Hello from Northern Virginia

[gluckc]

Update:
For anyone interested I orderd a GMG Ledge for about $800. I liked the price, and the other elements I considered were all pretty similar to the other ones in the running (Gorilla Grills Silverbac Alpha and the Recteq RT 590.) All of these had gold stickers from amazing ribs fwiw.

I was not willing to go higher than $800 so that limited me. I'll post pics soon.
Thank you for being a sounding board.
If anyone wants my spreadsheet I created I'm happy email to you.

Hi Folks:
I've been browsing reviews since my used and gifted Masterbuilt 30 died last week.
Currently deciding between the GMG Ledge, Grilla Grills Silverbac Alpha and the Recteq RT 590.
Most of my work is smoking and I don't see that changing much but I like the start and walk away wifi world these grills offer and interested in some of the grilling aspects, but I dont' see that replacing my weber charcoal grill

[Oak Smoke]

Welcome from central Texas! Someone will be along shortly who is much better qualified to answer your questions. I’m a kamado guy so I won’t be of much help.

[ofelles]

Welcome to the pit from the California Delta.
I know that Yoder is at the high end but their YS640 and 480 offer Fireboard controllers and are well built.

https://www.yodersmokers.com/pellet/

Also LSG offers a very good pellet grill: https://lonestargrillz.com/collectio...rs-coming-soon
If it is within your budget I feel it is better to bite the bullet and buy quality equip - buy once/cry once.

[bbqLuv]

Ditto in quality.

[Purc]

Welcome to The Pit from Fort Worth.

[Draznnl]

Welcome to the Pit from the Florida Suncoast. I can’t help you with the units you’ve picked out. I have a Yoder 640 and like it a lot. If your budget can be stretched, I urge you to look at Yoder.

[Elton's BBQ]

Welcome to The Pit!
Cheers from Noprway

[Panhead John]

Howdy from Houston and welcome to The Pit! You’ll have fun here. The only bad thing is…people here rarely like to make recommendations on a cooker…..

[DaveD]

Yes indeed, we're all really very shy about that.

[BKYDBBQ]

Welcome from White Stone, Va...

[Skip]

Welcome from Minnesota.

[LA Pork Butt]

Welcome to the Pit from Dallas, Texas!

[rlozinak]

Welcome to the Pit from Buffalo!

[bbqLuv]

Hello from NW Oregon
The "Walk away" WIFI is a blessing and a course. I have a Traeger Timberline 850 with their WIFI. I can go off and do other things while smoking long, low, and slow. That means I am not sitting out back watching my smoker with a PBR in hand.

I am interested in which grill you select and why. Also, don't forget pictures of your first cook.

Have fun.

[RonB]

Welcome to The Pit.

I can't help either, but you will get lots of opinions.

[Donw]

Welcome from Maryland

[Bogy]

Welcome from Iowa.

I have 2 pellet burners, a Grilla OG, which I love. It is close to the original OG, so I have the analog controller, and none of the wifi etc. But it's a great cooker.

I also have a Blaz'n Grills Grid Iron. This is also going to stretch your budget, like some of the other cookers people have mentioned.

Unless you need the extra sq. inches, have you considered the Grilla OG? It's a little more expensive than the SB, but it does a great job, and it is surprisingly roomy, more than you might think when you look at a picture. Doesn't look like anything else out there, and half the fun is people asking you, "What the heck is that?"

[gluckc]

I see the new Alpha has wifi. It looks intriguing. I'm not sold that is has much more benefit than an offset smoker like the GMG. Plus I'm maxing my budget at $800 unfortunately. Otherwise I might take it more seriously.

[Bogy]

gluckc This was, as the name says, the "original" smoker the founders of Grilla came up with. There is no chimney, instead the smoke exits from vents on the leading edge of the "lid". Which helps the convection aspect. My own opinion is they got it right. But people wanted smokers that looked like all the other smokers, so they came up with the SB. Then Rock Steady temps were supposed to be good, so they gave in with the Alpha controller after telling people "trust the swing" for years. (cont)

[Bogy]

This was because people freaked out if their cooker varied in temp by more than 5 degrees. But its the swing that creates smoke. If you buy a Grilla with the Alpha controller, at least Grilla gives you the option of NOT using the PID option. Forget it has that option. Because after they made what everyone wanted, they then complained that pellet smokers don't create enough smoke, so they add smoke tubes and smoke boxes. Which my old OG doesn't need. My rant for the day!