The Big Day is Here!!!!

[soldlisa04]

Oooh so excited, leaving work at 1.40 pm today to be home for 2.00 pm when the caravan arrives! Also, good news, we finally bought a Kia Sorento last night (pick it up next Sat) so will at last be able to make a booking for the Easter Holidays. All is well ... a quick question though, the people delivering the caravan have been on asking what gas bottles we will have. I have no idea about what size/weight/colour though! I know that blue freeze and red don't ... but what size do we need? Also, if we are storing caravan outside all year, can we bring blue bottles in to keep them 'warm' or is it best to buy red! Confused!!!

Thanks. Lisa

 

[Robtel]

Hi Lisa,
Congratulations on the new caravan, hope all goes well at the handover.
The question of what type and what size of gas cylinder is one that is raised quite often. Different people have different view points.
Some only carry one cylinder, to cut down on weight, and change as necessary. Fine as long as your supply doesn't run out at an inconvenient time ( sod's law states it will). I always carry two, a lot of others do as well.
Regarding what type, you are quite correct in that red (propane) can be used at much lower temperatures than blue ( butane). For years I only used butane, only ever had a problem once but then I tend not to caravan from late November to early March.
Size of cylinder depends on personal choice and space in gas locker box. If using butane most folk go for either the smallest size ( approx 4.5kg ) that weight is the weight of the gas not the combined weight of gas and cylinder. If memory serves me right that combined weight is 10.4kg or thereabouts per cylinder. There is a larger size, think it is 7kg of gas, more economical to purchase but more weight to carry around. I used to use two of the small 4.5 kg cylinders.
Several years ago I switched to calorlite cylinders. These are propane, so suitable for year round use, and in light weight cylinders. A 6kg calor light weighs in at the same total weight as a 4.5 kg butane. That would be my recommendation.
I know some use makes other than calor. I have no experience of them but I would look at how readily available replacement cylinders are. Most if not all caravan sites will stock calor refills but I do not think that is the same for other makes.

Some info here:
http://www.calor.co.uk/outdoor-living/caravanning/

 

[soldlisa04]

Thanks for this info Rob-T - have put an enquiry in for how much 2 calor lite bottles of propane would cost for us to purchase. Much appreciated Lisa.

 

[kopite]

Hi soldlisa you will have your pride and joy by now well done and a good tug coming soon.From my own experiance i got one to start with and another later on there is a lot of kit to get trying to get it all at once is mind blowing.Get the essentials the rest will follow in good time.
happy vanning

 

[Parksy]

Hi Lisa
I hope that all went well with the handover and that you are happy with your new caravan.
The dealer will have wanted to know which lpg you use in order to fit the correct 'pigtail' which is the hose from the regulator to the gas bottle. Propane and Butane utilise different pigtails.
There are lots of sites both big and small of all types which are open before Easter, have you considered having a short weekend break fairly close to home by way of a 'shakedown cruise'?
I know that you will be able to try things out on the driveway but it's not nearly so much fun as trying to decipher the owners manual by torchlight in the freezing cold when you have forgotten how the lights and heating are switched on.

Why risk divorce whilst erecting an awning at Easter?

 

[soldlisa04]

Hi there - yes, the handover went extremely well. I wrote everything down in a little book as he was showing John what to do. It was over an hour long and very thorough! At night, the neighbours came around in the dark which was fun trying to locate the light switches but we got there in the end! They bought us a bottle of fizz so we toasted the van and ourselves and have arranged our first weekend away for 12th March with them, if at all possible she was more excited than me! It turns out we have the caravan version of their motorhome, theirs was registered in 09/10 and ours 05/10 and we're getting same car! Cue jokes ... So far we have had a steady stream of over 30 visitors to view and drool .... neighbours must think we're mad, as one car departs, another arrives! Also, it's been so cold that it put my Mum off caravanning until we explained that there is such a thing as a heater - just that we don't know yet how to work it properly (got that sussed now). Going to collect Kia this Sat ... just our luck it snows before and we can't actually get there to swap over our car! We have decided to get used to driving the Kia alone, then hitch up the van and go out locally for John to get the feel of towing it before we go away on March 12th. There will be an overnight stay on drive, probably in half term after we have weighed everything and got most loaded in the van safely.

Do we have to buy 2 calorlite bottles at once? Can we not just take the one for a few months as we know that it's new and therefore full? Also, not intending to go on any sites just yet that haven't got EHU? Comments please?

All in all a fun weekend, and we are nearing the end of what we need to buy for it now with a view to trying it out first and seeing if we've omitted anything glaringly obvious. Still get a thrill when I look out of the window and see it there in all it's glory lol

 

[Parksy]

You should be able to manage perfectly well with one Calorlight bottle, just make sure that you have a list of suppliers where you can get a replacement if the lpg is used up when you are away.
It was years before we tried using the caravan off ehu, it's best to get to know how all of the systems work before trying anything too radical. Make sure that you know how to run your fridge using lpg before straying too far from ehu, nobody likes warm white wine or beer

Glad that the handover went well and good luck with the Kia, exciting times!