Traeger Timberline XL vs Cookshack Fast Eddy's PG500
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Quick take: The Cookshack Fast Eddy's PG500 costs $249 less; the Traeger Timberline XL offers more cooking space (1,320 vs 784 sq in); the Cookshack Fast Eddy's PG500 reaches a higher max temp (600 vs 500°F).
| Spec | Traeger Timberline XL | Cookshack Fast Eddy's PG500 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | ~$3,999 | ~$3,750 |
| Rating | 4★ (318) | — |
| Type | Pellet Grill | Pellet Grill |
| Cooking Area | 1320 sq in | 784 sq in |
| Max Temp | 500°F | 600°F |
| Fuel Type | Wood Pellets | Wood Pellets |
| Build Material | Powder-Coated Steel | 304 Stainless Steel |
| Hopper Capacity | 22 lb | — |
| Burners | — | — |
| WiFi / App | Yes | No |
| App control | Yes | No |
| Meat probe | Yes | Yes |
| PID controller | Yes | Yes |
| Side burner | No | No |
| Rotisserie | No | No |
| Searing | Yes | Yes |
| Dimensions | 62 x 51 x 25 in | — |
| Weight | 289 lbs | 330 lbs |
| Warranty | 10 years | — |
Pros & cons
Traeger Timberline XL
- ✓Fully double-wall insulated stainless construction holds temperature rock-steady even in freezing weather, making it the most consistent Traeger for winter brisket
- ✓Massive 1320 sq in over three shelves swallows multiple briskets, pork butts, and racks of ribs for catering-level cooks
- ✓The built-in induction cooktop on the side is genuinely useful for searing, finishing sauces, or making sides without a second appliance
- ✓The full-color touchscreen and refreshed app are the most polished controls Traeger has ever shipped, with helpful step-by-step guidance
- ✓Super Smoke mode plus the larger firepot produces strong, clean smoke and excellent bark on low-and-slow cooks
- ✓Pop-and-lock accessory rails and the modular shelf system make it easy to add hooks, shelves, and a roll rack
- ✓A class-leading 10-year warranty backs the big price tag and signals Traeger's confidence in the build
- ✓The downdraft exhaust and sensor suite keep heat even front-to-back and top-to-bottom across that huge cooking area
- ✗At roughly $3,800 it's brutally expensive, and many reviewers feel you're paying a heavy premium for the Traeger badge and touchscreen
- ✗It still maxes out around 500°F, so despite the price you cannot true-sear on the main grates without the side burner or GrillGrates
- ✗Even on this flagship, owners report the WiFi dropping and the app occasionally losing connection mid-cook
- ✗At 289 lbs it's extremely heavy and awkward to move, and assembly is a long two-person job
- ✗Early units shipped with firmware bugs and touchscreen glitches that required updates, frustrating early adopters
- ✗Pellet consumption is high given the size, and you'll feed it a lot of fuel on long all-day cooks
- ✗The induction burner and electronics add more failure points, and out-of-warranty repairs on a grill this complex are costly
- ✗Its sheer footprint (62 in wide) is too big for many patios and it dominates the space
Cookshack Fast Eddy's PG500
- ✓Charbroiler direct-fire zone is unique among pellet grills and produces char that no diffuser-based design can match
- ✓Four separate zones — direct grate, indirect rack, top rack and warming drawer — let a whole meal cook at once
- ✓Built and serviced in Oklahoma by a company that has made commercial smokers since 1962, with real parts support
- ✓304 stainless throughout rather than powder-coated steel, so it will outlast most of this catalog
- ✓Efficient at 1.2-2 lbs of pellets per hour at 400°F despite its size
- ✓Sold direct by the manufacturer, so there is no dealer markup or channel confusion
- ✗$3,750 is near the top of this entire catalog and roughly triple a well-equipped Traeger or Recteq
- ✗Non-insulated cabinet, so cold-weather and overnight efficiency suffer relative to insulated competitors at half the price
- ✗No WiFi or app control at all — a serious omission at this price in 2026
- ✗330 lbs means delivery and placement are a project, and it will not be moved afterwards
- ✗Cookshack does not publish hopper capacity or full dimensions, making planning harder than it should be