Smoker recommendation?

[virgil]

I want to buy a pellet smoker. Would like to spend less than $600. Most important thing to me is that it has good digital temperature control and makes good smoke. I have a good grill already- this would be used just as a smoker. Any recommendations would be appreciated. 

[mowin]

1 hour ago, virgil said:

I want to buy a pellet smoker. Would like to spend less than $600. Most important thing to me is that it has good digital temperature control and makes good smoke. I have a good grill already- this would be used just as a smoker. Any recommendations would be appreciated. 

As someone who has had just about every type of smoker out there, including pellet smokers, you will not get the same flavor profile from a pellet smoker then say a stick burner.  Yes, a smoke tube will help, but it will not be the same.   I just replaced my GMG of 10+ yrs. I also didn't want to spend much over $6, maybe 700.  After many hrs logged researching for pits in that price range, I picked Pitboss.  

I got the Savannah onyx edition from Walmart for $598.  I've used it a lot for hotdogs to brisket.  It makes great Q.  It's 1600 sq inch, but has 3 racks. Same barrel as the 1100 Sq inch models, but they only have two racks. More on that in a moment..

Pros..

it's huge, lot of space.  Sear function that works fantastic.  Huge hopper. Easy removable Pellet burn pot cleanout.  

Con.

Needs a couple mods to make it just about perfect.  3 racks are too close together for bulky cooks. Pork butts or briskets will not fit between first and second racks, or second and 3rd rack. But I can fit a lot of pork butts on the first and 3rd.

Mods needed.  There is a gap between the heat plate and temp sensor. Heat rises and hits that sensor making actual pit temps lower than the controller reading.  A simple "tube" of foil to close the gap works, but a aftermarket company does make a fix for $30.  Side to side temps are lower than the middle because of the sear feature.  A $30 heat defuser fixed that issue. 

 

 

 

 

[virgil]

OK great.  I'll look into that one.  Thanks very much.