An intentionally and carefully-made wibbly wobbly piece of steel is much stronger than a flat sheet. A flat sheet that can be bent with two hands, bent carefully, could be stood on without issue, while being much lighter than a huge chunk of steel.

Haha thank you

Thank you!

Unfortunately many a true word made in jest... maybe an episode on van security systems will be soon. Many simple home security kits are suitable for adapting as they have PIR sensors. Plus a VERY LOUD HIDDEN siren with its own battery... plus a simple SIM card based DIY tracker (transferable between boat and van if you do some clever wiring.)

Hello Rick; cheers, yes I'm enjoying your new van episodes very much! I will endeavour to tidy that hole :-)

The cooker's fine, the tanks have butane / propane mix which is OK

Ah, that makes sense, cheers. It's certainly not air tight in any sense so there could still be airflow I think. Building a boat, now that's impressive :-)

Also that's how the air gets out when you have the ventilation fan running. Or, if no air coming through the vents with the fan off, windows closed, when driving means the outlet vents are blocked. Great job with the gas.

Thank you; I'm doing my humble best. And that reminds me to go and Google for a filler plug. Cheers!

Wow! I rarely see your vlogs in time for any comment of mine to be of any help! That said, have you considered piping to the front under the hood (or bonnet)? That would open up any number of mounting options and add some security from theft and vandalization.

And, now, having JUST viewed the very first episode of this channel, I see your warning about the very SORT of info I posted above. In my defense, you posted that vlog just a week after my sixtieth birthday so, I was probably still drunk... lol? So, yes, tath was me giving my OWN response a thumbs down, Cheers!

I think piping all the way to the front would be too long and quite complex; the longer the pipe goes under the car the more chance it has of being hit by stones etc being thrown up.

Basically in the UK for portable heating/cooking uses propane or butane in cylinders that are exchanged are the most common, you take your empty cylinder to somewhere that sells your brand (Calor and FloGas seemingly the most popular options, with Calor being the most popular by a lot) and swap it for a full one. Petrol stations are one of the most popular places that sell the bottles, but a lot of caravan supply places and campsites sell it as well. You pay a "deposit" for the cylinder when you get you first one and that is partially refunded if you return the cylinder to the supplier, noting that for most cylinders you can swap them for different sizes, though calor would not let you do that with the 7kg cylinders that motorhomes seem to find popular. You can also get the companies to deliver bottles directly to your home, though that does incur a delivery charge. As for the ground mounted tanks/bulk supply, that is used by some households that don't have access to mains gas and some caravan sites use it or their static caravans so they don't need bottles outside every van and the replacement headaches that come with it (a site might have a few thousand in use). On the caravan site I work at we have bulk supply for everything, including for the kitchens and for the gas tumble dryers, the only parts of the site that use bottles are the housekeeping building for the dryers and boiler (two lots of 4 x 47Kg bottles), and the caravan used for the maintence/grounds team.

Good point! It occurred to me afterwards that if I have to take the bumper off again for any reason, it also means I won't now have to disconnect the filler pipe and screw it back on again afterwards, which I'd have had to do otherwise so I think this is the best solution in my case. Unlike a motorhome, the van has very limited options for where to place this filler!

Ah, cheers

It's not on top of the cylinder because it goes from the cylinder (at high pressure) using flexible pipe, to the regulator which brings the pressure down. From there it's copper tube and you can buy t-connectors etc at plumbing and heating merchants. However, if you have no experience or expertise in gas, it is essential you get the work done by a professional, certified gas engineer.

Shouldn't be, the rear ones are practically new

Ok, well it might just have been the camera angle or the amount of light. I'm sure you have it all under control.

Or the dust! The tyres were new less than 500 miles ago.

I don't want to close the holes, they're there as gas drop vents.

That's the notion though you need nozzle adapters for euro but I've bought those.

No I'm not but the plastic bumper pushes in as seen inn the video so I believe it should be OK. If not, I shall enlarge the hole in the bumper. Also, if I'm in Europe I'll have to have screwed on an adapter anyway which will bring the filler further out.

There won't be any sparks off the pipes bit I am going to do something with them, cheers!

I would imagine so but probably not optimal. You'd need to be damn sure the legs wouldn't collapse in any way.

Quite correct, these things must be right!

I had two pieces of the tube

Hi. Tape shouldn't be used on this kind of connection, it's a metal-to-metal junction within the end of the hose that makes the join.

No tape - bits can get into the regulator. Loxseal if anything.

It was floating because I'd taken it off to access the space at the back

Sadly, I haven't used the van enough to burn even a quarter of my first tank, due to mainly going out on my boat during the summer months. So I can't really comment. It is used for heating and cooking though, see the heater installation videos for more on that.

Not required but certainly strongly advisable and yes I have two CO alarms in the van as well as a fire alarm and a propane detector.

That's a damn good idea!

Vandemonium 70 mm is one of the most popular center cap sizes but if the hole is a little bit more than 70 you'll find them in 74 and I think 76mm too. Either way they're super cheap so you can try a few to find the best fit. Best part is it'll look like you meant to do it that way ;-) Also if you want guys custom print vinyl stickers to fit them. It's a common way to customize wheels or recreate old caps,so it'd be really easy to get a label made for it too if you wanted.

It is indeed 70mm, I checked this afternoon.

I fear much of the so called restrictions are done to protect the money making industry rather than deep OSH reasons. I have seen some shoddy work by "licenced professionals" and superb installs by skilled DIYers.

Yes, it's definitely fixed firmly to the metal. Cheers

No instructions, in fact Gaslow are very vague about the pipe route from the filler to the locker. You just have to suss out what's best for yourself, pretty much. My next vlog shows some further detail (coming soon) Oh, should say also that if you're in any doubt, get an LPG/motorhome qualified gas engineer to do it, don't take any risks.

Good man ... I look forward to it. There aren't many videos on Gaslow installations so this could be quite popular .... the more detail the better.

Funny you should say that; I thought the same but I've had more downlikes and negative comments about this one being boring than any other!

Give it time, many people will be interested to know how these are installed, could be a grower.

Nope, the fuel stations here would never let you, they're twitchy enough about LPG refuelling as it is.

Aha! Thank you! I was so curious about what those were for :-)

I truly don’t know as I haven’t refilled in so long! It may be that it’s now a better system if you’re going abroad, perhaps.

Thanks, I'll download it. I've read my policy a couple of times and there's no reference I can see to anything relating to how/who built it. It's just documented as a self-build camper.

We have Calor swappable bottles but generally refillble standalone cylinders are not used because the filling stations refuse it on safety grounds. It's part of the reason I fitted the external filler rather than just opening the locker to refill - the fuel stations get twitchy (apparently) if they see "naked" cylinders being refilled.

I am not trying to debate this detail, just interested in the difference between US and UK. In the US the 20lb cylinders are refilled at e.g., a hardware store. The store employee takes the cylinder, places it on a weigh scale, sets the weight and fills until the internal shut-off valve closes then disconnects the cylinder and hands it back to the customer. I think the weight is now redundant since the propane pump shuts off when the internal shut-off valve in the cylinder closes. The cylinders have a date stamp on the upper ring/guard. The store can refill the cylinder up to 12 years from the stamped date of manufacture. I had the tank for my grill refilled many times, before I stopped using the grill........ The cylinder is now out of date, so needs to be recycled. Dave.

Fair point!

I just went down to the nearest petrol station with LPG and filled up... easy.

I'm no gas expert and I'd suggest asking me or the Internet at large is a recipe for disaster - talk to a qualified gas engineer, especially one experienced with campervan installations. Your local motorhome/campervan dealer should be able to advise. Also, regulators should be listed for sale with their specifications including pressure and gas compatibility.

Yes indeed, I bought the set of overseas adapters too

Any chance of adding the link to those adaptors, I could use some. Cheers David...

Have a look at the products link on gaslow.com, look under 21.8LH adapters

Cheers mate!

It seems generally to be the case where the filler cap is inside the locker; as soon as they see you opening the locker they stop you filling. That's one of the reasons I wanted to mount the filler on the bodywork so it presents itself as a normal LPG filler.

There's a tiny gauge on top though I don't know how accurate it is.

Vandemonium ok

There are some types you can do that with but some of the filling stations get really twitchy about gas bottles and will prevent you doing so. They're petrified of people blowing themselves and the station up (and knowing how some people are, they're probably right...)

I'd still have to disconnect if I removed the bumper unless simply shifting the bumper a few inches

you'll have disconnect the pipe but you can leave the cap assembly on the bumper, and it will look MUCH better from the outside!

Too late now, it's fixed to the metal as shown!

That seems to refer to the car exhaust so I'm not sure it holds for the heater exhaust, especially as it's wrapped in a heatshield but I shall certainly keep them as far from each other as practical. Cheers for the note about the holes, that clears that mystery up!

I *believe* it also applies to the heater exhaust - just the exit, though; not the whole pipe run. I'm sure that Gaslow would know for sure :)

Conceivably yes but bear in mind the filler valve on the cylinder is a non-return type so cutting the pipe doesn't release the cylinder contents, only what's left in the pipe itself; this would immediately vapourise and, of course, is then a flammable risk but then so's petrol in a fuel tank or indeed the gas in the gas locker which is also at the back so I suppose that's just one of those things.

Vandemonium oh that’s great then, a really neat job.

ianmedium the braided steel line the fitting used is brutally strong stuff. If he got hit hard enough to sever that line the minuscule amount of gas left in it will be the least of his worries.

Yeah, I might do if I can find a spare bit

There are spiders but the holes have a plastic grating at the top which should stop any big ones coming in.

I suppose it would depend on the extent of the blowout; the line has a mudflap in front of it and another piece of plastic below it so it's in a little coccoon of sorts.

No, I didn't know (and I don't know where that is, either but will look it up!)

Ok, it is called HardHurst Farm in Edale, The lads from "Campervan Tales" arranged it, but I booked direct with the farm, because I know that the lads are out on a trip, they still chat on their vlog regularly, but it might take a day for them to see a message. This wont let me put a link in, but hardhurst farm edale gets the right booking place anyway.

The tanks never fill to more than 80% anyway and they automatically cut off at that point as you fill them.

@@Vandemonium Oh. Here in US we have tanks with bleeder valves, but not all of them have it. www.spaco.org/Blacksmithing/PipeForge/RefuelingPropaneTanks.htm This video goes along with your 80% fill value, but shows US type with bleeder valve also used. kzfaq.info/get/bejne/qremmtGW0a7Lnas.html

@@Vandemonium I'm not sure thats entirely true, I managed to overfill my gaslow 2.7kg on its first fill, there was no automatic cut off, luckily gaslows have a overfill release valve so any excess gas will be emitted but into your van. So I think thats something you should be aware of.

On the first fill, yes, the instructions are clear you should only go to 80%; after that it’s automatic, they say.

If I hadn't a) made a mess of the cut out and b) thrown it away ... ;-)

Vandemonium Listen nobody died and it works and that’s the important thing. You did a great job. 👏👏

It *is* installed into the gas locker, via the drop vent in there. That's where the other end of the hose goes, as seen in the end shot.

Not really, plenty of campervans have their gas at the back, or underslung at the back.

Haha, oddly enough it is sort of straightforward really, whether the copper piping or whatever, albeit that you do need to take great care and test it carefully afterwards. I'm just so paranoid that's why I want it checked because I reckon there's no harm in having a second pair of competent eyes looking over it or indeed any safety-related work.

It looks ghastly close up but you don't really notice it looking at the van as a whole (or I don't!)

Vandemonium It’s your van... Just think if you got a spare front filler cap or even one of those flaps that fit over a 240v supply box & mounted it on the bumper it would look neater. Yes, you’d have to undo/open 2 caps/flaps to refill with gas, but you wouldn’t have a rough-cut hole in your bumper...

Yeah, fair point. I'll have to find one in black, I'm not having a white box there.

Vandemonium I’ve looked on eBay; there are black ones available. Even a water fill cap (for vans/motorhomes which have on board water tanks) might work?

We can do water, not gas. I think we can do electricity but it must then be checked by a certified professional.