Forum Discussion

grizz272's avatar
grizz272
Explorer
Sep 26, 2018

Propane tank compartment

I noticed today that the propane tank compartments on my fifth-wheel are completely open on the bottom. With the landing gear coming straight up next to the tanks it looks like a mouse ladder right up inside the front compartment.
Has anyone mouse proofed the propane compartment? How did you do it.
It looks like it would be fairly simple to do. Get some wire screen cut holes for the landing gear and propane hose and use gorilla tape to hold it in place.
The propane hose would be the hardest part to do. You would have to make it mouse proof and also prevent the wire screen from wearing on the hose.
  • Propane is heavier then air hence the open area under the propane cylinders
    Is your front compartment area open to the propane compartment?
    Propane compartment should NOT be open to any other compartment due to possible propane leaks.
  • Propane compartment should be sealed from interior spaces.

    Really if mice want in, you aren't keeping them out.

    Keep it clean with no food and toss some mothballs in the hatches over the winter and you should be good to go without rube goldberg attempts to keep them out.
  • It seems you described how mine was constructed. As others referenced my propane compartment is completely sealed from the rest of the RV cept the bottom is open.

    My landing struts come up into the front compartment adjacent to the propane compartment. I had big adz space where the struts came up into the basement compartment. I filled with foam and used a serrated knife to shape it up the next day.
  • Unless you back holes with SS screen or steel wook mice will chew through regular spray foam. They really seem to love the stuff. Great Stuff makes a line of rodent proof foam that is much better, but again it needs a backer of something to completely stop critters. Remember a mouse only needs a hole the diameter of a quarter to get in.
  • The propane compartments are open to the front compartment straight across. I plan on using some type of SS screen and anti mouse expanded foam to complete this project. The propane compartments will still be open.
  • If the landing gear has grease on the tubes the mice can't climb up.
  • Hi all... Glad I read this discussion . I will check my propane compartment and see if it is sealed off from the the front basement . .. I have not had a problem with mice in the 5th wheel in the 3 years I have owned it. Storage site is rocky and on slope . Jim2007