Autogas, a concern?
We swapped to an on board autogas tank a while ago hoping to save time and money in the long run but we are noticing that many garages are having the refill facilities removed from their forecourts. It is now being suggested by several other owners that this is a growing trend and it is becoming a problem as they are finding it increasingly harder to locate providers whilst out and about on their tours. Have I made a mistake?
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There are plenty/enough around, you just need to know where they are in advance. We have a couple in our home town, and I fill before we depart, or seek an alternative in the area we are visiting. Our tank easily lasts 3 weeks away before I start to feel the need to find more.
Fill LPG has a website and a useful app which I use..
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It’s my concern as well, Micky. Our van has an underslung tank but, given the choice, I would have opted for bottles.
You have recognised the problem of having to find a garage selling gas and it’s something I have posted about before only to be told by others that it’s not an issue. 🤷🏻♂️
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Exactly. There aren’t many in our area now so a refill will need route planning in order to top up on our way to wherever.
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I had not understood that the number of LPG retailers was diminishing rapidly. We have had our van for three years and locally have always had the same 2 selling LPG all that time. I asked once at one of them if they were likely to stop selling it and he said no chance, we sell too much of it. I imagine, therefore, that sustaining retail viability all depends on the amount bought in that area same as anything else. The other retailer is a main Calor dealer who also has an LPG tank and pump. But food for thought for the future.
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I think your right to be concerned. My local Shell garage where I used to refill my Gaslow bottles is being refurbished and I suspect when it reopens the LOG pumps will have been replaced by charging points. I guess if you live near an LPG wholesaler like Countrywide then you will have less concern about refilling. Ultimately I am envisaging having to go back to a Calor bottle in my twin bottle configuration.
peedee
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We use LPG in one of our Jeeps, have done for around 10 years. There are definitely areas of the country that require a bit of thinking regarding filling up if on a trip or tour. We found Cornwall a nightmare one time, not because of the lack of LPG Pumps, but because two regular places we used had issues with dispensing pumps and it was taking an age to get them repaired. The issue was further compounded that trip by fuel shortage issues, and huge queues at the garage we used in Hayle. There was plenty of LPG, but we just couldn’t get to the pump without queuing!
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Perhaps the time has come for us all to lobby our MPs both for the provision of LPG outlets, particularly bearing in mind the environmental aspect apropos other fuels, and also the monopolistic practices of Calor.
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For some time, all Autosleeper panels vans and some coachbuilts I believe have had underslung tanks fitted as standard and there is no provision ( gas locker ) for using bottles instead. I have seen a hose I think from Gasit, where an external refillable bottle can be connected to the underfloor tank's normal LPG filler and the gas flows via the tank and its regulator to the cooker etc. This would work, but where to put the bottle whilst on the move would be an issue. It could become a problem if LPG became very difficult to find.
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I am only familiar with price of Calor 3.9kg and Flogas seem a similar price. They are of course of little interest to me as a caravaner as unlikely to be stocked on sites I suspect.
It comes as no surprise to me that bottled gas is significantly dearer than autogas and as a low user of no personal concern because its ready availability trumps faffing around lugging bottles to fuel stations etc.
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There appear to be a few Autogas suppliers near me. I do notice that the pump at ASDA appears less used than say 10 years as I always use the same row of pumps at ASDA which includes the single Autogas point. Rarely see them used these days.
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Yes DD, This is the one I had seen >>
https://www.gasit.co.uk/gas-it-reserved-gas-supply-hose-system-pol.html
Yes, as I understand it once the vans tank is empty gas from the external bottle can flow, first into the tank and then to the van's appliances but no actual liquid gas is transferred, just vapour ( gas) ..
Not ideal if you stop in a lay-by on the way and I'm sure I read somewhere that the club's don't like external free standing bottles....
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Yes, because LPG autogas was originally introduced as a conversion and cheaper alternative for gas guzzling petrol engined vehicles and was very popular.
Wasn't it then decided that diesel engines would be a marvellous alternative so lots of new cars were diesel, and again not so long ago, it was decided that actually to promote diesel was a mistake and what they meant to say was electric was best, but in the mean time LPG conversions for gas guzzlers proved far less attractive than a massive must have turbo diesel 4x4.....
Not trying to be political in anyway, just a tongue in cheek explanation as to why the demand for LPG has dwindled, but I expect that you already know that ..
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we have an Esso station selling LPG which we pass whenever we head east..
i am also a Countrywide account holder and there is a pump 2 miles away.
i use the MyLPG app (and Tomtom POIs) for europewide location.
i have one 11kg Gaslow (easily filled all over Europe) and a 'spare' slot for a second bottle if long terming, as we did in Spain and I used a Repsol 11kg to save driving to the pump...in Spain bottled gas is as cheap as LPG.
as it happens, I've never had a problem getting LPG anywhere but I am mindful of 'observations' of reducing availability in other parts of the U.K. although I am not in the least concerned and the continental advantages considerably outweigh any uk shrinkage of the the market.
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now that would be part of a proper MHSP....
and in the spirit of inclusivity, caravanners could fill their Safefil bottles
whats not to like
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I suspect that company that owns and refills those bulk storage tanks at club sites, is certainly not going to like that idea.
And somehow I think their interests rather than paying "members" will carry the sway here.
Could have completely misjudged how things work though.
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Stays pays us (significantly) to keep our dual fuelled 4.0 litre petrol Jeep at the moment. We have two LPG outlets within 1.5 miles of home, and both still seem well used at the moment. Something to consider carefully if we ever change MHs though. Mind, by that time, electric power will probably be routine............😁
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I regularly fill our tank at a local BATA Calor main dealer out of their Calor bulk tank via an LPG pump and sometimes out of a Flogas tank at a BP garage. The other side of the argument of not liking the idea, is that once you have an under-slung tank or refillable bottles, you're not going to be buying Calor bottles anyway, so to sell you just the gas is better than nowt as they say..
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I would think it would have to be a fair bit more expensive JVB. The cost of putting in the pump, plus the roadway to the filling point, as many aren't that accessible, unless you've a filling hose like the tankers, would have to be recouped somehow.
A good idea though and I wouldn't mind paying a bit more for the convience.
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