Traeger Ranger Vs Scout: Which One Should You Buy?

Traeger Ranger and Scout are two pellet grills made of the same brand. They have many similar features, such as the overall cooking space. Both grills look like a briefcase and can be easily moved.

If you want to know more about the two grills, you're in the right place. Here is a complete guide about Traeger Ranger vs Scout.

Traeger Ranger Vs Scout: What Are The Differences?

The two grills cover the same space of 184 square inches. Steel latches also make it easy to lock the case. You may also be thinking about the differences between these grills.

So here is a comparison of features to help you understand better:

Material

Traeger Ranger and Scout may look the same, but their build is a bit different. This is because of the material used for these grills. Scout has a steel build to ensure the grill will last you for many years to come.

Meanwhile, the Ranger has an aluminum coating powdered on the surface. The main benefit of both options is that they will protect your grill from rusting. Powder coating also offers an excellent finish to the grill.

Aluminum is also better at keeping the grill safe from rust and other particles. This is why Traeger Ranger wins in this category.

Hopper Size

A hopper is the part where you will add the pellets for your grill. The wooden chips serve as fuel to help you make sure you can use your grill for hours. Traeger Scout has a small hopper size of four pounds.

The Ranger grill comes with an extra box on the original hopper. This means that it has a capacity of eight pounds. Many owners love this because it means your grill can last for longer without refilling pellets often.

You can also use the Ranger for slow cooking with more ease due to the large hopper size. The best thing is that the extra box does not take up more space as it is built on the original one.

Your Scout grill can be used for four hours of cooking without any interruptions. Meanwhile, you can use the Ranger for at least eight hours. It is an excellent grill if you don't like changing the pellets often.

Weight

Weight is an important thing to think about before getting a new grill. This is especially true if you want to move the item from one place to another. You may also want to take your Traeger grill on camping trips.

The Scout has a lower weight than the Ranger. There is a difference of 15 pounds between them. So the former grill is a better option if you want a portable grill.

Remember, the Ranger weighs 60 pounds, while Scout weighs 45 pounds. Despite the different weights, they both are 21 inches wide and 13 inches high.

Another thing that adds to the portability of these grills is the suspension legs. Traeger Scout has this option, but the Ranger does not. That is why it is the best portable grill you can get for your various trips.

Cooking Area

The height and depth of these grills are the same, so you may think you can the same amount of food on these grills. However, that is not true. Traeger Scout has a smaller grilling surface than the Ranger.

You can cook about six burgers on your small Scout grill, while it is easy to make eight burgers on the Ranger. This is why you will be able to feed more people in less time if you have the latter grill.

The main buying decision should depend on the size of your family. If you have a large family or host parties often, it is better to get Traeger Ranger.

Warming Feature

The Keep Warm feature is something that you don’t find in many other grills in the market. However the feature is available in both Ranger and Scout model of Traeger grills.

The keep warm feature will keep your food warm until you can serve it to your guests. You will not have to reheat your food before serving, which can take extra time and effort. This feature is great if you are having a family or friends gathering. You can start grilling before everyone arrives and then put the food on keep warm.

This will save time and you wouldn’t have to spend a lot of time at the grill. You can instead use that time to socialize with your guests.

Temperature Increments

Changing the temperature of the grill is necessary for different purposes. Your recipe may require you to slow or fast cook at a specific heating value. This is why your grill must be easily adjustable for the best experience.

Both Ranger and Scout allow you to change the temperature of your grill. The main difference between them is the increments. You can change the value on Scout by using 25 increments.

This means if you set a temperature of 175 on your Scout, the next value you can reach is 200. Meanwhile, Ranger offers better flexibility due to 5 increments. You can change the value from 180 to 185 with ease in the newer grill.

Because of this, Traeger Ranger is a better grill because you can manage more recipes. It will also help you reach a moderate value if you don't want a too-high or too-low temperature. Your food will also have a lesser chance of burning.

Extra Tools

It is no secret that getting extra tools with your grill can help you save more money. You will also not have to worry about not being able to cook a specific meal due to the lack of a tool. The best thing is that Traeger Ranger offers you a free cast iron griddle.

You can use the griddle for frying eggs and making other breakfast items. The best thing is that this extra tool is coated with porcelain. So you will not have to worry about it rusting faster if you don't clean it right after cooking.

Scout grill does not come with an extra griddle, so you will have to buy it separately. Both grills also come with a meat probe for checking the internal heat value of your meal. This means that you will get two extra tools with Ranger grill, but one if you buy Scout.

Price

The final thing that you must consider when buying any grill is its price. You may not have the budget to buy an expensive grill, so your options will be limited. Traeger Ranger is a newer model, so it has a higher price than Scout.

However, you must remember that you will also get more features if you buy the Ranger grill. It has a larger hopper size, allowing you to use the grill for longer without refilling pellets. Wi-Fi and voice assistant tech are also only present in Traeger Ranger.

You can also cook more food on your Ranger grill, so it will be easy to food your large family. This grill has a price of $450, while you can buy Scout for $330. So your overall decision should be based on your budget.

Traeger Ranger Vs Scout: Which One Should You Buy?

Traeger Ranger may be more expensive, but it is also a better option because of the various features. Managing the grill while you are inside the house doing chores is a breeze with this option. You can also make more food in less time.

The main decision should be based on your budget and needs. If you want a small, portable grill, you should invest in Traeger Scout. It also has suspension legs that offer stability on uneven grounds.

Ranger will be a better option if you want a bigger hopper, a bigger cooking area, and modern tech in your grill.

Final Words

These are the things you must know about Traeger Ranger vs Scout. They look a bit the same, but the former has a better finish and a less rounder handle.

An excellent thing about both grills is they come with a warranty of three years. So you will not have to worry if your grill faces a functioning problem.