Traeger Ironwood 885 vs Z Grills Multitasker 11002B

Traeger

Traeger Ironwood 885

~$1,400

4.6★ (836)

Z Grills

~$1,399

Quick take: The Z Grills Multitasker 11002B costs $1 less; the Z Grills Multitasker 11002B offers more cooking space (1,068 vs 885 sq in).

✓The D2 controller holds your set temp within roughly 5-15°F once it settles, which is plenty accurate for ribs, brisket, and pork butt without babysitting
✓Super Smoke mode genuinely cranks up smoke output at low temps (under 225°F) and gives noticeably more bark and smoke ring than the old Pro series
✓The downdraft exhaust and double-sidewall insulation help it hold heat better than older Traegers, so it recovers faster when you open the lid
✓WiFIRE app is the most mature in the category and lets you adjust temp, set probe alarms, and monitor cooks from your phone anywhere
✓885 sq in over two racks easily handles two pork butts plus a couple racks of ribs, so it's a real family/party-sized cooker not just a weeknight grill
✓The built-in pellet sensor warns you before the hopper runs dry, which saves you from the dreaded stalled-out overnight brisket cook
✓TurboTemp gets it up to cooking temp in about 10-15 minutes, faster than many competing pellet grills
✓Cleanup is straightforward thanks to the EZ-clean grease and ash keg, and the porcelain grates wipe down easily

✗WiFi connectivity is the number-one owner complaint - the grill regularly drops off the network mid-cook and you have to re-pair it through the app
✗Like all pellet grills it tops out around 450-500°F, so you won't get a true steakhouse sear without a separate cast-iron skillet or GrillGrates
✗At roughly $1,400 it's expensive for powder-coated steel, and many feel Recteq or Camp Chef give you more grill for the money
✗Pellet consumption is on the higher side, especially in cold weather where the single-wall areas leak heat despite the marketing about insulation
✗Some owners report the auger jamming or the hot rod failing after a year or two, and Traeger service can be slow to ship parts
✗The 3-year warranty trails Recteq (6 yr) and Camp Chef, which feels stingy at this price point
✗Temperature swings of 20-30°F are common during the initial heat-up and after lid openings before the PID re-stabilizes
✗It needs 120V power and the controller electronics are a known failure point, so a true 'set it and forget it' overnight cook is a small gamble

✓Insulated dual-wall construction is rare below $2,000 and is the single biggest factor in winter pellet consumption
✓Full-length lid gasket, not the partial gaskets most grills use, which is where heat and smoke actually escape
✓1,068 sq in and a 28 lb hopper support roughly 28 hours of continuous cooking
✓PID 3.1 controller with WiFi, the same control platform as the rest of the line
✓Priced identically to the smaller 7052B, so the larger chamber costs nothing extra

✗Z Grills does not publish a temperature range, maximum temperature or warranty term on this listing
✗Truck freight delivery with a required 24-hour response window — not a drive-home purchase
✗No sear zone or direct-flame mode despite the price
✗206 lbs in an insulated cabinet; once positioned it stays put
✗Z Grills' brand recognition and resale value trail Traeger and Recteq considerably at this price