| Best Choice |
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BroilPro Accessories RV Propane Tank Cover | CHECK LATEST PRICE | |
| Best Value |
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Weber 7137 Tank Cover | CHECK LATEST PRICE | |
| Premium Pick |
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Outland Firebowl UV 740 Propane Gas Tank Cover | CHECK LATEST PRICE |
Propane is the go-to choice for RVers who cook food, heat water, and run fridges and air conditioners. Essentially, propane helps you obtain the comforts of home. But if your propane tank is on the outside of the vehicle, or if you use it outdoors at camp, it’s exposed to the hazards of road dust, weather, and jostling.
The solution is a high-quality propane tank cover. These classic accessories keep your propane safe while the fuel keeps you comfortable, warm, and well fed. Our buying guide below features the best propane tank covers you can buy.
The Best RV Propane Tank Covers
If you carry a 20-pound propane tank on your RV or travel trailer, this cover from BroilPro is the all-around choice for protection, whether you’re camping or in motion. Its construction, a combination of vinyl and polyester, repels moisture and debris and resists sun damage.
Another great feature is the access flap, which lets you connect a pipe to the tank without entirely removing the propane cover. Not only is this more convenient, but it also ensures your tank will never go without the protection it needs. It’s a bit annoying that the flap only opens on one side, which can make it difficult to work with if it’s connected to your RV’s interior stove. Also, this cover only fits 20-pound propane tanks, so you’ll need to look somewhere else if your tank is bigger.
- Heavy-duty vinyl and polyester construction
- Fits 20-pound propane tanks
- Includes tank access flap
- 90-day money-back guarantee
- Brand BroilPro
- Weight 9.6 ounces
Access flap lets you use tank without removing the cover
Durable construction stands up to weather and UV light
Fits snugly without sliding
Only usable on 20-pound tanks
Flap only opens on one side
Doesn’t always ship in the correct color
Look no further than the Weber 7137 if you want to protect your propane tank and your budget isn’t very big. Its drawstring bag design allows it to fit tightly around standard 20-pound propane tanks, while its fabric keeps out both adverse weather and UV light.
For an exceptionally low price, the Weber 7137 Tank Cover provides an alternative to the unsightly look of many propane tanks and saves you from having to clean off the tank several times per year. Unfortunately, it only fits 20-pound propane tanks. It can also sometimes be troublesome to get the cover on and off the tank. While leaving the top open means you can use the tank while it’s covered, it leaves the valve unprotected from adverse weather and road dust.
- Fits 20-pound propane tanks
- Drawstring-tightened, opens at top and bottom
- Includes UV inhibitors in fabric
- Brand Weber
- Model 7137
- Weight 6.2 ounces
Covers up ugly propane tanks and protects them from the elements
Breathable fabric resists water and sun damage
Affordable
Only fits 20-pound tanks
Doesn’t cover gas valves
Hard to get on and off
Our pick for the discerning RV owner is the Outland Firebowl 740 Propane Tank Cover, which not only protects 20-pound propane tanks but transforms them as well. In addition to keeping your tank free of water, dust, and sunlight, Outland’s tank cover zips a sturdy tabletop onto the tank, making it useful as camping furniture in addition to its main purpose.
While this cover completely encloses your propane tank, it includes plenty of convenient openings to run a hose through it or operate the tank’s valve. Elastic sides and a zippered top make it easy to fit in place, and it’s ventilated to ensure safe use. Is there anything we don’t like about this cover? It doesn’t come with a stabilizer ring, which requires you to find your own solution for keeping it upright. After years of use, the zippers show a tendency to degrade.
- Complete tank cover with included tabletop
- Fits 20-pound propane tanks
- Includes openings and valves for operating and ventilating tank
- Weather-resistant fabric
- Brand Outland Firebowl
- Model 740
- Weight 25.44 ounces
Looks good and helps your tank double as furniture
Complete protection you never have to take off
Comes with storage pockets and a wand lighter
Can be unstable
Zippers fall apart over time
Only fits 20-pound tanks
This cover is a great option for RV and travel trailer owners with 30-pound propane tanks. Montana Grilling Gear’s model is built to fit standard sizes and protects both 20-pound and 30-pound tanks not just from moisture and UV rays but also from cracking in extreme cold. It’s also treated to resist mildew and fungus.
The drawback of the Montana Grilling Gear cover is that it’s difficult to use while driving, as the fit is tight enough to get in the way of the hoses and restraints you need to use propane in motion. There are also a couple of quality issues. The drawstring at the bottom doesn’t stay tight on its own, and customer feedback indicates that it occasionally ships with some Velcro missing.
- Weather-resistant protection for propane tanks
- Comes in 20- or 30-pound sizes
- Treated against fungus and cold
- Brand Montana Grilling Gear
- Model TC-30lb
- Weight 6.4 ounces
Comprehensive weather protection, including cold resistance
Holds up for years
Tank can be used with cover on
Too tight for some RVs to use while moving
Drawstrings need to be tied off
Sometimes ships without Velcro
Camco’s line of heavy-duty propane tank covers is a popular choice for RV lovers. Not only does it provide solid protection for multiple 20-pound or 30-pound propane tanks, but Camco’s plastic cover also fits sleekly with the look of your RV to provide easier access to all its valves. While we’ve highlighted the black model, it’s also available in colors such as polar white.
Installation is easy as well—just slip the cover over your tank and fit it into place with no complicated zippers, Velcro, or drawstrings required. There is a price you pay for that simplicity, though: this cover doesn’t always stay in place and sometimes needs the addition of a strap or bungee cord. Another issue with the Camco 40558 cover is that it isn’t as heavy duty as the name claims, and while it protects against weather and fading, direct impact is another story.
- Protection for up to two 20- or 30- pound tanks
- Heavy-duty polypropylene construction
- Comes in multiple colors, including bronze and polar white
- Brand Camco
- Model 40558
- Weight 5.55 pounds
Very easy assembly
Good fit for highway usage
Fits with RV aesthetic
Difficult to secure in place
Not as heavy-duty as it could be
Sometimes ships without screws
Dumble’s propane tank covers offer no-frills protection for up to two tanks of up to 40 pounds each. Its product keeps propane tanks safe and dry, and its simple construction—a drawstring on the bottom and a zipper on the top—works for both standard and larger sizes. It protects against sun, rain, snow, and wind.
One downside of the Dumble Camper’s propane tank cover is that the sizing is off: the 40-pound size is a better fit for 30-pound tanks, the 30-pound for 20-pound tanks, and so on. The models that claim to be “double” don’t always fit two tanks, either. These offer great protection, but be sure to take caution when shopping for them.
- Protects all sizes of propane tanks
- Weather-resistant coverage
- Zipper opening at the top, drawstring on bottom
- Brand Dumble Camper
- Model Double 40-pound
- Weight 1.41 pounds
Designed specifically for RV use
Easy installation
Comprehensive protection from elements
Not sized correctly online
Simple design lacks ventilation
Expensive for what you get
Best RV Propane Tank Cover Buying Guide & FAQ
RV propane tank covers are frequently misunderstood. Some owners think they’re non-essential RV parts, and they are just a luxury for those who are tired of looking at scuffed or faded utility tanks.
This isn’t always true. While LP tank covers do make propane tanks look better—and your whole RV or campsite by extension—they serve plenty of functional purposes as well.
We’ve assembled a guide to help you get the most out of the style and substance RV propane tank covers can offer. Read on to find out more about why tank covers are necessary RV accessories, and learn how to decide exactly what kind you need.
Why You Need an RV Propane Tank Cover
On the outside of your RV, your propane tank is exposed to all the wear and tear of the vehicle itself: UV sunlight, rain, snow, hail, and dust and debris from the road. While you can’t cover your entire RV (at least not while driving—RV covers are a whole different product), you can ensure that one of the components most important to your comfort and safety is kept protected.
Propane tank covers, like whole RV covers, are kind of like bike helmets. They’re first about safety, second about convenience, and third about aesthetics.
- Make your RV safer. Propane is a volatile substance that should be treated with care and respect. If you’re carrying it down the highway at high speeds, it’s important to make sure it’s stored in a stable, durable container. Tank covers help ensure that propane tanks are performing how they should.
- Protect your investment. Even without the dangers of fires or explosions, there are lots of ways that debris and the elements can be hazardous to propane tanks. Scratches, scuffs, and fading degrade your tank and make it so you’ll have to replace it earlier.
- Look cooler. Propane tanks are built to be functional, not fashionable. Covers, too, are primarily about safety and protection, but there’s no reason you can’t make your tanks nicer to look at by springing for a nice-looking polar white model. A good cover can keep the propane tanks on your RV from becoming an eyesore, and make a nicer prospect at camp, too.
The Most Common Types of RV Propane Tank Covers
RV propane tank covers differ in two main ways: size and construction. Different sizes fit different capacities of propane tanks, usually from 20 to 40 pounds, and can hold either one or two tanks. Construction ranges from pliable vinyl to rigid plastic or aluminum for stronger protection.
- Size
Propane tanks for motorhomes and travel trailers come in sizes that range from 20 pounds (4.7 gallons) to 40 pounds (9.4 gallons). Covers are made specially to fit these different sizes, though the same model of cover might be made to fit multiple sizes. While they’re adjustable to an extent, sizes still have to match.
Some covers are made to go over two propane tanks at a time. For example, a 20-pound dual-tank cover will protect two 20-pound tanks placed next to each other.
- Construction
The cheapest and lightest propane tank covers are made of vinyl or plastic-vinyl hybrids. They’re flexible and easily portable, but best for protecting against passive hazards like UV sunlight.
Rigid plastic provides the next-highest level of protection. It’s good at shielding propane tanks from small- to mid-sized road debris, but less so at defending against heavy impacts.
Some RVers store propane tanks in heavy-duty boxes made out of aluminum, or in steel double tanks. These provide all the rigid protection of any truck box, but make the tank much harder to work with.
What to Look for When Buying an RV Propane Tank Cover
To start your search for a propane tank cover for your RV, ask yourself several questions. Do you plan to use propane while in motion, or just when camping? Is it more important to have maximum protection, or to have easier access to the tank? Does it matter what the tank looks like? This will help to narrow down your search.
Openings and Ventilation
Even if you want to cover up your entire propane tank, you’ll need to leave a few openings: at the bare minimum, one to run the hose through, one to operate the valve, and some for venting any gas that escapes in the process. The last thing you want is a dangerous buildup of propane gas.
A cover will usually be open at the bottom so you can fit it over the top of the tank like a sock. The top and sides might open with Velcro or a zipper. With more expensive covers, you might place the tank in bottom-first, and open dedicated vents in the sides of the cover.
UV Resistance
One of your cover’s most important jobs is to protect your propane tank from the sun. UV rays can damage the tank’s paint and leave it more vulnerable to scratches and dents.
Synthetic fabrics like nylon and polyester are great at blocking harmful UV rays, and are used in the construction of most soft-sided tank covers. Make sure there are UV blockers in any tank cover you buy, especially if it’s on the cheaper side.
Restraints and Balance
There are a few things propane tanks need other than protection from the elements on an RV trip. If you use propane while driving, you’ll need some kind of restraint to keep it secured to the side of your RV. Some tanks come with these, but with others, you’ll need to fend for yourself. Screws, rope, and bungee cords are common solutions.
Standard propane tanks often have rounded bottoms and will require a ring or stand for balance. This makes them a lot easier to use at camp.
Tips for Buying and Using RV Propane Tank Covers
Remember, the purpose of a propane tank cover is to keep the tank safe, so it’s effective at storing volatile chemicals. Since you shouldn’t go without one, it’s worth it to put in the time and effort to get one that fits with your plans and your RV.
- Even if your propane tank cover has an opening that lets you use the tank while the cover is on, remove the cover a few times a year and clean it out anyway. Critters sometimes like to nest inside propane tank covers.
- Heavy plastic tank covers like the Camco 40558 are easy to drill through. If you have one and aren’t satisfied with your options for securing it to your RV, making a few holes for bolts or screws is a simple DIY job.
- Never run propane while driving unless you’re absolutely confident that your propane lines are secure. If you can’t promise there won’t be a leak, don’t take the risk.
Best RV Propane Tank Cover FAQs
Propane use can be intimidating in general, especially if you’ve never worked with liquid gas before, but there’s no need to be frightened if you have all the information. In this section, we’ll try to answer any questions you might still have about propane tank covers for RVs and towing trailers.
It’s risky, but most RV owners do it. Minimize the danger by triple-checking your propane lines and running things on generator power when you can.
Plan to clean your propane tank cover very few months, or after every trip. This will clean out moisture, fungus, and animal droppings that might be accumulating.
Vinyl tank covers are easier to slip on and off, and make the tanks easier to secure to your RV. However, hard plastic covers offer better protection.
Our Top Pick
Our choice for the best RV propane tank cover is the BroilPro Accessories 20-Pound Propane Tank Cover. It’s easy to install and use, and can stay on a standard 20-pound tank for years at a time without needing to be replaced. We really like the close fit and the total protection it offers.
