Getting the right gas bottle for your caravan, motorhome or camping setup makes life a lot easier. It means you can cook, heat, boil the kettle and run suitable appliances without the stress of wondering whether you have brought the wrong bottle.
But when you look at the full Calor Gas range, the choice can feel a bit confusing. There are red propane bottles, blue butane bottles, green patio gas bottles and several different sizes.
This guide focuses on the bottles most commonly suited to caravans, motorhomes and camping, so you can narrow down what you need before you visit Collins Hardware in Pangbourne.
Start with your appliance, not the bottle
Before choosing a gas bottle, always start by checking what your appliance or vehicle is designed to use.
Look at the gas locker, appliance instructions, regulator, hose or existing empty bottle. These should give you clues about:
The type of gas required
The bottle size that fits safely
The regulator connection
Whether the appliance is suitable for propane, butane or patio gas
How much space you have for storage
For caravans and motorhomes, bottle size matters because the gas locker may only fit certain bottle heights and widths. For camping, portability usually matters more, especially if you are packing the car or carrying kit by hand.
Propane or butane for caravans and camping?
The main choice is usually between propane and butane.
Propane is generally the better all-round choice for caravans and motorhomes, especially if you travel in cooler months or want reliable performance outdoors. It is commonly used for heating, cooking, hot water and other suitable caravan or motorhome appliances.
Butane is often used for camping and leisure use in warmer weather. It can be a good choice for portable stoves and occasional summer trips, but it is less suitable when temperatures drop.
As a simple rule:
Choose propane for caravans, motorhomes, colder weather and year-round outdoor use.
Choose butane for smaller camping setups, portable appliances and warmer weather use.
Best Calor Gas bottles for caravans
For caravans, the most likely options are red propane bottles or blue butane bottles, depending on your setup.
6kg Propane Gas Bottle
The 6kg propane bottle is one of the most common choices for caravans. It is compact enough for many caravan gas lockers and is suitable for a range of caravan appliances, where the setup is designed for propane.
It is a good option if you need gas for:
Caravan cooking
Heating
Hot water
Cooler weather trips
General touring use
This is often the bottle people look for when they want a practical, manageable caravan gas supply without moving up to a much larger cylinder.
3.9kg Propane Gas Bottle
The 3.9kg propane bottle is smaller and easier to handle. It can be useful for smaller caravans, compact setups or occasional use where space is limited.
It may suit:
Smaller caravan gas lockers
Short trips
Occasional touring
Backup use
Light outdoor appliances
The trade-off is that it will not last as long as a larger bottle, so it is worth thinking about how often you travel and how many appliances you will be using.
7kg Butane Gas Bottle
The 7kg butane bottle can be suitable for some caravan setups, particularly in warmer weather and where the caravan is already configured for butane.
It may suit:
Summer caravanning
Cooking and light appliance use
Existing butane setups
Warmer weather touring
However, if you plan to use your caravan through autumn, winter or colder spring weather, propane is usually the safer choice for reliable performance.
Best Calor Gas bottles for motorhomes
Motorhomes often need a dependable gas supply for cooking, heating and hot water, especially if you are travelling for longer periods or using the vehicle outside the summer season.
6kg Propane Gas Bottle
For many motorhomes, the 6kg propane bottle is a practical option. It gives a useful balance between capacity and size, while still being manageable to lift and store.
It may suit:
Motorhome cooking
Heating and hot water
Weekend breaks
Touring holidays
Cooler weather travel
As with caravans, always check the gas locker size and regulator before buying or exchanging a bottle.
3.9kg Propane Gas Bottle
The 3.9kg propane bottle may be suitable for smaller motorhomes, campervans or as a secondary bottle where storage space is limited.
It is useful for:
Compact campervans
Short breaks
Limited locker space
Occasional gas use
Backup supply
If you use your motorhome regularly or rely heavily on gas for heating and hot water, you may find a larger bottle more practical.
13kg Propane Gas Bottle
A 13kg propane bottle gives more capacity, but it is much larger and may not fit many standard caravan or motorhome lockers.
It may be more suitable for:
Static or semi-static setups
Longer stays where storage space allows
Heavier gas use
Outdoor domestic or leisure use
For most touring caravans and motorhomes, size and storage restrictions are the main issue, so check carefully before choosing a 13kg bottle.
Best Calor Gas bottles for camping
For camping, the right bottle depends on your setup. If you are using a small camping stove, you may not need a large bottle at all. If you are cooking for a family, staying longer or using a larger camping appliance, a bigger bottle may be more useful.
4.5kg Butane Gas Bottle
The 4.5kg butane bottle is a common camping and leisure option. It is more portable than larger cylinders and can be suitable for many camping stoves and light leisure appliances, where compatible.
It may suit:
Family camping
Camping stoves
Short breaks
Summer trips
Portable leisure use
This is a good place to start if you want something manageable for camping and you are mainly using gas in milder weather.
7kg Butane Gas Bottle
The 7kg butane bottle gives you more capacity than the 4.5kg bottle, so it can suit longer trips or heavier cooking use.
It may suit:
Longer camping trips
Frequent cooking
Family camping
Warmer weather leisure use
It is larger and heavier, so it may be less convenient if space in the car is tight.
3.9kg Propane Gas Bottle
The 3.9kg propane bottle can be a useful camping option if you want something compact but better suited to outdoor use in cooler conditions.
It may suit:
Cooler weather camping
Outdoor cooking
Short trips
Compact setups
Portable propane appliances
Again, compatibility is key. Make sure your stove, regulator and hose are designed for the bottle you choose.
What about patio gas bottles?
Green patio gas bottles, such as 5kg and 13kg patio gas, are usually aimed at BBQs and patio heaters. They are ideal for garden use, outdoor cooking and entertaining at home.
They may not be the right choice for your caravan, motorhome or camping setup unless your appliance is specifically designed for that bottle and connection.
For caravans and motorhomes, red propane bottles are often the more relevant option. For camping, blue butane or smaller red propane bottles are more likely to be suitable.
Quick guide: which bottle should I look at first?
For caravans, start by checking the 6kg propane bottle, then consider 3.9kg propane if space is tight. If your setup already uses butane and you only travel in warmer weather, look at the 7kg butane bottle.
For motorhomes, start with the 6kg propane bottle. If your vehicle is smaller, the 3.9kg propane bottle may be more practical. Only consider larger bottles if your gas locker can safely take them.
For camping, start with the 4.5kg butane bottle for warmer weather and portable cooking. Consider 7kg butane for longer family trips, or 3.9kg propane if you need better outdoor performance in cooler conditions.
Bring your empty bottle or a photo
If you are unsure, the best thing to do is bring your empty bottle with you. If that is not possible, take a clear photo of:
Your current gas bottle
The bottle label
The regulator
The hose connection
The appliance
The caravan or motorhome gas locker
This makes it much easier to identify the right replacement or exchange.
Visit Collins Hardware for Calor Gas in Pangbourne
Collins Hardware stocks Calor Gas for camping, caravans, motorhomes, BBQs, patio heaters and other outdoor uses.
If you are not sure which bottle you need, pop in and speak to the team. We can help you check the likely options and point you towards the right Calor Gas bottle for your setup.
CTA: Ask us which gas bottle you need