Pit Boss smoker accessories split into two groups: universal tools that work with almost any cooker and fitted upgrades that must match a specific grill. The second group is where expensive mistakes happen. A shelf that says “700 Series” is not automatically compatible with every product carrying 700 in its name.
Quick answer: Photograph the grill data plate and record the complete model number before shopping. Buy protection and temperature-control tools first, then convenience items. For shelves, covers, griddle inserts, replacement grates, and side-smoker attachments, match the exact model number to the current official compatibility list rather than relying on a family name or visual similarity.
Find the Exact Pit Boss Model First
Look for the model and serial label on the grill body or in the original manual. The location varies by product. Pit Boss asks owners to have both the model and serial number available for product registration and customer care, which is a good signal that the complete identifier—not a nickname—is the reliable key.
Write the number exactly, including letters, series suffixes, and edition markers. PB700NX, PB700DX, and PB700FB2 are related in size, but they are not the same product. A listing that names one should not be assumed to fit the others unless all are explicitly included.
| What to capture | Example format | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Full model number | PB700NX | Primary compatibility key |
| Serial number | Unique to the unit | Support and warranty lookup |
| Series and edition | Onyx, Navigator, Pro | Mounting points can change |
| Cooker width and depth | Measured physically | Useful for universal covers |
| Photos of hinges and brackets | Both sides and rear | Confirms installation space |
Save the product-page compatibility text as a screenshot on the day of purchase. Catalogs change, and a saved record is useful if a seller ships a part labeled for a different generation.
Upgrade Priorities
| Priority | Accessory type | What problem it solves | Fit risk |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Correct cover and cleaning tools | Weather and grease protection | Low to medium |
| 2 | Independent thermometer | Food and grate verification | Low |
| 3 | Front or side shelf | Safe landing and prep space | High |
| 4 | Griddle insert or extra grate | New cooking surface | High |
| 5 | Side-smoker attachment | Major capacity expansion | Very high |
| 6 | Racks, baskets, lights, organizers | Workflow convenience | Low to medium |
This order is based on broad utility and compatibility risk, not price. An owner who cooks after dark may value a light sooner; someone with a covered outdoor kitchen may not need a fabric cover. The point is to fix real workflow problems rather than buy every item in a catalog.
1. Cover: Protection Before Expansion
A cover is useful when the grill lives outdoors, but it needs to fit without trapping against a hot cooker. Let the grill shut down and cool completely before covering it. A cover must not become part of the operating setup or block exhaust during use.
For a model-specific cover, confirm the exact model. For a universal cover, measure the cooker at its widest and deepest points with shelves in their normal storage position. Pit Boss currently groups universal pellet-grill covers by width ranges, while fitted products can be labeled by individual families.
A cover does not replace cleaning or dry pellet storage. The smoker-cleaning guide explains grease-path maintenance and why covering a dirty, damp cooker can create a different problem.
2. Independent Thermometer: The Most Transferable Upgrade
A separate food thermometer is useful across every grill brand. A dual-channel or multi-channel unit can track food and grate temperature without depending entirely on the built-in controller display.
Choose probes rated for the temperatures they will encounter and route cables through an approved port or a gap that does not pinch them. Do not drill the cooker body just to pass a probe unless the manufacturer explicitly approves the modification.
This is a universal tool, so compatibility is about probe diameter, cable routing, and temperature rating rather than bolt patterns. It is also one reason our essential smoker accessories guide places measurement ahead of novelty add-ons.
3. Front and Side Shelves: Check Every Suffix
A shelf creates a clean landing spot for a hot pan and keeps raw and cooked trays organized. It is useful, but brackets are highly model-specific. Mounting-hole spacing, lid clearance, leg design, and folding geometry can change between series.
Pit Boss’s current 700 Series Onyx/DX front shelf, SKU 40208, lists PB700NX, PB700DX, PB700FB2, and PB850FB2 as compatible. That exact list illustrates why a product name alone is insufficient: one official shelf may cross a few numbered families while excluding visually similar ones.
Before installation, compare the included hardware with the instructions. Do not substitute long bolts that could contact wiring, the barrel, or a pellet hopper. After installation, open the lid fully and confirm that the shelf cannot interfere with handles, vents, grease drainage, or the hopper.
4. Griddle Inserts and Replacement Grates
A griddle insert can add smash burgers, breakfast, and vegetable cooking, but it changes grease flow and heat distribution. Buy only an insert that is explicitly sized for the grill series. A loose steel plate laid over grates can block airflow or direct grease somewhere the cooker was not designed to receive it.
Check whether the product replaces the cooking grates or sits on top of them. Verify orientation, drain alignment, and any required heat limits. Season or wash the surface according to its actual material—carbon steel, cast iron, and ceramic-coated parts do not share one maintenance routine.
Replacement grates must also preserve lid closure and air space. More mass is not automatically better if it slows recovery, touches a temperature sensor, or overloads a bracket.
5. Side-Smoker Attachments
A side smoker is closer to an appliance expansion than a small accessory. It changes capacity, airflow, footprint, assembly, and cleaning. It should be considered only after the main grill is stable and the owner regularly needs more low-temperature space.
Pit Boss’s current side-smoker attachment page lists many exact models across Navigator, Sportsman, FB, Onyx, Pro, DX, and other lines. The presence of a family in that list does not mean every size or generation in the family fits. Match the complete number.
Installation must preserve the intended grill-to-box airflow, internal damper operation, lid clearance, and grease management. If the mounting points do not align without drilling, bending, or forcing, stop and contact Pit Boss rather than modifying the cooker.
6. Racks, Baskets, and Organizers
Rib racks and vegetable baskets are relatively low-risk when they fit inside the usable cooking area and leave room for airflow. Measure height with the lid closed and include the food, not only the empty rack. A tall rib rack that clears an open lid may touch it during cooking.
Magnetic hooks and paper holders should remain away from hot surfaces, pellet-hopper openings, controls, and moving lids. A magnet that holds on a cold side panel may lose grip as the metal warms or vibrates.
Use heat-resistant gloves and a stable tray as workflow tools, not decorations. Small conveniences earn their place when they reduce lid-open time or keep raw-food utensils separate from cooked-food tools.
Compatibility Matrix
| Accessory | Universal or fitted? | Required verification | Skip if |
|---|---|---|---|
| Food thermometer | Mostly universal | Probe rating and cable route | Sensor or cable cannot handle grill heat |
| Universal cover | Size-based | Width, depth, height, shelf position | Blocks cooling or is too tight |
| Fitted cover | Model-specific | Full model list | Only a similar family is named |
| Front shelf | Model-specific | Model number, brackets, hardware | Requires forcing or unapproved drilling |
| Griddle insert | Model/size-specific | Drain and airflow design | Obstructs grease path or sensor |
| Side smoker | Highly model-specific | Exact official compatibility list | Model suffix is absent |
Accessories to Skip at First
A second device that duplicates a working tool
Do not buy another controller-connected gadget before confirming the original problem. If temperature readings seem wrong, compare with a known independent thermometer and inspect probe placement first.
A fitted part sold only by visual similarity
Marketplace photos are not compatibility evidence. If neither the manufacturer nor seller lists the full model number, the burden of return and potential damage falls on the buyer.
Smoke tubes for every cook
A tube can be useful for specific applications, but it should not be used to mask poor pellet quality, restricted airflow, or a dirty firepot. Diagnose the grill before adding more smoke.
Oversized cookware
A pan that covers most of the grate can alter airflow and grease flow. Leave the clearance required by the cooker and never allow cookware to touch the temperature sensor.
Installation and Safety Checklist
- Shut down, unplug, and cool the grill completely.
- Verify the full model number against the current official list.
- Read the accessory manual before removing any grill part.
- Use supplied hardware in the documented locations.
- Do not block exhaust, intake, grease drains, sensors, or controller wiring.
- Open and close every moving part before firing the grill.
- Run an empty supervised heat check after major installation.
- Stop if smoke, heat, or grease exits somewhere unintended.
If an installation question remains, use the model and serial number when contacting Pit Boss. A support confirmation is more useful than a forum reply from someone with a similar-looking grill.
Pit Boss vs. Generic Accessory Buying
Universal thermometers, gloves, brushes, pans, and baskets can move between brands. Covers, shelves, grates, griddle inserts, and expansion boxes usually demand model verification. That distinction also applies to other brands; our Masterbuilt accessories guide uses the same model-first principle.
If the grill itself is still being selected, resolve cooker capacity and fuel type before building an accessory list. The pellet smoker buying guide is the better starting point than trying to turn the wrong-sized cooker into the right one with add-ons.
Sources
- Pit Boss: Official Accessories Catalog
- Pit Boss: Product Registration and Model Lookup
- Pit Boss: 700 Series Onyx/DX Front Shelf
- Pit Boss: Side Smoker Attachment Compatibility
Start with the data plate, not the shopping cart. A smaller list of accessories that definitely fits and solves known problems is more valuable than a pile of plausible upgrades.
