Refillable Gas Bottles for Europe Trip

[Dwarfland]

I’m looking at options for gas on a 3 month trip to Europe in Spring/summer- probably covering France, Spain, Germany, Italy. We carry 2X 13kg calor propane and on a previous 2 month Europe trip managed to get through both bottles (we’re off EHU 80% of the time- most Gas used by fridge when it was 40°!) I’m therefore looking at options to make sure we don’t run out this year. Using local bottles with specific country pigtales and regulators looks complicated (plus I know from last time it’s a hassle registering for new bottles etc when you have no local address).

I’ve heard about refillable LPG bottles. What else would I need to do to the set up in order to carry 1x Calor 13kg as a back up plus an LPG bottle which could be filled around Europe?

We don’t go to Europe regularly, and our van is 13 years old so I don’t want to invest in a full LPG system so thought refillable bottles may be a solution.

Thoughts and advice welcome!

 

[Gellyneck]

We've got a Safefill cylinder.

Our Cylinders | Safefill

We make LPG use a safer, easier experience for everyone

www.safefill.co.uk

Availability seems to be like hen's teeth at the moment but maybe worth a look around.
You would also need the filling adapters.

Continental Filling Adaptor | Safefill

Safefill Continental Filling Adaptors

www.safefill.co.uk

 

[Ingwe]

Without doubt, I’d recommend contacting Chris at Autogas2000 and have a chat telling him what van you have and what type of travelling you do. He’ll give excellent advice and, if you decide you want to have a system fitted, they’ll carry out the work to a very high standard at a good price.
I’m not in any way connected; just a satisfied customer who had similar questions to you.

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[Emmit]

In addition to the refillable bottle(s)
You will need a set of these.
They will amend or adapt the entry point whichever country you find yourself in.
Cost about £20

 

[mikebeaches]

I've got an 11kg Gas-it refillable with external filler point - all fitted on my drive at home for circa £290 including a full set of continental adaptors. Also have a 6kg Calorlite exchange bottle as a backup (which I haven't used yet).

Easy to get LPG filled up abroad, without the faff of changing bottles etc.

GAS IT 11kg self refillable gas bottle for use in any Motorhome, Caravan, Campervan, Farrier & Catering Vehicles and Road repair companies - GAS IT Leisure Gas Bottles, Gas Cylinders and Gas Tanks - Catering, Motorhome, Campervan, Caravan, Farrier an

At GAS IT we sell many different size of self refillable gas bottles, gas tank and gas cylinders for motorhome, campervan, caravan, catering, farrier and road repair business to refill at your own bulk gas tank or any autogas or LPG station around the world. They come with the unique mechanical...

www.gasit.co.uk

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[Spriddler]

I changed one of my pair of Calor exchange cylinders for a Gaslow refillable at home. See reply no. 4 in this thread:

Gas it or gaslow or safefill

anyone got any ideas on the above ,got 2 calor 6kg atm going to Spain and would probably need a refillable type to be on the safe side.

www.motorhomefun.co.uk

 

[Dwarfland]

I've got an 11kg Gas-it refillable with external filler point - all fitted on my drive at home for circa £290 including a full set of continental adaptors. Also have a 6kg Calorlite exchange bottle as a backup (which I haven't used yet).

Easy to get LPG filled up abroad, without the faff of changing bottles etc.

GAS IT 11kg self refillable gas bottle for use in any Motorhome, Caravan, Campervan, Farrier & Catering Vehicles and Road repair companies - GAS IT Leisure Gas Bottles, Gas Cylinders and Gas Tanks - Catering, Motorhome, Campervan, Caravan, Farrier an

At GAS IT we sell many different size of self refillable gas bottles, gas tank and gas cylinders for motorhome, campervan, caravan, catering, farrier and road repair business to refill at your own bulk gas tank or any autogas or LPG station around the world. They come with the unique mechanical...

www.gasit.co.uk

Do you need an external filler point for a bottle? I’ve read people say they just take the bottle to get it refilled.

 

[EuroTrotters]

Get rid of the calor altogether and fit Two refillable bottles. You’ll save money straight away.

We hace always had refillable gas bottles.

Even have a safefill for our caravan we pop out for the BBQ.

 

[Spriddler]

Do you need an external filler point for a bottle? I’ve read people say they just take the bottle to get it refilled.

That's the 'Safefill' refillable bottle system where you self fill your own existing bottle. Some will say that some garages will refuse to allow you to fill 'removeable' bottles. The Gaslow and Gasit bottles are filled in situ via a fitting fixed to/in the bodywork or inside the gas locker.

 

[Dwarfland]

I changed one of my pair of Calor exchange cylinders for a Gaslow refillable at home. See reply no. 4 in this thread:

Gas it or gaslow or safefill

anyone got any ideas on the above ,got 2 calor 6kg atm going to Spain and would probably need a refillable type to be on the safe side.

www.motorhomefun.co.uk

Thanks- useful thread that

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[Dwarfland]

S

We've got a Safefill cylinder.

Our Cylinders | Safefill

We make LPG use a safer, easier experience for everyone

www.safefill.co.uk

Availability seems to be like hen's teeth at the moment but maybe worth a look around.
You would also need the filling adapters.

Continental Filling Adaptor | Safefill

Safefill Continental Filling Adaptors

www.safefill.co.uk

Safefill responded very quickly though looks like the only outlet currently with bottles is about 200 miles from me! Have you used yours in Europe? Did you have any problems finding places that would fill the bottles?

 

[Dwarfland]

Safefill are telling me that-
I don’t need a new regulator, just a hose with their adapter.
They’ve never heard of anyone having problems getting bottles filled in Europe though I will need different connectors for France Spain and Italy.

Anyone with experience of them think any of that isn’t correct?

 

[Spriddler]

Safefill are telling me that-

They’ve never heard of anyone having problems getting bottles filled in Europe though I will need different connectors for France Spain and Italy.

That's correct because the pump guns' differ between countries.

Anyone with experience of them think any of that isn’t correct?

Yes and no. Quite a few posts include comments/experiences on this. Apparently some garages abroad won't let you fill if you have to open a locker door or remove the cylinder and some aren't happy unless it's for an LPG powered vehicle.

 

[Emmit]

Our latest experience in Spain is that invariably they have staff who will refuel for you, whether it be propulsion fuel or LPG (Confusingly named GPL here)
In order to top up the gas I have to screw on the adaptor on getting out of the van but I have never been met with anything other than smiles when doing so.

 

[Dwarfland]

Our latest experience in Spain is that invariably they have staff who will refuel for you, whether it be propulsion fuel or LPG (Confusingly named GPL here)
In order to top up the gas I have to screw on the adaptor on getting out of the van but I have never been met with anything other than smiles when doing so.

Is that with Safefill or a U.K. bottle ie Calor?

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[Emmit]

Nits neither.
It's a refillable system behind a locker door with a fill point on the outside.
Having said that and noting the warning that there is a possibility that an operative may refuse to fill a Safe fill, (or similar) system that doesn't have a remote external filler, there are DIY garages in Spain that do not have staff and are self serve.

 

[Lenny HB]

Our latest experience in Spain is that invariably they have staff who will refuel for you, whether it be propulsion fuel or LPG (Confusingly named GPL here)
In order to top up the gas I have to screw on the adaptor on getting out of the van but I have never been met with anything other than smiles when doing so.

Funny how the staff are always so helpful in Spain when it's illegal to fill hab tanks or bottles

 

[Emmit]

Funny how the staff are always so helpful in Spain when it's illegal to fill hab tanks or bottles

They don't see the tanks and they don't see the bottles. Simples?

 

[Dwarfland]

Funny how the staff are always so helpful in Spain when it's illegal to fill hab tanks or bottles

So it’s illegal to fill bottles? Does that include Safefill ones? Anyone got experience of refilling bottles in other countries?

 

[Lenny HB]

So it’s illegal to fill bottles? Does that include Safefill ones? Anyone got experience of refilling bottles in other countries?

Yes, only legal for propulsion, same in Italy and I think Portugal.

Never had a problem in Spain, even had the girl behind the counter come out and help me.
Been refused in both Itay & Portugal, Italy just went to the next garage and they filled me. In Portugal I pointed at the external filler and told them it was a tank.

That is why I would only have an installation with an external filler as sod's law the odd time you get refused you will be very low on gas.

We have 2 x 14kg Alugas 8 years old now transferred from the last van, they have paid for themselves many times over. We use about 150Lt (75kg) a year

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[Dwarfland]

Yes, only legal for propulsion, same in Italy and I think Portugal.

Never had a problem in Spain, even had the girl behind the counter come out and help me.
Been refused in both Itay & Portugal, Italy just went to the next garage and they filled me. In Portugal I pointed at the external filler and told them it was a tank.

That is why I would only have an installation with an external filler as sod's law the odd time you get refused you will be very low on gas.

We have 2 x 14kg Alugas 8 years old now transferred from the last van, they have paid for themselves many times over. We use about 150Lt (75kg) a year

Sorry what are you classing as propulsion? Would that not be the LPG in a Safefill bottle? If so they’re effectively claiming you can do something that’s illegal?

 

[Lenny HB]

Sorry what are you classing as propulsion? Would that not be the LPG in a Safefill bottle? If so they’re effectively claiming you can do something that’s illegal?

Powering the engine.

The illegal bit is garages are not allowed to fill tanks or bottles for habitation use, i.e. cooking, heating etc.

 

[Dwarfland]

Powering the engine.

The illegal bit is garages are not allowed to fill tanks or bottles for habitation use, i.e. cooking, heating etc.

So essentially it’s illegal to refill any habitation gas, tank or bottle?

 

[Lenny HB]

So essentially it’s illegal to refill any habitation gas, tank or bottle?

At garages In Spain & Italy & I think Portugal, but in practice you rarely ever get a problem getting filled, only happened to me twice in 14 years so not worth worrying about and always easier if you have an external filler.

 

[Lenny HB]

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