Which smoker/grill is best for an RV

[SoCal Chris]

I'm not looking to start a fight but would love to hear some opinions. I'm wondering what is the best smoker/grill to take in an RV. At home I have a gas grill, Broil King cabinet smoker, and a classic 22.5 inch Weber Kettle. When we head out with our trailer, I have a Napoleon Travel-Q gas grill. They each have their place and things they do the best. I tend to use my Weber Kettle with the SNS at home the most simply because it is so versatile. I'm just wondering what is the best for smoking/grilling on the road? Its kind of a pain to take the Weber but anything smaller can have severe limitations on what you have room to cook.

[Panhead John]

If you don’t mind buying something new to add to your arsenal, and if it’s big enough, this is a great little grill and got a Platinum Award here on AR. Also, one of our members klflowers has an RV and can probably give you some of his thoughts.

https://snsgrills.com/products/travel-kettle-grill?variant=39687500496932

[FireMan]

Yup, it’s the first thing I thought of. Yer not cookin fer a dozen with an RV. If so, dig a big pit. Just remember to cover it back up when you leave.

[STEbbq]

Beat me to it.

[Attjack]

Or you could get a Jumbo Joe and this griddle for the same amount of money. https://www.amazon.com/Portable-Stai...ustomerReviews

[HawkerXP]

Here is what I recommend. You can tow it behind and you'll be the hit at every campground!

[SoCal Chris]

Very nice! However, I'm already towing a 30 foot travel trailer and many states wont let you "triple tow". That being said, I could undoubtedly pay for the campground fees by selling BBQ.

[kenrobin]

That's what I need!

[SoCal Chris]

I like that. I didnt know there was a travel kettle with an SND like that. I am familiar with the Smokey Joe's but they are often too small to do much with them. This may have to make my birthday list in a couple of months.

[jfmorris]

I don't know what you cook with aside from the travel grill, but I am a big fan of the Camp Chef 14" and 16" camp stoves, as they have so many accessories available - grill boxes, griddle tops, pizza ovens, and you can put any pot or pan you want on them as well. Won't be cooking with charcoal, but more versatile than a travel gas grill.

Here I have a Camp Chef FTG900 6 burner flat top, but I like it so much that if/when I get an RV, I'm planning to pick up one of the 3 burner stoves and at least a 2 burner griddle and maybe the grill box as well.

[Dan Deter]

One note, as SWMBO has pointed out to me those 16" 3 burner stoves are BIG. I've not yet been able to sufficiently justify my needing that size, but I'm working on it...

[FarmCook54]

Not sure it is the best, but I've often thought a PK TX with the fold down stand would be nifty for an RV. Of course you would need just the right spot for carrying it, but very versatile. A red one would be a conversation starter for sure.

[ItsAllGoneToTheDogs]

MAK has finally released their Mini MAK, it's kinda heavy for a portable grill but would likely be just fine for an RV... it is NOT cheap though, however I would guess it's the only portable pellet grill that excels at smoking and grilling larger quantities of food. I think the larger PK grills would be great candidates considering how robust, yet light they are... but they have also got kinda expensive compared to the competition.

[klflowers]

I have a smokey joe, a wsm and a grilla chimp. I bought the joe before the little sns came out or i would have gotten it. The Chimp is a little too big to fit in the basement though, so it goes in the tow car. I also have a camp chef Tahoe 3 burner stove that I carry. I know, overkill, but I am covered from burgers to butts. If I could figure out a way to haul it, I'd carry my Bronco around with me

[SmokeyGator]

Look at Magma. They make really high quality stuff for the marine industry, but they will also work with an RV. They come with latches to hold the lid closed and you have gas or charcoal options. Gas will of course be cleaner.

You can also get grills that have hitch mount options. Broil King has a kamado style that comes to mind. It is steel with fiberglass insulation, so it is lighter and more travel friendly than ceramic. I would strap the lid down for travel, it should be fine.

Another good option is PK Grills, they make an accessory stand that will allow it to be used on a table, as long as the table is not plastic.

The options are going to boil down to portability VS size. Having more of one means having less of the other. But if the grill is a pain in the butt to haul around, it will not be used. Too small and same result.

If you are not hauling a trailer behind the RV, I think the Broil King 5000 with hitch mount will be hard to beat. Put it back there, lock it in place with keyed hitch pins, and there you go. It is just back there when you want it, and out of the way when you dont.

[xaugievike]

The answer to that will somewhat depend on your rig/tow vehicle space of course....

The best one I ever carried with me was my PBC. I also had a toy hauler so space was never an issue and when we switched to our current 5er (non TH) I was still able to find room in the truck for it.

I like the look of the PK's if you're looking for a better combination cooker. Im not really in the pellet game but for my upcoming more rustic adventures (tent camping) I'm looking at the Grilla chimp and/or that GMG I see in the new giveaway prize page.

[Clark]

SoCal Chris I agree with the Grilla Chimp IF you camp with FHU. If not, then how about the Old Smokey Charcoal cooker? They come in 3 sizes, are very inexpensive, and do a good job either grilling or smoking. If something happens to it, you not out more than $75-$100.

[Jessterr]

I think the Nomad looks really cool, albeit expensive. Very portable, but with the extra grate it offers more direct grilling area than a 22” kettle. Looks to be built like a tank, you should be able to pass it down to your grandchildren. Maybe worth taking a glance at, there are a few YT videos out there on it. https://nomadgrills.com. Another good choice might be the PKGO, which comes with a “flip kit” that also doubles the direct grilling space to about the same as a 22” kettle. It is small, but I indirect smoke 6 lb chickens on it all the time. It’s another “built like a tank” grill that will last more than a lifetime.

[klflowers]

One thing you need to think about is weight. Seems pretty obvious, right? If it is heavy, in addition to messing up your cargo carrying capacity and GVWR, think about loading and unloading it. My Joe and WSM are really light, so they are easy to load and unload. And charcoal is available everywhere so I don't have to haul a lot of it. The pbc may be a good choice, i think it is pretty light. I don't own a PK, but they look pretty heavy. Same with pellet grills. The Chimp is kind of heavy. I like it, but in retrospect a GMG may have been a better choice. I think it folds up a little smaller and is lighter. And like charcoal, pellets are widely available. The only gas appliance I have is the Tahoe stove; I carry a 20lb propane tank in the toad for it just so I can cook stove top stuff outside instead of on the inside stove.

[Old Glory]

PK 360 Charcoal grill
Weber Traveler for Gas

If you are feeling spendy TEC Propane Grill

https://www.bbqguys.com/tec/g-sport-fr-30-inch-portable-infrared-propane-gas-grill-gsrlpfr

[glitchy]

Hasty-Bake has a Ranger 380 that might be a good all in one in you prefer charcoal and only want one cooker. The capacity would be about the same as a 18” kettle, but when smoking you’d get all of it instead of likely half of a kettle. I’ve never had a hasty bake, but know people love them.

There’s lots of thinks you could do. I have a Weber Traveler and it’s a great gasser, but is not super small and travels best horizontally. Though it might easily fit in low profile cubbies deep and wide enough. It’s single zone, so wouldn’t really work for smoking anything. I’ve taken it fishing to grill for 5-6. You could easily pair it with a SnS Travel Grill or Jumbo Joe to have charcoal and gas covered.

Several companies make travel pellet grills. I’m personally not the biggest Green Mountain Grills fan, but their Trek is probably about the smallest pellet grill that doesn’t come with huge trade offs.

If I were in this position personally, I’d probably be trying to find a pellet grill like a Grilla chimp, MAK mini, Camp Chef, etc. and pair it with a portable burner and pan for searing steaks, the little char-broil infrared gasser, or maybe even just a small GrillGrate searing set. Then I wouldn’t feel the need for near as many accessories to haul around. SnS, Fireboard and fan, charcoal chimney, drip pan, etc.

[Clark]

I agree with glitchy re the Hasty-Bake. I had forgotten about them but I've been to 4-5 SCA cookoffs and about 1/3 of the cookers were the Ranger. People swear by them. PKs were the most commonly used, however.

[STEbbq]

The PKGO is also one I would consider but I would have to be using it heavily to justify the price difference over the SNS travel grill. It is $337 right now and given PK runs constant sales, this is probably a realistic true price.

https://www.pkgrills.com/pkgo-w-flipkit