Name: Memphis Grills Elite
Brand: Memphis Grills
Price: 5499 USD
Availability: InStock

Summary

A large freestanding 304 stainless pellet grill with a 24 lb dual-bin hopper, 862 sq in of cooking space and an included direct-flame insert for searing up to a claimed 900°F. Before buying at $5,999, decide whether the reported touchscreen water ingress, blower failures and the app’s monitor-only control are acceptable for your use.

Strengths

304 stainless double-wall construction with an oven-grade hood gasket and convection blower is a premium physical build uncommon on cheap pellet grills.
Dual-mode cooking: the removable indirect Savorizer plus the included direct-flame insert handles both slow smoking and open-flame searing.
862 sq in of standard cooking space, rising to 1,275 sq in with the optional grate kit, suits cooking for groups.
The dual 24 lb hopper lets you blend pellet varieties without emptying one hopper immediately.
The included VG0956 probe can tell the controller to drop to a warm setting when the target food temperature is reached.
IntelliBurn secondary combustion is intended to reduce fuel use and ash, with a quoted 1.3 lb/hour at 350°F.

Weaknesses

Owners report blower failure during high-heat searing, temperature overshoot of 50–60°F, and warped grates.
The current app monitors temperatures, timers and alerts but cannot change the grill temperature remotely.
At 283 lb and 69 in wide, the grill needs ample space and careful positioning; it is not portable.
Warranty excludes burn pot, gaskets, corrosion, misuse, modifications, commercial use, unsuitable pellets and related problems; transportation and labor are not covered.
Pellet fuel, a $200 MSRP fitted cover and optional grates are extra costs on top of the $5,999 price.

Verified specifications

Model	Elite Cart ITC3, part VG0002S; the built-in Elite is VGB0002S at $5,499 MSRP.
Dimensions	47 × 69 × 29 in; 283 lb; double-walled sealed 304 stainless steel with an oven-grade hood gasket.
Cooking area	862 sq in as sold; 1,275 sq in with the optional middle grate kit VG4002, which adds 408 sq in.
Temperature	chamber set range 180–700°F; manufacturer advertises over 900°F locally in direct-flame searing mode.
Fuel	24 lb dual-bin pellet hopper with two augers; quoted consumption about 1.3 lb/hour at 350°F set point.
Controller	7-inch touchscreen; IntelliBurn secondary combustion with a variable-speed DC blower.
Included	direct-flame insert VG4407, Genie tool VG1595, and one meat probe VG0956.
Wireless	Bluetooth for Wi-Fi setup; app monitors grill and probe temperatures, timers and alerts; no Wi-Fi control of settings.
Power and placement	outdoors only, at least 30 in from combustible surfaces, GFCI-protected outlet, preferably a dedicated circuit.
Warranty	seven years on covered materials and manufacturing defects for the original owner in normal residential use; three years for electrical and electronic components; 30 days for the meat probe.

Full research notes and sources

Electronics and temperature control

Memphis advertises a 180–700°F chamber set range and over 900°F locally in direct-flame mode, but owner reports describe 50–60°F startup overshoot, large chamber swings and meat-probe jitter on some units. The ITC3 manual documents ER-4, ER-5, ER-6 and ER-9 diagnostic codes for shorted or open RTD probes, CPU overtemperature and igniter or fuse faults, so those are possible fault paths rather than rare surprises. Wi-Fi pairing has been inconsistent, and the current manufacturer page limits the app to monitoring, alerts and a timer. Treat the electronics as the main ownership risk rather than the steel.

Weather, cleaning and upkeep

Rain exposure is the practical weak point: owners report screen damage after a cover blew off, and Memphis sells a fitted cover for $200 MSRP. The manual requires scraping grates, inspecting the grease pan and clearing the burn pot after every use, plus deeper cleaning every three uses, weekly ash vacuuming in frequent use, and annual hopper and airbox cleanup. Do not cover or unplug a hot grill before cooldown finishes; the fan must complete cooldown while power is connected. Use dry, premium food-grade hardwood pellets only, since damp or unsuitable pellets can clog the burn pot and disrupt ignition.

Running costs

Fuel is the main recurring cost. Memphis quotes about 1.3 lb/hour at a 350°F set point, so a year of two hours a week at 350°F implies roughly 135.2 lb of pellets, or about $66.65 using a $9.86 per 20 lb Walmart example price and about $134.86 using a $19.95 per 20 lb Home Depot example price. Electricity is required for ignition, fans, auger and controller; the manual lists about 2 A startup current but no annual kWh figure, so a watt-meter and real hours are needed. The grill has no mandatory subscription for cooking or monitoring. One-time extras include the $200 MSRP fitted cover and a $189 optional middle grate kit.

Warranty and service

Covered materials and manufacturing defects carry seven years and electrical or electronic components three years for the original owner in normal residential use, but burn pot, gaskets, corrosion, misuse, modifications, commercial use and unsuitable pellets are excluded. Memphis may repair or replace covered failed parts after inspection, with the owner paying freight to the manufacturer; transportation and labor are not covered, and a successful claim does not extend the original term. Owners report mixed outcomes, from a full grill replacement after multiple faults to a shipped replacement screen and, in one case, unresolved warped grates. Start a claim through an authorized dealer with the model and serial number under the hopper lid, photos or video, a dated receipt and any ER code.

Is it worth it?

At $5,999 MSRP from Memphis, BBQGuys and BBQ Island in October 2026, the Elite Cart ITC3 sits at the top of the pellet-grill market. An unusually attractive new buy with authorized warranty would be $4,800 or less; $4,801–$5,399 is good with strong return and service terms; $5,400–$5,999 is the normal October offering; above $5,999 needs a specific worthwhile package or installation. At roughly $5,700–$6,000, the Yoder YS1500S Competition at about $5,695 offers 1,500 sq in and remote control in a 667 lb steel chamber, while the Memphis Pro Cart ITC3 at $4,999 is the smaller sibling with a 574 sq in standard area and 18 lb hopper. The MAK Two-Star General at $3,499 standard or $4,499 all-stainless is smaller but offers remote Wi-Fi control, and was out of stock on the checked October 2026 pages.

Which model this is

This page covers the freestanding Elite Cart ITC3, part VG0002S, with the IntelliBurn ITC3 controller. It is not the built-in Elite VGB0002S at $5,499 MSRP, the smaller Pro Cart ITC3 at $4,999 MSRP with 574 sq in standard and an 18 lb hopper, or older Elite grills with ITC or ITC2 electronics. Memphis states the grill is designed, engineered and tested in the US; some owners report China origin on ITC3 cartons, so confirm the label on the unit you receive.