We have a 7.5kg(11kg full) Safefill bottle that can be refilled at many garages across the UK, but it is always in the front locker. When we do need to remove it for refilling, we have it on the back seat strapped in with the safety harness so it is very obvious that there is a gas bottle in the vehicle. The Safefill supposedly cannot explode.
I was lucky, I could refill my cylinders at the place I stored my caravan. But for scouting we would use a trailer, or a pick up truck.
Factually that is correct, because you need the correct gas and air mixture to produce an explosion, and a gas cylinder will only contain gas with no air. That applies to all makes of LPG cylinders.
I place them in plastic cube with bit of packing to stop it moving around in cube.
On UK vans can rarely sit right at front of seat as there is either set of drawers or small shelf just above the floor. On 4-6 berths where front sits are short ie not sleeping length this is wasted seating space.
Many cars have tie down points, but it's difficult to use them to secure a vapour take off gas cylinder in its correct upright attitude. I have seen so many people lay cylinders down on their sides which which is definitely not a good idea, even when empty. Not only does it mean if the valve is faulty or not closed completely will leak liquified gas rather than vapour, and the "heavy ends" of the gas can be washed up into the valve gear which can then find their way into a gas regulator or even into the system pipework when the cylinder is connected.
Please make it clear that you are suggesting methods that may be allowed in other countries but in the UK such a practice is far from recommended.
17 years ago the Bailey Pageant Vendee S6 layout was exactly as you describe. For whatever reason , boring old U.K. maybe , it never caught on😥
The rear transverse fixed bed in our S5 Vendee was massive and a bit of a climb up too!
Never looked at a S6 Vendee but as you say the Monarchs bathrooms and changing area was better than some domestic suites.
While campervans are water tight as they are based on panel can be very cosy and narrow. Motorhomes get around this by fitting a wider customer body to van chassis. Alot of these bodies share same construction systems as caravans with some carrying across same flaws.
While carrying gas bottles in cars isn't recommended, you will find most campers(tenting) don't have a choice.
There’s the half way house of a leisure vehicle based on a larger panel van that provides more interior spacey plus shower and toilet. Still watertight though. See below photo.
Since there are no regulations specifying that tow hitch must point to the road - I do wonder why some sites insist on it - that's supposing there's enough room for a 6m gap whichever way you pitch.
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