How to install a fixed LPG tank in a motorhome? And why should you do it? In 2015, we spent a whole year travelling through Europe with only Swedish LPG tanks, but that was a rookie mistake. We won't do it again!
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Why install a fixed LPG tank in the motorhome?
Why should you install a fixed LPG tank in your motorhome? Well, we can explain that! Most countries in Europe has, for some unfathomable reason, its own LPG and LPG tube system.
In Sweden, Swedish LPG cylinders are usually connected to the motorhome. When you run out of LPG, you go and change it, for example at Bauhaus or a petrol station. No problem! It works in a similar way for Germans in Germany and Spaniards in Spain. The problem is that each country has its own system, so a Swedish tube cannot be changed in Germany or Spain, and a German or Spanish tube cannot be changed in Sweden. Impractical? Yes, extremely!
One would imagine that the whole thing can be solved with some kind of adapter. Or perhaps by buying a German or Spanish LPG pipe and plugging it in. But well, none of that is painless. Refuelling with an adapter to a regular tube is usually not possible, and in most countries you can't buy a full LPG tube unless you have an empty LPG tube from the same country to hand in in exchange. Moment 22? Yes, definitely! But there is a solution, and it's called a 'fixed LPG tank'.
Who needs a fixed LPG tank?
If you're only travelling in Sweden, you won't need a fixed LPG tank. If you're just travelling down Europe for a few weeks in the warmer months, you can probably do without a fixed LPG tank. If you are going abroad for a longer period of time, or if you are travelling in cold weather (and using LPG for heating), then a fixed LPG tank can be very useful.
What is a fixed LPG tank?
A standard LPG cylinder is a cylinder that is replaced when it is empty. A fixed LPG tank is instead permanently installed. You never have to change it, but instead you fill up with LPG at a petrol station.
Refuelling a standard non-fixed LPG cylinder on your own is too dangerous and almost always prohibited. The fixed installation means that you never even have to open the door where the LPG cylinders are. You refuel from the outside, through a small opening, and you can't overfill.
The best thing about this solution is that you can refuel a fixed LPG tank in many places around Europe. For our part, we have chosen to have a regular Swedish LPG tank (composite) and a new fixed LPG tank (aluminium).
Installing a fixed LPG tank in the motorhome
Installing a fixed LPG tank in a motorhome is not necessarily very difficult - but it is likely to be quite tricky. After going through the whole procedure, we can highly recommend bringing in professional help. Apart from the fact that it was cramped and messy, the whole thing also involves LPG. In other words, it's important to get it right!
We bought all the stuff we needed (Alugas tank, hoses, duo-coupling and more) at Torvalla Bil in Haninge. Then we got help from Håkan, who both represents Gasolfyllarna in Norrköping and Motorhome school (part of the The all-terrain vehicle), to install a fixed tank in the motorhome.
Installing the LPG tank in the motorhome - here's how
Håkan, who helped us install the LPG tank in the motorhome, started by emptying the LPG compartment.
He then fitted a duo regulator (so that one LPG tube can switch to the other when it runs out, without having to get up in the middle of the night) and oil filters and hoses. It was a bit cramped and challenging to fit everything, but Håkan said that "it usually is". Very nice with someone who is experienced to help!
A little later it was time to make holes in the motorhome wall with a box cutter, to install the hatch where you can refuel with LPG.
The final step was then to mount the round little hatch, where you have to refuel, and to download the app "Dimes SRG". With the help of this app, you can see when it's time to fill up with LPG, so you don't have to go without. We also got a bunch of different adapters, so that we can easily fill up with LPG in different countries around Europe.
It feels very, very good to have this in place!
Have you thought about installing a fixed LPG tank in your motorhome?
Have you thought about installing a fixed LPG tank in your motorhome? Or perhaps you have already done so? What are your experiences? Please tell us!
You might also like:
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Travelling abroad with a motorhome - 10 things to look out for
Travelling by motorhome in Germany - all you need to know
Germany welcomes motorhomes (and Sweden imposes a ban)
10 great countries for motorhome holidays
Meet us at Elmia Caravan Motorhome 11-15 September!
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JoY says:
It is really good with fixed bottles so easy to refuel the gas. We have had a fixed bottle and a loose gas bottle now that we have been down in Europe and travelled. When we came back we made a stop at Anders in Karlshamn (he has the agency for the bottles) where Jakob installed another fixed bottle. Our bottle had become 10 years old so it was time to change it. Good luck with your fixed bottle.
12 October 2024 - 15:05
Helena says:
Interesting to hear your experiences! We have been thinking about this for a long time, but it is only now that it has materialised ... and it feels very good! Thank you all!
13 October 2024 - 21:05
Maria Djurskog says:
We have one fixed tank and two "loose" and have never even had to switch over to the loose ones. But sometimes it can be a bit difficult to find lpg. In Denmark it seems not to be available at all. Otherwise, the fixed tank works great.
13 October 2024 - 8:06
Helena says:
Interesting to hear your experiences! Thanks for sharing!
13 October 2024 - 21:05
Elina says:
LPG bottle with surface filling is almost a must when wintering in the south. We did it right away when we bought the car in 2018. It was for travelling in Europe that we bought the car in the first place, so we knew we needed LPG. Did not want the journeys to be reduced to a nightmare in the search for LPG. Don't understand those who continue with their loose bottles, is it because they shy away from the cost (around 7.000kr)?
13 October 2024 - 8:28
Helena says:
Thanks for sharing your experiences Elina! Agree that it is needed if you are going to be abroad for a longer time! We paid more than this though. The equipment we bought cost 12 000 SEK, but included iofs duo regulator, which we did not have before. The assembly cost about 2,500 SEK.
13 October 2024 - 21:08
Harry Carlsson says:
Have installed an 11kg bottle from Alugas in our Kabe 860. Did everything myself, without any problems whatsoever. Neat and safe installation. Can really recommend this. Now we have a fixed tank and a replaceable one. Switches between these two, depending on where you are. Usually use the LPG tank, even in Sweden. It is actually cheaper to refuel than to change the bottle. I have also installed a system so that I can see the LPG level in both my tanks in Kabes display inside the car. Super good.
13 October 2024 - 9:47
Otherwise says:
Dimes SRG.
How does this app work?
What is the link between the app and the LPG tank?
21 October 2024 - 6:43
Anders Pålsson says:
Dimes SRG transmits the measurement value from the sensor on the tank bottle to an app in a smartphone or equivalent with Bluetooth
the sensor is the same as the one used for the original meter, which is removed and replaced by an electronic sensor
installation is simple and done entirely on the outside of the tank, can be retrofitted if you want to supplement the existing tank
06 November 2024 - 12:50