Why Refillable LPG is the Best Thing We’ve Ever Screwed In
Let’s be honest — Calor bottles are like that flaky friend who used to be reliable but now vanishes for months without replying to messages. Somewhere around 2022, finding a full Calor bottle became harder than spotting a unicorn driving a Tesco van.
So we did what any slightly disgruntled, practically-minded van owner would do: we went refillable. And reader, we’ve never looked back.
So what is it?
Instead of endlessly swapping bottles and playing propane roulette, a refillable LPG system lets you top up your gas tank yourself at fuel stations across the UK and Europe. It’s the campervan equivalent of switching to solar panels and smugly telling everyone about it.
We opted for a Gaslow twin-bottle system (see the photos of our instal below) with auto switchover. It was installed neatly in our gas locker in a morning with an external fill point, so we don’t have to wave a gas bottle around like an Olympic torch every time we top up.
Be careful of removable bottles. Although they have an overfill system and are safe, some garages will not allow them to be filled unless they are in the van. And it should go without saying, NEVER, and I can’t stress this enough NEVER try the refill adaptor for Calor bottles available from tinternet!!!!!!
Benefits
- No more hunting Calor like Bigfoot
Seriously, how many garden centres, garages, and shady backyards did we loiter around hoping for a bottle? With refillables, you just pull up at an LPG pump, fill up like you would with fuel, and carry on. It’s that simple. - Cheaper. By far.
Filling LPG yourself is way cheaper per litre than exchanging bottles — especially in Europe, where gas is practically flowing from the fountains. A full refill costs us around £10–£15 compared to £35+ for a bottle swap. That’s more money for wine and croissants. Priorities. - Better for your back (and your temper)
No more lugging heavy bottles in and out of lockers while muttering under your breath and crushing your foot. Once it’s fitted, it stays put. You just fill through the external port. Easy. - Works brilliantly across Europe
Europe actually encourages refilling your own gas. Imagine! You’ll need a set of adapters (usually called the “Euro LPG adapters” — you’ll want ACME, Dish, and Bayonet types), and with those in hand, you can refill almost anywhere from Spain to Slovenia. - You always know how much gas is left
Most refillable systems come with level indicators, so you’re no longer shaking bottles like a caveman trying to guess if there’s enough gas for a roast chicken.
And the thorny question …… Availability
UK:
Still decent, though not as widespread as Europe. LPG-maps apps help. Morrison’s petrol stations often still have LPG. We’ve never struggled to find gas and never run out.
France, Spain, Germany, Italy:
Fantastic. It’s everywhere. Many motorhome aires even have dedicated fill points.
Belgium & Netherlands:
Reliable, especially on main routes.
Pro tip: Get the myLPG.eu app — it’s the Google Maps of gas fill-ups.