Gas bottle security in caravan locker.
Help and up to date advice please. Have been caravanning for 28 years now and in all caravans owned have used the smaller 3.9 kg 'dumpy' propanes, or years back equivalent butane sized bottles, carrying two within the front lockers and being securely strapped in place. Last year changed caravan to new Coachman VIP 575, swapping the existing bottles as usual from previous van to the new one. Caravan has just had its first annual service, and reported on service sheet at the dealer is an item saying gas bottles cannot be securely put in their due to size, and a recommendation to use larger 6kg.gas bottles. Obviously 2 x 6kg is going to increase the weight at front locker end of van. In my opinion for what it's worth surely if you just carry one x 6kg, you then have no spare gas should it run out, plus the weight in the locker would be slightly out of balance where the gas is positioned in the moulding floor/ strapping position of the locker. My query is, has there been some change in carrying gas bottles I have not heard about?? I always ensure the smaller gas bottles are very tightly secured and in all the caravanning years I have never experienced any problems. Any comments would be gratefully received, thank you..
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....in all caravans owned have used the smaller 3.9 kg 'dumpy' propanes, or years back equivalent butane sized bottles, carrying two within the front lockers and being securely strapped in place.
Evidently not, in the inspectors opinion; merely a difference of opinion with regard to what is or isn't 'secure'.
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We have never used anything but the 6kg bottles. However, given the height of the retaining strap, the locker is clearly designed for this size. I would have thought to securely hold one of the smaller cylinders the strap would need mounting lower down, although that should be possible if they are regularly carried. Or perhaps a second strap added, so that both sizes could be accommodated.
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Although there is space and securing straps for two gas bottles I only ever carry one. I use the red calor lite 6kg which are lighter than the old bottles and have a built in gauge which should help you see (roughly) how much gas is left. Using it I've never been caught out.
As to the balance, on my swift the gas bottles are carried (and their place holders and straps) to the right hand side of the locker. As Swift have put them there then I assume the balance and weight have been taken into account, so as I assume your manufacturer Coachman has done the same.
On a safety aspect bottle have to be kept secured in an upright position. If you feel you have secured your bottles safely then you could ignore the advice given.
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I would guess that the straps are a bit high so it may be possible for the cylinder to slip forward at the bottom under sudden braking. If this is the issue then it should be possible to fit supplementary straps lower down.
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Or make up a wooden spacer to lift the bottles but still "lock-in" the bases.
I would myself go the Gas-light route so can see the gas level, and therefore minimise any chance of running out. Even a 10 kg bottle at 5.3 kgs "tare" can't be much difference in weight than two full steel stubbies.
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I'm a great fan of GasLight and had three cylinders which I initially bought cheap on eBay. Far superior cylinders to Calor. As you say ocsid, you can see the level. They are also lighter and have snap connectors. Mainly stocked at Homebase so if you are anywhere near a store it is well worth changing over.
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Ian,
I had the same problem as you. I use a calorlight which I use until it is half empty and then keep it as reserve. I also have a 3.9kg calor propane (to save weight over the 6kg bottle) and use this as my main supply.
I realised that the small calor bottle was not well secured in the locker as its strap was too high. I bought a plastic plant pot in Wilco's of such a size that the rim of the upturned pot fitted nicely into the groove in the bottle support on the floor of the gas locker. I then cut off the bottom of the plant pot (now at the top) so that the gas bottle base would just fit into the hole. This raised the bottle so that the strap now went around the bottle around its middle and held it securely.
Actually the plant pot was a little flimsy so I bought another one and fitted that inside the first one to give rigidity. I believe the pots cost £1 each.
Another possibility is to find a metal dog's bowl of a suitable size.
squip
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It is not an issue with our Lunar and has not been on previous caravans including a Coachman. I would contact Coachman and see what they say as most caravans use the smaller bottles and I find it difficult to see any builder would fit a strap only suitable for the larger bottles.
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Because we do off grid rallying I found 2x6kg bottles were not enough in winter time. Lunar include the weight of one 6kg bottle in the unladen weight of the van, so I changed one of my 6kg bottles for a 11kg bottle and have never found the nose weight to be a problem staying stable. I did however have to make modification to the location blocks at the base and for this I used plastic furniture joint blocks and just for safety used them two blocks high and in three positions around the base, which is one more than the factory fitted ones
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