LinofDe Posted November 10, 2011 Share Posted November 10, 2011 We have always had good advice from the forum before and having heard lots of good things about gaslo systems we are thinking of having one fitted in our van. Is it as good as we have been led to believe by the nice people at Gaslo or is there a downside? Thanks LinofDe (lol) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Jones Posted November 10, 2011 Share Posted November 10, 2011 Hi Linda We've had Gaslow since we got our present van in 2008, and been really pleased with it. It's a LOT cheaper to run than any other system. In fact, we nearly always decline electric hookups nowadays, as it's far cheaper to run everything on gas! The only two THEORETICAL downsides are to do with getting supplies, and neither of them has been a problem for us yet in 46000 miles and 7 continental trips: First, there are questions about countries where autogas stations are just too thin on the ground to be sure of reliable supplies. I can only say that we've travelled in France, Spain, Holland, Germany, Poland, Czech Rep, Hungary and Austria and not had a problem yet. I don't say supplies have been plentiful in all those countries, but since our single bottle comfortably lasts us a week (with no hook-ups and both having daily showers), we've never yet been in a situation where we needed gas and couldn't find it within 24hrs. Second, if like us you only have room for one Gaslow bottle, there's the question of what happens if you run out when there isn't an autogas station nearby. As emergency backup, I carry a small campinggaz bottle (901 - smallest they make) and adaptor, just in case. I've resorted to this only twice in over 3 years, and each time that's provided us with about 24hrs supply (washes, not showers!). And that's always been enough for us to find an autogas station - heance the reference ot 24hrs above. So go for it Linda. It's not just the money you save, it's the humping about of heavy bottles! Tony Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aultymer Posted November 10, 2011 Share Posted November 10, 2011 If you can afford the installation, then go for it. Unless you like lugging bottles in and out for refills! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Basil Posted November 10, 2011 Share Posted November 10, 2011 We have had Gaslow for, must be five years now time goes by so fast, I would have said in our case we have found no downsides whatsoever, never a problem filling anywhere we have travelled (home and abroad). The only downside I can think of now is the high cost of buying in the first place, this seems to have at least doubled since we bought ours. In our case the initial cost has been far outweighed by the saving in gas refills and we have been in 'profit' for some years. This is one 'upgrade I would recommend to anyone just for shear convenience. Bas Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lennyhb Posted November 10, 2011 Share Posted November 10, 2011 We have a similar system with 2 x 11kg Stako bottles, like Tony we don't use hook-up and if like us you are heavy gas users it pays for it's self in 3-4 years and you can transfer the bottles to the next van. One of the biggest bonuses is not having to lug heavy bottles about, also because the gas is relatively cheap we never worry about our gas usage. Only place we have found LPG pumps in short supply is Ireland. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sshortcircuit Posted November 10, 2011 Share Posted November 10, 2011 Agree with all previous. Have an external filler fitted as I originally fitted it within the gas locker. Changed to external filler and its so much easier to top up. I probably went over the top as I had space to fit two of the largest bottles. On reflection I could have done with one refillable and one small normal bottle for emergency use and would have saved a bit on the initial cost and weight, however as it is I have no worries about running out of gas and they have now paid for themselves. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
George Collings Posted November 10, 2011 Share Posted November 10, 2011 Fitted a single bottle myself and it paid for itself inside two years. Typically a refill costs less than half as much as for an exchange cylinder although we keep one as a fall back but it will probably be a collectors item by the time its empty. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MandyAndy Posted November 11, 2011 Share Posted November 11, 2011 Had ours 5 years, loved it from day one, only down side is no matter how much you prepare yourself for the whoosh!!! at the end you are never quite ready (lol) (lol) (lol) but it does amuse the passenger (who happens to be me). Go for it, you won't regret it. Mandy We carry a 7 and 11ltre tank. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robinhood Posted November 11, 2011 Share Posted November 11, 2011 I would advise you to be clear exactly why you are considering buying one. There certainly are reasons that people quote that could well be valid in their case (not having to lift bottles, or the perceived ease of refilling abroad are two that come to mind), If you are considering it on cost grounds, however, I would strongly suggest you do your sums (for your particular pattern of gas usage) first My 'van will handle two 13kg cylinders. At current prices (both of Gaslow kit and cylinder refills) it would take me many, many years to offset the initial investment. The sums aren't difficult! Just work out how much per kg you're going to pay for LPG (Autogas). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Derek Uzzell Posted November 11, 2011 Share Posted November 11, 2011 As Robinhood highlights, recouping the cost of a refillable-bottle system will depend on the comparative price of the gas sold in exchange-only bottles and of ‘autogas’, and the price paid for the refillable-bottle installation. If you use a good deal of gas, and DIY-install a simple single refillable-bottle system, then you’ll get your money back relatively quickly. If you don’t use much gas and have chosen to have a comprehensive, twin-bottle system professionally installed, then you may never get your money back. There’s a lot of Gaslow-related information on: http://www.motorcaravanning.com/vehicles/gas_refillables_faq.htm http://www.motorcaravanning.co.uk/shopuk/gaslow_refillables.htm If you take the quoted £198 cost of a single Gaslow 11kg-bottle kit and a nil-cost DIY installation, and take the difference in price per kilo of the propane gas in a Calor 13kg canister and UK autogas as £0.44, then you will need to get through 450kg of autogas to cover the cost of the Gaslow installation. 450kg equates roughly to 34 x 13kg Calor bottles, so, if you get through, say, 5 x 13kg bottles per year - which is a fair amount of gas – it will take you approaching 7 years to recover the installation cost. Plainly, if your motorhome can only accommodate small UK bottles like Calor’s 6kg propane canister, then you’d get your money back much quicker as the per-kilo cost of the gas in the smaller bottle is much higher and, consequently, there are larger saving to be made by using autogas. It’s perhaps worth pointing out that, although Gaslow is the UK market leader, there are other makes of refillable bottle available in this country. The following links show examples: http://www.gasit.co.uk/cubecart/index.php?act=viewCat&catId=14 http://www.safefill.co.uk/ http://www.gasrefill.com/Why_choose_refillable.html If there is to be a criticism of the Gaslow products, it’s that there have been complaints about their bottles’ contents-gauge accuracy and scope. I don’t think any of the float-type gauge-systems used in any of the refillable bottles can provide anywhere near an accurate full-to-empty readout, but some are evidently better than others. Stako bottles (and the latest Alugas containers) have the option of a remote gas-contents read-out. Also, if saving weight is a priority, the Alugas and Safefill containers are considerably lighter than their refillable steel competitors. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pepe63xnotuse Posted November 11, 2011 Share Posted November 11, 2011 As RobinH' has said,IF your van can take 13kg bottles,they're worth considering,as switching to them alone will almost half the cost of gas,over the usually 6kg bottles(..wish I'd realised that earlier,as I would've swapped a couple of years back. *-) ) Having said that,they're not exactly "lightweights"..... ;-) ..but if you intend to spend weeks on end abroad,then a refillable system would be beneficial... On the subject of "lugging bottles"..well,I suppose I'm still of an age where that isn't yet an issue..but even so,at the gas depots we've used,we've witnessed the staff lifting then in customer's vehicles... Oops!..sorry Derek..didn't see your post. :$ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
derek pringle Posted November 11, 2011 Share Posted November 11, 2011 Hi LinofDe, We find Gaslow system great. Iwas considering changing to underslung tank but not sensible in the end. Although original outlay for Gaslow is not cheap it is a 'one off' as when/if you change your van you just transfer the system. We have had it since 2009 and have only filled up a couple of times here and abroad,each time costing next to nothing. Go for it would be my advice. cheers derek Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LinofDe Posted November 11, 2011 Author Share Posted November 11, 2011 Thanks for all the help. We spend long periods abroad -about 8 months of the year, and have been using the small blue camping gaz cylinders which are very expensive, so it will save us money. I will also look at the other systems but as we have a small van we don't have a lot of space and the new gaslo bottles will just fit! (the old style were too tall!) I t sounds like the right descion for us. Linda 'Life is a journey and to travel is to live' (lol) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rupert123 Posted November 11, 2011 Share Posted November 11, 2011 We have used Gaslow for nearly four years. Have not got a clue if it has paid for itself and do not care, it is the convenience of it and not having to bother about gas anywhere. The float system level system has been mentioned, do not care about this either as we do not have any sort of level system. We use an auto changeover valve and when one bottle runs out have at least four weeks, in summer, to find an outlet to refill. We use hookup all the time we can, never use the van shower unless we have to so guess our gas use is fairly low so just have a look in the locker, when I remember, to see if first bottle has run out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian Kirby Posted November 11, 2011 Share Posted November 11, 2011 pepe63 - 2011-11-11 8:24 AM............................but if you intend to spend weeks on end abroad,then a refillable system would be beneficial.............................. I don't really agree with this - if you mean beneficial in cost terms. Under the circumstances you describe, if the gas locker will take 13kg cylinders, and I accept that many won't, it would be cheaper (two ways cheaper, because the cylinders themselves actually cost less than in UK) to buy one exchange cylinder in the country where you spend the most time - usually France (Butagaz appears to the most widely available) or Spain (the ubiquitous REPSOL) - and pair that with a UK cylinder. There is more of a problem with the UK 6kg cylinders, in that their Spanish/French equivalents may not necessarily fit into the gas locker - although the French Butagaz Le Cube should generally fit. Neither requires the initial capital expenditure of a refillable system but, as Derek has illustrated, if you use enough gas you will eventually pass break-even on refillables - and neither overcomes the problem for quite a few, that humping heavy cylinders with a dodgy back is not on. However, it is a convenient and relatively cheap alternative that could be considered. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pepe63xnotuse Posted November 11, 2011 Share Posted November 11, 2011 Brian.. Yes,perhaps that line should've said "...MAY be beneficial depending on usage....." :$ (..But..Ssshh..after mentioning 13kg exchange cylinders,I only really included that line,as a way of appeasing the refillable lobby (lol) ) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pkc Posted November 11, 2011 Share Posted November 11, 2011 I use a large Repsol bottle and one 11kg Gaslow, works for me in France and Spain, the large Repsol refill cost around 14 Euro in Spain so no point in using the Gaslow there. A point not mentioned is that should you no longer require the refillable system they have a decent resale value on the likes of Ebay, which should soften the initial outlay somewhat. Wouldn't be without mine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Peter James Posted November 11, 2011 Share Posted November 11, 2011 slightly off topic but an underslung gas tank sounds extremely dangerous to me, especially on modern vans with low ground clearance, and debris in the road you could run over. I refill my own 907 cylinders, but I would be terrified of the idea of an underslung gas tank 8-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neillking Posted November 11, 2011 Share Posted November 11, 2011 As a seller of many of these systems I can say that no-one has ever come back to us and said they wished they hadn't! The comments are usually "wish we'd done it years ago!" We've used the refillables system in our own 'van for about 10 years and over much of Europe. I can say that all the usual pre-change fears about availability of supplies, knowing when one is empty, etc., amount to nought in practice. In Spain and Ireland it pays to go armed with lists of the locations but elsewhere in the UK, France, Germany, etc., it's really easy on the main routes. The only need for twin cylinders is to extend the time between fills so single cylinders are perfectly workable - especially the 11Kg version. Although reasonable payback is possible chosing Gaslow Refillables isn't usually based on economics but on lifestyle - Gaslow is just dead easy and very relaxed whereas lugging bottles in and out and wasting time fiddling about with alternative brands and fitting isn't - well not for me at least! You could say similar things about motorhomes - why not just buy the cheapest? Well because the dearer ones offer someting extra that you want and its the same with Gaslow. The newer built-in gauges are very good (once you get used to their 50% down to 17% readout) so gas management becomes just the same as fuel management - imagine a motorhome where you had to judge the fuel level closely in one of your twin tanks and then get to a specialist garage that would exchange it for you for a full one? Unthinkable! The only reason twin cylinders were ever fitted was that refillables weren't available! Downsides? The only issue raising its head is a limted number of reports of motorcaravanners being refused LPG service, this seems to be based on a reaction to the misbehaviour of a few (mostly caravanners??) playing silly B's with refilling loose bottles, using non-standard unsafe equipment, and with these few garages reacting with an 'all leisure vehicles are trouble' attitude. I have to say we've never enocountered this in all out travels but we do behave sensibly and I do have an external filler. Hope all this helps some of you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mel B Posted November 11, 2011 Share Posted November 11, 2011 What size bottle are you thinking of? We have an 11kg in our van - we had it in our previous motorhome and transferred it when we bought our current one - as our locker will only take 1 bottle in total, it was a good job we changed to Gaslow originally as we can't carry a spare in there! We've not had a problem with the system itself, it but have had a problem with the gas refilling points in a couple of petrol station when they didn't work which was a pain, but we don't leave it until we get to the 'critical' level so it wasn't a major issue. I don't think 2 bottles are a 'necessity' - yes I know some people have them and that is their choice, and as has been said it does extend the length of time between refills, but the outlay and extra weight of the 2nd bottle doesn't make sense to me - it's akin to having a spare petrol tank in a car ... It isn't difficult to install at all so don't be put off about doing it yourself and shop around - don't buy them of ebay as the priced on there tend to be more expensive than from a 'proper' shop, unless they are good second hand ones! Also, you do occasionally get them advertised on this site's 'buy and sell' section, or the caravan club site, and others. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RogerC Posted November 11, 2011 Share Posted November 11, 2011 We had a twin bottle system (2 x 11kg) fitted at the Malvern show...both bottles full. Three weeks back we went to top up and we were well pleased. The bill was just over £10 to refill one 11kg bottle and top off the second. The cost of replacing one bottle would have been over £30 locally so in one refill we have saved over £20. Based on this saving and the resale value of the system we estimate approximately 10-15 refills before we are in 'credit'. Add in that there is now no traipsing to the store and back with heavy bottles and IMO it's a winner every time. If you are into DIY this is a good deal..... http://www.outdoorbits.com/dual-11kg-gaslow-bottle-system-white-p-716.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bazooka Posted November 11, 2011 Share Posted November 11, 2011 Roger c, to fill my 11kg bottle costs £16 (22 litres @70p a litre approx. Baz Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RogerC Posted November 11, 2011 Share Posted November 11, 2011 bazooka - 2011-11-11 5:30 PM Roger c, to fill my 11kg bottle costs £16 (22 litres @70p a litre approx. Baz I can't recall exactly but we get ours locally for around 55p.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Tracker Posted November 11, 2011 Share Posted November 11, 2011 I've never used it nor do I intend to use it as I have managed perfectly well for over 35 years without the extra cost of Gaslow or similar. We have 2 x 6kg Calor propane and each one lasts between 21 and 30 days, averaging 24 days, and they do vary for some unlnown reason, but as we have diesel heating and do not go abroad for more than about 6 weeks at a time we have no real need of Gaslow as we too carry an extra spare gas bottle as a backup. If ever we change the van and revert to gas heating and still go abroad for more than the capacity of the two exchange bottles I might consider 1 x 6kg refillable - or I might get a French or Spanish exchange bottle instead. It only seems to make sense if you use an awful lot of gas or are unable to carry a full bottle and even then finding a refill station can be nearly as difficult as finding a functioning Calor agent these days! My local Calor agent will remove and refit for you if you ask nicely and you may find one local to you who is that helpful - but I doubt they all will! If you have diesel heating I doubt Gaslow will save you any money, however, if you spend periods in excess of the total day range of your refillable bottle capacity one Gaslow and one Calor backup does seem to make sense. It's your money and only you can decide whether for your needs it makes sense? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mel B Posted November 11, 2011 Share Posted November 11, 2011 RogerC - 2011-11-11 5:11 PM If you are into DIY this is a good deal..... http://www.outdoorbits.com/dual-11kg-gaslow-bottle-system-white-p-716.html That is a VERY good deal for a 2 bottle system! The only thing missing is a bracket in case you want to mount it in the locker. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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