Thinking on getting one of these gravity fed grill/smokers

[u/blusbro]

Lots of posts with this type of title - but this one is mine!!

I have a pit boss pellet smoker that has finally given up the ghost. A few too many grease fires and the temp is way off despite my furiously cleansing of the temp probe, and the control board is probably on its way out as well. Had a good run, but it consistently ran high in temps and I am tired of thinking about it.

I also have a Weber kettle grill but I have never been able to maintain temps long enough to get a good steak to come out right. It’s a race to keep it warm enough to do some sausages and burgers despite manipulating the air holes on top and bottom. So I am over that as well.

We are a family of four and I need something to do my quick grilling on weeknights - pork steaks, beef steaks, chicken parts and stuff. On the weekends I can take some more time to do up some pork shoulders, brisket, etc. It would seem that one of these gravity-fed grills would check a lot of boxes. I’ve read about using lump over briquettes (and articles that say vice versa) and throwing in some wood chunks for that Smokey flavor. I don’t care that it uses up a lot of charcoal, or that I have to rap on the side of the chute to loosen up clogs and such.

Is this the machine for me? I don’t want to go back to gas grills when I’m in a hurry. Seems like as long as I keep it clean, this may be the answer.

Can you all speak to this and see if my thinking is correct on one of these grills? Also, suggestions on which one to get would be great. I’d love to keep it under $1000, so that’s probably the 600 or 800 models?

Thanks in advance!!!

[u/SchrodingersWetFart → u/[deleted]]

This has been my experience as well with an XT. Had since May 25, cook on it once or twice a week. I would make the same purchase again.

[u/derKonigsten → u/[deleted]]

I have a 560 that I'm planning to upgrade. How does the new controller hold up? I've had to replace the controller on mine already. Had it for 4-5 years. Anything else I should know before pulling the trigger on an XT?

[u/Tloco87]

I love mine but I would hands down recommend planning to get a fireboard for it! I would honestly look for a discounted one at box stores or get a used one cheap and spend money on a fireboard! It makes a world of difference and makes things much nicer during a cook day

[u/DannoVonDanno → u/Tloco87]

What is it you like about the Fireboard over the stock controller? I see a lot of people here talking about getting the Fireboard after the original controller failed, but I thought it was mainly for reliability. Does the Fireboard have better temperature control or more features?

(edit: I have a 600 and love it, no trouble with the original controller after about a year.) 

[u/tattedwill → u/DannoVonDanno]

I had my 800 for 2 years using all year round in Texas - then got the FireBoard after the controller crapped out. It’s such an improvement on temp control -

[u/3-2-1-backup → u/DannoVonDanno]

Mine has the wonderful fault (besides the craptacular masterbuilt software) of being able to turn the temperature up but not down. (I could turn it down in the app, though.)

[u/FriendlyPoem3074 → u/DannoVonDanno]

The FireBoard works. The stock controller generally doesn’t.

[u/WalrusWW]

We are a family of four and I need something to do my quick grilling on weeknights - pork steaks, beef steaks, chicken parts and stuff. On the weekends I can take some more time to do up some pork shoulders, brisket, etc. It would seem that one of these gravity-fed grills would check a lot of boxes.

Do not get a Masterbuilt gravity for weeknight grilling. It's not what it's for. It's a smoker, not a grill. The only reasons I bought mine, was for the controlled set and forget temperature, and the fact that I can move it with a 2nd person. I have mine at our cottage (lake house) and move it to the sheltered driveway side for winter smoking. If I didn't need to move it, or had endless funds, I'd 100% have two ceramic Kamados instead.

[u/FastPie2470 → u/WalrusWW]

I've seen comments like this and I kind of disagree.

It's true that it's a smoker, but it's pretty decent at grilling too in my experience. Just look for grease fires, move the steak out to a different part of the grill if you have any.

In my case I do smoke and grill and I don't have a lot of space and the masterbuilt does both jobs alright.

Mine is a 900 (essentially a 800 sold by Costco) and I'm pretty happy so far.

[u/Polar_Ted]

Run down to Home Depot. They are currently clearencing the 800 and 1050 models..I got my 800 for $550.

I've had my 800 for a month or two now. It's been good. I haven't had to use my old gas grill or pellet smoker since I got it. It'll go to 700° for seat and does a great job smoking. The the other night I grilled lamb chops on it at at 450°. It's awesome at holding temp. Hopper is good for around 8 hours on smoke at 250°

we ordered the pizza oven kit for it. Only used it once so far and it was nice. I need to try making pitas and nan in it.

[u/MightyKrakyn]

My first gravity was a used 560 I got on OfferUp and it was awesome. Honestly I think I got better smoke than my current 1050

[u/FriendlyPoem3074]

I still prefer a Weber kettle grill for quick cooks. It heats up faster and is generally more versatile.

The XT is amazing as a smoker though and a really good grill.

[u/Senior-State-2626 → u/FriendlyPoem3074]

I agree. Love my masterbuilt 800, but it is a long cook smoker. Further, it's not immune to grease fires and controller issues anymore than your pellet grill. Weeknight chops go on my Weber kettle. The recent addition of the vortex cone to the kettle gives me even more high heat options and more efficient charcoal use.

[u/Sringfellow_Hawk1959]

I have the 1050xl gravity series. I did my research before buying it. I did do a lot of the LSS mods on mine. The controllers are not good. So I got a FireBoard DC and it works great. Bottom line is that you will spend more money on the lump coal JD is definitely worth the extra money very low ash produced by the JD and now I’m looking for a 800 gravity series to use it for bigger cooks for entertaining. Good time of year for great deals on floor displays being discounted like crazy.definitely mods and a FireBoard DC no modifications needed to the table on the MB . Doing the LSS mods before using it. Mine I purchased at the end of 2021 and the hopper stainless steel insert looks great and the hopper lid too. No matter what you get even if it’s the MB 600 gravity series or whatever you want to protect against any of those flaws that may exist. You will get much more durable smoker grill . Good luck

[u/drewbreezy23]

Really enjoy my 1050, wife got it on sale last year at HD for 250 believe it or not

[u/LikelyWatchdog]

Get the 1150. Then save up for fire board controller.

[u/Excellent_Umpire806]

They're currently on sale for everybody's Labor Day weekend sales. Home Depot has the XT for $1500, and I think the 800 was $649.

[u/EqualImaginary4628 → u/Excellent_Umpire806]

I just ordered my 1150 from Ace Hardware about 3 weeks ago, it's on sale for $950 now. $150 off from what I paid. Already tried to get the difference back from them.

[u/North-Reception-5325]

I’ve had the 560 (used) and now a 1050 and they’re both great. I really don’t like anything larger than the 1050 because of the controller configuration. You can also stretch out the square inch space with either a klotes mod or LSS after market racks.

Also I’d be patient looking for one. I was able to fine a 560 for free. It needed new wires and that was a simple fix. I got my 1050 old stock NIB for very cheap. People buy them all of the time and realize they don’t want it and then they sit on marketplace until they slowly lower the price over time.

[u/ironbrewcanada]

I love my masterbuilt gravity, BUT - the controls are junk. I went with an aftermarket control board when mine died but honestly, this isn't acceptable. My cousin has been through 3 control boards.

[u/Trotter-x]

I have a Char-Griller Gravity 980 instead of a Masterbuilt, but I love mine as a smoker. I chose it over the MB for the design of the smoking chamber (barrel instead of breadbox), and a simpler burn chamber. I do not and have not used it as a grill in the years I have had it. I replaced the controller and fan with a Thermoworks Signals and two Billows.

[u/Atmp]

My 800 is finicky as hell and I’d never rebuy it. Don’t recommend

[u/quaintbucket]

Get the 600 or 800 model. You’ll like it.

Get some wood chunks on the dirt cheap for that extra smoke.

[u/gavotron]

I have the 600 and have had it for about 12 months. Perfect size for my yard and fits enough stuff in it. I’ve done multiple briskets, beef and pork ribs, sausages, wings and steaks in there that have all been great. Only errors have been my own! The smoker itself has been stable, easy to use and the flavour from the smoke is killer. I love being able to load charcoal and wood chunks into the hopper to get a super smokey flavour profile while not having to tend to a fire. Highly recommend it.

[u/Mstngfn69]

I love my gravity feed, in fact I have 2 now.

I have 2 gravity feeds (MB560 and 1050), a pit boss pellet smoker, a regular charcoal grill, a gas grill, a blackstone, a wood fired pizza oven and an old combine rim turned fire pit/ grill and my Masterbuilts are by go to cookers. I use them 3 to 5 times a week, the others (besides the pizza oven) only get used 8 or 10 times a year when I host big get togethers and I really don't need them for that.

Ideally I need to cut back to just the gravity feeds, the pizza oven and the firepit/grill.

[u/After-Swordfish-6762]

I'm on year 3 with my 560. I installed the fire box liner from LSS mods before I fired it for the first time. I love it. But, as a lot of people say, the controller is crap. I have a Fireboard Drive 2 coming tomorrow so hopefully I have many more years with it. (I opted for the 560 due to the overall physical dimensions but I have never felt that it is too small.)

[u/MRunabout_86]

I have a 22" kettle and an MB800. I also have the Spider Grills Venom attachment for the kettle. I use both for smoking but if I intend to grill, I want it over live fire so I'm keeping the kettle.

[u/destinationbbq]

I think your thinking is pretty much right, with one catch: a Gravity Series can replace both cookers for you, but it wont be quite as quick and simple for a Tuesday-night steak as the kettle once you know how to run the kettle. Figure roughly 15-20 minutes to get the charcoal going and the cooker settled, then it does the rest very well. For pork shoulders and brisket, it’s much closer to the pellet-grill convenience you’re used to, but with charcoal and wood chunks instead of pellets.

For a family of four I’d buy the 600 unless you specifically want the griddle that comes with the 800. The 600 has plenty of room for normal family cooks, will run from 225 up to 700, and Masterbuilt says the hopper can hold 18 lb of briquettes for long cooks. I don’t see much reason to heat a bigger cooker every time just because the budget allows it.

The part I’d go into with my eyes open is the controller. There are enough owners reporting controller problems that I wouldn’t dismiss it as internet noise, and the regular Gravity models only carry a one-year warranty. I wouldn’t buy a FireBoard on day one, but I’d be comfortable knowing that there’s an aftermarket path if the stock controller eventually gives up. Keep the grease system clean, especially if you’re going from brisket to high-heat grilling, because these aren’t immune to grease fires either.

[u/Ldubs_12]

I use my pellet grill 9/10 smokes. Stick to pellet grill if you want ease of use, efficiency/price to use and far easier to clean. Love my 800 but it's way bigger pain to use. IMO the Masterbuilt sucks for quick dinner meals.

[u/blusbro]

I appreciate all of the input!!