How to Store a Gas Bottle Safely in a Motorhome

ByRamit Singh Rence

A gas cylinder leak inside a motorhome can collect at floor level and reach the living area before it’s noticed. The safest setup is therefore not simply “somewhere outside the cabin,” but the vehicle’s approved cylinder compartment: sealed from the habitation area, vented externally, and designed to hold the cylinder upright and secure.

This article covers what that compartment needs to provide, how to handle spare cylinders, and what to do if you ever smell gas. The guidance below reflects European practice, where LPG installations in leisure vehicles are generally designed with reference to EN 1949, alongside national vehicle, gas, and inspection rules. If you’re outside Europe, check the equivalent standard for your country before relying on any of this.

Why Storage Matters

Camping gas – propane, butane, or LPG – is stored under pressure so it stays compact and portable. That pressure is also why poor storage is genuinely dangerous rather than just inconvenient: a damaged valve, an incorrect orientation, or exposure to heat can all lead to an uncontrolled release.

Everyday cylinder storage is straightforward when you use the vehicle’s approved setup. Installation, modification, testing, and repairs require appropriate professional expertise.

Use the Vehicle’s Approved Cylinder Compartment

There’s no single correct location for a gas cylinder across all motorhomes. Compartment placement depends on the vehicle’s design, weight distribution, and ventilation layout, and it varies between manufacturers.

What matters is that the compartment:

  • Is sealed from the habitation space and permanently ventilated to the exterior, so a leak can’t reach the living or sleeping area.
  • Vents at a low point specifically, since LPG is heavier than air and will pool rather than rise.
  • Is the one the vehicle was built or approved for – not a roof box, external rack, or towed trailer improvised for the purpose.

If you’re modifying, retrofitting, or unsure whether your current setup meets this, have the installation checked by a qualified leisure-vehicle gas engineer. Gas system work should not be done, or judged safe, on the basis of general advice alone.

Mounting and Securing the Cylinder

Keep It Upright

Cylinders must be stored and used upright. This keeps gas exiting through the valve as vapor, which is how the regulator is designed to function, and reduces the risk of an uncontrolled release.

Secure It Against Movement

The cylinder needs to be firmly strapped or clamped so it can’t roll, tip, or shift in transit. Movement increases wear on the valve connection and can loosen fittings without it being immediately obvious.

Check It Periodically

Build in a habit of visually inspecting the cylinder on longer trips. Look for visible damage, corrosion, displaced straps, or an unusual gas smell. Do not dismantle connections, tighten fittings, or attempt repairs yourself – pass anything you notice to a qualified professional. Catching a problem early is far better than discovering it mid-journey.

Heat, Sunlight, and Temperature

Do not expose cylinders to extreme heat, direct flame, or storage conditions prohibited by the cylinder or vehicle manufacturer. Manufacturer documentation, not general assumptions, sets the specific limits for your equipment – check it rather than relying on a generic figure.

Spare Cylinders

A spare cylinder carries the same pressurized fuel as the one in use, and it needs the same standard of care:

  • Store it upright, in a ventilated compartment.
  • Secure it as firmly as the primary cylinder.
  • Keep it away from heat and ignition sources.

A spare isn’t a lower priority just because it isn’t currently connected.

If You Smell Gas

Treat any smell of gas as an emergency, not a maintenance note:

  1. Turn off the cylinder valve if it’s safe to reach.
  2. Extinguish any flames and don’t operate electrical switches.
  3. Ventilate the vehicle by opening doors and windows.
  4. Move everyone away from the vehicle.
  5. Have the installation inspected by a qualified professional before using it again.

Sources and Further Guidance

This article summarises general principles only. Before relying on it, check:

  • EN 1949 (or your national equivalent), which covers LPG installations for habitation use in leisure accommodation vehicles – available through your national standards body (e.g., BSI in the UK, DIN in Germany).
  • Your national gas-safety authority for consumer-facing guidance on LPG cylinder storage and leak response.
  • A recognised motorhome or caravan organisation in your country, which typically publishes practical safety guidance alongside the formal standards.
  • Your vehicle handbook and cylinder manufacturer’s documentation, which take precedence over any general guidance whenever they’re more specific or more restrictive.

Key Takeaway

Safe cylinder storage comes down to using the compartment your motorhome was designed with – isolated from living space, vented externally, upright, and secured – combined with regular inspection and manufacturer-specific heat limits. Requirements vary by country and vehicle type, so treat this as a starting point, not a substitute for your vehicle’s documentation or a qualified LPG engineer’s judgment.

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