Coleman RoadTrip LXE 9949-750

Most users say that the Coleman RoadTrip LXE 9949-750 gas grill cooks well and evenly, but we found a significant number of user complaints on the manufacturer's website; they say the RoadTrip doesn't get hot enough, and sometimes won't light. They also report other design flaws, such as cheap wheels on the cart and a tendency to rust. Users say the RoadTrip is poorly constructed and prone to bending, but the biggest complaint is that you can't cook with this grill's lid down; if you do, the lid gets so hot that the plastic handles can melt, potentially burning you or fouling the lock on the grill.

One user says the plastic grease drip plan caught fire and melted when he was using the Coleman RoadTrip, and a few others report gas tubing that was too short, creating poor operation and spikes of flame in unexpected places (such as out the front of the grill). Users also aren't really happy that many parts -- including extra cooking surfaces, a wheeled carrying case, and a pot holder base -- are sold separately. They say this grill is hard to clean, and that the side tables are flimsy.

The Weber Go-Anywhere Gas Grill (*Est. $60) is the lightest portable model we evaluated and receives excellent user reviews; if you want a larger portable grill, the Weber Q-200 (*Est. $200) is also well-reviewed.

The most valuable sources of feedback about the Coleman RoadTrip LXE 9949-750 are user reviews at Amazon.com, Epinions.com, and Coleman's own website. We also found a short, supposedly expert review at ConsumerGuide.com, but we're suspicious of the fact that it describes this obviously flawed grill as completely flawless (not a single negative point is mentioned), and doesn't include any mention of actual testing.