Propane Tank Cover - Support Chain for Open Lid

[richard5933]

Not sure if this is a thing or not, but on my propane tank cover when I open the lid far enough to stay open on its own the weight of the lid puts a tremendous amount of stress on the hinge. My fear is that eventually either the aluminum hinge will bend or the lip of the plastic cover will crack.

My thought is to install a support chain from the lid to the edge of the tank cover so that when the lid is opened the chain will keep it from opening too far to stress the hinge/lid edge. To provide good access from both sides, I'm thinking of putting it in the middle.

The plan is to use a ball chain (like they use on old ceiling light fixtures), and to keep the chain from rattling around and causing wear, putting the chain inside a length of thin vinyl tubing.

Anyone done this already?

Anyone see a potential problem I might be creating while solving another?

[dbj216]

My propane tank cover doesn't have a "catch chain" and survived 35 years of use. But I understand what you are saying and the weight of the lid does stress the hinge area; especially if opened on a windy day.

A stop chain would not be difficult to make. We have to have clearance to swing the propane tank "wing nut" to loosen the tank cover so it will come off. And you have to accomodate the chain with the lid closed.

Give it a try. You can always remove it if you don't like it.

David

[crazylev]

This has been something that bothered me since the first day ownership. Why AS didn’t install a stress chain/wire/string whatever. That creaking of a the lid nasty! As the plastic top ages, gonna just break off!

[CRH]

I did a similar mod to my ATV trunk. I bought small D rings. I didn't want to drill the trunk. I used 3M VHB tape to initially attach the D rings to the plastic. Then, I put Goop adhesive over the rings. I used paracord instead of chain. I did this about 3 years ago. The D rings are still holding.

[steve46]

I was given a damaged propane cover that I adapted to fit my ‘76 TradeWind. The only way I could get it to fit well was to reverse the cover so that it opened in the front (hinged at the back), rather than as it was intended, with the hinge in the front—think “suicide door”. So, I had to have a way to be able to limit the amount of travel of the top when it was open, otherwise the top would hit the large shade that covers the front windows.
To solve this I did install a chain on each side of the opening and it works well for me. For the most part the chains fall inside the cover when closing and, likely unique to my application, I also installed some cords, similar to bungee cords, to secure the top when it needs to be closed.
Here are a couple of photos of my salvaged cover.

[cazual6]

not a concern

[richard5933]

Originally Posted by cazual6

not a concern

Perhaps not for everyone, but I just replaced my tank cover lid because it was cracking along the rivet line. Pretty sure that the pressure placed on the lip of the lid when open was putting too much stress on the plastic around the rivets.

Got the new support installed today. Used about 20" of #10 ball chain with a couple of end clips for the rivets to hold it. Slid the chain inside a length of 1/4" latex tubing to prevent rattles and damage to the finish on the tanks. Only good a few minutes, so perhaps I was overthinking the complexity of this one. Perhaps.

[AKNate]

Great idea. That creaking lid has always bothered me. One of those things that bothers you in the background, but under the threshold of actually thinking about fixing it. Sort of like the thread a bit ago about the magnetic rod curtain closures instead of that terrible Velcro. Once someone points it out and gives the solution, you realize how much it bothered you and how easy it is to fix.

[Life is a Highway]

Tech Specs material

Cut two small pieces of removable stick on rubber pads. One below a rivet on each end of the cover. I open it and it rests agains the pads.

[Silvr_Bullet]

My High Tech solution. My tank housing is reversed to free up A frame real estate for installation of Mr. Hensley Hitch.

[SVTRIDE]

I used coated steel fishing leader line (50# test) and fabbed the end points to accept pop rivets. Pop riveted the ends to the leader lines to tank cover and tank side. Works as needed. Relieves stress on hinge attach points.

[Silvr_Bullet]

Originally Posted by SVTRIDE

I used coated steel fishing leader line (50# test) and fabbed the end points to accept pop rivets. Pop riveted the ends to the leader lines to tank cover and tank side. Works as needed. Relieves stress on hinge attach points.

Good solution, how’s the fishing otherwise [emoji476]