The Best Features of Coleman LXX vs LXE

In Trekkerr, we want to provide the ultimate outdoor advice. And since we all appreciate tasty food, having a grill on your next trip becomes nearly mandatory. In this article, we’ll review one of the best series in the portable category: Coleman’s RoadTrip Grillers.

The RoadTrip series features a bunch of different grills tailored toward portability more than anything else. That’s why it comes on the top of the list for all the occasional campers and travelers.

Today, we’ll select 2 of its gas-powered grills that deliver excellent performance besides convenience.

In the comparison between Coleman RoadTrip LXX vs LXE, some people might be a bit confused. These grills look fairly similar, their specs aren’t that different, and even their names share “L” and “X”. But as we proceed, the major differences will start to unfold.

Coleman LXX vs LXE: Toe-To-Toe Comparison

In this section, we’ll start to compare Coleman RoadTrip grills by looking at their technical details. We’ll talk about things like the heating element, maneuverability, maintenance, and more. Let’s see!

Design, Weight, and Dimensions

We won’t be exaggerating if we said that both grills look identical. Unexperienced folks might not be able to tell them apart if they don’t notice the tiny physical differences.

The most notable difference lies in the utensil hooks. Both grills feature 3 robust hooks at the front. In LXX, they’re made of stainless steel, while LXE features a plastic construction. Not a major difference, but it can be the easiest way to identify the grills without effort.

As you’ll see later on, Coleman LXX delivers higher heating power. Consequently, it’s fabricated a bit taller and wider than Coleman LXE. Here are the dimensions and weight of each grill:

As you saw, the difference isn’t that large. Perhaps the taller build of the LXX will make you more comfortable. Then again, that might vary between people.

The Heating Elements

Both grills feature double stainless steel burners that excel in durability and performance. Each burner has its own knob, giving you full control over how you want your food to turn out. And of course, you can run just one burner in case you want to save gas.

Although the burners look similar, they differ in their heating capacity. In the LXX, each burner gives 11,000 BTUs when driven at full power. The burners of the LXE can’t go any higher than 10,000 BTUs. In other words, the LXX excels over the LXE by 2,000 BTUs.

Technically speaking, 2,000 BTUs isn’t that big. However, customers who tried both grills swear that the difference is more than tangible. We think this has to do with equally-sized cooking areas.

If the LXX had a wider surface, the extra BTUs would’ve been dissipated through the bigger negative space.

Ignition

Both grills feature electric igniters that eliminate the need for packing matches or lighters.

The ignition process is pretty convenient. Coleman even shows off a bit by calling this technology “InstaStart.” All you have to do is press the red button at the front of the grill.

Storage and Setup

As the name implies, the RoadTrip series is meant to be used in the midst of your traveling adventures. Therefore, you can expect unmatched convenience, portability, and ease-of-use.

When folded, both grills assume a design similar to wheeled traveling bags. You can pull them around on the double wheels while holding the fixed handle. However, it’s worth noting that these grills lie well into the heavy extreme since they weigh around 45 lbs.

Assembling both grills into the functional position is easy. You’ll have to step on the towing handle and lift the grill with its metal side-handles. When the grill is high enough, the leg extension can be locked into the brackets on the bottom surface. And that’s it! There’s no fasteners or any accessories you have to assemble.

The low-profile cover of both grills is another great perk for folks seeking portability. This can save tremendous space for your other traveling gear.

User Experience

Cooking on the Coleman RoadTrip grills is easy, but not so efficient. The problem that bothered most users was in the heat distribution. The burners give incredible heat, but they’re quite smaller than they should be. As a result, you’ll probably end up with unequally-cooked food.

Like most of the other portable grills, the RoadTrip series features two sliding shelves at the sides. This can be sturdy enough to hold most of your ingredients and sauces as you’re cooking. After finishing, these shelves slide back under the grill to save space.

To fit the stainless steel hooks, the shelves in the LXX are also made of stainless steel. And as you might’ve guessed, the LXE’s shelves are constructed from plastic.

Maintenance

Both grills feature removable grates to facilitate cleaning the insides. Cleaning the grates themselves are fairly easy as long as you don’t scrape off the non-stick coating.

Cleaning the insides is a bit trickier, though. The inner construction isn’t proofed well against rust. No matter how well you clean them, rust will eventually spread through the whole surface. Some customers reported that rust completely obliterated the burners, which negatively affected the heating efficiency.

Since the LXX features stainless steel hooks and shelves, it can be a bit easier to clean than the LXE. But this can’t be considered as a major advantage because these parts don’t get that dirty in the first place.

Thermometer

Unlike the LXE, the cover of the LXX is equipped with an analog thermometer. It’s not an essential feature, but it should help you in fine-tuning the temperature to cook your food exactly as you want.

If you decide to opt for the LXE, you can get the same benefit by purchasing a standalone digital thermometer. In fact, we often suggest getting one regardless of whether the grill has a built-in alternative. Digital tools clearly surpass the analog ones in terms of precision and ease of readability.

Plus, a thermometer fixed in the cover isn’t that practical unless you’re grilling with the lid closed. It’d be absurd if you have to keep opening and closing the lid to know the temperature as you’re cooking.

Things to Consider Before Buying Coleman RoadTrip Grills

If this is your first time buying a portable grill, you might be confused between all the brands and models found on the market. In this section, we’ll take you through the most important things to consider to make sure you’re buying a grill that truly fits you.

What Size Would Work Best?

Choosing the grill size is obviously the first and most important factor you need to think about. You don’t want to get something bigger than necessary since it’d be harder to store and clean. Small grills aren’t fun either because you’d need to cook food in multiple batches.

Lucky for you, the LXX and LXE have one of the biggest cooking areas in the portable category. With 285 sq. in., you’ll be able to cook for 3-4 people in one or two batches.

If you need something bigger, you won’t find anything suitable in the RoadTrip series. Alternatively, you can opt for the Char-Broil Classic. With a grate that measures 360 sq. in., you can serve up to 4 or 5 people in a single serving.

If you prefer to embark on your journeys alone, you should love the Cuisinart CGG180. Its 5,500-BTU burner should be more than enough for a single person. The 160-square-inch cooking area wouldn’t be a burden to clean after you finish.

How Much Grilling Power Do You Need?

Grilling power is quite related to the size of the cooking area. If you want to keep things simple, you can suffice by considering the grate size.

If you want to be super sure about the performance, aim for 20,000 BTUs for grills sized anywhere around 250 sq. in.

Bigger grills would need about 30,000 to have convenient heat distribution. Furthermore, there should be a total of 3 burners to cut down on fuel consumption.

Grills intended for individual use would work fine with power as low as 5,000 BTUs. As you probably deduced, they often come with a single burner.

Which Is More Important: Portability or Performance?

So far, we’ve spoken about the size and grilling power, which relates directly to portability and performance. Still, there is one more factor that can impact these attributes, and that’s the fuel.

What do you prefer to cook with? Gas, charcoal, or electricity? If you aren’t sure, check the following sections where we’ll explore the benefits and drawbacks of each.

Gas Grills

• Performance: Medium
• Portability: High

Generally speaking, gas is the most common fuel type for portable grills. It actually makes sense. Propane tanks come in a variety of sizes that match all sorts of needs. They’re also compact and easy to carry around without leaving any wastes.

When compared with charcoal or wood, gas is favored primarily for its speed. You don’t need to wait for burners to heat up. Just turn the knobs, ignite, and you’re good to go!

The most notable shortcoming of gas is surely the flavor. Since it doesn’t have a smoke source, food will lack that characteristic barbecue smell and taste.

Charcoal Grills

• Performance: High
• Portability: Low

Charcoal is undoubtedly the father of grilling! Its smoke gives the meat a whole new taste that no other fuel can provide.

But that great taste comes at a price. Charcoal needs experienced cooks to properly control the temperature and food distribution. Also, you’ll typically waste some of your valuable adventure time in preheating and cleaning.

More importantly, charcoal is prohibited by some parks and campsites due to its potential hazards.

Electric Grills

• Performance: Low
• Portability: Medium

Electric grills are certainly the safest of the three. However, its application is kind of limited since you can’t always run them on your car’s battery.

The flavor is probably the worst with these grills. Cooking without a flame takes a lot from the amazing barbecuing texture we all crave.

Additional Features to Enhance Performance

So far, you know all the basic technicalities behind grills. But there are some additional minor details that can further optimize your experience.

First, shelves. Getting grills with built-in shelves is crucial to keep all your cooking sauces and ingredients within your reach. They become especially important during camping if you don’t want to lose any of your stuff.

Preferably, these shelves must be collapsible. Otherwise, they’d impair the portability to a great extent.

The second useful feature is the utensil hooks. They’re absolutely mandatory in the wild to keep your spatula and tongs clean and ready for action.

Lucky for you, most of the Coleman RoadTrip grills are equipped with these perks.

Frequently Asked Questions About Coleman’s Roadtrip Grillers

How to collapse Coleman RoadTrip grill?

This might vary a bit between different models. In the LXX and LXE, you’ll have to unhook the leg extension from the bottom brackets. Then, slowly lower the grill while holding its side-handles until it touches the floor.

Next, press lightly to secure the grill in the folding position. This step is crucial to avoid unfolding the grill by mistake while moving it around.

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How to connect a propane tank to Coleman RoadTrip grill?

It depends on your tank size. If you’re using a 1-pound propane bottle, you’ll directly attach the bottle into the grill.

If you prefer the large tank, you’ll need a propane hose to connect it to your grill. Inspect the sizes beforehand to get the right adaptors.

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How to clean Coleman RoadTrip grills?

For the deepest clean, you should remove the grates and burners to reach any grease lurking around. Some users like to slightly heat the grill before cleaning to soften large grease chunks.

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What’s The Verdict?

After reviewing Coleman RoadTrip LXX vs LXE, we can easily recommend them to all the travelers out there.

Technically speaking, the only major difference between the Coleman LXX and LXE is in the grilling power. The LXX can cook food a bit faster than LXE with the extra 2,000 BTUs it offers.

Remember, barbecuing is fun and yummy, but it’s not always safe. Make sure to take all the necessary safety precautions before you start.[/wpsm_box]