Yoder Smokers Community Forum

Hello, I'm new here and have a 9 year old liltex Traeger that won't die so I'm going to upgrade anyway. My Traeger has the old 3 speed controller and I want more temp control and direct grilling when needed. After reviewing every pellet popper under the sun, I have chosen to buy a yoder for various reasons but I am torn between the 480 and 640. We are empty nesters but do cook a couple times a year for a family get together of 15 or 20 other than that it's only us or a few couples for dinner occasionally. Any advise would be appreciated, I'm just afraid the 640 would be overkill but it seems to have options the 480 doesn't have. Thanks in advance and if this isn't the correct place to post this, please direct me.

Welcome aboard!

You won't go wrong with either of them. As a suggestion, to make it easy, forget about options and consider the cost per square inch. In the standard backyard configuration for both, with second shelf, the YS640 costs approximately $1.35 per square inch, and the YS480 is $1.55.

Thanks Herb, I've read many of your posts. Is there any difference in high temps, pellet consumption or anything else I should know?

One thing I've noticed from reading your many posts is you are patient Herb, much appreciated.

Performance and pellet consumption are almost identical. The main difference is the size. The YS640 has the sliding damper, but I wouldn't consider that a reason not to buy the YS480, as I haven't moved the damper in my YS640 over 3 years.

The best bang for the buck is the YS640, in my opinion, as I always fill it up when I cook, and then vacuum seal and freeze the leftovers. It takes the same amount of pellets to cook 1 pork butt as it does to cook 6.

The Yoder cookers work completely differently than the Traeger or the other center mounted firepot cookers. Because of this, the ash needs to be cleaned from the burn grate before each cook. Unlike the others, the Yoder keeps the ash below the heat diffuser instead of sending it airborne inside the cooking chamber. The optional 2 piece diffuser make this cleaning task super easy.

Thanks Herb, I'm well aware of that from my research but does the 480 have the 2 piece diffuser plate? I'm not sure of that.

I guess what it comes down to is the 480 with second shelf is plenty big but is there any performance difference I would be missing compared to the 640?

I'm not going to over think this lol, I already did that when comparing manufacturers and easily ended up here. Time to pull the trigger between the models and thought I would check on a few last thoughts.

The optional 2 piece diffuser is available for both the YS480 and the YS640.

Other than the extra space in the YS640, both cookers offer identical performance. The only difference is the programming, as each has it's own version of firmware to compensate for the size differential. Consider the YS640, then cut 8" off the end of it, flash the controller with different firmware, and you have the YS480.

No one has ever said, "I wish I would have bought the smaller cooker", but we always hear, "I wish I would have bought the bigger cooker".

You will not go wrong which ever you decide on.

To clarify, the 2 piece diffuser is optional, and does not come standard with either cooker, and must be purchased separately for each cooker.

Thanks Herb, that's what I wanted to know in a nutshell, I'm getting ready to head to the ozarks for some fly fishing from Louisville ky so I may have a chance to see both models in person and decide then, if not I'll go the ys 640 route knowing you sell more of them could be helpful in the future.
Thanks for your time!

I was in the same situation as you a few weeks ago as we are empty nesters as well. I live in Canada so our winters are somewhat cold. The 480 was my choice and it is amazing the amount of food you can do with this grill and how quickly it heats up in the winter. I was tempted to upsize to the 640 but did not think it was worth if for the one or two times per year that I would maybe cook for a larger crown. Good luck in your decision making

Thank you very much for that info, I have rethought it and am leaning toward the 480 now. I took a piece of cardboard and cut it to the 480 square inch cooking area and can't imagine I would need more cooking area. I am going to get the second shelf also. Thanks again!

That second shelf really makes a difference. You will not be disappointed in going with the 480.

Coffebob, what's your experience with direct grilling and grill grates on the 480?

Frales

I have used the grill grates several time now in my 480 and honestly can really get a good hot sear even at 350 degrees with excellent markings on the meat.
I recently received the 2 piece heat diffuser for my 480 so I no longer have to remove the diffuser for high temp cooking and can leave everything in place by just removing the door piece.
So in a nutshell I am very pleased with the direct grilling abilities of my 480

Thank you for the reply, last question, what is your maximum temp?

To be honest I have never cranked it up to the max but there are other posts on this site where folks are talking in excess of 650 degrees. The only time I would probably use this higher temperature would be if I was doing pizza on a pizza stone.

I went with the 640, absolutely love it. Weather is breaking so I am gearing up to use it every weekend or more.

Thanks for everyone's help!