Propane Tank Cover - White no more... - Escape Trailer Owners Community
Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×

Go Back   Escape Trailer Owners Community > Escape Tech > Modifications and Alterations
Click Here to Login
Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
 
Old 06-23-2012, 02:51 PM   #1
Senior Member
 
LBaranyai's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Port Coquitlam, British Columbia
Trailer: 2011 Escape 17B
Posts: 250
Propane Tank Cover - White no more...

Yes, like many others, I disliked the "whiteness" of the propane tank cover. "I can live with it" said my husband. "I can't" was my designerminded reply. So after perusing the selection of spray paint colours, I chose one and had my husband disassemble the cover halves (lots of small nuts & bolts) and give it a good wash. And just like a man, he decided he should do the painting. I chose a spray paint for plastic specifically as they seem to handle flexing better than regular spray paint. It bonded well and after a winter of storage, a couple of trips including a month and a half road trip, there is no damage to report of any kind. The paint has held up well so another successful and inexpensive modification.

The paint is used is KRYLON brand, "Fusion for Plastic" and the colour I used is # 42322 "DOVER WHITE". My husband couldn't believe how close it matches the fiberglass body - "yes Dear, that's why I'm the designer in the family". A good colour choice if someone has any other external accessories they might want to blend in better. I'm thinking that sewer hose holder next!
Attached Thumbnails
Trailer Popane cover.jpg   Krylon Fusion Plastic Paint Colour 42322 DOVER WHITE.jpg  
__________________
2011 17B - 2019 GMC Sierra HD3500 Duramax Diesel
Our "FIRE ESCAPE"
"Put the wet stuff on the red stuff"
LBaranyai is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-23-2012, 02:55 PM   #2
Senior Member
 
gbaglo's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: North Vancouver, British Columbia
Trailer: 2009 Escape 17B 2020 Toyota Highlander XLE
Posts: 17,136
Re: Propane Tank Cover - White no more...

Many thanks for the info.
Another project for my retirement.

baglo
__________________
What happens to the hole when the cheese is gone?
- Bertolt Brecht
gbaglo is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-23-2012, 04:12 PM   #3
Senior Member
 
gbaglo's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: North Vancouver, British Columbia
Trailer: 2009 Escape 17B 2020 Toyota Highlander XLE
Posts: 17,136
Re: Propane Tank Cover - White no more...

I have to ask. Why did you take it all apart to paint it?

I just got mine and it looks to me like I can just paint it as is ( after removing it from the vicinity of the trailer ).

baglo
__________________
What happens to the hole when the cheese is gone?
- Bertolt Brecht
gbaglo is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-23-2012, 05:55 PM   #4
Senior Member
 
gbaglo's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: North Vancouver, British Columbia
Trailer: 2009 Escape 17B 2020 Toyota Highlander XLE
Posts: 17,136
Re: Propane Tank Cover - White no more...

Well, that was a disaster.
I thought I shook the can quite long enough, but when I used it it spit out gobs of paint and leaked from around the button.
I carried on anyway, so now I have paint runs.
I guess I'll have to do some light sanding to remove runs and burn up another can of paint tomorrow ( weather permitting ). Also, I didn't take mine apart. It's put together with rivets, not nuts and bolts.

baglo
__________________
What happens to the hole when the cheese is gone?
- Bertolt Brecht
gbaglo is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-24-2012, 12:42 PM   #5
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Silverdale, Washington
Trailer: No more Escape 21
Posts: 412
Re: Propane Tank Cover - White no more...

gbaglo,

Here's a model airplane tip: stick the can in hot water for 20 minutes or so. This will slightly increase the pressure and also reduce the paint viscosity, giving you better paint atomization and a nicer finish.
__________________
2008 Toyota Highlander
RickM is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-24-2012, 01:04 PM   #6
Senior Member
 
gbaglo's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: North Vancouver, British Columbia
Trailer: 2009 Escape 17B 2020 Toyota Highlander XLE
Posts: 17,136
Re: Propane Tank Cover - White no more...

Thanks.

I took the empty can back to the Rona paint department and they replaced it.
The clerk said he'd seen it before and could tell from the paint drips on the can that it was defective.

I'm now testing my patience or lack of, sanding runs to ensure I start with a smooth surface.

Being white and soon to be almost white, it's hard to see any defects with the glare.

At least it's overcast today.

baglo
__________________
What happens to the hole when the cheese is gone?
- Bertolt Brecht
gbaglo is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-24-2012, 04:04 PM   #7
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Kelowna, British Columbia
Trailer: 2008 Escape 17b
Posts: 1,868
Re: Propane Tank Cover - White no more...

The Krylon spray nozzle may also have a setting. Be sure to test the flow on some newsprint or such to get used to the can.
J Mac is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-24-2012, 07:44 PM   #8
Senior Member
 
gbaglo's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: North Vancouver, British Columbia
Trailer: 2009 Escape 17B 2020 Toyota Highlander XLE
Posts: 17,136
Re: Propane Tank Cover - White no more...

Well, the second can also sucked, but not as bad as the first.

I can't imagine that they would have a setting that would paint your hand and your shoes.

Anyway, I'm done.

I have used the product before, with none of the issues that I experienced this time.

I will post a pic later this evening which will be quite useless, but poses yet another question.

I have confidence in the Escape Forum.

baglo
__________________
What happens to the hole when the cheese is gone?
- Bertolt Brecht
gbaglo is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-24-2012, 07:52 PM   #9
Senior Member
 
escape artist's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: St. Thomas not BVI., Ontario
Trailer: 2014 Escape 5.0TA / 2016 Ram Eco Diesel 4X4
Posts: 8,035
Re: Propane Tank Cover - White no more...

Hi: gbaglo...I hope you didn't get a defective can of beer also Alf
escape artist N.S. of Lake Erie
__________________
Quote Bugs Bunny..."Don't take life too seriously, none of us get out of it ALIVE"!!!
'16 Ram Eco D. 4X4 Laramie Longhorn CC & '14 Escape 5.0TA
St.Thomas (Not the Virgin Islands) Ontario
escape artist is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-24-2012, 08:43 PM   #10
Senior Member
 
gbaglo's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: North Vancouver, British Columbia
Trailer: 2009 Escape 17B 2020 Toyota Highlander XLE
Posts: 17,136
Re: Propane Tank Cover - White no more...

No problem with the beer can.

Anyway, here is a picture of Heather. I painted her with Krylon about four years ago and she's been standing in the garden through wind, rain, sleet and snow. She's showing her age a little.

And, a picture of the propane tank cover, along with the "problem". As you can see, Reace turned the propane tanks 90 degrees and I now have this space between the tanks and the trailer. I know that that is perfect for the storage box, but I already have a box on the rear of the trailer.

Just what am I to do with this space?

I have confidence.

baglo
Attached Thumbnails
heather.jpg   tank cover.jpg  
__________________
What happens to the hole when the cheese is gone?
- Bertolt Brecht
gbaglo is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-24-2012, 09:40 PM   #11
Senior Member
 
escape artist's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: St. Thomas not BVI., Ontario
Trailer: 2014 Escape 5.0TA / 2016 Ram Eco Diesel 4X4
Posts: 8,035
Re: Propane Tank Cover - White no more...

Hi: gbaglo...If you found the rest of "Heather" you could mount her there!!! Alf
escape artist N.S. of Lake Erie
__________________
Quote Bugs Bunny..."Don't take life too seriously, none of us get out of it ALIVE"!!!
'16 Ram Eco D. 4X4 Laramie Longhorn CC & '14 Escape 5.0TA
St.Thomas (Not the Virgin Islands) Ontario
escape artist is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-25-2012, 01:59 AM   #12
Senior Member
 
LBaranyai's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Port Coquitlam, British Columbia
Trailer: 2011 Escape 17B
Posts: 250
Re: Propane Tank Cover - White no more...

Well, you could just paint it as is but we didn't want paint on the plated fasteners. In fact, after he painted it, my husband replaced all the nuts & bolts with stainless ones so nothing would rust over time.

You do have a lot of space behind the tanks now; looks like enough room for a bike stand. Don't know if you ever did buy the ol' bag a bike but if not, there's plenty of room there for carrying other items. Heather's legs would make for an interesting figurehead - If you turn her upside down she kinda (pardon the expression) spreads like a Peace sign. Hmmm - on second thought, I don't think the ol' bag would appreciate that kind of attention! Better to leave her in the garden - after all, you usually have to deadhead the foliage.
__________________
2011 17B - 2019 GMC Sierra HD3500 Duramax Diesel
Our "FIRE ESCAPE"
"Put the wet stuff on the red stuff"
LBaranyai is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-25-2012, 04:47 PM   #13
Senior Member
 
Sandra L's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Antelope, California
Trailer: 2009 17B "Suite Escape" pulled by a 2020 Toyota Sienna
Posts: 1,565
Re: Propane Tank Cover - White no more...

If it was my choice, I'd get a storage box. T.P., paper towels and some lightweight tings could fit nicely. There is no such thing as too much space!
__________________
Peace and Sunshine
Sandra L is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-25-2012, 05:27 PM   #14
Senior Member
 
Texscapees's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Austin, Texas
Trailer: '09 Escape 19 "Grasshopper"
Posts: 221
Re: Propane Tank Cover - White no more...

That gap looks about the perfect size for a cooler full of beer. Of course, you'd probably need a cooler full of beer on the back as well in order to keep your tongue weight balanced properly.
__________________
Brad & Shay

'09 Escape 19 "Grasshopper"
'14 MB GL350 BlueTEC; '99 Toyota 4Runner V6 4WD
Texscapees is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off




» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Disclaimer:

This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by Escape Trailer Industries or any of its affiliates. This is an independent, unofficial site.


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 08:08 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 4
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Copyright 2023 Social Knowledge, LLC All Rights Reserved.