Traeger Scout Vs Ranger Grill
If you are in the market for a new smoker, you may be wondering if a Traeger Scout or Ranger is the right choice for you. Both smokers have their pros and cons, so deciding which one is the best fit for your needs can be tricky. In this blog post, we will break down the key differences between the Traeger Scout and Ranger so that you can make an informed decision.
What is a Traeger scout?
-The Traeger Scout is a wood-fired, slow-cooking, on-demand heat source for your grill or smoker. It runs on small hardwood pellets that are made from 100% all-natural ingredients with no additives or fillers and burns hotter than any other pellet on the market today at 180+ degrees Fahrenheit.
With the scout, you can smoke low and slow all day long without adding charcoal or having to tend to your grill or smoker with wood chips, water, or foil pouches.
Features of a Traeger scout:
Size:
-The Traeger Scout is about the size of a coffee can, hence its name. It is 14.5 in x 7in and fits perfectly on any grill grate or in your smoker box.
Price:
-The price for one Traeger Scout runs at about $129.99 which has the lowest retail value of all grills, smokers, and accessories out there today per pellet. You are still able to get anywhere from 6-15 hours of smoke time without adding charcoal, wood chips, or water to your grill/smoker giving you more bang for your buck!! You also have the option of purchasing two or three scouts per pellet ($279.99) so that way they may be used simultaneously.
Design:
-The Traeger Scout is extremely well designed and extremely practical. The scouts are available in silver or black and they come with a removable lid so you can add more pellets and fuel to your scout anytime during your smoke.
It also comes with built-in ash clean-out system, so you don’t have to worry about ashes getting inside of the grill/smoker or hurting the flavor of your food. You can use this for anything from steaks, chicken, turkey, pork loin, ribs, salometers. In my opinion, it’s one of the most versatile grills on the market today!
Style:
-I would say that there isn’t much difference when it comes to style seeing as though the Traeger scout is such a simple design. When I think of style, I think of something that has fancy curves and sharp edges, but in this case, it’s just not the same.
Warranty:
-The Traeger Scout has a 1-year warranty which is standard when it comes to grills and other appliances/accessories out there today. The company itself also offers a 30-day money back guarantee, so you don’t have to worry about your purchase if you try it and don’t like it or if it stops working after a while! You can get either 1 or 3 scouts per pellet (which equals one or three years of warranty).
Customer service:
-I have the privilege of working with both the Traeger company and their customer service representatives. When I need clarification about anything or when I get confused by something they are always there to help me out! They will do whatever it takes for you to be happy with your purchase, whether it’s giving you advice on which grill/smoker to buy or refunding you for one that isn’t in the best condition.
It really does seem like these guys care about their customers’ experience because if they didn’t then what would be the point?! Also, having the ability to chat with them immediately through Facebook Messenger is unbelievably convenient.
Material:
-The material of a Traeger scout is probably its best feature in my opinion. It does not matter what kind of weather you are smoking in, because these babies can handle up to 500 degrees Fahrenheit! And when it’s cold outside they still burn at the same rate. Which is remarkable if you ask me? Being that they are covered in metal, they do tend to get a little hot when left out in the sun when not being used so just keep this in mind.
Ease of use:
-As catchy as “easy” may sound I would say that using a Traeger scout is more like second nature than anything else. The scouts come with an instruction manual that breaks down every detail for you and makes sure to answer any questions you may have about usage or troubleshooting.
You can also find many videos online which will teach you how to use the Traeger scouts and provide tips and tricks for any smoking occasion.
Accessories:
-Traeger scouts are known for coming complete with everything you need to get started, they also come with a ton of accessories that provides even more bang for your buck.
Build Quality:
-Building a Traeger scout is probably the easiest thing you could do because all you must do is attach your handles and pellet hopper and your grill/smoker is ready for action! The only downside I’ve found with this model of grill/smoker is that it does not come with wheels which can make transporting it from one place to another a little difficult.
Cooking Area:
-The cooking area on Traeger scout really depends on how big you make your fire. You can either go with a small hot one or a super-hot one to get the job done fast! Traeger scouts also come with two cast iron cooking grids, so adding an extra grate if you want is very easy and will not take up much space.
Heat Retention:
-The Traeger scout is well known for having some of the best heat retentions which mean that there will be fewer problems when it comes to leaving food inside while you wait for everyone to arrive. These babies can keep their temperature (and therefore your food) in a +/- 5-degree Fahrenheit range indefinitely, meaning that they’re perfect for smoking. Or keeping people waiting 😉
Temperature Controller:
-The temperature controller is the most important thing on your Traeger scout because it regulates how hot you want your fire to be. Depending on what kind of food you are smoking or grilling, you will have to choose a temperature accordingly. Which can be difficult if you’re not sure where to start! Luckily for us, the controllers are very easy to use and are fully programmed so there is no guesswork involved.
Cleaning:
-Cleaning a Traeger scout is a very simple process because the only thing you really must do is wipe down the inside with some paper towels and some water. Although some people use apple juice or white wine occasionally. The main reason for this is that these liquids help remove any leftover residue that may cause your food to taste funny.
What is a ranger?
-The Traeger ranger is essentially a smaller version of the regular Traeger scout, it comes with pretty much all the same features as its big brother. The great thing about this scout is that it can be folded down, making it perfect for taking on trips or storing away when you need to. It also weighs less than its older sibling which makes transporting it around the campsite way easier.
Features of a ranger:
Size:
-The Traeger ranger is smaller than the regular Traeger scout so it will take up less space if you plan on storing it once you’re done using it. The whole unit can be folded down which makes taking it with you very easy, but its size also comes with a few downsides.
Price:
-For all that this grill/smoker does, the price that comes with it is impressive! You are getting an extremely high-quality grill/smoker for a fraction of what you would pay at other retailers.
Design:
-The design for this product really surprised me when I first got my hands on it because I wasn’t expecting much from something so small. But I quickly saw why everyone loves them! The ranger is extremely easy to use, and all the parts come apart for easy storage.
Style:
-The Traeger rangers come in a variety of colors so you can either pick the one that suits your personality best or go with something neutral if you plan on using it around a lot of people. The style will also depend on where you plan on storing/taking your Traeger ranger because there is an option available for either folding legs or no legs.
Warranty:
-Every single Traeger scout comes with a warranty which means that you don’t have to worry about anything breaking if you’re not careful enough, such as with other grills/smokers out there! Just make sure that you remember your order number and your receipt, and everything should be taken care of.
Customer service:
-Traeger is known for having some of the best customer services out there which means that if you have any problems with your product at all, you can call them up and they will do everything they can to make it right again.
Material:
-The material on a Traeger ranger is exactly what you would expect from a high-quality grill/smoker..it’s extremely durable. The metal parts are heavy-duty cast iron which means that even though this smoker might not weigh as much as other grills/smokers, you know that it’s gonna last!
Ease of use:
-Using a Traeger ranger is exactly like using their other products, so it really doesn’t get much easier than this. The only difference is the size and cooking area which can be adjusted as you go.
Accessories:
-The accessories for a regular Traeger scout are usually expensive but with a ranger, you can get all the same products for half the price. There are just as many accessories available for a ranger as there is for a regular Traeger scout! The only difference here is that at full price, you won’t be able to get everything..but if you wait until it’s on sale, then you’ll definitely be able to get everything without having to pay too much extra!
Build Quality:
-The build quality on a Traeger ranger is exactly what you would expect from this company, it’s high quality and built to last. Since the rangers are smaller, I expected something less durable but that was not the case at all! The grill/smoker itself weighs about half of the regular scout which means that you won’t have to worry about moving it around too much, or carrying it up camping trips..it’s really easy to take with you everywhere.
Cooking Area:
-The cooking area for a ranger is surprisingly large compared to the size of the grill/smoker, this was another thing that caught me off guard! The ranger can fit around 20 burgers at once which is perfect if you’re having a huge BBQ with all your friends or family.
Heat Retention:
-One of the best things about this grill/smoker is how well it retains heat! Even when you’re cooking something and there’s a lot of people around, or if you accidentally let the fire go out..you will still be able to trust that your food won’t get cold. Once you start cooking your meat, it’s going to stay hot until you’re finished with it no matter what which is perfect for BBQs!
Temperature Controller:
-The temperature controller on a Traeger ranger is perfect for low and slow smokers because it’s very easy to control the amount of heat that you want. The best part about this grill is how well it maintains its temperature with little to no maintenance at all! Once you set the temperature, you won’t have to worry about adjusting it in any way..it will do everything itself.
Cleaning:
-Cleaning a Traeger ranger is extremely easy, just like their other products! When you’re done using it, just pull out the drip pan and put it in your sink, and rinse it off. There are also dishwasher-safe parts so if they don’t come clean by hand, then throw them in there and go back to making your smoked meat!
The similarities of traeger scout and ranger:
-The traeger ranger is very similar to the regular scout in many ways. I was expecting them to be completely different since they are 2 separate products, but after using both myself, they’re almost the exact same thing! Even though this grill/smoker is smaller than its big brother, it has all the same features that you would expect from the original..including the ash clean-out system which makes it super easy to maintain and keep your grill nice and clean.
The differences of traeger scout and ranger:
-The main difference between a traeger ranger and a regular scout is the size, shape, and weight. There’s not much else that separates them since they both have the same grilling surface area and control panel! Usually, this smoker weighs around half as much as other Traeger products which makes it easier to take on camping trips and use anywhere you go.
The winner:
-The winner of this battle is a tough one! The regular Traeger scout weighs about half as much as the ranger which means that it’s easier to transport from place to place, but on the other hand. The ranger still has all the features you would expect from Traeger.
Even though they are similar in some ways, these 2 products are not very comparable which makes them both stand out as their own individual thing.
FAQs
What is the primary difference between a traeger scout and ranger?
-The primary difference between these two grills is the size, weight, and shape. The scout is a regular-sized grill that weighs half as much as its ranger counterpart which makes it easy to take on camping trips and outdoor events.
The ranger has all the same features as the scout such as adjustable heat control and ash clean-out system which means you can expect quality no matter what!
Which smoker is right for me?
-This all depends on the size of the people who are going to be using it and what kind of food you’re planning on making. If you’d like something that’s more lightweight and easier to transport, I recommend looking at the scout or if you want something that is larger, then check out the ranger!
Pros and Cons of a traeger scout and ranger?
Strager scout Pros:
-The strager scout is lighter than the ranger so it’s easier to transport from place to place. The ash cleans-out system makes it so you can have a well-maintained grill without much work.
Stranger scout Cons:
-Since the scout is smaller in size, it does not have as many features as a regular-sized Traeger grill does such as a larger cooking area or temperature control panel.
Ranger Pros:
-This grill has all the same features that its predecessor does. Except for the measurements! It’s the perfect size for camping trips and outdoor events with an ash clean-out feature that makes it even easier to make your meat on this quality-made device.
Ranger Cons:
-This grill is smaller than the standard scout, so it has a slightly lower cooking surface that doesn’t have as large of a space. This means that you’ll have to find a different way to transport your meat on this device instead of just throwing them on there like you would with other Traeger products.
Conclusions:
-Both of these products are made from quality materials and have a great ash clean-out system that makes it even easier to maintain this smoker. If you’re looking for something smaller and more lightweight, I would recommend checking out the scout, but if you’d prefer a bigger product with all the same features as the original, then check out the ranger! There’s not much else separating these two products so they both work best and offer the same benefits. Just in different ways!
Hi, I’m Iolanda I am a mother of two and know how to whip up satisfying dishes for friends and family in a seemingly effortless way. The blog goal is reader-oriented, So We are always looking for the newest information about the best products on the market to offer product reviews and tutorials to assist users.Have Fun on The Website
