Struggling in Spain

[Millsy's]

We set off nearly two weeks ago from the euro tunnel taking the western route and we are now in Villajoyosa but we are struggling to get any further down the coast as every camp site or paying Aire is fully booked until the end of February .
we are using the usual Campercontact , ACSI and Search for sites .
If I’d have know this would be the situation I would have pre booked months ago although that in itself spoils the concept of travelling in a motorhome?
Any ideas?

 

[Rudski01]

Ours did this and we found it’s more about who else is plugged in. The first night it did it on and off all eve. Then the second night it was only us snd one other van plugged in and worked fine even got the heating on electric. Just try not to have too much on at one time

We don’t have much on at all but there must be 13 odd here at the minute so the leccy can’t cope

 

[Emmit]

we are 3 weeks into our first ever Spanish trip. Also first time not pre booking anything. It has been fine until a couple of days ago. We started looking for sites Nerja - Malaga all full then towards Marbella full. Our fridge has stopped working on Gas so have to use campsites or camper stops with electric. So panic set in, eventually got on to Paradis beach camper park. It’s perfect they could only give us 2 nights. So then booked an expensive one further down the coast not surprised they had vacancies. I have found now that instead of planning where I would like to go I am going where there is space! Not how I imagined it going. Everyone said no need to book but seems there is?
So we have booked the next 7 nights snd takes us nearer Portugal. Worried that I now have to booked further ahead

Did the non working Gas coincide with you changing a bottle?

Have you tried it since?

The reason I ask is that, once upon a trip I changed a bottle, it refused to work
afterwards and I booked into a site.

Three hours later I found that the gas was flowing once again. No idea why
but it pained me to pay the site for the weekend when it turned out not to be necessary.

 

[jumar]

This is our worry without a solid recommendation we wouldn’t want to ask someone to repair it and then it gets worse. We can do the odd night using freezer blocks to keep food cool.

Have you considered a 12 volt cooler box to keep basics chilled...they might be bit thin on the ground as it's a summer item...however Amazon.es would be possible...sell it on when you get back home...

 

[Spidey]

Did the non working Gas coincide with you changing a bottle?

Have you tried it since?

The reason I ask is that, once upon a trip I changed a bottle, it refused to work
afterwards and I booked into a site.

Three hours later I found that the gas was flowing once again. No idea why
but it pained me to pay the site for the weekend when it turned out not to be necessary.

Everything else works great on gas, and we have Gaslow system. I think it needs a good clean and service. We do have a calor gas bottle as reserve though. Did read that lpg can soot up the flu quicker.

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[Martin and Wendy.]

We arrived at a beachside Camperstop in Castell de ferro recently, admittedly a bit late in the day to find it crammed full. So we drove about 1 mile inland to another Camperstop that had 4 other vans on it. Therefore you don’t always have to go very far away from the coast.

 

[jumar]

We arrived at a beachside Camperstop in Castell de ferro recently, admittedly a bit late in the day to find it crammed full. So we drove about 1 mile inland to another Camperstop that had 4 other vans on it. Therefore you don’t always have to go very far away from the coast.

Exactly Martin...we are ending our mini (2 week) break this morning and returning home to Alhama...The 40 pitch Camperstop we have been on here in El Bonillo for the past two nights,only had one other van as company..
Free, with water and Electric on each pitch in the grounds of the Bullring...OK...this type of regional village staying is not for everyone...but for us the cycling has been fun.

 

[jumartoo]

Exactly Martin...we are ending our mini (2 week) break this morning and returning home to Alhama...The 40 pitch Camperstop we have been on here in El Bonillo for the past two nights,only had one other van as company..
Free, with water and Electric on each pitch in the grounds of the Bullring...OK...this type of regional village staying is not for everyone...but for us the cycling has been fun.

 

[TerryL]

Spidey have you by chance recently refilled with Spanish LPG. On another thread I've been having problems with gas on heating and have come to the conclusion that the high proportion of butane together with the cold temperatures means the butane isn't evaporating quickly enough for the boiler. Like you fridge & hob are okay. If you can get into some warmer temperatures try it again.

 

[Spidey]

Spidey have you by chance recently refilled with Spanish LPG. On another thread I've been having problems with gas on heating and have come to the conclusion that the high proportion of butane together with the cold temperatures means the butane isn't evaporating quickly enough for the boiler. Like you fridge & hob are okay. If you can get into some warmer temperatures try it again.

That’s interesting, we did fill up on the 3rd day and the fridge was fine for a day or so then stopped working on gas. But heating, water and hob fine. We are in warmer temps now. May try the fridge again, hope yours is sorted soon.

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[jumar]

Spidey have you by chance recently refilled with Spanish LPG. On another thread I've been having problems with gas on heating and have come to the conclusion that the high proportion of butane together with the cold temperatures means the butane isn't evaporating quickly enough for the boiler. Like you fridge & hob are okay. If you can get into some warmer temperatures try it again.

Nowt wrong with Spanish LPG...it's a seasonal mix that should cope with all climatic conditions....

 

[EuroTrotters]

I have just filled up in Stockport. They told me its what it says on the tank, 100% Propane

 

[jumar]

I have just filled up in Stockport. They told me its what it says on the tank, 100% Propane

That's because in the UK the Propane makes up to 90% of Autogas in Eurozone it's a different mix...see below...it's interesting..

In Europe though Autogas can vary in what it is made of and this can go from as much as 50% propane and 50% Butane ( give or take some other petroleum products. ). They generally change the autogas depending on the time of year, so there is more propane in winter and less in summer.

Eitherway, this is perfectly ok and your gas appliances will generally work ok with them but because its a blend/mix of both LPG gases, the temperature the gas tank or gas cylinders will work down is not as low, and as good as just having a propane gas bottle.

We've found from our own personal experience that gas tanks filled up with Autogas when abroad will work ok down to around -10 to -15 celsius on a 30mb regulator system.

 

[EuroTrotters]

That's because in the UK the Propane makes up to 90% of Autogas in Eurozone it's a different mix...see below...it's interesting..

In Europe though Autogas can vary in what it is made of and this can go from as much as 50% propane and 50% Butane ( give or take some other petroleum products. ). They generally change the autogas depending on the time of year, so there is more propane in winter and less in summer.

Eitherway, this is perfectly ok and your gas appliances will generally work ok with them but because its a blend/mix of both LPG gases, the temperature the gas tank or gas cylinders will work down is not as low, and as good as just having a propane gas bottle.

We've found from our own personal experience that gas tanks filled up with Autogas when abroad will work ok down to around -10 to -15 celsius on a 30mb regulator system.

Managed SHELL Autogas in Beitsolen Norway down to -27c

 

[EuroTrotters]

There is a camper stop next to El Campo Restaurant Cansalades on the way into Javea if anyone is really desparate

Camper parking El Campo Javea. Motorhome stopover in [Xàbia / Valencian Community / Alicante / Spain] ∞ Campercontact

☎ 634363968 Rating by the Campercontact community: 3.85

www.campercontact.com

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[Martin and Wendy.]

View attachment 716409

That looks amazing. We are in El Berro for another couple of weeks then heading for Santander via Madrid so El Bonillo will be perfect for a night. Thanks, Martin.

 

[Neilfg]

This is our first time touring this early in the year, usually travel September onwards, not away for long just 5 to 6 weeks.

We are currently just south of Madrid heading for the coast south of Cartagena and have found that we do not have our pick of sites, 25th Feb onwards there seems to be space . The stops down have been free and easy, can highly recommend Haza.

ACSI worked well for us last year seems a waste this time either fully booked or stopped being ACSI.

Our technique so far has been to send an email out to sites, sent 8, 7 replied, 4 no space, 3 with space. Of the 8, 3 are listed in app as ACSI, 2 have stopped.

 

[Just smiffy]

can highly recommend Haza.

Can you elaborate please I can’t find a Haza that looks like anything suitable..

 

[jongood]

No not at all...it's my biggest fear, that eventually something's got to give...it's unsustainable....last year was bad, this year it's even worse....our adjoining council had compulsory purchased a large strip of land to be able to control the encampments that are currently in place...

I still think its the Morocco effect, finding it mostly a lot quieter, especially a lot fewer Germans IMO

 

[Neilfg]

Can you elaborate please I can’t find a Haza that looks like anything suitable..

Área de autocaravanas de Haza

Área de autocaravanas de Haza · See more in Google Maps

Carretera Entrada, 2, 09463 Haza, Burgos, Spain

maps.app.goo.gl

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[jongood]

That’s interesting, we did fill up on the 3rd day and the fridge was fine for a day or so then stopped working on gas. But heating, water and hob fine. We are in warmer temps now. May try the fridge again, hope yours is sorted soon.

If you can get at the flue, might be an easy fix. What are the symptoms?

 

[Lenny HB]

Did read that lpg can soot up the flu quicker.

French LPG has a bit of a rep for it but not heard of any problems with Spanish LPG.
If it is only the fridge not working it won't be down to butane content that usually only affects heaters, when people fill up in Spain and then move to a colder area.

 

[Lenny HB]

Eitherway, this is perfectly ok and your gas appliances will generally work ok with them but because its a blend/mix of both LPG gases, the temperature the gas tank or gas cylinders will work down is not as low, and as good as just having a propane gas bottle.

We've found from our own personal experience that gas tanks filled up with Autogas when abroad will work ok down to around -10 to -15 celsius on a 30mb regulator system.

I think you have been very lucky lots of people have filled up in Spain then had problems with heating on cold Moroccan nights. Not only does Butane not gas off below zero ( gets slow below 10°) also butane often can not supply the high flow rate a Truma Combi needs.
In Spain Butane content can be as high as 65%.

A question for Basildog l have found loads of conflicting answers.
Does butane settle to the bottom and the propane burns off first leaving butane in the bottle or does it stay mixed?

 

[125BEER]

Pitchup.com has approx 60 sites available for 1 week from tomorrow. Admit some limited pitches but not all.

Cheers

 

[Basildog]

I think you have been very lucky lots of people have filled up in Spain then had problems with heating on cold Moroccan nights. Not only does Butane not gas off below zero ( gets slow below 10°) also butane often can not supply the high flow rate a Truma Combi needs.
In Spain Butane content can be as high as 65%.

A question for Basildog l have found loads of conflicting answers.
Does butane settle to the bottom and the propane burns off first leaving butane in the bottle or does it stay mixed?

The Butane stops gassing off (boiling) so basically you end up with all Butane.

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[Lenny HB]

The Butane stops gassing off (boiling) so basically you end up with all Butane.

That is if it's cold but what about when it's warm?

 

[jumar]

That is if it's cold but what about when it's warm?

"I know. I know Sir, ask me, please Sir ask me"
Go on then Martin...you tell us
"Well Sir when you mix Butane and Propane in the same cylinder it's cus you can use the Butane on warm days and Propane when it's cold" "Can I go early now Sir, Mastermind catch-up is on on iPlayer...." ,

 

[Mark and Mindy]

We are in Villajoyosa but always book for 2 months so here until the end of February, after then the campsites heading home start to have space.

I have read most of this thread and I'm interested in the logistics of staying long term on a busy Spanish site... If you are booked for a few days can you drive off site for day trips in the area and return to the same spot or will it be snapped up first come first served?

 

[bellabee]

We're in San Sebastian, having spent three nights in warm, sunny Capbreton. The weather here is fabulous, and we're in no hurry to head south.
We're currently planning on driving west along the coast to Santiago de Compostela.
Who'd have thought it, at this time of year?

 

[Mikeco]

I have read most of this thread and I'm interested in the logistics of staying long term on a busy Spanish site... If you are booked for a few days can you drive off site for day trips in the area and return to the same spot or will it be snapped up first come first served?

You could do that quite easily at a site such as Imperium as there is no chance that your pitch would be taken, most people who go off always have something on the pitch such as a awning mat or even bikes. We have not moved the van off our pitch yet as there is plenty to do without doing so. Quite a few different ways to go walking or a 10 minute walk to the tram which will take you to Benidorm,Calpe,Denia or Alicante.

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[bigtwin]

Yay! We got a pitch at Tavira on the Motorhome Park and are going to stay for seven nights.

Yes it is. They don’t answer phone calls or respond to e mails but loads of room

Might see you there in a few days time then.

Ian

Perhaps next time Land Yachties.

Good Luck!

PS It might be helpful if someone who is at Tavira provides their phone number.

The omens were good!

Anyone else here, or arriving in the next week, don be afraid to drop by (Pitch 40, Silver/Grey Dethleffs Tag).

Ian