Gas in Spain
Hi I am going to a hosted site in Spain in Feb 2023. Our motorhome only as gas heater and hot water so will need to make sure I can get gas. We are planning on taking only one bottle and then sort a Spanish version once there, I have bought the pigtail adaptor and the adaptor for the Spanish bottle as reccommended by Gaslow. I am assuming I can by a 6K bottle quite easily from the site in Spain. Any advice on this or on any other issues?
Comments
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Unlikely to be a 6Kg bottle though. Most brands seem to be around 11-13Kg. Better get a few sessions at the gym before you go.
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Afternoon
Both Repsol and Cepsa Spanish bottles are around 11-13kgs so check that size will go in your locker. In my pvc, I just get 2 6kg bottles in so when in Spain I have a hose from Gaslow that goes from the regulator, through the drop down vent to the bottle outside the van. In transit the bottle sits in the bathroom. Empty bottles are available everywhere, fleamarkets, second hand shops etc for around 10 euros, then exchange at any garage. I was last there in October '21 and a swap was 11.50 euros.
If when in the UK you use sites with electric hook up and the occasional trip abroard then a refillable bottle set up isn't worth the expense.
JK
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We have a an underslung tank on our PVC which is great when abroad apart from if we stay long term on a campsite as we need to pack up and drive off site to find a station to refill the tank.
Is there a way that we could purchase a bottle and connect it to the van in some way. We have and exterior gas BBQ connection, can that we used in anyway or do we need to buy a kit to fit in someway to the underslung tank.
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It may well depend on your particular system. Gasit, as used by AutoSleeper, can be used with a bottle but not through the BBQ point which is designed to let gas out rather than in.
It works by using a free standing bottle connected to the tank filler point. It does not fill the tank as such but turns the tank into part of the pipework used by the gas as it flows from bottle to, say, cooker.
You’ll find full details online or on YouTube.
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Thanks Tinny, we do have a Gasit system.
The problem with the method you described is that our LPG filler point is behind the sliding door, so we wouldn't be able to open the door if there was a device attached to it.
I thought I remembered someone on here suggesting that you could use your bbq point, I may be wrong. 🤔
Might have to give Gasit a call to get more info.
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We have a an underslung tank on our PVC which is great when abroad apart from if we stay long term on a campsite as we need to pack up and drive off site to find a station to refill the tank.
Surely it is not that much of an effort to go off site once in a while. I have 11Kgm Gaslow refillable bottles and find that I only need to go off site about once a month to refill when wintering in Spain.
peedee
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If we could avoid it then why not.
If we had to use gas for the fridge, heating and hot water + cooking I very much doubt we would get more than 10 days from a full tank, this information comes from other members who have the same van as us.
If we were looking at long stays on sites then we could possibly take an awning with us we wouldn't want to have to keep taking it down if there is another way.
There is also another reason, getting LPG is getting more difficult as garage's are stopping supplying it. We may have to look at bottled gas at some point.
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The external hose mentioned above is a tried and tested route for using an exchange bottle with a refillable system.
normally, the filler point would be accessible all the time, often in the side skirt or under a rear door of a PVC. I assume you have to open the sliding door when filling even in wet weather.
It wouldn't be difficult to get a longer filler hose fitted and have the filler point sited somewhere it can be accessed anytime without having to open the door.
other than this, its going to be a bit awkward, as you say.
my locker holds two 11/13kg bottles. One is a refillable and the other is a 11kg Repsol which I exchange when I get to Spain and this can be further swapped at any Repsol filling station and most campsites.
I think I'd be tempered to look at a longer hose allowing the filler to be resited in a more convenient space, perhaps in the van skirt. Might not even have to change the hose if the skirt is close to current position.
When over wintering, with fridge/freezer, cooking and hot water (we use site showers) on gas we get about 20 days from each 11kg bottle.
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TG, YT's suggestion of moving the filler seems to be a good one, especially as you are also having concerns about the future supplies of LPG.
We take an awning when overwintering in Spain but leave it free standing, then it is not a problem at all when we want to go off site whether to get LPG or to visit somewhere. We usually run the fridge on electric and just use the gas for heating and cooking.
peedee
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"normally, the filler point would be accessible all the time, often in the side skirt or under a rear door of a PVC. I assume you have to open the sliding door when filling even in wet weather."
TG I misunderstood your post, thinking the filler was only uncovered when the door was opened...I can see from the website now what you mean.
however, resisting the filler (say) in the skirt behind the rear near side wheel would solve the issue.
good luck.
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Thanks YT and PD for the suggestion, not sure OH is keen on having to re-site the filler point.
Why on earth AT thought it was a good place to put a filler point I don't know. The water filler point is there as well so you have to close the sliding door if you want to top up with water.
Someone on our FB group says there is an attachment that can be fitted to the underslung tank to allow you to attach a hose and regulator. Will look into that first before thinking of relocation.
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AD, agreed...I think the OP will be fine with a local bottle, just as I use one in my locker second bottle space.
TG, this Gaslow external filling hose is what your FB group might be referring to.
it's the easy way to attach a local cylinder to a refillable system, incl an underslung tank.
Jumbo adaptor on one end, attached to the Repsol bottle, and the other screwed into your filler hole.
this might still be an issue with the door sliding back...you'll have to check.
I can't think of any other way of getting gas into the underslung tank.
that being the case, it may need to be a move of the filler hole...shouldn't be that tricky...old filler can be removed and hole can have a blanking plate and new hole cut will take existing filler. Current hose might be long enough.
good luck.
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I think this is it...
Dimensions
Diameter: 30 cm
Maximum total height: 54,9 cm0 -
Hi,
Agree a rare find is a 6k bottle in Spain as gas is so cheap for the normal 12/13k. Usually a 1/3rd or 1/4 of UK price as regulated pricing.
We sourced a s/h Repsol Propano 13 kg in UK prior & regulator type bottle fitting (Google) which we use on journey down & back (we always return with a new full one) and easily exchange in Spain when needed. Am off to Repsol garage in an hour to do just that !
Normal, unless on an upmarket expensive site, to only have basic 6Amp ehu so cheap gas used often.
Often sites have some hefty deposit arrangement for first bottle which might not assist you if Touring around.
Enjoy your trip.
MNB Our Caravan takes two 6 or 13 bottles in locker. Needs a longer pipe to juggle the bigger Repsol 13 in situ.
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