Safefill - Refillable Gas Cylinders

tadhatter replied on 18/06/2019 13:16

tadhatter

Posted on 18/06/2019 13:16

Last summer, as part of my ambition to do far more off-grid touring, I thought I'd invest* in Safefill. Perhaps my alarm belles should have been ringing when the place I went to go to purchase a canister was Brayford Leicsure and they only had one size available - the medium sized one - and lots of them! But nonetheless I coughed up my circa £160 for it and have them fill it up and carried on smug in the knowledge that I would soon be quids in in longer term savings.

However, for various personal reasons we haven't been able to get out in the caravan anything like as much as we had hoped since then - partly due to a job change and house move - we've only just got round to needing to re-fill it. I duly looked on Safefill's website to find stockists and discovered that there was only one in about a 10 mile radius. That would be ok if this garage would actaully allow me to refill it. Notices on their lpg pumps said that individual gas canisters were not be refilled here and before I even checked at the kiosk a forceful looking lady shouted at me saying that I couldn't fill that thing here! However, after discussion she told me where, locally, I could get it sorted. I thanked her and went on to that location. Unfortunately she clearly mistook Safefill with standard Calor gas. I tried to call Safefill at this point only to hear that I couldn't leave a message as the mailbox was full!

I proceeded to look for an alternative website to see where LPG was stocked and then proceeded to a couple of other locations, one which didn't actaully exist anynore and another also refused to let me fill my Safefill container. Having wasted 2 hours on a wild goose chase I decided to head home as I had work to do rather annoyed and frustrated.

So, can anyone else tell me if they'ved had simialr unhelpful experiences with Safefill or, more helpfully, let me know somewhere where I can get my cylinder refilled in the Beds/Herts/Bucks area.

Very much lool forward to hearing responses.

Cheers,

Tim.

*for investment read expensive wasted of money!

1 person likes this

208 replies

Rocky 2 buckets replied on 23/06/2019 21:13

Rocky 2 buckets

Posted on 23/06/2019 20:53 by WK57ABF

Apologies Rocky - i thought you were a Safefill user.

John

Posted on 23/06/2019 21:13

No need to apologise👍🏻, it is what it is.

DaveandVicki replied on 23/06/2019 21:32

Member

DaveandVicki

Caravanner

Posted on 23/06/2019 19:58 by WK57ABF

Safefill Friendly : Garages that will actually fill your bottles.

Found a good one yesterday - Canal Garage LA7 7NX, a few hundred yards from junction 36 of the M6 - two lpg pumps and more than happy to fill Safefill cylinders.

Good location - central for the English Lake District, the Western Dales and the North Pennines.

Johnny 57 and Rocky 2 buckets - If you could find the next two and I will find number four - the Uk will soon be covered.

John

Posted on 23/06/2019 21:32

What are they charging WK ?

That is slap bang in the middle of the two sites we are using.

WK57ABF replied on 24/06/2019 20:02

Member

WK57ABF

Caravanner

Posted on 23/06/2019 21:32 by DaveandVicki

What are they charging WK ?

That is slap bang in the middle of the two sites we are using.

Posted on 24/06/2019 20:02

Sorry for late response - been changing campgrounds.

No idea of price i just walked down to see if they filled cylinders - they have two pumps so i guess one is vehicle lpg @ 20% vat and the other is domestic lpg @ 5% duty.

John

Johnny57 replied on 24/06/2019 20:23

Member

Johnny57

Posted on 23/06/2019 20:55 by Tinwheeler

No, it’s just a thread at the head of this section where people pool their knowledge.

Unfortunately, it’s a series of posts and would benefit from some clever person turning it into a spreadsheet or interactive map.

https://www.caravanclub.co.uk/club-together/discussions/welcome-hobby-talk/tips-for-making-caravanning-touring-cheaper/lpg-gas-filling-stations/

PS. I’m not a Safefill user either but have an underslung gas tank so am in a similar position.

Posted on 24/06/2019 20:23

Tinwheeler (& others)

I would be prepared to do a spreadsheet and a google map of locations for "Safefill/refillable bottle Friendly Garages" (that will actually fill your bottles) if it will be of use!

1 person likes this

Tinwheeler replied on 24/06/2019 20:35

Tinwheeler

Campervanner

Posted on 24/06/2019 20:23 by Johnny57

Tinwheeler (& others)

I would be prepared to do a spreadsheet and a google map of locations for "Safefill/refillable bottle Friendly : Garages" (that will actually fill your bottles) if it will be of use!

Posted on 24/06/2019 20:35

That’s a kind offer, J57.

I think this idea has great potential for being of use and a spreadsheet in County order at the very least seems to be needed in order to make rational use of the info that is being gathered here.

It will need people to keep you, as keeper of the list/map, updated with changes and it will be an ongoing process.

I'm a very light user of gas and others will be more affected than I so perhaps it will be beneficial to hear a few more opinions.

Thanks for volunteering.

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Johnny57 replied on 24/06/2019 21:14

Member

Johnny57

Posted on 24/06/2019 21:14

TW
Can do it so it can be sorted by user by county, postcode etc etc.
The data can then be put into a interactive map of the UK so you can zoom in and use that as well.
Will see if any other comments first!

Tinwheeler replied on 24/06/2019 21:26

Tinwheeler

Campervanner

Posted on 24/06/2019 21:26

It sounds good to me, J57. 👍🏻

DaveCyn replied on 24/06/2019 21:51

Member

DaveCyn

Caravanner

Posted on 24/06/2019 21:51

A big yes please from me Johnny57.

DaveandVicki replied on 24/06/2019 21:59

Member

DaveandVicki

Caravanner

Posted on 24/06/2019 21:59

I'm pretty sure we had a list at one time, you know, before they improved the website.

I may be wrong, but I thought it was one of Merve's threads.

A spreadsheet is an excellent idea.

Merve replied on 24/06/2019 23:13

Member

Merve

Caravanner

Posted on 23/06/2019 20:32 by Tirril

Tirril, your sticking valve? Can I first ask- are you over filling the cylinder? Please don’t be offended for me asking this but some have leaned on that button and continued to force liquid into the cylinder when the pump has changed tone and is screaming for the customer to stop! I know it takes some believing but according to SF it happens!! If you have 21lts in a cylinder that is supposed to take a maximum of 19.5 then something is wrong - Safefill have no control over idiots- that last comment is not directed at you!🤣🤣. Safefill have had some problems but they are very few. Other refill manufacturers have had similar problems, again, not many but it does happen. Have you rung Neil and told him of your problem? The worst scenario is the fitting of a new valve- cheaper that a complete new cylinder. I have one of the blue 20lt cylinders and have had no problem whatsoever.

Hi Merve,

Many thanks for your reply. I am touring now so a slight delay in coming back to you. My standard method of filling has been to keep the button pressed until it the pump auto stops. It could be that the pump is running a little above normal pressure. I will try releasing the button before it auto cuts out and see if that makes a difference. I use my local garage all the time so have not tested it on different pumps. Neil replied by email and said it was both functioning properly and safe. Just I don't recall having to free the valve in the early refills (from the same pump)

Regards

Tirril

Posted on 24/06/2019 23:13

No problem Tirril. I really hope you sort this problem! Reading the thread, particularly the last few pages, it strikes me that, what I have said about garages refusing fills because of ‘pressure ‘ from their suppliers is becoming the truth of the matter. This ladies and gentleman is about money , greed and profits! The large LPG suppliers have absolutely no incentive to ease up on the hunt to destroy, where they can, the chance to fill refillables. The small garage who fills Safefills ie stand alone cylinders when they have been leaned on by Calor and co are the true hero’s. The total elimination of the companies that offer refillables is their aim. The ‘rental stream’ has been massive in the past and they are not going to let go of it without a fight- and a vicious fight at that. Safefill has been in the teeth of that struggle and are still fighting the ‘dirty tricks dept’ of the big companies. As a group- and not an insignificant one, if you want cheaper gas, then buy a cylinder whether Safefill or anyone else’s and refill! Refuse to pay the swingeing rental costs of a cylinder that has probably been hired out 300+ times before! Technology moves on and it’s moved on in the LPG cylinder field too. Progress should make life easier and indeed, cheaper in many cases. The big LPG companies would be only too pleased to keep us in the last century.

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