Yoder YS640s vs Traeger Ironwood
Quick take: The Traeger Ironwood costs $899 less; the Yoder YS640s offers more cooking space (1,070 vs 616 sq in); the Traeger Ironwood reaches a higher max temp (NaN vs NaN°F).
| Spec | Yoder YS640s | Traeger Ironwood |
|---|---|---|
| Price | ~$2,699 | ~$1,800 |
| Rating | — | 4.5★ (748) |
| Type | Pellet Grill | Pellet Grill |
| Cooking Area | 1070 sq in | 616 sq in |
| Max Temp | 600°F | 500F°F |
| Fuel Type | Wood Pellets | Wood Pellets |
| Build Material | 10-Gauge Steel | Dual-wall insulated powder-coated steel |
| Hopper Capacity | 20 lb | 22 lbs |
| Burners | — | — |
| WiFi / App | Yes | Yes |
| App control | Yes | Yes |
| Meat probe | Yes | Yes |
| PID controller | Yes | Yes |
| Side burner | No | No |
| Rotisserie | No | No |
| Searing | Yes | No |
| Dimensions | 57 x 25 x 47.5 in | 59 x 25 x 48 in |
| Weight | 315 lbs | 199 lbs |
| Warranty | 10 years (body) | 10 years |
Pros & cons
Yoder YS640s
- ✓Nothing under $3,000 approaches its build - 10-gauge steel everywhere means thermal mass that laughs at wind, winter, and decade-plus daily use
- ✓The 'Yoder' name caps out search results across r/pelletgrills, r/smoking, r/BBQ, and r/grilling - the consensus endgame pellet grill
- ✓The ACS controller is built on FireBoard hardware with WiFi and two probe ports, and holds within about 5°F across a 14-hour brisket in independent testing
- ✓Swap the heat diffuser for the direct-grilling setup and it sears steaks over live flame at 600°F+ like a charcoal grill
- ✓1,070 sq in across two shelves with nearly 12 inches of headroom swallows briskets, turkeys, and rib racks simultaneously
- ✓Smoke flavor is heavier than mainstream pellet grills thanks to the thick body and firebox design
- ✓It's hand-built in Kansas with a 10-year body warranty and a company that answers the phone and ships parts for decades-old pits
- ✓Resale holds remarkably well - used YS640s still command most of their original price
- ✗At ~$2,799 (over $3,100 on the competition cart) it costs as much as three mainstream pellet grills
- ✗315 lbs means delivery, assembly, and any relocation is a two-person-minimum event, and it's never going to a tailgate
- ✗The painted steel finish (not stainless) needs occasional touch-up to prevent surface rust, especially in humid climates
- ✗Pellet consumption is higher than insulated thin-wall grills since all that steel takes energy to heat
- ✗No frills - no pellet sensor, no ash-cleanout system (you vacuum the firepot), and side shelves cost extra on some configs
- ✗The direct-grilling conversion means physically swapping internal plates, not flipping a lever like Pit Boss's slide plate
- ✗It's sold mostly direct or through specialty dealers, so you likely can't see one before committing to freight shipping
- ✗Electrical components carry a much shorter warranty than the 10-year body coverage
Traeger Ironwood
- ✓Exceptional temp stability from dual-wall insulation and Smart Combustion
- ✓EZ-Clean grease/ash keg is the easiest cleanup system in the pellet category
- ✓Full-color touchscreen and refined WiFIRE app experience
- ✓Pellet sensor and two included probes cover long cooks unattended
- ✓10-year warranty doubles most rivals
- ✓Quieter, more efficient combustion than the old Ironwood 885
- ✓P.A.L. rail and ModiFIRE grate ecosystem add real utility
- ✗$1,800 is a big premium over the Woodridge Pro for less cooking space
- ✗500F max still can't produce a hard sear
- ✗616 sq in is a downgrade from the 885 it replaced
- ✗Smoke flavor is mild unless you run low temps with Super Smoke
- ✗Occasional WiFIRE dropouts and startup overshoot reported by owners