European Gas Adaptors ???

[Wes]

Happy New Year folks!

Myself and the better half will heading to Europe (France,Spain and Itlay mainly) early March and intend to be over till September/ October time.


What is the most cost effective way of accessing/fitting gas bottles on the continent? We are still very much novices to all this, and although installing the refill system etc is out of our budget, I have heard there is an adaptor you can buy that allows you to use the euro fitting... is this true? Any advice?

At present we have the standard propane set up.

Many thanks in advance

 

[Fleming]

That is really a problem.
In France every supermarket, gasstation has a real variety of steel (13kg) gas bottles;
nearly all with the (German) DIN connection and adaptor. But: you'll have to stick to one brand ! You cannot swap a Shell-bottle for an Esso one ! (even with the same brand
eg Shell; colours are different from another country (unless you have a colourblind retailer ). Only BP-light seems to be almost universal (comes with a seperate adaptor).
Spain and Porugal have orange Repsol bottles, unknown to the rest of the world !
For myself; I do it in this way: I take 1 steel bottle from home - which gives me an autonomy of 4 weeks (in summer). I also take a 'Cube' from Shell (10 kg alu-plastic), though you need a special 'snap-on' regulator - good for 3 weeks, can be swapt nearly everywhere. As the Cube is lower than the steel one; I can put a blue 'campingaz' bottle above it for a reserve.
In summer you can do with butane.

 

[Skar]

Happy New Year folks!

I have heard there is an adaptor you can buy that allows you to use the euro fitting... is this true? Any advice?

I think you mean one of these, it's what I use. One of the advantages of it is that you can actually take it with you and try it on the bottle before you buy it, it just screws onto your regulator.

 

[Deleted member 967]

That is really a problem.
In France every supermarket, gasstation has a real variety of steel (13kg) gas bottles;
nearly all with the (German) DIN connection and adaptor. But: you'll have to stick to one brand ! You cannot swap a Shell-bottle for an Esso one ! (even with the same brand
eg Shell; colours are different from another country (unless you have a colourblind retailer ). Only BP-light seems to be almost universal (comes with a seperate adaptor).

This does not work in Spain however. We have spent all morning touring gas outlets (Repsol and Cepsa) and caravan stores to try to get a bottle of gas. We have no empty so they cannot sell us one. It is apparently against the law in Spain to Sell/Hire an empty cylinder. You can get a full one no bother if you have an empty at most garages.

I have been told that the vehicle gas system must be inspected by a qualified engineer from the company at a cost of 160 to 200€ to get a bottle contract. Then you can get refills.

The only way to get a bottle is on the "Black Market" or pick one up at a car boot sale.

Camping GAZ is available in Hardware stores with out a problem, I don't know about getting a new cylinder though.

John

 

[Wes]

Thank you guys, that's some really usefull information.

Much appreciated,

Wes

 

[mpg1 sailing]

you can also get them at a charity shop, usually 10 euros ,the adaptors are quite cheap as well