. better quality, american made, local support from the “hands on” guys at the factory. all like it used to be.
I an sure the money they may save by making the stamped out units over seas, they will lose in sales of the total units sold overall.
traeger grills are worth the price we pay for them…. if you like good food and know what good food is!!

By: Todd

Todd — Sat, 23 Jan 2010 17:59:23 +0000

Frank,
If I were you I’d consider either the Junior or the Lil Tex/Lil Tex Elite. My brother has a bigger grill and while it’s great for cooking mass quantities of food, for the average 3 person meal he says it is just way too big and uses more pellets/takes longer to get to temp. I have a Lil Tex and that is plenty big to throw 16 hamburgers on at a time or even smoke a whole turkey. I’ve never personally used the Junior but it looks a little small for serious entertaining. As far as the Elite, I know it’s alot more money but you do get a digital thermostat and dome thermometer, which can both be added to a standard Lil Tex (for a price of course). Good luck on your search and if you have any other questions feel free to email me at buzzerbaby@gmail.com .

By: Dave

Dave — Sun, 03 Jan 2010 01:13:22 +0000

I’d go with the Lil Tex. With a rack (the Treager rack is an excellent product) it can handle 6 racks of baby backs, or 6 – 8 good sized burgers, or about 20 chicken drumsticks, 6 nice rib-eyes or a 12 – 15# turkey. The good news is it will also do an excellent job on 1 rack of ribs, 2 burgers, half a chicken or a turkey breast. A friend has a Big Tex and I think the Lil Tex has better temp control and unless you’re feeding an army it will hold plenty. I haven’t cooked on a Junior, but LOVE my Lil Tex and for a family of 4 with plenty of dinner guests its perfect.