Refillable Gas bottles on low Alko chassis (1 Viewer)

Feb 22, 2016
3,561
10,472
York
Funster No
41,744
MH
Bailey 620 Approach
Exp
Since 2015
We have a 2012 Bailey Approach 620. We had our first major trip abroad over winter for 3 months. We encountered problems of getting gas bottles as we left with a 13kg Calor propane but the weather was so cold, in France, we used up our gas in less than a quarter of the anticipated time. The UK pigtail would not fit a French propane bottle. So,we had to buy a French bottle and a French pigtail. Total nearly €78 not including the gas itself.

Then onto Spain. And their pigtails and bottles. So another €50 odd, plus having to carry (probably unlawfully) the empty French bottle inside the van (the Calor bottle was in the gas locker).

So, on our return to U.K., we decided to go for a refillable gas system and, due to the lack of outdoor storage on the Bailey, considered an underslung gas tank. Researching through this forum, we decided to use Autogas 2000 at Carlton Minniot near Thirsk. As we live in York, this was really handy. From our first contact, through receptionist Wendy, we were treated really well. Chris the owner came to the phone to discuss options and suggested we book in and let them see the van. We did this yesterday. By arrangement, you can park overnight in Autogas 2000's yard, provided with free hookup. Less than 100 yards away, is a lovely pub, The Dog and Gun (which has only been opened a matter of weeks following refurbishment). We went for a pint and a meal. The Timothy Taylor's was excellent, as was the meal.

At 8:15 today, Jon from Autogas, knocked on the van door and the van was placed on the ramp. Chris and Jon had a thorough look at the underside of the van and then gave their advice:

1. They could fit a small tank under the van but the lack of space (the Bailey being just 6 meters and having a central 100 litre water tank) meant that we would have little gas capacity. The work in fitting such a tank, would involve some cutting and bolting of the chassis, which, whilst undoubtedly safe, seemed disproportionately complex (and expensive) for relatively little gain.

2. They could fit a 12kg Alugas refillable bottle which would give us marginally less gas than the 13kg Calor type bottle. And it would cost less than half of (1) above.

Although the choice was ours, both Chris and Jon favoured the second option. We were given a lift into Thirsk town centre and told the van would be ready by noon. In little over an hour and a half, we got a call that the van was ready.

We were given a thorough instruction on an actual LPG pump at Autogas's courtyard of how to fill the Alugas bottle, including me having a go before the tank was filled to the 80% maximum permitted level. We were then taken through the various European adaptors supplied and provided with a plastic wallet with written instructions etc of what had been shown and explained to us.

We were also given a discount for being Funsters!

We now have a nice new refillable gas bottle in the gas locker which takes up half the space of the Calor bottle so we can now put our hookup cable, toilet chemicals, hoses, various adaptors etc, in the gas locker. We don't have to heave a heavy bottle in and out of the locker and we now have a neat, securely fitted, filling point on the skirt of the van.

All in all, we are very pleased with the advice, care and attention we received from Chris and Jon at Autogass 2000 and we can heartily recommend them.

We're now off to France, Italy and Greece and feel much more confident of managing our gas supply for the 4 month trip.
 

Alistair33

Free Member
Aug 23, 2016
1,079
3,258
North Yorkshire
Funster No
44,753
MH
Hymer
Exp
None
Im booked in for 28th, didn't know about the discount .... and great to hear about the good service, although I'll not be able to try the beer was they reckon on only an hour !
 

PP Bear

LIFE MEMBER
Apr 5, 2013
7,735
28,141
Kent, UK
Funster No
25,395
MH
Auto Trail Dakota SE
Exp
2012
We have a 2012 Bailey Approach 620. We had our first major trip abroad over winter for 3 months. We encountered problems of getting gas bottles as we left with a 13kg Calor propane but the weather was so cold, in France, we used up our gas in less than a quarter of the anticipated time. The UK pigtail would not fit a French propane bottle. So,we had to buy a French bottle and a French pigtail. Total nearly €78 not including the gas itself.

Then onto Spain. And their pigtails and bottles. So another €50 odd, plus having to carry (probably unlawfully) the empty French bottle inside the van (the Calor bottle was in the gas locker).

So, on our return to U.K., we decided to go for a refillable gas system and, due to the lack of outdoor storage on the Bailey, considered an underslung gas tank. Researching through this forum, we decided to use Autogas 2000 at Carlton Minniot near Thirsk. As we live in York, this was really handy. From our first contact, through receptionist Wendy, we were treated really well. Chris the owner came to the phone to discuss options and suggested we book in and let them see the van. We did this yesterday. By arrangement, you can park overnight in Autogas 2000's yard, provided with free hookup. Less than 100 yards away, is a lovely pub, The Dog and Gun (which has only been opened a matter of weeks following refurbishment). We went for a pint and a meal. The Timothy Taylor's was excellent, as was the meal.

At 8:15 today, Jon from Autogas, knocked on the van door and the van was placed on the ramp. Chris and Jon had a thorough look at the underside of the van and then gave their advice:

1. They could fit a small tank under the van but the lack of space (the Bailey being just 6 meters and having a central 100 litre water tank) meant that we would have little gas capacity. The work in fitting such a tank, would involve some cutting and bolting of the chassis, which, whilst undoubtedly safe, seemed disproportionately complex (and expensive) for relatively little gain.

2. They could fit a 12kg Alugas refillable bottle which would give us marginally less gas than the 13kg Calor type bottle. And it would cost less than half of (1) above.

Although the choice was ours, both Chris and Jon favoured the second option. We were given a lift into Thirsk town centre and told the van would be ready by noon. In little over an hour and a half, we got a call that the van was ready.

We were given a thorough instruction on an actual LPG pump at Autogas's courtyard of how to fill the Alugas bottle, including me having a go before the tank was filled to the 80% maximum permitted level. We were then taken through the various European adaptors supplied and provided with a plastic wallet with written instructions etc of what had been shown and explained to us.

We were also given a discount for being Funsters!

We now have a nice new refillable gas bottle in the gas locker which takes up half the space of the Calor bottle so we can now put our hookup cable, toilet chemicals, hoses, various adaptors etc, in the gas locker. We don't have to heave a heavy bottle in and out of the locker and we now have a neat, securely fitted, filling point on the skirt of the van.

All in all, we are very pleased with the advice, care and attention we received from Chris and Jon at Autogass 2000 and we can heartily recommend them.

We're now off to France, Italy and Greece and feel much more confident of managing our gas supply for the 4 month trip.
Can we ask the price for all the work and items etc, it would be useful for us to see how we can budget etc:)

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OP
OP
Ingwe
Feb 22, 2016
3,561
10,472
York
Funster No
41,744
MH
Bailey 620 Approach
Exp
Since 2015
@PP Bear-I'll have to give approx prices as I've left the wallet with the invoice in the van (which is in secure storage) about 5 miles away.

By the way, the Alugas tank is 14kg (not 12kg as I stated).

The tank was about £198
Filler boot £42
Hose £22
Pigtail £10
Set of 3 adaptors. £15
Gas. £12
Labour. £80
Total: £382

I hope this is helpful. There may be a few things I've missed off but the total price is right.
 
OP
OP
Ingwe
Feb 22, 2016
3,561
10,472
York
Funster No
41,744
MH
Bailey 620 Approach
Exp
Since 2015
@Alistair33-we stayed over the night before hence the time to have a pint. We were originally intending to have a underslung tank which would have taken a lot longer and they wanted to begin at eight am. By the way, also forgot to mention that the tank has a gauge that clearly shows how full the bottle is. A useful touch.
 

Bailey58

LIFE MEMBER
Jun 23, 2010
8,785
29,135
Norfolk and Toftir.
Funster No
12,267
MH
Sold
Exp
July 2010 (ex tugger)
Thanks for that, very useful as I'm considering an underslung tank on a 740SE for a prospective Scandinavia trip and being off hookup most of the time gas is a priority. Where was the filler point fitted, door, skirt or in the panel beside the door?

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Lenny HB

LIFE MEMBER
Oct 18, 2007
52,698
147,631
On the coast in West Sussex
Funster No
658
MH
Hymer B678 DL
Exp
Since 2008 & many years tugging
Im booked in for 28th, didn't know about the discount .... and great to hear about the good service, although I'll not be able to try the beer was they reckon on only an hour !
The Exsis gas locker will take 2 x 14kg bottles well worth the small extra cost over the 11kg bottles.
 
OP
OP
Ingwe
Feb 22, 2016
3,561
10,472
York
Funster No
41,744
MH
Bailey 620 Approach
Exp
Since 2015
@Bailey58-the filler point was fitted on the skirt. They made a strong support bracket to support the weight of the filler hose.
 
OP
OP
Ingwe
Feb 22, 2016
3,561
10,472
York
Funster No
41,744
MH
Bailey 620 Approach
Exp
Since 2015
@Bailey58-as your van is a lot larger then ours, there probably is space for a 44 litre underslung tank. I'd give Chris at Autogas 2000 a ring.

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Emmit

LIFE MEMBER
Aug 14, 2009
8,009
17,542
Cornwall
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7,967
MH
Pilote Explorateur
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Jan.2014
Ingwe,
You're obviously first generation Tyke as no self respecting Yorkie would shell out the dosh you did on visiting foreign climes:ROFLMAO::ROFLMAO::ROFLMAO:

For the rest of the EU virgins worried about going over the water can I provide a bit of info just in case you haven't got refillable gas, (which I have just got and heartily recommend)
Assuming you have a built in Reg (post 2002 'Van) get yourself a UK Butane pigtail. When you arrive in France, get yourself to a french supermarket and have a look at their gas bottles, They've all got them. Have a look at the 10-13kgs bottles and you will see one or two that have an outlet on the side of the valve on the top. It will be covered with a plastic tamperproof seal but there will be used ones where you can get a good look.
It will be seen that the outlet bears a resemblance to a UK Butane outlet (small dumpy 4.5Kgs)
That's because it isn't similar. IT'S IDENTICAL!!!
Go to the garage kiosk and ask for a bottle to rent. If you don't have french, repeat after me "Jer voodray oon booteel der gas" If the attendant responds in french,(Well Done!!!) say "Jer nay pahlay fronsay pardon" They may say something like "Bootan oh Propahn," Respond, ""Propahn"
There you go. The rent will be about a 1€ (Yes One) and the gas will be a damn sight cheaper than anything in the UK.
 

PP Bear

LIFE MEMBER
Apr 5, 2013
7,735
28,141
Kent, UK
Funster No
25,395
MH
Auto Trail Dakota SE
Exp
2012
Just remember that the bigger the underslung tank is, the heavier they get and they do weight in at some kg.

Not a show stopper if you have the extra kg spare on your weight allowance, but something to consider:)

Keep us posted:)
 

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