I bought my Pit Boss Austin XL after my first pellet smoker grill, a Traeger Lil’ Tex Elite, stopped working properly. I’d had that pellet grill for nearly 4 years and it served me well. When I decided to get a replacement, I wanted to upgrade so I expanded my search beyond Traeger products. The features and price of the Austin XL made it an easy choice for me. This review will explore the unit itself, what I honestly like about it and what I don’t like about it. I’ve also included a video to show you the differences in size and features of both units.
The Pit Boss Austin XL is a horizontal wood pellet smoker grill with features like automatic start and stop, LED temperature readout, 2 tiers of porcelain coated grating for 930 square inches of cooking surface. If offers fan-forced convection cooking along with a slide plate for direct flame broiling. Temperatures range from 150 to 500 degrees (F) and the wood pellet hopper has a 31 lbs capacity. The exterior is made of high-temperature copper finish on the embossed lid and a stainless-steel side shelf.
Why Did I Choose A Pit Boss?
Let me start by saying that I didn’t know what a pellet smoker grill was until about 2013. I wanted to improve my BBQ skills so I signed up for a day-long BBQ and Grilling School in Phoenix, Arizona. They had a big Traeger pellet smoker grill that really impressed me. I had a built-in gas grill in the backyard at home and my smoker at the time was a cheap (and damaged) electric vertical smoker. I was blessed with a Traeger Lil’ Tex Elite for Christmas later that year.
That Trager was a good basic unit and the right one for me to get started with. I used it often and enjoyed the results. 6 months after the warranty expired, it flamed up pretty bad and I think it fried the thermometer. I’m not a Mr. Fix It and didn’t even attempt to repair it myself. It still worked and I still used it for several months after that, but started researching for a replacement.
I couldn’t believe how many other pellet grill manufacturers there were out there! Traeger was all I knew up till then. I did consider models from Traeger’s Timberline Series but wanted to check out the others too. I honestly didn’t like the looks of Green Mountain Grills. The Rec Tec grills were gorgeous but way out of my price range. Then I saw the Pit Boss Austin XL and the price next to it. My first thought was, “What’s wrong with it?”
The Austin XL was a great looking grill and it was loaded with features I didn’t have with the Traeger. For example, it had a bigger hopper with a window to see the pellet level, a slide plate for direct flame broiling, internal temperature probes, and two levels of racks. The price had me asking what was wrong with it because it was bigger, better looking, loaded with more useful features and was cheaper than my 4-year old Traeger! The other thing I found curious was that there were very few Austin XL reviews anywhere.
I found an Austin XL at a nearby store and carefully looked over the box. I figured I was either going to get a steal of a deal or a dud. I bought it shortly thereafter and got it home with the help of a strong buddy who had an SUV. It really came down to the features, price
Are Pit Boss Grills Good?
Shortly after I posted a video explaining why I upgraded from my Traeger, I got a mix of positive and negative comments. I’m realizing that there are avid fans of certain manufacturers like Ford or Chevy fans. The other product maker is the devil who makes cheap crap! I had no such loyalty to any manufacturer. I just wanted a solidly built, nicely equipped pellet smoker grill and didn’t care who made it.
Since I was the one who assembled my Austin XL, I can speak about the quality of the workmanship which I think is very solid. All the pieces fit together well and are made with precision. I’ve smoked and grilled with it several times now and everything works. I also have a Pit Boss Copperhead Vertical smoker and it too is sturdy and well functioning. Pit Boss makes good grills as far as I’m concerned.
What I like Best About the Pit Boss Austin XL
As I mentioned earlier, the appearance and price stopped me in my online shopping tracks. The Austin XL is a very handsome grill with a beefy design and sharp black and copper coloring. It doesn’t look rickety or cheaply made – because it isn’t. The wheels roll smoothly, the lid opens without squeaking, nothing about its construction is cheesy.
Even though it’s larger than my Trager, it heats up just as quickly. It gets up to the highest temperatures in about 8 minutes after the start up process and it holds consistent temperatures. The temperatures range from 150 – 500 degrees (F).
One of the features I really liked was the moveable sear plate to allow for direct flame cooking. But I don’t use it like I thought I would. The grill gets very hot and sears meat enough for me without direct flame. I think it has to do with the positioning of the firebox. It’s dead center rather then off to the right or left. The firebox in the Traeger was off to the far left.
A nice accessory to have are the meat probes that connect to the digital readout. You can keep track of internal meat temperatures while you’re cooking.
As of September 2018, All Pit Boss grills and smokers come with a 5-year warranty that is probably the best warranty available.
Appearance, price and performance are what I like best about my Austin XL.
What I Don’t Like About my Austin XL
The digital readout showing the temperatures is poorly lit and difficult to read sometimes especially during daylight hours. I wish the numbers were a vibrant orange or red instead of the pale blue-gray. It’s easier to read at night but it could still be brighter.
There is a protective grate at the top of the hopper in both my Austin XL and my Vertical smoker that is unnecessary and gets in the way. I like to even out the pellets with my hand when I refill the hopper. This grate bothered me enough that I removed it from both units.
This complaint has more to do with my patio than the grill, but maneuvering the Austin XL can be tricky. Tricky like steering one of those flat loading carts at Home Depot. Sometimes you have to go forwards and backwards a few times to position it just where you want it. I wish we had a larger covered area for the grill that I could just leave it in one place all the time but not so. I keep it covered and stored right up against our house under the awning then move it out onto our patio when it’s time to grill.
This is a big, heavy grill. The assembled weight without pellets is nearly 180 lbs and the dimensions are 26 x 63 x 50.3. Keep that in mind when you’re grill shopping.
I miss the folding front shelf I got with my Traeger. It was nice to have that extra flat surface for loading and unloading meat. There’s a shelf on the side, but it’s just not the same. Not near as handy.
Do I Recommend Pit Boss Products?
Yes, I can and do recommend Pit Boss smokers and grills. I’ve been very pleased with both my Austin XL and my Copperhead Vertical smoker.
Which Pellets Are Best For My Pellet Smoker Grill?
Not all wood pellets are the same. Some pellet makers use lower quality woods that have flavorings added to them rather than actual hardwoods. I’ve been happy with Pit Boss’ Competition Blend wood pellets and the various woods by CookinPellets. You can check availability and discounts here. They both use real hardwoods without artificial flavors, spray scents, glues, or chemicals. Very little ash is left behind after smoking or grilling. Check your pellets and read the fine print on the packaging. You may find they aren’t the real hardwoods you think they are.
Different pellets will burn hotter than others. I’ve found that Traeger pellets burn hotter and are less smokey. They may not be actual hardwoods. These hotter burning pellets are great for steaks but not for rich smoky flavors you want when smoking.
Which Pellet Grill Is The Best
This is a loaded question with room for all kinds of opinions. And in my opinion, most of the pellet grills on the market today will probably work well for you. They’ve all improved over the last few years. Everyone’s particular needs and preferences will vary from person to person.
There are more pellet grills available today than ever and each one will have its own learning curve. Don’t think everything you grill or smoke is going to be perfect. You might get a bad cut of meat, or set the temperature wrong, or lose track of time and burn up your meat. You’ll need to get to know your grill and how it works and that only happens with practice, trial and error.
Check Pellet Smoker Grill Prices & Availability Here
Take your time and think about how you plan to use and store your grill. Read the reviews, the questions and answers, and decide from there. Bigger isn’t always better, but small can be too small. Don’t pay extra money for a name, but don’t let $50 keep you from getting the grill you really want. You’re making an investment into years of grilling and smoking enjoyment. Invest wisely!
Here’s something you might find interesting: Did you know the original founder of Traeger, Joe Traeger, joined the Pit Boss team back in 2018? Read the press release here.
Willie Robertson of Duck Dynasty fame has also partnered with Pit Boss to offer his love of smoking, grilling, tips and tricks to the growing #PitBossNation family. Read the whole story here.
