What Are RV Propane Regulators?
The RV propane regulator is one of the most important parts of any camper’s LP propane gas system.
It’s what controls the pressure coming out of the propane tanks and keeps your propane appliances running properly.
Related Product: Easily see how much propane is left in the tank by adding a GasOne Propane Tank Gauge Pressure Meter (click to view on Amazon)
All RV’s and many other appliance-based propane systems require 2-stage propane regulators. For more information on how 2-stage propane regulators work check out this article here.
If your RV propane regulator has gone bad you will need to change it out for a new one. (For how to tell if an RV propane regulator has gone bad and to learn how to troubleshoot problems check out this article here).
The good news is all propane systems on RVs and travel trailers have a standard and use the same size of outlets and inlets. That means you don’t have to buy the exact regulator your RV came with to replace it.
You can get a regulator with a higher BTU capacity or even one with more waterproofing features, the choice is up to you.
RV Life Hack: How To Check How Much Propane You Have Left
I’ve found and reviewed some of the best 2-stage RV propane regulators out there for dual propane tank systems.
All of them have automatic changeover functions and some are adjustable if you know what you’re doing. You may even find the same regulator that came with your RV or travel trailer.
Either way, there’s an option in this review to fill every RV propane regulator need.
Best Overall
Best Tank Indicator
Highest BTU Output
Last update on 2023-03-26 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Best RV Propane Regulators Reviews & Info
1. Flame King 2-Stage Auto RV Propane Regulator
The Flame King is a very popular dual tank LP gas regulator in the camping world. A lot of RV and travel trailer companies put them on their products right out of the factory.
Our travel trailer’s propane regulator is a Flame King and it was easy to replace it with a new one when we started having issues.
For detailed instructions on how we changed our RV propane regulator check out this post here.
It’s a 2-stage dual automatic changeover RV propane regulator. A nice feature is that it comes with pigtails (the ends that go directly to the propane tanks) already attached.
The plastic rain cover which is the white plastic part on the front is also included as well as a mounting bracket.
In order to run your camper’s propane appliances, you must have a 2-stage regulator. The Flame King comes pre-set at the proper pressure but is also adjustable. You should never have to adjust it but the option is there.
The automatic changeover function works seamlessly. Just make sure both your propane tanks are open and when the primary tank is empty the RV propane regulator will automatically switch over to the other tank.
The clear window in the center of the regulator will turn red to indicate that the primary propane tank is empty.
See Also: Best Portable Tabletop Propane Gas Grills For Camping
You can choose what tank you want to use manually by using the small black lever that has an arrow on it.
Whatever direction it’s pointing will be what tank it will draw from first. Make sure to point the arrow down when removing the propane tanks.
The inlets are ¼” SAE inverted flare and the outlet which is the part that attaches to the main RV gas line is 3/8” NPT.
Both sizes are the standard for RVs, 5th-wheels, and travel trailers so it should be compatible with your RV’s propane system and tanks or even a direct replacement.
It’s rated at 190,000 BTU which is plenty for the needs of propane RV appliances.
The Flame King 2-Stage Auto RV Propane Regulator is easy to install and no nonsense. I’ve been very impressed with it and I haven’t needed to adjust it.
It’s a great replacement for any RV dual propane tank LP gas system. The automatic feature comes in handy as well on a cold morning when you need to run your furnace.
You don’t need to worry about the tank running out of propane and have to run outside and manually change it over.
PROS
- Automatic Changeover
- Empty Propane Tank Indicator
- Comes with Dual Propane Tank Pigtails
- RV Bracket Pre-Installed
- Comes with Rain Cover
- Adjustable
CONS
- Pigtails Can Get Sun Damaged (Lasts Longest When Covered)
2. Marshall Excelsior RV Propane Regulator
The Marshall Excelsior is another RV propane regulator commonly found on travel trailers and RVs.
It doesn’t come with any pigtails or a mounting bracket which means you either must buy new ones or use the bracket and pigtails from your old RV propane regulator.
If you need to get new pigtails these stainless steel braided pigtails (click to view on Amazon) are compatible and ultra durable.
If you need a mounting bracket you can one made by Marshall (click to view on Amazon) that will be an exact fit.
The Marshall dual tank RV propane regulator is nothing fancy, but it gets the job done.
It’s 2-stage which is a must have for a camper and it has an automatic changeover. What I like about this LP regulator is the indicator that shows if the primary tank is empty is located on the top.
On other styles of automatic RV propane regulators, you need to take the time to look at the side to see if it’s red or clear. With the Marshall, you can see the red right away. It also shows green when the propane tank still has gas in it.
See Also: Best Propane RV Tankless Water Heater Reviews
There is no rain cover, but the outside is finished with a durable powder coat. If you have a rain cover for your propane tanks or they are enclosed, you won’t need to worry about a rain cover for your RV propane regulator anyways.
It is adjustable if you ever need to use that function and this version is for up to 150,000 btu which is just enough for a camper or travel trailer.
The inlet connectors are the standard 1/4” female inverted flare and the outlet connection to the main RV gas line is 3/8” NPT.
Much like the other RV LP gas regulators on this list, this should work for almost any dual propane tank RV LP gas system.
The Marshall Excelsior RV Propane Regulator is another great replacement for most RV’s and travel trailer’s dual tank LP gas systems.
You may already have a Marshall regulator on your RV and this will be an exact replacement.
The only downside is the lack of a rain cover, no included RV mounting bracket and you have to either use your old pigtails or get new ones.
Otherwise, it’s a great quality RV propane regulator and will keep the appliances in your camper running smoothly.
PROS
- Propane Tank Gas Level Indicator Located on the Top
- Adjustable
- Automatic Changeover
CONS
- No Pigtails Included
- No Mounting Bracket Included
- No Rain Cover
3. Fairview High Capacity RV Propane Regulator
The Fairview automatic dual tank RV propane regulator has the highest BTU capacity of 345,000.
If you have a propane quick connect on the outside of your camper for a propane grill or just like to have a lot of propane capacity this is a great option.
Fairview is known for its excellent quality and this RV LP gas regulator is going to be an upgrade from the regulator your RV or travel trailer came with.
The only downside is it doesn’t come with a rain cover, pigtails, or an RV mounting bracket.
You can buy the compatible stainless steel braided pigtails (click to view on Amazon) and a compatible mounting bracket (click to view on Amazon).
The mounting bracket and the pigtails are the same ones that are used on the Marshall but they are still compatible with the Fairview RV propane regulators as well.
You can also use the pigtails from your old RV propane regulator and most likely the mounting bracket.
See Also: Best Portable Tabletop Propane Gas Grills For Camping
It’s adjustable just in case you ever need to fine tune it for your specific camper and it has the automatic changeover feature.
The empty tank indicator is located on top of the unit and will turn red when the primary propane tank is empty.
Make sure you turn the lever on the top towards the opposite propane tank when you are going to remove the empty tank.
It’s already set at the standard 11” water column setting which is standard for RVs, 5th-wheels, and travel trailers so you shouldn’t need to do more than just connect pigtails and hook it up to your RV LP gas system.
It’s made for RV use and has the standard ¼” inlets and 3/8” NPT outlet.
The Fairview High Capacity RV Propane Regulator is perfect for the RV user that needs a lot of propane power all at once.
You can run a grill, a furnace, and a water heater all at the same time because of its high BTU capacity. It’s a little overkill for standard use but if you are a winter camper the extra capacity may come in handy.
PROS
- Empty Propane Tank Indicator Located on Top
- Automatic Changeover
- Adjustable
- High BTU Capacity
CONS
- No Pigtails Included
- No Mounting Bracket Included
- No Rain Cover
4. Camco Double Stage Dual RV Propane Regulator
Camco is another well known name in the camping world and their dual tank 2-stage RV propane regulator is another great replacement for most campers.
It doesn’t come with any pigtails, an RV bracket, or a rain cover so you need to get those separate.
Just like the Fairview and Marshall RV propane regulators you can buy the compatible stainless steel braided pigtails (click to view on Amazon) and a compatible mounting bracket (click to view on Amazon).
If you use the old mounting bracket from the replaced regulator you may need to drill holes in the bracket so the Camco propane regulator will fit.
See Also: Best Small Portable Propane Heater For Indoor & RV Use
The Camco RV propane regulator is for a dual propane tank LP gas system and can run up to 210,000 BTU’s per hour, which is plenty high for standard RV use.
The black switch can turn to either side and is how you choose your primary tank.
The empty tank indicator is located on the switch and will show red when the primary tank is empty and if it has switched over to the secondary tank.
It’s adjustable, but it comes pre-set from the factory for RV use and shouldn’t need any adjustment to read 11” on a water column.
The inlets use the standard ¼” inverted flare and the outlet is the standard 3/8” NPT so it should be a match for any RV LP gas system.
The Camco Double Stage Dual RV Propane Regulator has a higher BTU rating than the other common standard RV propane regulators and is a good choice if you want to be able to run more propane appliances at the same time.
The only downside is there’s no rain cover. But that’s an easy fix if you have a waterproof cover for your propane tanks or they are in a compartment.
PROS
- High BTU capacity
- Automatic Changeover
- Adjustable
CONS
- No Pigtails Included
- No Mounting Bracket Included
- No Rain Cover
5. Cavagna Kosan RV Propane Regulator
The Cavagna RV propane regulator is easy to use and comes with an RV bracket. It’s simple to install and adjustable in case you need to do a little adjusting on your LP gas system.
There are no pigtails included but you can use the ones from your old RV propane regulator or get new ones.
If you need to get new pigtails you can buy some on Amazon here.
See Also: Best Portable Solar Panel Charger For RV Camper/Boondocking
It will changeover automatically and has a tank level indicator that is easy to see and will change from green to red when the primary propane tank is empty.
It has a BTU capacity of 220,000 and is made for RV dual propane tank use.
It doesn’t have a plastic rain cover, but all the screws and bolts are stainless steel and resistant to rust. The inlets are the standard ¼” and the outlet is the standard 3/8” so it should fit any RV LP gas system.
The Cavagna Kosan RV Propane Regulator looks a little different than the other automatic changeover camper propane regulators and it has a good sturdy build.
It’s an affordable option that has a pretty high BTU rating.
PROS
- Automatic Changeover
- Adjustable
- Comes with RV Bracket
CONS
- No Pigtails Included
- No Rain Cover
What To Look For In An RV Propane Regulator
Rain Cover
RV propane regulators spend a lot of time outdoors, and if you don’t have a cover for your propane tanks like this (click to view on Amazon) it’s going to be exposed to a lot of damaging elements like the sun and rain.
Most RV propane regulators are made with anti-rust materials and are watertight but getting one with a plastic rain cover or investing in a propane tank cover will help keep everything tight and working correctly longer.
Pigtails & Mounting Bracket
I’ve talked about this a lot in this review but many of these RV propane regulators don’t come with replacement pigtails or a mounting bracket.
The reason for this may be because people like to use their own pigtails and brackets that fit their specific set up but for the most part dual RV propane tank LP gas systems are pretty standard.
If you have a standard set up with two propane tanks next to each other getting a dual tank regulator with pigtails and a bracket already connected is going to be the easiest and fastest install.
If you have something a little more complicated like a propane tank on each side of a 5th-wheel getting one without pigtails might be the better way to go.
BTU Output
Every RV propane regulator has a different BTU output capacity and while it can be nice to have the ability to output a lot of propane at one time it isn’t always going to help.
Many campers and trailers use a standard 1/2″ pipe system to deliver propane to the appliances that need it.
That 1/2″ pipe is only capable of delivering is a certain number of BTUs and even the dual tank regulator with the lowest BTU capacity in this review is still pretty close to what a 1/2″ pipe is capable of delivering.
That being said if you have a large RV or 5th-wheel with a lot of propane appliances your LP gas system may be larger and require a high BTU regulator.
You should look for the regulator that is the closest match to the one already on your camper for the best results.
But if you do end up getting one that’s different getting one with a higher capacity than the original is better than getting one with a lower capacity.
Conclusion & My Recommendations for Best RV Propane Regulator
If you’ve noticed some of your RV propane appliances not acting quite right like the stove burners turning yellow or the fridge not getting cold enough the problem is most likely your RV propane regulator.
Even though they are one of the most important parts of a camper’s LP gas system they actually aren’t made to last forever. The diaphragm inside does age.
Even if your RV is fairly new things can go wrong like an overfilled propane tank could leak liquid propane inside and damage parts or moisture may have gotten in and frozen.
No matter how it happened you are going to want to make sure your RV propane regulator is in good working condition at all times.
Luckily they are fairly easy to replace and there are lots of fantastic options out there.
Any of the 2 stage regulators in this review are going to be easy to install and keep things running smoothly but I do have some recommendations based on specific needs.
Best Overall – Flame King 2-Stage Auto RV Propane Regulator
The Flame King is made with RV, 5th-wheel, and travel trailer users in mind.
It’s super easy to install because it comes with pigtails and an RV bracket already connected. And the included rain cover is nice for those of us who have open propane tanks.
It’s sturdy and has a good heavy feel to it. The automatic changeover works perfectly and it’s adjustable just in case you need that feature.
The only thing I wish was different is the propane tank level indicator. Currently, it’s on the side and you need to really look to see it.
I would like it more if it was on top. But that’s a small issue and the quality of the product is still excellent.
Best Propane Indicator (Easiest To Read) – Marshall Excelsior RV Propane Regulator
As I mentioned in my recommendation for the Flame King RV propane regulator the one thing I wish was different is the location of the propane tank indicator.
If you like to use the automatic function it’s nice to be able to easily see if the regulator has automatically changed over to the other propane tank. When the indicator is on the side you have to get close to it to see what’s going on.
The Marshall RV propane regulator has the indicator on the top which is really nice. Especially if you have a propane tank cover with an opening at the top.
You can quickly check to see what’s going on with the propane tanks so you know how soon you will need to refill them.
The unit is also built very well and the only downside to the Marshall is the lack of pigtails and a mounting bracket.
Highest BTU Output – Fairview High Capacity RV Propane Regulator
If you have a lot of propane appliances in your camper getting a dual tank regulator with a high BTU output isn’t a bad idea. Especially if you are a winter camper or RV park snowbird.
The Fairview RV propane regulator has the highest BTU output in this review and on top of that, it’s made with quality parts and has all the features the others in this review have.
The only downside is the lack of pigtails and brackets but you can easily purchase those separately or use the old ones from your current RV propane regulator.
Frequently Asked Questions About RV Propane Regulators
How does an RV propane regulator work?
Pretty much any LP gas system requires a 2-stage propane regulator to run the appliances.
RV propane regulators have both stages in one unit and together they make they change and stabilize the pressure from the propane tanks so your propane gas system will work perfectly.
For more information about how an RV propane regulator works check out this article here.
How do I change out my old RV propane regulator for a new one?
Changing an RV propane regulator is easy, you just need the right kind of thread tape and always check for leaks when you are done.
For detailed instructions on changing an RV propane regulator check out this post here.
Why is my RV propane regulator venting?
All propane regulators have a vent on the bottom near the output. If the vent has propane coming out it can mean one of two things.
The propane tank was overfilled, and heat has expanded the gas inside so propane is leaking out of the vent.
The second reason is the propane regulator may have gone bad and needs replacing.
Are RV propane regulators adjustable?
A good quality propane regulator will be adjustable, and all the regulators in this review are adjustable.
It is recommended for professional use and all RV propane regulators should come pre-set at the proper pressure for RV use.
How to test an RV propane regulator to see if it has gone bad?
Troubleshooting propane regulators is simple, for the most part, and there are some easy ways to tell if the regulator needs replacing.
Check out this post for the 7 signs that an RV propane regulator has gone bad.
Can an RV propane regulator freeze?
It’s not common but RV propane regulators can freeze.
Check out this post for information on freezing temperatures and how it affects propane and how propane regulators can freeze.
How to check how much propane is in my propane tank?
There are lots of different ways you can check the level of propane in your tanks but my favorite way is the water method.
You can read about how it’s done here.
Have any more questions about RV propane regulators? Leave a comment below.
I know this a mostly RV website, but can this Flame King Auto 2 stage propane regulator have the same effect on a 18000 btu wall heater to be used in garage? Thanks
Yes, even though they are mostly used on RVs propane regulators like the Flame Kings work great in garages and shops. The Flame Kings is rated for up to 190,000 BTU so a 18,000 BTU wall heater should be no problem for it.