Anyone using the Coleman 285 Road Trip Grill

[momdoc]

Ok I am about to give up on the SmokeyJoe charcoal grilling and saw this Colman 285 road trip portable grill. https://www.amazon.com/Coleman-RoadT...b_title_sports Is any one using this and are you happy with it. Other suggestions appreciated.

Thanks

[TCollins]

I have one of them. I converted it over to use a regular 20# cylinder rather than the small cylinders it is set up for so I can't tell you how long it would last on the small cylinders.

I really disliked it. It is terrible to clean up and I burned everything. There is no provision to raise or lower the grills to help with regulating the heat. Consequently, it sat in the garage unused.

Last spring I ordered an aluminum griddle top through Home Depot. I am much happier with it now. All the mess stays on the griddle top rather than dripping down around the burners. Cleanup is a breeze.

It is still tricky to get the temperature right but better than the grates. You cannot close the top of the grill with the griddle top in place.

[jmck1737]

Looked at the Road Trips when I purchased my last grill. I liked most of the things about it, especially the built in stand, but some reviews said it had hot spots as mentioned above. The grill I was replacing had the same hot spot problem which is why I was searching for a replacement.

After a lot of research I bought the Weber Q2000 and love it. Have had it for 2 years now and not a single issue. I use the longer hose and connect to a 20 lb tank. Fits easy in the basement and cooks great. Use a GCI camping grill station that someone in a campground reccomended to us and we picked it up on Amazon. We love that also. Set the 20lb tank on bottom which makes it very stable.

Here is a link to the stand GCI Outdoor Slim-Fold Camp Kitchen Portable Folding Cook Station
by GCI Outdoor
Link: http://a.co/d/3ikTUPd

I am sure others have their favorites also.

[ThePowells]

We bought a Blackstone 17 inch flat top griddle and we love it. Once you get it seasoned, it works great for everything.

https://www.amazon.com/Blackstone-Ta.../dp/B0195MZHBK

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PBP41NLjFhk

$74.00 at Wally World. It takes the propane bottles, but there is an adaptor hose for the 20# tanks, and if you want to go to the coach tank, there is another adaptor available for that as they have a proprietary connection.


BTW, the surface can be removed and flipped over and will sit on the base to make it a tad smaller for storage.

[grindstone01]

We have had the Coleman Roadtrip LXE for 4 years now and it works great for us. I do have a 20lb bottle hose adapter but have never used it. I like the portability of using the 1 lb bottles and also have a adapter to refill these bottles which usually last for 3-4 cook outs. I gave the stand away since we usually find a picnic table to set the grill on anyway. Another thing I did was to drill a hole in the top and add a grill thermometer.

[sgpd1sam]

I had the red road trip for several years in the RV. It was a bit much for one guy so now it does it’s duty in my back yard.
It worked fine in my opinion but cleaning was the hard part. You can buy a variety of cooking surfaces. My in laws like to cook outdoors so we have the burner style grill for cooking with pots and pans.
My current setup is the Weber Q100/1000. I love it and it’s the perfect size for just one guy. I would re omens that unit. You can buy a stand for it as well.

[Offramp]

Originally Posted by momdoc

Ok I am about to give up on the SmokeyJoe charcoal grilling and saw this Colman 285 road trip portable grill. https://www.amazon.com/Coleman-RoadT...b_title_sports Is any one using this and are you happy with it. Other suggestions appreciated.

Thanks

I have one of these and have mixed thoughts about it. It has hot spots and is kinda difficult to clean. I wish I was able to tryout the Coleman and a Weber Q1200 before we bought but we received a coupon from Dicks sporting goods for 25% off and they didn’t carry the Webber.
The Colman has a folding stand. The Webber is designed to sit on a table but there are a couple folding stands available.
The Colman has different grill sections available to allow various grilling/griddle options.

[Old-Biscuit]

When we first hit the road back in 2007 bought the Red one.........collapsible, self standing, double burner etc etc

3rd time I used it the lid fell off....pop rivets on hinges pulled thru the thin sheet metal
Rebuilt it using larger stainless steel rivets vs the cheap aluminum ones


PITA to clean so that it could be placed back into side compartment for travel
Couldn't close lid and cook a whole chicken (beer can style)
And it was a grill....really missed my charcoal

Gave it away to fellow RV that was going to his newly bought 10 acres where he was going to build his retirement home
Went to ACE Hardware in Crossville TN and purchased a 14" Weber Smokey Joe Charcoal BBQ and a bag of charcoal.
Fill it up with charcoal, light it off, use it, put lid on it....repeat for rest of week
Last day before travel day would leave lid off and let coals burn completely down to ash. Dump it next AM..put lid on it/bungee cord to hole lid and into side compartment it went ...no mess/no fuss and great charcoal flavor
Still have it and use it occasionally......but now have a full size version of the Weber Charcoal BBQ

I really disliked that Coleman Grill and was a happy camper when I got rid of it and got my Smokey Joe


OP...what is wrong with your Smokey Joe??

[weredoingit]

Originally Posted by ThePowells

We bought a Blackstone 17 inch flat top griddle and we love it. Once you get it seasoned, it works great for everything.

https://www.amazon.com/Blackstone-Ta.../dp/B0195MZHBK

$74.00 at Wally World. It takes the propane bottles, but there is an adaptor hose for the 20# tanks, and if you want to go to the coach tank, there is another adaptor available for that as they have a proprietary connection.


BTW, the surface can be removed and flipped over and will sit on the base to make it a tad smaller for storage.

X2 for the Blackstone

[momdoc]

Originally Posted by Old-Biscuit

When we first hit the road back in 2007 bought the Red one.........collapsible, self standing, double burner etc etc

3rd time I used it the lid fell off....pop rivets on hinges pulled thru the thin sheet metal
Rebuilt it using larger stainless steel rivets vs the cheap aluminum ones


PITA to clean so that it could be placed back into side compartment for travel
Couldn't close lid and cook a whole chicken (beer can style)
And it was a grill....really missed my charcoal

Gave it away to fellow RV that was going to his newly bought 10 acres where he was going to build his retirement home
Went to ACE Hardware in Crossville TN and purchased a 14" Weber Smokey Joe Charcoal BBQ and a bag of charcoal.
Fill it up with charcoal, light it off, use it, put lid on it....repeat for rest of week
Last day before travel day would leave lid off and let coals burn completely down to ash. Dump it next AM..put lid on it/bungee cord to hole lid and into side compartment it went ...no mess/no fuss and great charcoal flavor
Still have it and use it occasionally......but now have a full size version of the Weber Charcoal BBQ

I really disliked that Coleman Grill and was a happy camper when I got rid of it and got my Smokey Joe


OP...what is wrong with your Smokey Joe??

Nothing wrong with the Joe. I have been using it for the last two years and actually am working on my third one as they usually last 6 -8 months or so (150 or so meals) before rusting out. I thought I would try a gas grill for a change thinking it may be easier and less messy. BUT unless "all you all" can convince me differently I may just get my 4th Joe in a couple of weeks. I agree the charcoal flavor is hard to beat .

[OLYLEN]

Had road trip, worked OK except the open and solid parts of the grill made for uneven cooking and constant moving of the food during cooking. Got the solid grill for it, worked OK but didn't get the grilled lines and smoked flavor. So sold it and got a SS full grated grill for a bit less money and added a folding aluminum table for it.

LEN

[pduggs]

Originally Posted by weredoingit

X2 for the Blackstone

Glad to hear you guys like the Blackstone. I am considering buying one. I believe they make a larger version with two burners. Not sure the DW and I need the larger one, but I like the ability to heat one side differently from the other side.

Is it easy to clean?

[Old-Biscuit]

Originally Posted by momdoc

Nothing wrong with the Joe. I have been using it for the last two years and actually am working on my third one as they usually last 6 -8 months or so (150 or so meals) before rusting out. I thought I would try a gas grill for a change thinking it may be easier and less messy. BUT unless "all you all" can convince me differently I may just get my 4th Joe in a couple of weeks. I agree the charcoal flavor is hard to beat .

Rusting Out.......
Are you leaving out in the elements 24/7?


The one I bought back in 2007 is still in use. Bought new grate couple years ago but that was just the grill grate.
The 7 yrs we FT it was used minimum of 5 days a week. No rusting out


Going on your 3rd possibly 4th

[chuckbear]

We have the LXE and when replacement time comes around I will not buy another. For the price it is cheaply made, it began to rust almost immediately and have had to replace the regulator once already. It is also a pain to store in our lower compartment, takes up lots of room and most times takes two of us to get it out and set it up. Chuck