[Xbolt7mm]

If you gave up on your gas bbq then stay away from the traiger unless you buy the new timberline but at 3 Grand there’s lots of other options. Any other traiger will not sear a steak, period. Don’t listen to anyone that tells you a grill that only hits 450 will grill a steak. The Louisiana is supposed to hit 600 so it can replace the bbq. The GMG will hit 550 so it will also replace the bbq, however I would recommend grill grates for them both. The thickness of all the main pellet smokers will not vary by much. The thicker the steel the more pellets it takes to heat it to temp, but on long smoke it will take less pellets to maintain, everything is a give and take. Some have options others don’t, like meat thermometers. Some have cold weather turbo mode (Jim Bowie GMG and Yoder, not sure on the others). Some have cold weather blankets. Some have an upper shelf others don’t (needed) but those can be fabed after. Louisiana and yoder have the heat shields that move so your grilling right over the flame. Gmg has a two piece heat shield that slides open for grilling. All said, the traiger( with the exception of the timberline) is the worst choice of all of them. The timberline is traegers model to try to compete with yoder, crazy Dave’s etc I’ve heard they are good but 3 Grand put’s you up with the tried and true top end models that are ten gauge steel or real stainless.