Coleman Roadtrip 285 Review

The Coleman Roadtrip 285 may share the appearance of many wheeled portable grills, but it excels in cooking performance. The design and configuration of the burners distribute heat in a consistent way that is easy to control. Whether grilling in your backyard or your favorite campsite, this is a great propane gas option that easily prepares a meal for a group all at once.

Performance Comparison

Output Power

When it comes to heat, the Coleman Raodtrip 285 is one of the best models that we've ever tested. With a total output of 20,000 BTUs, this model gets hot relatively quickly, and the heat remains constant.

To verify the manufacturers' BTU rating, we conducted our own temperature tests to chart the output power of each grill. We cranked this grill to its highest setting and used an infrared thermometer to take temperature readings every five minutes for a period of twenty minutes. After five minutes, the Roadtrip 285 was already at 450°F. Between the 15-minute and 20-minute intervals, its temperature only varied by five degrees, settling in at a maximum of 696°F. From our culinary experience, we know that the best temperatures for searing range from 300 to 500 degrees, depending on the cut of meat or vegetable of choice. So this grill's heating capabilities are well beyond the needs of most backyard chefs.

Control

For this metric, we inspected and compared the control knobs, ignitors, and burner configurations of each model. We experimented with cooking at low, medium, and high settings to monitor temperatures and analyze consistency. With the grills on high, we covered the cooking surface with white bread just long enough to lightly toast the slices in order to create a visual heat map and to identify any hot spots.

When it comes to propane models, the Coleman Roadtrip 285 is on par with the best of the best. The knobs are conveniently located on the front of the grill, much like the type you'd expect to see on a backyard propane BBQ. The piezoelectric ignitor fires the burners right up without any issue.

Instead of the burners being in a side-by-side configuration, the Roadtrip 285's overlap. The main burner is bar-shaped and runs most of the length of the grill from side to side. The two remaining burners are half-oval-shaped and complement the main burner on each half of the cooking surface. This unique arrangement allows you to select between various heating configurations, like using only one half of the grill on its own, setting the two halves to two separate temperatures, or heating the entire grill evenly.

The combination of the burner configuration and the accurate, easy-to-use dials makes for some truly impressive heat distribution. In our years of testing, we've found models that will burn half of your food but leave the other half undercooked. Our white bread test results showed that the Coleman Roadtrip 285 is devoid of hot spots or dead zones.

Portability

Portable is a very subjective term. Depending on where you'd like to go, your cooking equipment could range anywhere from a one-person backpacking setup to a 500-square-inch smoker that's capable of preparing enough food for a party.

Compared to all of the other models in our review, transportability is not a strong suit for the Coleman Roadtrip 285. But keep in mind, we compare a lot of shapes and sizes of portable grills in this review. While it doesn't have the most impressive score for this metric due to the top heavy and cumbersome design, the Roadtrip 285 is still fairly easy to transport.

One thing that we love about the Roadtrip 285 is its long handle. While a few other wheeled versions force you to hunch over at the waist while rolling the grill around, this model allows you to walk upright in a comfortable, more natural position. While the Roadtrip 285 has large plastic wheels that can roll over desert dirt and rocks, there are other wheeled options available that are much more user-friendly.

Cooking Area

When selecting the best grill for your needs, it is important to consider how much room you want for cooking. If you're cooking for yourself or a small group, a compact grill is probably fine. If you want a grill for tailgating, backyard parties, or large-group car camping, we'd recommend a larger tabletop model or a wheeled model like the Roadtip 285. For this metric, we physically measured the actual cooking surface offered by each grill.

The Coleman Roadtrip 285 offers one of the largest cooking areas of any model that we've tested to date. As the name suggests, there are 285 square inches – nearly two square feet – of cooking space for you to sear up anything from zucchini chips to tri-tips.

Wind Resistance

A windstorm blowing out the flames of your BBQ is problematic at best. In the worst-case scenario, high winds can ruin your meal. For this metric, we considered the effects of wind on each model. In the past, we conducted a fan test but eventually learned that variables such as the ambient air temperature and overhead winds largely affect results. We now test like you would cook – we grill out on a windy day.

The Coleman Roadtrip 285 is one of the best propane models we've cooked with in the wind. The holes in the burners are smaller than most, and the overall shape of the grill body is fairly aerodynamic and low-profile. We didn't experience any issues while grilling food with this model on a windy night in the high desert at an elevation of 7,000 feet.

Should You Buy the Coleman Roadtrip 285?

The Coleman Roadtrip 285 is a high scoring propane gas option on wheels. If you're considering this model, the main factor to take into account is its size and weight. If you have a smaller vehicle, limited storage, or are unable to lift 49 pounds, you should consider a smaller tabletop model. Otherwise, the Roadtrip 285 is a great choice for those looking to grill for bigger groups, even if it's a little cumbersome to haul around.

What Other Portable Grills Should You Consider?

Because this is such a broad category of products, there is a lot of variation between portability, performance, type, and price. The Weber Traveler is a direct competitor for the Coleman Roadtrip 285. We appreciated the luxury grilling experience in addition to features that made a similar design much easier to transport. If these full-size, stand-up options are too bulky for your needs, the Weber Q 1200 is our favorite tabletop propane model. Pellet grills have recently exploded in popularity. If you're a fan of pellet cooking and you're looking for a mobile version, we highly recommend the Camp Chef Portable Pellet. We all know that person who refuses to grill over anything but charcoal. For them, the Weber Go-Anywhere Charcoal Grill is our top choice for a compact, portable charcoal grill.