Price paid to get 2nd external gas fitting.

[JT76]

As titles suggest I'm wondering what other have been quoted to get a 2nd gas fitting installed on their van after market. Not as an option through a new van but through someone after you have bought it.

I already have one up the front but want a second one at the back for a external HWS which will sit on the back bumper. Got a quote today which was $495 to run a T off the rear gas line (going to cooker) around 100cm of pipe to the rear of the van. I was expecting around half that price. I will get another quote organised but wanted to here from others what they have paid to compare.

 

[G Daddy]

Hi @JT76, I paid $100 for the kit from a forum member and a mate installed for a few beers. $60 for the 3meter SS hose.

 

[Dobbie]

We had to pay over $550 about 10 years ago when we had the bright idea to put the bayonet outlet on our Swan.

The only one we could get to do it was our local plumber .....and that's what he charged. We were outraged and have never used him since.

At the next camping show Jayco had a show special of $195 for exactly the same thing.

I understand a second outlet is not allowed in Qld now but will happily stand corrected.

 

[JT76]

Pretty big variations there! Thanks for the input. Had a second quote this afternoon and it was $200 so happy with that and he was just around the corner and seemed to know his stuff.

 

[Drover]

Hate to offend but those prices are just BS, I suppose that doesn't include the fitting/hose to connect the barbie or whatever to it ???? Thats a lot of refills on my small gas bottle that I drag along.......it will fire up the barbie at the van or down the river, or down the beach or quick picnic lunch by the road.
Have far more better things to throw those sort of dollars at for $50 of gear.

 

[Dean Anderson]

Other half not happy with my present gas fitting working so well................Maybe I should be careful where I turn it on?

Anyway..........Had a fitting put on in the old van and it was around $350.....I agree B.S..................If I had to do it again I'd buy the parts including pipe cut it bend it all not put it on and get quotes just for labour....Dunno...........as soon as it's not a normal job for some they charge outrageous amounts.......

Another example I have is getting a 15 amp power point put on the house..............Electrician talked a lot of BS about extra expense....Comes natural to some who think you're not a return client...They forget about word of mouth....

Best example of this I reckon is getting a good bobcat operator............worth their weight in opium...............golds not quiet worth enough.............but you could be waiting months...

Personally...........was thinking of putting another one in myself................Buy a pipe cutter............Buy the parts..............Do it yourself............And get someone to pressure test the lines before first use................Probably safer than just getting someone to do the work....and your whole system is checked for safety at the same time.....

It's not rocket science.....Gas leak..........Gas not leak...........LPG heavier than air..........underneath van.....goes down...........not a problem.........Test if leak.....No leak......All good.

Or did I forget a bit of legislation in there somewhere?????

 

[JT76]

Yeah I know its alot of money but $200 I can handle, $500 not so much. As far as doing it myself I think it would be easy but im sure I would end up spending at least $50 on fittings then if there ever an issue it would be on me. Now someone else qualified does it then I should be right with whatever rules there are.

Plus id rather spend a couple of hundred so no need to take an extra gas bottle with me, the van was bought to make trips easy so every little thing helps. Gone are the days of packing the ute to the brim with camping gear. Want to make this a hook up and drive off ready to go system.

 

[Dobbie]

That was our thinking...we were trying to eliminate the need to carry extra gas bottle....and we don't.

When we did it we'd never come across anyone else who'd done it. It was about 10 years ago.

Never again will I ask a tradie if he can do a particular job without getting a written and firm quote.

I think he's lost out in the long run.

 

[bigcol]

Another example I have is getting a 15 amp power point put on the house..............Electrician talked a lot of BS about extra expense....Comes natural to some who think you're not a return client...They forget about word of mouth....

my experience with this....

I wanted a 15A power point in the back patio for the Spa
rang my mate (who is a real qualified Electrician), he came around, gave me a quote - was about $500.00 from memory
no problemo mate, knock yourself out and get it done

he comes around to do the job - "Houston, we have a problem"
my house, when built complied with the relevant statutory legislation for electrical
pity they changed it 5 years later
I dont have a "Master" switch for on/off
ok, get it done mate
oh, and when they did the wiring for your Aircon, they piggy backed off the stove...and added all the lights to that circuit by mistake...... need to change that
W T F........

so, a 1/2 day job to run cable & conduit from the meter box to the back of the house (75m) put in a circuit breaker, and go
turned into
total re-wire of main board
ALL new circuit breakers (12 off) (lights are on 3 separate circuits & the power points on 3 as well)
AND run the cable for the back 15A power point
1.5 days
and a lot more money than originally quoted


up side...........
never have to worry about house fire from over loaded electrical circuits

and 2 years later when I wanted another 15A put in for the Van - $0.00

 

[bigcol]

I have the standard bayonet point on the Van,
thought about moving it from underneath near the step to a better spot
thought about putting another one at the back
thought about carrying an extra bottle for the Weber

I carry an extra 9kg bottle, and the Weber can go anywhere I like now

it dont help you with your hot water system, but................

 

[Dobbie]

I thought some states allowed you to add an extra bayonet and others don't.

I'm pretty sure Qld don't.

Or I may have missed something.

 

[bigcol]

I thought some states allowed you to add an extra bayonet and others don't.

I'm pretty sure Qld don't.

Or I may have missed something.

I think someone once said that you can, just the Gov. fees were extortion - not sure exactly

I know WA, as long as it is certified by a qualified and competent installer - its ok (no mention of being fitted by said person)

 

[Drover]

Big Mal has an external gas fitting, I have $90 of Barbeques Galore Gift cards, what do they call the hose that I need to plug into it ??????...will still drag the small bottle with me for those beach barbies....

You fellas do realize that if you are just plugging the van in at home to just keep the battery charged there is no need for expensive 15 amp set ups........ thats only for the dumbo's that try to run the jug, AC, toaster and heater at the same time and wonder why they have a meltdown....duh...
( yeah I know there's more to it but get my drift)

 

[achjimmy]

I have done it a couple of times. It's straight forward but I am a fitter and it would be to a plumber. It's one thing to think you could do it and another to know what you potentially can do wrong! So my advice is no experience don't do it. The big thing is compliance! Your $200 is reasonable making an assumption it includes the gas compliance certificate and plate? I have paid $100 for that alone and have always got my own work complied.


For mine I don't wanna carry another gas bottle. In fact Iam not sure I can because Iam pretty close to my max payload.

 

[bigcol]

You fellas do realize that if you are just plugging the van in at home to just keep the battery charged there is no need for expensive 15 amp set ups........ thats only for the dumbo's that try to run the jug, AC, toaster and heater at the same time and wonder why they have a meltdown....duh...
( yeah I know there's more to it but get my drift)

I did speak to my mate about that, over several coffee's while he was working on the 15A for the Spa
and
we came to the general consensus that since 10A male to 15A female extension cords are now "technically" illegal in WA now
why create another hazard and excuse for an insurance company to not pay out.....

Rather be Safer than Sorry

my Grand Father used to drum that into me when I was young, dumb and full of.......
covers a spectrum of reasons
Girls
Cars
Houses
Caravans
etc..

 

[bigcol]

So my advice is no experience don't do it.

never a truer sentence typed

the difference between some peoples dreams and actual abilities
is astounding.


not saying anyone on here is likely to fall under the above statement
but
we ALL know someone like that

 

[G Daddy]

I got mine from a forum member in NQ. Price included postage. Hose comes with a 3/8" male SAE end to suit Weber. As I don't have a Weber I had to get fitting to convert to my 3 ring bunrner and my $90 Weber knock off.

3m Gas Hose-3m S/Steel Gas Hose for Caravan Bayonet to Weber Q / Baby Q $60.00 Qty 1 $60.00

Agree with the "no need for 15amp House outlet" load of poppycock.

 

[Jeremy Johnson]

Sorry to hijack this thread, but I am not quite sure on this 15 amp thing? People suggest you get an amphibian adapter? Can you just plug a 10 amp lead from house to van when stored or just to turn on lights on etc when at home? Our new and first van comes off the line on Monday and we are new to this.

 

[pauljygrant]

http://www.bunnings.com.au/ampfibian-15a-to-10a-mini-power-and-safety-indoor-adaptor-_p7050104

Yes, an amphibian adaptor such as the link above for $99 will keep you legal. As others have mentioned in various posts, there are many ways to physically connect your camper to your house electrics but this is probably the cheapest, legal way to do it.

 

[DRW]

we had an external fitting on the expanda, the sterling doesn't have one so I asked the local van mob for a quote, can't remember but it was in the hundreds of dollars. We carry a 4Kg bottle and depending on where we are and which way the wind blows we can put the weber anywhere so I guess we wont bother with it now. We had a sparky we know put a 15A GPO in the meter box, too easy buy only if the box is in the right place.