Traeger Timberline 1300: The Smart Grill That Made Me A Better Cook

Set It And Actually Forget It (For Real This Time)

Every grill claims to be "set and forget," but they're lying. You still need to babysit temps, adjust vents, add charcoal, move food around hot spots. The Timberline 1300? You literally set your target temperature in the app and walk away. The grill maintains that temp within 5 degrees for hours on end.

I tested this by smoking a pork shoulder overnight. Set it to 225°F at 10 PM, went to bed, woke up at 7 AM. The grill held perfect temp all night, automatically feeding pellets as needed. The shoulder came out with bark like candy and meat so tender it fell apart when I picked it up. That's when I realized this grill was worth every penny.

The temperature control comes from Traeger's D2 Direct Drive system and the Traeger Downdraft Exhaust. The D2 system feeds pellets more consistently than older auger designs, and the downdraft creates better airflow and smoke circulation. The result? Rock-solid temps and even cooking across the entire grill surface.

1,300 Square Inches Of Premium Cooking Space

The 1300 in the name refers to roughly 1,300 square inches of cooking area. That's massive. I can fit eight racks of ribs, or six whole chickens, or three full briskets. For normal family cooking, I've had 20 burgers going at once without crowding.

The cooking grates are porcelain-coated steel that's super easy to clean and doesn't rust. There's a second shelf above the main grate for warming or indirect cooking. The total capacity is genuinely impressive - this handles party-sized cooks without breaking a sweat.

The grill chamber is fully insulated with double-wall construction. This isn't just marketing - it makes a real difference in pellet efficiency and temperature stability. In winter, I used half as many pellets as my buddy's non-insulated pellet grill to maintain the same temp.

WiFIRE App Control Changes Everything

The Traeger app (WiFIRE) is what makes this grill truly smart. From my phone, I can:

• Monitor and adjust temperature remotely
• Get alerts when food reaches target temp
• Access over 1,700 recipes with step-by-step guidance
• Track cooking history and favorite recipes
• Get weather updates that might affect cooking

The best part? The app actually works reliably. I've tried "smart" grills before where the app disconnects constantly or has a terrible UI. The Traeger app is fast, stable, and intuitive. I've controlled my grill from inside my house, from the grocery store, even from my office when I started a long cook before work.

Four Meat Probes Included

The Timberline comes with four meat probe ports built right into the controller. Insert probes into your meat, set target temps in the app, and you'll get alerts when each piece hits its target. No more guessing, no more constant checking. Just perfect doneness every time.

I've used all four probes simultaneously when cooking different meats - brisket, pork ribs, chicken, and sausages - each with different target temps. The app tracks them all independently and alerts you for each one. It's like having a pit master watching your cook for you.

Super Smoke Mode For Serious Flavor

Here's where pellet grill haters usually chime in: "Pellet grills don't produce enough smoke." Well, Traeger added Super Smoke mode specifically to address this. When activated, the grill feeds pellets in a pattern designed to maximize smoke production.

I ran a comparison cook - one pork shoulder with Super Smoke, one without. The difference was obvious. The Super Smoke shoulder had a deeper smoke flavor and darker bark. It's not quite stick-burner levels of smoke, but it's way more than I expected from a pellet grill.

Super Smoke works best between 165-225°F, which is perfect for low-and-slow cooking where you want maximum smoke flavor. For hotter cooks, the standard mode provides plenty of wood-fired flavor.

Build Quality That Justifies The Price

When this grill arrived, I understood why it costs $2,499. The construction is commercial-grade. The body is heavy-gauge steel with a powder-coated finish. The legs are solid steel tubes, not the hollow flimsy legs on cheaper grills. The whole unit weighs probably 200 pounds assembled.

The lid closes with a satisfying thunk and seals tightly. The grease management system is actually well-designed - a sloped tray funnels grease to a bucket that's easy to remove and empty. I've cooked probably 100 times on this grill and haven't had a single flare-up thanks to this system.

The hopper holds 24 pounds of pellets, which is enough for 24+ hours of smoking at 225°F. There's a viewing window in the hopper so you can check pellet levels at a glance. And the pellet clean-out system lets you swap wood flavors easily without manually scooping out the auger.

Sidekick Attachment Option

One of the coolest features is the Sidekick attachment bay. This lets you add a propane-powered griddle, grill grate, or pizza oven that attaches right to the side of the Timberline. I got the griddle attachment, and now I can cook eggs and bacon on the griddle while smoking brisket on the main grill.

The Sidekick uses propane so it heats up instantly - no waiting for pellets to get hot. This transforms the Timberline into a truly versatile outdoor kitchen setup.

Pellet Versatility And Flavor Options

One advantage of pellet grills is being able to change wood flavors easily. I keep hickory, mesquite, apple, and cherry pellets on hand. For beef, I use hickory or mesquite. For pork, apple or cherry. For chicken, a blend of hickory and apple.

The Timberline can also grill, bake, roast, braise, and even bake pizzas. I've made everything from smoked mac and cheese to grilled vegetables to apple pies on this thing. It's a grill, smoker, and outdoor oven all in one.

Temperature range is 165°F to 500°F. The low end is perfect for smoking. The high end is hot enough for searing steaks. It's not competition-level 900-degree searing, but 500°F gets a good crust on steaks and burgers.

Real-World Cooking Results

Let me share some actual cooks I've done to show what this grill can handle:

Brisket: 14-hour cook at 225°F with Super Smoke. Bark was dark and flavorful, smoke ring was impressive, meat was probe-tender. Best brisket I've ever made, and I didn't touch the grill for 12 of those 14 hours.

Ribs: 3-2-1 method at 225°F. Fall-off-the-bone tender with great smoke flavor. The even heat meant no rotating racks or worrying about hot spots.

Pizza: At 450°F, the Timberline makes excellent wood-fired style pizza. Crispy crust, melted cheese, slight smoke flavor. My kids request it weekly now.

Steaks: Reverse sear method - low smoke at 225°F until 120°F internal, then crank to 500°F for sear. Perfect medium-rare edge to edge with a restaurant-quality crust.

Whole Chicken: Spatchcocked at 375°F for 45 minutes. Crispy skin, juicy meat, subtle smoke. Way better than oven-roasted.

Is It Worth $2,499?

This is expensive for a grill. You could get a decent gas grill for $300 or a serviceable pellet grill for $600. So why spend $2,499?

First, the results. Everything I cook on this grill comes out better than it would on a cheaper grill. The temperature control, smoke quality, and even heating make a measurable difference in the final product.

Second, the convenience. Being able to start a cook from my phone, monitor it remotely, and get alerts when food's ready has changed how I use my grill. I'm doing long cooks I never attempted before because I don't need to babysit temps.

Third, the versatility. This replaced my gas grill, my smoker, and I barely use my oven anymore. Having one piece of equipment that can smoke, grill, roast, and bake means I actually use it way more than I used my collection of single-purpose cookers.

Fourth, the build quality suggests this grill will last 10+ years. My previous $600 pellet grill lasted three years before the controller died and parts weren't available. If the Timberline lasts 10 years, that's $250/year. Suddenly it doesn't seem crazy expensive for something I use 3-4 times per week.

Running Costs And Pellet Usage

Beyond the upfront cost, you need pellets. A 20-pound bag costs $15-30 depending on brand and wood type. At 225°F, the Timberline uses about 1 pound of pellets per hour. So a 14-hour brisket cook uses maybe $10-15 worth of pellets.

That's actually pretty economical compared to charcoal or propane. And way cheaper than buying BBQ from a restaurant. That brisket I smoked that fed 12 people would've cost $200+ from a BBQ joint. I made it for $80 in meat and $15 in pellets.

Technical Specifications

• Cooking Area: 1,300 square inches total
• Temperature Range: 165°F - 500°F
• Hopper Capacity: 24 pounds
• Meat Probe Ports: 4 included
• WiFi Connectivity: Yes, with WiFIRE app
• Construction: Double-wall insulated steel
• Pellet Burn Rate: ~1 lb/hour at 225°F
• Weight: ~230 lbs assembled
• Warranty: 3 years on grill, lifetime on burn pot
• Super Smoke: Yes
• Sidekick Compatible: Yes
• Made In: USA

Pros and Cons

Pros:

• Exceptional temperature control holds within 5 degrees
• Huge 1,300 sq inch cooking capacity
• WiFIRE app provides reliable remote control
• Four meat probes for perfect doneness
• Super Smoke mode for enhanced flavor
• Double-wall insulation improves efficiency
• Premium build quality with 3-year warranty
• Sidekick attachment bay adds versatility
• Excellent grease management prevents flare-ups
• Pellet clean-out for easy flavor swapping
• Made in USA
• Produces restaurant-quality results consistently

Cons:

• Very expensive at $2,499
• Requires electricity to operate
• Ongoing pellet costs
• Heavy and not portable
• Requires assembly (2-3 hours)
• Max temp of 500°F limits ultra-high-heat searing
• Sidekick attachments sold separately

Final Verdict

The Traeger Timberline 1300 is the best investment I've made for my outdoor cooking. It's transformed me from someone who occasionally grilled burgers to someone who regularly smokes briskets, roasts whole chickens, and bakes pizzas outdoors. The combination of rock-solid temperature control, smart app features, and premium build quality justifies the premium price.

Is it overkill if you only grill burgers twice a summer? Absolutely. But if you love BBQ, enjoy entertaining, or want to elevate your outdoor cooking game, this grill will change how you cook. The convenience of set-and-forget temperature control means you'll actually do those long smokes you always wanted to try. And the results will make you look like a pit master even if you're a complete beginner.

After six months of heavy use, I have zero regrets about the purchase. This is the last grill I'll need to buy for many years.

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