Older model Traeger or Pit Boss w/PID

[Omnivore]

Hi all!

I used to post on here occasionally but life got busier and smoking slowed down. I am now looking to get back into it - primarily snack sticks and sausages, as I need to clear out the venison from last season and make room for the upcoming season!

I've always used a MES 30 for everything but have never liked having to slide out the grates in order to rotate sticks, and I felt like heat throughout the chamber was too inconsistent to hang them. I really just want a grill-shaped style smoker at this point (but I dont really care if it sears well since the propane grill is always around).

I don't want a larger investment since it is mostly just for snack sticks so I'm planning to stay around $500. I've narrowed it down to the Traeger Pro Series 34 and the Pit Boss Austin XL Onyx. I like the size of both of them as I like to do big batches if I'm going to get the grinder and stuffer out.

It seems like the general internet consensus is that Traeger in known for better build quality, however the PID in the Pit Boss is a big draw. I'm looking for temperature consistency and something that won't bite the dust after a couple years. Would love to hear some opinions on either model. I do plan on sticking in that price range and that amount of cooking space, so unfortunately Yoders and Recteqs will not be considered, hah!

Edited to add couple pictures of elk processing for photo tax! The counter full of steak is just from the backstraps. Don't worry, I didn't grind them!

 

[mike243]

As much as I like my pellet smoker It runs to hot to properly do sausages, the lowest it might run in the summer is 170 ish. also the low smoke profile might not give enough flavor. I have had my PB for about 6-7 years, I also have never flipped any sausages while smoking them in my 40" Masterbuilt electric. I would take my MBE over any pellet smoker for smoke flavor.

 

[Omnivore]

As much as I like my pellet smoker It runs to hot to properly do sausages, the lowest it might run in the summer is 170 ish. also the low smoke profile might not give enough flavor. I have had my PB for about 6-7 years, I also have never flipped any sausages while smoking them in my 40" Masterbuilt electric. I would take my MBE over any pellet smoker for smoke flavor.

Thanks for the feedback. I might pack my sticks in the MES more, I feel like i have to pull some here and there as they hit target temp. I use a smoke tube for the MES and would probably continue to use that in a pellet smoker since it sounds like it's usually a less smokey end product than in other smoker styles.
Nice to hear that you have been running the Pit Boss for that long!