Pellet grill guide
Traeger Woodridge Elite Wood Pellet Grill (TFC97XLH)
Wi-Fi pellet grilling with an electric side burner
The Woodridge Elite is the Woodridge series model with added insulation, cabinets and an electric side burner, plus Super Smoke, Keep Warm and a pellet sensor. Traeger's pages give its grilling area as 970 or 860 square inches, it weighs about 220 pounds, and the ten-year warranty covers only body rust-through.
Listing checked . Confirm the model, included parts and availability before ordering.
Published specifications
- Model TFC97XLH (US); support guide and listing agree
- 970 sq in (guide, manual) vs 860 sq in (comparison)
- Max 500°F; 24 lb hopper; side burner holds 50 lb
- 67 x 27 x 47 in; 220.5 lb (guide), 221 lb (Amazon)
- 20 in clearance to combustibles; GFCI outlet required
- Warranty: 10 yr body rust-through, 3 yr controller
Fit and limits
Strengths
- Electric side burner that works in shutdown or standby
- Super Smoke, Keep Warm and pellet sensor built in
- Cabinets and added insulation per Traeger's comparison
Caveats
- Traeger's own pages list 970 and 860 sq in
- About 220 lb and 67 x 27 x 47 in, per Traeger
- Ten years covers body rust-through only; parts 1-3 years
The Woodridge Elite and its side burner
The listing gives model and part number as TFC97XLH, and Traeger's Woodridge Elite support guide lists TFC97XLH as the US model, TFC97XLHC for Canada and TFC97XLHI for Europe. Traeger's Woodridge series comparison lists the Elite with added insulation, a side burner for searing, sauteing and simmering, and cabinets for storage.
The same comparison also lists, for the Elite, WiFIRE connectivity, a fully digital controller, a wired meat probe included, wireless probe compatibility, Keep Warm Mode, Super Smoke Mode, a pellet sensor, the EZ-Clean grease and ash keg, a clean-out door, P.A.L. accessory rails, staging hooks and ModiFIRE compatibility. The manual's controller page shows dedicated Super Smoke and Keep Warm buttons on this unit.
Amazon's included-components field says only 'grill'. The manual's parts diagram shows upper, lower and ModiFIRE grates, a wired meat probe, the keg, a P.A.L.-compatible utility rack and casters. The support guide notes that the side burner is a US and Canada feature and that the legs are not interchangeable. The support guide also links a separate Assembly Guide, which we did not read.
970 or 860 square inches: Traeger's pages disagree
The listing's bullets, the Woodridge Elite support guide and the owner's manual all give 970 square inches of grilling space; the manual converts it to 0.63 square metres and says the upper grate is removable and can be stored on the back of the grill for large items like turkeys. Traeger's Woodridge Series comparison article, however, lists 'Cooking capacity 860 sq. inches' under the Elite.
We cannot tell you which figure is correct, and we are not guessing at a reason. Three sources say 970 and one says 860. If the extra space is the reason you are choosing the Elite over another Woodridge model, ask Traeger to confirm the Elite's grate area before ordering. Neither the support guide nor the manual pages we read breaks the total down by grate.
The support guide gives a maximum temperature of 500 degrees Fahrenheit and a 24-pound hopper; the manual repeats the 24-pound hopper and adds a 50-pound weight capacity for the side burner. The manual says to use only Traeger hardwood pellets, while the warranty text voids coverage for fuels other than wood pellets designed for pellet grills or for wood stove heating pellets. Those are two different rules, so read both.
A large, heavy grill that needs 20 inches of clearance
Traeger's support guide lists the Elite at 67 by 27 by 47 inches and 220.5 pounds; Amazon's table says 221 pounds with the same dimensions, so the sources broadly agree. The manual's parts list shows casters, and the support guide lists a caster wheel as replacement part KIT0613.
The manual requires a minimum of 20 inches between the grill and nearby combustibles, naming wooden railings, home siding, window frames, furniture, trees and trash receptacles. It forbids installing or operating the grill indoors, under a combustible ceiling or overhang, or on combustible floors or surfaces, and says not to store a grill cover or anything flammable in the space under the grill.
The manual also warns that ambient temperatures below minus 20 degrees Fahrenheit or above 120 degrees Fahrenheit may damage the controller's display. It tells owners to contact local building or fire officials about restrictions and inspection requirements in their area before installing.
Power: GFCI protection and the electric side burner
This is a plug-in appliance. The manual states that ground fault circuit interrupter protection must be provided on the circuit or outlet used for the grill, and the side-burner page calls for a grounded outlet with GFCI protection. The support guide lists the side burner as replacement part KIT1001, and the manual describes it as an electric unit.
If you need an extension cord, the manual's side-burner page calls for a 16 AWG or larger grounded extension cord. It also says that using the wrong voltage will damage the side burner and void the warranty.
The manual describes the side burner as working while the grill is in shutdown or standby. It stops heating if cookware is lifted off for more than 10 seconds and shuts itself off if left on unused for 10 minutes. The manual forbids metal utensils on its glass surface and using it with the cover on; read its full side-burner safety page before first use.
The keg, the grease system and the cleaning schedule
Grease and ash go into the EZ-Clean grease and ash keg. The manual says to check it before every cook, cold, and to empty it when full, warning that failing to empty it could result in a serious fire. It says how often the drip tray, grease drain chute and keg need cleaning depends on the fat content of your food, sometimes after every cook.
The manual sets a routine rather than a single deep clean: checks before and after every cook covering the drip tray, the keg and the ember shield, and a monthly clean of firepot ash, creosote and the grease drain chute. It specifies a non-metal scraper for grease, and says to wipe the side burner with a damp cloth after use.
The manual says to cover the drip tray only with genuine Traeger drip tray liners, because foil or other materials can affect performance and damage the tray or grill. The manual describes a pellet release door on the back for emptying the hopper, and says the StayDry pellet bin it uses for the clean-out is sold separately.
Warranty: ten years on the body, shorter on the parts
The manual's warranty is titled 10-year limited, and Amazon's table says the same, but the ten years applies only to the body, legs, cabinet and hopper cover against rust-through. The controller, auger motor, auger, side burner and fan get three years against material and manufacturing defects; the drip tray, ember shield and heat baffle get three years; enamelled grates three years against rust-through; hot rod, cord, RTD and thermocouple one year.
Coverage starts from original purchase from traeger.com or a Traeger authorized dealer, and the warranty is void if the grill is not bought from an authorized seller, is resold or traded to another owner, uses third-party components or accessories, or is used commercially. It excludes paint damage from grease fires, UV exposure, normal wear and warping of the drip tray, ember shield or heat baffle.
Traeger's remedy is replacement parts, new or refurbished, with instructions to fit them yourself; labour and freight for parts are at your expense. The manual says Traeger may ask for photos or video chats to validate a claim and may analyse connected-grill data. Check that the Amazon seller you buy from counts as an authorized dealer before relying on this warranty.
Check the current listing
Confirm the model, included parts and availability before ordering.
Primary sources
- Traeger Support Woodridge Elite Support Guide: model numbers, specs, replacement parts
- Traeger Woodridge Elite owner's manual (document T17578), linked from the support guide
- Traeger Support Woodridge Series Grill Comparison
Primary sources checked .
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Side-by-side pages, this model next to: Traeger Timberline XL Pellet Grill with Induction Cooktop (TBB01RLG), Weber Searwood XL 600 Wood Pellet Grill (1500121).