Yoder smoker ?

[Cantcatch5]

Anyone have experience with a Yoder smoker? I have been wanting and saving for one but now that it is time to buy I am having second thoughts (like I always do) on spending the money. I am interested in the YS640. I am looking for input from those who have used one of these smokers. They seem to be a LOT better built than other similar type cookers and they are built entirely in the USA.

Thanks, Jason

[bloodtrail]

It is a well built smoker, I've had one for close to two years and no problems with it.
Be sure to grab an A-Maze smoke tube it helps get more smoke in the pit. I use it when cooking larger pieces of meat like brisket.
I still prefer a stick burner I think you get a better smoke flavor. But you can't beat this smoker when you have other things to do just set temp and go about your business.
Overall I'm really happy with it. I got mine at Nor-West appliance in Houston he has them in stock.

[7m STW]

Well worth the money and mines going on 4 years old now with no issues ever

[Electrican]

Going on year 2 with mine and no issues except it puts out some great food!! Guess that's not a bad thing. Wouldn't ever think about going back to stick burner!

[Cantcatch5]

Thanks for the input. The other one I was considering is a Big Green Egg. I know there are a lot more of them out there but I am really leaning more toward the Yoder.

[Moose]

Yoder smoker ?

Have had a 640 for several years and love it, for pellet smokers there ain't many that are better. Very easy to cook a steak on it one night and smoke a brisket the next. Now both my father in law and brother in law own one. Only thing I'd do different is get the competition cart.

[Cantcatch5]

Have had a 640 for several years and love it, for pellet smokers there ain't many that are better. Very easy to cook a steak on it one night and smoke a brisket the next. Now both my father in law and brother in law own one. Only thing I'd do different is get the competition cart.

That brings up one concern I have. I have seen how good it can sear with the grill grates in videos, but how big is the area it can effectively grill on? It looks like it would be very small since the pellet hopper is only a few inches squared.

And I tend to do a ton of research prior to buying and you are right...as far as pellet smokers go I don't think anything out there right now compares.

[Electrican]

You can effectively grill on the entire surface when you slide the damper all way open with grill grates. It will get HOT all way across.

[Moose]

You can effectively grill on the entire surface when you slide the damper all way open with grill grates. It will get HOT all way across.

This, I've got 3 grill grates(which is half the box) and I can grill anywhere on them as long as I've got the damper set. I believe the hottest they'll get is 600, which compared to the traegers is a huge difference.

[Cantcatch5]

That is good to know. My dad has a traeger and it does a good job smoking but does not get hot enough to sear a steak.

[Cantcatch5]

Have had a 640 for several years and love it, for pellet smokers there ain't many that are better. Very easy to cook a steak on it one night and smoke a brisket the next. Now both my father in law and brother in law own one. Only thing I'd do different is get the competition cart.

What does the competition cart do that the standard cart doesn't? It looks a lot better but I have a hard time justifying $650 for that alone.

[onetondodge]

Love mine. Only problem I have run into is my thermal coupling went bad.

[RickH78]

Bringing this back to the top. I pulled the trigger on the yoder 640 and it will be here Wednesday. Been going back and forth on which smoker to get and had settled on a traeger. But the yoder looks heavy duty and should last a long time.

[Cantcatch5]

Irish I pulled the trigger as well. Mine shows a delivery date of Tuesday but it has been at the Fed Ex facility here in town since yesterday. Not sure why they are going to wait 4-5 days to bring it to the house. Shipping info shows it is on a pallet and weighs 700 lbs! I am anxious to try it out!

[RickH78]

I'm smoking the first brisket on it right this minute. This thing is built to last and is HEAVY! It doesn't smoke as much as I thought it would but I can smell the smoke when I walk out. Seems a lot less white smoke than I was getting from my masterbuilt which is good.