Whether you’re a first-time buyer or a seasoned pellet grill professional, your journey will be that much easier if you start with the right equipment.
That’s where this Green Mountain Davy Crockett review comes in.
When you’re finished reading, you should know exactly whether or not this pellet grill will suit your cooking needs.
What Every Shopper Should Know About Pellet Grills
Before you decide whether the Green Mountain Davy Crockett model is for you, consider the following criteria.
Size
How many people do you usually grill for? Do you typically include more than one grilled component in your meals? The answers to these questions will help you determine how much grilling space you need. It’s in your best interest not to invest in a grill that’s too big, or you might not end up with a decent return on your investment.
Value
Is the grill set at an affordable price? If it’s priced on the higher end of the spectrum, do you think you’ll use it often enough to make your investment worth the cost?
Temperature Control
How effectively does the unit retain and distribute its heat? Does the system allow you to maintain adequate control over the temperature? Some units offer Wi-Fi capability, which means you’ll be able to remotely control the temperature using your tablet or smartphone.
Construction
What material makes up the body of the grill? What about the cooking grates? As a rule of thumb, the grill should be constructed of commercial-grade stainless steel. The grates are typically made of porcelain-coated cast iron, but some units use stainless steel throughout. The porcelain coating can make the grates easier to clean, so keep this in mind while you’re checking the product specifications.
Reliability
Does the ignition start up every time? Can you depend on the grill to reach the desired cooking temperature within a reasonable time frame?
Pellet Consumption
Is the pellet hopper an adequate size? How quickly does the unit burn through wood? Typically, a 20-pound bag of pellets should allow for 20 hours of cooking time, depending on the type of grilling you’re doing. A hopper with a 20-pound capacity is preferable.
Read more: How long do pellets last in a pellet grill?
Warranty
Does the company back its product with a warranty? One or two years is the industry standard, but you might be able to find a model that offers longer protection.
Green Mountain Davy Crockett Review: The Basics
The Green Mountain Davy Crockett grill arrives with a peaked lid, a pellet hopper with nine-pound capacity, foldable legs, and a convenient side tray with built-in utensil hooks. The grill is Wi-Fi compatible through the company’s iOS or Android mobile application, allowing you greater control from a distance. Also included are a 13-gauge steel grease tray and a meat probe to aid in temperature control. An additional grease tray with open-flame technology can be purchased separately.
Pros:
- Affordable price point
- Side tray with utensil hooks
- Wi-Fi capability
- Thermal sensor for temperature monitoring
Cons:
- Wi-Fi technology can be finicky
- Temperature control is difficult to manage when smoking meats for long periods of time
- Some misleading advertising on secondary parts
Features & Benefits of the Green Mountain Davy Crockett Grill
Once you’ve determined what your criteria will be for a pellet grill, it’s time to decide whether the Davy Crockett could be the right fit. Let’s take a closer look at the specifications of this particular unit.
Size
As pellet grills go, the Davy Crockett grill is on the smaller side. It weighs in at just 68 pounds, with a small footprint and 219 square inches of cooking space. Although its portability could be considered a perk if you plan to use the grill while camping or tailgating, it might not offer enough space for serious barbecue enthusiasts or larger groups. If your grilling menu usually consists of hot dogs or other ingredients that don’t take up a lot of space, then the size might be perfectly adequate.
Value
This unit is set at an extremely reasonable price, even when you take its smaller size into consideration. The trade-off? It might not last as long as some comparable models. If you’d prefer to spend less money and are willing to consider the possibility that you’ll have to upgrade in a few years, the Davy Crockett could still be a solid choice. The low price also makes it a particularly appealing option for first-time buyers who are apprehensive about making the switch to pellet grilling.
Temperature Control
The temperature on this grill seems to run a little bit high. This issue is especially noticeable when you’re attempting to smoke meats at lower temps for long periods of time. In addition, the auger function responsible for feeding the pellets into the grill has a tendency to slow or jam up when left unsupervised. That said, this unit works well for grilling meats at high temperatures, which could very well be all you’re looking for in a pellet grill.
Construction
Whoever put the Davy Crockett grill together knew what they were doing. The build itself is sturdy, and it features steel construction throughout. The peaked lid is especially useful when preparing racks of ribs or whole chickens. The side shelf with built-in hooks is a handy feature as well, and one that many pellet grills lack. It also comes equipped with foldable legs that can be used as handles during travel. The material isn’t as high-quality as the ones used in pricier models, but considering the low price tag, this is a well-built unit that should get the job done.
Reliability
The electronic ignition sparks up every time, which comes in handy if you plan on taking this grill on the road very often. As mentioned above, the temperature is more reliable for grilling than for smoking. Since the grill is on the smaller side anyway, this might not be a major issue, but it bears mentioning nonetheless.
Pellet Consumption
The hopper only holds nine pounds of pellets at once—less than half of what some larger units can handle. This means you should keep a close eye on the pellet level, especially if you plan on cooking at high heat for long periods of time. In my experience, the unit burns through about 3 pounds of pellets per hour at high temperatures, which is fairly standard. Bear in mind that fruit wood pellets will burn much more quickly than hardwood.
Warranty
Green Mountain Grills offers consumers a three-year limited warranty on its products. What does this mean? Basically, the warranty covers the essential components of the grill. If any of these parts are defective or have become damaged through regular use, Green Mountain will repair and replace them at no additional cost. Cosmetic issues, such as paint chipping or exterior rust, are not included in the warranty.
Social Proof: Firing Up the Green Mountain Davy Crockett Grill
What do other consumers have to say about the Green Mountain Davy Crockett Grill? To find out, I took to the internet for a bit of research on customer response to the product.
The majority of the reviews I encountered were positive ones. The temperature control panel was mentioned as a definite perk, although some people shared my assessment regarding its spotty performance. People seemed satisfied with the pellet consumption as well, and the small size was generally received as a plus rather than a minus. One customer claimed that it was perfect for parties of two to six people.
Possible Alternatives
Have you looked over all the information and decided that the Green Mountain Davy Crockett grill might not be what you’re looking for? That’s fair. As I mentioned above, everyone has different needs when it comes to grilling. Fortunately, there are plenty of alternatives to consider. Here’s a brief recap on three of them, complete with information about how they stack up compared to the Davy Crockett.
#1 Traeger Grills Texas Elite 34
This slightly upscale option offers nearly three times as much cooking space, though it is set at a higher price point. It’s also highly versatile, with superb reliability and temperature control.
Green Mountain vs. Traeger
- Size—Traeger
- Value—Green Mountain
- Temperature Control—Traeger
- Construction—Traeger
- Reliability—Traeger
- Pellet Consumption—Green Mountain
- Warranty—Tie
Check out the Traeger Texas Elite if you have cash to spare, and are looking for a grill that can accommodate larger groups.
Read our full Green Mountain vs Traeger comparison.
#2 Camp Chef SmokePro DLX
The pellet hopper on the SmokePro can accommodate up to 20 pounds of pellets, making for a carefree grilling experience. The downside? It weighs nearly twice as much as the Davy Crockett, so it’s probably a no-go for tailgating.
Green Mountain vs. Camp Chef
- Size—Camp Chef
- Value—Green Mountain
- Temperature Control—Camp Chef
- Construction—Camp Chef
- Reliability—Camp Chef
- Pellet Consumption—Green Mountain
- Warranty—Tie
If a generous hopper size ranks high on your list, then give the SmokePro DLX a try.
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#3 Cookshack PG500
Like the Davy Crockett, this offering from Cookshack features 100 percent stainless steel construction and easy cleanup. The main difference is in the size—this is a grill for people who want to turn out massive amounts of food at once.
Green Mountain vs. Cookshack
- Size—Cookshack
- Value—Green Mountain
- Temperature Control—Cookshack
- Construction—Tie
- Reliability—Green Mountain
- Pellet Consumption—Green Mountain
- Warranty—Green Mountain
Take a closer look at the Cookshack PG500 if you have a lot of available backyard space and a tendency to host large gatherings.
The Bottom Line
If you’re a first-time buyer, the Davy Crockett model could be an excellent initiation to the world of pellet grills. Seasoned experts may be just as appreciative of the unit’s camping and tailgating potential. Wherever your journey takes you, I hope you’ve found this Green Mountain Davy Crockett review both entertaining and illuminating. to check the product page on Amazon.
Thanks for reading, and happy grilling!
