Refill Safefill in France? (1 Viewer)

[ShaKen]

Hi all

breaking out this question from another thread as it was getting lost there.

I’m planning on getting a Safefill refillable gas bottle and would welcome feedback if you’ve got one of those and either had problems, or no problems filling up in France.

I’m going to get the 10kg bottle which holds approx 19ltrs, so it should do me for most trips, but I want to get a bottle I can fill if I really need to.

Any thoughts?

 

[pappajohn]

External fill point.... No problem.
Internal fill point... Take your chance.
Either way you need a converter.

 

[tonka]

Safefill yes. France cant answer but the only time I needed to fill outside UK was in Germany.
Large motorway services, opened locker door and filled bottle no problem.

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[Stealaway]

This is their official map but as Tonka indicated with the correct adaptor it seems you can fill up anywhere.

Safefill Filling Facilities – Google My Maps

Our network of centres available for filling your Safefill cylinder.

www.google.com

 

[9526]

My experience (other experiences are available!)

We have an underslung tank, however we have been checked in some locations.

France, usually fine - occasionally ask ”are you filling bottles”, once was asked for certificate of installation.
Spain - Never refused or checked, some garage owners will fill anything (Aguilas will fill calor etc)
Portugal - Never refused or checked, some garage owners will attempt to fill anything. (Small independents)
Germany - Never refused or checked
Italy - Often asked “is it for the motor?” (of course it is!) once aggressively refused, but have usually found somewhere willing to fill (think you’d struggle with visible bottles)

I think you need to be aware that waving a bottle around on the forecourt will attract suspicion in many countries.

You need adapters, the 3 piece kit will serve you throughout Europe (cup, bullet and screw)

 

[Mr Rusty]

Had Safefill for years and never been refused in France. Been refused in UK once, but drove on to next LPG garage. I don’t have an external fill point and so have to open gas locker door to fill, but I do leave the bottle in situ when filling (ie I don’t wave the bottle round on the forecourt).

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[Emmit]

I don't have Safefill but Gaslow.
However, in order to prevent misunderstanding on the Continent I have moved my box of adaptors and gloves into the space behind the drivers seat.
I therefore don't have to open the gas locker where they were housed previously.

 

[Ed 57]

We never found anywhere in France to fill our Safefill during a 5 week trip, but the 10 kg / 19 Lt bottle was sufficient for us 12 nights on sites with EHU, and 23 nights on Aires. Not used for heating, just fridge, cooking & showers.
People do tend to overestimate how much gas they need.

 

[two]

You cannot connect SafeFill to an external socket. it does not work like that.
I fill mine in the locker. Get it ready beforehand (disconnect the pigtail & turn the valve on) and have not had any problem - BUT have not needed to fill in France yet. I would not expect a problem, however.

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[hrid09]

never a problem with plumbed in Gaslow

 

[Lenny HB]

People do tend to overestimate how much gas they need.

I know how much I use, shoulder season in Portugal or Spain a 14kg (28Lt) bottle lasts 15-18 days for us.

 

[Jenka]

Out of 24 countries on this trip only been refused twice ,Italy &Germany ,I have a Gaslow with internal filler.

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[Neil S]

filled my safefill in France on numerous occasions , never been questioned or refused but I normally fill at motorway services with automated pumps where you pay with a CC

 

[BOWHOUSE52]

we have Gas Low and never had a problem and been all over Europe But I suppose there can be a first time

 

[PeteH]

Made some calculations. I reckon on my usage, the payback would be in excess of 2 years.?

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[Stealaway]

I know how much I use, shoulder season in Portugal or Spain a 14kg (28Lt) bottle lasts 15-18 days for us.

That seems heavy usage - do you shower everyday? Does that include much time with the heating on?

A 13Kg propane bottle will last us over three weeks on average.

 

[Wildbill]

We have gaslow we did consider getting the saffill for our sons van but in the end went with the gasit system
external filling point
bill

 

[ShaKen]

Made some calculations. I reckon on my usage, the payback would be in excess of 2 years.?

For me the most important bit is not the issue of cost but that of having availability of gas.

If I take Calor (UK) bottles then I’ve probably near 0% chance of getting a refill if I need it in France, whereas if I have a Safefill bottle, then it’s pretty likely I’ll find somewhere nearby where I can get a refill.

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[Neil S]

For me the most important bit is not the issue of cost but that of having availability of gas.

If I take Calor (UK) bottles then I’ve probably near 0% chance of getting a refill if I need it in France, whereas if I have a Safefill bottle, then it’s pretty likely I’ll find somewhere nearby where I can get a refill.

As per my previous post you will get GPL as they call it in France in many motorway service areas as well some supermarkets just remember to get the necessary French adapter

 

[EX51SSS]

Made some calculations. I reckon on my usage, the payback would be in excess of 2 years.?

I have no doubt that your calculations aren't exact and I had that issue but I took the plunge and decided to go for the Gaslow system. On my very first trip away (2 weeks to France) , I used (by refilling) £9.94 at the service station on the M20. Obviously cheaper if I'd filled in my area. (83p v 46p). Previously I'd have a Calorlite and a BP lite and that was about £53 to exchange. On that one trip, I saved £43. However the greatest advantage was not having to go to exchange the cylinders at 2 different places , the time taken plus the disconnection and reconnection of the cylinders. You can't put a price on convenience.

 

[PeteH]

I have no doubt that your calculations aren't exact and I had that issue but I took the plunge and decided to go for the Gaslow system. On my very first trip away (2 weeks to France) , I used (by refilling) £9.94 at the service station on the M20. Obviously cheaper if I'd filled in my area. (83p v 46p). Previously I'd have a Calorlite and a BP lite and that was about £53 to exchange. On that one trip, I saved £43. However the greatest advantage was not having to go to exchange the cylinders at 2 different places , the time taken plus the disconnection and reconnection of the cylinders. You can't put a price on convenience.

It`s not that I cannot see, what you are saying. But in 2 years time, I may not be here, or at least no longer Motorhoming?. Which makes the move to refillable`s less cost effective. (for me, who has no prospect of going abroad, the health insuance costs are too great.). Now someone who does a lot of usage and gets to go Foreign. I can see the benefits. My R-v`s came with fixed tanks. (120L) And I am well aware of the difference in cost. I used to be able to fill at a 5% VAT rate, because it was classed as "domestic". I`ve paid as little a 15pence / litre in the past.

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[EX51SSS]

It`s not that I cannot see, what you are saying. But in 2 years time, I may not be here, or at least no longer Motorhoming?. Which makes the move to refillable`s less cost effective. (for me, who has no prospect of going abroad, the health insuance costs are too great.). Now someone who does a lot of usage and gets to go Foreign. I can see the benefits. My R-v`s came with fixed tanks. (120L) And I am well aware of the difference in cost. I used to be able to fill at a 5% VAT rate, because it was classed as "domestic". I`ve paid as little a 15pence / litre in the past.

Sorry PeteH, I was putting my take on it. At the time I had my refillable cylinders fitted, I only got opportunity to use my moho a few weeks a year and only 2 in Europe. I wasn't trying to justify the costs to you but rather justified the costs to myself. Personally, if I'd thought I could have broke even in 2 years, I'd have had no hesitation as I estimated it would have taken my in excess of 6/7 years to get to that stage.
Only you can decide whether or not it's cost effective or worthwhile and in all fairness, nobody knows what's happening tomorrow let alone within 2 years but for what it's worth, my previous post was my opinion

 

[Shrimp]

I don't have Safefill but Gaslow.
However, in order to prevent misunderstanding on the Continent I have moved my box of adaptors and gloves into the space behind the drivers seat.
I therefore don't have to open the gas locker where they were housed previously.

Same as us. We did have to open locker door, but we’re never checked/questioned but opening a locker on the side of the van is sometimes very awkward-space wise, so hubby fitted filler point on outside and has adapters in cab.
We've never been stopped and I think we’ve only been checked out once, in France!

 

[Lenny HB]

That seems heavy usage - do you shower everyday? Does that include much time with the heating on?

A 13Kg propane bottle will last us over three weeks on average.

18 days is only 3 days short of three weeks.
Yes heating and hot water on for our shower everyday often up in the mountains so heating often on. Fridge uses more gas since I fitted an internal fan but at least it works like a fridge rather than a cool box.
Most of our trips are Feb/March & Sept/Oct.

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[Canyon904]

They are getting very teasy in France with refillable s, two stations local to me have point blank refused, showed them the bottle, explained it was specially made for refills but-non c'est un bouteille, I'd guess head office have sent a memo and rules is rules.

 

[EX51SSS]

They are getting very teasy in France with refillable s, two stations local to me have point blank refused, showed them the bottle, explained it was specially made for refills but-non c'est un bouteille, I'd guess head office have sent a memo and rules is rules.

Personally I think that will spread. Filling cylinders is not recommended in lots of countries

 

[Billy Carroll]

Hi all

breaking out this question from another thread as it was getting lost there.

I’m planning on getting a Safefill refillable gas bottle and would welcome feedback if you’ve got one of those and either had problems, or no problems filling up in France.

I’m going to get the 10kg bottle which holds approx 19ltrs, so it should do me for most trips, but I want to get a bottle I can fill if I really need to.

Any thoughts?

Hi I've not done France since I've had the safefill. But we've just done Portugal and Spain for 6 months and no problems filling in any of the country's.

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[tonka]

Hi I've not done France since I've had the safefill. But we've just done Portugal and Spain for 6 months and no problems filling in any of the country's.

Thanks on the feedback.

 

[SteveRallye]

Had Safefill for a few years now and had no problems in Europe so far.When we are in the UK we are lucky because local to us nice local garage with old fashioned system of coming out to fill up for you. I held onto the old calor for this country just in case but they are a complete ripoff on the 6/7 kgs. The problem with having the larger cheaper bottles is that the main clubs will not let you have gas bottles freestanding due to Health and Safety

 

[Lenny HB]

They are getting very teasy in France with refillable s, two stations local to me have point blank refused, showed them the bottle, explained it was specially made for refills but-non c'est un bouteille, I'd guess head office have sent a memo and rules is rules.

Been refused in Portugal was told they don't filll bottles. I pointed at my external filler and told them it was a tank and they filled me.

I'm not sure about Portugal but Spain & Italy it is illegal to fill habitation tanks but you very seldom every have a problem filling. I've been refused in Italy but the next garage was OK.

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