Refillable gas systems: pros and cons
Comments
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there are ways not to be boxed in to one solution and yet to have the benefits of refillable...
my locker takes two 11/13kg bottles....one is a Gaslow refillable which we use everywhere in the uk (I've no interest in Calor....) where I've never had an issue finding LPG although I am lucky to have LPG stations very close by and on a major route southand east..
the othe space is vacant when in the uk, but we have been touring Spain/Portugal for three months and, along with the LPG adaptors for filling here, I also bought a Repsol Spanish cylinder to use while remaining on site at our 'longer term' stops, where the cylinder can be replaced if necessary without having to move the van (although this is easy enough, it depends where the nearest fill station is..)
Spanish bottled gas is very cheap and the cost per litre is about the same as pumped gas here...
we will soon be heading back into Spain and, if the Repsol bottle runs out, I'll replace it and continue to use Spanish gas and also be ready for the next trip here, if not I'll take it back home as is.
my gas 'pigtails' will also fit directly onto a French bottle if ever I wanted to use one as the second (backup) bottle. however, LPG is so prevalent in France it's never been an issue.
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If intending many trips abroad, and you reckon on using gas often, and If starting from scratch, as in you have not paid for a Calor bottle, I would go refillable, and for a MH, a fixed single bottle installation.
It is a big investment, but the system can be moved from van to van.
Second choice for me would be a portable refillable.
I would not bother with Camping Gaz......the bottles are small and very expensive. We only have one as OH's parents used to sell the stuff.
If only doing shorter, or few, trips abroad, then 2 small or 1 larger Calor, or similar, cylinders would likely be fine.
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No, it’s not 'simples'. All garages sell diesel but it’s not so with gas.
Geez, I didn't intend to start a massive debate, only to point something out to the OP.
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As we are getting a refillable system in our MH I have been checking to see what is available.
Seems plenty in Nottinghamshire. A bit few and far between in Northern Scotland.
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I found the link I mentioned earlier. It is a Gaslow product called a reserve cylinder connection. At the one end it has a bayonet fitting to connect to the input in the side of the van, just like you would with an LPG pump. At the other end you connect an adaptor and connect it to which ever local cylinder you want to use. It explains on the website that the gas flows from the external bottle through the refillable system on your van, but only if the tank in the van is empty. Might be of use to someone..
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If you have a fixed tank on your MH and you call in for diesel just top up your gas tank at the same time. Brother had his tank filler placed on the same side as his diesel filler so can often fill up both without shuffling about.
I filled my safefill up at a Shell garage today. Obviously had to remove the bottle from the van and filled it on the way to my daughter's. No hassle at all.
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Steve, also try www.mylpg.eu (and the app) for a huge Europe wide choice of filling stations....they also have 'verified' locations where recent users add a time/date stamp to the website entry conforming the outlet is still in use....a really good resourse...
and just to add to Kjells point, if I were ever not confident about LPG in the uk, I would do as he suggests and keep a Calor (really?) as my other bottle.....when needs must...
in reply to AD who uses little gas as the sites he visits have EHU, many MHers use stopping places (especially abroad where plentiful) that aren't sites and don't have EHU, and this is where a good, cheap supply of LPG is useful, especially when it is a bit chilly (Spring/autumn) and for cooking.
im using site EHU at the moment but we are doing several days (from Thursday) where we certainly won't be 'plugged in'...
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Sorry I was being slightly facetious. The only part of your statement I disagreed with was the qualification. Because included questionable, I don’t think in the circumstances you described there is any question.
Afaik bottled gas tends to be cheaper in Europe a lot cylinders are used domestically so it is possible to pick up French or Spainish bottle. Of course you can always get the unexpected. The very first time we went abroad, any one experienced would know that 2x6kg bottles was too much. However the fridge element failed. So we ended up coming back with very little gas left.
Most of the above would suggest that I am anti refillable bottles. I am not, most of my caravanning is done on rallies and off grid. I can go through a fairly epic amounts of gas, particularly in the winter so refillable in my case Safefill makes perfect sense for me. Actually I have two of them. And I filled and emptied both of them since Christmas. It’s horses for courses
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agree with DD, Campingaz is convenient but very expensive....it sells because its universally available across Europe.....with a common connector.
however, for anyone touring in Europe in a MH and spending time away from sites (aires, the odd supermarché etc) where EHU isn't available, the cost of those many tiny gas bottles will soon rack up....
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Cost can be a factor and if staying in uk it may never pay back, however if you intend to tour europe in your motorhome certanly where we have been in Spain most sites charge between 3 euros and 3.50 euros per night for electric. We bought a gasit 2x 6kg bottle refillable system for £340 last August and have used non electric pitches for our 65 days in europe so far so saving just under €200 on night fees. We started full of gas and have filled or semi filled 4 times at a cost of around €60 so a net saving of €140 by the time we do this and use for the rest of the year x 2 years the system would have paid for itself
if you went down the calor route
you buy/rent 2x 6kg bottles costing £120
and each refill will cost you £22 x 2 £44
our fill up from empty cost us £17 last August for 2x 6kg
the choice is yours!!
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