Refillable LPG Bottles / Tanks

Joe Public

Joe Public

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I'm hoping that some of you out there know all about this LPG stuff. Please forgive my ignorance, but that's something I'm hoping you'll help to cure.
  • Should I be looking at getting bottles or a tank?
  • How easy are they to refill in the UK?
  • How easy are they to refill abroad?
  • How ecconomical are they?
 
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The simplest solution is Safefill. Same fittng as Calor.

Find a local stockist and the rest is easy - and much cheaper than Calor.
Our local stockist fills the bottles for us.

myLPG.eu - Save money save Earth

myLPG.eu helps you find all the autogas stations and installers you need wherever in Europe you are.
www.mylpg.eu
 
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Or Gaslow. I have 11kg refillable gaslow and a 6kg calor as backup, both on pigtails into a 2 into 1, out to regulator controlled via cylinder valve as needed. Refilled fine in spain and here and not had an issue. Works for me and likely Cheaper than a tank, easy to replace after 10 years when they all need test or replace. Not underslung but protected in its gas cupboard.
 
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I have refillable bottles in the gas locker with an external fill socket, there are plenty of places to refill at ordinary petrol stations around Europe (you can download a map/app) refill places not quite as frequent in the UK although I've never run out - there's one about a mile from my house.
You'll need an adapter kit of screw-in fitting for European use - ebay sell them.
Much much cheaper than Calor gas (which is only available in the uk - not Europe)
 
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If you’re considering refillables then it is definitely best to go for those that don’t need to be removed from a locker (that can increase the likelihood of a refusal at filling stations).

If locker space is at a premium then it would make sense to go for an underslung tank.

In terms of filling in the UK lots of people will over obsess about the alleged reduction in the number of filling locations (particularly in their locality) but the reality is that there are plenty of places to fill up. Once you get out of the mindset of filling up somewhere near home it simply isn’t a problem and, of course, a refillable system comes into its own once you head to the continent.

Ian
 
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Neil S said:
Refillable is the way to go with an external fill point and don’t forget a set of euro adapters
Click to expand...
I dont disagree but so far, in france, spain and the UK i have never been refused filling and I dont have external fill point, I just fill my gaslow within existing gas locker. But if I get refused, I will fit one as simple enough...

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In case you missed it Morrisons and many Flogas UK depots have banned bottle filling unless through an external port.
If you want flexibility or are not near any UK LPG pumps then you can have one refillable and one calor / Flogas.
 
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Gaslow. We have an 11 & a 6. External fill point. The crucial point is you dont need an empty cylinder before you fill. We have only filled in the UK and do not have a problem. Unless you are doing a lot of cool/cold weather camping and therefore using a lot of gas for heating you wont be using that much over the year so its not like having to fill up every week. There are lots of places that are not fuel stations so we have filled up at a hauliers. Some dealers eg Brownhills have pumps. Just use one of the apps to find a fill place, ring before if you like to check. And please, if using one of the apps, update it when you have filled.
 
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How do you think that compares? £220 over 10 years isn’t a lot is it? But it can feel so at the time of replacement !!
 
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15edward said:
How do you think that compares? £220 over 10 years isn’t a lot is it? But it can feel so at the time of replacement !!
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I have likely recovered that already after 2 years.. £38 ish for calor swappable. Less than 20eur for filling my 11kg... even in uk I filled up on isle of skye 4 weeks ago for £18... less than 90p a ltr....
 
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15edward said:
No comments re OPs last point ?
How economical are they.
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Every refill of an 11Kg cylinder even at at £1.00p per litre, is a substantial saving over the cost of a Calor refill. That's about as simple as I can explain it, and over time (pending usage and consumption), the install will have paid for itself. (y)

Cheers,

Jock. :)

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I have had 1 gaslow 11kg (inside fill) and various 2nd bottles with a 13kg calor propane being the most sensible for my varied style of camping ie when stationary for 3-4 weeks being able to change the calor has been useful. The original set up was about £250 (hamiltons) with 3 yrs of bottle life left i decided to add a second (gasit, autogas 2000, Additional cost £220) to see how 2 bottles fitted with my routine. (Thus splitting cost of a dual setup).
 
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I have one gaslow and one calor. refilling gaslow in UK and France no problem but on trying to fill in Spain last year, their pumps would not fit my adapter which I have used for years. The trigger on the pump would not fully close so I managed to purchase an adapter in their garage but the screw thread was different to mine so would not fit so something's changed, don't know what but won't be going back to Spain.
I find the 11kg Gaslow only lasts 10 days in summer and half that in winter and same consumption in my previous van.
You really need an exterior filling point as a lot of places especially abroad don't let you fill straight into your gas locker and I have been asked at some stations if the LPG was for engine or cooking to which I fibbed and said for engine otherwise I'd have been refused.
 
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On the costing question, we are just going through the 10 year life replacement, 2 x 11kg Gaslow and a new regulator as that’s close to 20 years old

Bottles alone will be £400 plus fitting so £50 / year of life, even saving £25 per fill it’s pretty close to break even for us

Ours are much more for convenience and as already added you don’t need to wait till you are empty to refill
 
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Ivore said:
I have one gaslow and one calor. refilling gaslow in UK and France no problem but on trying to fill in Spain last year, their pumps would not fit my adapter which I have used for years. The trigger on the pump would not fully close so I managed to purchase an adapter in their garage but the screw thread was different to mine so would not fit so something's changed, don't know what but won't be going back to Spain.
I find the 11kg Gaslow only lasts 10 days in summer and half that in winter and same consumption in my previous van.
You really need an exterior filling point as a lot of places especially abroad don't let you fill straight into your gas locker and I have been asked at some stations if the LPG was for engine or cooking to which I fibbed and said for engine otherwise I'd have been refused.
Click to expand...
Is that with a three way fridge? Ours lasts a lot longer, but compressor fridge.
 
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DavidG58 said:
On the costing question, we are just going through the 10 year life replacement, 2 x 11kg Gaslow and a new regulator as that’s close to 20 years old

Bottles alone will be £400 plus fitting so £50 / year of life, even saving £25 per fill it’s pretty close to break even for us

Ours are much more for convenience and as already added you don’t need to wait till you are empty to refill
Click to expand...
And no heavy bottles to lug around.

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Ivore said:
I have one gaslow and one calor. refilling gaslow in UK and France no problem but on trying to fill in Spain last year, their pumps would not fit my adapter which I have used for years. The trigger on the pump would not fully close so I managed to purchase an adapter in their garage but the screw thread was different to mine so would not fit so something's changed, don't know what but won't be going back to Spain.
I find the 11kg Gaslow only lasts 10 days in summer and half that in winter and same consumption in my previous van.
You really need an exterior filling point as a lot of places especially abroad don't let you fill straight into your gas locker and I have been asked at some stations if the LPG was for engine or cooking to which I fibbed and said for engine otherwise I'd have been
Click to expand...
I had the similar problem in so far as the pump lever wouldn’t fully close to allow the clip to secure the trigger .
Still managed to refill by getting my other half to press the start button while I maintained a grip on the pump lever
 
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hja said:
Is that with a three way fridge? Ours lasts a lot longer, but compressor fridge.
Click to expand...
yes that's using the three way fridge and we only wild camp so never hook up to electric. We also use an electric kettle, toaster and air fryer.
 
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Neil S said:
I had the similar problem in so far as the pump lever wouldn’t fully close to allow the clip to secure the trigger .
Still managed to refill by getting my other half to press the start button while I maintained a grip on the pump lever
Click to expand...
It crossed my mind to do that but thought it a bit too dangerous and besides I think I would be in deep do do if caught by the attendant.
 
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Joe Public said:
I'm hoping that some of you out there know all about this LPG stuff. Please forgive my ignorance, but that's something I'm hoping you'll help to cure.
  • Should I be looking at getting bottles or a tank?
  • How easy are they to refill in the UK?
  • How easy are they to refill abroad?
  • How ecconomical are they?
Click to expand...
For us it was an easy choice. A Gastore underslung 25 litre (approx 12 Kg) tank. This freed up an extra locker for storage.
Whilst we haven't had a lot of experience with refilling, there are plenty of garages and other sites where LPG is available. Use an app like, myLPG.eu. You may just have to travel a bit further to fill up.
Our understanding is that LPG is more readily available in continental Europe than in the UK. You need a nozzle adapter kit which can be provided if you have a Gastore system installed.
As for the price, I've seen it at prices between 70p and £1.20 per litre. Still a lot cheaper than Calor.

You will read that some people believe that LPG bottles and tanks have a life of 10 years and should be changed after that time. The motorhome garage who installed our Gastore system told me that there is no legislation regarding the lifespan of LPG bottles and tanks, which is borne out if you google it. They told me they had changed a tank which was only 2 years old, due to corrosion, and checked another tank which was 14 years old and still serviceable.

Basically the condition of the bottle or tank determines when it needs to be changed. Our underslung tank was coated with underseal and hopefully that will protect it for many years to come.
 
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AscariAl said:
For us it was an easy choice. A Gastore underslung 25 litre (approx 12 Kg) tank. This freed up an extra locker for storage.
Whilst we haven't had a lot of experience with refilling, there are plenty of garages and other sites where LPG is available. Use an app like, myLPG.eu. You may just have to travel a bit further to fill up.
Our understanding is that LPG is more readily available in continental Europe than in the UK. You need a nozzle adapter kit which can be provided if you have a Gastore system installed.
As for the price, I've seen it at prices between 70p and £1.20 per litre. Still a lot cheaper than Calor.

You will read that some people believe that LPG bottles and tanks have a life of 10 years and should be changed after that time. The motorhome garage who installed our Gastore system told me that there is no legislation regarding the lifespan of LPG bottles and tanks, which is borne out if you google it. They told me they had changed a tank which was only 2 years old, due to corrosion, and checked another tank which was 14 years old and still serviceable.

Basically the condition of the bottle or tank determines when it needs to be changed. Our underslung tank was coated with underseal and hopefully that will protect it for many years to come.
Click to expand...
The 10 year inspection is stipulated in The international ADR regulations which are directly referred to by the UK’s Carriage of Dangerous Goods regulations. Which as far as the UK is concerned is a statutory instrument and therefore the law.

You may want to ask your garage to refer to a government certified DGSA to confirm this.
 
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