Organizing a tailgate party without a grill should be a crime! It just doesn’t make sense, as there’s only so much you can do on an empty stomach. But then again, coming with a crappy grill can also be a real party pooper. That said, you probably landed here while checking out Coleman Roadtrip Party Grill reviews to read in between the lines about this grill.

Well, at Simply Tailgating, we’re all about helping you find the best grill for tailgating. Heads up, you may want to read this Coleman Roadtrip Party Grill review for some hard truths about the grill.

About Coleman Grills:

Company Highlights

• Company Name: The Coleman Company, Inc.
• URL: Coleman.com
• Address: 1767 Denver West BLVD, Golden, CO 80401, US
• Owner: Newell Brands

The Coleman Company was founded by William Coffin Coleman in 1900, a then gasoline lamps seller in Kingfisher, Oklahoma. Fun fact – they went down in history as the premier suppliers of gas lamps for the very first night football game west of the Mississippi river in the mid 90s. After a series of mergers and acquisitions, the company is now a subsidiary of Newell Brands.

Coleman Roadtrip Party Grill Features:

Feature Highlights

• Fuel Source: 1lb Propane canisters
• Cooking Area: 122 Square Inches
• Number of burners: 1
• Construction: Painted steel
• Elevation: Tabletop
• Size & Weight: 12.8 x 12.8 x 11.5 inches
• Assembly: Required

You’re probably wondering what makes up a good tailgating grill. Well, it depends on what you want out of the grill. So with the Coleman Roadtrip Party Grill, here’s what you get:

122 Square Inches of Cooking Space – The grill measures 12 ¾ inches in diameter. That’s about the size of a large pizza. It won’t feed a party of 10 at once, but it should effortlessly serve up some delicious family-sized meals.

8,000 BTU Cooking Power – A grill’s cooking power should be proportional to the cooking space, so 8,000 BTUs sounds about right for a grill of this size. You should be able to bring your steak to sear in about an hour and a half with the Coleman Party Grill.

InstaStart Ignition with PerfectFlow Technology – You don’t need a matchbox to fire up this grill, while the patented PerfectFlow technology is designed to supply consistent gas even in extreme conditions.

Non-Stick, Enameled Grill Pan and Griddle – You have the option of using either the grill pan for barbecuing or the griddle to fry your eggs or steam some veggies. Both are non-stick and dishwasher-safe so you shouldn’t have a problem cleaning them.

Other Notable Features:

• Detachable legs that fit in the cookbox
• Grill lid
• Propane tanks sold separately

Coleman Roadtrip Party Grill Cleaning & Maintenance:

Properly maintaining your grill is a simple way of saying “thanks for the food, I’ll need you later.” Anyway, to clean the Coleman Roadtrip Party Grill, let it cool off first. Unmount the burner and grate, then cover the hard-to-reach connection valves with aluminum foil to prevent corrosion.

Exterior Cleaning – The grill’s lid, body and legs are made of coated steel, so warm, soapy water and a scouring pad should clean off grease and food residue. Once you’re done, rinse and towel dry the surfaces.

Interior Cleaning – Use a damp cloth to wipe off grease and food residue on the burner, and a toothpick to clean each one of the gas ports. Use a grill brush to scrub off food residue, and warm, soapy water and a scouring pad to clean the grates and the cookbox.

The grill doesn’t have a drain tray so you may want to clean it after every use to prevent grease build-up.

Storage – Ideally you should store a portable grill outdoors, covered with a vinyl bag to protect it against the elements. If your grill didn’t come with a cover, they are available on Amazon for around $30. If you’re storing the grill indoors, disconnect the tank and keep the lid closed to ward off insects. Remember to leave the propane tank outside, away from direct sunlight, dryer or furnace vents.

Coleman Roadtrip Party Grill Portability:

If you can’t conveniently move around with your tailgating equipment, then forget about buying it in the first place. We expect the Coleman Roadtrip Party Grill to be portable, otherwise they did a terrible job at naming it. Anyway, the grill measures 12.8 inches in diameter and 11.5 inches long with the legs attached, weighing just 4 pounds. So, while it can fit just about anywhere, a 4 pound grill is not that stable, so you may want to consider your cooking location options.

Coleman Roadtrip Party Grill Warranty:

If your Coleman Roadtrip Party Grill doesn’t stand the test of time, the warranty is good for 3 years. But it’s limited to manufacturer and workmanship defects. In any case, dealing with warranty issues can be tedious and time consuming. But you can skip all that business and shop on Amazon.com where you’re guaranteed reliable customer service and easy returns.

Coleman Roadtrip Party Grill Accessories:

Accessories can really step up your grilling game, and you don’t need a high-end grill to make that happen. So, with the Coleman Roadtrip Party Grill, these are your accessory options:

• Swaptop Cast Iron Grill Grate
• Swaptop Full Size Aluminum Griddle
• Extendable cooking forks
• 8-ft. High-pressure Commercial Grade Propane Hose

To find great deals on these accessories, you can check out Amazon.com for the best discounts like the Free 1-3 Day Prime Delivery if you’re a Prime Member.

Coleman Roadtrip Party Grill Replacement Parts:

Replacement parts play a crucial role in a grill’s durability. Coleman does a commendable job at making their grill parts available. So, with the Roadtrip Party Grill, you can replace the following:

• Regulator Assembly
• Cooking Grate And Griddle
• Burner Assembly
• Propane Hose & Adapter
• Lid Assembly

Coleman Roadtrip Party Grill Cost:

There are tons of ways you can save money while shopping online. You just have to know where to find the best deals. The Coleman Roadtrip Party Grill costs around $80. Prices can be competitive depending on where you choose to shop. But if you’re comparing prices, Amazon.com would be the clear winner with special deals and offers to take advantage of, like Free 1-3 Day Delivery if you’re a Prime Member.

What Do We Like?​

We wouldn’t be here if we didn’t like anything about the Coleman RoadTrip Party Grill. The unit itself is quite compact and ideal for tailgating, but here’s what really stands out:

• Lightweight and Portable – The grill weighs just 4 pounds and the legs fit into the cookbox, saving on space and the trouble of carrying a heavy grill around.

• Functional – You can replace the griddle cooktop with grates for those professional-looking grill marks on your meat. 8,000 BTUs is also quite decent for a grill of this size, able to cook almost anything in a reasonable amount of time.

Coleman Roadtrip Party Grill Complaints:

You obviously won’t like everything about the Coleman Roadtrip Party Grill, same as other customers who have used the grill before. So it’s up to you to decide whether you can look past the following complaints or if they are deal breakers to you.

Flawed overall design – Some customers say the flame is too close to the grill, so no matter how low your heat is, your meat will burn on the outside while the inside remains uncooked. Others say the heat control knob easily breaks, meaning you may either have to spend extra to replace the regulator assembly or have one heat setting to work with. Ouch!

The paint job flakes easily – The paint job is not what you would expect from an outdoor grill. Some customers say the non-stick painted steel grates peeled off after a while, and the paint on the body turned flaky way too fast.

Other Tailgating Grills to Consider:

If the complaints you’ve just read are a pill too bitter to swallow, check out these Coleman Roadtrip Party Grill alternatives:

• Weber Q 2200 – A charcoal alternative of slightly larger size
• Cuisinart CGG-180T – Also functional, still portable but more versatile
• Char-Broil Grill2Go X200 – Tabletop gas grill alternative, better cooking experience

Should You Buy The Coleman Roadtrip Party Grill?

Opinions about the Coleman Roadtrip Party Grill are split right down the middle. Some say it’s their best tailgating purchase yet, others say it’s a gas stove trying to be a grill. I say it’s decent with the makings and aptitude of a tailgating grill, but as a side-grill and not your one and only.

While it’s quite affordable with equally inexpensive accessories, you’ll definitely feel the heat when trying to slow-cook your chicken or salmon. The paint job also sucks according to some owners. Opinions obviously collide, but for me it’s the perfect sideshow grill for quick meals anywhere, any time.

If you’re sold and are keen on getting the best price for it, you can shop on Amazon.com for the best deals on the unit and its accessories. You can even get free shipping if you’re a Prime Member with the Free 1-3 Day Amazon Prime Delivery.

What’s Hot

• Lightweight and portable
• Functional for outdoor use

What’s Not

• Flawed design
• Paint job flakes easily

So that’s my opinion about the Coleman Roadtrip Party Grill. Do you agree with me? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments section below. If you still have questions about the grill, you can find answers on the product’s Amazon page.

Chris