Q What gas cylinder can I use in my campervan?

We have a Devon Aztec, on a 2016 Peugeot Boxer LWB, converted in 2019. I am becoming concerned at the rumours circulating about the availability of gas cylinders.

Our ’van uses the orange Calor 3.9kg LPG bottles. I know they are currently in short supply, but I have also heard that they are being phased out altogether. Is this correct?

I have been told that as an alternative to Calor, Flogas does a 3.9kg bottle approximately the same size that will work with our ’van with existing fittings. Another alternative apparently is Campingaz, but we will need different adaptors.

It seems strange that Calor would do this as there must be lots of ’vans using these bottles. I’m struggling to get reliable simple information… can you help?

Sue Walker

A In January, we had confirmation from Calor Gas that it was discontinuing various cylinders, including the 3.9kg propane, as well as the 6kg Lite propane models, along with 4.5kg and 12kg butane bottles.

It told us it is streamlining its offerings to simplify and speed up supply. Its advice was, “There are suitable alternatives to these cylinder sizes within the Calor range, or within the Campingaz range. For example, customers looking for a 3.9kg propane can be offered a 6kg propane, and those looking for a 4.5kg butane offered a 7kg butane.”

The problems with the alternative cylinders offered is that they may not fit in a gas locker that has been designed for the smaller size of cylinder.

Then there is that freezing weather problem with butane. The ‘red’ gas cylinders contain propane and are good all year round, including in an icy winter. But the ‘blue’ cylinders, such as Campingaz and Calor, contain butane, which are good for summer, but not good below freezing. The gas stops evaporating when it gets to -2oC; the pressure in the gas bottle drops to the same as our ambient air, so nothing comes out.

B&Q stocks and will exchange Calor gas bottles so it’s worth a phone call to your local branch.

If you get a Flogas 3.9kg propane bottle, the gas fittings are the same. Flogas also offers a couple of lighter options, with 5kg and 10kg Gaslight models being popular alternatives for motorhomers. These bottles take a 27mm regulator and are translucent, allowing you to see the remaining gas level.

You could convert to a 2.7kg refillable bottle from

Gaslow and fill up at the pumps, but new gas fittings and hoses will be needed. The other option is to install an underslung refillable LPG tank and you could carry a lot more gas. New fittings, etc, will be needed.

Many of the refillable gas bottles have top flanges that can be unbolted and removed, which in many cases allows a larger bottle to be fitted in the gas locker. Also check out Alugas and Gas It. We went refillable with Alugas and, after removing the top section as already described, could get bigger gas bottles in our gas locker.

Clive Mott