Weber Traveler vs. Q3200 – Comparison review
Portable grills are made for a new era of adventures. You can prepare steaks and fish on them, and with special kettles and frying pans, prepare coffee, fried eggs, or pancakes. Using the wheels, such grills can easily be transported to the mountains or the lake.
Weber is one of the companies producing portable grills. This article will compare Weber Traveler Portable Gas Grill and Weber Q3200 Natural Gas Grill from the portable Q series.
This comparison of Weber Traveler vs. Q3200 will help to determine the best portable grill.
Weber Traveler vs. Q3200 – Comparison table
Main Differences between Weber Traveler and Q3200
Both presented grills have compared budget price and compact design. They have similar construction and materials of a firebox and the main cooking grate. But they have more differences than similarities. Please see below the main differences:
- Weber Q3200 NG grill is a compact non-portable grill that can be easily moved, but you can’t put together the cart, and it works only from a natural gas line. While Weber Traveler is a transportable grill, the cart is automatically put together using one handle. It can be moved in a minute and works from a liquid propane cylinder. Weber Traveler grill occupies significantly less space for storage.
- Weber Q3200 has a more significant firebox height, allowing to install a rotisserie kit and prepare large food; Weber Traveler could be used only for steaks, burgers, and small meals.
- Weber Q3200 has two burners; Weber Traveler has only one burner. That is why on Q3200 you can cook in indirect and direct modes, while on Weber Traveler only in direct mode.
- Weber Q3200 is equipped with a warming rack; Weber Traveler has only a main cooking rack. Also, Weber Q3200 has a slightly bigger primary cooking rack.
- Weber Q3200 has a handle light for a cooking rack, two side shelves, and a wire basket for storage; Weber Traveler has only one side shelf.
The other differences with pros and cons are listed in the Face-to-Face comparison part of this article.
Weber Traveler and Q3200 – Models Overview
Weber successfully produces portable grills for years. However, although the portable gas grills are bestsellers from Weber, the sales of Spirit or Genesis grills are significantly lower. Recently, they produced only portable Q series, consisting of 5 grills of different sizes, where Weber Q3200 is the biggest one from the Q series. But even though this is a mobile series, Q3200 is large enough for 7-8 people and is not portable.
On the other hand, Weber Traveler is a new portable model that appeared on the market in 2021. In this comparison, we will check if Q3200 can be used as a portable grill and what advantages the new Weber Traveler grill has.
Weber Traveler Portable Gas Grill
Weber Traveler Portable Gas Grill is a small grill with a firebox and one right-side shelf. It was designed to prepare food far from home with enough size for a family of four people. It has a black firebox made from porcelain enameled cast iron with a temperature gauge and an ergonomic handle in the lid.
The cooking area (320 sq in) consists of only one porcelain-coated cast iron rack made in two pieces. There is a single burner underneath the cooking grate. The cast iron rack retains heat much better than other traditional materials (stainless steel).
Unfortunately, the burner is not protected as other Weber models with separate flavorizer bars (only built-in the grate that protects only partly), so grease from the food can get stuck in the small holes of the burner. To prevent this, the burner requires regular brushing of orifice holes.
Below the burner is located the grease tray. All grease goes down using the angle of the firebox into a disposable aluminum container.
One of the most important aspects of a portable grill is its stability and ease of moving. The Weber Traveler has a stable aluminum frame with two large all-weather wheels. These wheels easily roll on grass, soil, or concrete. The grill can be disassembled with one hand by pulling the red handle below the grill; then, it will automatically go down and lock the lid in the transport position.
You can transport the grill with one hand. To lift the grill, there are two handles on both sides. To assemble the grill, you need to push one part of the frame with a leg to the ground and pull the other part of the frame up. On the frame is installed compressor gas lift support to make all assembling/disassembling procedures hands-free.
- Light and easy for transportation
- Quick heating up (10-15 minutes)
- Steady cart
- Compact design
- Even heat distribution
- Easy cleaning
- Medium cooking area – 320 sq in
- Three hooks to hang the tools
- Side table for a cutting board
- Modern round thermometer on the lid
- Wide temperature range 50-650 F
- Lid is too low to prepare poultry
- No warming rake
- Only one burner
- No indirect mode heating
- Compatible only with 1-pound propane cylinder; for other sizes, the adapter should be bought
Weber 57067001 Q3200 Natural Gas Grill
Weber Q3200 (restyled version of Q 320 from the 2014 year) Natural Gas Grill is a compact grill standing on a cart with four legs; on two legs, there are two durable all-weather wheels for easy moving. This model is non-portable but lightweight, and you can use it only with a gas line on decks and patios of all sizes. To prepare the food far away from home, you must purchase the same model designed to work with a liquid propane cylinder.
The gill has two side shelves for convenient cooking that can be folded down during transportation or storage. In addition, you can set the height of the grill to your optimal level. The lid has an ergonomic handle, and for expedient food preparation during the night, it is equipped with a handle light illuminating the whole cooking area.
The grill size is enough to prepare an entire meal on the main cooking grate with the size of 393 sq in; on the warming rack (75 sq in), you can prepare toast buns during main food preparation or keep the food warm. In addition, you can change one side of the main cooking rack with a Weber porcelain-enameled cast iron griddle to prepare pancakes or fried eggs without a separate frying pan (purchased separately). Two burners ensure direct and indirect cooking modes from low to high temperatures. You can also purchase a rotisserie kit for chicken preparation.
As with all other Weber grills, it can be easily cleaned. To simplify that, it is recommended to use disposable grease pans. The brand cover is available (purchased separately) to protect the grill from rain..
- Perfect for balconies or small patios
- Ease of use, clean, and maintenance
- Light weight
- Old-style lid thermometer
- Quick heating up
- Electronic ignition
- Two stainless steel burners
- Two side shelves
- Handle light for nighttime grilling
- Easy maneuverability with two wheels
- Hocks and a wire storage basket
- 4 AAA batteries should be purchased separately
- Many accessories are available but should be purchased separately
- Work only from natural gas line
Weber Traveler vs. Q3200 – Face-to-Face comparison
We compared Weber Traveler and Q3200 based on their main technical parameters: fuel type, design dimensions, cooking area, burners, temperature control, cooking modes, catch pan, storage space, cleaning and assembling, and transportation.
Fuel type
Weber Traveler Portable Gas Grill
Weber Traveler Portable Gas Grill works from liquid propane. You can use a 1-pound cylinder or 20-pound propane tank (you need to buy an adapter). All cylinders and tanks should be purchased separately. Below the side shelf, there is a place to connect a one-pound cylinder. The one-pound cylinder is enough for one hour of cooking time.
Weber 57067001 Q3200 Natural Gas Grill
This Weber model comes with a gas hose to connect to the natural gas line. Also, Q3200 can be bought in a version with a liquid propane cylinder (a 20 lb tank is sold separately).
verdictThese grills are gas grills, but Traveler works on liquid propane and Q3200 on natural gas. Q3200 also is available with liquid propane. So, Q3200 is the winner.
Design and dimensions
The Weber Traveler grill has compact dimensions of 23 x 43.6 x 37.2 inches to fit cars and makes it easy to transport the grill away from home. It is specially designed to one-hand fold down and set up. This model has a silver aluminum frame with two black wheels, a black firebox, and a black side shelf on the right side of the grill. You can also choose a Weber Traveler porcelain enameled firebox painted in blue or red.
Weber Q3200 Natural Gas Grill has a cast aluminum white lid and black body. It has a compact open cart design with a perforated screen (which closes the propane cylinder). The grill dimensions are 30 x 50.2 x 55.5 inches. It has a glass-reinforced nylon frame. On both sides, there are two shelves. Unfortunately, it is available only in one white color.
verdictIf we are searching for a portable grill, then the Weber Traveler grill is the winner because of its smaller dimensions and constriction dedicated to fast grill transportation. Both grills have a modern design and are made of durable, high-quality materials.
Cooking area
The Traveler’s cooking grate is made from cast iron and consists of two pieces. It is put in the firebox and held by clips safely. The total area is 320 sq in, enough to prepare at least 15 burgers. The cooking area has almost even heat distribution with the hot zone on the right side where the gas cylinder is installed. The grate leaves excellent sear marks on the food.
Q3200 grill’s porcelain-enameled cast-iron cooking grates ensure even heat distribution and heat retention. On the main rack (393 sq in), you can prepare 14 burgers. A removable warming rack (75 sq in) keeps food warm. The main cooking grate has built-in flavorizer bars to protect two burners from grease. The grate makes sear marks.
verdictIf we compare the main cooking grates of Weber Traveler vs. Q3200, we could not find much difference. They slightly change in size – 320 sq in vs. 393 sq in. Both have built-in flavorizer bars above the burners but are done from the porcelain-enameled cast iron. But Q3200 is the winner as it has a warming rack increasing the total cooking area to 468 sq in.
Burners
verdictWeber Q3200 has two burners, while the Traveler has one burner. So, as Q3200 produces more heat per hour, it is a winner.
Temperature control
For monitoring temperature, the lid of the Traveler grill is equipped with a thermometer. You should remember that the lid is not so high, so the temperature on the lid is very close to the cooking grate temperature. Therefore, even with low settings, the temperature will rise very quickly. On the front panel, there is a single burner knob and a separate button for the ignition.
To control the Q3200 grill’s burners, separate control knobs are provided on the right part of the frame. One separate button on the left part of the frame is located for ignition. You need to push it and hold it for a couple of seconds to ignite the burner electronically. The ignition works from one AAA battery installed into the button. For internal temperature monitoring, the lid thermometer is installed.
verdictIn this comparison, there is no winner, as the control function is executed with similar knobs on the control panel (the difference is only with the number of knobs). On the lids of these grills, there is a temperature gauge.
Cooking modes
Before first using Weber Traveler, you need to burn off under the highest temperature with a closed lid for 20-25 minutes. After that, you can prepare burgers, vegetables, steaks, and chicken breasts, but the height of the lid limits you. There is only one mode of direct burning on this grill due to the burner’s shape and location. You need to rotate the food and turn it during food preparation.
The Q3200 Weber grill works in a conventional heat mode with a closed lid to make the food juicier and healthier. The large oblong shape burner is for the preparation of a large piece of meal in low heating mode with an extended time of cooking (indirect mode of cooking). The high-heating mode is executed with two turn-on burners (direct cooking mode). You can use a rotisserie kit for this model.
verdictWeber 57067001 Q3200 Natural Gas Grill wins this parameter because of its versatility. It has direct, indirect, and rotisserie (purchased separately) cooking modes. At the same time, Weber Traveler with one burner can propose only direct cooking mode.
Catch pan
Underneath this Weber grill’s firebox is a disposable aluminum grease catch container inside the steel pan. It easily slides for cleaning and removing a container.
Below the Q3200’s firebox is located a removable catch pan sliding for easy cleaning. In addition, you can insert inside a disposable aluminum container (drip pan) that can be used for several grilling cycles.
verdictAs the construction of the firebox of these Weber grills is similar, both have a grease tray with a disposable drip pan. There is no winner
Storage space
As this Weber model is portable, you do not have permanent storage spaces, only some to store the food and accessories during the cooking. On the front side of the aluminum frame, there are three hooks to hold grilling tools. On the right side, there is a little side shelf to put on the cutting board during cooking.
On both sides of the Q3200 grill are two fold-down side tables for storage and extra working space. Also, the grill cart has three hocks for grilling tools. If the model works from the natural gas line, you can use the wire basket (for another type of fuel used as tank storage) as a storage space.
verdictYou can’t expect a portable grill to have a significant place for permanent storage; Weber Traveler has only hocks and one side table. At the same time, Weber Q3200 is equipped with two side tables, hocks, and a basket. So, the Weber Q3200 Natural Gas grill is the winner.
Cleaning
The whole firebox of the Weber Traveler grill is made from porcelain-coated cast iron to clean the unit more manageably and faster. To remove excess debris on the grate after meal preparation, you need to leave the grill working for 5-10 minutes to burn off the residues and grease. The rest should be removed with a metal brush. The grease pan should be cleaned or changed before you transport the grill.
The Q3200 Weber Natural Gas grill’s firebox has a hole in the bottom with an angle to it for grease collecting in the grease pan below. To clean the firebox, you may use a brush with a handle and push all residues in a grease pan through the hole. To clean the cooking grate, use a metal brush and soapy water with a sponge (a special Weber chemical solution can also be applied). It should be cleaned after each meal preparation. The burner tubes should also be cleaned with a metal brush.
verdictThe main construction parameters of these grills are similar, so the cleaning requirements are similar. There is no winner for this parameter.
Assembling and transportation
For grill assembling, one person is enough; no special tools are required. For this model 3D assembling manual is available in the smartphone application. Using two wheels, the grill is easy to move, but you need to disconnect a natural gas line. For compact storage and moving, two side shelves can be folded.
verdictWeber Traveler is the absolute leader in comparing Weber Traveler vs. Q3200 in portability, ease of assembling, and transportation. It is lightweight and installed almost fully assembled; for lifting and pulling back, you need only one hand. Weber Q3200 has only a folded side table to reduce space for storage; other parts are for standard stationary grills.
Conclusion
The choice of the best portable grill is based on several parameters: type of grill (charcoal, gas, electric), user-friendliness, number of heating elements, size of a firebox, type of used materials, dimensions, and weight. Based on these parameters, two compared grills in this article – Weber Traveler vs. Q3200 – can be considered portable grills. But Weber Traveler is the best portable grill, while Weber Q3200 Natural Gas is not a portable model, because of the type of fuel (natural gas) and non-folded cart. So if you choose a portable model, Weber Traveler is good for all parameters. On the other hand, Weber Q3200 is an excellent compact budget grill for the company of 4-6 persons.
