With the tank in place it was direction in front of the tires, meaning everything the tires pick up would get thrown at it. It needed some protection.
So I set about doing just that. I started with a very thick coat of car undercoating. It’s a soft rubber than covers the bottom/wheel wells of most cars to keep road debris from denting and chipping things. Its nasty stuff, almost tar like when you get it on you, which you inevitably will do….
So that is the first step, and really probably all it needs, but stuff could still get over the top of the tank. We drive in the snow a lot and I didn’t want that to pack in there and get down to the valves on the other side. So I picked up a giant mud flap. Its heavy and thick and should take impacts very very well, that is kinda what it’s designed for. Turns out it’s really hard to cut too.
The mud flap gets bolted to the same bolts that hold the propane tank brackets. Then to the bottom corner of the body just in front of the tire. I need to hold it from flying back into the tire in the wind.
This worked pretty well, but the inside corner was pretty “flappy” even after cutting it shorter. So I added a piece of cable to pull it forward. I used an existing slot in the spring hangar to tie it to, hopefully that is enough.
That should keep things off the tank pretty well!
One other thing needed to be addressed, I had to climb under the truck to turn the propane on and off, as the valve was hidden against the side of the tool box. Not fun in mud or snow…. So a 4″ deck plate was added to the side of the box, much easier access, but still not able to fill sadly.
That is the end of the propane install, until the tank is empty and the water heater goes in any way.