Is It Easy to Check Your Gas Lines in Your Camper

All about gas for caravan or motorhome owners

Published in Caravanning Top Tips, Motorhoming Elevation Tips on xi/08/2016 - 41 Comments

Everything you need to know about gas in your caravan or motorhome…

Gas cylinders

Where would nosotros be without gas?

It'southward the chief fuel source for cooking and heating in your caravan or motorhome and – past and big, it'southward a fuss-free, loyal servant.

That'due south non to say information technology should be taken for granted. The safe and efficient working of your gas arrangement is just one of the features that are assessed when your vehicle is serviced by authorised technicians. Merely, at that place's still plenty you tin do to make sure it all works properly – from checking for leaks to making sure you don't run out of gas at the wrong moment.

At that place's a clue in the proper noun – liquefied petroleum gas (hence, LPG), to give it its full proper noun – but it's exactly that: a liquid when carried in the cylinder, it merely turns to gas on release into the atmosphere. Picking upwards the cylinder and giving information technology a milkshake is one way of determining how much gas at that place is left inside, but that can sometimes be harder than it sounds. There's lots of other techniques we've heard almost, such every bit pouring hot water down the side of the gas bottle and looking for a line of condensation, or feeling the side of the canteen for a change of temperature at the level of the gas.

You could too counterbalance the canteen, buy a magnetic indicator, or there are some gas bottles, like the Calor Lite, that do come with a built-in Gas Trac to check your gas levels. We take a await at some other more scientific ways later.

Propane or butane?

These are the two types of gas unremarkably available to users of tourers and motorhomes – propane and butane.

Butane is more suited to milder weather weather, hence is often the preferred gas of choice in campervans.

Butane cylinder

Most caravanners and motorhomers, however, adopt to use propane for its all-year-round capabilities, although some folk still like to switch from propane to more efficient butane in the summertime months.

Propane gas in a motorhome locker

Normally, beyond the United kingdom of great britain and northern ireland, propane comes in a red cylinder and butane in blue. However, there are some exceptions.

From 2004, caravan and most motorhomes (although not so many campervans) accept been fitted with a 30mb fixed bulkhead regulator – this allows the use of propane or butane.

Which cylinder?

There's no indicate in lugging effectually two large cylinders if your gas apply is minimal. Similarly, some leisure vehicle users prefer to carry one large and i minor cylinder, and then they always have a back-upwards if a cylinder runs out.

A lot of folk become caught out when it comes to gas abroad. That's because Calor cylinders (arguably the most popular in the UK) cannot be exchanged on mainland Europe. A typical fortnight's break need not be a business organization, but if you're touring for longer or have a particularly loftier gas usage, do consider alternatives.

Whatever gas you use, you're going to accept to have a suitable connector.

Peak Tips

Check your cylinder. Officially, there'due south withal a recall on Calor Lite cylinders manufactured between 2008 and 2011. Observe out more here: world wide web.calor.co.great britain/retrieve. There are, apparently, still quite a few unchecked cylinders out there.
We strongly suggest any piece of work on the gas system in your leisure vehicle is carried out by qualified personnel. First by checking out the service centre facilities provided by your supplying dealer.
Practise consider fitting a carbon monoxide (CO) warning inside your vehicle. This will warn if at that place's a build-up of potentially lethal carbon monoxide – a side-event of called-for gas. Normal ventilation will dissipate this, of course.
Your motorhome or caravan should take individual isolator valves for each gas-burning appliance fitted. Ideally, these are easy to access (be warned, plenty aren't), only it's a adept habit to get into turning off each appliance's gas supply before travelling.
Some leisure vehicles (particularly motorhomes) now have the facility to apply safely some gas appliances (heating, for example) whilst travelling.
Practice not block gas vents. About gas systems have appropriate "drop vents" at any junction in pipework – gas is heavier than air so there's an immediate escape route in instance of a leak.
Besides, that somewhat odious aroma that is added to gas will assistance you detect a leak.
If non already fitted to your vehicle, also consider an appropriate burn down extinguisher and fire blanket. If you exercise already accept such items, check their expiry dates.
Ever transport cylinders – whether connected or not – in an upright position in the appropriate gas locker. Use the securing straps supplied.

motorhome gas bottles

Safety hosing should come up with a engagement of manufacture stamped on information technology. It's recommended to replace them within 5 years of that date.
Always turn off the chief gas control valve before embarking a ferry when travelling across the continent.

At that place are a few ways you tin make more of your vehicle'due south gas system. Here, nosotros look at just some of the enhancements you could consider.

Permanent gas tanks

These are becoming a much more common feature on motorhomes. Automobile-Sleepers, for example, now fits gas tanks to nearly all of it models – van conversions and coachbuilts.

The advantages are twofold: information technology'southward much cheaper to fill upward with gas than exchanging a cylinder; and a permanent gas tank fitted underneath the vehicle (the usual location) actually frees up a lot of storage infinite that would accept been taken by an in-board gas locker.

lpg bulk tank

Having a gas tank fitted to your motorhome is sometimes possible. It usually depends on finding a suitable location for the tank.

External gas points

An increasingly popular feature on contempo caravans and motorhomes – indeed, they can unremarkably be retrofitted (it'south well worth asking almost having such a fitting adjacent time your vehicle is in for a service). An external gas point ways yous tin can hook up an outdoor appliance, typically a barbecue or other cooker, for use off your unit'south gas supply.

LPG outlet

You'll need to make sure y'all have sufficient piping to operate something like a barbecue well abroad from the vehicle itself (also as whatsoever awning, if fitted). Never exist tempted to utilise a gas apparatus inside an canopy.

Truma gas regulators

Truma introduced its MonoControl CS and Duo Control CS systems – for single and double-cylinder set-ups respectively – for the 2011 flavor. These replaced the previous SecuMotion organisation, only with the same principle – they allow safe employ of the gas system (for instance, if you want to heat the interior of your motorhome) whilst travelling. These systems can likewise be used throughout Europe.

Truma MonoControl_CS

Refillable gas

Gaslow

This Uk company has been around for over 35 years, introducing its refillable gas systems for motorhomes and caravans in 2004. You can refill at any of the thousands of gas stations (commonly, a normal fuel station that as well offers gas) across the U.k., besides as abroad (when you'll take to buy adaptors, depending on which countries you intend to visit).

6kgsingle gas example

The R67 kit comprises a 6kg cylinder, valve adaptor, 37mbar regulator with 21.8LH connexion and contents level approximate. Many users prefer to go for a two-cylinder system, with changeover valve.

A 6kg tank takes 11.5 litres. Other sizes are 11kg and, the latest, 2.7kg.

Toll from £149.99 (R67 6kg kit)

More info world wide web.gaslowdirect.com

Safefill

Something of a new kid on the block, but Safefill offers something unlike – you purchase a lightweight cylinder that's refillable.

It'due south light. You can see exactly how much gas you take left. And it'south refillable at any LPG dispensing pump (commonly, fuel stations serving autogas).

safefill5_final_print

The price below is for a 5kg cylinder, which takes 9.5 litres. Two other sizes are bachelor – seven.5kg (fourteen.5 litres) and 10kg (19.5 litres).

Safefill gas canisters

Every bit a guide to weights, the 5kg cylinder is some 3.4kg when empty and viii.4kg when full. Cost to fill, based on a typical electric current boilerplate of 65p a litre, is £vi.18. Adaptors are bachelor for refilling abroad.

Price from £144.99

More info www.safefill.co.uk

Checking how much gas is left

Some gas cylinders will come up with a built-in indicator, and there's a variety of techniques fellow caravanners will share to check those gas levels. Just now it'southward over to scientific discipline with a couple of handy devices…

Truma Levelcheck

Hither's a not bad fiddling device that can check the level of gas in a cylinder. There's a knack to using information technology effectively, but information technology works by being held horizontally to the gas cylinder, so takes ultrasound measurements every bit you move it upwards and downward to decide the amount of gas remaining – a light-green LED shows in that location's gas at the measuring point, if it'southward ruby-red it means no gas, and while it's determining the level information technology flashes orange.

Truma LevelCheck

Suitable for propane in steel and aluminium cylinders. It tin't be used for plastic or butane cylinders, gas tanks or refillable gas tanks.

Price from £59.99

More info www.truma.com

Propane GasGenie

An electronic gas level indicator that emits an aural and visual warning when the level gets depression.

Gas Genie

For utilize with steel propane cylinders, it simply clips on magnetically and works automatically as soon as your gas is turned on.

Price from £15.99

More info www.propanegasgenie.com

*Special cheers for helping with this commodity go to Iain Geddes, senior technical advisor at the Camping and Caravanning Gild.

Useful contacts

www.calor.co.uk

world wide web.truma.com

Over to you…

Got any gas advice y'all want to share with other readers? Or just a funny tale about running out at the wrong time…? Feel free to share in the comments box below.