Buy new or refill
If you run out of gas in Spain, you basically only have two options: buy a new one or fill up the old one. But that's not as easy here as in Germany. #vanlifetour
In Spain there are two main types of gas cylinders used in motorhomes: propane and butane. In Germany, propane gas is more common in mobile homes because it is more efficient at lower temperatures and has a higher pressure. Butane gas, on the other hand, is less efficient at lower temperatures and can cause gas supply problems in colder weather.
Now the question arises, which is better? Buy or fill up a gas bottle in Spain? Because the exchange of German bottles in Spain is not possible.
Fill up gas cylinders
In Spain, refilling camper van gas bottles can sometimes be a bit of a challenge. We had already read up a bit before our trip and found out that filling up is only possible at specially designated gas filling stations. However, these are often located in industrial areas or at larger gas stations. It can be difficult to find a suitable gas filling station, especially in tourist coastal regions.
It is also important to note that not all gas filling stations will refill gas cylinders, especially if the cylinders are not of the types commonly used in Spain. It is therefore advisable to research the locations of the gas filling stations along the itinerary beforehand. It is also important to know what type of gas cylinder you have, as not all gas filling stations can fill both types of gas cylinder.
Buy a new gas bottle
But even buying a new gas cylinder is not always easy. In Spain there is a registration system for the purchase of new gas cylinders known as Registro de Usuarios de Gases Licuados del Petróleo. This one-time registration has its justification, because on the one hand it serves to ensure that only authorized persons have access to gas cylinders and on the other hand it is intended to make illegal gas trading more difficult. Because the registration allows the origin and whereabouts of the gas cylinders to be traced back.
If you ask around among campers, however, hardly anyone goes this official route. After some research in various online forums and a tip from another camper, we also found a small gas station (at that time we were in Tarifa), where we could buy a butane gas bottle without registering. Why butane and not propane? Because the gas station actually only stocked butane. In addition, we knew that we would still be traveling in warm regions for some time and therefore dared to use butane gas for the first time, which we should not regret for the rest of the trip.
Accessories for Spanish gas bottles
For Spanish gas cylinders, however, you also need a special valve that is connected to the existing gas hose and gas pressure regulator. We were able to easily buy this on-off valve in a Spanish hardware store (a so-called Ferreteria) nearby. You also need a special thread adapter for the connection between the gas hose and the valve. We had previously bought a whole bottle set from camping accessories in Germany, which is suitable for gas bottles all over Europe.
The salesman at the Ferreteria was incredibly helpful and patiently explained the functionality to us despite the upcoming siesta. We were dismissed with the warning words
Put on top, don't open, or boom"
Which should mean something like
First screw it on properly and firmly and let it snap into place before we turn on the tap".
We were actually a bit nervous at the beginning, whether the whole thing would really work and whether the motorhome wouldn't blow up in our faces, especially because butane gas is not common in German motorhomes at all. But we trusted our research and the competent seller and after more than 30 days of traveling with butane gas we can say,
Everything worked great.
The Spanish gas bottle accompanied us back home, where we still use it, but no longer in the camper due to its weight, but rather for the gas grill on the balcony.
Here are a few more interesting tips & information that I have collected on the subject of gas bottles in Spain.
Why are butane cylinders less common in RVs?
Butane cylinders are less common in RVs than propane or progran cylinders for several reasons:
Temperature dependency: Butane gas has the disadvantage that it is less efficient at lower temperatures. This means that the gas supply in RVs, especially in colder weather or at higher elevations, can be affected. Propane or Progran gas, on the other hand, maintains its efficiency at lower temperatures and delivers constant pressure.
Availability: In some countries or regions, butane gas may not be as readily available as propane or progran gas. This can make it more difficult to refill or replace butane cylinders, especially in tourist areas or remote regions.
Flexibility: Propane or Progran gas cylinders offer greater flexibility for use in RVs. They can be connected to various devices such as stoves, refrigerators or heaters designed for use with propane. Butane gas, on the other hand, is often used for specific purposes such as camping stoves or radiant heaters.
Standardization: In many countries, especially in Europe, propane or progran gas cylinders are widespread in mobile homes. Most RVs are factory set to use propane, and campgrounds and gas stations are better prepared to refill or swap out propane cylinders.
Which providers of gas cylinders are there in Spain?
In Spain there are several suppliers of gas cylinders that operate nationally or regionally. Some of the most popular providers are:
Repsol: Repsol is one of the largest energy companies in Spain and also offers gas cylinders for residential and commercial use.
Cepsa: Cepsa is another major energy company in Spain and also offers cylinders for various purposes.
Butano: Butano is a nationally known brand of butane cylinders in Spain. The orange butano bottles can be found in many homes and campsites.
Campsa: Campsa is a brand of the Spanish national oil company and also offers gas cylinders for various uses.
Galp Energia: Galp Energia is a Portuguese company that also sells gas cylinders in Spain.
Disa: Disa is a Canarian company that also sells gas cylinders on the Spanish mainland.
This list is certainly not exhaustive and there may be other regional or local suppliers of cylinders in different parts of Spain. It is therefore advisable to inquire locally about the available providers to find the nearest filling station or gas cylinder dealer.
Which thread adapter is required for Spanish gas bottles?
In Spain, two different types of threads are generally used for gas cylinders: the so-called "butane gas thread" and the "propane/progran gas thread". The type of thread depends on the type of gas cylinder.
Butane gas thread: The butane gas thread is used for butane gas cylinders. The thread size is usually M27x2. The butane gas thread is typically found on the orange butane gas cylinders that are widely available in Spain.
Propane/Prograngas thread: The propane/prograngas thread is used for propane or prograngas cylinders. The thread size is usually M20x1.5. Propane or Progran gas cylinders usually have a gray or black valve.
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