Alugas/fixed tank

Carrotts

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Hi. Trying to decide. Getting two 11kg alugas cels plus external fill. Or having underslung tanks. About £60 difference in price. Any one any ideas opinions. Thoughts or even very cheap alugas set for sale. Thanks in advance (what to spend my £50 pounds raffle win on. See other thread )
 
I had the same question when I got this motorhome. After talking to Autogas 2000 we worked out that the two Alugas bottles would hold more gas than the underslung tank. You cannot get the same diameter that the bottles have in a tank under my motorhome and the length could not be any longer than two bottles either.
 
My take is to ask why, when we can top up refillable any time we like do we go for two expensive bottles rather than a Calorlite reserve?
We're happy to top fuel up every couple of days - so gas every couple of weeks shouldn't be a big deal.
 
Markd said:
My take is to ask why, when we can top up refillable any time we like do we go for two expensive bottles rather than a Calorlite reserve?
We're happy to top fuel up every couple of days - so gas every couple of weeks shouldn't be a big deal.
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Exactly. Main reason for having two exchange bottles has been to ensure you give Calor a completely empty bottle back. The other is volume of Gas.

I carry one Alugas 11kg and it lasts 2 weeks off grid. I have another pigtail in the locker so I can attach an exchange bottle if we need the extra volume or going somewhere short of LPG stations.

Why carry all that weight all the time. We also have half the gas locker liberated for storage.

This arrangement suits us. We just top up when we see a convenient LPG station.

I am sure others have different needs and solutions.

Paul
 
Hi. Re the thread use calorlite bottles. First I've heard of these. Quick look I'm internet it says 2017. Calorite are pulling out of the market for bottles although some places still have stock. Are they refillable like gasit etc. Or is it exchange. Everyone to there own. But I am a lazy sod and if I can fill up like I do diesel for my habitation gas then that's what I would like, anyone know about calorlite. Please
 
As far as I know Calor have stopped producing and refilling Calorlite bottles, they were not refillable, exchange only.
 
I have 11kg ally refilable from aotogass with room for another and pigtail still there to use allternative if needed and outside refillable nozzal,autogass 2000 did a great job, and there system will go in my new van.
 
Calorlite are becoming hard to get hold of. Calor did a recall of one batch and decided not to produce any more, As they go back for checking, not all are being re-issued so they are gradually reducing in number and some dealers don't bother getting any. They are also (presumably because of their rarity value?) going up in price, they are more expensive than a standard 6Kg propane. The last one I got was £27.45 a month ago - compared to the £23.00 I paid for my first exchange last November. :mad:
 
Carrotts said:
Hi. Trying to decide. Getting two 11kg alugas cels plus external fill. Or having underslung tanks. About £60 difference in price. Any one any ideas opinions. Thoughts or even very cheap alugas set for sale. Thanks in advance (what to spend my £50 pounds raffle win on. See other thread )
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Hi Carrotts, what did you end up doing regarding gas supply, did you do a rechargeable conversion?
 
Hi. Ended up selling my mhome and got a lunar Roadstar 800. Mhome. So I have a few electrics to have sorted out. Then it’s back to the original post. Deciding tank or cyl. Cheers brian
 
I put two 6kg bottles in our last motorhome as it wouldn’t take bigger bottles, our new motorhome came with a under slung tank as there isn’t a gas locker, but I much prefer having two separate gas bottles as when one was empty I knew how much I had left but with the tank The gauge is very unreliable
 
***** said:
Regarding underslung gas tanks.
i did read a while ago that many are only held up by thin straps and these do rust and can make the set up dangerous
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The thin straps that came with my tank were like this but plastic covered
straps.jpg
It failed the MOT a few years ago because the tester said they were rusty and unsafe, when I removed the old straps it was only the plastic that was holding it together, fortunately I had left two ratchet straps on which I originally used to lift the tank into place, I replaced them with stronger straps from Gas It which were a lot thicker without holes or plastic
51030
 
Carrotts said:
Hi. Ended up selling my mhome and got a lunar Roadstar 800. Mhome. So I have a few electrics to have sorted out. Then it’s back to the original post. Deciding tank or cyl. Cheers brian
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I think I own your old motorhome autotrail Cheyenne 660 se gx06cgu? having cam belt servicing ect being done, didn't open the gas locker hence the question what was fitted in this vehicle when you sold it
 
My last van (PVC) had an outside locker which took two bottles but then held very little else so outside storage was an issue. My new van has an underslung Gasit tank and so storage is not an issue. If I could change one thing it would be to have a larger tank, mine is 20 lit so holds just 16 lit (80% full).
I also have an LED contents indicator in the cab which I find accurate and if monitored regularly you should not run out of gas. There is a dial gauge on the tank itself but requires crawling around under the van to see it.
Refill gas is soooooo much cheaper than exchange bottle gas, so if you use a lot...
Good luck whatever you chose
K ;)
 
@Carrotts
If you have a gas locker then given all the other storage space your new van has I'd put cylinders in it with remote sensors.
I'd be fearful of corrosion with an underslung tank, whereas bottles in a locker should last forever and are readily transferable.
 
Hi. Yes that was mine. It had two propane bottles. 11or15 kg. Think it is going to be cylinders in the lunar. Now decisions again,,,, alugas. Gaslow. Gas it. ,,,,,, It would be a 11kg and a 6 kg
 
Alugas as far as I’m concerned thirsk is a great place to go mention the forum and get a discount👍
 
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Alugas are lighter of course if you go for them you could have two large bottles for the same weight as large+small in steel.
My personal preference is a large refillable (will Alugas 14kg bottle with removable shroud fit?) with 6kg Calorlite as back up.
That way you can top up whenever you get the opportunity during diesel stops.
 
Vanterrier said:
.................,My new van has an underslung Gasit tank and so storage is not an issue. If I could change one thing it would be to have a larger tank, mine is 20 lit so holds just 16 lit (80% full). ............
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My PVC has the same Gasit underslung tank system and I completely agree with you that more capacity would be a real benefit, especially in the middle of no-where.

Vanterrier said:
............... I also have an LED contents indicator in the cab which I find accurate and if monitored regularly you should not run out of gas. ,...............
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Agree with that too, although I find with mine that I have to lightly press the soft cover to re-initialise the remaining volume.
.
 
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