LPG pumps on campsites
Some of you may have seen the info I posted in the sticky thread 'Map & sheet of LPG UK stations for refillables' within the tips for making caravanning and touring cheaper section yesterday. This concerned a commercial site which has installed a LPG pump -
https://www.henlowbridgelakes.co.uk/post/life-s-a-gas-baby
I think this is a great idea and very useful to some folk. Seems I’m not alone in thinking this and folk more proactive than myself have been alerting the major clubs and magazines to the idea of providing what LV-ers want. The following is CAMC's response-
"Thank you for your email.
This is such an amazing idea, very useful.
This would require a lot of money to go into, when we are trying to improve our Club Sites currently that are not up to our high standards.
It maybe something we look into for the future, for now we need to work on our sites that need some TLC.
Thank you very much for showing interest in this and letting us know.
Have a good day. If you have any further queries, please do not hesitate to contact me."
Maybe it would be an idea for anyone who thinks this would be a good way forward on club sites to write to the club and lobby for such installations on popular or all year sites. I’m pretty sure some of our posters have already suggested such a facility in discussions here so why not go for it and follow up on the email?
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Wow. How much easier would our touring life had been these last 20 years if more sites had one of these fitted. Full credit to the site for going for it. Will be emailing the Club and lobbying. Preferable to retiling the bogs any day!
Email sent!👍
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The wording of the response tells you all you need to know. Refillables lose some of their point on club sites unless there is a change in policy to offer the non EHU option.
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Perhaps it might be worthwhile getting to grips with the CLUB at the N E C next month Getting up close & Personal could l;et everybody know just how much you rate the Idea. Always assuming that CALOR etc don't put a picket line on the Club's area of course
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Maybe not many caravanners have refillable cylinders but this installation is just what Motorhomers with underslung fixed tanks need. More and more converters are fitting underslung tanks but the big boys (i.e Shell) are removing pumps from their service stations. Other countries are adding lpg pumps to their service stations, only the UK seem unable to understand the message.
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Don’t forget that a lot of LPG pumps are vanishing from garage forecourts, CY. The club could view this as a service to members and grab the opportunity to provide a total vanning experience. If they can allow fuelling of EV's as a service, with the infrastructure this will eventually need, why not LPG?
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Unless I misjudge the extent of refillable users prepared to pay for an LPG pumping facility on sites, I struggle to see the business model funding the capital and on going cost keeping these in weights and measures certification.
Could physically be done but I feel the inevitable resale costs will price it at a point even those needing LPG will seek to buy it from larger turnover retailers, not the CMC. Unless it is a significantly subsidised facility the club wants to provided.
“More and more converters are fitting under-slung tanks but the big boys (i.e Shell) are removing pumps from their service stations. Other countries are adding LPG pumps to their service stations, only the UK seem unable to understand the message .
No issue with accepting the UK forecourt operators are removing LPG pumps, but where are these countries adding them? I suspect they do "understand the message", it will be there in their sales returns.
Sadly I feel the builders fitting LPG tanks are going down a blind alley, as the infrastructure based on the automotive user these look to hang on, is fast declining. Pity, as I want to go that route but it is becoming pointless for us.Are any new factory fitted LPG dual fuelled main stream vehicles even sold here now?
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If they can allow fuelling of EV's as a service, with the infrastructure this will eventually need, why not LPG?
Depends if their risk assessment finds staff overview needed for those refilling bottles and gas tanks. The club might possibly find a partner willing to do an install of a charge point? But not a gas point. The previous intended charging for electric vehicles would seem to be self financing.
What level of charge is needed to break even and would they sell enough LPG when other sources are available and likely cheaper.
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So....we are able to charge electric vehicles and fill gas tanks.Those who still use diesel and petrol will want to be able to fill up on site next!!!How about a bycycle repair shop and maybe a cobbler,oh and a vet and a doctor..........Oh.the holiday park has become a village!!!!!
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There could be a conflict of interest given the Club's close tie in with Calor Gas? I think there would also have to be a lot more data gather to establish whether there was a real demand. As far as the reply is concerned it seems like someone working from a script, don't dismiss ideas but always issue a health warning that there are other priorities!
David
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It is, I suspect, not a great service to many customers. There are, as yet, places to get autogas. The level of demand, small uptake due to main fuel stations being cheaper would likely mean spending money on an albino pachyderm. Many users, such as me, use very little gas as we use sites, whether mainline sites, CMC or CLs that do not include EHU.
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Some of its customers
, as already noted by many who have no need to use the motorvan drains, that have been upgraded at very high cost to cater for poor designs of waste outlets on most motor caravans to give a service to some of the club's members and now expected at also probably high cost to instal supervisedl LPG pumps on sites to give another service to even fewer members
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I noted that the site TW linked to said you had to go to the office for permission (?) to fill, but do they actually supervise the filling? There is no such supervision when filling at the LPG pump in a fuel station, certainly not at any we have used.
As a caravanner I would welcome the facility to refill on site, we have fixed Gaslow refillables.
We do always have EHU, but in cold weather or when showering in the van, we supplement the electricity with gas. We also frequently use the gas hob in the van.
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As the CAMC policy is not to allow a 'dump and fill' unless staying on site, i would imagine that, given the labyrinthine mindset in Grimstead Towers, you wouldn't be allowed to top up with gas unless staying at the site either in the unlikely event that such a facility was ever installed.
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I noted that the site TW linked to said you had to go to the office for permission (?) to fill, but do they actually supervise the filling? There is no such supervision when filling at the LPG pump in a fuel station, certainly not at any we have used.
There has been supervision from the point of view of oversight on most fuel stations that I use though. The cashier can generally see who is filling what
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this was also my first thought...a policy i certainly dont agree with
youre on a long trip, to the next CC site (for example) but you are low on gas but are passing another CC site that does have gas...
however, not allowed to fill at that site as not staying there, but cant fill at destination as they dont have gas...
it will never work....
too much shower block tiling to do first....tis what members want
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Not if it is not in the interest of the majority using a site and the club itself .....IMO. Can you imagine Morris leisure welcoming all and sundry (CMC members or not) to drive on site and use those facilities that outfit owners staying on site have paid handsomely for? I see no difference with CMC sites and their users in that regard.
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too much shower block tiling to do first....tis what members want
It is probably what those using the sites would wish for in preference to those not using a site having provisions made for them. Not too worried about tiling but far sooner the money spent on more hard standings or drive over waste, access improvements etc
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if the 'facilities' that they 'drove on to site to use' were chargeable ones (gas, MHSP etc) then why not?
after all, its perfectly normal business at thousands of sites all over europe.
yes, the encumbants are 'paying handsomely' but they get 24 hrs pitching and other facilities too...
if someone was calling in for gas (or use of MHSP) and were paying the agreed rate, what's the issue?
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if someone was calling in for gas (or use of MHSP) and were paying the agreed rate, what's the issue?
If somebody wants to call by, park in the carpark and buy a bottle of gas no problem provided that there is room with their vehicle to park and leave without entering the camping area..
after all, its perfectly normal business at thousands of sites all over europe.
Maybe their sites are better set up, have more land and serviced such as to accommodate that. I don't know. I do know that such is not the pattern in mainland UK. In UK main site providers reserve facilities for those paying to use the site. On CMC sites anybody wanting such facilities have to enter the site camping area having been admitted by staff.
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As much as it would be convenient for those of us with refillable tanks, LPG has had its day. I heve even heard that new housing will no longer be fitted with gas central heating. We have aready had the all electric caravan, is it still produced? How long before that becomes the norm? Better to install electricity meters first rather than LPG pumps. At least that would help the Club control costs.
peedee
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