4 Portable Grills for RV Tailgating
RV tailgating is all about cheering for our favorite teams with a crowd of like-minded friends. Even so, great food is always front and center when tailgating. And tailgating with an RV is even better because we have everything we need to create delicious meals right at hand. From seared steaks to Mexican-style corn on the cob, there’s something about cooking food outdoors that makes it taste just a little better. Lots of RVs have outdoor kitchens and grills, but you don’t have to have one those models to cook outside. There are plenty of portable grills that are great for RV tailgating.
Still, having the right grill for the job is key. The best grills for RV tailgating are highly portable and easy to use. In this article, we’ll take a look at four of the top grills for RV tailgating.
But first, let’s look at the key things to consider when you’re looking for that perfect portable grill to take in your RV.
Key Considerations for Buying a Portable Grill
- Budget. How much money do you want to spend on a portable grill?
- Fuel type. Portable grills can use one of three types of fuel. Each fuel type has advantages and disadvantages when it comes to cooking.
- Propane gas grills. Simple, convenient, good temperature control.
- Electric wood pellet grills. Versatile grilling that imparts a smokey flavor into food.
- Charcoal grills. The old standard. Versatile and relatively inexpensive, lightweight and easy to transport, these are the briquet burning grills that evoke childhood memories for many of us. Want a smokier flavor? Just sprinkle some wood shavings over the coals.
- Portability. The best grills for RV tailgating are lightweight and easy to move around. They’re also designed for quick, uncomplicated setup and can feature a sturdy built-in folding stand on wheels
- Cooking Surface. The size of the grill cooking surface you need will depend on how many people you’re feeding. Many tailgating pros prefer to have a good balance of grill size and portability.
Grills to Get Your RV Tailgating Game On
Now that you know what to look for in a portable grill for tailgating, let’s take a look at our top picks for four different types of grills.
Best Portable Smoker Grill: Traeger Tailgater Pellet Grill
The Traeger Tailgater pellet grill does everything you need a tailgating grill to do. Its wheeled legs fold underneath it, so you can easily stow it in a storage bay or in the back of pickup. Once you’re ready to grill, the legs extend quickly to give you a functional grill with enough cooking/smoking or baking area for three rib racks, 12 burgers, or a few pizzas. Reviewers say this grill has changed the way they cook outdoors because it allows them to grill, smoke, or bake at a wide range of consistent temperatures.
Features
- Versatile temperature range to smoke, bake, and sear just about anything
- 300 square inches total cooking area
- Porcelain-coated steel grates to make cleanup easy
- Electric power (120-volt, 250-watt)
- Six-foot power cord included
- Heats up quickly with consistent temperature control
- Eight-pound pellet hopper capacity lasts for four continuous hours of grilling
- Easy-to-fold legs make it easy to pack up and go
- Includes Traeger meat probe that makes checking internal meat temperature simple
- Traeger’s Digital Arc controller enables precise, consistent temperatures
- Warm mode keeps food fresh until it’s time to eat
- Three-year warranty
Specifications
- Weight: 60 pounds
- Height: 36 inches
- Width: 37 inches
- Depth: 16 inches
- Hopper capacity: 8 pounds
- Maximum temperature: 450 degrees Fahrenheit
- Price at BBQGUYS.com: $499.95
Best Charcoal Grill: PK Grills PKGO with Flip Kit
The versatile PKGO charcoal grill combines durable functionality with lightweight portability. The PKGO’s eye-catching exterior has a unique capsule shape with an oversized handle that makes it easy to raise and lower the lid. Which brings me to a very cool feature of this portable grill: The lid is completely removable to become a second hibachi-style grill when more cooking surface is required. You just remove it, flip it over, and set it on the heat dissipating grill stand that comes packed inside the PKGO. Insert its charcoal grate and the cast iron cooking grill and voila! You’re ready to cook more food.
Features
- Unique shape and convects heat to cook food evenly with lid on or off
- Cast aluminum lid can be flipped over and placed in a cradle to turn into a second grill for dual zones when more cooking space is required
- Dual water-shedding radial exhaust vents
- Space-saving design
- Four-point venting
- Digital probe access door
- Durabilium handle doesn’t conduct heat
- Comes with molded cradle, charcoal grate, and cast-iron cooking surface
- 20-year warranty on bowl and lid
- 30-day, rust-free warranty on all parts
Specifications
- Materials: Rust-proof cast aluminum top and bottom; cast-iron cooking surfaces
- Exterior height: 13.03 inches
- Exterior width: 20.9 inches
- Exterior depth: 15.3 inches
- Cooking surface (W x D): 17.0 x 12.0 inches
- Product weight: 39.5 pounds
- Price at PKGrills.com: $399.99
Best Portable Gas Grill: Weber Traveler Portable Gas Grill
Get ready to go places with the Weber Traveler. This lightweight grill is easy to travel with and just as easy to set up. How easy is it? So easy that you can set it up with just one hand. Not only that, but if you find yourself grilling for a crowd, the Traveller has you covered. With a grilling surface that fits up to 15 burgers or 20 hot dogs, you can flip burgers for a lot of people.
Features
- At just 40 inches wide, fits easily into almost any RV exterior storage bay, into the back of any pickup or SUV, or even the trunk of a car
- Can be raised and collapsed with one hand
- Lid automatically locks when the grill is folded down
- Heavy-duty wheels make it easy to take anywhere
- Fits 15 burgers or 20 hot dogs
- Available in four color options: blue, red, black, and stealth
- Accommodates a full-size, 20-pound fuel tank when using an adapter hose or a one-pound tank
- Fully adjustable, easy-to-control temperature
- Built in tool hooks, side table, and built-in thermometer
- Five-year limited warranty
Specifications
- Weight: 32 pounds
- Height: 37.4 inches
- Width: 43.6 inches
- Depth: 23 inches
- Btu: 12,000
- Electric ignition
- One burner
- Price at Weber.com: $399.99
Best Small Portable Gas Grill: Weber Q1200 Gas Grill
Get your grill on with the Weber 1200 gas grill! This small but highly functional grill sets up quickly on any surface to grill your favorite tailgating treats to perfection. The electronic ignition makes lighting the barbecue as easy as pushing a button.
Features
- Reliable push-button electronic ignition makes it easy to light the grill
- Infinite control valve you to pick the perfect temperature
- Uses a convenient one-pound propane cylinder, or use propane adapter hose to connect to 20-pound propane cylinder or RV quick connect
- Removable catch pan makes clean up a breeze
- Internal thermometer allows you to monitor the temperature
- Has two handy built-in work tables
- Cast aluminum body
- Perfect size for grilling anywhere
- Small enough to fit in any exterior RV storage bay.
- Fits six burgers
- Five-year warranty
Specifications
- Weight: 31 pounds
- Height: 14.5 inches
- Width: 27 inches
- Depth: 16.5 inches
- 8,500 BTUs
- Price at BBQGuys.com: 279.00
Shopping Portable Grills for RV Tailgating
RVs are the perfect vehicle for tailgating because they allow you to have everything you need at hand. This in itself helps to make tailgating simple, allowing you to focus on the important things in life, such as who’s going to win the game. However, getting a grill that suits your cooking style and needs is crucial for creating memorable RV tailgating meals everyone will love.
Lynne Fedorick
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