Refillable Gas (LPG) Bottles for Motorhomes - are they worth it?
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- čas přidán 7. 07. 2021
- Wondering whether you should fit a refillable gas bottle to your motorhome or campervan? ESPECIALLY if you're mainly based in the UK- where it's getting harder and harder to find LPG stations?
Today, we discuss the pros and cons of using refillable LPG bottles and tanks in your van, and if it's still worth the cost.
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Thanks for watching!
Thanks for checking out the video. Let me know below what system you have on your van- and what you like/ dislike about it. And if you have any questions, don’t hesitate to ask!
We have just standard safe fill allows us to easily swap back to normal swap lpg if needed snd we keep one of each
Good video,and I agree with everything you said, I now have a 21 liter Gaslow refillable bottle. And it is saving me a fortune, if you are traveling through several countries, it make financial sense to have a refillable system.
Great video, your right, lpg is getting hard to find ,we got stuck in Scotland over last Xmas and ran out of gas as the local lpg stations were closed, we have now got 2 x 30L underslung tanks and a 7.5 kg safefill on our Motorhome, it's now less stressful as can go longer between fill ups,
Wow that was super helpful, thank you :)
Hi Kat, We're looking to have one of each on our new MH as we plan on spending time both in the UK and EU. I hadn't thought about the different connections in Europe though so thanks for highlighting that. :) ATB, John.
I had Gaslow refillable fitted 3 years ago, and one of the features I really like in the excellent, accurate, built in contents gauges. It gives me huge confidence knowing how much gas I actually have, and the rate I am using it on a trip, so I have a really good idea how long it is going to last me.
Thanks for the vlog I was going to get but now staying the exchange bottles
Fair enough. Glad it helped you decide what’s best for you.
We are getting our first motor home in November and think we will be going for the exchangeable bottles. Two petrol stations near to us Edwinstowe Nottinghamshire sold the LPG, but have now taken it away and replaced with electric hook up for cars !! X
I have two Gasit 11Kg refillable bottles fitted, the pigtails have adapters that convert the normal Calor propane bottle to the Gasit bottles. So nice and easy if I go back to Calor. We went for a refillable system because we intend to tour Europe as soon as we can.
I’ve found a lot of Morrison’s garages have LPG pumps, and apparently Morrison’s aren’t removing them. As for Scotland yes the remote areas are a bit scarce on LPG, but there are places. In Ullapool for instance there a LPG filling station in an industrial estate at an truck engineering place. The guy that served me last October said they’d just had the system renewed. There’s also a station just north of Inverness, and a couple of others further north from there.
My biggest gripe is the fact that Calor seem to be properly cashing in on their near monopoly. The last time I got a 6Kg exchangeable bottle it was over £24 when I installed the Gasit bottles it cost £26 to fill both 11Kg bottles (22Kg of gas in total) from empty. That would have been over £70 at Calor prices. So at £400 for the Gasit installation I got back a big chunk in one fill up.
Yeah- the difference in price is substantial. Sounds like it was well worth it for you
Morrison’s supermarkets are fab for LPG pumps and add in they often have washing machines it’s a win win
Very true- although Morrison’s car parks are a PAIN to park a Motorhome in. Drives me nuts.
Ahh some Morrison’s have started to do motorhome bays unfortunately often full of large cars lol
Half agree as you did touch on it it takes a lot of fills to recoup the cost . The biggest factor that was not touched on is this question was about someone's first motorhome. As us long term motorhomers know your first one is the wrong van and you will be changing it in a year or two so don't spend unnecessary money until you know you keeping the motorhome and you are going to use loads of gas
It also depends on your time away from the uk but we just bought two german 11kg two Spanish 11kg and two french also 11kg
About £5 -£10 each off ebay and just take those depending on where we going . Pig tail with adapters to suit each .
Also cheaper than the uk 22 euro Germany and France and 12 euro spain for the 11kg . Saying that summer holiday touring for two week s will not even go thro, 2 uk 6kg as long as no heating used so all depends on your future plans .
Just mt pennith........ Don't jump in before doing the maths and convenience.
Yep- definitely important to figure out if it’s worth the cost.
With refillable gas you don't have to wait until a bottle is empty. I always top up with LPG whether I "need" some or not whenever I get diesel, if I can. This is another "advantage" over swappable where you have to wait until a bottle is empty.
This is an excellent point!
I got a refillable system fitted to our van before we imported it to Luxembourg, absolute godsend, that said more and more places are refusing to allow you to fill them up, they specify the LPG if for engine fuel only, I think Shell are introducing a Europe wide ban on Motorhomes. Fortunately I have a garage near me that is happy for you to fill up.
That’s a shame. Seems silly to ban all motorhomes, but She’ll have been strange about LPG for a while.
Hi Kat. I’m having a Gas Low system installed in a new motorhome to be delivered in January. I’ve watched all the youtube video’s regarding installation, filling and usage, but nowhere have i seen in an installation using brand new bottles and pipework, anything on purging the air from the new bottles before the initial fill at the gas station. LPG is quite stable when stored in a bottle or a tank, but when mixed with the air (atmosphere) it becomes very volatile and can explode. Presumably new gas - low bottles contain only air and have never had gas in them. So when the bottles are filled for the first time, the air in the bottles remains in there and is mixed with the lpg gas thus creating a volatile mixture of gas and air. Surely then the air needs to be purged from the system. This would need to be done using the same gas as the gas eventually to be pumped in. I’ve worked extensively on gas installations and purging is always done before the system is filled and put into service.
I’m interested in hearing your comments on this. regards. Alan
After a recent 7 week trip in the uk I now have one refillable bottle and one exchange bottle. This hopefully will cover all eventualities. The east coast of the uk was particularly difficult trying to get refillable gas (two weeks ago) not because there were no pumps at garages just because there was a supply issue. I’m sure as the summer goes on it will improve. One bottle for each will decrease my stress levels.
Yeah, it seems to be particularly bad at the moment. Not sure if it’s COVID, BREXIT or something else though.
vantastic adventures are planning to do a similar vlog,as there auto trail campervan comes with the underslung gas tank.Their van is something I have been looking to buy,but outlet's selling LPG has been my concern, although I do live near Gatwick,but if they disappear..what then!
The recent shortage was due to two big LPG refiners shutting down for long term maintenance. Supply has improved in the last few weeks. Big Sainsbury petrol stations and Morrison's tend to have LPG pumps.
Good to know- thanks Richard
I know this is a old video now but just bought a camper with a gaslow system fitted, will be going around France and possibly Spain with it. The filling point has a bayonet fitting, which matches up with uk pumps, is this still the same in France and rest of Europe or do I need a adapter?
We fitted a refillable cylinder because we were planning to travel Europe but last year happened! We are lucky that we have a local LPG station and the refill is soo much cheaper than a hire cylinder. If we were to use the van in this country only, Iam not sure I would still fit one now.
Yep- it’s definitely a personal choice. Let’s hope you get to Europe soon!
At the moment there's been a shortage of 6kb propane bottles here. I don't know if it's a national shortage. I'm glad I fitted a refillable LPG in the van as I had to buy an 11kb propane for my home bbq.
That’s possibly why- too many new BBQs 😂😂🙈🤷♀️
I was informed that a main depot in Wales had been visited by H&S and loads of bottles were found not to meet standards as writing on bottles had disappeared and there were also signs of corrosion, this has led to re-vamping of bottles which has led to shortages. One of my local providers does not expect this to be sorted anytime this year.
Hai i from Kelantan Malaysia
Hi!
Sorry to be a pain where in Southampton do you get LPG we only found Ower services and they're hit and miss . Thanks .
Got 2x11kg bottles and a Gasit system fitted. Not had a problem thus far in the UK or Germany, wouldn't wanna be hoiking bottles in and out.
Absolutely- another good point. Lugging those things around is a pain
LPG is available in Morrison’s garage forecourts, and it’s widely available abroad 😌👍🏻
Not completely accurate I’m afraid as there are lots of Morrison’s forecourts that don’t stock LPG. Just try looking on their branch finder then see what services are available and you will see that many do not have LPG.
Best extra I have had fitted was an LPG tank. It has paid for itself ten times over.
There is an LPG station in Bulford village near Stonehenge.
Hi, my camper came with the gas flow system (LPG tank under the van) but there isn’t anywhere near me or I can’t find any that does it. So I use an electric hot plate for food as I use campsites, so I’m seriously thinking about having the cooker taken out and having more storage/ drawers fitted in place of it.
That’s a LOT of extra storage!!
@@WanderingBird one of the drawers would be for the electric hob but I’m not sure I know how to get it out yet.
Came across station in Bayonne where sales staff said the GPL was only for vehicle propulsion and not for sale to refillable containers.
Not sure if it was just a surly local or whether the small sticker she was pointing to did actually confirm this state of affairs. I was so p-eeed off with her attitude I forgot to have a proper look myself at it 🙄
This is really useful Kat thanks for covering this subject. We have exchangeable gas bottles at the moment but had a bit of a problem finding full ones a few weeks ago due to the shortage. On another note did you film this on your boat? I’m really interested to find out about alternative ways to live I.e. no bricks and mortar. It would be great if you could cover this subject in your videos, in particular living between a boat and motorhome. Advantages disadvantages, costs of moorings, upkeep of boat etc. Even a tour of your boat (if that’s not too intrusive). It’s something I would really like to know more about. I would imagine that there are others who would have an interest too. Just a thought 😁 xx
The cost factor of installing refillable bottles really needs to be taken over the lifetime of your motorhoming rather than how long you plan to own a particular van as it’s quite simple to move your refillable system over to your new van especially when you’ve fitted the filler inside your locker rather than making holes in the outside of your van.
Very true!
You can buy a refill adapter for propane bottles for about £20. That must surely make it a no-brainer?
Lol good luck with petrol stations letting you refill bottles, big no no.
when did the camper van grow floats and wings
It has wings????? Epic 😉
Safefill
How long would a 6+13kg last in France for mainly fridge and cooking
Should be warm ,so heating seems unlikely
And we’ll be on hookup 90% of the time
Answers from anyone please 😁
If you’re going in summer, that would last us 2, possibly even 3 weeks. In winter with heating it would last about 4/5 days.