Traeger Grills Tailgater 20 Portable Wood Pellet Grill and Smoker, Black review and price compare 2025

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Product overview

Brand	Traeger
Model Name	Tailgater 20
Power Source	Electric and Woodburning
Color	Black
Item Weight	62 Pounds
Item Dimensions LxWxH	37 x 18 x 36 inches
Fuel Type	Electric

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NEVER USE GAS OR CHARCOAL AGAIN: Traeger created the original wood-pellet grill as the ultimate way to achieve wood-fired taste. The Ironwood 885 takes it to the next level with precise temperature control
Precision temperature control: The Digital Pro Controller rocks Advanced Grilling Logic, which maintains a plus/minus 15 degree F temperature control to guarantee precision grilling
Take your grill and your wood-fired BBQ wherever you go. Whether it’s your truck tailgate, the parking lot, out in the field or anywhere your travels take you, you’ll never have to leave your smoke behind.
EZ fold legs, a grill capacity of 300 sq in., and a digital controller make grilling anywhere easier than ever.

From the manufacturer


Get reliable results thanks to consistent temperatures every single time. Traeger makes mastering your BBQ easy and repeatable.	Traeger's aren't just for grilling, you can smoke, bake, roast, braise, and BBQ food too, from ribs to apple pie.	Traeger Grills are fueled by 100% all-natural hardwood pellets that infuse amazing wood-fired flavor into everything you cook.	From game days to getaways, bring wood-fired flavor everywhere with the new Tailgater 20. Featuring a compact, portable design, it’s prime for balconies, tailgating or anywhere else you want to take 6-in-1 versatility and superior taste.

product description

From pre-game parties to weekends at the cabin, savor wood-fired flavor anywhere with the new Tailgater 20. Thanks to its portable size and stashable EZ-Fold legs, the new Tailgater 20 lets you grill, smoke, bake, roast, braise or BBQ just about anywhere. Plus, it now boasts Traeger’s Digital Arc controller for precise, consistent temperatures and a Keep Warm Mode that ensures your food is ready whenever you are.

product details

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Questions about Traeger Grills Tailgater 20 Portable Wood Pellet Grill and Smoker, Black

I live in an apartment and can't have any flame. If there is a small flame to light the pellets how long does it last?

Answer: There is an electric igniter which lights the pellets. The flame is constant during use. It is very small and contained in a small steel pot inside the grill. There is no visible or open flame.

Answer:

Answer: Hi there, all of our grills have an enclosed flame, we would defer to your HOA or local authorities for official regulations.

Do you ship to the uk (amazon says you do) ? also will it work on uk voltage (220v) ?

Does this ship usps or ups to alaska?

The specs say this is only 36" tall. Can that be correct? Seems very low to ground.

Answer: Height is 36inches.

Answer: It not bad but a couple inches higher would be good. I still love mine.

Can this be returned?

Is this model wifire capable?

Answer: No, this model is not WiFire capable.

Answer: No.

Answer: I don't think so...

Will the Traeger power inverter work with this model?

Answer: Yes it will

What is the temperature swing in the Smoke mode?

Answer: Mine varies about 15 degrees total from set temp.

What’s the dimensions of the inside cooking surface?

Answer: The grill grate dimensions on the Tailgater 20 grill are 20 X 15".

Answer: Series 20 grills are 300 sq inches

Answer: 15”X 19”

Can you cold smoke?

Answer: This does not have the smoke option like it’s bigger brothers. But it does have the option to keep food warm.

Can I get a rotisserie for this grill and if so what number

How tall is the grilling surface from the ground. Can this be used as a gtill?

Do you range the traeger pro models and if so do you also deliver to New Zealand?

Answer: I have done a 12 lbs Turkey in ours. Tight but worked great!

What is the dimensions when the legs are folded up for storage or transportation?

Answer: Height is right around 20 inches.

Im searching for a thermal blanket for traeger lil tex. part# bac 346. please help

What is the electrical requirement?

Answer: 115 volts and about 200 watts

Under "power source" it states "electric & woodburning". Does this mean that it can also operate without electricity or no?

Answer: Our grills run on electricity, but you can also use an inverter to power your grill.

Answer: No, it needs power to run the augur. They do have an inverter though that you can hook to a car battery or plug into a cigarette lighter.

Answer: Must have electricity

Answer: No because you need power to feed the pellets to the fire box to generate the smoke and the heat.

Answer: we have only used Electricity. if it does have a wood burning option we have not seen where it would be.

how many pellets does it hold what is length of time it would cook with a full load say at 250 degrees ?

Answer: I cooked a 12 lbs brisket with this and only had to fill it about 3/4 of the way In the 12 hour period. It holds heat really well and does not uses as many pellets as my bigger Traeger.

A reviewer said he plugged the two vents in the back with foil because the grill is losing too much heat. What is you experience?

Answer: I did the same thing then I sold it. I used it 2-3 times. I bought the Masterbuilt 800 gravity feed charcoal smoker, grill, flattop all in one.

Answer: I’ve never had trouble keeping heat in this grill. I’ve had it for over a year

Answer: Didn't have a problem with temperature level.

Answer: I use digital probes on everything and I must say never experienced any temp lost. Not to the level of affecting ones cooking

Answer: I use mine more as a smoker. So, I run it at lower temp and longer cooking times.

What is the LxWxH of the tailgater fully folded up?

Answer: 33x16x21

Is there enough height under the lid to do for example a beer can chicken? Or a full turkey?

Answer: Yes you can fit a full turkey and cook beer can chicken in Traeger Tailgater.

Answer: A beer can chicken should fir or a small turkey on this size. I have two and I use the big one for turkeys. This size is good to about 12 pounds.

Answer: It will fit two can chickens

Answer: Yes to both.

How many sq. Inches of grill surface

Answer: It depends on which traeger you chose. I have the tailgater which is meant for tailgating. It’s light and has 300 sq inches. But it is one of the smaller versions.

Will the Traeger power inverter world with this model?

Is there room for a whole turkey?

Answer: I have done a 12 lbs Turkey in mine. Tight but worked great!!!

Answer: This grill can handle a bird up to 15 lbs., or a larger bird if you spatchcock it.

Answer: Yes!!!

Attachments options for tailgater 20

Waiting & Waiting for this to Ship - weeks now, whats up ?

Answer: Rona probably.

is their a front shelf for the traeger tailgate 30?

Answer: Yes, there is Folding Shelf for Tailgater 20, and it is BAC361.

Answer: No, there is not

What is the peak wattage draw when starting up? I have a lithium AC battery source that produces 150 watts.

Answer: 300 Watts. However, it will drop to around 45W-100W after reaching temperature, depending on fan and auger usage needed to maintain temp.

Available for return

What are the 5 cooking temperatures? Does the pellets last a full cook or do they need to be refilled mid cook?

Answer: When you press up or down on the controller it moves in 5 degree increments. A bag of pellet weighs 20lbs and provides between 6 and 20 hours of cook time (at high or low heat). The hopper capacity is 8lbs and needs to be refilled mid-cook depending on the meal.

Answer: It starts out at 165 degrees and progresses in 5 degree increments up to 450.

Can you put glass Pyrex on the grill?

Answer: Yes, you can use Pyrex on this grill.

Answer: If it's oven proof, you should be able to. I would check with Pyrex though just to be on the safe side.

Does this new model have a smoke setting like the old analog version?

Answer: Hi there, this grill does not have a smoke setting, but you will get optimal smoke when you cook at temperatures between 165°F and 225°F for longer periods of time. If you want a stronger smokey flavor, we suggest using Hickory or Mesquite pellets.

Has Traeger considered working with Milwaukee tool to offer a lithium powered cordless model??

Answer: We truly appreciate you reaching out to us and sharing any interest that you may have in submitting product ideas, concepts, or other materials to us, but we do not accept any product idea, concept, or material submissions that we did not solicit ourselves.

Where is it made and assembed?

Answer: Since late 2008, all of our residential grills have been manufactured in China. Due to the overwhelming number of grills being purchased, our production was moved overseas to keep up with the increased demand.

Answer: China. A Google Search showed about 5 or 6 grills still made in the US but Traeger is no longer one is them. Where it was manufactured is not the reason I don’t like mine.

can you smoke a whole turkey ?

Answer: I wish I knew. I bought one and it was broken. They sent me a replacement and it was broken too. I sent them both back and bought a Pit Boss smoker/grill. I LOVE IT! Don’t waste your money on a Traeger.

Does this grill work with the app ?

Answer: I don't know the answer to this question because UPS wont deliver my grill. It's been out for delivery for 5 days now.

Answer: No. Trust me. I’ve tried. The tailgater does not have wifi.

Product reviews of Traeger Grills Tailgater 20 Portable Wood Pellet Grill and Smoker, Black

Sebastian Krywult : Yes yes yes yes!

Absolutely love this grill. Everything tastes soooooo much better than on a traditional gas grill, the pizza we’ve been making is incredible.

The only complaint I have is I wish the legs were a little taller but other than that I love it

Harrison : Great value! Easy to use

Awesome little portable grill for tailgates and big parties. Very easy to control temperature

Diana M Shields : Can't wait to take it camping

We have a full size Traeger smoker, so we bought this one for camping. But since the lockdown we haven't been able to take it on the road yet. We have tried it out though. It's work great. Heats up quickly and holds the temperature well. Smokes the food good and is easy to use. It is a bit heavy though, so it takes two people to lift it into our truck bed. All in all it's great little smoker

jeff watson : Luv my Tregor tailgater

I’ve had my tailgater for three months now and it came at the perfect time . Just about anything that can be cooked in an oven cooks in my Tregor, no more heating up the house kitchen . The Tregor heats up fast to what temp I set it to . I’ve cooked pizzas a pot roast after heating up the cast iron pot in the Tregor . Breads veggies meat loafs whole chickens, parts of chickens oh and pork ribs
I can’t believe I waited so long to get one

Angela Downey : Great for RV use

My husband wanted a Teager that would be able to take in the RV with us. This is the perfect size and very portable for our needs. Cooks evenly and cones with a temperature probe fir better control.

Donald Dardia : DO NOT BUY

Do not buy this. Ive had the junior elite(same grill other than the legs) and it’s been a nightmare. It has insane temperature swings. Im talking grill set to 225 and going up to 450, then down to 100. It makes cooking on it almost impossible. Buy something of better quality. Customer support is very good and they will send you replacement parts but it doesnt help and you end up spending countless hours replacing things.

S. Perkins : Easy to use

So far so good! This is for the tailgater, unlike some other reviews. Was easy to put together. No issues with the temperature, it holds steady +/- 5 degrees like a normal oven.

Will hopefully be taking it camping this weekend so I can update this review some more.

This version had no wifi.

Amazon Customer : could not have been easier to assemble and do the first burn in.

took less than 30 minutes to assemble. easy to follow instructions for 1st burn in and cook. temp control during the cook was mostly plus or minus 10 degrees. i got the occasional spike in temp to +20 from set point but it was a short spike. i smoked 2 racks of ribs and they came out fantastic using the 3,2,1 method. cant wait to use it again.

BassPlayer Dave : great size for two person household

Love this grill/smoker. Used so far to make pork ribs and is the best for making smoked salmon. Way better than any smoked salmon in the store.

Diana M Shields : Can't wait to take it camping

Michael Bradshaw : Waste of time and money

Piece of junk. After multiple calls to Traeger and then sending parts that still don’t work I’m left with a pile of crap that can’t be returned and parts are on back order. Stay as far away from Traeger as you can.

Edit 12/23 Trager sent me a new firebox and the grill works well.

Lisa Steinmeyer : Perfect for RV

This is perfect to take on the road in your RV. If you are familiar with Traeger, it’s the same high quality, just downsized for portability. The legs also fold down. It’s excellent and worth the money!!

Mark Strait 68-69 : Great smoker

I liked everything except having to clean it. ;)

YPC : Acceptable peeling paint

I was told the peeling paint was caused by a grease fire but it is about 4” from the end of the pit where the grease tray is located. Traeger’s customer service was not willing to agree this was unacceptable.
DO NOT BUT A TRAEGER, THEY WILL NOT STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT.

Tammie : Steaks, chicken, pork chops, and BBQ on a whole new level!!

Might be the best grill/smoker we have ever owned. Easy to put together, easy to use, easy to clean. VERY sturdy for a portable grill.

YPC : Acceptable peeling paint

Billy : Best gift ever!

Bought it as a gift for my best friends wedding. Been getting constant pictures and texts about how much they enjoy their food from it. I own a pro 575 and absolutely love mine.

R M Adams : Traeger grills are POS.

I received this Traeger Tailgater grill/smoker as a gift from my children. This is a very poorly engineered and manufactured product. I have used it about 6 times and every time the temperature fluctuates wildly and it shuts off over and over again. Sometimes it shuts off due to high temperature and sometimes it just stops burning and overfills the combustion chamber with pellets. I followed all instructions and used Traeger pellets. One time it overheated so much it bubbled the paint on the outside of it. We're lucky it didn't start a fire. Everytime it shuts off you have to remove the meat and disassemble the inside of the grill and clean the combustion chamber. When this happens over and over again everytime you use it, it gets very old. I have had to give up everytime I used it and finish the meat in the oven in our home. This was an expensive gift and I feel bad my kids good intentions resulted in this POS.

Keith Cryan : Bad Reviews, Bad instructions

NOTE FOR BAD REVIEWS REGARDING FAN NOT FUNCTIONING: The instruction manual states to put hand over pellet pan too insure airflow and fan is working during the priming process. The fan was not blowing during prime. When I set the temp and pushed the ignite button the fan was blowing and working great. This is likely a typo or poor editing with the instruction manual.

Easily assembled. Four stars as the instruction manual is an important part especially for noobs like myself. Best tasting chicken ever!

R M Adams : Traeger grills are POS.

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