Re-fillable gas bottles

Bob, Pete and Baza.
This is the bottle I was telling you about the other day

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Probably work out cheaper than gaslow by the time you have bought fitting kits and pipes, lot easier to transfer to a new van as well. Doesn't mention filling 2 bottles at once though, or even using 2 bottles

I didn't know gaslow now have a direct fill bottle
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KSH wrote:

I didn't know gaslow now have a direct fill bottle
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Ken, they have always been direct fill, that link is for filling the bottle at places Gaslow have nominated/registered or whatever you call it
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But they do now have a filter to stop the nasty stuff breaking down your hoses.

Reading the link again you will never be allowed to refill a bottle the way they show in the link anywhere in France and suspect any where in the EU.

Did you manage to find a tee piece Ken?

Are you clicking the where to fill link on that page Bob? it doesn't work, should take you to THIS PAGE
If you open my original link it says "All of our Direct fill cylinders come complete with the Direct Fill Valve Adapter to enable easy connection to the UK bayonet LPG pump nozzle" and if you look on the left hand side there is a picture of one being filled, have they always sold this? I know you could get the bits to fill bottles, even ordinary bottles but I didn't like the thought of doing that

laneside wrote:

Did you manage to find a tee piece Ken?

Yes Alan, once I found what thread they were, they are a common part easily obtainable  

I dare say a lot of garages in the UK would have something to say, looks like Gaslow have come to an agreement with the places shown in their map.
If businesses can fill gas bottles for FLT's why cant we?
We have a system at work to fill ours (pity it's a different fitting to mine though  ) they don't even have the 80% cut off valve fitted, you have to lie the bottle down, it has an arrow on it to show which way round it has to sit, there's a small purge valve, you have to open that, connect an earth lead to the bottle, then fill it till the gas starts coming out of the purge valve, close the valve then disconnect the filler. Now when you see this being done, and the cloud of gas that appears, this doesn't seem safe at all, it's a brand new system and new bottles that has just been installed.

The purge valve isn't quite at the top of the bottle, so I would guess this is still filling the bottles to 80%, but I think the Gaslow bottles with the cut off valve must be a safer idea

Don't forget there are two delivery systems from a LPG cylinder/tank, vapour and liquid. Internal combustion engines  require liquid, hence the pick up pipe is in the liguid gas at the bottom and devices that require vapour like a cooker/fridge, the pick up is in the area where no liquid is present at the top of the container.
Don't all cylinders/tanks require space at the top for expansion?

And as far as I know Safefil cylinders use the same in and out nozzle so to refill they have to be disconnected from the pipework. 

Hi after speaking with a few of you at Donnington Ken shuggy, leapy....regarding Gaslow we are now thinking if having the system fitted... We picked up a leaflet today at Towtal in Stoke... Being new to the theory of it, each page seemed contradictory the Refil and new direct fill .... We can get two 11 bottles in our van can anyone enlighten us on which way to go from scratch... Or is this safefil better ? Don't want to make an expensive mistake as it has to last!! Would appreciate your comments as thinking of France next year ... Cheers

We went the Gaslow route and have no regrets, my only advice would be to try to make sure you get a system fitted where the filler is outside of the gas locker as some filling stations are a bit fussy if they see you open the locker door. If you plan doing England, Spain,Portugal then you also need to budget for different adapters as we have come across all three types in the last four months.


There are other systems similar to Gaslow but if you need any more info. or pictures of the Gaslow in use just ask away.

we used GAS IT  bottles look just like gaslow but cheaper easy to fit saved loads since buying them   we fitted     1  6kg   1 11kg  all pipes fit for Europe all brand new £345

Another place to  look at is [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]
I think the new direct fill bottles are a good idea but like Alan said you might have problems filling them at some places, Gaslow do have a map on their website of where you can fill them.
Do you need 2 refillable bottles? Could you manage with one and a normal bottle as a spare, you can still connect these together with a change over valve, you just can't refil them. All things to think about
They will pay for their self in the long run, I save approx £14 a bottle on every fill, and that's only working on 6kg bottles, I bet the saving is greater on 11kg but we can't fit them in our locker

We also went the Gaslow route and do not regret the additional cost against other suppliers because of the excellent after sales and warranty that Gaslow give their customers.

Which ever route/supplier you do use insist on stainless pipes and that the filler inlet is on the outside of the m/h and not in the locker.

GPL/LPG is very accessible in the UK, France, Germany, Portugal and most european countries and even Spain is now getting their act together and it is more easily found than even a couple of years ago.

There is loads of info on the web giving details of where you can fill and if you put a POI in your Sat Nav you will find them even easier to locate.

Thanks to everyone for your input....the dealer where we had the reversing senors fitted yesterday. Looked at the van and suggested to free up the gas locker we could have a tank fir LPG underneath the van which would give us approx 3 times more cheaper gas capacity. It's about £750 to have fitted and it would be refillable via exteriror inlet as Pete suggested. Again feedback would be appreviated

Our Hymer has 100 litre underslung tank, which when full will easily last us the whole year, but you must remember the weight for your payload.
We have nearly 4.7 Tonnes chassis, I would get some good advice on this before you take the plunge but it beats having to keep filling the cylinders up  

One word of caution with under slung tanks

Make sure who ever fits it use sensible straps as some use mild steel ones that rust too quickly with not nice effect

I would of  loved a underslung tank but our van to low it site on the tarmac like a slug tried every where no go  I would pm cls and talk to mark first great guy

I think they usually mount them inside the chassis Mick

KSH wrote:

I think they usually mount them inside the chassis Mick

alko to low could not get 150 mm clearance on our van and has double floor all round we had to have air ride fitted to get on and off ferrys we tried all the big company on webb shows no one could fit for us

Ah, I see

Thanks again everyone for answering this thread ... Think we may go for the under van tank the dealer measured we are ok for clearance it would be fitted higher than the axle. We will ensure good fittings that won't rust thanks for that.... We checked how it would affect pay load and we should be fine.... We never over load or pack anyway. We have a bike rack but don't always carry them. Looks a job for the new year. Tecno PM us he has one too and advised same... Keep an eye on payload. Sensibility is called for . Thanks all :-))

Glad you are sorted Marie

I have just finished fitting two gas-it 6kg bottles into my van. Space was a real problem in the gas cupboard, and I tried a few different ways of getting the pipes in without serious bends in the pipes. I fitted the filler into the cupboard door,as I didn't like the idea of opening the door to fill up, a practice, which I believe is much frowned upon.

debbielectric wrote:

I have just finished fitting two gas-it 6kg bottles into my van. Space was a real problem in the gas cupboard, and I tried a few different ways of getting the pipes in without serious bends in the pipes. I fitted the filler into the cupboard door,as I didn't like the idea of opening the door to fill up, a practice, which I believe is much frowned upon.

That should make things better for you now!.

Can you all explain why the filler inside the cupboard is frowned upon please as ours is inside our gas locker.  We couldn't see a way of fitting it on the outside because the locker is sealed.

Thanks in advance all.

Tugga wrote:

Can you all explain why the filler inside the cupboard is frowned upon please as ours is inside our gas locker.  We couldn't see a way of fitting it on the outside because the locker is sealed.

Thanks in advance all.

Have a look at this Cheryl.. [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

Thanks for the attachment Mark.  We don't fill our bottles directly, we do it via a fill point at the bottom of the locker just inside the door.  I presume then, that we are ok or is it best not to presume anything  

If they see you opening the locker they might think you are filling a normal bottle and not turn the pump on for you

Thanks for the tip Ken, I will have to stand and block the view then  

Hi Cheryl, we refilled in Seville and the lady told us she would not refill if the filler was internal, it was not their policy but a bylaw that states all fillers must be external for all vehicles.

Thanks Bob, will pass your comment onto Mick.

My gas-its, was able to put filler in door with a careful bit of measuring. Took door off to make the holes, much easier.[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.][/url]

that's a cracking job well done

Looks like this will be how it's going to be converted in the furure.
Also I think you can have this external filler fitted
as an aftermarket option as my previous link suggests.

Thanks Mike, sure beats paying calor prices, and no more lugging heavy bottles, and the convenience of filling up at the forecourt.

debbielectric wrote:

Thanks Mike, sure beats paying calor prices, and no more lugging heavy bottles, and the convenience of filling up at the forecourt.

we fitted our 2 years ago brill don't mind pam having heating on now all night so cheap don't go to calor stations they wont let ya fill
up .happy hot camping

Hia


Ummmmmm is this the way forward?

What cost would I be looking at ?

I have 2x6 gas bootlegs and it's a tight squeeze
Are the LPG bottles bigger

But suppose once there in there in

true Polly if you can them in thats it, just make sure the pipes are not bent too severe to fit properly, if you can get SS ones.

If you can fit two calor then you can fit two Gaslow or Gasit.
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My Rapido came with an underslung but it was seriously badly fitted from new. I've put off sorting it out until late last year.
I made my own frame and I believe my install is better than any currently available dealer fit.
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Very similar set up to mine Andy.

Hia

That's big it looks like a torpedo