LPG on Channel Tunnel
The integral LPG tank on our Motorhome has an isolation valve close to the tank, however, it means lying on your back under the van and removing a cover to get at it. Does anybody know whether the Eurotunnel inspectors will allow you just to switch the isolation
valves inside the van off or will they ask for the main valve to be closed?
Comments
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We've travelled on the Eurotunnel several times, both with our motorhome with LPG tanks and subsequently with our caravan which has two LPG tanks fitted. On all occasions, at both sides we've been asked if the gas is switched off (it has) but it has never
been checked so would think you would be okay turning it off in the van.0 -
Thanks.
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Will do DD. I just realised that there is another factor to be taken into account. Our fridge has a fully automatic setting so that when you are driving, the 12 volt alternator supply feeds the fridge. As soon as you stop without mains the fridge should
switch straight to gas and auto ignite. It is therefore quite important to isolate the gas supply or remember to set the fridge to manual before crossing.I will isolate the valves in the vehicle and see how I get on. Our dealer took the view that it was better to get under the chassis and shut off the main isolater because you only have to do it before you set off and when you arrive over the channel. Fine
if it is not raining or muddy!0 -
Again Hitchglitch I can only say our stand alone gas bottles in the LPG compartment have always been checked by the staff but when I have invited them to check the bottle in the garage they have never done so. I suppose they see that as a spare and not connected
but I would have thought they should still check it really. Regards, Roy0 -
I have always had the bottles inspected when travelling with the caravan. The point I am making about integral tanks is that there is a main isolater next to the tank then pipework up to the manifold and isolation inside the motorhome. Strictly speaking
the tank isolator should be closed otherwise there is gas in the system up to the internal valves. The point is that the main tank isolator is under the chassis and not particularly accessible.I will see what happens!
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We have always had the caravan checked when crossing via the Tunnel. Often it is a youth and I suspect that they would just accept whatever you told them was the isolator.
I'd do whatever you feel comfortable with and if they insist on you turning off at the external switch, then so be it (but I doubt they will).
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The consequences of a conflagration exacerbated by LPG make the inconvenience of turning off the gas properly seem paltry by comparison.
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Interesting that the Auto-sleepers manual actually mentions the Tunnel and to turn off the isolators inside the vehicle. No mention of the main tank isolator; that was the dealer's comment.
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I guess that checking a cyliner in the garage would be a bit pointless. The smell of gas if it was open would be intense. Even my useless nose would notice
.I always thought the point of the Eurotunnel staff physically checking that the valve on the cylinders was off was the fact they had done it themselves rather than rely on some passenger telling them it was off, regardless of where the bottle was stored
in the vehicle. Regards, Roy0 -
I can't quite understand your view that it is pointless Deleted UserUser to check that a gas cylinder valve is in fact off when the purpose of checking is from a safety aspect. They must obviously do this for that purpose or if not why would they check them in
the first place. I thought it was the leaking gas, or potential for it, that was the danger hence the checking of the valve being shut. I would have thought that if the smell of any leaking gas was sufficent to alert them then there would be no need for the
gas alarms that so many of us have fitted. Or am I missing something here? Regards, Roy0 -
We've used the tunnel twice a year for about 10 years or so; when we first started using it, someone always came out to check for themselves that it was turned off, yet in more recent years, we have sometimes been asked whether it's turned off and they've
taken our word for that, and not checked it for themselves.0
