Traeger
Traeger Ironwood 885
The Traeger Ironwood 885 is a WiFi-connected wood-pellet grill and smoker from Traeger, the company that popularized pellet grills. It uses the D2 direct-drive controller and WiFIRE app for hands-off cooks.
Specifications
Features
Pros
- ✓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
Cons
- ✗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
Owner Insights(4,100 discussions)
On r/pelletgrills the Ironwood 885 is seen as the 'mid-tier Traeger that's actually worth it' — the step where you get double-wall insulation, Super Smoke, and a pellet sensor, which together fix a lot of the Pro series' weak spots. Owners report steadier temps, better bark, and enough capacity for serious weekend cooks.
The debate in every thread is value: at the Ironwood's price, a vocal contingent points out that a Recteq RT-700 gives you 304 stainless construction and a 6-year warranty, versus Traeger's painted steel and 3 years. The WiFi reliability gripes and high pellet usage also follow it up from the cheaper models.
The consensus is that it's a genuinely good cooker and the most popular 'I outgrew my Pro 575' upgrade — but it's bought on convenience, app maturity, and the Traeger ecosystem rather than on being the best build for the money. People who prioritize durability tend to get steered to Recteq or Camp Chef.
Pros
- +The double-wall insulation gets credited for much steadier temps than the Pro series, especially in cold
- +Super Smoke mode is a real, noticeable upgrade in bark and smoke ring over cheaper Traegers
- +Owners love the larger capacity for doing two pork butts plus ribs at once
- +Pellet-level sensor saves people from the dreaded stalled overnight cook
- +WiFIRE app and the big community make it an easy, well-supported step up
Cons
- −The same WiFi-drop complaint as the rest of the lineup keeps coming up
- −At its price, people argue Recteq gives you stainless and a 6-year warranty for similar money
- −Still caps around 500°F — no true sear without GrillGrates or a skillet
- −Pellet consumption is high, and the 'insulated' marketing gets some pushback in cold weather
- −Controller/auger electronics remain a long-term reliability question in threads
Common Questions
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