In France and in a gas quandry (22 Viewers)

[mgibbons]

Hi
I'm in France with one 8kg flogas cylinder the degree to which it is full is indeterminate and space for a spare cylinder. I am wondering what my options are if I run out of gas which does not require significant modification to the existing Trauma setup - see pictures. I have read a number of threads and an very confused as to my options. Before the next trip I plan on getting refillable cylinders. Thanks in advance. Cheers.

 

[PlacidoD]

Low cost options before your return to the UK are limited. Your "signature" says you don't own a van yet but that appears to be wrong! So to cover all bases.
1. If you have a Truma heater that uses either of gas or 240V get yourself on a site with EHU and use the 240 V for space and water heating.
2. Beg borrow or steal a 2nd propane gas bottle from another UK van. It does not matter what make.
3. If you are very lucky exchange your part-empty Flogas bottle for an identical full bottle with someone with two on board who is on their way back to the UK and give them some money for the difference.

But you may have enough in your 8kg bottle to cope. It goes a surprisingly long way. I put 16 litres as a first fill in my new SafeFill 11kg bottle (They advise 16 litres only for a 1st fill instead of the usual 19 litres.) That will be very similar to your 8kg bottle when full. After over 30 nights away so far since then including water always left on 40C unless showering when then set to 60C, cooking and occasional use of space heating and gas to power the fridge I have yet to empty the bottle (And I have a 2nd identical full bottle sat alongside it so I can afford to run it to empty!)

 

[Jimbohorlicks]

You could use a local cylinder. They are cheaper than in the uk but then you usually can't take them back for a refund when empty.the bottle connection you have is for a calor bottle and would need to be changed also to suit your purchased bottle and to ensure it connects to your regulator .
Or you could buy one of the single burner camp stove tops that use the canister cartridges to save on your existing gas.

Butane Stove Portable Cooker in Carry Case 2 4 8 12 Gas Bottles Camping BBQ Kit Gas Camping Stove with Automatic Ignition & Heat Control (Gas Stove + 2 Butane Cans) https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0CDHGH8WH?tag=mhf04-21

 

[royandsharont]

If you can get scales you can weigh your bottle & determine how much gas is left, the bottle weight is on the collar ring. As a guide I use EHU but when I had a van with gas fridge etc I only ever used less than 2kg gas in a full 8 week trip.

In addition to the good advice above

I know there are campsites in Spain that will fill a U.K. bottle, no personal knowledge, or about France.

I have an adaptor to swap to fit my pigtail to a Spanish bottle, there will be something similar for French ones if you enquire and I believe you can easily buy French bottles at supermarkets.

 

[mitzimad]

https://www.bes.co.uk/gas-cylinder-adaptor-21123/one of these would work if it fits the foreign bottle

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[Lenny HB]

French bottles are cheap and you can get a pigtail from any Motorhome dealer.

 

[mgibbons]

Thanks for all the suggestions. I'm not bothered about the cost of the bottle; just the connection. I think the best solution for now was to get one of these before I left the UK - https://www.gasproducts.co.uk/propane-pol-to-butane-adaptor.html - but I'm not in the UK at the moment. I'll buy one for next time and if I do run out will try and find a motorhome dealer. In the past we've used campsites with little need for gas but this time have been experimenting with Aires where EHU availability has been variable.

 

[bigtree]

First thing to do is remove the unused hose and cap that side with the one hanging on the changeover valve, if you disconnect the POL fitting that will be a 21.8mm thread and some bottles in France have that.

 

[Bessy765]

If you can fit the larger cylinder just go to a Bricomarche, you can get a propane cylinder for 1 Euro plus the refill cost, just put the address as the nearest aire, they sell the adapter that screws on the bottle and the other end will fit you regulator. Where about in France are you/

 

[mgibbons]

If you can fit the larger cylinder just go to a Bricomarche, you can get a propane cylinder for 1 Euro plus the refill cost, just put the address as the nearest aire, they sell the adapter that screws on the bottle and the other end will fit you regulator. Where about in France are you/

Hi. Currently in Bayeaux. I see that there is one right next to us. I'll pop in there tomorrow on our way out. Thanks for the info. I'll let you know how I get on.

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[Emmit]

The large gas bottles found at garages in France have an outlet which is exactly the same as a UK Calor butane 'dumpy' 3.9kilo? bottle.
It has a left hand thread female nut.
You can usually buy one either the supermarkets or caravan dealers.
Obviously you would have to remove the 'spare' pigtail that is already fitted but at the Regulator end the fittings are identical.

 

[Mikey RV]

If your staying in France for a while just get a French cylinder, sometimes for sale on campsites from travellers, and go to a ironmongers and get a pigtail for the bottle and your sorted.

 

[Emmit]

It's not unknown to 'find' (I'm not condoning theft) at many garages attached to supermarkets because theyhave adopted a credit card buy/return system and there are sometimes occasions when a gas bottle gets abandoned at the site.