Gas bottle replacements in France?

[Pocket Rocket]

Hi - we are picking up a new Chausson 720, and then heading to France. The Chausson 720 uses diesel fuel for hot water and heating, so only has space for one 6kg propane bottle as it is only used for fridge and hobs.

It will come with a UK bottle but we are going to France for a 7 week trip as soon as we get the van. We know we cannot just swap a UK bottle for a Franchise one, and have little time to sort out a proper gas flow system (we will look into this later in the year). So does anyone have any advice on the following:

- can we buy a refillable 6kg propane bottle in France? If we get a French bottle, what do we need to connect it? The Chausson has a built in regulator, so do we need to just buy a different “pigtail” to connect? Can we get this in the UK?

- can we buy a 6kg gas flow refillable bottle and use this without have an exterior full point installed in the van (ie a refillable gas flow bottle in the locker, where we can just open the locker door and refill direct into the bottle?)

Any other practical suggestions? Can we buy a French refill bottle and pigtail in the UK?

Thanks all

 

[cyberyacht]

A Gaslow with a fill point on it is one option. The other which will give you slightly more gas is a 7.5KG Safefill which is 470H x 310W if it will fit your locker. You will also need adapters if you go the refillable route.

 

[Stealaway]

You can sign up with any of the big supermarket chains for a replacement bottles exchanable any where in the country. You will need a French regulator

 

[Lenny HB]

In your situation I'd try get across the channel without a bottle then buy an exchange bottle. They don't have silly expensive deposits like the UK, will cost not much more than an exchange. I can't rember what the French fitting is but you should be able to get a pigtail if needed from any French caravan or Motorhome dealer.

 

[The Wino]

We've got a Chausson and a gasit 11kg just fits. I suspect a French 11 kg will too. We have diesel for heating but gas for hot water and reckon 11 kg gas in the summer lasts 4 weeks. In your situation I'd be tempted to get a French bottle ( their equivalent of calor) and sort out a refillable here when you get back. I'd probably go with the gas bottle it comes with and go to a French motorhome dealer to get a pigtail for a French bottle. The gasit by the way took 1/2 a day as a DIY fit. The filler is in the locker so quick to fit lots will say petrol stations will refuse allow to fill but it's never been queried

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[Landy Andy]

Go with no bottle, buy one at a French supermarket, and also get a pigtail to connect to your van fitted gas regulator. Gas bottles are readily available, even during the current gas issues that the uk are having at the moment. We are in France currently and seeing plenty here

 

[Pocket Rocket]

Thanks all. Where do you a get a pigtail for a French bottle from and does it need to be specific whatever French bottle I would buy?

 

[Sheddy]

Narbonne Accessories are country wide, also pick up a copy of their catalogue very handy reference book.

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://www.narbonneaccessoires.fr/&ved=2ahUKEwiV87f5p533AhVvg_0HHejJA94QFnoECAsQAQ&usg=AOvVaw2HIVoT3msHSA3AJM1AjNzF

 

[Pocket Rocket]

Thanks all - really useful info

I’ve just been looking at the Gas It Easy Fit System - which says it’s the only refill system which complies with EU regs WITHOUT having to alter your van

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The Wino - is this what you have in your Chausson? Anyone else use this system?

 

[Bognor Saint]

We have 2 6kg calor gas bottles and have never had an issue. But just in case we carry an empty Camping Gaz cylinder. Ok, expensive to exchange but available everywhere. (Throwback to our camping days)

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[Landy Andy]

Thanks all. Where do you a get a pigtail for a French bottle from and does it need to be specific whatever French bottle I would buy?

We were in a Leclerc (if that’s how you spell it) massive supermarket and they had all the pigtails on the shelf in display packaging, and they sold the bottles.