LPG pumps on campsites
Comments
-
I have come to the conclusion that in another generation (we might still, just, be touring) sites will be vastly different to now. Much as they are vastly different from 25 years ago. Some non Club sites are way more progressive than any offered by the Club.
Most folks will use the kind of sites that give them more of their desired options. If the trend for installing more refillable tanks continues, then having a fill up point on a site will be desirable.
1 -
Sorry don’t know much about Butlins. I was thinking more along the lines that 25 years ago, EHU and more gadgetry in vans was just taking off, and here we are now where EHU is possibly the top “must have” on most folks list. Driven along by the fact that outfits have become more reliant upon electrical gadgetry to provide all the home comforts.
Cut to today, and things are evolving slightly differently again, perhaps mindful of a lot of folks switching to MHs, and not wanting to be as reliant upon hookup and staying on a site for a long time. Touring around, and moving on is gathering pace. Driven by outfits being that bit more self reliant and having on board tanks able to cope with the lifestyle. Cue the need for more lpg fill up points, possibly.
0 -
Not sure about the upsurge in motor caravan ownership has changed the way it seems most are used , the difference on the sites we use seems to be that the towed caravan is now a motorised caravan with a 6ft engine compartment on the front,and on sites that do not have local transport ,the ratio between the two types of caravan is very noticeable being far more car caravans,ad as the staff here say gas cylinder exchange are not as often as in the past as LVs become less reliant on that form of fuel as they are now getting more EHU reliant
0 -
Not sure about the upsurge in motor caravan ownership has changed the way it seems most are used.
We only see the ones on the sites that we use.
I was thinking more along the lines that 25 years ago, EHU and more gadgetry in vans was just taking off, and here we are now where EHU is possibly the top “must have” on most folks list. Driven along by the fact that outfits have become more reliant upon electrical gadgetry
I installed mains electric into my caravan about 1996 I think. I was happy without it but many sites included it in the pitch fee. It made sense to install, particularly as, for some reason, although my caravan had no electric installed it had a 2 way fridge!
1 -
We actually use less electricity than when we had a caravan. There is a lot less workspace, so now no toaster, electric kettle or coffee maker. Plus no microwave. All cooking is now done on gas. True they don't get our business for gas refills but that's down to the fact we have refillable cylinders rather than increased EHU usage.
At the moment local transport isn't that important to us, as long as there is plenty of good walking from the site. Sites with access onto busy roads without pavements and no direct access to footpaths, would be the ones we would now avoid, unless only for a night or two.
0 -
We got our first caravan in the early 70s, we had a 3 way fridge. No EHU provision initially, but I did install a hook up socket in the late 70s, maybe 1977. I also installed a battery charger, battery in a special box, and a double 13amp socket so we could use a fan heater when required.
0 -
Surprised it had a threeway fridge back then in a non EHU van. I was surprised to find that mine could be run on electric. I think that a lot of folk were installing electric into their caravans around late 70s and early 80s. When I bought my kit I went to a local dealer about 2 miles away for a mooch around. I expected that I would need to go to an electrical trade supplier that I was aware of as when I did mine there would be little demand for installation kits. I noticed a kit almost hidden on the top of a display rack and not on the shelves. It was fetched down for me and the box was thick with dust. I bought it half price.
Only carried a battery on one trip as I would use a lead to car tow socket. I carried the battery as we were on a 7 week tour and I had to pop to the office to do 2.5 days chairing a pre contract meeting for a tender that I had put out.
0 -
That is wher it if not supervised could be a "problem"but it would be of interest if other organisations multiple sites who use Flogas ,are also going to invest was far as i know, unless it is for company transport employees use then calor are not in the market of letting the General public use a metered LPG pump from their tanks
0 -
We bought our caravan in 1996. It was 12 years old at the time, but had provision for electrics. And one gas mantle😂, which we have used a couple of times. It seemed like heaven to us being able to hook up after years camping and with only batteries in an older van. Still in actual fact gives us all we require. What we did need, by 2000 was LPG fill up points.
Twenty years on, vans are double the size of ours, full of tech wizardry. (build quality is dodgy mind, but that’s another thread!😂) MHs are getting more and more popular, and lots of folks are actually touring, hopping from site to site. You are unlikely to see the majority of MH owners who do this, simply because a lot of them don’t join the Club. A lot of those Members who have switched from a van to a MH are doing what they did with a van, except they are now old enough for a bus pass or get an ebike. Many of course go overseas. Whatever floats your boat, choice is made. I like the thought of an outfit with refillable gas bottles, would improve independence for us during the Winter months.
0 -
It is a long time ago, but I seem to remember we had ordered one that was 3 way, and the original 2 way one was fitted into the in-laws van as it had no fridge.
EHUs must have started appearing on sites in the early/mid 70s. I remember we were in Norway with the van in 77 and we used a hook up there, also in Sweden in 78 and 80.
0 -
it wouldn't end up costing any more than our local shell garage anyway.
That depends Steve. If a filling had to be monitored then it would make sense to only have it available for part of the day (say 9 to 11am). I say this because on a site with perhaps 70 pitches occupied on average there may be 15 with underslung tanks at most and I doubt many with refillable bottles, they are likely to only want it once in their stay but as they are EHU on CMC sites it is likely to be opportunist top ups whilst it is readily available and so small quantities. May have less than 10 sales a day and and only sell 120 litres. With the possible call on staff time to service a minority I could not see it being cheaper than at a fuel station. There is the possibility then that those with underslung tanks may well fill off site when getting their propulsion fuel.
May 2017 PDF of Morrison sites with Autogas. It may have changed since. Somebody obtained the file by contacting Morrison head office
0 -
-
Why would they be any different to those with locker installed units (see the picture)? The location of the container(s) makes not a jot of difference and the connection is identical.
They wouldn't, The same would apply to any similar set upThe difference is between caravans with refillable bottles, those motorhomes that stay on site and those that go off site. Some of those staying onsite all the time tend to be the larger ones and may or may not use tanks or refillables. I doubt a great saving on garage prices and those driving off site daily may simply fill up whilst out and fuel up at the same time.
I doubt that there are many caravans on CC sites with refillables, the amount of litres they top up by will be little.
Personally I doubt the level of uptake volume wise.
1 -
If refilling LPG fixed / refillable bottles ever came to pass, even with limited sales it ought to be possible to set a competitive price. Although the sales would be minimal the quantity of gas purchased would not, as it is also used for toilet block heating etc. DD mentioned Andy's gas selling it at 49p a litre (domestic rate). Presumably they are not selling it at a loss. Even if the CC added 15p, it would only make it the same as the Shell garage where I fill up (vehicle rate)
1 -
Ours are on opposite sides of the van.
1 -
If only limited opening, the service would probably be more useful for MH's and caravans with refillables. MH's are fairly quick and painless to move and refillables can of course be carried / taken in the car to the pump. A caravan with a fixed system would want to fill on arrival or when leaving.
0
