HELP a Newbie, Please

[SmokenJoe]

I am as new as it gets to Pellet Grills and just about as old as it gets for experience with other grills. I currently have a Weber Summit, a Weber Performer and a Big Green Egg on the back deck.

I've read a lot about the MAK II and Memphis grills here. Can anyone help me with their thoughts and experience on the Yoder 640 ? It looks like it's built like a tank at 300 plus pounds. It is made with a 10 gauge steel box, which should provide good heat retention, and has a nice size cooking area at 20 X 32. Company has also been around awhile.

Thanks, Joe

 

[HogSmoker]

I have nothing to say bad about other pellet grills. But I will say IMO MAK grills are the best. You will not be disappointed in buying a MAK.

 

[Big Poppa]

they are all very good grills....there are people here who swear by their Yoder....Im sure its great. The Memphis is a really 'modern' unit that is super easy to use and is stainless....gets really hot too....The Mak is a cooks tool. the accessories developed for it are fabulous and the programming you can do to control you cook even remotely is not available anywhere but on a MAK

 

[Meat Man]

Yoders are a well made grill, holds temp very well due to the 10 gauge steel, and produces an adequate smoke profile. The MAK is in another catagory all together. For one it has a variable speed fan that slows down at the lower temp cooks, less air flow over the fire pot which in my opinion produces alot more smoke. There is a lot of sophistication that went into the design of the MAK that just isn't there in other grills. Spend the extra cash you won't be sorry.

 

[Tatonka3A2]

We have the Yoder 640 and love it!! We did a lot of research before purchasing the Yoder and wouldn't change a thing.

 

[Big Poppa]

The important thing to understand is that Im a dealer for MAK and Memphis I love all pellet grills except for one...hehehehe Yoders are fine units

 

[3Bs-Bar-B-Que]

im not going to trash any grill but BP does sell a great pellet grill .. and if you had to guess im sure mak would be the first guess lol

 

[TrickyDick]

Tough decisions.
I wanted a built-in for my outdoor kitchen under construction. That narrowed the choice to Memphis or Memphis, until I found out about the new MAK 4 star, which can also be built in.
I'm sure you can't go wrong with any of those.
Clearly, there are TONS of MAK fanatics here. I thought to myself, that there must be a reason for that.
I am going with the MAK. I believe they are double wall 304 SS & insulated, which should provide superior heat retention than any single wall design, even with 10ga steel. I do not know much about the yoder grill I admit, because of my need to get a built in. I also hear that for smoking as opposed to grilling, that MAK produces more smoke than Memphis. Plus I can control it from my iPhone!
TD


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I am here: http://tapatalk.com/map.php?xmfqci

 

[BBQ Joe]

I was traveling in Kansas this week and stopped into a deli-meat market yesterday that also sells Traegers and Yoders. I had never seen one before. Today I was at one of my sales calls and they sold the Louisiana grills. The design of the Yoder is very similar to a Traeger or Louisiana, just way heavier built. It does have some nice features that those grills do not have. It is not as sophisticated as a MAK or a Memphis. There are no temperature probes and the fit and finish is not as clean. For their "flame zone" you remove the drip pan and insert some grill grates on the side that has the burn pot. The dealer said it works very well, but I did notice some grease in the bottom of the grill after they had demoed it at an open house. The grease collector is also tucked under the unit and may be a little bit harder to see how full it is, and to remove when full. No matter what you decide to go with, from a Traeger to a Yoder all the way to a MAK or a Memphis, you will cook some great food and have a great time. You just have to decide what features you want and how long you want your investment to last. I went with the MAK through BP a year ago and have never regretted my decision. Good Luck!

 

[Hobbit]

Welcome to the forum...this is the place for help (and to expand your waistline).

 

[SmokinSaluki]

I have a Yoder 640 and don't have any complaints. I wish I could have experience with all the top brands but that was not an option in my area. I was on the fence between the Yoder, MAK, Memphis or Traeger (for the cheaper price).
After months of researching, I decided against the "cheap" Traeger due to the reports of reduced quality after being made in China. The other brands all seemed to have some sort of benefit over the other but were about equal in my mind since I didn't have any personal experience with any of them.
I narrowed my search down to Yoder and MAK.
There were two main reasons I went with the Yoder: Price and perceived looks. The Yoder was just enough cheaper and built like a tank while the MAK (and others) look like a gas grill. I wanted a more traditional smoker look.
I lurk on this forum more than anything, and judging by what I see I would not hesitate to buy either brand if it fits your budget and you are commited to trying a pellet grill. BP does a fine job with customer service and although I didn't buy a MAK from him, I have enjoyed several spices, rubs and sauces from him.
I wish I had more time and money to experiment with some of the great recipes and ideas I find here!

 

[Nancy Lou]

You will love pellet grilling, "Newbie". I urge you to check out Traeger's line. I have had one for 2 years, and would never go back to conventional grills. Traeger founded the pellet grill business and has been at it for nearly 30 years.