HillClimb replied on 07/04/2016 12:28
Posted on 07/04/2016 12:28
New to caravaning, we've not even got our caravan yet - it is on on order from Elddis. So we've been doing a lot of research, there is a lot of data out there on the internet but I was struggling to find out what size of gas bottles would fit in to the gas locker of our van (which we haven't got yet).
So after a trip to the (not so local) Caravan Accessory shop at Webbs in Reading - (they were brilliant - so... helpful) . They helped by allowing me to take one of their 10kg Safefill bottles over to a Elddis 55x Caravan display model - that has the same structure/footprint as ours. So I can confirm that a 10kg Safefill cylinder will fit in to the gas locker of a Elddis 55x. (And being refillable then I just need the one cylinder).
Doubtless everyone has there own preferances on Calorlite vs BP GasLight vs Safefill etc etc. For me, I was persuaded by the quantity of LPG fill suppliers listed and the cost-of-ownership. For ease of maths, I simply calculated what the total spend would be once 30kg of gas has been consumed (initial rental + swaps for 2 cyclinder for BP or Calor)
30kg of Gas:
BPGaslight £238 (two initial rentals + 4 swaps) - (however you can get a refund if your no longer need the cylinders, so reducing the cost of ownership to reflect their residual value then 30kg would cost £213).
Calorlite £172 (two initial rentals + 3 swaps - I assume Calorlite's can also be refunded - but couldn't find how much?)
Purchase of a Single 10kg Safefill cylinder + 30kg of gas = £177
Redoing the math for 60kg; then Gaslight £375; Calorlite £310; Safefill £194
I pondered the 2 Rental Cylinders; 1 runs out; swap to the spare and exchange the empty (at our leisure (i.e. non urgent)) scenario - but a fair comparison for Safefill is: top-up the part full 10kg Safefill before departing; occasionaly check the gauge or look at the visible level and take it for another refill before it runs out (when we happen to be passing somewhere that does LPG refills).
Hope this info helps others in their research/decision making
HillClimb