RVs may come in every size and shape to reflect the specific interests of owners. But when grilling makes it to a camper’s list of activities, any grill can’t be okay.
There, you need an RV grill. Let’s assume this picture a unit that is lightweight/ portable, easy to place/ mountable, and has enough heating power. This pretty much tells you what the best portable grill for RV looks like.
Countless models are on sale, and the list of popular grills isn’t very small. You need just one or two, and when you need to buy, the choice may not come easy.
Over the years, our taste buds have grown, and so is our sense of judgment that gives us one name ‘Cuisinart CGG-306 Professional Tabletop Gas Grill’.
Here’s an account of our experience with four other RV BBQ grills and a suggestive buying guide to ease your way to purchase.
4 Best Portable Grills for RV Reviews
Since you’re reading our very original RV grills review, you need to know that the following choices are the ones we’ve put after a lot of testing. No exaggerations, no hypes! Only the truth!
1. Cuisinart CGG-501 Gourmet Gas Griddle – Editor Choice
You can’t be wrong to take it for the best portable grill for RV. Unboxing the package, you’ll see an all stainless-steel grill that costs a reasonable sum but cooks with much power.
Specifications:
- Product Dimensions: 21 x 20.5 x 9 inches
- BTU: Total 20,000 BTUs, stainless steel burners
- Cooking Area: Total 285 square inch
- Twist ignition system for startups
- Cold-rolled steel cooking surface
Features
- Cooking Experience: The two burners, 20,000 BTUs, and 285 square inch cooking surface are the key specs to take it on top. It may not give you the luxury of design but will perform brilliantly. It may reach a whooping maximum of 700° heating temperature. Be aware!
- Mounting System: We didn’t really seek any mounting support for this one. Its tabletop design suffices every time while we’re out with RVs.
- Design and Material: Starting with the housing, moving inside the lid, touching the grate, and getting down to the burner, you’ll see one remarkable thing – the mastery of stainless steel which gives it a shiny look. The twist-start ignition works smoothly, and the thermometer with the heat control knobs yields ease of use.
Pros
- Great cooking performance
- Large primary cooking surface
- Heavy-duty burners and durable housing
- Particularly affordable (considering the strength of specifications)
- Lightweight with excellent portability, thanks to the large carry handle
Cons
- The latch may not hold the lid securely after a few months of use.
- Sometimes, the heat output may be unnecessarily higher and uneven.
To avoid getting undercooked/ overcooked meal, you should use the thermometer and burner knobs carefully. Also, don’t allow too high temperatures because it may melt the latch.
2. Flame King RV Or Trailer Mounted BBQ – Best Value
Anybody would take the price as the only strong suit, but we looked deeper and came to conclude that this Flame King RV grill offers great value even with all its limitations included
Specifications:
- Product Dimensions: 22 x 11 x 17 inches
- Cooking Area: Total 214 square inches
- Adjustable flame controller
- Dual locking lid for secure storage
Features
- Cooking Experience: You’ll have stainless steel cooking grates for the primary cooking space and a warming rack of the same material makes a total of 214-square-foot surface that receives sufficient heat delivery through the couple of stainless steel burners. It seems almost an unmatched advantage from a gas grill under 100 dollars.
- Mounting System: Not many RV grills come with a complete bracket system such as this one. Added to it are locking retainer pins which allow for secure mounting. For a freestanding grill, the hanging rack serves well but with a little support.
- Design and Material: Considering the extended (20″ x 17″ x 8″) and folded (11-1/2″ x 20″) dimensions, you’re going to save some space if that matters most while on an RV day. The lid has a dual locking system that makes it secure all the way.
Pros
- A two-way cooking system allowing large surface
- Pretty much affordable for an RV grill
- Lightweight with space-saving design
- An integrated bracket system making it mountable to both motorhome and RVs
- Hassle-free mounting plus freestanding
Cons
- The hanging rack doesn’t serve as the legs, making the grill unstable and unbefitting when equal heat distribution is expected.
Using a table may be the solution to the stability issue. Bring an LP gas (female) connection system for your RV or trailer. Otherwise, you’ll need a compatible (quick connect) LP gas line for this Flame King grill.
3. Coleman RoadTrip LXX Portable Grill – Best For Propane Grill
This RV gas grill comes filled with features like interchangeable cook-top, sliding side tables, utensil hooks, and collapsible stand with wheels to take your grilling pursuits anywhere desired.
Specifications:
- Product Dimensions: 19.1 x 34 x 13.6 inches
- BTU: Total 20,000 BTUs, adjustable 2 burners each 10,000 BTUs
- Cooking Area: Total 285 square inches
- PerfectFlow technology ignition
Features
- Cooking Experience: 22,000 BTUs through 2 burners should fire up whatever you put on the cast iron cooking grate. Also, the 285-square-inch surface isn’t a joke since you can have the grills/steaks for your family ready in just minutes.
- Mounting System: If you want one of those RV camping grills with a freestanding design, you’ll love it. No brackets, no additional mounting systems! Grab either of the side tables and pull each stand (leg) out until you have them fully extended. Just lower the unit and slide back to allow the leg extensions to lock into the brackets. It’s ready!
- Design and Material: Even you’ve to put the beauty aside, you can’t ignore the material profile stainless steel for burner and side table, steel for bottom and lid, and cast iron for cooking grate.
Pros
- Big on heat delivery with large cooking surface
- Modern, stylish look with a convenient collapsible design
- High-quality materials
- Easy setup and extension with a smooth sliding mechanism
- Hassle-free maintenance
Cons
- Too heavy to carry, especially when you’re to lift it
So much for the weight! It can’t stop Coleman RoadTrip from being your favorite compact camping grill, thanks to the rugged wheels!
4. Weber 51040001 Q1200 – Best For Liquid Propane Grill
A quick look at the propane grill will clear any confusion regarding its efficiency and worth. We can’t deny that we fell for its look/feel, but its specs are strong too.
Specifications:
- Product Dimensions: 24.6 x 20.5 x 40.9 inches
- BTU: Total 8500 BTU Per Hour, Stainless Steel Burner
- Cooking Area: Total 189 Square Inch
- Built-in thermometer
- Electronic ignition
Features
- Cooking Experience: Heat output may not be as much as the others on our list, but the even distribution of heat across the large cooking space pays off.
- Mounting System: With the freestanding design, you really don’t want an additional mounting support. Extending the legs, you can put it somewhere inside the RV.
- Design and Material: If you’ve any idea about the utility of cast aluminum, you’ll love the body and durable nylon frame. The cast iron grates have porcelain enamel coating. The burner tube is also built to perfection. The lid thermometer allows good control. The folding side tables with the removable catch pan expand your comfort zone.
Pros
- Elegant and lightweight design
- Large primary surface with side tables for added convenience while cooking
- High-quality materials
- Easy to use and clean
- Seven attractive colors
Cons
- The regulator, according to many users, doesn’t do its job.
The complaint seems a little overrated because we found the same issue twice in three months, but it doesn’t always work weirdly. In your case, you can get a replacement if the issue persists.
Best Portable Grill for RV Buying Guide for 2020
You might be interested in learning what makes some gas grills for RVs better than others, and this curiosity isn’t atypical of someone with the desire to buy the best RV gas grill.
Let’s start with the type and then move forward with the standard components and features of an RV propane grill.
Types
Considering the usage of fuel, there’re three types of grills to choose from, such as gas grills, the most popular ones; charcoal grills, the right option for purist and those who love smoky flavor; and electric grills, ideal for people who either want a unit ready at home or are amenable to fire regulations.
One distinctive style of grills that uses either gas or charcoal is a portable BBQ model which is a sure choice for BBQ camping enthusiasts or big fans of RV barbecue. It can be an RV mounted grill or a freestanding unit.
One of the variations of charcoal is a Kamado grill which is known for even heat distribution mostly due to small cooking surface. Do you look for something of a combo? A pellet grill is the answer that gives you the best of both charcoal and gas.
Construction and Materials
As long as the frame/housing of a grill machine is in your thoughts, you’ll come across RV stainless models, but a cast iron portable gas grill is durable too despite being a little unconventional. The materials used for the different parts of the grill are important too. You’ll find notes on them in the following discussion.
Features
When it’s a travel trailer BBQ grill you’re talking about, you shouldn’t skip certain features that make the unit worth your while. These features include the cooking grates, temperature control settings, burner, and mounting systems (when intended for an RV).
Cooking Grates and Surface
Remember where you put all the meat or food when it’s time to grill them? That’s called the grate which can be made of either cast iron or stainless steel. The size of the grate determines how much of the cooking surface you’re about to get.
On average, you’ll get 150 to 300 square inches of primary space. Some grills include a warming rack that provides an additional of 50 to 100 square inches of space. Make sure the grate you choose offers a non-sticky surface that is easy to clean after cooking.
Temperature Control
Gas grills usually come with a built-in temperature control system that consists of temperature gauges located typically on the lid. One of the reasons why these grills are loved so much is this particular feature that is available on a charcoal grill but in a little intriguing way. You need to know the right ways to control the temperature since no knobs are there to let you.
Burner
It’s an important component that can barely be seen but always found to do the job you need a grill for. Yes, it’s the part of your grill that does the burning and lets you prepare your recipes.
Burners are usually made of stainless steel. An average gas BBQ camping grill has one burner to deliver 5,000 BTUs to 11,000 BTUs, but a larger RV outdoor grill may contain a couple of burners for delivering a larger amount of BTUs.
RV BBQ Grill Mount
The best RV BBQ grill is the one that has all of these features plus strong and secure mounting brackets. Some may not include any sort of mount, in which case, you need to buy one. So, choose the one that comes with integrated brackets or an RV grill mount rail.
Other Features
Some more features become relevant when you’re looking for a travel gas grill. One of them is the ignition system which needs to be reliable. While a push-button igniter is common, you may count on the electronic version too because of its reliability and ease of use.
Look for the ones with collapsible legs so that you can take it out in the woods when needed. Most models come with an appropriate hose and valve, and the ones without them will require the users to buy them anyway.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
If you prefer getting the best grill for RV living to a few moments of fun only, it’s okay to have more questions even after the above details. So, let’s get deeper into the common knowledge.
What is an RV grill?
Not much of a deviation from a typical unit, an RV grill is designed to be portable with some considerations to make it lightweight. With special thoughts about durability, any outdoor grill with a piece of mounting hardware should be good for your recreational vehicle or trailer.
What are good RV grill brands?
You might have heard so much about a trailer hitch grill Weber, but there’re other reputable brands like Coleman and Cuisinart. You may also look at the units from some emerging manufacturers like Flame King, Smoke Hollow, Blackstone, Camco, etc.
What are the Different Types of RV Grills?
If you know what an outdoor grill is, you really have few things to notice in an RV grill. So, the concept of ‘type’ comes down to how you position the grill on your vehicle. You can mount it on the specific rail or setup or use it as a freestanding machine. Follow the ‘Types’ section for more details.
What is the advantage of gas grills?
Gas grills offer benefits that make them special and preferable under different circumstances.
- These grills come quickly to the required cooking temperature.
- Most units are easy to set up, light, clean, and preserve. The control knobs add to your convenience when heat control matters.
- Gas, as a fuel, costs less and is eco-friendly making you worry less about your commitment to a better world.
How to clean an RV grill?
Once you have the best RV grill, you’ll want to make sure your grill gives you a healthy cooking surface and lasts for years. Here’s the guide.
- Turn off the fuel supply system
- Remove the cooking grates and burner covers.
- Inspect them and clean them thoroughly by scrubbing them in warm water.
- Scrape the grill using a putty knife but be careful not to damage any spot inside it.
- Rinse the dip tray or waste disposal box.
- Clean everything that is removable.
- Dry the separated parts and put them back to their places.
- Check the igniter switch and batteries, pressure regulators, the thermometer and on/off switches to see if they’re working properly.
You need not undergo these steps every day. Just make sure you do them once after using the unit 3-4 times.
Conclusion
Have you already figured out your best portable grill for RV? We know it’s not about the specs only. Focus on the materials of the different components, and choose the design and capacity of the burner carefully because you don’t want to have hot and cold spots while cooking.
Don’t preoccupy your mind with any single consideration like the BTUs, or the mounting facility, or even the fuel supply system. Remember that good products are always the ones with the perfect balance of features and performance, and each of the above grills makes a good impression on that account.
So, happy grilling!
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