Best BBQ stands for camping & caravans in Australia

Finding the right BBQ stand can make camp cooking far easier, especially when space is tight in a caravan or 4WD setup. We tested five different BBQ stands and portable BBQ tables to see which worked best for portability, stability and real-world camping use.

A couple of years ago, I was hot and bothered while packing the car for our annual summer getaway. I had my WeberQ and the Weber Rolling Cart left to pack on top of my rear drawers and was failing miserably. Due to the stand’s wheels and length, there was no easy way to fit it in. In the end, it went on the roof, and I swore it would be the last year I used the standard WeberQ BBQ stand.

I just knew there had to be a better option out there.

So I did some research and found the two barbecues being mentioned regularly were the Weber BabyQ, which I used, and the Ziegler and Brown (commonly referred to as a Ziggy). Looking around online and on various forums, several off-the-shelf options kept popping up.

In a bid to work out which BBQ stand suited me best, I rounded up a few of these options and put them through their paces during last year’s holiday.

What’s the best BBQ stand for camping?

The best BBQ stand depends on how you camp. For caravan owners, a BBQ Arm is one of the most practical options thanks to its drawbar mounting system. For Weber BabyQ users wanting maximum portability, the Outback BBQ Stand is hard to beat. Budget campers may prefer a simple folding table or a roll-up aluminium BBQ table.

Best BBQ stands at a glance

BBQ stand	Best for	Packs small?	Stable on uneven ground?	Approx price
Outback BBQ Stand	Weber BabyQ users	Yes	Excellent	$265 Check current price >>
BBQ Arm	Caravan setups	Yes	Excellent	$335 Check current price >>
Roll-Up Aluminium Table	Budget portability	Good	Average	$99 Check current price >>
Folding Table	Cheapest option	Moderate	Good	$65 Check current price >>
Weber Rolling Cart	Home use	Poor	Average	$199 Check current price >>

What makes a good portable BBQ stand?

Not all BBQ stands are created equal. Some pack down beautifully but wobble around once you start cooking, while others are rock solid but take up half your storage space.

When choosing a portable BBQ stand for camping or caravanning, there are a few key things worth considering:

• Pack-down size
• Weight
• Stability on uneven ground
• Heat resistance
• Compatibility with your BBQ
• Ease of setup
• Storage space in your vehicle or van

If you regularly camp on uneven ground, adjustable legs make a massive difference. Likewise, if you’re constantly packing and unpacking, compact storage becomes just as important as stability.

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Best BBQ stands for camping & caravans

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Weber rolling cart BBQ stand

Best for: Occasional WeberQ users with plenty of storage space

Approximate price: $199

The Weber Rolling Cart was my initial BBQ stand purchase and not one I would make again. The cart folds flat but is quite long when folded down and the wheels are not small, so it sits quite high even when lying flat.

It’s not a standout as far as stability goes either and isn’t easy to level on uneven ground.

The main thing going for the rolling cart is its ability to hold a BabyQ or a Q2000 Series.

Roll-up aluminium BBQ table

Best for: Budget-conscious campers wanting a lightweight portable BBQ table

Approximate price: $99

The roll-up aluminium table is not a bad option for a BBQ stand and can also be used as a table. It isn’t the sturdiest option once you put a bit of weight on it. Also, if it’s a cheaper non-adjustable leg version, it can be hard to level out.

The roll-up table packs down long and quite skinny and is certainly easier to pack than the Weber Rolling Cart.

Folding table BBQ stand

Best for: Cheap and simple camping setups

Approximate price: $65

This foldup table is the cheapest of the BBQ stand options and one used by plenty of campers.

These tables pack flatter than the Weber Rolling Cart and can also be useful as a small table when not being used as a BBQ stand. However, depending on what your folding table is made from, it has the potential to melt with enough heat.

Outback BBQ stand

Best for: Weber BabyQ owners wanting the best portable setup

Approximate price: $265

The Outback BBQ Stand was designed by Adelaide local Torsten and is a high-quality, super-strong stand designed specifically for the Weber BabyQ.

There’s a lot to like about the Outback BBQ Stand. Four adjustable legs do a great job of catering for uneven ground, while the stand itself packs down underneath the WeberQ and still fits inside the standard Weber bag.

The basic pack comes with a chequer-plate side table that clips on and off in seconds, while additional accessories like hooks, chopping board inserts and extra side tables are also available.

At 7.5kg, it’s heavier than some of the other options, but the portability and stability easily make up for it. If you use a Weber BabyQ and regularly travel away from caravan parks, this would be my pick.

BBQ Arm

Best for: Caravan owners wanting a permanent BBQ stand setup

Approximate price: $335

The BBQ Arm stand was primarily designed to be used with a caravan and can accommodate WeberQs, Ziggys or almost any other camp cooker that fits on the tray.

The beauty of the BBQ Arm is the arm itself securely fits into a jockey wheel holder, allowing you to move it around as needed. It’s stable when locked into place and positions the barbecue at an ideal cooking height. The tray can also double as a table.

After testing both sizes on my trip, my preference was the smaller arm and tray combination. If you mainly caravan camp and want your BBQ permanently accessible, the BBQ Arm is hard to beat.

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BBQ Arm vs Outback BBQ Stand

The BBQ Arm and Outback BBQ Stand were easily the standout options during testing, but they suit slightly different styles of camping.

The BBQ Arm works brilliantly for caravan owners wanting a semi-permanent setup attached to the drawbar. It’s stable, convenient and works with a wide range of BBQs.

The Outback BBQ Stand, on the other hand, shines when portability matters most. Because it packs neatly under the WeberQ itself, it’s ideal for campers who regularly cook away from their caravan or vehicle.

If you mainly stay at caravan parks, the BBQ Arm makes a lot of sense. If you spend more time exploring beaches, day-use areas or remote campsites, the Outback BBQ Stand is probably the better option.

So, what’s the best BBQ stand?

As expected, there were pros and cons to all the BBQ stands we tested.

If you simply want the cheapest option possible, a basic folding table will do the job… although it’s far from perfect.

The Weber Rolling Cart would honestly be my last pick. It’s bulky, awkward to pack and not particularly stable once you get onto uneven ground.

For caravan owners, the BBQ Arm was one of the most practical solutions thanks to its clever drawbar mounting system and compatibility with multiple BBQ brands.

But when portability mattered most, the Outback BBQ Stand was the clear winner. The ability to pack it underneath the WeberQ itself without taking up extra space made a massive difference when loading the car for trips away from the van.

If you regularly use a Weber BabyQ and want the best balance of portability, strength and packability, the Outback BBQ Stand would be my pick.

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FAQs

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Words and images Mick Lawrence and RVDaily.