Gas in my lorry - clueless! Please help x

[Ample Prosecco]

Hi I have a 3.5T horsebox which was converted from a Peugeot Van. When I picked it up, it did not come with a gas bottle as the seller said they were not licenced to sell them. I've never got around to buying a bottle or connecting it up. Now I want one for a stay away show but have no clue what I need? Can anyone enlighten me? The ones for sale locally seem to be for patio heaters and BBQs not horseboxes.

Also have no clue how to connect it anyway. There is an orange bit of tubing that looks like it connect to the stove and a blue pipe with an orange connector attached. What do I do with those?
TIA!!

 

[Ample Prosecco]

Pics attached

 

[tda]

Propane , your horsebox connection should match the one on the cylinder

 

[Ample Prosecco]

Thanks TDA. If I had a cylinder would it all look more obvious? SHould I just go and buy a propane cylinder?

 

[PurBee]

That looks to be a space for a 13Kg gas bottle - theyre about 2 foot high and one foot across. You have a black strap there in the corner to strap the bottle in firm so it doesnt jiggle around when youre driving.
The orange thing in your hand is the regulator that fits on top of the gas bottle.

What are you using gas for? Is it a mobile camping stove or a fitted stove in the van? The appliances determine butane or propane nozzles, which should be clarified on the instructions with the appliances you want to use with gas.

 

[meleeka]

The pipe should be connected to the cooker with a jubilee clip and you need to make sure it doesn’t leak. You can get gas detectors quite cheaply. The bit you are holding is a regulator. If you go to a shop with a photo of the underside of that they will tell you what it will fit.

 

[Ample Prosecco]

@PurBee It is a fitted stove in the van that the orange pipe snakes up to. So that end is already connected. Where does the other end or that tubing go? Assuming I have managed to connect the orange thing in my hand to the bottle. Sorry told you I was cluless. Never used a BBQ or anything... This is a whole new world.

 

[Ample Prosecco]

I'll go out to the lorry now and see if I can see instructions on/around the stove re the bottle I need.

 

[AmyMay]

YouTube is your friend…

 

[PurBee]

I'll go out to the lorry now and see if I can see instructions on/around the stove re the bottle I need.

Ah, if its a fitted in stove and that regulator was already in there, youd want propane as thats a propane regulator, and likely the nozzles on the stove are already fitted for propane use.

Some camping stoves have butane nozzles. The regulators are different for butane and propane.

 

[PurBee]

@PurBee It is a fitted stove in the van that the orange pipe snakes up to. So that end is already connected. Where does the other end or that tubing go? Assuming I have managed to connect the orange thing in my hand to the bottle. Sorry told you I was cluless. Never used a BBQ or anything... This is a whole new world.

The other end of the tubing connects to the regulator, with a jubilee clip. Nice and tight so theres no leaks.

Its easier to see it done than explain it so amymays suggestion is best to hunt for ‘propane gas bottle connecting’ on youtube. Its will explain how to check for leaks with washing-up liquid in water aswell.

 

[Tiddlypom]

If you’ve got a local motorhome dealer they’ll set your gas up correctly (and safely).

 

[PurBee]

this chap will likely help

 

[Ample Prosecco]

Well I never - the stove came with instructions I never knew I had! Except I can't understand them. Arghhhh. It's all double dutch. A million people have caravans, motor homes, leisure boats, BBQs. Why am I finding this so hard! The instructions say G30 BUTANE 28-30 mbar OR G31 Propane 27 mbar.

Why both options? The bottles on the forecourt of my local garage don't correspond to those and the staff have no idea either.

@Tiddlypom none of the caravan/ notorhome sites or dealers anywhere near have any left. Everyone I call says forget it this time of year.

 

[Ample Prosecco]

this chap will likely help

Thank -you!

 

[PurBee]

Well I never - the stove came with instructions I never knew I had! Except I can't understand them. Arghhhh. It's all double dutch. A million people have caravans, motor homes, leisure boats, BBQs. Why am I finding this so hard! The instructions say G30 BUTANE 28-30 mbar OR G31 Propane 27 mbar.

Why both options? The bottles on the forecourt of my local garage don't correspond to those and the staff have no idea either.

@Tiddlypom none of the caravan/ notorhome sites or dealers anywhere near have any left. Everyone I call says forget it this time of year.

yes, some stoves have options for both types of gas to be used. The nozzles at the stove rings usually have to be changed to allow for the pressure difference between the 2 gases.

As your van came with a propane regulator and everything else plumbed in - its likely the previous owner has sorted the nozzles to be the right ones for use with propane.
(Butane is used much more here in ireland, its propane usually in the UK. When we bought our gas oven it came with 2 sets of hob nozzles, to be used with either type of gas)

The main thing is, depending on the van age, check for brittleness in the orange hose and splits - just bend it slightly and see if it cracks - if so, its too old, and needs replacing with new orange flexible hose.

If you are near any villages, farm stores, wouldnt they sell the 13kg bottles? Every garage here sells them all year round.

 

[PurBee]

There’s a 6kg version you can buy from calor themselves

6kg Propane gas bottle

This bottle is available at many Calor retailers nationwide, but currently unavailable to buy online. Please check with a Calor Retailer near you for local availability. We recommend calling before traveling to check if they have the bottle you are after. You can also sign up for an alert and...

shop.calor.co.uk

 

[AmyMay]

@Tiddlypom none of the caravan/ notorhome sites or dealers anywhere near have any left. Everyone I call says forget it this time of year.

But they will be able to give you some advice if you pop in and see them with the lorry.

 

[cold_feet]

Do you have a sink? The blue pipe looks like the one in my lorry, the orangebit goes in the water bottle, electric pump to sink.

 

[ROMANY 1959]

Do you have any friends who have lorry they go away in and have gas ? If so, most likely they will be able to help. Or any horse box repair places or horse box builders or converters. Motor home fitters will know as well. Some are mobile. Google and see who is near to you. I wouldn’t mess with gas, be it bottle or mains. Get someone who know something. Once you are shown what to do you will be ok

 

[Merry neddy man]

Google " propane gas near me"

 

[PeterNatt]

You realy should get the gas system checked out by a Gas Safe Gas Technician before using it. A leak could cause an explosion. Any gas installation should be checked out at least once a year.

 

[Esmae]

Caravan sales shop is your friend. We got all of our gas bottles , regulators and loads of advice from our local dealer.

 

[lizziebell]

Don’t forget that a gas bottle is going to eat into your payload, so consider whether you really need it.

 

[SEL]

Well I never - the stove came with instructions I never knew I had! Except I can't understand them. Arghhhh. It's all double dutch. A million people have caravans, motor homes, leisure boats, BBQs. Why am I finding this so hard! The instructions say G30 BUTANE 28-30 mbar OR G31 Propane 27 mbar.

Why both options? The bottles on the forecourt of my local garage don't correspond to those and the staff have no idea either.

@Tiddlypom none of the caravan/ notorhome sites or dealers anywhere near have any left. Everyone I call says forget it this time of year.

But they will write down in very simple English what you need and show you how to attach it if you smile sweetly. They may also know where there are supplies. Sometimes heading out a bit more rural to farm suppliers is needed - most around here stock bottles

 

[Ample Prosecco]

I think I have worked it out. Blue pipe with orange bit on end is for the water. It goes up into the sink. Orange tubing is for the gas cylinder - I can see it goes up to the hob. I need to buy a regulator and cylinder at the same time. I think I will try and find a fitter locally and get set up properly by someone who knows what they are doing. If I can't I will just use a camping stove in the horse bit this time.

Thanks for all the advice. x

 

[sport horse]

I think I have worked it out. Blue pipe with orange bit on end is for the water. It goes up into the sink. Orange tubing is for the gas cylinder - I can see it goes up to the hob. I need to buy a regulator and cylinder at the same time. I think I will try and find a fitter locally and get set up properly by someone who knows what they are doing. If I can't I will just use a camping stove in the horse bit this time.

Thanks for all the advice. x

Please do get a proper qualified fitter to come out and check your system and supply whatever you need. I am old enough to have seen several, closer to fatal than any of us wish to go, disasters from faulty/badly maintained gas systems in lorries. Then fit a carbon monoxide alarm - not overly expensive and a lifesaver.

 

[Northern Hare]

I think I have worked it out. Blue pipe with orange bit on end is for the water. It goes up into the sink. Orange tubing is for the gas cylinder - I can see it goes up to the hob. I need to buy a regulator and cylinder at the same time. I think I will try and find a fitter locally and get set up properly by someone who knows what they are doing. If I can't I will just use a camping stove in the horse bit this time.

Thanks for all the advice. x

Sorry if I've missed this above, but have you got a caravan or motorhome service centre near you, as they'd be able to get it connected up for you and test it. You can also get a leak detector spray to double check the connections. Finally, a carbon monoxide detector.

 

[Tiddlypom]

I think I will try and find a fitter locally and get set up properly by someone who knows what they are doing.

This is very wise. Once it’s been properly set up with the correct size of gas bottle and all the necessary widgets you’ll be able to change the gas bottle yourself in the future. But please do get this done initially by an accredited gas fitter and don’t rely on you tube tutorials.

Our motorhome is booked in shortly to have its gas fittings checked by the supplying dealer - Spinneys motorhomes near Holmes Chapel (not far from Somerford). They work all year round.

 

[Ample Prosecco]

Sorry if I've missed this above, but have you got a caravan or motorhome service centre near you, as they'd be able to get it connected up for you and test it. You can also get a leak detector spray to double check the connections. Finally, a carbon monoxide detector.

Result! Yes I have found one and they are sorting me out.
Thanks everyone x