Gas in Europe (1 Viewer)

[ninjayorkies]

I'm very, very new to motorhoming - 8 days to be exact, and as a baptism of fire I plan on taking off for Europe in May for as long as I'm able.

I have lots and lots of questions but my main one is about bottled gas.
My van at the moment has what looks to be a slightly larger than camping gas stove size bottle and I was going to get this changed to something bigger. I think I read in one of many magazines that you can't get bottles refilled in Europe. Is that true and if so what are my options? :helpsos:

 

[lebesset]

how big a bottle can you get in ?[ diameter/height ]
which countries are you going to go and for how long?

 

[ninjayorkies]

According the the owners handbook the locker will accommodate 4.5, 7 or 15kg butane or 6 and 13kg propane cylinders. there appears to be space for 2 bottles.
I'm going to France, Spain and Italy and possibly other countries but I haven't made my mind up yet. How long? I only intend on returning to the UK in 12 months to tax my vehicle and then I'll be off again

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[ArenqueRojo]

I think I read in one of many magazines that you can't get bottles refilled in Europe. Is that true and if so what are my options? :helpsos:

You can get ottles refilled almost anywhere.
If they are non-refillale ottles, then you may have great difficulty in finding someone who does it in any country ecause it really shouldn't be done at all.
If they are the refillable type like autogas or gaslow, then you will find then easy to refill with the possile exception of Southern Spain - ut even there they are not too difficult.
You may need to carry the four nozzle adaptors (Euronozzle, Italian Cup, Acme Thread and Dutch Bayonet as used in the UK).

Assuming that you have non-refillables, you can get bottles but not necessarily exchange bottles. The advent of the plastic exchangeables, where we are a bit slow on the technology in the UK but most Northern European countries are going that way, makes the aquisition fairly easy and not expensive. In Repsol/Cepsa territories of Spain, you can aquire exchangeale bottles through car boot sales and markets for about €10.
To play this game, you need to have the relevant pigtails that connect your bulkhead regulator to the bottle or valve on the bottle. Pretty much all bulkhead regulators are 20mm. In most countries, the bottle end will also be 20mm where the Calor POI LH in the UK is not used antwhere outside the UK. This despite the fact that most of the various national gas giants are all owned by the one Dutch company!

Enough already. Hope that helps a bit. If not, say so...
Patrick

 

[ninjayorkies]

You can get ottles refilled almost anywhere.
If they are non-refillale ottles, then you may have great difficulty in finding someone who does it in any country ecause it really shouldn't be done at all.
If they are the refillable type like autogas or gaslow, then you will find then easy to refill with the possile exception of Southern Spain - ut even there they are not too difficult.
You may need to carry the four nozzle adaptors (Euronozzle, Italian Cup, Acme Thread and Dutch Bayonet as used in the UK).

Assuming that you have non-refillables, you can get bottles but not necessarily exchange bottles. The advent of the plastic exchangeables, where we are a bit slow on the technology in the UK but most Northern European countries are going that way, makes the aquisition fairly easy and not expensive. In Repsol/Cepsa territories of Spain, you can aquire exchangeale bottles through car boot sales and markets for about €10.
To play this game, you need to have the relevant pigtails that connect your bulkhead regulator to the bottle or valve on the bottle. Pretty much all bulkhead regulators are 20mm. In most countries, the bottle end will also be 20mm where the Calor POI LH in the UK is not used antwhere outside the UK. This despite the fact that most of the various national gas giants are all owned by the one Dutch company!

Enough already. Hope that helps a bit. If not, say so...
Patrick

That's great thank you very much. I will aim to get the nozzle adaptors you've mentioned.
I'm afraid I haven't a clue what 'pigtails' are. I'm terribly green at all of this but I won't let it put me off leaving

 

[ArenqueRojo]

You will only want the adaptors if you go with refillable bottles, otherwise you would have a setup like the attached diagram and then you use the pigtails as marked.

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[imprint]

One small but important point, ninjayorkies, is to get in as much experience as you can in April in the UK. You'll probably have no troubles in Europe, but, unless your languages are pretty damn good, it's better to have them here in GB where some sort of English is spoken.

Should be OK, but it's insurance. Perfect Preparation Prevents P--- Poor Performance as many worthy Funsters could tell you!

Have fun!!

 

[lebesset]

thats interesting patrick

so repsol , cepsa , totalgas , shell BP etc etc are all owned by calor , are they ?

 

[lebesset]

this undisclosed vehicle appears to have space for 2 bottles
does it have a regulator screwed to the bodywork or does it have a regulator on the bottle

what is the name on the bottle you currently have , how much gas does it say it contains , what type of gas is it [ butane or propane ]

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[lebesset]

this undisclosed vehicle appears to have space for 2 bottles
does it have a regulator screwed to the bodywork or does it have a regulator on the bottle

what is the name on the bottle you currently have , how much gas does it say it contains , what type of gas is it [ butane or propane ]

 

[TonyIsh UK]

Plan B (plus some adaptors)

Link Removed

Rgds

 

[Stealaway]

Most super market chains especially in France will happily sign you up for an exchange bottle for anywhere in the country. You will need another connection or regulator to suit.

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[Hagstrom]

(And you'll need a visa that allows you to stay in the EU for more than 90 days or one of you has to have an EU passport...)

 

[Lenny HB]

11 year old thread guys.

 

[Terry Sweet]

I use safe fill refillable they come in various sizes. They can be moved from van to van and I have taken them in my car to refill.
but you need the adaptors for Europe. They can be got on line and you can get the dimensions as well.

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[phillipsheila]

11 year old thread guys.

I havent had gas for 11 years as i have been waiting for a revival of this thread

 

[the1andonly]

Did wonder why it wasnt in the new gas category.

 

[EuroTrotters]

Almost 20 years of re-fillable, never had an issue in Europe

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[chaser]

11 year old thread guys.

Yeah, and I thought it was going to be a full thread of free members, always wonder what happened to them when we get a reserected thread with members that have gone.

 

[Emmit]

This thread is going to Comprehensive school after Crimbo.
After all, it is 11yrs old

 

[Stealaway]

11 year old thread guys.

How did this rear its head again - I seem to be the first to answer.
The information is still good but!!!!!!

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[Lenny HB]

How did this rear its head again - I seem to be the first to answer.
The information is still good but!!!!!!

I expect due to the "Similar Threads" links at the bottom of threads, caught me out a couple of times when that feature was added I ignore it now.