Traeger Timberline 1300 Buyer’s Guide – A Detailed Review And Comparison


The Timberline 1300 is a pellet grill that can do it all. With features you won’t find on other grills, it offers a level of versatility and control that will elevate your cooking game. From cold smoking to high-temp searing, this grill has it all. In this article, you’ll find out why the Timberline 1300 is a must-have for any serious pitmaster.

The Timberline 1300 is a top-of-the-line pellet grill from Traeger, equipped with advanced features such as Wi-Fi, a new exhaust system, and double walled insulation. With a massive 1300 square inches of cooking capacity, it is capable of cooking for large crowds and is suitable for use in cold climates. Its superior build quality, temperature stability, and large hopper make it an efficient and cost-effective option for outdoor cooking. Additionally, the Timberline 1300 boasts high temp searing capabilities, a three-tier-rack system, and built-in shelving and cutting board.

Timberline 1300 Specs

SpecificationsTraeger Timberline 1300
ManufacturerTraeger Pellet Grills
Price (US)$2299.99 (Check Latest)
Weight238 lbs
Dimension (DxHxW)28″ x 51″ x 58″
Cooking Area Range801 square inches
Grilling Area1343 sq in cooking area
Hopper Capacity24 lbs
Hopper CleanoutYes
Control StyleSuper Smoke Mode with convection system
Special Features* Magnetic cutting board made of bamboo *  Equipped with advanced technology *  3 tiers grates made from stainless-steel * True convection system
ConnectivityWiFire® with Timberline D2 Controller to be used in Traeger application.Can be connected to Google Assistant and Alexa
Power SourceElectricity (3 Prong Outlet)
Inner MaterialStainless Steel
Outer MaterialPainted Steel
Color VariationsBlack only
WheelsFour (4) All-terrain wheels
Fuel TypeWood pellet
Assembly RequiredYes
Front/Side ShelfYes
TechnologyWifi / WiFire®
General FeaturesTraeger Timberline 1300
Temperature ControlAdvanced Grilling Logic
Max Temperature500 °F
Cooking Methods6 in 1 versatility cooking (smoke, bake, roast, bbq, braise and bake)
Food productionTwelve (12) chickens or Fifteen (15) rib racks or Twelve (12) pork butts
Double Side Wall InsulationYes
Downdraft Exhaust SystemYes
Standard SizeExtra Large

“Which Traeger Should I Buy? The Complete Guide To Traeger Pellet Grills”

10 Reasons The Timberline Is The Best

The overall build quality of the Timberline 1300 is excellent, and you really notice the difference between Timberland and the other models. Here’s 10 reasons why the Timberline 1300 is the best:

  1. Build Quality. The overall build quality of the Timberline is superior to other Traeger models, and most pellet grills on the market. All components are high quality.
  2. Fully Insulated. The Timberline is made with thick metal giving it all round insulation. The Timberline is the only Traeger that can cook economically through the winter months.
  3. Temperature Stability. Timberline has what’s called a Tru Convection System. This helps the Timberline maintain temperature within a few degrees of the set temp.
  4. Large Hopper. The Timberline can hold 24 pounds of wood pellets, which is more than other Traeger grills.
  5. Economical. The insulation on the Timberline means you will burn through less wood pellets than other Traeger grills. Wood pellets are expensive, so you’ll save money in the long run.
  6. High Temp Searing. The Timberline can sear steaks at 500°F. Simply drop the bottom grill grate closer to the fire, and sear at high temps.
  7. Food Capacity. The Timberline 1300 has 1343 square inches of cooking area which is enough to cook 15 racks of ribs, or 12 whole chickens, or 12 pork butts.
  8. Three-Tier-Rack System. The 1300 has three levels of cooking racks which gives you versatility.
  9. Shelving. The Timberline has several side shelves; one on the front, and a side shelf.
  10. Built-In Cutting Board. The Timberline also has a bamboo cutting board above the digital controller.

How Much Can You Cook On The 1300?

Traeger Timberline 850Cooking Area/Meat
Total Cooking Area1343 SQ IN
Top Rack306 SQ IN
Middle Rack476 SQ IN
Bottom Rack561 SQ IN
Rib Racks15
Whole Chickens12
Pork Butts12

Grill Area. The cooking capacity on the Timberline 1300 is 12 whole chickens, 15 rib racks, or 12 pork butts. That’s a lot of meat. The Timberline 850 model can still cook a lot of food. However, the 1300 takes it to another level. 

Briskets are larger than pork butts, and Traeger’s website says you can cook 12 pork butts in the 1300 Timberline. So imagine you’d be able to do about 10 briskets. Although you would want to spread them out a bit so there’s good airflow. But that’s a lot of meat!

How Big is the 1300?

Timberline 1300Dimensions
Depth28 IN
Height51 IN
Width58 IN
Weight255 LBS

The Timberland 1300 is a large grill. It sits at 58 inches, and 51 inches high. That’s roughly the size of a 60 inch television. 

The Timberline 1300 may be too large if you have a small area outside. If that’s the case, perhaps consider the 850 model. It’s got everything the 1300 has — except it’s more compact. The 850 has a three tier rack system, so you can still cook a lot of meat. 

How Much Does The 1300 Cost?

Prices change constantly on the Traeger website, so it’s difficult to give an accurate answer. Generally the price sits between $2000 and $2300. Check the latest price here.

If you purchase the grill through the Traeger website, you get FREE SHIPPING in the USA.

You can buy-now-pay-later with affirm. The Timberline 1300 works out $119 per month.

Timberline 1300Price
Grill Only$1999 to $2300 check latest
Cover$99 check latest
Buy-Now-Pay-Later$119 per month check latest
DeliveryFREE DELIVERY in the USA
Hardwood Pellets $19.99 check latest
Grease Pan Liner (5 pack)$5.00 check latest
Warranty3 Years

Price Difference Between The Timberline 1300 vs Other Models

Traeger ModelPrice
Ranger (portable)$449 (see latest)
Tailgater (portable)$529 (see latest)
Pro 22 (Gen 1) $599 (see latest)
Pro 34 (Gen 1) $699 (see latest)
Pro 575$899 (see latest)
Pro 780$999 (see latest)
Ironwood 650$1399 (see latest)
Ironwood 885$1599 (see latest)
Timberline 850 (Gen 1) $2099 (see latest)
Timberline 1300 (Gen 1) $2299 (see latest)
Timberline $3499 (see latest)
Timberline XL$3799 (see latest)
Traeger Pellet Grill Price Comparison

Temperature Settings

Mode Temperature
High Temp500°F
Low Temp165°F
Super Smoke Mode170°F to 200°F
Keep Warm Mode165°F

Temperature Range

The temperature range on the Timberline 1300 is between 165° F and 500° F. This gives you the option of cold smoking at the lower end, and searing at the high end. Most pellet grills are designed for cooking in the middle to low-and-slow range. More commonly, you will smoke meat between 225° F and 275° F. This is the standard low-and-slow range. However, the Timberline gives you those other options.

High-Temp Searing

The Timberline is one of the few pellet grills with the ability to sear steak at high temperatures. This is something most smokers and pellet grills cannot do. Reverse Searing is one of the best ways to cook meat. On a pellet grill. Start the meat at a low temp and let the steak absorb some smoke. Then, lower the bottom grate, crank up the temperature up to 500° F, and sear them to finish. There are no grill marks, you get an amazing smoke flavor. 

Cold Smoking

The minimum temperature on the Timberline is 165° F, which is suitable for cold smoking. If you want to cold smoke at a lower temp, place ice trays on the racks. Also, consider doing your cold smoking for the colder months, because the metal on the grill will be colder.

SuperSmoke

The Timberline has a cool function called SuperSmoke. This feature uses the fan and the auger in an off on sequence that will enable the wood to smolder. Smoldering wood means more smoke. SuperSmoke mode will hold the grill at about 165 to 225° F.

SuperSmoke works best early in the cook when the meat is taking a lot of smoke. Smoke is attracted to cold wet meat, so if you put your meat in the grill for the first hour on SuperSmoke mode, it will definitely have a smokier meat. This feature is only available in the newer Traeger models. 

Keep Warm Mode

If your meat is done, but you’re not ready to serve, the Timberline has a useful KEEP WARM mode. This mode will hold the grill at 165°F. Another cool feature with the 850 is you can switch the grill into KEEP WARM mode from your phone via the App. You don’t even need to be home!

New Convection System

Temperature accuracy is an important feature to look for in a grill. The Timberline models have a new convection system which distributes heat differently to the other models. The new convection system is more accurate, meaning the temperature will be closer to your set temperature. 

Turbo Temp

The Timberline 1300 has an excellent feature called TurboTemp, which allows you to bring your grill up to temperature much sooner. TurboTemp is also handy after you have opened the lid, and lost much of the heat from the grill. If you need to spritz your meat, or check the internal temperature, once you close the lid you can hit TurboTemp on your app, it will bring smoker back up to temperature sooner. TurboTemp allows you to cook faster sooner, rather than having to wait an extended period to bring up to temp. 

Timberline’s Downdraft Exhaust System

The Timberline 1300 uses different ventilation system called Downdraft. The Timberline has no smokestack. The Downdraft system pushes smoke out the vents at the bottom of the grill, which produces better, cleaner smoke.

The downdraft exhaust system is supposed to make the Timberline cook food 20% faster than Traeger models without the D2 exhaust system. 

The D2 technology can produce more smoke, which means more flavor, according to Traeger. The D2 system pushes the smoke downwards, which means less stale smoke circulating around the cooking chamber. 

I’m not sure if Downdraft is just a marketing tool by Traeger, or if the difference in flavor makes a difference. I’ve yet to do a side-by-side taste test with meat cooked on a pellet grill with a smokestack, and meat smoked with the Downdraft system.  

Why Superior Insulation Matters

  • One of the main reasons people upgrade to the Timberline 1300 is for the thick double insulated walls. 
  • The insulation allows you to cook in cold climates—something other grills can’t do. 
  • The 1300 Timberline has an amazing ability to retain heat, and prevent cool weather coming in. 
  • Even in the cold weather, the Timberline is virtually bulletproof. It may take about 20 minutes to come up to temperature, but once it’s reached its target temperature, the grill will hold temperature throughout the cook. You will still burn through more pellets in the colder months, but still far less than other grills. 
  • The Timberline lid is sealed with gaskets, which will prevent heat from escaping, and the cool air being drawn into your cook chamber. This makes the grill more economical, and along with the double-walled steel, this makes it an all round insulated unit.  

The Most Economical Traeger

Wood pellets aren’t cheap. The Timberline burns through less wood pellets than other models. If you do a lot of smoking and grilling, the money you will save on pellets would probably pay the price difference between the Timberline model and the less expensive Traeger models. 

The Timberline grills are so well insulated, you retain heat and therefore use fewer pellets. When a smoker is losing heat, the auger will feed more pellets into the fire pot to keep the temperature stable. So because the Timberline is so well insulated, it retains heat and burns fewer pellets. 

Timberline Has All The Extras

The Timberline comes with extra features that are extras with other models.

Pellet Sensor

As with all new Traeger models, they are equipped with a pellet sensor that alerts you when your pellets are running low. This is useful for long cooks. When your pellets are getting low, you will get a notification sent to your phone.

Bamboo Cutting Board

The bamboo cutting board is a nice touch, and one of those features you would expect when buying a premium product. The bamboo table allows you to do some of your food prep beside the grill. 

Extra Shelving

The Timberline has extra racks on the sides and around the front of the grill. This gives you ample room to store spices, spritz bottles, thermometers, or meat trays. The racks also have handy hook so you can hang your barbecue utensils. 

Built-in Meat Probe

The Timberline only comes with one meat probe — which I think is a little stingy. You can cook an enormous amount of meat on the 1300, so it makes sense that Traeger would supply you with at least two probes. Anyway, most Pitmasters use their own thermometers.

Large Pellet Hopper

The 1300 Timberline has a 24 lb pellet hopper, which is enough to fit more than a full bag of pellets. A full 20lbs bag of pellets is the equivalent to about 20 hours of cooking—which is more than enough for a brisket. 

Grease Trap. The 1300 has a hidden grease tray, which is good because it makes it much safer. If you have a dog or small children, it’s nice to have the grease trap hidden away. It’s also large enough to place an aluminium foil tin into the tray so that it makes it easier when you’re cleaning.  

Pellet Dump. The Timberline also has a handy trapdoor at the back where you can dump pellets and swap them out. This is a great feature. I find it extremely frustrating not being able to swap out the flavors. 

Reverse Sear. With the Timberline 1300, you can lower the bottom rack and sear steaks at 500°F—something most other pellet grills can’t do. Reverse searing is one of the best ways to cook a steak on a pellet grill, and the lower grate on the Timberline makes it easier. 

To reverse sear steaks, first smoke the low-and-slow. This will allow time for the meat to absorb smoke. Then lower the grate and increase the temperature to 500° F. Sear off the steaks on the bottom grill for a few minutes on each side.

All-Terrain Wheels. The Timberline 1300 is easy to move around with all-terrain wheels.

No Hotspots – Even Temps

One of the best things about the Timberline 1300 is the even cooking temperature. Most smokers have hot spots and cool zones—which is annoying because you have to rotate the meat. 

This is especially important when you’re cooking things like ribs. You need to rotate racks so the meat looks evenly and doesn’t burn in certain areas. 

You really notice the difference when you are smoking beef jerky. An uneven smoker will notice some jerky is undercooked, and some is overcooked. This is far less noticeable in the Timberline. There will be spots that are slightly hotter than others, but it’s far less noticeable than other grills. 

Do You Need To Assemble The 1300?

Assembling the Timberline 1300 is straightforward.Traeger packs the boxes really well, so everything’s kept safe from during transportation. 

Traeger also supplies the tools needed, and there are great instructional videos on the Traeger website. 

The 1300 is easy to assemble. You just need to attach the legs, the shelving, then place all the internal components inside. 

It should only take about 1 hour to assemble a Timberline 1300. Most of the assembly requires only one person, however it would be easier with someone helping until you assemble the legs. Once the legs are on, it’s easy to complete the rest by yourself. 

Seasoning Your Grill

You should always season, or burn-in your grill before using the Timberline for the first time. This removes all the unwanted factory chemicals that could make your meat taste gross. Here’s how to season your Traeger.

  • Turn on the Timberline and run it at 350° F for 20 minutes to half an hour.
  • After 20 minutes, raise the temp to 500° F.
  • Let it run for another half an hour.

How To Use The Timberline 850

The Timberline 1300 is simple to operate. There’s a power switch at the back, and an “on” button on the front control panel.

Prime. When firing up the grill, you need to prime the auger. All you need to do is select Prime and the auger will begin filling up with pellets and partially fill the firepot. This saves a lot of time on startup. It only takes a few minutes to prime, then you’re ready to cook. You don’t have to hold your finger down on the button. Unlike some other pellet smokers, it does it for you automatically. 

How To Start-Up. There’s a big red “ignite” button on the front panel. Even though you can control the Traeger from your smartphone, the App cannot ignite the grill. This is a safety feature built in to the unit, always people will start the grill unexpectedly. 

Starting The Timberline

  1. Turn on the power switch.
  2. Turn on the grill from the front control.
  3. Prime the grill. Scroll down the menu, and select auger. Using the knob, select “Prime”. It takes 1  
  4. Hold down the ignite button.
  5. Set the temperature.

Safety Feature. Although you can control your Timberline 1300 from a mobile device, you can’t accidentally start the grill with your phone. This has to be done manually by turning on the power button. 

Firing Up The Timberline. It takes 20 minutes for the Timberline 1300 to come up to 350° F. However, it depends on climate, altitude, and humidity where you live. The Timberline may take longer to come up to temperature in the colder months.

The Traeger App 

The App. One of the biggest selling points of the new grills is the Wi-Fi connection and the Traeger App. This is a huge selling point, the ability to control your grill from your smartphone via the Traeger App. The App also has other features, such as pre-loaded recipes, shopping, etc. 

The App has changed over the years and has seen some significant improvements. Initially, many users were frustrated with the Traeger App. 

As long as the App allows you to monitor and adjust the temperature of the grill from your phone, that’s all that matters. The other information on the App isn’t useful. 

Stats And Graphs. The older version of the Traeger App didn’t give stats and graphs from your cook data. Those who geek-out on cook data, it’s interesting to know some stats from the cook. I find this helps plan future cooks. The upgraded version will provide you with all your cook data. 

Grill Guide. The Traeger App comes pre-loaded with hundreds of recipes. Some of these recipes are more suited for beginners, but they have improved over the years. Traeger has finally reached out to some professionals, and receive some guidance and cooking instructions from Pitmasters. 

iWatch. The Traeger App is now compatible with Apple Watch, so you can control your grill from your watch. There are limited features on the Apple Watch version, but it’s still handy to know what’s going on with your meat and your grill while you’re on the go. 

Is the Traeger App Any Good? The early version of the Traeger App had a mind of its own, and wasn’t following the recipes. Also, many of the temperatures were out of sync, and some people in the community felt they wanted to take back control. 

The App is good for monitoring your cook and changing the temperature, but the automated and customized cooks didn’t work as advertised. However, Traeger continues to develop and upgrade, and they have ironed many of the earlier issues out. 

Notifications. Once you’ve connected the Traeger App to your grill, you will receive notifications when you need the pellets refilled, or if your grill needs to be cleaned. This is a handy feature if you’re a little lazy, and need some prompting to clean your grill, otherwise you might find that annoying.

Traeger’s WI-Fi

The App and Traeger work best with a router with a 2.4 GHz signal. 

  • Traeger’s Wi-Fi is called “WIFIRE”.
  • The Wi-Fi is easy to set up. The App walks you through each step.
  • Once the Traeger WIFIRE is connected to your Wi-Fi network, it’s connected. 

Timberline 1300 Cons?

The only con I can think of with the Timberline is the hefty price tag. Apart from that, this pellet grill is close to perfect. You can cook a tonne of meat, and it’s built like a tank. Plus it has all the extras. It could do with another meat thermometer. With the amount of meat that you can cook in the 1300, it makes sense to have at least two meat probes. Even the Gen 1 Traeger grills had two probes.

Warranty

All Traeger pellet grills come with a 3-year warranty. If you need to deal with Traeger, their customer service is excellent.

The Timberline 850 vs the Timberline 1300

Compared To The 850. The major differences between the Timberline 850 and 1300 is the price, the size, and the cooking capacity. Everything else about these two Timberline models is identical. 

The 850 has all the same features, the double walled insulation, Wi-Fi capability, D2 exhaust, hopper size, double walled installation, Super Smoke mode, 3 tier grill system, hidden grease trap, searing capabilities, extra sealing, bamboo cutting board, built-in meat probe, extra serving, locking caster wheels, and grill hooks. 

Differences? 850 vs 1300. The major differences is the cooking area. With the Timberline 1300, you get 1300 square inches of cooking area, whereas on the 850 you get 850 square inches of cooking area. This equates to eight whole racks, or six pockets, or nine whole chickens. Compared to the Timberline 1300, you can cook 12 whole chickens, 15 racks, or 12 pork butts. 

Price Difference 850 vs 1300. Surprisingly, it’s only about $200 difference between the 1300 and the 850. The Timberline 850 costs of about $2,100 and the $1,300 cost $2,300. Check for the latest price because it changes regularly. 

Size And Weight Differences. The Timberline 850 weighs about 213 lb, is 51 inches in height, 46 inches, and 28 inches depth. Compare with this with the Timberline 1300, it is height of 51 in, a width of 58 in, a depth of 28 inches. 

SpecificationsTraeger Timberline 1300Traeger Timberline 850
ManufacturerTraeger Pellet GrillsTraeger Pellet Grills
Price (US)$2299.99 (Check Latest)$2099.99 (Check Latest)
Weight238 lbs213 lbs
Dimension (DxHxW)28″ x 51″ x 58″27″ x 48″ x 52″
Cooking Area Range801 square inches363 square inches
Grilling Area1343 sq in cooking area869 sq in cooking area
Hopper Capacity24 lbs24 lbs
Hopper CleanoutYesYes
Control StyleSuper Smoke Mode with convection systemSuper Smoke Mode
Special Features* Magnetic cutting board made of bamboo *  Equipped with advanced technology *  3 tiers grates made from stainless-steel * True convection system* Magnetic cutting board made of bamboo *  Equipped with advanced technology *  3 tiers grates made from stainless-steel *  Concealed Grease Tray
ConnectivityWiFire® with Timberline D2 Controller to be used in Traeger application.Can be connected to Google Assistant and AlexaWiFire® with Timberline D2 Controller to be used in Traeger application.Can be connected to Google Assistant and Alexa
Power SourceElectricity (3 Prong Outlet)Electricity (3 Prong Outlet)
Inner MaterialStainless SteelStainless Steel
Outer MaterialPainted SteelPainted Steel
Color VariationsBlack onlyBlack only
WheelsFour (4) All-terrain wheelsTwo (2) All-terrain wheels
Fuel TypeWood pelletWood pellet
Assembly RequiredYesYes
Front/Side ShelfYesYes
TechnologyWifi / WiFire®Wifi / WiFire®

General FeaturesTraeger Timberline 1300Traeger Timberline 850
Temperature ControlAdvanced Grilling LogicAdvanced Grilling Logic
Max Temperature500 °F500 °F
Cooking Methods6 in 1 versatility cooking (smoke, bake, roast, bbq, braise and bake)6-in-1 versatility to smoke, grill, bake, braise, BBQ, and roast food to juicy perfection
Food productionTwelve (12) chickens or Fifteen (15) rib racks or Twelve (12) pork buttsNine (9) chickens or eight (8) rib racks or six (6) pork butts
Double Side Wall InsulationYesYes
Downdraft Exhaust SystemYesYes
Standard SizeExtra LargeLarge

Damien

Author and founder at Meat Smoking HQ

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