5 Best Compact Pellet Grills For Small RV Storage That Nomads Swear By

You pull into a scenic boondocking spot, the sun is setting, and the only thing that could make it better is the smell of slow-smoked ribs. But you left your bulky backyard pellet grill at home, because where would you even store it? This is the classic RVer’s dilemma: how to get that incredible, wood-fired flavor without sacrificing an entire storage bay to a massive appliance. The good news is, you don’t have to choose between space and taste anymore.

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The Challenge of Pellet Grilling in an RV

Bringing a pellet grill on the road isn’t as simple as tossing it in the back. The two biggest hurdles are space and power. RV storage is a zero-sum game; every cubic inch dedicated to a grill is an inch you can’t use for tools, chairs, or other essentials. Most residential pellet grills are tall, wide, and awkwardly shaped, making them a non-starter for the limited pass-through or bay storage in most travel trailers and motorhomes.

Then there’s the power draw. Pellet grills need consistent electricity to run the auger, fan, and digital controller. If you’re always plugged into shore power at a campground, any 120V AC model will work. But for those of us who love to camp off-grid, a grill that demands AC power means running a generator or relying on a hefty inverter, both of which tax your battery bank.

Finally, consider the reality of packing and unpacking. A grill with a secure, latching lid, folding legs, and a manageable shape is far more practical for a nomadic lifestyle. You need something that can handle being moved frequently without spilling pellets or greasy residue all over your storage compartment. The best portable models are designed with these specific challenges in mind.

Green Mountain Grills Trek: The 12V Favorite

The GMG Trek (formerly the Davy Crockett) is legendary in the boondocking community for one massive reason: it runs on native 12V DC power. This is a game-changer. You can connect it directly to your RV’s battery system or even a vehicle’s cigarette lighter port without needing an inverter. This efficiency makes it the undisputed king for off-grid cooking.

Its design is purpose-built for travel. The collapsible legs fold up to become carrying handles, creating a relatively compact, if slightly unconventional, shape. It also comes standard with Wi-Fi control, which is more than a gimmick on the road. You can monitor a long smoke from inside your rig on a chilly evening or while out on a hike nearby, giving you freedom that other grills don’t offer.

The main tradeoff is its shape. The side-mounted hopper makes it less of a clean rectangle, so it can be a little awkward to pack around. However, its combination of 12V power, a generous 9-pound hopper for its size, and proven reliability makes it the top pick for serious RVers who refuse to be limited by a power cord.

Traeger Ranger: Ultimate Suitcase-Style Grill

If your top priority is easy transport and storage, the Traeger Ranger is your answer. It’s built like a rugged piece of luggage, complete with a baffled lid and heavy-duty latches that clamp everything shut. You can carry it by its handle and stow it on its side without worrying about the grates or grease pan shifting around. This makes it incredibly simple to slide into a tight storage bay.

The Ranger delivers the consistent, set-it-and-forget-it performance Traeger is known for. It includes a cast iron griddle, adding fantastic versatility for searing steaks or cooking breakfast bacon and eggs. For couples or small families, the 184 square inches of cooking space is plenty for a rack of ribs or a half-dozen burgers.

The catch is its power source. The Ranger requires 120V AC, so you’ll need to be on shore power, run a generator, or use a capable inverter. Its 8-pound hopper is solid for its class, but the smaller cooking area means it’s not the best choice for feeding a crowd. Think of it as the perfect, self-contained cooking station for two.

Pit Boss PB150PPS: A Compact, Budget-Friendly Pick

Not everyone wants to invest a fortune into a secondary grill for their RV. The Pit Boss PB150PPS (often called the Tabletop) shines as a lightweight, no-frills option that gets the job done at an accessible price point. It’s one of the lightest and most compact models available, making it a breeze to move from your storage bay to a picnic table.

This grill is all about simplicity. It has a basic dial controller for temperature and a modest 5-pound hopper. While that hopper size means you might need to refill it during a very long smoke, it’s more than enough for grilling steaks, chicken, or burgers. The cooking area is surprisingly generous for its tiny footprint, offering enough room for the essentials.

Of course, the low price comes with tradeoffs. The build quality is lighter than premium models, and it lacks advanced features like Wi-Fi or a meat probe. Like the Traeger, it runs on 120V AC power. But if you’re a weekend warrior or just want to dip your toes into pellet grilling on the road without a major commitment, the Pit Boss Tabletop offers unbeatable value.

ASMOKE AS350: The Most Versatile Portable Smoker

The ASMOKE AS350 brings something different to the table: versatility. It’s not just a smoker; it’s designed for high-heat searing, baking, and roasting, thanks to a direct flame access plate. This makes it a true all-in-one outdoor cooking appliance, which is a huge space-saver in an RV. You can smoke a pork butt low-and-slow and then crank it up to sear a steak.

ASMOKE also emphasizes flavor, promoting the use of 100% natural fruitwood pellets and featuring a unique vapor-infusion system via a water pan. This helps keep food moist, a common challenge with the dry heat of some pellet grills. Its physical design is similar to the Traeger Ranger, with a suitcase-style body and latching lid that makes it highly portable and easy to store.

The downside is that ASMOKE is a newer player in the market, so it doesn’t have the long-term track record of brands like Traeger or GMG. Its 4-pound hopper is the smallest on this list, requiring more frequent refills on long cooks. It’s a 120V AC unit, placing it in the same power category as the Ranger and Pit Boss, but its unique cooking flexibility makes it a compelling option for the adventurous camp chef.

Camp Chef Pursuit 20: Full Features, Foldable Form

What if you want the features of a full-size grill in a portable package? The Camp Chef Pursuit 20 is the answer. It boasts a massive 501 square inches of cooking space, a 10-pound hopper, and Camp Chef’s signature "Slide and Grill" technology that lets you switch from indirect smoking to direct-flame grilling with the pull of a lever.

Despite its capabilities, the Pursuit is built for RV life. The legs fold up neatly, and it has wheels, allowing you to roll it into place rather than carry it. While it’s the heaviest and largest option on this list when collapsed, it offers a level of cooking power that the smaller suitcase models can’t match. This is the grill for the RVer who hosts campground cookouts or wants to smoke a full brisket without compromise.

The tradeoff is purely physical. You need the storage space to accommodate its larger folded dimensions. It’s a better fit for a fifth wheel’s pass-through bay or a Class A’s underbelly storage than a small van. It also runs on 120V AC. But if you have the space and power, the Pursuit 20 offers the most authentic, full-scale grilling experience you can get on the road.

Key Specs: Comparing Hopper Size and Cooking Area

When you’re comparing models, it boils down to two key numbers: cooking area and hopper size. Cooking area, measured in square inches, tells you how much food you can fit. Hopper size, measured in pounds, tells you how long the grill can run before you need to add more pellets.

Here’s how our top picks stack up:

• Camp Chef Pursuit 20: 501 sq. in. cooking area / 10 lb. hopper. The powerhouse for big cooks.
• Pit Boss PB150PPS: 256 sq. in. cooking area / 5 lb. hopper. Good cooking area, smaller fuel tank.
• ASMOKE AS350: 256 sq. in. cooking area / 4 lb. hopper. Versatile, but needs frequent refills.
• Green Mountain Grills Trek: 219 sq. in. cooking area / 9 lb. hopper. Excellent fuel endurance for its size.
• Traeger Ranger: 184 sq. in. cooking area / 8 lb. hopper. The most compact, with a solid hopper.

These numbers reveal the core compromise of each design. The Pursuit gives you a massive cooking deck but requires the space to store it. The Trek and Ranger prioritize portability and have smaller cooking surfaces but feature impressively large hoppers for their size, making them great for longer, unattended smoking sessions. The Pit Boss and ASMOKE offer a middle ground on cooking space but have smaller hoppers, suiting them better for active grilling than all-day smoking.

Powering and Stowing Your Compact Pellet Grill

Let’s get practical about power. If a grill isn’t a 12V native model like the GMG Trek, you’ll need a 120V AC source. For boondocking, this means using a power inverter. Most portable pellet grills draw around 300 watts during their 5-minute startup cycle and then settle down to about 50 watts to run the fan and auger. A small 400-watt pure sine wave inverter connected to your RV’s house batteries is usually sufficient.

Before you buy anything, grab a tape measure and check your intended storage bay. A suitcase-style grill like the Ranger or AS350 is great because it has a predictable rectangular shape and can often be stored vertically. A grill with folding legs like the Trek or Pursuit might be taller but narrower, potentially fitting into a different type of space. Don’t just guess—measure twice, buy once.

Finally, don’t forget the messy details. Always give your grill a quick scrape and empty the grease trap before stowing it to avoid a nasty surprise next time you pull it out. And critically, store your pellets in a sealed, waterproof container. A 5-gallon bucket with a Gamma Seal lid is a nomad’s best friend. Pellets exposed to moisture will swell and turn into useless sawdust, clogging your auger and ruining a meal.

Ultimately, the best compact pellet grill is the one that fits your RV, your power system, and your cooking style. Whether you prioritize the off-grid freedom of a 12V model or the all-in-one versatility of a searing smoker, there’s a portable option that can bring that incredible wood-fired flavor to any campsite. Now you can focus less on compromise and more on what really matters: enjoying a perfectly smoked meal under the stars.