Propane compartment help

down home wrote:
I didn't know they left them open until I looked at a Winnebago, in Texas two years ago. It was mounted on a piece of plywood.
Our is enclosed and a seal to keep water out of the bay.
It has vent up high forward. May be another I haven't seen.
It get a good airflow but no rocks nor heavy grit just dust. I wash the compartment out whenever I can.
Only complaint is need to be a midget to open door and fill with propane. They really hate it where they have a curb and the tank higher than the drive, at stations.

unless I'm badly mistaken LP is denser and therefore heavier than air. it will sink and pool so it seems to me that a vent placed higher than the tank would be of no use. this is why LP detectors inside the RV are placed at floor level.

I didn't know they left them open until I looked at a Winnebago, in Texas two years ago. It was mounted on a piece of plywood.
Our is enclosed and a seal to keep water out of the bay.
It has vent up high forward. May be another I haven't seen.
It get a good airflow but no rocks nor heavy grit just dust. I wash the compartment out whenever I can.
Only complaint is need to be a midget to open door and fill with propane. They really hate it where they have a curb and the tank higher than the drive, at stations.

I have seen some manufactures enclose the (bottom) of the propane storage bay by using EXPANDED metal - strong enough to stop debris from flying up / hitting the tank (i suppose) but open enough that it wouldnt trap the gas or cause a problem if the tank were to leak.

Dutch_12078 wrote:
Is there a mud flap behind the front wheel? If not, add one to cut down on the water spray. The propane compartment must be well ventilated in case of any leakage, so sealing up your other compartments as they should be would be your next step. A layer of window screening could be used I suppose, to close in the bottom of the propane compartment though. That would at least deflect some of the water and break up the rest into more of a mist without compromising the ventilation.

Get a mud flap that has what looks like fake grass on the front side. It will catch the water spray & drop it straight down. Helps improve visibility in your mirror as well.

Mine is right behind the front right tire with zero protection from road debris. I never much cared or thought that it was a problem...till now.

Like everyone said, it's open on the bottom for a reason. I'd fabricate a mud flap of some sort. I'm surprised the manufacturer didn't think of this (or maybe they did and it's gone - are you the original owner)?

cwit wrote:
Propane is a heavy gas so they leave the bottom open in case of a leak. The gas will settle down and air movement can help get rid of it. I would say don't do it.

I would agree. it was left open for a reason.

Ditto. You need the bottom of the propane tank compartment open to allow for the escape of any leaking propane. Propane is heavier than air. A mudflap sounds like a good idea if you do not already have one.

cwit wrote:
Propane is a heavy gas so they leave the bottom open in case of a leak. The gas will settle down and air movement can help get rid of it. I would say don't do it.

X2
My propane bay has a bottom but the sides are open to allow air flow.

It has to have a vent open on the bottom. But the whole compartment does not need to be open. And, that opening can be protected from road spray by spacing down an inch or so (aluminum box beam or similar) and installing another piece of fiberglass or other material both wider and longer than the opening.