MAK 2 Star General - KC, MO $800 *Not Mine*

[glitchy]

There’s an older MAK 2 Star General for sale on BBQ Bretheren in KC. This is the person I bought my KBQ from and a very nice guy and from my experience a straight shooter. This is an older model before they switched to aluminized steel on the cart, hopper and cold smoker/warmer box). To me it looks like a good couple hours of cleaning followed buy a little sanding and spray paint and would have a very cheap, but very nice US made pellet grill.

MAK sells upgrades too, They’ve tried to maintain a lot of compatibility over the years. I’m not completely sure, but you might be able to buy a new controller, flame zone setup, and a grate rack kit (they loan you a template and sell you the brackets to mount the new shelf racks) for this grill. Getting the serial number from the seller and a call to Dennis at MAK would get you a more definite answer to if and how much each would cost if that was a pre-purchase concern. Even without these things, MAKs were great pellet smokers, just less efficient and had less capacity. The grate racks would be my first priority personally as I frequently put a drip pan on the main grate and smoke on the first of the 3 upper racks on the newer design.

https://www.bbq-brethren.com/forum/s...d.php?t=298767

Tagging ItsAllGoneToTheDogs and GolfGeezer in case they have any thoughts to share knowing more about older MAK grills.

[ItsAllGoneToTheDogs]

can't see it, but if it has the built in rails for the 2nd rack I think it's fully or at least near fully upgradable. Only major changes after the introduction of the built in rack rail were more racks (can upgrade to), different flamezone (some people might not care), different ignitor (when the one in there blows, you pay one time for the new style ignitor and get a lifetime warranty on it), the new controller, and roaming thermocouple (most people won't care)...

For 800ish even if it's the old non upgradable (can still upgrade the controller at least) it would be a great cabin or vacation house smoker, or whatever.

[GolfGeezer]

It is definitely older than my 2018. It has the much older second rack that sits in holes on the cooker body versus the built-in rails - not sure if that second rack is equivalent to a half size or 3/4 quarter size second rack. It also has the much older heat deflector, grates that run front-to-back versus the side-to-side, as well the older ignitor and other stuff mentioned above. The upgrade kits, which I am pretty sure will still work, will add a fair chunk of change - the controller alone may run over $250-$300, $200 for the ignitor, and not sure, but not cheap, for the new Flamezone or the upgrade rail kit and rails. So, upgrades will almost double the price, but still less than a new MAK 2 Star.

Lastly, the parts covered by the lifetime warranty are not transferrable. It is still a very good smoker - but, from my perspective, the price seems high if a buyer wants to upgrade the newer elements mentioned.

[ItsAllGoneToTheDogs]

glitchy I'm thinking more along the lines of people that would like to use programmed cooks and such, even without wifi the preprogrammed cooks are pretty nifty but you gotta have probes in the pellet boss

[glitchy]

ItsAllGoneToTheDogs Yeah, I’ve used it a few times, but only once or twice based upon a probe. I usually use the time programs. My point being just that it’s not a necessity. Sure this wouldn’t have all the bells and whistles of a new MAK, but it’s 1/4 of the price.

[glitchy]

Don’t take me wrong appreciate both of your feedback here greatly. I have no idea on the costs of the upgrades and sounds like you both do…so might be a good deal if someone wants as is or only wants the controller and/or shelves. Plus, I’m just guessing not his bottom dollar since he’s already dropped price once. I just keep thinking would beat a new Traeger as is.