Window cutout for propane tank cover

[campnqueen]

....so we have this white plastic propane tank cover for our trailer.

The problem is.. its hard to remove and it has to be removed in order to turn on the propane gas.

I have seen somewhere... that some folks have cut an oval hole in the top part of the cover in order to reach through and turn on the propane gas and NOT take the cover off.

Has anyone out there done this mod? How difficult was it to cut away the plastic?

[MtnGuy]

My DD and SIL have something like this with access doors on the top: Propane Tank Covers on Sale

[campnqueen]

Mtnguy,

Yes this is what my cover is like... the double 20# tank cover.
I did not see one with a window cut out. Hate to get rid of ours...nothing wrong with them other than the design.
Figured we could fix that.

[The Danish Guy]

Try to move the tanks closer together.The cover might then be easier to remove.

[campnqueen]

That's a good idea. I still think I want a window / door to just reach thru and turn propane.

[scubieman]

I would not let tanks be exposed, the tanks may rust in unwanted areas quickly.

[MtnGuy]

Originally Posted by campnqueen

Mtnguy,

Yes this is what my cover is like... the double 20# tank cover.
I did not see one with a window cut out. Hate to get rid of ours...nothing wrong with them other than the design.
Figured we could fix that.

The covers that I linked to list them as having "2 secure, easy to open gas valve access doors."

[Danimal]

i wonder if you could mount a acsess door like the ones on the side of the campers
that lock up you water hook ups and electric hook ups
if you have a flat surface in the front
might be a good cheap fix

dan

[tejano]

I make wooden banks with oval cutouts covered with plexiglas so I cut a 5" oval in the front of the cover and put the p-glas inside. Works great! This is after we ran out on a 9* morning in Joplin, MO.

[grhodes50]

My tt came with a tank cover that has an access door. Here's a couple of pics.
It shouldn't be too hard to make something similar in your tank cover.
The only draw back is you can't read the red/green indicator unless you remove the cover.

[KyDan]

Originally Posted by mtnguy

My DD and SIL have something like this with access doors on the top: Propane Tank Covers on Sale

A previous trailer came with this cover. You can't see in
the photo but it has little removable panels over each
tank valve. This allows me to easily access the valves to
open or shut them.
I modified it by using a hole saw to cut an opening in
the front next to the regulator red/green indicator.
I fastened a small piece of Plexiglas over the hole so
now I have a window that lets me see if the regulator has
switched tanks.

NOTE. My cover leaks water thru the top panels so
the tanks get wet when it rains. I paint them periodically
if they start to get too rusty. Since tanks get cold when
you are using them they tend to sweat and get wet
anyway. I don't really think the leaky top access panels
are causing more rust than I'd have without them.

PS when we traded trailers I kept my "accessible" LP
cover and we just swapped them on the lot as I was
trading my previous trailer in.

[tejano]

Originally Posted by grhodes50

My tt came with a tank cover that has an access door. Here's a couple of pics.
It shouldn't be too hard to make something similar in your tank cover.
The only draw back is you can't read the red/green indicator unless you remove the cover.

My tank cover is identicle and that is why I cut the window in mine. I didn't like removing the cover to see the regulator.

[campnqueen]

Originally Posted by The Danish Guy

Try to move the tanks closer together.The cover might then be easier to remove.

we will try this.

[campnqueen]

Originally Posted by scubieman

I would not let tanks be exposed, the tanks may rust in unwanted areas quickly.

True...but the bottom is open and moisture can get inside anyway. Maybe not as much as when it rains...but this is something to think about.

[KyDan]

Believe me if I could easily and conveniently keep them
dry I would do that.

ANY of my previous LP covers did not really keep water
out of the tray where the tanks sit. The bottom ring on the
tanks and the tray itself seems to be the most prone to
rusting. Every 2 or 3 years I get out the black rustoleum
for the tray and white for the tanks. It's just part
of ownership.
I took a couple feet of 1/4 inch ID rubber hose (industrial
air hose or automotive fuel line will work) and carefully
slit it long ways with a sharp box knife. Then I placed this
slit hose on the bottom ring on my LP tanks.
This really cuts down on the scuffing of the paint in the
tray and the bottom of the rings so I don't have to paint
quite as often but the hose holds water so the ring
stays wet longer after a rain.

EVERYTHING is a trade off.......

Also, there is a commercial HUGE LP filling station a few
miles from my home. They re-fill my tanks so I also paint
them when they need it. It saves me a few bucks each
time vs trading them in at Wal-mart or Sams or Lowes
or Home Depot. BUT if they were really bad shape, I'd
trade them in and pick a full tank that looked good.

[campnqueen]

great photos...thanks!

[campnqueen]

wonderful suggestions Dan... Thanks a bunch.
Paula

[MtnGuy]

When my current cover finally gives up the ghost, I intend to get 1 with the doors.

I leave the cover off of mine during the winter, anyhow. When it gets real cold, I will turn the furnace on low to keep the vinyl floor from cracking, and if we have a power outage I will use the stove for cooking. I am afraid if I have to remove the cover to turn on the propane valves in cold weather, that puppy is going to crack.