Is gas still an option?

Rivertowy said:
Wow! I didn't think my original post would generate so much interest and knowledge, opinions etc. Thank you one and all.
On Monday, Whilst in Scotland, I ran out of gas in the underslung tank, coincidence or what, or I had half an idea fate would soon dictate.....
I took a ferry from Bute to Wemyss Bay, travelled in my XLWB Iveco camper to Morrisons in Kilmarnock only to find that pump 11 zeroed up but would not dispatch any gas. I held the button in for 7 minutes! Went to the cashier but no help available so I turned round and tried pump 12. It too zeroed up and I kept the button depressed for nearly 15 minutes (a few seconds short of) and in that time it delivered 0.1 litres at a cost of 11p!
My mind is made up, my next camper will not have gas of any kind!
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This is one reason I never went for a fixed LPG tank as like you I often find myself somewhere where I Can't get a fill so I opted for 1 x Gaslow and 1 x Calor as you can always get a Calor. I am sure I asked this before but is there any way when you have a fixed LPG tank you can somehow have say a 6kg Calor as a backup? I am sure there was some reason it was difficult or impossible but cant remember. Had you had a calor backup you would not have had to leave the island. Its how we manage on places like Arran.
 
barryd said:
This is one reason I never went for a fixed LPG tank as like you I often find myself somewhere where I Can't get a fill so I opted for 1 x Gaslow and 1 x Calor as you can always get a Calor. I am sure I asked this before but is there any way when you have a fixed LPG tank you can somehow have say a 6kg Calor as a backup? I am sure there was some reason it was difficult or impossible but cant remember. Had you had a calor backup you would not have had to leave the island. Its how we manage on places like Arran.
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A simple T to connect to the regulator, just a matter of closing off manual valves, I'd presume to switch from the tank to the cylinder
 
Think you can fill up fixed underslung tank from any cylinder through bbq outlet. No idea if this is a recommended method, but can be done if you have to.
 
mark61 said:
Think you can fill up fixed underslung tank from any cylinder through bbq outlet. No idea if this is a recommended method, but can be done if you have to.
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It's not recommended as it can damage the regulator I think Charlie said but used to be quite common. They now do a pipe you fix to the portable bottle one end then fill socket at the other. No good in countries where you aren't allowed to stand a bottle outside the van though
 
Pudsey Bear said:
A simple T to connect to the regulator, just a matter of closing off manual valves, I'd presume to switch from the tank to the cylinder
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I can't remember now but I am sure there was some reason it wasn't possible or advised. I can't remember if it was something Charlie said or if it was on here. Anyway the fixed LPG tank with the Alko kit for my van was a shed load of money and they are not that big anyway. What we have works. If I thought I could fit a 50 litre tank underneath then I would probably do it but I cant.
 
It's not different to what we both do now Barry, except it'd be permanent. I don't see how it could damage a regulator, as only one would be connected at a time.
 
barryd said:
I can't remember now but I am sure there was some reason it wasn't possible or advised. I can't remember if it was something Charlie said or if it was on here. Anyway the fixed LPG tank with the Alko kit for my van was a shed load of money and they are not that big anyway. What we have works. If I thought I could fit a 50 litre tank underneath then I would probably do it but I cant.
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You have the best option for the way you use the van, its different for everyone cos we do things differently
 
Nabsim said:
You have the best option for the way you use the van, its different for everyone cos we do things differently
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I know I just wish I could have a bigger refillable than the 6kg Gaslow. Been away two weeks now and it's likely to run out very soon. It's fine as we have the Calor but I am saving that. 😁

Probably going home Sunday. The old van was better with 1x11kg Gaslow and 1x6kg Calor.
 
alwaysared said:
We have lived in our van for nearly six years and we have a pretty decent electrical set up but if we didn't have any gas we'd be in trouble trying to live off grid from about the middle of October through to end of February.

Regards,
Del
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How do you manage to live off grid in the depths of winter? Must be a pretty good solar set up. My concern would definitely be gas usage then. We tend to go looking for hookup once it gets to October through to March and I just set the heating at 21c and leave it. On the odd occasion I have had to do that on gas it absolutely drinks the LPG.
 
barryd said:
How do you manage to live off grid in the depths of winter? Must be a pretty good solar set up. My concern would definitely be gas usage then. We tend to go looking for hookup once it gets to October through to March and I just set the heating at 21c and leave it. On the odd occasion I have had to do that on gas it absolutely drinks the LPG.
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If you read my post we don't rely on solar in those months, we rely on gas which is the point I was making, gas is still an option for some of us.

As for gas usage we keep a record of our use and it averaged out at £55.00/month during those months but then we make it back in the other months, that's for cooking, fridge, heating and hot water. We used to go to Spain and Portugal in the winter but ill health put that on hold until next year and compared to living in an house it's not too bad.

Regards,
Del
 
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alwaysared said:
If you read my post we don't rely on solar in those months, we rely on gas which is the point I was making, gas is still an option for some of us.

As for gas usage we keep a record of our use and it averaged out at £55.00/month during those months but then we make it back in the other months, that's for cooking, fridge, heating and hot water. We used to go to Spain and Portugal in the winter but ill health put that on hold until next year and compared to living in an house it's not too bad.

Regards,
Del
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Same reason I personally would want some gas. I aren't full time but when not grounded usually out about 10 months of the year. House is rediculous these days at £200 per month gas and electric. I don't fill my 6kg bottle twice a year. The 11Kg Gaslow has been sat in the garage over 2 years now not needed to carry it when just me and the dogs
 
Nabsim said:
Same reason I personally would want some gas. I aren't full time but when not grounded usually out about 10 months of the year. House is rediculous these days at £200 per month gas and electric. I don't fill my 6kg bottle twice a year. The 11Kg Gaslow has been sat in the garage over 2 years now not needed to carry it when just me and the dogs
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£200/month ?? Do you live in Buckingham Palace or the likes?

I moaned at £419 last year.
 
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