Gas bottle storage

[Barbara and Graham]

Now we've had 12 nights away , we're wondering what to do about carrying a spare gas bottle. Our Outlook came with a 3.9kg bottle of Propane but there isn't room in the locker (or anywhere else) for a spare. We've been told that a spare should only be carried, securely fastened, in a vented locker. How do other people manage? Do you just hope you don't run out in the middle of nowhere or while you're cooking the dinner? Has anyone tried using a Gaslow guage to predict when the cylinder will be empty?

Thanks in advance

Graham

[romingtim]

Hi Graham,

I have thought about the same thing, and bought one of those magnetic liquid crystal level guages that go on the side of the gas bottle. Only problem is the bottle is too small for the guage to fit correctly so doesn't work.

I am going to the Motorhome show at Peterborough in a couple of weeks and intend to come home with a Gaslow guage - and the steel pipe from gas bottle to regulator. I'll let you know how I get on with it.

Going from previous experience with a tent, single bottle and the C&CC sites, they will treat anyone with only a single bottle as special cases and will replace bottles outside of office opening hours. Can't say what the Caravan Club or others are like though.

Tim

[Barbara and Graham]

Thanks Tim,

I look forward to hearing about your experiences post Peterborough in the meantime we'll keep going on the bottle we've got until it nearly runs out.

Haven't come across the liquid crystal level guage but it sounds a non-starter anyway!

Maybe the 'others' will have some further thoughts.

Graham

[wendy]

Apologies for hijacking this thread, but when are you going to Peterborough, Tim? We are hoping to go for the day on Friday, but I'm guessing that you will be at work then.
Anyone else going?

[romingtim]

Hi Wendy,

Yes you are right, work being what it is can't make the Friday, although would have liked to as no doubt the best bargains will be gone by the time we get there on Saturday!!

Hope you have a good day on Friday, looks like it should be a good show, and with the magazines all doing 2 persons for £10 it's not too expensive either (as long as you want the magazine of course!!)

Tim

[alan]

Hi Graham,
I always carry a spare bottle in the storage compartment on the opposite side to the gas compartment proper. I must addmit, I am not aware that this is a dangerous thing to do, could someone please advise ?
I to have tried the magnetic level gauges, and found it did not work.

Alan.

[ant]

Hi Alan.
Storage off any gas vessel should be somewhere that is vented to the outside world, Romahomes used to have a vent in the side locker on the off side, but now with the larger propane bottle fitting the gas locker they no longer vent the other side. One option would be to carry a small 901 camping gaz bottle (with the correct pigtail to swap over if the vehicle has a euro regulator), this small bottle will go into the gas locker with the propane bottle and will at least finish boiling the kettle!
To answer Grahams question about gauges, Gaslow now make a gauge to fit to the propane bottle that is being used with the new euro regulator. ( Towsure stock them at just under £16 code G1610 ).Gauges tend to panic you into changing the bottle before the gas is actually about to run out, so judging the gauge can also lead to running out, so if you are worried about it better to have a small bottle just for emergencies.
Ant

[Barbara and Graham]

Thanks (once again) Ant,

I'll look into the possibilities of pigtails and little blue bottles. What a pity we don't live in the Bristol area!

Graham

[alan]

Thanks Ant,
I hope to be in touch about a habitation service check sometime shortley !

Alan.

[Sotontraveller]

Hi, All - an intereting string as this is something I was wanting to understand in advance of my first two week trip starting Tuesday. The net is I now have a Gasglow gauge fitted (which says the bottle I thought was empty has got lots of gas in it) as well as an emergency mini-cooker with a small Campingaz bottle. These latter two fit easily (the cooker in its own box still) into the gas compartment. Towsure was very helpful.

I can now learn to make at least better judgements about the state of my gas bottle and have the comfort of knowing I can finish my stir fry in "safety" !