Safefill - Refillable Gas Cylinders

tadhatter replied on 18/06/2019 13:16

Posted on 18/06/2019 13:16

Last summer, as part of my ambition to do far more off-grid touring, I thought I'd invest* in Safefill. Perhaps my alarm belles should have been ringing when the place I went to go to purchase a canister was Brayford Leicsure and they only had one size available - the medium sized one - and lots of them! But nonetheless I coughed up my circa £160 for it and have them fill it up and carried on smug in the knowledge that I would soon be quids in in longer term savings.

However, for various personal reasons we haven't been able to get out in the caravan anything like as much as we had hoped since then - partly due to a job change and house move - we've only just got round to needing to re-fill it. I duly looked on Safefill's website to find stockists and discovered that there was only one in about a 10 mile radius. That would be ok if this garage would actaully allow me to refill it. Notices on their lpg pumps said that individual gas canisters were not be refilled here and before I even checked at the kiosk a forceful looking lady shouted at me saying that I couldn't fill that thing here!  However, after discussion she told me where, locally, I could get it sorted. I thanked her and went on to that location. Unfortunately she clearly mistook Safefill with standard Calor gas. I tried to call Safefill at this point only to hear that I couldn't leave a message as the mailbox was full! 

I proceeded to look for an alternative website to see where LPG was stocked and then proceeded to a couple of other locations, one which didn't actaully exist anynore and another also refused to let me fill my Safefill container. Having wasted 2 hours on a wild goose chase I decided to head home as I had work to do rather annoyed and frustrated.

So, can anyone else tell me if they'ved had simialr unhelpful experiences with Safefill or, more helpfully, let me know somewhere where I can get my cylinder refilled in the Beds/Herts/Bucks area.

Very much lool forward to hearing responses.

Cheers, 

Tim.

*for investment read expensive wasted of money!

Merve replied on 19/06/2019 08:33

Posted on 19/06/2019 07:58 by

 there is no reason for any garage or fill point to refuse a fill as Safefill is a properly constructed cylinder with all the relevant safety features demanded by the various authorities.

No matter how safe the refilling is each garage, and/or garage chain must make their own risk assesment regarding safety but, also from a business point of view will no doubt consider how other 'unenlightened' customers might view the practice in view of the possibly low income from such sales to refillables and maybe the possible concerns of their more important fuel customers.

Maybe somebody knows of a suitable outlet for the OP in the Dunstable area?

Posted on 19/06/2019 08:33

I agree ET but what I was trying to say was that they can no longer use the excuse of ‘it’s illegal’. If they want to lose business that’s their perogative . I still think it’s a leftover from the ‘old days’ Education has proved to be successful- caravanners going out there and talking to fill points. We have all been over these points time and time again but it bears repeating- the thought of going back to the rental of 6kg cylinders from Calor and Co makes my blood run cold!! 

Tinwheeler replied on 19/06/2019 08:47

Posted on 19/06/2019 08:47

I’m not sure that losing business will worry garages, Merve. Our MH gas tank was topped up from about half full last week and it cost £4. Would a busy garage want LVs clogging up the forecourt for such rich rewards?šŸ˜„

young thomas replied on 19/06/2019 08:54

Posted on 18/06/2019 21:31 by MillieMaster

I decided to fit a SafeFill cylinder to my self built panel van conversion and have had no problems refilling it wherever I have travelled throughout the UK and Europe!

Possibly this is because I looked into the publicised problems of refilling these cylinders before I ourchased mine and having done so, I then sent some time designing an external filling point into my van.

So now whenever and wherever I need to refill my truly excellent cylinder I simply drive into the garage and fill it up using the refilling point built into the sidewall of my van.

But if anyone has one of these truly brilliant lightweight cylinders, yes I agree that there are a lot of garages who have banned them from being refilled as stand alone cylinders, however if you go onto the SafeFill website there is the map showing known locations throughout the country where you can go and refill them https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mid=1h3D-G9MRjt-hpNAoEPiJnAlBP7w&ll=53.19875953940567%2C6.294378499999993&z=6

Posted on 19/06/2019 08:54

so, in effect, you have a fixed gaslow type system, like many motorhomers....

when we (MHers) fill, we take the van with us or call in 'on the way' as fixed fill points don't seem to be 'outlawed' in the same way that removable refillables are....

Kjelll has a Gaslow in his caravan.....fixed fill point, no problem.

...but as Ocsid says, pulling a large car/caravan unit into a garage without being confident of getting gas is a bit hit and miss....

perhaps adding a fixed filler point might alleviate some of the uncertainty and allow fills at most LPG stations, however, it removes the portability aspect which makes Safefill attractive to caravanners...

something to weigh up...

replied on 19/06/2019 08:58

Posted on 19/06/2019 08:58

The user and all related content has been Deleted User

Oneputt replied on 19/06/2019 09:03

Posted on 19/06/2019 08:47 by Tinwheeler

Iā€™m not sure that losing business will worry garages, Merve. Our MH gas tank was topped up from about half full last week and it cost Ā£4. Would a busy garage want LVs clogging up the forecourt for such rich rewards?šŸ˜„

Posted on 19/06/2019 09:03

I don't clog up the station with an LV, just take bottle out and put it in the car drive to the garage, fill up.

When with my brother he fills the MH and the Gaslow system at the same time so suddenly the few pounds becomes £70 or £80, not sure a garage would turn that away.  

If there's a will there's a way

Oneputt replied on 19/06/2019 09:09

Posted on 19/06/2019 09:09

but as Ocsid says, pulling a large car/caravan unit into a garage without being confident of getting gas is a bit hit and miss....

So what do they do if on a journey with the van they just want petrol or diesel

I just don't get it why any thread concerning safefill suddenly becomes full of negatives.  We have safefill and have never ever had a problem

young thomas replied on 19/06/2019 09:13

Posted on 19/06/2019 09:13

from the MyLPG App.....3 stations nr Dunstable verified in the past three months (the green markers) although this may not be for Safefill (more likely, Gaslow).

however, a call to these might yeild one winner, good luck.

replied on 19/06/2019 09:16

Posted on 19/06/2019 09:16

Which 4 stations?

 

Edit: Ohh those 4 stations laughing

Merve replied on 19/06/2019 09:23

Posted on 19/06/2019 08:47 by Tinwheeler

Iā€™m not sure that losing business will worry garages, Merve. Our MH gas tank was topped up from about half full last week and it cost Ā£4. Would a busy garage want LVs clogging up the forecourt for such rich rewards?šŸ˜„

Posted on 19/06/2019 09:23

That’s a way of looking at it Tinny I suppose and it has its merits but let’s not dwell on the customer who doesn’t want much gas. That can happen in any sphere  I filled my 10kg cylinder the other day by taking it along to a garage in Barmouth and paid £15.22. LPG at 79.9ppl. Now, a few doing that makes it worth it. 

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