Traeger

Traeger Tailgater

F
Ranked #15 in Pellet Grills
147 LP on the category ladder what's LP?

Budget-friendly with solid firmware, but its smaller size and thinner construction lower it slightly.

Consolidated from 29 cited sources across 25 outlets

Where the cited sources landed, as we read them

  • 19 positive sources
  • 9 mixed sources
See the sources
Flagged as a product to avoid

2 of 6 research runs entered this as a product to avoid rather than a pick.

Reddit user reviews report inconsistent temperature control and lack of durability; no outlet lists it as a top pick.

Flagged 29 July 2026
  1. Reddit user reviews report inconsistent temperature control and lack of durability; no outlet lists it as a top pick.

    Flagged 29 July 2026
  2. Firmware bugs and a higher-than-expected failure rate for its price tier.

    Flagged 28 July 2026

Why the boards include products to avoid

Check price

Pros & cons

  • ✓ Budget friendly
  • ✓ Solid build quality
  • ✓ Five-year warranty
  • ✓ Portable design
  • ✓ Balance of price, size, and performance
  • ✗ Smaller cooking area
  • ✗ Thinner construction
  • ✗ Inconsistent temperature
  • ✗ Poor durability
  • ✗ Firmware bugs

The sources behind this ranking

We searched the web and YouTube for what has been published about this product, then read the articles, video transcripts and comments we found.

Evidence 11 articles, 16 video reviews and 2 community sources

19 positive sources

T Taste of Home Molly Allen · reviewer · Sept 2024
The Traeger Tailgater earned top marks for its accessibility, thanks to its folding legs and small, portable footprint. More importantly, we love that it delivers delicious cooks on pork, chicken and vegetables. Here’s everything we learned about this beginner-friendly pellet grill.
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J Jaunt Junkies Jaunt Junkies · 9.1K subscribers · Oct 2020
We would highly recommend one if you enjoy outdoor cooking and trying new recipes while camping or outdoors.
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T Thebarbecuelab Article
The GMG also had no difficulty with a whole rack, and likewise for the Traeger Tailgater that found room to spare.
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J Jaunt Junkies Jaunt Junkies · 9.1K subscribers · Feb 2021
We love our Traeger Tailgater because we take it camping with us everywhere but we have never tried smoking something this large for this long. This is the first brisket we have ever smoked but luckily Kara's brother was able to come and give some directions.
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I Instagram Instagram post
The Traeger Tailgater 20 is a portable wood pellet grill that delivers authentic wood-fired flavor.
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W World's Greatest Dad 🐐 World's Greatest Dad 🐐 · 4.7K subscribers · Oct 2023
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.
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B Bob Vila Glenda Taylor, Paul Rankin, Tony Carrick · reviewer · Jul 2026
BEST PORTABLE: Traeger Tailgater Portable Wood Pellet Grill
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W World's Greatest Dad 🐐 World's Greatest Dad 🐐 · 4.7K subscribers · Aug 2024
Although I can't speak for longevity, this drip tray install easily in my Tailgater 20, handled its first cook well and was also cost efficient. It's for those reason's I'm going to give the Stainless Steel FlameDuty SUB025 Traeger Drip Tray Replacement a World's Greatest Dad thumbs up and I say.
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T Tasting Table DB Kelly · reviewer · Dec 2024
Rest assured, though, both get stellar reviews.
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A AdvisorReview AdvisorReview · 4.6K subscribers · Mar 2024
In 3rd place is the Traeger Grills Tailgater, our pick for the best portable pellet grill. In 2nd place is the Camp Chef Woodwind Pro 24, our pick for the best runner-up pellet grill. In 1st place is the Weber SmokeFire EPX6 Stealth, our pick for the best overall pellet grill.
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A ASSAULT INDUSTRIES ASSAULT INDUSTRIES · 1.4K subscribers · Oct 2019
We use it regularly to feed our 50+ person team and it always delivers consistent quality every time! As we get closer to finalizing our overland Polaris General build, we decided to check in with Traeger to see if they had anything small that might work for the build.
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T Thomas reviews Thomas reviews · 1.1K subscribers · Jul 2025
Take wood-fired flavor anywhere with the Traeger Tailgater 20 Pellet Grill & Smoker! With foldable legs and 6-in-1 versatility, this compact grill delivers pro-level smoking, grilling, and roasting—perfect for tailgating, camping, or backyard BBQs.
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G Goemans Appliances Goemans Appliances · 982 subscribers · Mar 2016
The Traeger Tailgater wood‑fired grill will take your tailgating game to the next level.
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C CASTNBLAST CASTNBLAST · 927 subscribers · Dec 2019
Fueled by 100% pure hardwood pellets and controlled with a digital controller, means from low and slow to hot and fast grilling, you'll fire up deliciously consistent results every single time. The Home Depot exclusive Tailgater Elite 20 features a smaller footprint and EZ-fold legs that fold flat making it prime for balconies, tailgating, or anywhere else you want to roll out wood-fired flavor.
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C Costco With Dave Costco With Dave · 804 subscribers · Sept 2023
If you have a portable Traeger pellet grill like the Traeger Ranger, Traeger Tailgater or Traeger Trailhead then a great portable power supply option is the Jackery 300.
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R RJC's Product Reviews Down on Conroys Farm RJC's Product Reviews Down on Conroys Farm · 494 subscribers · Mar 2026
Ultimate Wood-Fired Flavor, No Gas or Charcoal – The Traeger Tailgater 20 is a portable wood pellet grill that delivers authentic wood-fired flavor. Whether you're tailgating, camping, or cooking at home you can achieve perfection.
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C Consumer Product Features Consumer Product Features · 281 subscribers · Nov 2025
Despite its compact size, the Traeger Tailgater 20 Grill delivers high-quality performance akin to a full-sized pellet grill, making it a standout choice for outdoor cooking enthusiasts. Whether you're a seasoned griller or a casual cook, explore the possibilities with the Traeger Tailgater 20 Grill and elevate your outdoor cooking game.
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K Karla Sharp Karla Sharp · 62 subscribers · Feb 2021
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.
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S Silvia Allison Silvia Allison · 37 subscribers · Aug 2024
The Tailgater is our most capable of our portable wood pellet grills.
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9 mixed sources

F Foodandwine Article
It heats and recovers quickly, retains that heat, and provides good smoke flavor in all aspects but one. The long-smoking test didn’t produce a very smoky flavor, but it did yield an excellent bark on the pork butt. It’s a very good portable grill with the same control panel interface as larger models, but that portability means it lacks Wi-Fi connectivity.
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A AdvisorReview AdvisorReview · 4.6K subscribers · Apr 2023
However, some customers have noted that the small cooking surface may not be sufficient for larger groups or big events.
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T Taste of Home Mary Henn,Emily Way · reviewer · Sept 2024
It feels less stable overall, though we didn’t have any issues with pieces falling off or denting. Additionally, the smaller hopper means more refills during the cooking process. There’s also no pellet chute, so it’s impossible to switch pellet flavors until the hopper is empty.
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S Seriouseats Article
We did find the max temperature of 450°F insufficient when it came to searing, but otherwise, the Tailgater 20 Portable is solid.
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T r/Traeger u/shittybumm · owner
Only real drawback to the tailgater is less cooking surface and a smaller hopper, but I have no doubt you'll enjoy using it.
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T Thespruceeats Article
While it came to temperature quickly, it doesn't reach up to 500 degrees, which is an issue if you like to sear a lot.
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S Southernliving Article
Digital controls made it easy to hold the correct temperature, but changing temperatures was slow.
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W We Tested Traeger, Weber, Recteq, and More to Find the Best Article
Overall, it's a great option for grilling and smoking for portability and price.
Read
B Business Insider Molly Allen, Tyler Hayes · reviewer · Oct 2025
8-pound pellet hopper capacity requires frequent refilling
Read

Frequently asked questions

It ranks #15 of 15 on our pellet grills tier list, in F tier. That placement draws on 29 cited sources across 25 outlets.

None of the 28 sources with a clear view is critical of it. Smaller cooking area. Thinner construction. Inconsistent temperature. Poor durability. Firmware bugs.

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