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Key Features
- The simple grease drain management system draws all of your excess liquids into a bucket underneath
- EZ-Fold legs fold up and let you wheel the grill onto your tailgate for game day
- Features a Keep Warm Mode that ensures the food will still be hot coming off the grill
- Large capacity hopper allows you to hold up to 8 lbs of pellets at once
Traeger Tailgater: Convenient, Compact, and Full of Flavor
The Tailgater by Traeger offers the convenience and rich flavor of a wood burning pellet grill in a more compact size. With a smaller footprint and legs that fold flat, the Tailgater black 20-inch pellet grill is perfect for apartment balconies, tailgating, or anywhere else you want to bring the wood-fired flavor.
Designed for Portability, Built to Last
This grill is constructed of a powder coated steel and boasts 19,500 BTUs of cooking power. The 300 square inches of porcelain coated grilling surface produces excellent sear marks, while being easy to clean. Features EZ-Fold legs that offer maximum portability, letting you quickly place the grill in the bed of your truck, the back of your SUV, or the trunk of your car and be on your way.
Low and Slow or Searing Hot: This Traeger Does It All
The versatility of this pellet grill allows you to smoke at temperatures as low as 180 degrees and then crank it up to 450 degrees to sear to perfection. The Digital Arc Controller displays the temperature inside the grill on the bright orange LED panel and is monitored by a resistance temperature detector probe which keeps the preset temperature in 5-degree increments. Keep Warm Mode maintins the hot temperature of the food for when it comes off the grill.
Easy to Start, Safe to Use
Traeger grills feature an auto-start system that is simple and safe to use. The natural airflow inside of the grill allows for convection cooking, so you can bake a pizza right on your grill or slow smoke a large brisket. Turning and flipping different kinds of meat will be necessary at high temperatures.
Efficient Pellet Consumption
When you turn on the grill, the auger begins to feed pellets into the firepot while the draft induction fan feeds air into it. The igniter rod is activated and glows red hot for the first four minutes to ignite the pellets in the firepot. These cost-effective pellets burn at a rate of only 2 lbs per hour on high heat, 1 lb per hour on medium heat, and only 1/2 lb per hour when smoking.
Traeger Tailgater FAQ
Can you smoke with a Traeger Tailgater?
Yes, indeed! The Tailgater can maintain temperatures as low as 180 degrees, so low-and-slow is no problem.
Can you fit a brisket on a Tailgater?
The cooking grid dimensions are 20-in x 15-in, so all but the largest briskets should fit with no problem. Note that you do need to keep an inch or two free on each side to allow for air circulation.
Can you cook a steak on a Traeger Tailgater?
The Tailgater can cook as hot as 450 degrees, which is the sweet spot for grilling and searing a steak, so yes!
Does the Tailgater have WiFi?
The Tailgater doesn't have WiFi. It's meant for portable use, where there often isn't available WiFi. We recommend using a wireless Bluetooth meat thermometer if you feel the need to wander while your cook is ongoing.
Is the Traeger Tailgater electric?
The Tailgater does require a standard 120 volt AC current and has a 3-prong plug.
How long can you cook on a Tailgater without reloading the pellets?
The hopper has an 8 lb. capacity, so you should be able to go for 4 hours on high heat, 8 hours on medium heat, and about 16 hours when smoking.
Legal disclaimers and warnings
Product packaging, owners’ manuals, installation instructions, and/or operating instructions may include more information than what is shown on our website. The content on our site is intended to be used for reference purposes only. Please fully read all included manuals and documentation before installing or using this product. WARNING for California residents: this product may contain chemical(s) known to the state of California to cause birth defects, cancer, or other reproductive harm.
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Customer Reviews
120 reviews
This is the best grill I've ever owned. Beats charcoal and gas hands down. The only issue is the folding legs. They don't stay well and this really isn't portable for 1 person. Requires 2. I like traveling alone and the Traeger Tailgater is not 1 person friendly
1 user found this review helpful
Great Smoker grill that is small enough to take anywhere, the legs on this model are also removable which makes it perfect to mount onto the camper or the pickup, it's not a big grill so if your looking for that this isn't for you but if you want a smoker that doesn't take up your whole patio, truck bed or camper this it the one to get.
1 user found this review helpful
I've had my Tailgater since 2014, I use it every weekend! Works today like it did 10 years ago .....Replaced the drip pan a couple of times......Love my Tailgater!
2 users found this review helpful
Bought one 3 yrs ago. Great for home, cabin , camping or tailgating! .
1 user found this review helpful
I like a lot about how easy it is to use. But there are big holes that allow way too much smoke and heat to vent out with no option to cover them and allow it to hold heat or smoke better temps are all over the place. Alittle bummed about it cause if it held the heat and smoke better it would be the coolest pellet grill I've ever worked with as I am a professional chef. Seems like yall added an affordable option but made it alittle to cheaply.
4 users found this review helpful
I have had this grill for a number of years and I can only say it's ok. Temperature control is spotty, at best and uneven. And the metal hinges on the lids broke within 18 months. A hot lid came off in my hands suddenly when I opened it and almost burned me. I was able to patch it back together but it's loose now and a little scary.
1 user found this review helpful
I don't recall when I bought this, but it makes the best smoked food we've ever had!
I love my Tailgater. I have cooked many of items on it since purchasing about 4 years ago. The only thing I would change is I wish Traeger would create an owners manual specifically for the Tailgater with the digital control, as I get pretty tired of needing to Google how to use the controller to check the probe temp. I guess I don't have a great memory because I keep forgetting how to check it. Anyway, this thing is a game changer for smoking and grilling. I also wish it had a door to dump the hopper so it would be easier to change pellets. Lastly I would like to add; I never have issues with temperature fluctuation, shut off, or error codes. I also clean out the pellet stove with a shop vac before every smoke.
I have had a tailgater for 5 years from the kids on my 60th. We hardly ever use the oven any more and the grills were send to the dumpster. Mine has no temp probe but cooks everything perfect if I temp it. It has so many hours of use the paints bubbling on top and the grease tray is warped, but still works.
Killer grill. I use it for full-time home use and I almost never fire up my propane grill now. Been going strong for 2 years. Lives outside full-time in the weather, and still looks great. No issues. It doesn't get hot enough to quick sear, but something about how it heats it still doesn't "bake" burgers or steaks. They always come out perfect, even when I get distracted. Grill surface doesn't heat even, but I like having different zones for different things, just like on a gas grill. Perfect for me. Going to take this to my summer house and upgrade to an Ironwood for my winter place. Full convert.
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Compare Similar Items
Current Item | ||||
Class | Entry-Level | Practical | Entry-Level | Practical |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Size | Small (0 - 26") | Small (0 - 26") | Small (0 - 26") | Small (0 - 26") |
Primary Color | Black | Black | Black | Gray |
Made In USA | No | No | No | No |
Configuration | Portable | Portable | Portable | Portable |
Exterior Material | Powder Coated Steel | Powder Coated Steel | Powder Coated Steel | Powder Coated Steel |
Burger Count | 12 | 9 | 6 | 9 |
Fuel Type | Pellets | Pellets | Pellets | Pellets |
Collection | Portable | Prime 2.0 | Portable | Emberwood |
Hopper Capacity | 8 Pounds | 9 Pounds | 8 Pounds | 8 Pounds |
Quick Ship | Yes | No | -- | Yes |
Total Cooking Capacity | 300 Sq. Inches | 344 Sq. Inches | 184 Sq. Inches | 282 Sq. Inches |
Controller Type | Digital | SmartPhone App | Digital | Analog |
Max Temperature | 450 F | 550 F | 450 F | 500 F |
Cart Assembly | Some Assembly Required | Some Assembly Required | -- | -- |
Side Shelves | No | No | No | No |
WiFi/Bluetooth Enabled | None | WiFi & Bluetooth | None | None |
Cooking Grid Dimensions | 20 X 15" | 17 3/4 X 12 4/5" | 15 X 12" | 14 4/5 X 15" |
Side Burner | None | None | None | -- |
Grill Lights | None | None | None | None |
Spring Assisted Hood | No | No | No | No |
On Wheels | Yes | No | No | No |
Series | Tailgater | Trek | Ranger | 15" |
Cooking Grate Material | Porcelain Coated Steel | Stainless Steel | Porcelain Coated Steel | Cast Aluminum |
Commercial-Grade Multi-User | No | No | No | No |
Marine Grade | No | No | No | No |
Width | 37" | 34.25" | 21" | 26.7" |
Height | 36" | 24" | 13" | 15.7" |
Depth | 18" | 18" | 20" | 22.7" |
Weight | 60 lbs | 64 lbs | 60 lbs | 47 lbs |
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Shipping & Returns
Free Shipping on orders over $49
Ship your entire order to your home for free, especially the big stuff!
*Continental US only
When will my item arrive?
Once shipped, items usually arrive within 3-5 business days. While UPS and FedEx are our carriers for smaller items, be aware that larger items and orders are shipped via freight. The freight process is a bit more complicated than what we've all come to expect for small parcels, so it's important that you're prepared and understand what's required of you well before delivery day.
- Most freight products ship on a pallet
- Some carriers will call to schedule a delivery window, while others will deliver the shipment to a reasonably accessible location closest to your residence (their goal is to deliver as near a garage door as they can).
- We'll specify which process you can expect in your shipping confirmation email.
For carriers that schedule delivery appointments:
Carriers that schedule delivery appointments require you to be home for delivery and provide your signature. The delivery is made with a semi-truck with lift gate services, and the shipment is dropped off at the curb. If you authorize the shipping company to leave the delivery without a signature, BBQGuys can't be held responsible for damages that occur during delivery. As complicated as this process may seem, we've only scratched the surface here — please review our detailed guide to freight delivery so there are no surprises when a freight shipment heads your way.
For carriers that deliver without an appointment:
Carriers that deliver without an appointment don't require you to be home or set up a delivery window, and you aren't required to sign for the pallet(s). Instead of scheduling an appointment, arranging your schedule to be home for the delivery, and signing to confirm receipt, you can sit back and let your items come to you. If you're home at the time of the drop-off, you can request the driver place your delivery in the garage; if you're out of the house, the driver will leave it near the garage or doorstep.
This item leaves our warehouse within 24 Hours
$49 Flat-Rate Shipping
Anything under $49 ships at one low price. If your order increases, your shipping stays the same!
30-Day Returns
Return all new, unused, and unassembled items in their original packaging, and we'll give you a full refund minus the cost of the original AND return shipping.
No Restocking Fee
Most companies charge a restocking fee. We just don't do business that way.
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