Trying to sort out a few items to make the Kombi better for camping.

Does anyone know where it is legal to carry LP gas bottles and spare fuel?
You see a lot of 4WD's with a jerry can on the back (outside) is that legal?
I assume it is not legal to carry either inside the van, and not really sensible to store either in the engine bay? Doesn't leave many options in a Kombi.

I'm thinking about a rack to carry both that mounts outside behind the rear door. Fitting two gas bottles and two jerry cans (one fuel, one water) will be a tough task though.

Any info greatly appreciated.
Andy
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Andy, the campers have to have the gas bottles in a box that is accessible from the outside only, and run a hose on the bottom to allow any leaked gas to go outside the car. Not sure about jerry cans tho, and I'd like to see how you go about it as I have the same problem.

Have a look under neath, it strikes me that there is plenty of room to stash jerry cans etc under the floor in the middle, perhaps make a bracket that holds the Jerry cans and then just a basic door to stop them sliding out, you wont want to access them too regularily but just to know they are there if you need them is enough, I just carried a big jerry can half way round the country under the hood of Herbie but didnt endup even needing it as I got over 500 klms out of a tank of premium. better safe than sorry though, I agree.
My Splitty was a camper at one point and it has a little vent in the side where a gas bottle must have been stored for the cooker. maybe just a hole in the floor for the hose and stash the bottle underneath too.
I think thats What I will be doing.

Cheers Tony

Thanks folks.
Andy won't be getting a hole cut in the side for a gas bottle, so unfortunately not an option for me.
Herbie, I already have plans to make two under floor tanks, one water, one fuel. At this stage I want to keep them above the bottom of chassis rails. Doing this you can fit ~35L on each side.
That should be OK for water. As for fuel, that brings it up to ~95L or ~750 to 850km depending on conditions. I'm hopeing for a little better range for remote areas.
On a Bay Kombi the under floor area between the chassis rails is unfortunately used up with all the cables and the heater tubes running through there.
Andy
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Go to Campervan and motorhome club australia. site. they have all the specs and laws regarding gas etc

In Victoria I believe it is legal to carry up to two, 2 kg gas bottles. Anything bigger must be in either a vented box like Graham mentioned, or on the outside.

Plastic jerry cans can be legally carried inside the vehicle, I'm assuming steel ones can as well. I'd prefer not to, because they tend to vent fumes as they warm up during the day, and many jerry cans seep past the seal when they fall over.

That said, I carry a 9 kg gas bottle around when I'm camping, and a 10 litre plastic jerry can. I make sure that they are securely packed so they won't fall over, and ensure that they don't get too warm (I crack the sunroof on hot days and keep them out of direct sun). They'd turn into real projectiles in the event of an accident though, and take up a lot of room.

I think the auxilliary tanks are a great idea, provided they are protected from flying rocks.

Couldn't a centre tank be built to fit around the heater hose and the cables? There is a lot of empty space going to waste under there.

I have a camper gasbox, but can't bring myself to cut the hole in the side :o My second preference to under-floor tanks would be a rear bumper mounted brackets.

Thanks for the info. I will check out the campervan web sight T3 and Me.
Col,
Interesting if you can carry that inside. Like most, that's what I have done in the past with the lack of a boot in a Kombi. but never quite sure if it's legal (and not entirly happy with it anyway).
There is a lot of space in the center (underneath), but all the cables are in steel tubes below the cross rails leaving you nothing to pull the tank up against, or hang the tanks lower to compensate. It would be an option for a couple of gas bottles, but the hassel of re-filling them makes it a useless spot.
The rear rack is the way to go, but I will need to see if it's legal for a gas bottle or jerry can. It's a BAD spot in the event of a prang.
Still reluctant to sacrifice more ground clearence and let it hang below the chassis rails.
Andy
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Andy,
I have a 73 and at the moment the the gas cylinders sit behind the passenger front seat. You can guess the problems this can generate.
I am considering having a gas fitter run a pipe from the fridge and stove up through the pillar and placing a fitting at the top of the pillar. Tis would mean that all you would have to do is run a rubber hose from the fitting to the gas bottle which would be placed on the roof rack (if you have one). I also considered having another fitting at the bottom of the pillar so that a barbi or out door stove can run off the same bottle.

Good luck with it!

Tim.

given the set up you already have on the roof & the fact that you will have pushbikes etc there, could you not put a sort of spoiler/pod/air deflector at front of roof & mount the bottles there? I have seen them mounted on the back & it did not seem like a bad idea, better than the most explosive one I saw which was in SA - Bullbar, then 2 x 9kg bottles at front ! I just have a 2kg one inside - found that the 2 way fridge ran on the Auxilary battery for 2 days (just)

Thanks Tim,
Actually Phil74camper said (in an old post) some factory campers had the gas there also!!
For me that's not an option as I have no bulk head behind the seat and have swivel chairs for driver and passenger.
I'm a little sceptical on the roof option just to minumise weight.
Kim,
I will still have some room despite two bikes, awnings and solar panels (well hopefully) but weight will be an issue. Bikes + rack are already ~80kg and awnings I'm guessing will be another 30-40kg.
120kg on the roof will be close to overloaded already I'm guessing.

I might need to look into gas usage. If it's limited to cooking and lighting (current plan) 2x2kg may be all I need and they will be much easier to store.
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loos like you will have to forget the bikes & take a couple of fold up scooters instead,
2 smaller gas bottles are better than one big one, when one is empty, you switch & plenty of time to look for refill

Andy if you can get a range of 750kms that is heaps. You will always find fuel in that distance. Maybe not a night time though as most of the outback servos close at night. i carried jerry cans when I was tripping around oz and found them a luxury I did not need.

I carried a 5kg bottle and hose on the roof rack encased in a ventilated tin box, used only when camping a few days with the fridge on.
Otherwise 240/12volted the fridge depending on campsites. Two small bottles would be ample
Gerry cans are handy if you want to economise and shop at depots. Also a goodway of avoiding overpriced roadhoses

i am having a similar dilemma. i want to have my van setup for long term travel, but currently the gas bottle has been simply stored inside. i am expecting to be using the gas to cook most nights and for the fridge at nights also. any guesses how long 1 or 2 2kg bottles would last with that sort of use?

Hey Andy, good to see someone is going through what I did. Here's what I have done. Drivers side I have a 55ltr water tank, hand pump to sink, top up where ever theres good water, even rain water. Took out the step below sliding door and install tin box 1mx widthh of channel. Had made up two brackets that fix to rear bumper and drop down enough to hold two twenty ltr fuel or water tanks, and still open engine compartment. Fuel tanks covered with expansion holes will have no problems. Threw out fridge saved up and put in Waco 50ltr beside and to the rear of sink. Gas is 2ltr under the cooker with drain hole straight down, also more room for pots and pans. Marine 130 amp deep cycle Batt with shunt fromm start Batt will last about seven days with out running motor. Have 8amp charger through charge controller as well.
So now I enjoy a cold beer where I dont have to share. Anyway what ever you do it will never be quite right but hey....have fun. Old Girls engine is out.....
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Kim,
I’d give up the gas bottles before the bikes. I’m even taking two so I get a choice of what to ride.
Andy42, your probably right in that 750km is sufficient. As there are so many things to spoil a trip, just like to minimise as many as possible.
his@hervw. Sounds like you have a great set-up there. So the 55L tank is in the usual spot? (RHS outside of chassis rail under the floor)? So that’s 7 days running the fridge from the battery? Not bad.
Not sure what you mean by ‘fuel tanks covered with expansion holes’???
If you have a pic of the rear rack, I’d be very interested.
Cheers,
Andy
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re how long a 2kg Gas bottle lasts, we were suprised - two weeks of coffee, heating water for washing up,cooking (not every day) using the stove as a heater in freezing conditions, grilling sausages a few times - that was in August & it is still going, I reckon 2 x 2kg bottles is the way to go

Hey again,, Most fuel carrying containers have a breather in the cap. This allows expansion of the gas in side. With most plastic containers theres none, covering the container with cloth will keep direct sun light off,e.g. when your in the pub. I don't have a digital camera, but I do have a fridge. I'm lucky That I even know how to turn the computor on, let alone post pic's, but am working on it. The brackets have square bases,1" angle steel, enough to sit 20ltr containers in, with rails around aprox 8" up,these have two flat bars at back against bumper going from bottom of frame to approx 3/4 tank height, with holes to bolt to bumper at the height you want. Damn shame I can't post picks as I have also built a roll off the drivers side of the van a roof rack to carry our two Kayaks, so we don't have to untie them. Just leave them attached, roll off ,hang them down the side, and pop the top. ......Steve

supporting:thumb

Thanks Kim,
Sounds like 2x2kg will be the go for me. Might look into an neat way to store inside, box over the top and a seat belt mount as the vent outside.
his@hervw. Funny, most fuel tanks breath to atmosphere as you say, but all the fuel containers I have, and have seen, are sealed. Most, like a jerry can are made in such a way as to trap a fair amount of air to allow for expansion. I think I know what you mean on the rack. Sounds good. The kayak one would be great!! So where abouts did you position the jerry cans at the back? You said they partly cover the engine lid? Or are the above it?
Cheers,
Andy
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For those contemplating travel over on the Spirit of Tasmania in November, especially kombi drivers, please be aware that jerry cans and gas bottles can be confiscated if they are containing the above liquids. Don't tell them you have any if asked, or, come over empty and fill up here. They will not hold the containers for you when you travel back as they claim to not have any facilities to do so. Just a warning so there are no losses. I have run the gammit of the yellow devils and lost my gas canisters for my portable single burner. Expensive at $5 each in packs of 4. volma1

That long since Ive had enough time to go away and need the containers, I had forgotten how to use them.( People send e-mails to steve feeling really sorry he works so hard.) They fit on the bumper as far to the outside as you want, but inside the body line,(Wife says my body line is bigger since we used them last) And yes you have to remove them to get to engine. Mine are attached with stainless turnbuckle with hook, attached to stainless wire with hook at other end.Padlock and small chain through handle to back of bracket top. My fuel containers have a spring loaded release valve, they are English Marine. Tried to start my PWS on win98 and even cocked that up, pics by ,,,,,,,,,,,,, Steve:thumb

Thanks again Steve,
All clear now
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Hi everyone, sorry i haven't been online for a while. I'm in the process of changing jobs...

If you're contemplating setting up a Kombi for long distance travel, get a copy of Simon Glen's book on the Sahara. It's fantastic. He can be reached through The VW Club of Darling Downs.

Some of his tips are: Jerry cans for petrol should be metal, not plastic which swells and bursts when hot. German army ones are the best. DON'T store them on the Kombi's roof at the front, as you will overload the front suspension. Store them inside or over the rear.

I went to the caravan and camping show last year to find out the rules on gas installs before I did mine. I spoke to at least half a dozen 'experts' from caravan and campervan companies. I never got the same answer twice!

All agreed the bottle should be in a separate box, vented to the outside, but some said it had to be accessable from outside too; some said only above a certain vehicle mass. Some said you need a dedicated electric fan extraction system in the roof and a Kombi's roof vent was too small and thus illegal! Some said the bottle had to mounted in the lowest point of the car, others said it could go on the roof or even outside on the bumper.

I still haven't fitted my gas system yet, but will be using common sense and the best quality install I can arrange.

Thanks Phil, much appreciated.
Will try and get in touch with Glen. I have his e-mail somewhere (probably at home)
Andy
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