Sufficient Calor gas for extended European travel (1 Viewer)

[Bazzagas]

Hi funsters...we are one month away from our trip to France, Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany possibly Austria...we are away for 58 days..my question is I have two calor gas 6kg..I intend to take both full..will they be enough...we will have to use sites so plan to be on electric some times..(.need to fill up with water and dump waste )..but would probably use gas for water and cooking and fridge...I don't want to run out as I think there is no calor bottles available...any advice please....thanks...

 

[Lenny HB]

Without EHU you will struggle we use about 14kg in 15 days, we don't use EHU just our fridge uses 0.5 kg (1 Lt) a day.

If you are going to be going across every year we'll worth fitting refillable cylinders you soon recover the cost with the gas being about a ⅓ of the cost of the equivalent 6kg bottle.

 

[Bazzagas]

Without EHU you will struggle we use about 14kg in 15 days, we don't use EHU just our fridge uses 0.5 kg (1 Lt) a day.

If you are going to be going across every year we'll worth fitting refillable cylinders you soon recover the cost with the gas being about a ⅓ of the cost of the equivalent 6kg bottle.

Thanks lenny...ive got a few questions... where would i get them from..do you know the cost...can i use, say, a refillable..and carry a calor...are the connections the same..Will my equipment in the moho use them OK.. I'm limited in size to the 6 kg bottles...the gas compartment won't take a bigger bottle..

 

[poppycamper]

As Lenny HB says... on EHU every night I think you be fine... but what you are planning I seriously don't think gas will last 1months...never mind 2

 

[LostInSpace]

.the gas compartment won't take a bigger bottle..

Is that because of height or width?

Will my equipment in the moho use them OK

Yes. you will be OK. LPG is basically propane? The same as Calor.
Even if you currently use blue butane bottles your equipment will be OK.
One proviso for both is that we assume your regulator is not attached to the top of the bottle. the old way of doing it.

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[LostInSpace]

where would i get them from

Some of the independent LPG suppilers also sell the Safefill bottles.

 

[Bazzagas]

Is that because of height or width?


Yes. you will be OK. LPG is basically propane? The same as Calor.
Even if you currently use blue butane bottles your equipment will be OK.
One proviso for both is that we assume your regulator is not attached to the top of the bottle. the old way of doing it.

Both really...its quite tight..

 

[LostInSpace]

Buy | Safefill

When you buy a Safefill LPG cylinder it is yours to keep and refill

www.safefill.co.uk

Other options are available.

 

[Bazzagas]

Some of the independent LPG suppilers also sell the Safefill bottles.

In europe..??What is a safe fill bottle..??...

 

[Bazzagas]

Buy | Safefill

When you buy a Safefill LPG cylinder it is yours to keep and refill

www.safefill.co.uk

Other options are available.

Thanks for that info..

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[LostInSpace]

You are righht about not being able to get Calor once you cross the channel.

 

[LostInSpace]

Another option is CampingGaz 907 bottles - widely available in Europe.
But not the least expensive way of buying the gas.

Campingaz 907 Large Butane Gas Refill London - Campingaz Large Refills

The Campingaz 907 cylinder is the largest size in the range and holds 2.72kg of butane gas. Ideal for small cookers, stoves and mini BBQs. Buy Now

www.londongases.co.uk

 

[meanders]

Look for GasIT or Gaslow deals near you or on the way to down. It will cost you a few hundred but save in the mid term and completely takes the stress away when overseas. Basildog may be able to advise options near you, or maybe you can arrange to call there on the way south.

 

[VXman]

I bought my refillable 'Gaslow; bottle from Hamilton Gas. Very helpful company with quick delivery.

They do a 6KG one. Personally I have one Gaslow bottle which I refill everytime it gets low. I also carry a 6KG Calor bottle as a back up in case the Gaslow bottle runs out. You will need a different hose (pigtail) for the Gaslow. I just swap the hose over if I need to change bottles but keeping an eye on levels and topping up means I rarely need to do this.

It's a good idea to have a external refill point as some garages don't like you filling up bottles directly. Having an external refill point saves questions.

Set up can be expensive but if you use it a lot you will make your money back as LPG is cheaper. Also, less hassle when abroad.

Gaslow R67 6kg Refillable Cylinder 1 with Level Gauge

The Gaslow R67 6kg Refillable Cylinder 1 is especially designed to meet the French R67 Gas Tank Standards. Gaslow have always held the view that the Gaslow Bottles are considered as "Cylinders" and therefore they are manfacturered to the cylinder standard EN1442:2006. Gaslow were not just alone...

www.gasproducts.co.uk

Gaslow Butane 450mm HP Stainless Steel Gas Hose

Gaslow stainless hose. Length 450mm for connection between the butane cylinder and the 30mbar regulator. Long term replacement for the high pressure rubber hose. Life of 20 years

www.gasproducts.co.uk

Gaslow White Filling Kit with 1.5m Fill Hose

The Gaslow Remote Filler Kits are supplied with all the necessary fixing screws ready for mounting to the side of your motorhome or caravan. Connection to the UK LPG pump is made via the bayonet fitting. (Also suitable for Holland). Other adapters are sold separately to enable filling throughout...

www.gasproducts.co.uk

 

[TrudeandDall]

I bought my refillable 'Gaslow; bottle from Hamilton Gas. Very helpful company with quick delivery.

They do a 6KG one. Personally I have one Gaslow bottle which I refill everytime it gets low. I also carry a 6KG Calor bottle as a back up in case the Gaslow bottle runs out. You will need a different hose (pigtail) for the Gaslow. I just swap the hose over if I need to change bottles but keeping an eye on levels and topping up means I rarely need to do this.

It's a good idea to have a external refill point as some garages don't like you filling up bottles directly. Having an external refill point saves questions.

Set up can be expensive but if you use it a lot you will make your money back as LPG is cheaper. Also, less hassle when abroad.

Gaslow R67 6kg Refillable Cylinder 1 with Level Gauge

The Gaslow R67 6kg Refillable Cylinder 1 is especially designed to meet the French R67 Gas Tank Standards. Gaslow have always held the view that the Gaslow Bottles are considered as "Cylinders" and therefore they are manfacturered to the cylinder standard EN1442:2006. Gaslow were not just alone...

www.gasproducts.co.uk

Gaslow Butane 450mm HP Stainless Steel Gas Hose

Gaslow stainless hose. Length 450mm for connection between the butane cylinder and the 30mbar regulator. Long term replacement for the high pressure rubber hose. Life of 20 years

www.gasproducts.co.uk

Gaslow White Filling Kit with 1.5m Fill Hose

The Gaslow Remote Filler Kits are supplied with all the necessary fixing screws ready for mounting to the side of your motorhome or caravan. Connection to the UK LPG pump is made via the bayonet fitting. (Also suitable for Holland). Other adapters are sold separately to enable filling throughout...

www.gasproducts.co.uk

VXman has it exactly right. You only need one refillable bottle as you top up when you see an LPG retailer and there are many of them on the continent - far more than in the UK. Apps are available to direct you to LPG retailers.
Keep one calor as an emergency bottle and you can also get an adapter for the calor pigtail that allows the calor tail to fit the gaslow bottle - in other words using your existing pipework.
My personal advice is to get an external fill point, especially for France, but many people on here say they have had no problems with an internal fill point. You will certainly have problems with a direct filling point that requires you to take the bottle out of the van to refill in France.
You will reap the benefit very quickly.

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[March Hare]

It looks like you're in Newcastle Upon Tyne. Autogas2000 are just off the A1M around Thirsk and do an excellent job of fitting refillable gas tanks with external filler points.

We learnt the hard way that the Calor bottles we had on board for our first trip across the Channel were insufficient for the length of trip! We ended up buying a Spanish pig tail and getting hold of a Spanish gas bottle, but it was a real pain.

On our way back up to Northumberland where we lived at the time, we stopped at Autogas (appt made in advance) and they fitted a refillable Alugas cylinder and filler and we've not looked back. It's a great investment - both in ease and convenience, and in the price of LPG. Tbh, in our minds it paid for itself on its first use!!

 

[HugoBNB]

Hi funsters...we are one month away from our trip to France, Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany possibly Austria...we are away for 58 days..my question is I have two calor gas 6kg..I intend to take both full..will they be enough...we will have to use sites so plan to be on electric some times..(.need to fill up with water and dump waste )..but would probably use gas for water and cooking and fridge...I don't want to run out as I think there is no calor bottles available...any advice please....thanks...

I believe Tyne Valley Motorhomes at Burnopfield are Gaslow dealers. They are close to you.
You can also fill up at the BP at the Derwent Services near the Metro Centre.

 

[Bazzagas]

Thanks everyone for your replies and helpful advice....

 

[Spriddler]

can i use, say, a refillable..and carry a calor...are the connections the same..

I installed a 6kg Gaslow refillable and a 6kg exchangeable Calor both permanently connected to the regulator.
You don't have to wait for the refillable to run out as it can be topped up at any time.
I only tour abroad and due to the ready availability of LPG pumps I have never had to change to the Calor cylinder.

 

[Bazzagas]

I installed a 6kg Gaslow refillable and a 6kg exchangeable Calor both permanently connected to the regulator.
You don't have to wait for the refillable to run out as it can be topped up at any time.
I only tour abroad and due to the ready availability of LPG pumps I have never had to change to the Calor cylinder.
View attachment 884120

Looks good..is the fill point fitted to the compartment door...

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[Spriddler]

Looks good..is the fill point fitted to the compartment door...

Yes, with a right-angled elbow to avoid strain or a tight bend in the filling hose. There are posts on here about the desirability of fitting it in the door and it's a bit of a contentious subject. My thoughts are that there's probably no greater risk of leakage than disconnecting and reconnecting Calor bottles every time they are refilled. There's a non-return valve at both ends of the filling hose so it can only hold a small fixed amount of gas. The greatest risk would be if the filling hose was to split or burst when filling but the gas locker door would shut. My installation instructions that came with the kit showed how to install the filler in the door with a right-hand elbow but I've read on here that they no longer show the door filler method in their installation instructions.
I examine the installation regularly.
P.S. I have a crash cut-off valve so generally only open the door to turn the gas on or off when refilling the cylinder or on the ferry or I'm leaving the m/h parked on my drive out of season.

 

[Bazzagas]

Yes, with a right-angled elbow to avoid strain or a tight bend in the filling hose. There are posts on here about the desirability of fitting it in the door and it's a bit of a contentious subject. My thoughts are that there's probably no greater risk of leakage than disconnecting and reconnecting Calor bottles every time they are refilled. There's a non-return valve at both ends of the filling hose so it can only hold a small fixed amount of gas. The greatest risk would be if the filling hose was to split or burst when filling but the gas locker door would shut. My installation instructions that came with the kit showed how to install the filler in the door with a right-hand elbow but I've read on here that they no longer show the door filler method in their installation instructions.
I examine the installation regularly.

Yeah..I'm an ex gasman...40+ years, so it would probably only be the hose that would wear with opening and closing of the door...regular checks should be OK...I've seen a few with fillers on the door...did you do it yourself...and what extra fittings would you use...
Thanks...

 

[Spriddler]

Yes I fitted it seven years ago in about an hour and a half (with only one useable hand - motorbike crash) including a stop for a brew and triple thinking before plucking up the courage to drill the hole in the door!
This was the kit including a can of leak detector from the very helpful technical people at Gaslow to replace one of the Calor cylinders........

If I was to remove the kit to fit to another m/h I'd put a vent grille over the door filler hole.

 

[Spriddler]

I didn't want to fit it low down e.g in the skirt because the LPG hoses are quite stiff, the filler gun heavy and quite tricky to lock on to the filler point so would be awkward to use one-handed if the filler point was low down.

 

[Bazzagas]

Yes I fitted it seven years ago in about an hour and a half (with only one useable hand - motorbike crash) including a stop for a brew and triple thinking before plucking up the courage to drill the hole in the door!
This was the kit including a can of leak detector from the very helpful technical people at Gaslow to replace one of the Calor cylinders........
View attachment 884151

If I was to remove the kit to fit to another m/h I'd put a vent grille over the door filler hole.


View attachment 884152

Did that kit come with the price of the bottle....can you remember the costs of the kit and bottle..I appreciate prices have gone up , but just to give me an idea....I've seen the 6kg bottle on line for £170...

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[Bazzagas]

I didn't want to fit it low down e.g in the skirt because the LPG hoses are quite stiff, the filler gun heavy and quite tricky to lock on to the filler point so would be awkward to use one-handed if the filler point was low down.

I've also been looking at safefill because you can see how low the gas is getting...they're about 30 quid more for a 6kg...

 

[Spriddler]

The fitting kit wasn't included in the cost of the cylinder. I can't remember what I paid but my decision/priority was convenience as I only tour abroad and the bonus that LPG at a pump is about 1/3rd the cost of Calor. Have a look on the Gaslow website with prices.

Shop

Buy Gaslow self-refillable gas cylinders that are easy to use and will save you money every time you fill with LPG.

www.gaslowdirect.com

Re. Safefill, that's also a contentious subject as some say that they have been refused at pumps when wanting to fill them and others that they have never had that problem.

 

[Funnymunny]

Safefill will be refused in a lot of places abroad, if its not fitted into the van with a proper cut off then they will refuse. Have a proper Gaslow bottle fitted you won't regret it.

 

[Lenny HB]

Looks good..is the fill point fitted to the compartment door...

Yes and it is not recommended and if you fit it in the door rubber hoses are a lot safer.

I've also been looking at safefill because you can see how low the gas is getting...they're about 30 quid more for a 6kg...

They are a single hole bottle so you have to take them out of the van to fill. Much higher chance of getting refused at a garage

 

[Nanniemate]

Look for GasIT or Gaslow deals near you or on the way to down. It will cost you a few hundred but save in the mid term and completely takes the stress away when overseas. Basildog may be able to advise options near you, or maybe you can arrange to call there on the way south.

You beat me to it cannot fault the Basildog service

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