Carrying of BBQ gas bottles.

[Strahan Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Strahan]

After a search I could not find if this had been up before.

We went for a weekend into Southport Lagoon on the weekend and had to purchase a new gas bottle on the way, which got me to thinking (a bit of a strain), how do you guys store them when traveling?

Gas leaking is my main concern when the bottle is inside the car. Has anyone got a way to store it outside? I have some Rola roof racks and was thinking of somehow making a bracket to fit.

Any thoughts or ideas?

[HGMonaro Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close HGMonaro]

a common heated discussion on many a forum most days of the week...

I carry our 2.5kg (I think) in a box in the rear. Been fine so far (several trips, many km) but don't take that as a recomendation

[dustie Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close dustie]

Always carry the bottle upright. If you carry it side ways, you'll lose gas. I carry my 3kg bottle in the cargo space from a safety aspect I believe its recommended to carry on the roof.

[Spurio Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Spurio]

I only take the smallest one that will do the job for the time I am away. There are heaps of places to refill now anyway.

I have never had one leak but I lived in the next suburb to the guy in the van who dispersed himself over a couple of suburbs in Sydney a few years ago.

After that I have always stored it in the trailer or on the roof rack.

[jcas24 Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close jcas24]

If you carry a 9kg bottle, get hold of a milk crate, it fits perfectly then you can strap it to the roofrack.

[ntp Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close ntp]

If you carry a 9kg bottle, get hold of a milk crate, it fits perfectly then you can strap it to the roofrack.

I do the same. These plastic milk crate thingos are great for this purpose. You can also fit some other items alongside to ensure that the cylinder remains stable.

[jeff s Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close jeff s]

guy in the van who dispersed himself over a couple of suburbs in Sydney a few years ago. .

LPG is not as bad a acetylene (1% to 99%flammable) but still recomend to carry outside. or at the very least a vent. and LPG is heavier than air so the vent would need to be low. A cracked window would not do.
If you had a slow leak while driving that you did not notice you could wake up dead :shock:
Roof racks, like some of the guys here, Chippy to name one, is a great place.
Another option could be a braket off the wheel carrier? possibly not the best for the rear hinge or door tho..

Ours go on the trailer as we have a kitchen on the tailgate.

[Spurio Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Spurio]

This was the story I was talking about, OK it was over ten years ago, I use to have a 6 pack then now I just have a keg

North Ryde, Sydney - a van explosion killed one man & injured 3 people. Investigators said the cause of the explosion was suspected to be an overnight build-up of liquid petroleum gas (LPG) or acetylene gas inside the van. The van's light switch or a mobile telephone may have ignited the blast, they said. The explosion, heard 10km away, sent flying debris into 20 homes & several cars 200m away. Damage to houses included windows & roofs. The explosion's force brought down powerlines & uprooting trees & shrubs.

Sydney Daily Telegraph Newspaper, 31/5/1997

[TOPNDR Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close TOPNDR]

It is my understanding that the law prohibits the carriage of gas cylinders inside a vehicle.

[jeff s Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close jeff s]

It is my understanding that the law prohibits the carriage of gas cylinders inside a vehicle.

I think that is correct, Without venting.
My old work vehicle had to have 2 twirly birds on the roof.

[HGMonaro Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close HGMonaro]

having read many threads on caravanning forums, I'm not so sure it's illegal. Different states have different rules. This http://www.supertramp.com.au/forum/f...s.asp?TID=1462 links to QLD and NSW PDFs on the matter (I didn't read them). Can't find any references to laws in Vic.

[jeff s Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close jeff s]

I should say that I'm relating this to when we lived in tassie. I drove a hydraulic field service vehicle.

The gas was in the back "work area" and the cab was separate.
So it wasnt carried in the passenger compartment area like it would be in the back of our prados. but we still needed to put in ventilation. I remenber cause I put the wirly gigs on it.

Even if it isnt law, I think it would not be smart to carry it inboard. Why risk it.

[Strahan Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Strahan]

Apart from the legal and safety side of it, has anyone got any trick carriers or methods for carrying outside?

I have the rail type roof rack so although the milk crate is a top idea it won't work in my case unless I mod the racks in some way (which I am not opposed to :wink: ).

[HGMonaro Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close HGMonaro]

Even if it isnt law, I think it would not be smart to carry it inboard. Why risk it.

I don't have roof bars (and don't want them). Don't want some holder on the rear either which I've read some people do, so it has to go inside. If it goes off it has to get thru heaps of stuff that's on the shelf above it and then the cargo barrier. Some of these links and threads are saying they are starting to insist on some plastic plug is fitted but I haven't had one filled recently to know if that's the case around here. Need to get it filled before a trip in a couple of weeks so I'll find out then.

Nige.

[Steve & Sandra Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Steve & Sandra]

LPG is heavier than air isnt it. So whirly gigs on the roof wouldnt do much i would think. A plastic plug in the outlet wouldnt be of much use either as the valves can leak from the handles and and also the threaded section where the valve body screws into the cylinder. The vent screw also can leak.
This is why they put a foul smelling odourant (is that the right word) in the LPG mix. Just dont leave a gas bottle unattended in a vehicle with all windows closed and you should be alright. I used to haul gas cylinders and never had too much trouble. So dont stress relax and enjoy the time away ensuring the cylinder is stowed securely in the cargo area.

Cheers

Steve