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spence

Hi,

I have space in the motorhome for 1 x 13kg cylinder. The motorhome was supplied with 1 x 6kg propane (red calor cylinder) which will need replacing soon.

I have in the garden a 13kg patio gas propane which is full and not likely to be used with our summer weather, I also have a 15kg butane in a patio heater which is nearly empty.

I purchased the cylinder (only ever paid for 1 x deposit) at the local homebase but they only do BP gas now so I could have the new BP light.

My concerns are that if I change to BP Light gas I need a 20mm connection not 27 and how easy is BP to change at other sites.
I also end up with another gas cylinder as Homebase will not take the Calor back.
I am using the motorhome every other weekend but have a 10 day trip coming up in the UK. If i decide to go across to France I will make sure i take a full cylinder.

Any guidance is welcome.

Spence

UncleNorm

Hi Spence! A 13kg of Propane has just given us five weeks of hot water, cooking, some BBQs and some heating. Eight nights were without electric hook-up so everything was on gas. I'm happy to report that the cylinder is still around half full.

I DID take a 6kg just for the BBQ but somehow it lost its contents over a couple of days. (Calor were happy to replace the cylinder when I reported the facts to them.) But, to save messing about swapping cylinders when I needed the BBQ, I decided to buy a 3.6kg CampingGaz cylinder from a French Carrefour supermarche. The refill would have cost €19; the initial purchase of the cylinder was €43.99!! WOW! Then there was the cost of the matching regulator, another €5.99.

In all our time abroad, I have never seen Calor gas on sale. Some folk have seen it but it is a very rare commodity! You say you have a full cylinder. All things being equal, that should see you through. Don't be wasteful, use mains electric when you can. If the worst happens, buy a French cylinder with matching regulator.

Having said all that, there is the issue of whether you have a new or old style regulator, one fitted to the cylinder or one fitted to the motorhome.

Just to finish this epistle, whilst at the Lincolnshire Music and Motorhome Show over the weekend, I started to check on the idea of fitting a refillable Gaslow system, with appropriate adapters for filling-up anywhere in Europe. In the meantime, I still have 2 x 13 to use and a 6kg so Gaslow will have to wait! Rolling Eyes

Happy Travels!

cronkle

I use a 13kg calor (propane) in our van and that has seen us comfortably through our 4 week holiday for the past few years. Before that we used to use a 6 kg for up to three weeks and never had a problem. The holidays were always in June, southern europe and on hook-ups - basically cooking and water heating.

We used to carry both sizes until (belt, braces and a safety pin Smile

) we found the extra pay-load was more useful for carrying boxes of wine.

GerryD

We changed to propane over 30 years ago and will never use any other. Buying patio gas and the other fashion bottles is a very expensive way of using the same gases. All standard propane bottles have the same connector so you then only need one type of regulator or pigtail. Propane also does not freeze as readily as butane.
In the past we have gone to France with two 6kg bottles and never finished one. Now that we have capacity for two 13kg bottles, we could probably stay abroad for a few months in the warm weather. All of our appliances are gas with no electric option so you can see from here and other postings that you really have nothing to worry about.
Gerry

pneumatician

If you intend camping in the cold you will need Propane.
I have a Gaslow LPG installation with a changeover valve to a Camping Gaz 907 (Butane) for emergency use. I also use Gaz for the Cadac.

We fill the Gaslow about once a year but we do nearly always use HU.

Steve

Vennwood

As Steve says,

Propane is the only choice if you intend to use the van during winter months. If you can afford Gaslow then that's even better as if you do cross the channel then you can refill it easily. Apart from that it's much more convenient in this country not having to disconnect the bottles and hump them around to the stockist - just call in any autogas garage and refill just like fuel.

Whatever you do, Butane ought to be crossed off your list

buellster

I'm using butane at present but understand the benefits of propane, the butane has a pressure of 28mbar, a notice on the gas locker door of my van states max pressure 30mbar. I would prefer to change but propane regulators seem to be 37mbar. Would it be safe to change. Just a point when in Portugal during the winter there are places to refill calor propane but they couldn't refill the butane.

GerryD

CliveMott

The first time our Butane bottle froze was the last time (1973) Since then Propane.

Bulk tank suits us best as its most convienient and we tend to hang onto vehicles for a long time, 10 years typical. Present MH is in year 11.

richardjames

Propane is the best all round not only from the cold climate situation but, as I understand, gives better heat

Richard