This guide draws on four sources that each cover a different piece of RV propane safety: Go RVing’s “Propane 101” guide, produced with the RV Technical Institute; the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs’ Division of Fire Safety page on RV fire safety; a 2025 release from the Washington State Patrol’s State Fire Marshal’s Office; and Suburban Propane’s grilling safety tips, credited to the Propane Education & Research Council. This is a different question from home propane grill safety, covered elsewhere on this site — an RV brings a second, fixed propane system into the picture that a backyard grill never has to deal with.
Two Separate Propane Systems, Not One
Go RVing’s guide is explicit about what the RV’s own propane runs: the furnace, the stovetop, the water heater, and — when not on electric hookup — the refrigerator. That system is either a pair of vertical, removable cylinders mounted on a towable’s A-frame and run through a dual-tank automatic changeover regulator, or a horizontal tank built into a Class A or larger motorhome. Go RVing draws a firm line between the two: “Both types serve the same function, but only certified technicians should work on built-in tanks.” A portable propane grill brought along for cooking at the site is not part of either system — it has its own small cylinder and its own regulator, and treating it as an extension of the RV’s fixed system is exactly the mixing this guide is warning against.
What the Fixed System Needs
New Jersey’s Division of Fire Safety lists propane appliances as one of the three main RV fire risks, alongside electrical systems and cooking accidents, and its preventive advice is aimed at the built-in system specifically: “regular inspections of propane tanks and lines, proper storage of propane tanks when not in use, and using propane appliances correctly.” Its propane section adds that tanks should be stored upright, in a well-ventilated area, away from heat sources, and that the system should be inspected annually by a professional. It also states plainly that a fuel-burning appliance should never be run in an enclosed space, including the RV’s own bathroom or a storage compartment.
Keeping a Portable Grill Separate and Ventilated
Suburban Propane’s grilling tips — sourced from the Propane Education & Research Council rather than written specifically for RVs — still set the baseline for the portable grill itself: position it outdoors, at least five feet from the house (or, at a campsite, from the RV), on a level surface clear of furniture and overhead branches; check every connection with a soapy water solution before use, since expanding bubbles reveal a leak; and if the flame goes out, turn off the gas, open the lid, and wait at least 15 minutes before trying to relight it. None of that changes at a campsite, but the consequence of skipping it is worse in a confined camping area, next to an RV’s own fuel-burning appliances and a limited number of exits.
Before You Drive
Both Go RVing and the Washington State Patrol’s release agree on one point without qualification: the RV’s propane system should be off while the vehicle is moving. Go RVing’s advice is to “turn off the propane system when refueling your RV or tow vehicle” and to avoid running propane appliances while driving at all. Washington’s State Fire Marshal’s Office lists the same instruction among its RV fire-safety tips: “Always turn off gas appliances while driving or refueling.”
What a State Fire Marshal’s Office Found
The Washington release isn’t abstract about why this matters: in 2024, Washington fire agencies responded to 453 fires involving motorhomes, campers, and other RVs, resulting in seven fire fatalities and more than $6 million in property loss. Its recommendations beyond turning off gas before driving include checking electrical and propane systems for leaks or damage before every trip, keeping a charged, RV-rated fire extinguisher mounted near the exit and within reach of cooking equipment, and — specific to cooking — never leaving it unattended and using only designated, ventilated areas for it.
Keep reading
- Propane Grill Safety: Leak Checks, Storage and Gas Smells
- Grilling on a Balcony or Patio: What’s Allowed
- Winterizing a Grill: Weber and NC Storage Rules
- Grill Fires by the Numbers: What NFPA’s Data Actually Shows
Sources
- Propane 101: What New RVers Need to Know About Propane Systems — Go RVing (with the RV Technical Institute)
- RV Fire Safety — New Jersey Department of Community Affairs, Division of Fire Safety
- Recreational Vehicle Fire Safety — Washington State Patrol, State Fire Marshal’s Office
- Propane Grilling Safety Tips for Your Next Barbecue — Suburban Propane (courtesy of the Propane Education & Research Council)