Coleman
Coleman RoadTrip 285
The RoadTrip 285 is the long-running standard for tailgate and campsite gas grilling: three independently controlled burners and 285 sq in on a collapsing stand that folds to a wheeled cart. Three burners is the distinguishing spec — nearly every rival portable runs one or two, so this is the only grill in its class that can hold three separate heat zones. It runs on 16.4 oz disposable cylinders, with an adapter needed for a bulk tank.
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Specifications
Pros
- ✓Three independently adjustable burners give genuine multi-zone control, which one- and two-burner portables cannot do
- ✓Collapses to a wheeled trolley and stands up on its own legs, so no table is needed at the site
- ✓Porcelain-enameled cast-iron grates hold heat far better than the thin plated grates typical of portables
- ✓Interchangeable griddle and stove swap-tops fit the same chassis, extending it past grilling
- ✓Instastart push-button ignition removes the need to carry a lighter
- ✓3-year warranty and Coleman's parts availability, longer than most portable grills carry
Cons
- ✗47.8 lbs is heavy for a portable — this is a car-camping grill, not a backpacking one
- ✗Designed around 16.4 oz disposable cylinders, which get expensive without a bulk-tank adapter
- ✗Owners repeatedly flag the water/grease tray rusting and the lid latch loosening with use
- ✗No thermometer accuracy to speak of and no temperature control beyond the burner valves
- ✗Coleman's website is aggressively bot-blocked, so spec and parts lookups have to go through retailers
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