What Gas?

Firstly,  I'd recommend Propane as Butane does not vapourise at low temps.  As for the other options, consider just how much gas you are likely to use.  Will you be using a lot to run the fridge off-grid or cooking a lot?  If you don't think you will use a lot of gas, then I'd go for the cheaper option.  Yes, refills are dearer, but infrequent.

 

As a caravanner I agree with the above. You need to use refillable on a constant basis to make them worthwhile.

 

Make sure your dealer gives you your first bottle of gas.

 

Hello Gw,

I would wholeheartedly agree with the advice of the two previous replies. However, I would add another couple of factors to consider.  Will you be doing a lot of touring in Europe?  Will you be visiting German Christmas markets or going skiing? Do you have a bad back?

If you do either or both you will need to exchange gas cylinders in Europe, where Calor gas is not available and small Campingaz a very expensive option and would freeze in winter. Refillable allows you to get LPG throughout most of Europe.

 Before we  moved to refillable we had different exchangeable gas bottles for France, Germany and Spain/Portugal with different “pigtails” for the regulator for each bottle type. It is also now more difficult to get a French exchange bottle than it was. Each System adds to the cost and carrying different bottles can be problematic on longer more extensive tours.  Further, if like us you visit parts of Europe in the middle of winter, you can easily experience temperatures between -10C and -20C.  We have at German Christmas markets and although there is often electricity on Stellplatzen (motor home overnight parking areas) there is not always the amperage to fully heat using electricity.  Further, electricity is often metered and an expensive heating option. 

Refillable removes the need to lift very heavy gas bottles in and out of the motor home.

Finally, will you be “rallying” offgrid most weekends? If so refillable might be worth considering.

Having said all that if you are going to tour the UK  using sites and CLs with the odd trip to France in summer and don’t have a bad back, go for an exchangeable Calor propane setup would be my advice.

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Is ALUGAS the lightest? I would imagine that Safefill is probably even lighter and has the added advantage that it can be taken on its own to a refilling point should that be required.

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It is still possible to get Calorlite if you look around, but I suspect quite difficult/impossible to start a new contract on them.  Eventually, Calor are expecting to bring out a replacement for Calorlite, but the last time I looked, dates for this seemed very 'unclear'.

David

if you travel abroad and/or you have trouble physically exchanging bottles and/or you use a decent amount of gas by camping at CL/THS or rally events, then refillable is the way to go.

its easy to fit one (but in your case the selling dealer should do it) and you can get an 11kg single bottle system with filler and hoses for around £300.

its not necessary to have two bottles....in your case you would only increase capacity by 50% but double the cost....

i only have one 11kg and have no problem refilling when required.

i also have space (and pigtail) for a second large Spanish bottle should we decide to stay long term on a site and not move the van....

i would be pushing the dealer harder to include this as part of the deal....

good luck.

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If you're thinking of Safefill as an option, you will be extremely lucky to get hold of one.  I think I managed to source the only one left in the North of England, yesterday, and did a round trip of 200 miles to grab it.  Even Safefill don't have any.  I did find out why - and couldn't believe it - and I don't think I dare publish the reason on here.