Refillable underslung lpg tanks

[steveveets]

Hi everyone first post after introducing myself so please be gentle could I ask your thoughts on refillable underslung lpg tanks. We are looking at purchasing a van conversion with one and I am now concerned about future availability of filling stations and also maintenance ( The van is a 2011 version).
Many thanks
Steve

 

[Reallyretired]

Plenty of stations with LPG though less than there were. Freely available on the continent though which is where the refillable is really useful as you cant buy calor.

 

[MisterB]

No problem whatsoever. Especially on a van conversion - I would also look at getting a diesel heater fitted which will 'save' gas.

 

[glenn2926]

Hi everyone first post after introducing myself so please be gentle could I ask your thoughts on refillable underslung lpg tanks. We are looking at purchasing a van conversion with one and I am now concerned about future availability of filling stations and also maintenance ( The van is a 2011 version).
Many thanks
Steve

I don't know where Fareham is in the country but if it's down south there does seem to be a shortage of stations selling LPG. We up in Yorkshire have plenty of options to fill up. My local town has 50% more than a few years ago. That's up to 3 from 2 within 3 miles of my house. Underslung is definitely the way to go if you can fill up. We gained a very large locker and the weight of the tank and gas is much lower and more central which can only be a good thing.

 

[Brains]

Download the MyLPG.eu app onto your phone.
It's (one of several) apps that will give you LPG availability (and price) in your area.

It doesn't matter if there is nothing within 20 miles of where you live, as long as there's somewhere on your way to where you are going.

Refillable LPG is the way to go, underslung is better than GasLow.

LPG at the pump is around £5 for 11kg
Calor is £27 for 11 kg

Calor is UK only:
If you are travelling outside the UK for over 2 weeks, then you will need refillables or multiple connectors and expensive local bottles that you then can not use outside of their area.

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[Langtoftlad]

If by some calamitous reason, lpg/autogas is banished from the earth...
Then there is an adapter you can buy to enable use of a standard calor/flogas cylinder via the van's filler point*... so although inconvenient, an underslung tank will never become completely obsolete.

*Note, the adapter allows for an external cylinder for be used, it does not fill your onboard tank.

 

[steveveets]

Appreciate the replies, didn't know about the adapter so will research that. Any idea if the maintenance of an 11 year old van's tank might be a problem or costly?

 

[JustifiedAncient]

If by some calamitous reason, lpg/autogas is banished from the earth...
Then there is an adapter you can buy to enable use of a standard calor/flogas cylinder via the van's filler point*... so although inconvenient, an underslung tank will never become completely obsolete.

*Note, the adapter allows for an external cylinder for be used, it does not fill your onboard tank.

It's worth noting that Gas-It sell two different hose sets:

One that is intended for users to connect the filler point to a propane bottle and supply vapour from the bottle:

https://www.gasit.co.uk/gas-it-reserved-gas-supply-hose-system-pol.html

And another intended for 'professionals' to 'test' the installation and allows the underslung tank to be filled with liquid LPG from the bottle. I think this latter hose is intended to withstand higher pressures as it doesn't have the crimped fittings that the one above has.

https://www.gasit.co.uk/gas-it-professional-installer-test-system.html

I'm not advocating the use by end-users of this latter hose, but it does seem that it should be possible to refill safely from a bottle with the correct equipment.

 

[Brains]

Appreciate the replies, didn't know about the adapter so will research that. Any idea if the maintenance of an 11 year old van's tank might be a problem or costly?

I don't know about underslung tanks, but a GasLow bottle has a use by date of 10 years.

 

[Dorwyn]

You soon become aware of where the LPG filling points are, and can build them to your routes. You'll be amazed how long a tankfull will last, and maybe be slightly embarrassed at how little you need. The last three times were £4ish twice, £13 once. That was mostly for cooking for a season, no heating, which does use more. Some motorway stations have LPG pumps in the UK, most in France do. Fleet services for example, near you, Salisbury A36, A303 Podimore, A5 Taunton could be on your routes. Just fill up when you're passing.

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[Richard n Ann]

Our fridge uses most of it, we go through 2 x 6kg bottles in 4 weeks. About half the cost of using fridge on electric. Definitely worth having if you use a lot

 

[cyberyacht]

steveveets the nearest to you is the BP garage at Sholing, SO19 8NG just before you get to Dolphin Motorhomes. They also allow filling of Safefill, Gaslow, Gasit bottles. The next nearest is Texaco at Ower. The Jet garage in Southsea has stopped doing LPG.

 

[Orion]

I don't know about underslung tanks, but a GasLow bottle has a use by date of 10 years.

IIRC it applies to both types:

“Industry recommendations are for an annual inspection followed by a final 10-year inspection for steel cylinders and tanks and a similar annual regime for five years for composite cylinders. At the end of the 10-year life, steel cylinders and tanks must be inspected internally and externally for corrosion and for any damage or age-related degradation and the valves must also be scrapped.”

 

[MisterB]

I'm not advocating the use by end-users of this latter hose, but it does seem that it should be possible to refill safely from a bottle with the correct equipment.

in theory you would still need a specialised pump to transfer the liquid from the 'donor' cylinder and the donor cylinder would need to be inverted - BUT NEVER and i emphasise NEVER try it, as it might get you a Darwin Award. awarded to you posthumously ....

 

[berni109]

As Orion has said if new in 2011 needs a complete overhaul.

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[steveveets]

Thank you again everyone - this is all a bit of an eye opener to us but appreciate the advice. Thanks again

 

[royandsharont]

steveveets I don’t have it and my camping style has not had a need for it but I’m sure I read something online the other day on an official engineering type site, which I didn’t know, that the tanks are supposed to be removed checked by a professional gas engineer for damage, pressure tested and then re painted every 10 years. I’ve never seen anyone on forums like this suggesting any such requirements but it sounds logical to me.

 

[Viennese]

I love not having to haul gas cylinders around. It's useful to know that whatever capacity your tank is, you can only fill it to 80 per cent as the other 20% has to be left empty, can't remember why something to do with pressure - someone on here will explain. That's why I changed my tank from 20 litres to 25 litres, to give us more available gas. And when you fill it up at the pump, it will cease filling automatically, so it's important to know approx how much you have got and how much more you can put in, because it will still take more but very slowly. Mine once told me it was full and I managed to get 5 more litres in, but it took about 15 minutes to do that.

By the way my gauge is notoriously unreliable, and others say the same, but you will get a feel for it eventually. When it says empty there is usually still a fair bit in there... Good luck!

 

[Orion]

The NCC are the go to organisation for information on this and have CoP 306 for installers and those inspecting leisure vehicle gas installations to adhere to.

Here’s a sample list of some of the defects that may lead to failure:

 

[suavecarve]

steveveets the nearest to you is the BP garage at Sholing, SO19 8NG just before you get to Dolphin Motorhomes. They also allow filling of Safefill, Gaslow, Gasit bottles. The next nearest is Texaco at Ower. The Jet garage in Southsea has stopped doing LPG.

And if youre coming up the A32 West Meon Hut is no longer LPG

If you havent bought your van yet be aware there is not a lot of space for bigger tanks under a transit which you may want to consider

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[Bubba]

She'll titchfield did have lpg but it was removed a couple of months ago when they had a refit.
We use bottles and get solent gas to deliver them. So long as you have a empty they are OK.

 

[Basildog]

The NCC are the go to organisation for information on this and have CoP 306 for installers and those inspecting leisure vehicle gas installations to adhere to.

Here’s a sample list of some of the defects that may lead to failure:

View attachment 584430

The NCC withdrew that COP as far as I am aware .
They also issued a bulletin not to work on any underslung LPG tanks to all their ( nope I can’t say it ) fitters !
There is a new COP 32 from Liquid Gas that mentions Underslung LPG tanks but yet again it merely causes more confusion than real answers .
The gas situation in the leisure industry is a complete joke.

 

[steveveets]

Wow really grateful for all the responses. On balance, although we love the van (Peugeot Autosleeper Sussex), I think we might keep looking for something without an underslung tank.
Cheers again.

 

[Basildog]

Wow really grateful for all the responses. On balance, although we love the van (Peugeot Autosleeper Sussex), I think we might keep looking for something without an underslung tank.
Cheers again.

Underslung LPG tanks are great as many owners will tell you , I certainly wouldn’t let it be a decider for choice of van .

 

[glenn2926]

Wow really grateful for all the responses. On balance, although we love the van (Peugeot Autosleeper Sussex), I think we might keep looking for something without an underslung tank.
Cheers again.

I would be the opposite. If it didn’t have an underslung tank I would be looking for one that did.

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[poppycamper]

And when you fill it up at the pump, it will cease filling automatically, so it's important to know approx how much you have got and how much more you can put in, because it will still take more but very slowly.

Viennese.. Not sure that is sound advice...tanks have a float to stop filling at 80% WHICH IS FULL..therefore you should not be squeezing anymore is no matter how slowly.
steveveets I have underslung and would not go back to any thing else.. Just get into habit of filling up every time you see a filling point (another advantage, you don't need to wait till empty, just top up), and always fill up on way home so you ready for next trip.

 

[Brains]

Wow really grateful for all the responses. On balance, although we love the van (Peugeot Autosleeper Sussex), I think we might keep looking for something without an underslung tank.
Cheers again.

If the van ticks all the other boxes then I'd go for it.
You might get a bit of a discount when you point out that the LPG tank is overdue for a major inspection.

Do a bit of research and find out what the worst case scenario of the need to do a complete replacement of the tank would cost, and also the more realistic cost of a full inspection and replacement of all the gas lines and valves.

Having an LPG tank should be a positive on a van, not a negative. (Even if it needs an inspection)

 

[Basildog]

I love not having to haul gas cylinders around. It's useful to know that whatever capacity your tank is, you can only fill it to 80 per cent as the other 20% has to be left empty, can't remember why something to do with pressure - someone on here will explain. That's why I changed my tank from 20 litres to 25 litres, to give us more available gas. And when you fill it up at the pump, it will cease filling automatically, so it's important to know approx how much you have got and how much more you can put in, because it will still take more but very slowly. Mine once told me it was full and I managed to get 5 more litres in, but it took about 15 minutes to do that.

Very bad advice .
The initial cut off is the fill stop valve operating .
The design of these valves is such that they require a minute pressure bleed hole in the valve to release the filler hose pressure on the valve as you use the LPG in the tank .
Basically the design standards allow this tiny bypass and don’t expect anyone to stand for 15 minutes trying to get a little bit more in the tank .
You overfilled your tank and were extremely lucky it wasn’t on a hot day with you parked up beside someone having a BBQ .
A tank with a lifting PRV causes panic from most people .
We see overfilled cylinders/ tanks occasionally and they are nearly always caused by someone who eventually admits they were 10 to 30 minutes on the pump
Whilst regulators are actually very good at holding LPG in its liquid state back they certainly aren’t designed to cope with liquid and will fail sooner rather than later

 

[poppycamper]

Very bad advice .
The initial cut off is the fill stop valve operating .
The design of these valves is such that they require a minute pressure bleed hole in the valve to release the filler hose pressure on the valve as you use the LPG in the tank .
Basically the design standards allow this tiny bypass and don’t expect anyone to stand for 15 minutes trying to get a little bit more in the tank .
You overfilled your tank and were extremely lucky it wasn’t on a hot day with you parked up beside someone having a BBQ .
A tank with a lifting PRV causes panic from most people .
We see overfilled cylinders/ tanks occasionally and they are nearly always caused by someone who eventually admits they were 10 to 30 minutes on the pump
Whilst regulators are actually very good at holding LPG in its liquid state back they certainly aren’t designed to cope with liquid and will fail sooner rather than later

Could this possibly, just possibly be one reason why autogas fill points are disappearing and those that are still there tread very carefully when they see someone trying to fill up?????

 

[Viennese]

Thank you for telling me. I had no idea, I won't do it again!

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