Availability of 4kg versus 9kg gas bottles

So many places now are only swap and go I would be inclined to stick with the 9kg which are now only 8.5kg.

Cheers

Hi
I only have 1, 4 kg cylinder that is only used for cooking on our camper. Lasts is 4 - 5 wks. Used to carry a 1 kg "spare" but never used it so don't do this any more. Never had any trouble getting the 4 kg filled anywhere.
Cheers

As Racey says many places will only swap bottles now, I paid $38 for a 9 kg bottle in Emerald last year, no one would fill my new but empty bottle !
Yesterday in a Sydney Bunnings they had three cages of newly delivered "Swap and Go" bottles and of all those bottles only four were 4 kg, or as someone will correct me 3.8 kg, so availability is limited especially if you want short fat bottles like me to fit your gas bottle compartment. Also take into consideration the cost, at Bunnings a 4kg bottle is $17.88, a 9kg is $22 something.


Rob. VKE237 Sel 6678

If you think 2x4kg is enough gas why not only carry 1x9kg half the space

The smaller bottles seem to come in different shapes for the same capacity. If you make a rack to suit the 4kg bottles you initially buy, it is very likely that the few 4kg bottles at a Swap'n'go will not fit your rack. I have found that - too fat, too skinny, too tall, bottom ring won't fit my rack, etc.

For this reason we have 2 bottles so we can last without dramas until we can get a refill.

Cheers

We had a 9kg bottle refilled at BCF, In Emerald mid last year. Drop off, do shopping at Woolies and then pick up.
Peter

just make sure the 4 kg bottle has a POL outlet not a 3/8 left hand or primus.
the POL fittings are much more common and easier to fill and swap.

We carry two 4 kg bottles and have never had a problem with getting them filled and we have travelled a lot. Also they are lighter to carry, by carry I mean if you cannot park near the place where you are getting it filled. 9 kg bottles when full are a pain to physically carry a long way. Kevin

I removed one of my 2 x4KG bottles from my Camp'o'matic about 7 years ago to give space for an extra storage box.
A single 4 Kg cylinder lasts me 5-6 weeks with stove only, and I have NEVER had a problem refilling it.

You can easily check the volume left by locating in an open space away from any fires or ignition sources, cracking the valve slightly, tipping the cylinder over with teh valve sideways or downwards until the mist turns to fluid. This takes about 10 seconds to do and gives you a pretty accurate idea of how much is left. Obviously be careful , do not be in a dip and all the other caveats that the nitpickers will grasp to cry "Oh how dangerous". In other words use some common sense.
I carry a small cartridge burner in case I run out but have never run out. I always check prior to going into areas where there are no facilities for several days if I have been on the road for weeks.
I guess the penalty is that you may pay for an extra Kg of gas if in a position that you need it with some still in the cylinder.
In my experience nearly all caravan parks have filling facilities.
Regards Philip A

Thanks to all fellow Explorers, this has certainly helped me a lot !

I travel with only 1 x 4KG bottle and keep one of those cheap cartridge burners+ canisters as a spare (or mostly as an additional cooker...). The few times we have run out of gas has meant that we have to cook on the cartridge stove for a day or two. No drama.