faffing with gas cylinder straps......no more! (1 Viewer)

skylinersi

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Nov 9, 2016
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fitted QR buckles.........
20190511_184050.jpg
 
Oct 16, 2018
638
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CHESTERFIELD DERBYSHIRE
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56,769
MH
PILOTE
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I fitted refillable cylinders and there's no faffing with straps, no dropping the cylinders on my feet, no scraping knuckles or swearing and I can sell the system for around the price I paid or swap to a different MH at a later date.

Time for my tea ........

:cheers:

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Janine

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Aug 22, 2007
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Funnily enough, my son @AdamH and I were discussing tactics yesterday in case of a fire in one of our vans.

We decided that removing the gas bottles would be good if the fire wasn’t near the gas locker but faffing about with the straps would take too long.

We have already fitted connectors that don’t require a spanner and your quick release straps would be very useful!
 
Jun 30, 2011
7,017
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Barnard Castle, UK
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Concorde Concerto
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Funnily enough, my son @AdamH and I were discussing tactics yesterday in case of a fire in one of our vans.

We decided that removing the gas bottles would be good if the fire wasn’t near the gas locker but faffing about with the straps would take too long.

We have already fitted connectors that don’t require a spanner and your quick release straps would be very useful!



If there is a fire in our van which I can't put out immediately then the last thing I would ever do is try to disconnect the gas bottles, get out, ring fire brigade, inform nearby people/vans etc
 

Janine

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Aug 22, 2007
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If there is a fire in our van which I can't put out immediately then the last thing I would ever do is try to disconnect the gas bottles, get out, ring fire brigade, inform nearby people/vans etc

My gas locker is on the opposite side of the van from the cooker and fridge which would be the likely seat of a fire. Once I (and the dog!) was safely out, it would only take seconds to open the gas locker. Obviously I wouldn’t put myself in danger but if I could easily prevent the bottles from exploding, I probably would.

I watched a van with a burning fridge last year at Upton Blues festival and the fire was confined to just that area.
 
Feb 16, 2013
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My gas locker is on the opposite side of the van from the cooker and fridge which would be the likely seat of a fire. Once I (and the dog!) was safely out, it would only take seconds to open the gas locker. Obviously I wouldn’t put myself in danger but if I could easily prevent the bottles from exploding, I probably would.
I really think the last thing you want to do is mess with gas bottles if you have a fire in your van:(

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Geo

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Jul 29, 2007
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I dont know what happend to my first post Janine BUT here go's again
you must realise that the slightest escape of gas will have that fire upon you in milli seconds you wont have time to think or react in a logical maner .
I urge you and you son to re think your suggestion and have a firm fixed escape plan in place.
Take the advise of the experts.
Get out
Stay out
Get well clear of any and all hazards
i will copy John of @JockandRita fame in the hope that as a Firefighter he can also add his views
Geo
 

JockandRita

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Aug 2, 2007
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i will copy John of @JockandRita fame in the hope that as a Firefighter he can also add his views
Thanks George of @Geo. ;)

Yep, it's a case of "Get out, stay out, and get the Fire Service out".
Think about it @Janine, ie, in your rush to get out of the MH in the event of a fire situation, you find yourself round at the gas locker with the very best of intentions...........................without the keys. "Oh bu@@er." :eek: What then?

After calling the Fire Service, the next best thing you can do, is to alert your neighbours to the danger in hand, and get everyone well clear. Due to the materials used in caravan and MH construction, it will be "well alight" very quickly with nothing left to save. Also, with austerity measures over the last decade, unfortunately, it is likely to take longer for a Fire Appliance to attend, especially in rural areas. :(

Here's hoping that it never happens, but it's always best to be aware of the possibility, and what actions you can take to prevent it happening, and to preserve life in the event of it happening.

Stay safe. :)

Jock. (Ret'd F'man).

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Gellyneck

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Jun 5, 2014
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More than toes wet now!
Get you and the dug out and away! Everything else can be replaced!
 
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skylinersi

skylinersi

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Nov 9, 2016
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i assume these are a complete strap replacement rather than just swapping the buckles ?

Nice idea and one i'll happily copy:D

25mm buckles from ebay, stitched onto existing straps

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Oct 7, 2013
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Funnily enough, my son @AdamH and I were discussing tactics yesterday in case of a fire in one of our vans.

We decided that removing the gas bottles would be good if the fire wasn’t near the gas locker but faffing about with the straps would take too long.

We have already fitted connectors that don’t require a spanner and your quick release straps would be very useful!
As an ex-firefighter can I suggest that, if Fire gets near to your gas cylinders, you simply get as far away as possible. Don’t faff about with anything.

Just make sure you warn the firefighters on their arrival.

I have been close to such a cylinder when it exploded. It blew a four inch square piece of the cylinder through a two inch thick sliding door on a warehouse. My colleague and I were tethered together with a four foot length of line. (Ex firefighters will recognise this). The piece of metal flew between us. It couldn’t have been more than two feet from killing one of us.

Don’t take such risks. It’s simply not worth it. That’s what insurance is for.

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pappajohn

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Aug 26, 2007
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We have already fitted connectors that don’t require a spanner and your quick release straps would be very useful!
Or a Stanley knife in the locker to run down the bottles and cut the straps.
I think cutting the straps would be the least of your worries.
 
Nov 18, 2011
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Funnily enough, my son @AdamH and I were discussing tactics yesterday in case of a fire in one of our vans.

We decided that removing the gas bottles would be good if the fire wasn’t near the gas locker but faffing about with the straps would take too long.

We have already fitted connectors that don’t require a spanner and your quick release straps would be very useful!
Myself and the wife dicused our fire strategy just walk varry fast away nothing that can't be replaced not worth the risk trying to rescue them
Bill

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Shetland_Dave

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Jun 5, 2019
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The buckles used on dive gear (like weight belts) might be a good option too. Secure, but quick release for safety reasons.

As an ex Royal Navy firefighter I'd have to agree with the get away as quickly as possible sentiment.

It's shocking how quickly a fire can take hold and spread *and* fill the immediate area with chocking, toxic fumes.
 

thebriars

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Oct 20, 2018
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Was reading somewhere that one of the major motorhome manufacturers did an analysis of the reasons people didn't take up motorhoming after having a trial in a rental van. Of the three main reasons, one was fear of the gas supply!

Wonder how many of them live in houses with no gas supply?

(The other two reasons were the cassette toilet, and side winds while driving.)
 

TheBig1

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Nov 27, 2011
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I am not adding to the advice, but just saying, gas cylinders don't always just explode. When the calor depot at Poole caught fire several years ago, gas cylinders were exploding and being launched hundreds of feet through the air, so starting more fires. So the whole centre of the town was evacuated for 72 hours and parts left to burn as you can't fight that sort of fire

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Nov 15, 2017
74
110
Chippenham, Wiltshire
Funster No
51,378
MH
Quad slider 5th wheeler
My calor cylinders are paddocked in my 5th wheeler, Has anyone suffered theft of cylinders, I'm hoping to go for refillable soon, so worry about security. I have a master shutoff valve which I would use in case of fire. My worry is an escape route at night in case of fire
 

TheBig1

LIFE MEMBER
Nov 27, 2011
17,162
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Dorset
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MH
A class
Exp
many many years! since I was a kid
My calor cylinders are paddocked in my 5th wheeler, Has anyone suffered theft of cylinders, I'm hoping to go for refillable soon, so worry about security. I have a master shutoff valve which I would use in case of fire. My worry is an escape route at night in case of fire
escape route? there's plenty of windows to pick
 
Nov 15, 2017
74
110
Chippenham, Wiltshire
Funster No
51,378
MH
Quad slider 5th wheeler
All 3 windows in the front bedroom are too small !!!, although I do have 3 fire extinguisher between the bedroom & door. but the kitchen is near the door.

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