butane or propane??

Dolomite · 2016-03-30 15:25:54

I'm about to order a stove and am thinking of getting the campinggaz regulator (butane)

Just thought id check in and see if Propane is a better choice?

apologies for all the questions of late, just having a bit of a push to get the van something like for 4 weeks time!

goody33 · 2016-03-30 16:41:14

I use propane as it freezes as lower temps than butane and we tend to camp in winter as much as summer. I believe it has a slightly higher pressure, so you get a better flame, although don't quote me on that. I had a boiler in a caravan that would go out with butane as if the pressure was to weak, but the propane burned constant and strong.

vaz2121 · 2016-03-30 19:33:55

Propane would appear to be a better choice as said...... burns hotter and not affected as much by cold weather

I have Butane bottle as that's what came installed and seems more plentiful in UK for campers/caravans.

but have been thinking of switching to Propane as you can get adapters for the bottle that allows them to be filled at LPG pumps in petrol stations .....

So cheaper to fill than exchange + able to fill if abroad with appropriate adapter ...... Don't seam to do a Butane bottle thread

Dolomite · 2016-03-30 21:15:39

Ok, having read up on it it seems camping gas is a mix of the 2 and also - importantly - is exchangable in Europe. As we are going there for our first big trip in summer I think I'll go down this route. It isn't too much to aquire a different regulator if necessary...

Cheers for replies

Casper · 2016-03-30 21:24:12

I joined a couple of motorhome forums and what comes up a lot is the gas bottle adapters. Like hear for the portable gas fires you get lots of different fittings. Not sure if its something you can pre buy.

vaz2121 · 2016-03-31 04:47:39

This is the sort of thing I was thinking about

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/LPG-Calor-Pro … Swp5JWXhOB

Dolomite · 2016-03-31 05:50:25

Maybe Ive changed my mind again, the cost for campingaz is stupid!

this site has good info and a price table:

http://www.getoutwiththekids.co.uk/camp … -cylinder/

So we're going to mostly Germany, Italy, France & possibly Spain, (Most of the time Italy)

We'll be away for 5 weeks - lots of eating out I expect, maybe just the odd meal in the van. Will I even need a refill?

The LPG filler thing looks good, I reckon I am right in thinking I will also need one of these?:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/LPG-GPL-GAS-a … XQatBSb9Kp

I have no experience of filling up at an LPG station so none of this particularly makes sense!

Dolomite · 2016-03-31 05:53:17

or this...

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Autogas-LPG-F … 1922533160

But then I'm spending £50 before I've even bought the gas!

Dolomite · 2016-03-31 10:46:15

More reading - lots of people saying its not advisable - if there's any safety issues I personally wouldn't be happy...

http://www.ukcampsite.co.uk/chatter/dis … &searchIn=

monkeynut · 2016-03-31 13:48:02

Thought i would put my two pennys worth in
I have had a few vans , if just using in summer butane is good as it has a higher calorific output than propane, not that you would notice in a van, I go with propane as the bottles are shorter and can use all year round, at currant refill prices i cant see a great deal of benefit of filling up at the pump after you have forked out on adapters,bottles that have been refilled have had the seals/valve checked
Driven through france spain and back and still had plenty of gas in the bottle(two of us)

just a thought , filling a low pressure bottle with a high pressure pump that is designed to fill high pressure vehicle tanks!!

Dolomite · 2016-03-31 14:08:07

monkeynut wrote:

Thought i would put my two pennys worth in
I have had a few vans , if just using in summer butane is good as it has a higher calorific output than propane, not that you would notice in a van, I go with propane as the bottles are shorter and can use all year round, at currant refill prices i cant see a great deal of benefit of filling up at the pump after you have forked out on adapters,bottles that have been refilled have had the seals/valve checked
Driven through france spain and back and still had plenty of gas in the bottle(two of us)
just a thought , filling a low pressure bottle with a high pressure pump that is designed to fill high pressure vehicle tanks!!

Cheers - I have never been away in a van before, would you say I could get a propane cylinder that would carry enough to see us through 5 weeks avarage use?

monkeynut · 2016-03-31 19:37:16

I would go for campinggaz 907 or 904 while in Europe for a long while my mate has used it for years in his van (get it most places)

Dolomite · 2016-04-01 08:03:58

OK, back to campingaz it is -

just in case anyone finds this useful:

Options:

-Campingaz
-Refilling cylinder - I'm just not confident filling something up myself!
-The GASLOW system seems to be an LPG station refillable option (has 80% full auto-cut off) but too expensive and big for me, interesting option for the right person though.
- buying new attachment/regulator + paying for new cylinder - expensive - inefficient use of space!
- Take enough gas for the trip - no Idea

Thanks for all the advice,

tee_cee · 2016-04-01 13:46:15

If you are staying in campsites, then electric is a good option, especially given the size constraints in the van.
We have used all sorts of methods, but I have to say that the single ring induction hob has been the easiest to use.
For backup the £10 aerosol type cooker works fine and refills are easy to get. Also handy is are the resealable Coleman type canisters with a small ring (like msr pocket rocket) - when you just want to boil a kettle.
In the past we have used campingaz 2 ring burner with a 907, and it lasted for months -so we switched to a 904. But tbh I found the whole thing a bit bulky. Using the BBQ is another way to save on gas.
In a van this size, personally I don't really want to be cooking inside, so this has a large bearing on what systems to use. I've seen examples of small van conversions with built in gas rings, which to me, just seems impractical.

Casper · 2016-04-01 14:53:42

tee_cee wrote:

If you are staying in campsites, then electric is a good option, especially given the size constraints in the van.
We have used all sorts of methods, but I have to say that the single ring induction hob has been the easiest to use.
For backup the £10 aerosol type cooker works fine and refills are easy to get. Also handy is are the resealable Coleman type canisters with a small ring (like msr pocket rocket) - when you just want to boil a kettle.
In the past we have used campingaz 2 ring burner with a 907, and it lasted for months -so we switched to a 904. But tbh I found the whole thing a bit bulky. Using the BBQ is another way to save on gas.
In a van this size, personally I don't really want to be cooking inside, so this has a large bearing on what systems to use. I've seen examples of small van conversions with built in gas rings, which to me, just seems impractical.

It does work as vaz has done but yes i agree. I am juat taking a camping stove and a couple of the small gas canisters and a quick visit to go outdoors for an hookup extension for my electric oven and grill. Having said that my next van will be a Transit or the likes and i will be sticking a sink and cooker in for the sake of getting the tax class changed but no more than two rings and i will no doubt only ever boil a kettle on it.

Dolomite · 2016-04-01 15:29:32

the stove isnt going to be bolted in, so that we can bring it out to cook outside when we want - but it is going to have a shelf to live on for inside cooking.

I do have an msr thing, but just want something a little more substantial!

Also - If we use this van then I too will upgrade to somthing bigger so would like stuff that we can swap over..

vaz2121 · 2016-04-01 17:24:15

I also carry one of those £10 single ring burners that take the aerosol can as back up, Really frustrating when wanting a cup of Tea and gas goes out.

It's the I use when away on my bike. big_smile

Last edited by vaz2121 (2016-04-01 17:25:04)

tee_cee · 2016-04-02 11:43:32

Casper wrote:

It does work as vaz has done but yes i agree. I am juat taking a camping stove and a couple of the small gas canisters and a quick visit to go outdoors for an hookup extension for my electric oven and grill. Having said that my next van will be a Transit or the likes and i will be sticking a sink and cooker in for the sake of getting the tax class changed but no more than two rings and i will no doubt only ever boil a kettle on it.

I re-registered the Expert as a motor caravan, with the single ring induction hob, and a toaster oven. No need for gas appliances.

Casper · 2016-04-02 12:05:10

tee_cee wrote:

I re-registered the Expert as a motor caravan, with the single ring induction hob, and a toaster oven. No need for gas appliances.

I read it as you must have a fixed stove or microwave and a sink with running water what could be either pumped or gravity fed.

I was going to do it as a pull out drawer from under the rock n roll bench when you open the back doors but that would mean dicking about with another awning as i want a side one. I just think with the van being small life would be easier with camping stuff just now and use the van space for other things like duty free beer. big_smile

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#1 2016-03-30 15:25:54

butane or propane??

#2 2016-03-30 16:41:14

Re: butane or propane??

#3 2016-03-30 19:33:55

Re: butane or propane??

#4 2016-03-30 21:15:39

Re: butane or propane??

#5 2016-03-30 21:24:12

Re: butane or propane??

#6 2016-03-31 04:47:39

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#7 2016-03-31 05:50:25

Re: butane or propane??

#8 2016-03-31 05:53:17

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#9 2016-03-31 10:46:15

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#10 2016-03-31 13:48:02

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#11 2016-03-31 14:08:07

Re: butane or propane??

#12 2016-03-31 19:37:16

Re: butane or propane??

#13 2016-04-01 08:03:58

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#14 2016-04-01 13:46:15

Re: butane or propane??

#15 2016-04-01 14:53:42

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#16 2016-04-01 15:29:32

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#17 2016-04-01 17:24:15

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#18 2016-04-02 11:43:32

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#19 2016-04-02 12:05:10

Re: butane or propane??

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