Gas bottle question.... Forums

robdunford

Just off to Spain, so there is a gas bottle question, the motorhome is German and has a German bottle fitted, with the German style regulator. What do i need to get Spanish gas into the Motorhome? Is there a simple adapter to go on the end of the German regulator that fits the Spanish bottle?
Help!

Boff

Hi Rob,

Spain is very restrictive regarding foreign gas bottles. Once your German bottle is empty, you can't have it refilled in Spain.

Allegedly there is the option to buy an adaptor for Spanish bottles in Spain. But I have never tried that.

Hope that helps a bit.

Best Regards,
Gerhard

robdunford

Hi Boff
Do you think the best solution is get a refillable bottle with the right adaptors/regulators??
I am thinking of MH Autogas and going to the Repsol refill stations.
Thanks
Rob

Boff

Hi Rob!

[quote:7eb33f99d6="robdunford"]Do you think the best solution is get a refillable bottle with the right adaptors/regulators??[/quote:7eb33f99d6]

I have no refillable bottles, so here I have to rely on information from others:
Seems that Spain is especially keen on banning the use of foreign refillable bottles and fixed gas tanks. Sad

Probably the best solution (if you have space for 2 bottles):
Take one full German bottle with you. As soon as you pass the border, lease a Spanish bottle and get the appropriate adaptor. From now on only run on the Spanish bottle and use the German bottle only as reserve while swapping the Spanish one. When you leave Spain again, turn the Spanish bottle back in.

Officially the background is that many accidents have happened due to improperly handling of gas bottles. My personal opinion is that the quasi-monopoly of the (former) state-owned gas supplier Repsol shall be protected against competition in this way.

Best Regards,
Gerhard

Anonymous

If you park in the Aires around Lyon, you can get gas for free so I've heard. (Although not in bottles) Sad

Don Madge

robdunford wrote:

Do you think the best solution is get a refillable bottle with the right adaptors/regulators??

Rob

We had a 13kg Refillable gas bottle and external filling point installed in the van about a year ago. It has the 80% auto stop and a very accurate gauge. The work was carried out by Richard Cecil of MTH Autogas. The initial fill of the bottle took 23 litres of gas.

As we usually spend 7/8 months of the year touring abroad we think the refillable bottle is the greatest thing since sliced bread.

It's taken all the worry about will the gas last, how much can we use the heater and so on.

With the three adapters (bayonet/clawgun/achme) we are able to refill the bottle in most places in Europe.

Spain can be a slight pain but the Repsol site will help :-

http://www.repsol.com/eng/productosyservicios/productosyservicios/
glpautomocion/informacioncomercial/puntosdeventa/mapaptosventa.asp?PaginaID=1876&Nivel=11

I know the initial outlay is in the region of £200 but for the convenience and peace of mind it's a worthwhile investment. On the other hand if your van sits around unused for eleven months of the year it's not a good outlay.

Don

robdunford

Dear Boff
My locker is smallish, so what is the smallest size Spainish bottle i can get? My german bottle is a 7kg size.