Benable — create shareable lists of things you recommend!
E.g., products you love, local businesses, travel recs - you can add anything to a Benable list!
I Finally Found a Portable Grill That Fits in My Trunk for Tailgating
49
items Every football season I used to show up to the parking lot empty-handed while everyone else had burgers sizzling. Hauling a full-size grill in my sedan was never happening, and those cheap disposable ones always fell apart mid-cook. This is everythin...
Sections
7
Compact Grills That Actually Fit in a Sedan Trunk
Coolers That Keep Drinks Cold Through a Four-Hour Tailgate
Folding Tables and Chairs for Parking Lot Setup
Grilling Tools and Accessories Worth Packing
Food Prep and Storage for the Drive Over
Shade, Shelter, and Weather Gear for the Parking Lot
Compact Grills That Actually Fit in a Sedan Trunk
Spent two seasons stuffing oversized grills into my backseat and scratching up my interior. These actually slide in next to a cooler and a folding chair without a fight.
Grab this if you want real charcoal flavor but drive a Civic. The lid locks down flat, I toss it behind my spare tire and forget it's there until game day.
Weber Go-Anywhere Portable Gas Grill (Liquid Propane)
Switched from grates to a flat top and never looked back. Smash burgers, eggs, bacon. My buddy who tailgates every week borrowed mine once and ordered his own that night.
Blackstone Adventure Ready Outdoor Griddle
Keep this one for when the whole crew shows up. Folds down like a suitcase with wheels. Rolled it across three parking lots last October and got compliments from strangers.
Coleman RoadTrip® 285 Portable Stand-Up Propane Grill
For the person who tailgates solo or with one friend. Weighs almost nothing, heats up in five minutes. I've cooked brats on this thing in a rest stop parking lot at halftime.
Cuisinart, Petite Gourmet Portable Gas Grill, 150 sq. in., Red
Toss this in your trunk if you want something dirt cheap that still works. Used mine for an entire college football season before replacing the grate. Solid for the price.
Expert Grill 17.5" Charcoal Square Grill
Use this when it's windy. The firebox is sealed tight so gusts don't kill your heat. Learned that lesson the hard way with an open grill during a November game.
Charbroil® Grill2Go® X200 Portable Gas Grill
Pair this with a small folding table and you look like a pro. Two burners mean you can do dogs on one side and peppers on the other without juggling.
Pit Boss 2-Burner Portable Gas Grill with Collapsible Cart
Coolers That Keep Drinks Cold Through a Four-Hour Tailgate
Nothing kills the vibe faster than lukewarm beer by the second quarter. Went through three flimsy coolers before landing on ones that actually hold ice past noon.
Toss this in the night before with ice and it's still cold when you pull into the lot at 10am. Fits right behind the driver seat without sliding around on turns.
Igloo BMX 25 Quart Ice Chest Cooler with Cool Riser
Bring this when you're feeding the whole row. Held 48 cans plus ice for a doubleheader tailgate and still had cold ones left over. The drain plug saves your back.
Coleman Classic Series 52-Quart Marine Hard Cooler
For anyone who wants Yeti-level ice retention without the Yeti price tag. Kept ice for two days during a summer cookout. My wallet thanked me.
Ozark Trail 26 Quart High Performance Roto-Molded
Snag this if you tailgate more than twice a month. Bear-proof latches, five-day ice retention. Sat in my truck bed all weekend at a camping trip and nothing melted.
RTIC 45 Qt 60-Can Ultra-Tough Ice Chest Cooler, Tan
Wheels on a cooler changed my life. Dragged this across gravel parking lots without breaking a sweat. Holds enough for six people and a bag of ice.
Igloo 70 QT Trailmate Journey Rolling Cooler, Modern Blue
Keep this as your personal sidekick cooler. Sling it over your shoulder, grab a chair, walk to your spot. Stays cold for about four hours which is plenty for one game.
Ozark Trail, 24-Can Soft-Sided Cooler
Perfect if you just need a few waters and a couple sodas for yourself. Weighs nothing. My kid carries his own now so I stopped hearing ‘can you grab me a drink’ every ten minutes.
Coleman 5-Quart Cooler with Shield
Folding Tables and Chairs for Parking Lot Setup
Tried balancing a plate on my car hood exactly once. Ketchup everywhere. A cheap folding table and decent chairs turned my tailgate from chaotic to actually comfortable.
Grab this over the six-foot version unless you drive an SUV. Slides flat against the trunk wall and gives you enough space for a grill, condiments, and plates without hogging the parking spot.
Lifetime 4 Foot Adjustable Rectangle Folding Table
Sat in this for a five-hour tailgate and my back felt fine. The cup holder actually fits a standard can, which sounds obvious but you'd be surprised how many don't.
Ozark Trail Quad Folding Camp Chair with Cup Holder, Red
Use this in August when it's 90 degrees in the lot. The mesh back keeps air flowing. Watched three friends in solid-fabric chairs sweat through their jerseys while I sat there dry.
Coleman Broadband Mesh Quad Adult Camping Chair, Red
Bring this when you're hosting the big spread. Beer pong doubles as a buffet table. Folds in half, fits in most trunks if you angle it right.
Mainstays, 6 ft Rectangle Fold-in-Half Folding Table, White
For the person who wants to feel like they're running the show. Side table holds your phone and drink. I bought two and now my tailgate has a VIP section.
Ozark Trail, XXL Folding Director Chair, Side Table
Try rocking in a parking lot. Sounds weird, works great. Especially during those long pregame waits. People walk by and ask where I got it every single time.
GCI Outdoor Freestyle Rocker Folding Rocking Camping
Swap this in when you're playing cards before the game. Square shape works better for poker than a rectangle. Folds flat and weighs almost nothing.
Lifetime 34 inch Square Fold-In-Half Table
Grilling Tools and Accessories Worth Packing
Forgot tongs at my first real tailgate and flipped burgers with a plastic fork. Never again. These stay in a bag in my trunk from September through January.
Keep this zipped up in your trunk all season. Tongs, spatula, fork, all in a carrying case. Pulled it out at a random beach cookout last summer and felt unreasonably prepared.
Customer reviews for Weber Portable Grill Tool Set 2 Pieces
Stick with what works. This bag is the perfect size for a portable grill. No leftovers, no waste. I tried fancy lump charcoal once and spent 20 minutes trying to light it.
Kingsford Original Charcoal Briquettes, 8 lbs
Ditch the lighter fluid forever. Load this up, light a newspaper underneath, and you've got hot coals in 15 minutes. My burgers stopped tasting like chemicals immediately.
Weber, Charcoal Chimney Starter
Wrap your grates in this for easy cleanup. Peel it off, toss it, drive home. Spent too many post-game evenings scrubbing crusty grates before I figured this out.
Reynolds Wrap Aluminum Foil - Heavy Duty - 300 sq. ft.
Use these if you're moving hot grates or adjusting charcoal. Grabbed a screaming hot lid barehanded once and couldn't grip a steering wheel for two days. Lesson learned.
Grill Armor Oven Gloves for Heat Protection
For anyone who's ever served a pink chicken thigh at a tailgate and watched everyone politely set it down. Three seconds and you know exactly where you stand.
ThermoPro TP03 Digital Instant Read Meat Thermometer
Spray your grates before they heat up. Burgers slide right off instead of welding themselves to the metal. Wish someone had told me this three seasons ago.
Customer reviews for Crisco Grill Master No-Stick Cooking
Food Prep and Storage for the Drive Over
Raw burgers sliding around a cooler and mixing with drinks was a rookie mistake I made exactly twice. Proper containers and prep tools keep everything separated and ready to cook on arrival.
Pre-make your patties at home, stack them in these with parchment between layers. Show up, open the lid, start grilling. No mess in the cooler, no cross-contamination drama.
Rubbermaid Brilliance 10-Piece Set, Leak-Proof and Clear
Toss marinated chicken thighs in these the night before. Lay them flat in the cooler. By morning the flavor is deep and they're cold and ready to hit the grill.
Ziploc, Freezer Bags, Gallon, Grip 'n Seal Technology, 28 ct
Portion out your sides at home. Coleslaw in one, potato salad in another. Hand them out like you're running a food truck. People will think you planned this for weeks.
Freshware Meal Prep TWE5 Containers [15 Pack] 2
Bring a real cutting board instead of using a paper plate. Sliced onions and tomatoes without chasing them across a wobbly surface. This one has rubber feet that grip the table.
OXO Good Grips Plastic Prep Cutting Board - Reversible
Keep this in a sheath in your grill bag. Sharp enough to slice tomatoes paper thin at the tailgate. My buddy brought a butter knife once and we're still giving him grief.
Victorinox 8 Inch Swiss Classic Chef's Knife
Grab the combo pack so you're not hauling full-size bottles. These fit in a cooler pocket and have enough for about 15 hot dogs. Ran out once and had to beg the next car over.
Heinz Picnic Variety Pack, 118 oz, includes ketchup
Get the heavy-duty ones or you'll watch a loaded burger fold your plate in half and land on someone's shoes. These hold weight. Learned the hard way with the thin ones.
Dixie Disposable Paper Plates, 8.5", Multi-Color, 50 Count
Shade, Shelter, and Weather Gear for the Parking Lot
Stood in direct sun for three hours before a noon game in September and nearly passed out. Now I bring shade no matter what the forecast says.
Pop this up in about two minutes and suddenly you have a shaded headquarters. Fits over a table and grill setup perfectly. Random people will drift toward your spot like moths.
Ozark Trail 10 ft x 10 ft Commercial Instant Canopy
Try this version if mosquitoes crash your evening tailgates. The mesh walls keep bugs out but let the breeze through. September night games went from itchy to comfortable.
Coleman, Screen House Canopy Sun Shelter Tent
Anchor your canopy or it becomes a parking lot tumbleweed. Wind caught my unsecured tent once and it cartwheeled into someone's windshield. These are cheaper than an insurance claim.
Ozark Trail Outdoor Canopy Weight Bags, 22 lb Capacity
Stash this in your trunk year-round. Weighs nothing, packs tiny. Got caught in a downpour at a November game and kept grilling while everyone else ran to their cars.
frogg toggs, Rain Suit, L XL, Gray
Clip this to your canopy pole during August tailgates. Runs on batteries so no cord drama. The air flow keeps the cook from melting over the grill.
O2COOL 10 inch Battery or Electric Portable Fan
Toss two in your jacket pockets for late-season games. Flipping burgers with frozen fingers is miserable. These stay warm for about eight hours, which covers pregame through the fourth quarter.
HotHands Hand Warmers, 10 Pair, Up to 10 Hours of Heat
Bring this for evening tailgates so you can actually see what you're grilling. Hung it from the canopy frame and lit up the whole setup. Runs forever on D batteries.
Ozark Trail LED Lantern, 1000 Lumens, 5 Modes
Entertainment and Extras That Make the Tailgate
Food is the foundation but the downtime between cooking and kickoff needs something. These turned my tailgate from ‘standing around eating’ into the spot people actually want to hang at.
Unfold this in the parking spot next to your car. Instant activity that keeps people busy while burgers cook. Won a heated tournament against a rival fan section last year.
GoSports Portable Junior Size Cornhole Game Set with 6
Clip this to your chair or cooler handle. Loud enough to cover a parking lot without annoying people three rows away. Survived getting knocked into a puddle and kept playing.
JBL Flip 6 Portable Waterproof Speaker Black
Bring this if you want to become the most popular spot in the lot. Folds in half, has a carrying handle. We set up a bracket once and strangers joined in from four cars away.
GoPong 8-Foot Portable Folding Beer Pong / Flip Cup
Keep a deck in your grill bag for slow pregame waits. Started a poker game on the folding table and killed two hours without even checking the time.
Bicycle, Playing Cards, 2 Pack, Standard Index Red & Blue
Swap this in when you're tired of cornhole. Takes up less space and the gameplay is faster. My group got so loud playing this that security came over and then asked to join.
Grab the Kan Jam Disc Toss Game for $10 from Walmart
Use this when the sun goes down and you're still in the lot. Glows bright enough to track in the dark. Played catch between cars at a Thursday night game and drew a small crowd.
Nite Ize Flashflight® LED Light Up Flying Disc - Disc-O
Pour your drink in this and it stays cold through the entire tailgate. Forgot mine in the cup holder overnight once and there was still ice in the morning. Worth every penny.
Yeti 20Oz Rambler Tumbler With Magslider Lid