Butane or Propane

[PETERA]

First trip planned for departure mid May. South of France, Tuscany, back through Austria and Germany. In total around 7 weeks but flexible. The question is.

Which gas bottles should I purchase. Propane (red bottles) or Butane (blue bottles}. I plan to take 2 x 13 kg bottles. Will this be enough or if not which type will be readily available abroad.

Many thanks

PETERA

 

[Wanderer1]

Propane, essential for cold weather use, although I hope that wont come in to the equation in the south of France in May.
Based on our usage which I think may be higher than average you have more than enough, we use Calor Lite and expect in the region of sixty to seventy nights per cylinder.
Enjoy your trip.

 

[JTQ]

If you use an EHU on nearly all sites then you ought to get through your 7 weeks on a 6 kg Propane or 7 Kg Butane bottle, UNLESS you have unseasonally cold weather.
The only universally available gas throughout your trip is Camping Gaz which is Butane and usually used from 907 type cylinders.
So as a backup we take along one of these despite it being an expensive gas.
The main gas we use travelling out of the UK is a Calor lite which is a 6 kg of Propane. These are not exchanable outside the UK.
Our choice is motivated mainly by the lower weight.
In many years, spending 5-6 weeks away we have never had to exchange the Camping Gaz outside the UK, but it was relaxing to know we could. We have had to use it, last summers poor weather being one time.
You need to sort out the required adaptors or "pig-tail" hoses to couple the cylinders you chose to the regulator.

 

[ProfJohnL]

Hello Petera

JTQ's advice is sound,

Bearing in mind that gas bottles must be secured upright and in a fully ventilated space i.e. your gas locker, I suggest you check the nose weight as 2 x13Kg bottles will weigh a considerable amount.

You may also find that the ferries may not let you take that much gas on board (check the ferries terms and conditions)

Although Camping Gaz may be more expensive, it may make sense to convert to the 907 bottles before you leave the UK for convenience and to avoid having to carry UK bottles around Europe when they are empty.

 

[DianneT]

We take 2 BP lite 6kg bottles with us for 2 or 3 months and have only run out, at that time of year, same countries as you are visiting the night before coming home when going for the 3 month period.. You should be fine for 2 months.

 

[PETERA]

Many thanks for the info. Looks like 2 BP Lite is the way to go.

PETERA

 

[MichaelE]

BP light is only available in 5 and 10kgs sizes,if you go down this route then if a 10kg fits in the locker then use that.I believe BP can be exchanged aboard?
I found that camping gaz was much cheaper abroad than the Uk so only took 1 Calor 6kg used camping gaz as a back up.
The connections are different so best to buy a Butane pigtail as you can screw the different fittings onto this save having different pigtails.
It does depend on your choice of site,If you are on EHU make sure you have an electric kettle etc