Covers for propane tanks?

[labontefan]

When I bought my Utah, it came with one 20# propane tank. The tank had a soft vinyl zippered cover with the Coleman logo. Last spring, I bought a second propane tank, so I (hopefully) won't run out of propane unexpectedly!

I'd like to get a double cover that will cover both--to protect the tanks while traveling, and because it looks neater. I've seen both the hardshell and the softsided covers for sale online. The softsided vinyl ones are cheaper, of course, but neither seems to be very expensive.

Any recommendations on type or on where to purchase them? Pros or cons on either type?

Thanks!

[luvourjayco]

We lost our cover along the highway last summer and replaced it at the dealers. They usually give you a good price as its advertising for them. If I recall right it was about $25 Can for the vinyl cover for 2 tanks.

[Tim5055]

To be honest, our cover laster exactly one trip.  Then we never used it again. As a matter of fact, I don't remember seeing it in the garage lately :confused:

I just found it to be a lot of trouble to keep putting it on and taking it off every time I had to turn the gas on/off.  I guess it's just my personal preference, but I think it looks fine without it.

[griffsmom]

We have two, 20-lb tanks on our PU and thought about getting the hard-sided cover for our tanks because it looked nice.  But then we talked to some people who had them and they make it more of a pain to turn the gas on and off or refill the tanks since you have to completely remove the cover to do so.  We have two soft vinyl Coleman-green covers that we bought from our dealer, and all we have to do is unzip the cover at the top to turn the gas on or off.  The cover still has to completely come off to refill the tank, but it's not difficult to put it back on.  I like the vinyl covers very much and like having my tanks protected.  Plus I like the look of the green covers better than bare tanks.  But maybe that's just me.

[labontefan]

Plus I like the look of the green covers better than bare tanks.

That's another idea, Griffsmom. The green ones do look nice.

Since I already have the one green Coleman cover, maybe I could get another one from the dealer. (Of course, I wonder if any "Coleman" covers are left...or if I'd have to have one that says "Coleman" and one that says "Fleetwood"? LOL!)

[B-flat]

My popup (88 Starcraft Nova) has the tank cover which came with the camper.  If latched on properly, it won't come off.  It's streamlined, at a slant over the propane tanks too.  It seems like it is easier to wash off that cover and keep it waxed than to have to wash a couple of propane tanks. It is easy to remove to turn the gas on and off, too.

[Steve-o-bud]

Our Bayside has the hard sided cover, which I believe came standard. If you forget to remove it prior to poping, it is a little bit of a pain to pull it off to get at the shutoff valve.

On my freinds latter madel Niagra, their hard cover has a small access panel to get at the valve. I like this.

I was at the Ventura Coleman dealer last summer durring their "Garage Sale", and they had one, but I didn't get it. I should have.

[Red neff Barchetta]

We also have the green vinyl covers on both of our tanks.
I hated having to crawl under the tongue and tie a knot for each cover so I spent a whopping $0.80 and bought 2 "cord stops" (like on a sleeping bag stuff sack).  Removing and replacing the covers is a breeze now.

[tlhdoc]

Now to get a little bit off topic.  

Why are the soft vinyl tank covers dark colors?  Most are black, and dark colors absorb heat and why would you want your tank sitting in the driveway to absorb heat?

[jstaddwtr]

All right doc,   questions questions questions.  I can only guess that from the location, light colors would show dirt easier?  

We also have two green covers, killed me to pay for another cover, but we did.  We always thought the elite covers looked nifty but wondered about the practicality.

[hoppy]

Just bought a second vinyl cover from my pop-up dealer (black), and it did not have any logo at all. Guess they come with the Coleman logo until the dealer runs out. So one of my tanks has a logo.... the other does not.

   Hoppy

[2manytoyz]

Just bought a second vinyl cover from my pop-up dealer (black), and it did not have any logo at all.

Riddle me this Batman, why can you legally get a black cover for a propane tank, but the law says the tank must be painted a light color?

   :eek:   Eh?   :eek:

You know, I'm not the only one who's nutz.   Think the people making the covers are a little touched too.  

[6Quigs]

Now to get a little bit off topic.  

Why are the soft vinyl tank covers dark colors?  Most are black, and dark colors absorb heat and why would you want your tank sitting in the driveway to absorb heat?

OH I know the answer to this one.

Ya see, you want the black cover to absorb heat, because the propane in the tank sucks in this heat, and then when you go to burn the propane, it will then release this heat, burning at a higher temperature.
A fellow camper, (let's call him Scott), said that he got a bottle of propane to last him all summer after he got one of those fancy black heat absorbing covers for his tank!!  

[brainpause]

OH I know the answer to this one.

Ya see, you want the black cover to absorb heat, because the propane in the tank sucks in this heat, and then when you go to burn the propane, it will then release this heat, burning at a higher temperature.
A fellow camper, (let's call him Scott), said that he got a bottle of propane to last him all summer after he got one of those fancy black heat absorbing covers for his tank!!  

OHHHHHHHHH!!! I see!

So, I guess we could burn our camper's tires for heat too, since they are black and have all that EXTRA heat saved up. Right?

Larry

[6Quigs]

OHHHHHHHHH!!! I see!

So, I guess we could burn our camper's tires for heat too, since they are black and have all that EXTRA heat saved up. Right?

Larry

No silly,
the air in the tires won't burn :rolleyes:

But you may be on to something there Larry.
What if I filled the tires in the popup with propane, and then let them sit there and absorb all the energy from the sun, and then when we go camping, connect the stove to the tires, and use the super charged propane for cooking.

As long as I remember to bring a compressor to refill the tires, then it just might work