New Gas conundrum! Fitting filler in locker door?

PaulC70

PaulC70

Joined
May 8, 2021
Posts
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Bedford, UK
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MH
Bailey Autograph792F
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Since June 2021
So, I've now got a large gaslow, white filler etc setup and was originally planning on fitting the filler in the skirt, however on closer examination its going to be way too flimsy when the gas gun is hanging off it! So, exploring options rules out an in locker filler with bracket as I don't need even the thought I could get refused somewhere for opening the locker door, plus my locker is a bottle in front of another, not side by side, so extra hassle.

That leaves the last option which is the filler fitted to the locker door. The kit has enough stainless hose for this option to ensure that its not under stress when open or closed however I've thought of a possible logistical problem thanks to the thickness of the door itself which is approximately 4cm deep.

This presents a problem. If you look at the first picture with the filler all together you can see the metal filler extending at the right angle from the rear
but if I seperate the filler housing to the rough 4cm spacing it would be fitted? then the right angle is within the housing and no way the hose can be fitted to the end?

IMG_0041.jpeg
IMG_0042-Edit copy.jpg


My initial thought is to cut a notch where the red mark is to allow the hose to be fitted?
Or is there another option? Tagging Basildog hoping he may have a thought too?
 
Without knowing the flimsiness of your skirt (theres a sentence I never thought I would write)

If the only issue is the flimsiness when filling up 3 4 or 5 times a year, is there any issue in holding the gas pump to prevent any perceived frailties ?
 
Ive never actually filled one before but from what I see on youtube etc dont you have to push a button on the pump and hold it until full? I dont think its feasible to do both at the same time but willing to be corrected?
 
Yes you are correct that you need to keep the button pressed whilst filling. You can easily reinforce the back of the skirt to make it more sturdy with some aluminum and epoxy resin and even add some small support struts fastened to the van floor and epoxy resin to the skirt
 
Personally, I would look to try and strengthen the skirt rather than mucking about with the gas fittings.

edit: as dpsuk999 says. Might even want to consider fibreglass matting with resin.

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Locker door not ideal due to flexing of filler pipe.
Why not strengthen the skirt with extra plate and or brackets?
Agree you wont reach filler with one hand on the pump button.
 
I wouldn’t want to fit the filler to the skirt under the gas locker on our motorhome. It’s a single thin fibreglass skirt with no strength at all. The only place to fit the filler would be side panel next to the gas locker.
I have heard of a hose failure when the filler was fitted to a locker door because of it flexing when the door was opened.
 
Mine came with the filler fitted in the locker door. I checked the hose and can see no wear, I will renew this year as it is due to it's age. However my system has a one way shut off valve for filling if it leaks it will only be on filling which you will smell or see clouds of condensation puffing out. The hose is only in use for filling.
 
When I bought my kit, I was intending to fit the filler to the locker door as the skirt seemed to flimsy. but when I looked at the options, I decided (for reasons noted already on this thread) that could be a pain and went for the Skirt option instead.
To counter the 'flimsiness', I fitted the filler in the skirt equidistant between two existing support struts for maximum strength and I think that has been fine without the need to add anything else.
If I were installing another one, knowing what I know now, I would do exactly the same bar getting a filler in Black instead of White (got in White to match the gas locker door)
 
Fitting in the locker door is a big no, no really not worth going there and if you do go that route don't use a stajnless steel hose they are not designed to be flexed in use.

Normally easy to strengthen the sill an aluminium or stainless plate behind the mounting point and a couple of braces to the chassis.
Also if you use the small square filler you won't be cutting such a big hole in the sill.

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I'll have a look at strengthening the skirt, plenty of bits of ally in B&Q etc lol. Not bothered by the size of the hole as long as it all works (y)(y)
 
Our filler is on a strong bracket inside the locker, nobody has ever said anything about it in 7 years. I think you'd have to search hard to find an egotistical enough jobsworth to prevent you filling. IMO 😏
 
Had mine fitted on a Bailey skirt. They added a bracket behind the skirt to support it. Strong as houses and very discrete.

20211211_104106 (Small).jpg
 
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Our filler is in the locker,never been refused s fill up because of that as the bottles are obviously refillables. But if I were to change it ,the last place I would put it is in the door.
There is a thread on fun not long ago where a locker door fill point had a cracked hose and leaked gas. A potential disaster waiting to happen.
Just reinforce the cill where you put it or put a bracket behind the cill. (y)
 
Yes the ones where the hose cracked was poorly fitted with a straight fill point and not the right angled one, that's why it failed I would surmise. But Im going to relook at the skirt again and how it may be able to be reinforced with some ally or stainless sheet.

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PaulC70 said:
So, I've now got a large gaslow, white filler etc setup and was originally planning on fitting the filler in the skirt, however on closer examination its going to be way too flimsy when the gas gun is hanging off it! So, exploring options rules out an in locker filler with bracket as I don't need even the thought I could get refused somewhere for opening the locker door, plus my locker is a bottle in front of another, not side by side, so extra hassle.

That leaves the last option which is the filler fitted to the locker door. The kit has enough stainless hose for this option to ensure that its not under stress when open or closed however I've thought of a possible logistical problem thanks to the thickness of the door itself which is approximately 4cm deep.

This presents a problem. If you look at the first picture with the filler all together you can see the metal filler extending at the right angle from the rear
but if I seperate the filler housing to the rough 4cm spacing it would be fitted? then the right angle is within the housing and no way the hose can be fitted to the end?

View attachment 583030View attachment 583031

My initial thought is to cut a notch where the red mark is to allow the hose to be fitted?
Or is there another option? Tagging Basildog hoping he may have a thought too?
Click to expand...
We often use a straight bayonet filler if needed (but we are lucky as have a huge choice of parts to hand ) .
We often cut the rear plastic moulding to size as well .
Door mounted filler points are best avoided as you will nearly always see a horrible dent in the panel likewise with fillers mounted in the bodywork on coach build’s especially but also on panel vans .
Skirts are much stronger than they look to be honest , we also mount many fillers on brackets in the lockers as many owners don’t want a hole in their van .
 
I've got a flimsy skirt. The fill point is fitted on it. Despite its flimsyness it's still fine after 3 years. There is very little stress put on it when connecting and filling. Those flimsy skirts are tougher than they look and I agree with suavecarve it's about how often they are used. If it was 10 times a day I would be worried.
 
You can buy an L bracket that is often used inside the gas locker, between the bottles. This can be adapted and inverted to hand down from the floor behind the skirt. It reinforces the skirt and takes all the weight of gun and hose off the flimsy plastic
 
Have a look at this type of filler point, they take up less space so could open up possible positions
9708054C-A4A8-4607-91C0-1E64978C57C7.png

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This site contains affiliate links for which MHF may be compensated.
You can get smaller filling connections which might then allow you to use a larger 'support/backplate'?
 
Clivefog said:
Mine came with the filler fitted in the locker door. I checked the hose and can see no wear, I will renew this year as it is due to it's age. However my system has a one way shut off valve for filling if it leaks it will only be on filling which you will smell or see clouds of condensation puffing out. The hose is only in use for filling.
Click to expand...

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If you go with the smaller square fill point, the reinforcing brackets are much cheaper £7.64

www.gasit.co.uk

GAS IT Angled fill point bracket. - GAS IT Leisure Gas Bottles, Gas Cylinders and Gas Tanks - Catering, Motorhome, Campervan, Caravan, Farrier and Road Repair Refillable Gas Solutions.

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www.gasit.co.uk www.gasit.co.uk
 
i moved one of the srirt staps so it was close to the filler point but my skirts are metal
 
Ours is fitted in the locker door.
The installation was done by a well known company on this forum.
It's been working fine for several years, so I don't see a problem with door fittings.
 
Brains said:
Ours is fitted in the locker door.
The installation was done by a well known company on this forum.
It's been working fine for several years, so I don't see a problem with door fittings.
Click to expand...
Nothing wrong with fitting it in the door. I went for the skirt as I reckoned if I stuffed it up that the skirt would be cheaper to replace/repair and the damage would be less obvious :giggle:
 
gpat said:
Nothing wrong with fitting it in the door. I went for the skirt as I reckoned if I stuffed it up that the skirt would be cheaper to replace/repair and the damage would be less obvious :giggle:
Click to expand...
You'll be the one grovelling around at floor level to fill then!

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