Transporting Gas Cylinders to the Campsite

So you’ve bought a gas cylinder for camping and now you need to get it to the campsite. How should you safely transport it? What are the laws on this? Fortunately, it’s quite simple and just needs common sense…

Transporting Gas Cylinders to the Campsite

you don’t need to put a gas warning sign on your car

Unlike carrying large or commercial gas cylinders, you don’t need to put a gas warning sign on your car or have a special driving license, but there are some sensible precautions you should take.

Cylinders should be secured so that they don’t roll around when you are driving and should be kept upright (this is to avoid the liquid gas clogging the valve).

If you have a trailer, it’s best to carry the cylinder in that rather than your car.

If you put the gas cylinder in the boot of the car, you might want to keep a window slightly open to provide additional ventilation, just in case there’s a gas leak from the cylinder.

It’s also not a good idea to leave a gas cylinder in direct sunlight in a hot car. Gas cylinders can explode when they get hot.

Having said all that, the actual risk from a small gas cylinder used for camping is quite low, and Campingaz says their cylinders are safe for transporting in a car, but it is wise to use common sense and not take any unnecessary risks when you are taking your family camping.

Tips for Transporting your Camping Gas Cylinders

• Secure your cylinder so it doesn’t roll around.
• Keep the cylinder upright.
• If you have a trailer, place the cylinder in that.
• Make the cylinder easy to access to inspect.
• Don’t leave the cylinder in direct sunlight or a hot car.

Transporting gas cylinders to Europe

At the time of writing, Eurotunnel had a 47kg limit on a single gas cylinder, but it must be less that 80% full.

For your typically family campers with a tent, a 47kg container is extremely large, and you’ll be fine with the normal smaller containers, such as the Campingaz R907 (which is 2.75kg).

When you check in you may be asked if you are carrying any gas, and they may want to inspect your gas cylinder, so make sure it is easily accessible.

Please check with Eurotunnel for their latest rules before travelling.

Ferry Operators have similar rules to Eurotunnel. You need to check your ferry operator before travelling and check your route too as it can vary for different destinations.

As a general guide:

• A number of gas cylinders you are allowed to transport can vary. When we checked, different routes had different rules, as you can see below:
  • up to 1 x 47kg cylinder (but less than 80% full)
  • up to 2 x 11kg cylinders
  • up to 3 x 11kg cylinders
  • up to 3 x 15kg cylinders
• Any gas must be off
• Declare the gas cylinder (most require this when you check-in)
• Cylinder is secured and upright
• Cylinder is accessible for inspection

Thousands hop over the channel with their gas cylinders to go camping in France and the rest of Europe. If you are taking the appropriate measures, you won’t have a problem.

Remember, Say no to CO

Remember, gas is dangerous. Carbon Monoxide Kills.

Tents are generally designed with sufficient ventilation for humans and not sufficient ventilation for cooking. It’s not just condensation from cooking in your tent that could cause a problem, but if there’s not sufficient ventilation for the gas, you could build up to a harmful level of fumes in your tent.

We create a cooking shelter outside. Cooking in an open porch is possible, but always keep it away from the tent walls.

Keep your gas cylinder outside of your tent

Don’t store your gas cylinder in your tent. Keep it outside, but try to keep the cylinder and regulator out of the rain.

You can get gas heaters for your tent, but this is something we’re not taking the risk with. I know, there are safety cut-offs, etc., but I’m not going to put my family’s life on the line for a cheap cut-off valve.

So, please, keep it out of your tent, use common sense, and say no to CO.