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Just had to have this replaced in our 4 month old Bailey Pageant Auvergne.  I thought I would start this as a new subject as it has been covered under other topics but I feel it needs a wider airing.

We were away and started to get low flames on the cooker just like the bottle was getting empty. We were on Propane at the time. Changed over to new bottle of Butane, nothing, changed back to old Propane bottle and managed to finish cooking with low flame. Took Propane bottle into local dealer to exchange, he said there was still a lot of gas in it and it was probably the Truma Regulator. He had changed over 50 he said.  Went to another Dealer to check, he said it was typical and that it was the Regulator. He had changed over 60 in the last four months. Even though I had not bought the Van from them he rang Truma and got their authorisation to change it under warranty. Everything now fine, thanks to Mendip Caravans in Newport.

The question is, is this known problem being resolved by Truma and the Gas Suppliers, or do I wait for it to happen again, not nice at this time of the year.

We have recently had a similar problem with our 9 month old Ace.  Same symptoms, I think I managed to exchange a nearly new propane cylinder for a full one before I realised it was a regulator problem.  Our dealer (Robinsons Chesterfield) had also had a run on regulators; they had none in stock, but eventually managed to get one from Truma which they posted on to us.  Mean time we had a week away at Kelling Heath over the half term and needed a regulator NOW!  Fortunately Norwich Caravans had one in stock, but I had to pay for it!  So now we have a spare... 

I read in one of the mags that Truma are blaming "oil in the gas in some parts of the country".  A dealer I spoke to reckons that all Calor cylinders are filled at the same plant...

My belief is that there is a design flaw with the new Truma regulator that Truma are keeping quiet about/in denial about.  I have asked the CC to investigate via e-mail - so far no reply.

For what its worth we have been busy with the new van this year and had clocked up 75 nights away before the regulator started giving trouble.

It is certaily worth documenting this problem here to build up a body of evidence that "they" will find hard to ignore.

Regards

Ian

hi see this.it may help explain.

there is also a problem on 2004 regulators,the new fixed pipe ones.this is from PCmag forum.i dont have one,but if yours stops working it may help.click reply to topic.

Graham
3 Oct 2005 11:31 AM  Whilst away with friends over Spring Bank Holiday they had the regulator fail on their 2004 Coachman. Dealer changed it after the holiday. We cooked their food for them. Went away with them again last weekend. This time we had no gas on our 2005 Swift. Our dealer was unable to assist over the weekend and suggested we spoke to a dealer that was local to where we were staying. They sorted it in 15 minutes by fitting a new regulator. This dealer told us that they had had loads of them fail and that it was down to the gas being supplied by Calor being contaminated with oil. They showed us a regulator that they had opened up and the oil that it contained. We were told that caravans running on butane were more prone to the failures. Our friends had been using butane, we had been using propane. If it means that we now have to change the regulator after every 6 months or 2 bottles of gas, caravanning is going to become extremely expensive as these regulators cost £33 each. This adds insult to injury as we had 3 new pigtails during the first 3 days of using the caravan as they all leaked around the crimped joints. Carrying a spare £10 pigtail is one thing but I do object to having to carry a £33 regulator as well. I don't think much of the new system!!! Those with the older regulators are not exempt from the problem I was told. The oil passes through those regulators and then settles in the lowest part of the gas system, usually the fixed pipes under the floor.

Thanks for the link, certainly sheds more light on the problem.  If it is a problem with oil in the gas why is it only Truma regulators that are causing a problem?

Regards

Ian

Thanks for that insight, is there anything that users can do to prevent oil contamination?  It seems that all of these new Truma regulators are going to fail at some point, probably in less than a year, unless something is done.

Regards

Ian

hi,fromPC FORUM.worth reading

Paul  Gas regulators on 2004 on vans     25 Jul 2005 02:02 PM   Went away at the weekend, turned on the gas and 'nuffin'. Some investigation and the result was 'nuffin' coming out of the regulator. Phoned the dealer this morning 'ah' he said 'I've had three or four like that'. So if you have the fixed type regulator be prepared to have to find the nearest pub - or carry a spare. click on reply to topic