15kg gas bottles (how long is a piece of string)

[PaulandSam]

Good Morning Campers,

Off for a trundle round Europe next month, probably for about three or four months. I currently have 2 15kg Calor bottles which came with the van. Wondering whether to go with them this time and invest in refillable system if we get as hooked as I think we will!

Any thoughts on likely duration to run fridge, hob and occasional heating until we get to the warm bits.

Paul and Sam x

 

[Makzine]

Not sure on how long the gas will last but the string should be twice half it's length :wave: have a lovely adventure :wave:

 

[jagmanx]

Refillable is best

But
If you are only in France

1 Just take 1 full Calor bottle
2 Buy suitable connector (pigtail) and buy french gas bottles form supermarkets (intermarche)
So keep the french bottle(s) as your main gas supply and your calor as your "backup until you swap the French bottle"
For Only France this works well but I got a refillable (GAS-IT) wth 2 x 11kg bottles
Great up to 1 month between topups ! but £600 to install.
Given you say 3 months ...re-fillable for me

 

[r4dent]

Depending on where you are going using Butane in the colder months is not a good idea ,if you do nothing else I would swap them for Propane bottles.

100% agree. If you don't change to propaane and it is cold outside fill a flask with boiling water so you can use it to thaw a frozen butane regulator.
The is anther way to thaw it, but it involves the risk of frostbite where you don't want frostbite.
If you do change you will need a new pigtail or regulator depending on your set up.

With the heating on in the evening only about 1.75 kg a day.

 

[n brown]

normally i collect calor bottles while in UK as you can get them very cheap or free
then i take a couple of 13 or 15kg bottles with me and a camping gaz bottle, which is only for emergency. when the bigger bottles are empty i ditch them and buy local.

 

[Asterix]

A 13kg butane lasts me about 6 weeks for fridge,cooking and endless coffees,I never use the heating so can't comment on that.

 

[maingate]

Fit an external BBQ point, then you can use local bottles and feed the gas in via the external point as long as you have a regulator fitted to the bottle.

 

[oppy]

As mentioned in a previous posting, I have a French bottle and regulator going begging to anyone who wants it

 

[PaulandSam]

Thanks very much as usual you luvverly peeps

On the strength of all that I think I will bull the bite-it and invest in refillable (probably Gas-It 2 x 11kg).

So - two more questions (does he never shut up):

Looks straight forward to fit - any thoughts?
Seen recent concerns about some countries refusing to let you refill. I'll fit an external filler - anyone have recent experience pos or neg?
Tvm

Paul and Sam x

 

[groyne]

Can't say about others, but I've never had any problems in the UK, France, Germany, Belgium or the Netherlands refilling with an external fill point. Just remember to get an Adaptor kit.

 

[jagmanx]

Good decision

I have had no problems even though my Filling point (Properly done) is in the gas locker.
My installation included the adapters

In the summer about 2 weeks on each tank ! So I fill up every 3 weeks or sooner !
I have to change tanks manually (a bit fiddly) so if I see LPG when the connected tank might be getting low I fill up anyway

You willl see payback maybe in 2 years
Main advantage is you can always top up
The obvious exceptions are Finland and Morocco
Dodgy (IMO) Solutions exist for Morocco and maybe Finland if you have a BBQ point !
Finland not a problem as I suggest 3 weeks s enuff

Morocco as with many non-western countries find ways and means
OK go on report me to HSE

 

[witzend]

Adaptor

If You decide to just use French bottles THIS adaptor allows you to connect your UK propane hose direct to a French bottle which are easily obtained at French filling stations Intermarche do a 10 kg bottle for 20€ + first bottle deposit of 1€ they have outlets all over France pictured on left beside UK 13kg bottle This way you can try it first before committing to refillable

 

[vwalan]

I have had no problems even though my Filling point (Properly done) is in the gas locker.
My installation included the adapters

In the summer about 2 weeks on each tank ! So I fill up every 3 weeks or sooner !
I have to change tanks manually (a bit fiddly) so if I see LPG when the connected tank might be getting low I fill up anyway

You willl see payback maybe in 2 years
Main advantage is you can always top up
The obvious exceptions are Finland and Morocco
Dodgy (IMO) Solutions exist for Morocco and maybe Finland if you have a BBQ point !
Finland not a problem as I suggest 3 weeks s enuff

Morocco as with many non-western countries find ways and means
OK go on report me to HSE

in morocco just buy a local bottle .
just make sure you have a means of conecting to the old uk butane threads .
at about 4 quid to exchange their bottles and the little deposit asked best gas you will get .
i,m sure there is cheaper somewhere .
many fill their uk bottles etc by tipping moroccan bottles into their bottles ,ideal if you think you are capable .
far better in uk to use 19kg bottles , the gas is cheaper and it would take years and years to get your money back if changing to the expensive refillables .

 

[witzend]

in morocco just buy a local bottle .
it would take years and years to get your money back if changing to the expensive refillables .

There was no mention by op of going to Africa he only said Europe as for refillable bottles whether you'd ever get to see your money back I'm not sure As £600 is quoted above I've been 7 yrs 8 mths a year and haven't spent anywhere near that on gas and after 10 yrs they'll need replacing.

 

[vwalan]

There was no mention by op of going to Africa he only said Europe as for refillable bottles whether you'd ever get to see your money back I'm not sure As £600 is quoted above I've been 7 yrs 8 mths a year and haven't spent anywhere near that on gas and after 10 yrs they'll need replacing.

jagmanx mentioned morocco in an above post.
just throwing ideas into the pot .
there is other ideas and things to do.
but sometimes can get head bitten off if mentioning ebay. ha ha .

 

[jagmanx]

Europe ONLY

Considering we may pay £30,000 to £100,000 for a MoHo

£600 or less for a proper Re-fill-able system is as they say a "No-Brainer" IMO
Of course on the assumption you use MoHo for at least 3 months a year !

Ok go to Morocco once say in 10 years and have to "Fudge it"

 

[witzend]

Of course on the assumption you use MoHo for at least 3 months a year !

You'd never get your money back in 3 months a year as refillable bottles need changing in 10 yrs.

In 56 months over 7 yrs I haven't come close to £600 for gas remember it's cheaper in europe than UK

 

[Canalsman]

My understanding is that refillable bottles require testing or examination after 10 years rather than replacement ...

 

[vwalan]

What a bizarre approach!

Firstly, although the cost per litre can be significantly lower with refillables, that's not the point.

A refillable can be refilled, so you don't need to go out in the middle of a snowstorm to change the bottles over.

You don't have to decide whether to waste what's left in the bottle and change it early to be sure of setting off with a full supply.

You don't have to find a depot that open when you need gas.

You don't have to lug heavy bottles in and out.

If you are just interested on saving money, sell the motorhome and buy a bivvy bag.

you would need to go out and change them if you didnt have a change over system.
i would never hand a bottle back with some gas in , thats really daft idea .
looking for a fill point can be as hard as looking for a bottle exchange . in fact in many countries its far easier exchanging than driving miles to a fill point.
most places will lift the bottles for you if you cant.
but then arent all gas bottles refillable .

 

[witzend]

You willl see payback maybe in 2 years

What a bizarre approach! If you are just interested on saving money, sell the motorhome and buy a bivvy bag.

I didn't mention saving money just pointing out that you'd need to use a hell of a lot of gas to see pay back in 2 yrs. Most intermarche filling stations do bottle gas and they are doing 24 self service bottle gas at some although I've yet to work out how the dispensers work. 2 from memory Combourg & Morlaix