Who makes the best portable gas grill?

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oilbrnr

oilbrnr

10 Year
Joined
Jul 31, 2013
Threads
43
Messages
757
Location
Scottsdale
I have both the Weber Go-Anywhere and Q 1200. Both work kinda. Problem is their BTU output seems to just suck ass.

I'd like something about the size of the Go-Anywhere that I can put in the 80 and/or in my RV.

I'm not so concerned about the cost, rather the size (I want small/compact), quality and obviously cooking experience and control of heat.

I wish Partner Steel would pony up and build something...
 
I have the Weber Baby Q. Works great. Have had no issues with anything we cook. They have a great warranty. If I bought again, I'd buy one that is slightly larger. I think they now make three sizes of the Q series.
 
Been very happy with my Magma Kettle II. Doubles as pan burner too...which has come in handy when the 2 burners on my camp stove are being used...
 
oilbrnr said:
I have both the Weber Go-Anywhere and Q 1200. Both work kinda. Problem is their BTU output seems to just suck ass.

I'd like something about the size of the Go-Anywhere that I can put in the 80 and/or in my RV.

I'm not so concerned about the cost, rather the size (I want small/compact), quality and obviously cooking experience and control of heat.

I wish Partner Steel would pony up and build something...
Click to expand...
I had the $20 special from Marshall and cooked fine, but Chinese crap that fell apart quickly. I went to a Cuisinart 180 that seemed perfect for car camping, but not hot enough for a steak--it was like it was baked in an oven.

I was also looking at the weber baby Q series.

My advice, look at BTU and divide by grill area, for each model, that'll give a better idea of how "hot" it gets
 
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I'm thinking about giving up on portable gas grills. Back in my salad days I use a cheap charcoal Hibachi and it rocked. I used it for camping, picnics, and kept it on the porch of the little $hithole apartments I lived in for everyday use. I think a single grill type would be perfect for camping, you need very little charcoal to cook a meal so a small bag would work for several days and probably take up less room than a propane tank. The single grill type are pretty small.
 
Well, I like charcoal too, but here in AZ we have a lot of burn bans so it kinda rules them out. Things cooked on them taste better IMHO and that is why at my homes I still use 50 year old Hasty Bakes that were, and still are built in Tulsa, OK.

As I stated, I have two Weber gas portables, including the baby Q and neither get that hot and are prone to blowing out in the wind. Also the Q is heavy and bulky. OK in the RV, kinda, but in the 80 would take up way too much space.

Thought about the Magma grills, but the reviews are not that great. The Solaire infrared unit looks interesting, but they cook so hot that I really don't think they'd be good for much of anything other than beef. The Nexgrill/Cuisinart units don't look too bad but they also have reviews that state you can't turn them down low enough to be useful without completely shutting off one burner and moving the food to the other side. When you're cooking for a group of people that makes it difficult.

I just can't believe that Partner Steel doesn't make a grill. Their whole MO seems to be gear for river rafters so you'd really think they would make a grill. I'm going to email them and see what they say. I plan on incorporating one of their stoves in my upcoming storage drawer build for my 80.
 
spressomon said:
Been very happy with my Magma Kettle II. Doubles as pan burner too...which has come in handy when the 2 burners on my camp stove are being used...
Click to expand...

Do you think there is a difference in quality between the kettle (boat rail unit) and their more traditional square portable units?
 
I have one of these.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000E893MY/?tag=ihco-20

It's fun, but I also hogged out the orifice to get more heat. The designer of the grill was not overly pleased. He's convinced that us americans want oo much heat out of our grills to cook meat properly. lol
 
LandCruiserPhil said:
We have had the same problem with low output and slow cooking times:bang: Going with the Master 12kBTU from Lowes eliminated the problem. Not sure if it qualifies as portable though.

http://www.lowes.com/pd_304040-10792-TG2036701-MF_4294610392__?productId=3825621&Ns=p_product_price|0&pl=1&currentURL=?Ns=p_product_price|0&page=4&facetInfo=

They have a 16K BTU version also
Click to expand...

Well it is portable enough. My buddy has one of those that he got at Sam's years ago. It is finally giving out.

I might just try and modify my Weber Go Anywhere and see if I can't get a few more BTU's out of it. Or maybe their new ones are hotter. I've had this one since '92. I like the size and compactness of it, but it is a PITA to cook on in wind and takes 4ever.
 
oilbrnr said:
Thought about the Magma grills, but the reviews are not that great.
Click to expand...

I've had my Magma Kettle 2 for a few months and it has been flawless. I have the special griddle that allows me to cook breakfast in the morning in "Stove" mode and then grill perfect steaks in the evening in grill mode. The fact that it mounts to my rear bumper is just another added benefit!
image-jpg.887245
 
oilbrnr said:
Do you think there is a difference in quality between the kettle (boat rail unit) and their more traditional square portable units?
Click to expand...

I have zero experience with the other Magma grills. My only nit on my Magma Kettle 2: Its just a bit of a difficult shape to stow; but worth it.

I had a Solaire for a few years and it was OK (very well constructed...ditto for my Magma)...but the downsides to it: Heavy, difficult to damn near impossible to light and keep lit if any wind is present. And it really only knew two speeds: Hot and hotter ;)

Having said all that...a steel griddle (credit beno and cruiserdrew for the impetus; here: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B001BQVBBO/?tag=ihco-20) atop a camp stove is, overall, more versatile, takes up less space, is easier to clean, less $ invested, stows in a fraction of the space and since I always have my dual burner stove in tow its one less "stove" to haul. Lately my Kettle 2 has spent more time stored in the garage...its feeling a little lonely ;).
 
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oilbrnr said:
Well, I like charcoal too, but here in AZ we have a lot of burn bans so it kinda rules them out. Things cooked on them taste better IMHO and that is why at my homes I still use 50 year old Hasty Bakes that were, and still are built in Tulsa, OK.
...QUOTE]
We have the same thing here, drought year after drought year.
Click to expand...
 
LandCruiserPhil said:
We have had the same problem with low output and slow cooking times:bang: Going with the Master 12kBTU from Lowes eliminated the problem. Not sure if it qualifies as portable though.

http://www.lowes.com/pd_304040-10792-TG2036701-MF_4294610392__?productId=3825621&Ns=p_product_price|0&pl=1&currentURL=?Ns=p_product_price|0&page=4&facetInfo=

They have a 16K BTU version also
Click to expand...


I have that grill and it works well....my only complaint is the drip tray on the bottom slides out at the most inopportune times.
 
I am done with grills away from home. As Spresso states, a griddle on a 2 burner stove cooks the same food, with less drama, and eliminates an entire significant piece of gear. The griddle listed from Rocky Mountain is particularly good, and HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

If you have to have a grill, the Solaire is great. I can sell you mine. I like it, but it's hard to keep clean and unless it's running full bore hot, it can go out in a stiff breeze. For me, a Coleman stove with that great griddle is a useful, versatile, and compact solution. And that's because that griddle excels at breakfast.
 
Well guys thanks for all the ideas! Never really thought about a griddle, but it does sound like a good idea for the 80! No need to haul extra crap if there is a simpler solution.

Still scratching my head for the RV. I've got two big Joey beds that roll out, so size isn't too much of a factor but that damn Baby Q on its' stand folded up in the bag prevents one of the beds from rolling out both ways, as it hits the core steel frame rail in the center of the coach. Not that big a deal, but every time I hit it, I cuss! :bang:

I'm going to look at that Grill to Go mentioned above and also the Nexgrill/Cuisinart.
 
Andrew, for your Solaire, try removing the grate covering the burner, then cut down some heavy gauge steel plate to a size 1" smaller then the infrared burner on all 4 sides. It'll cut down the output and allow the propane gas to flow through a reduced number of "pores" at a rate that won't blow out.
 
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