Home

   Log in or Register



Insurance Quotes
forums Campsite Search Comp Directory tips virtual brochure Profile
Tent and Awning Reviews Competitions Caravans and Motorhomes For Sale Shopping Diary Advent Calendar

Advertisement

Message Forums

Welcome Guest Register Login Search The Forum Posts Since Last Visit
 Reception - All Forums
   Caravans and Caravanning -  Caravan Towcars and Towing Advice
Share   Post on X / Twitter  Share on Facebook  Email  Printer Friendly Version Print
Subject Topic: LPG V the alternatives Post Reply Post New Topic
28/9/2007 at 10:50pm
 Location: Leicestershire
 Outfit: Swift Charisma 560 & Vauxhall Omega
View Jafa's Profile View Profile   Reply to Jafa Reply   Quote Jafa Quote  
Joined: 21/8/2004

Gold Member
Gold Member

Forum Posts:   299

Site Reviews Total: 3
Site Reviews 2024: 0  
Site Reviews 2023: 0  
Site Reviews 2022: 0  
Site Reviews 2021: 0  
Site Reviews 2020: 0  
Site Reviews 2019: 0  
Site Reviews 2018: 0  
Site Nights 2024: 0
Site Nights 2023: 0
Site Nights 2022: 0
Site Nights 2021: 0
Site Nights 2020: 0
Site Nights 2019: 0
Site Nights 2018: 0

I'm really thinking aloud here and would be interested on others' opinions. OH is looking to change his car to an LPG vehicle, and it made me wonder whether there would really be any benefit to changing my car (the tow car) to one that runs on LPG which he would then use as he does more miles and me then having a diddy runaround.

For towing, diesel seems to be preferred as it gives more torque and more MPG than petrol. Even though LPG is cheaper than diesel it doesn't give more MPG - or does it? Meaning that the running costs are probably no better than a diesel.

I know a few of you run LPG vehicles for towing, and a friend of mine used to have one and then changed to a diesel because they had problems with LPG.

Any views on the merits, or otherwise, of towing with an LPG vehicle versus diesel.

Jane


28/9/2007 at 11:00pm
 Location: North Essex
 Outfit: Caravelair Alba 400
View billy's Profile View Profile   Reply to billy Reply   Quote billy Quote  
Joined: 19/4/2002

Diamond Member
Diamond Member

Forum Posts:   4364

Site Reviews Total: 39
Site Reviews 2024: 9  
Site Reviews 2023: 6  
Site Reviews 2022: 7  
Site Reviews 2021: 10 
Site Reviews 2020: 7  
Site Reviews 2019: 0  
Site Reviews 2018: 0  
Site Nights 2024: 121
Site Nights 2023: 45
Site Nights 2022: 91
Site Nights 2021: 112
Site Nights 2020: 84
Site Nights 2019: 0
Site Nights 2018: 0

Lpg gives slightly worse fuel consumption but as it costs half the price of petrol its cheaper to run obviously. your boot space is reduced because of the lpg tank. when you go on any jorney uk or continent you have to forward plan because not all services sell lpg. if your going to Europe you need adaptors because their is no common fitting for filling. its also extra complication, I'll stick with diesel.

-------------
Every day should be a holiday!


29/9/2007 at 3:24pm
 Location: Lancashire
 Outfit: Caravan now Sold
View michael's Profile View Profile   Reply to michael Reply   Quote michael Quote  
Joined: 30/6/2002

Diamond Member
Diamond Member

Forum Posts:   23517

Site Reviews Total: 1
Site Reviews 2024: 0  
Site Reviews 2023: 0  
Site Reviews 2022: 0  
Site Reviews 2021: 0  
Site Reviews 2020: 0  
Site Reviews 2019: 0  
Site Reviews 2018: 0  
Site Nights 2024: 0
Site Nights 2023: 0
Site Nights 2022: 0
Site Nights 2021: 0
Site Nights 2020: 0
Site Nights 2019: 0
Site Nights 2018: 0

not for theres a lot of miles in £1500 or whatever it cost.i do believe you cannot use the channel tunnel if this is fitted,stand corrected. copied from mature student thread

One point about using a towcar that run on LPG, think twice if planning continental holidays as LPG vehicles are not allowed through the Euro tunnel or  most of the major tunnels in Europe.

-------------
e:mail me

 



-------------
the only silly question is the one you do not ask.


29/9/2007 at 3:34pm
 Location: None Entered
 Outfit: None Entered
View Big Tim's Profile View Profile   Reply to Big Tim Reply   Quote Big Tim Quote  
Joined: 12/7/2007

Standard Member
Standard Member

Forum Posts:   17

Site Reviews Total: 0
Site Reviews 2024: 0  
Site Reviews 2023: 0  
Site Reviews 2022: 0  
Site Reviews 2021: 0  
Site Reviews 2020: 0  
Site Reviews 2019: 0  
Site Reviews 2018: 0  
Site Nights 2024: 0
Site Nights 2023: 0
Site Nights 2022: 0
Site Nights 2021: 0
Site Nights 2020: 0
Site Nights 2019: 0
Site Nights 2018: 0

Hi Jane

I tow our Bailey Senator (1500kg) with a Vauxhall Monterey '98 (rebadged Isuzu trooper) 3.2L Petrol/LPG conversion.  I had the car converted when I bought it 4 years ago.   I had planned to do this as the car is a fuel "guzzler".   I have no problems with running on LPG allthough, as someone said, previously, there is variable availability on the Continent.  Excellent in France, Netherlands and Italy.  The Channel Tunnel, also, prohibits LPG vehicles.  I like the fact that LPG is greener.

I have a 50L gas tank and a small (25L) petrol tank under the boot floor in the place where the original petrol tank was.  I got the £1800 cost of the conversion back in the first year.  I don't know if I would have another car converted as it is quite a large financial outlay.  I am thinking of replacing the car at the moment and thinking of getting a diesil.

Tim



29/9/2007 at 4:51pm
 Location: 
 Outfit: 
View snowy747's Profile View Profile   Reply to snowy747 Reply   Quote snowy747 Quote  
Joined: 12/6/2005

Diamond Member
Diamond Member

Forum Posts:   3869
Tent Reviews:   4

Site Reviews Total: 5
Site Reviews 2024: 0  
Site Reviews 2023: 0  
Site Reviews 2022: 0  
Site Reviews 2021: 0  
Site Reviews 2020: 0  
Site Reviews 2019: 0  
Site Reviews 2018: 0  
Site Nights 2024: 0
Site Nights 2023: 0
Site Nights 2022: 0
Site Nights 2021: 0
Site Nights 2020: 0
Site Nights 2019: 0
Site Nights 2018: 0

I really think it has to come down to conversion cost versus mileage (obviously if you already have a petrol car you are thinking of converting rather than buying one pre-done).  You need to get a price for the conversion and work out how many miles you do each year and how much that costs you in fuel.  Then work out how much that would cost you in LPG and the saving you will make.  Supposing your conversion costs you £2,000 and you save £1,000 a year then it will be 2 years before you break even and end up better off.  Had I liked my Primera I would have put an LPG on it, however I know I don't want to keep it long term and have held off because I know I won't make my money back short term.

Like anything of this nature, there are good and bad garages, make sure you choose wisely, get a personal recommendation if you can and leave no room for ambiguity.  Make sure you know where you want the tank and what sort of tank you want and also where the filler is going to be as somebody I know ended up with his in an awkward place.

Ali



Advertisement



01/10/2007 at 3:31pm
 Location: None Entered
 Outfit: 1995 Swift Classic Alouette
View mike whiskey's Profile View Profile   Reply to mike whiskey Reply   Quote mike whiskey Quote  
Joined: 15/7/2007

Silver Member
Silver Member

Forum Posts:   175

Site Reviews Total: 3
Site Reviews 2024: 0  
Site Reviews 2023: 0  
Site Reviews 2022: 0  
Site Reviews 2021: 0  
Site Reviews 2020: 0  
Site Reviews 2019: 0  
Site Reviews 2018: 0  
Site Nights 2024: 0
Site Nights 2023: 0
Site Nights 2022: 0
Site Nights 2021: 0
Site Nights 2020: 0
Site Nights 2019: 0
Site Nights 2018: 0

I have run a couple of LPG Rangerovers, and a couple of diesels.

Your conversion needs to be done properly, or you will have heartaches.

If you do lots of long mileage journeys, then your conversion needs a lot of tankage, or you need to be prepared to plan your trip via LPG filling stations, which although growing more plentiful, are still not universal (although most conversions will still have a petrol tank, in can often be significantly reduced in size).

If you routinely travel somewhere where LPG is not available, or do long journeys, and want to be able to cover reasonable mileages between fills, then diesel may be the better option.

For an 'ordinary' car I'd not bother, and go diesel.   For a big gas guzzler with either space to spare, or space underneath, then i'd certainly consider it, particularly if (as the Rangie) the equivalent diesel is a little lacking (IMHO).

My next Rangerover will be LPG.



01/10/2007 at 6:19pm
 Location: Leicestershire
 Outfit: Swift Charisma 560 & Vauxhall Omega
View Jafa's Profile View Profile   Reply to Jafa Reply   Quote Jafa Quote  
Joined: 21/8/2004

Gold Member
Gold Member

Forum Posts:   299

Site Reviews Total: 3
Site Reviews 2024: 0  
Site Reviews 2023: 0  
Site Reviews 2022: 0  
Site Reviews 2021: 0  
Site Reviews 2020: 0  
Site Reviews 2019: 0  
Site Reviews 2018: 0  
Site Nights 2024: 0
Site Nights 2023: 0
Site Nights 2022: 0
Site Nights 2021: 0
Site Nights 2020: 0
Site Nights 2019: 0
Site Nights 2018: 0

Thanks for all your replies. We would not convert an existing car.....if we were buying we would buy with it already installed. However, all this is perhaps irrelevant now as we bought an LPG car yesterday for hubby to use for work, but it will also be the main car we use. That leaves our other car for me and for towing. But I think having given it some thought and reading these comments, we will go down the diesel routine when we change that car - maybe next year.

Jane


02/10/2007 at 8:03am
 Location: 
 Outfit: 
View snowy747's Profile View Profile   Reply to snowy747 Reply   Quote snowy747 Quote  
Joined: 12/6/2005

Diamond Member
Diamond Member

Forum Posts:   3869
Tent Reviews:   4

Site Reviews Total: 5
Site Reviews 2024: 0  
Site Reviews 2023: 0  
Site Reviews 2022: 0  
Site Reviews 2021: 0  
Site Reviews 2020: 0  
Site Reviews 2019: 0  
Site Reviews 2018: 0  
Site Nights 2024: 0
Site Nights 2023: 0
Site Nights 2022: 0
Site Nights 2021: 0
Site Nights 2020: 0
Site Nights 2019: 0
Site Nights 2018: 0

What did you go for Jafa?  Was it much more expensive than the unconverted petrol equivalent?

Ali



02/10/2007 at 12:37pm
 Location: Leicestershire
 Outfit: Swift Charisma 560 & Vauxhall Omega
View Jafa's Profile View Profile   Reply to Jafa Reply   Quote Jafa Quote  
Joined: 21/8/2004

Gold Member
Gold Member

Forum Posts:   299

Site Reviews Total: 3
Site Reviews 2024: 0  
Site Reviews 2023: 0  
Site Reviews 2022: 0  
Site Reviews 2021: 0  
Site Reviews 2020: 0  
Site Reviews 2019: 0  
Site Reviews 2018: 0  
Site Nights 2024: 0
Site Nights 2023: 0
Site Nights 2022: 0
Site Nights 2021: 0
Site Nights 2020: 0
Site Nights 2019: 0
Site Nights 2018: 0

Hard to say really Ali as we bought secondhand off Ebay. We have seen and driven the car and other than the high mileage it seems okay, but time will tell! It's a Volvo S40 Bi-Fuel and we have an LPG supplier really close selling LPG for under 40p per litre, so we should hopefully get 50-60 miles for the cost of a litre of petrol. It can only tow caravans up to 1200kg, so it won't tow our hefty Burstner. We won with a bid of £2900 and it's six years old. Providing it's as good as we think (or hope) it is, then it should start paying for itself - compared with the Suzuki Grand Vitara it's replacing, which only does at most 30MPG.

Even if it doesn't work out we haven't spent a huge amount trialling gas.

Jane

Post last edited on 02/10/2007 18:39:25


02/10/2007 at 12:46pm
 Location: 
 Outfit: 
View snowy747's Profile View Profile   Reply to snowy747 Reply   Quote snowy747 Quote  
Joined: 12/6/2005

Diamond Member
Diamond Member

Forum Posts:   3869
Tent Reviews:   4

Site Reviews Total: 5
Site Reviews 2024: 0  
Site Reviews 2023: 0  
Site Reviews 2022: 0  
Site Reviews 2021: 0  
Site Reviews 2020: 0  
Site Reviews 2019: 0  
Site Reviews 2018: 0  
Site Nights 2024: 0
Site Nights 2023: 0
Site Nights 2022: 0
Site Nights 2021: 0
Site Nights 2020: 0
Site Nights 2019: 0
Site Nights 2018: 0

Let us know how you get on.  Should be ok being a Volvo, providing it has been serviced properly etc.

Ali




In order to post a reply you will need to register, or if already registered please log in here

Prev       Next
Quick Links - All Forums - Caravan Towcars and Towing Advice - Top of Page

Printer Friendly Version Printable version      Share   Post on X / Twitter  Share on Facebook  Email


Latest News, Discounts and Competitions  see all...














5819 Visitors online !

Free UKCampsite.co.uk Window Sticker  -  Recommend to Friend  -  Add a Missing Campsite

[Message Forums]  [Caravan Sites & Camping]  [Company Listings]  [Features / Advice]  [Virtual Brochure]  [Shop!]
[Reception]  [Competitions]  [Caravans & Motorhomes For Sale]  [Event Diary]  [Contact Us]  [Tent Reviews



Please note we are not responsible for the content of external sites & any reviews represent the author's personal view only. Please report any error here. You may view our privacy and cookie policy and terms and conditions here. All copyrights & other intellectual property rights in the design and content of this web site are reserved to the UKCampsite.co.uk © 1999 - 2024


Advertisement


Advertisement


UKCampsite.co.uk
2024 Advent Calendar


Advent Calendar

24 Daily Prizes PLUS a Christmas Day Star Prize worth £999

Request a Reminder