Gas Bottles in Italy

[Ken_374329292]

Good Day This may seem a silly question to you 'seasoned caravaners' but as a novice I would appriciate some advice.

We are going to Tuscany in September for 3 weeks. My Senator Oklamhoma has a 6kg Propane Calor Gas bottle. I assume this will me insufficent to last 3 weeks. Therefore what do I do when I run out? can I refill it in Italy?

Please advise

thanks

Ken

 

[Tim2]

Hi Ken

My 'van will take 2x6Kg bottles in its locker and so on my first visits to the Continent I ensured that I had 2 new bottles installed. We are teachers and we go to the Continent for 5 weeks every July/August. I have, however found in practice that we often don't even use one whole bottle.

To give you some idea of our usage here is our typical "profile". We have electric hook-ups whenever possible but in Italy these are often only 3 amps or less and we either have to use gas for the water heater or make sure that we do not try to run other electrical appliances at the same time as the fridge and water heater being on electricity. We tend to cook one meal a day using gas, try to avoid the as it makes the 'van too warm in the already warm temperatures. We do use a gas bbq about once a week. We don't need to use the gas heating as it is always warm enough and I imagine it will be still warm enough for you too in September in Tuscany, although I s'pose it may be getting cooler in the evenings.

If you do want a back-up the easiest is to take a small Camping Gaz cylinder as these are, I think, exchangable throughout Continental countries. Other alternatives are to buy connector for Continental gas bottles, these connectors can be sourced in the UK but others are more able to advise than me.

To summarise I think you can manage with one (or 2 6Kg bottles) but take a Camping Gaz cylinder if you want belt and braces. The latter may need extra connector and/or regulator depending on whether your 'van has the older bottle-mounted or the newer bulkhead regulator system.

I'm sure you'll have a super time in Italy. We've been for the past 2 years and love it. In September you will, also, have the advantage over us of low-season camping - cheaper prices, more room on campsites and at tourist attractions.

 

[DavidKlyne]

Ken

If you will always have electrics to run the fridge we have found one 6kgs bottle lasts about 50 days. If you wanted to take a belt and braces approach why not take a Camping Gaz bottle as well but don't forget you will need either a regulator or a pigtail if you have the new system.

David

 

[JTS]

Hi Ken, You should to be able to easily manage on 1x6kg bottle. I travel early in the season and have used the gas for a quick burst of heat in the evenings while the electric heater gets going, in can get quite cool in the evenings and first thing in the morning especially in the Alps. I use electric when I can and have managed on one bottle. My contingency plan has been suggested and would be to fall back on camping gaz. As you are using Propane you would need to take with you a tail and a camping gaz regulator, cheap as chips as they say, might not find them in Italy. If you do not already own a camping gaz bottle wait untill you actually need it and buy in Italy they are easy to find, most campsites have them and they are cheaper in Italy. It will save you carting one about for nothing if you do not use it. Hope this helps. JTS

 

[Ken_374329292]

Thanks everyone. I appriciate your help.

Ken