Gas shortage affects motorhome and caravan sales

Motorhome and caravan dealers are reporting difficulties in obtaining Calor Gas cylinders to supply with the vehicles they’re selling.

Traditionally, many buyers already have cylinders to move from their existing caravan or motorhome to a new vehicle but the influx of first-time buyers to the leisure market means that many of these customers need gas cylinders for the first time. This problem has been compounded, it is suggested, by the increased sales of barbecues and patio heaters during the recent lockdowns. “The impact of the Covid pandemic has resulted in record demand for Calor Gas cylinders due to the prolonged lockdown, warm weather and the boom in UK staycations last year,” a spokesman for Calor said, adding, “While new cylinders have been ordered in significant quantities, the demand has continued to grow this year and is resulting in some shortages. This is, therefore, having an impact on sectors such as the caravan and leisure vehicle sector. The order for new cylinders was placed well in advance to meet the expected large demand –but the lead times for cylinders, which are manufactured overseas, has been significantly longer than previous years, caused by continued Covid issues in the manufacturing locations, increased global steel demand and increased global shipping demand.”

Calor says that, in addition to the new cylinders, the company is also refurbishing existing stock at record levels to put as many cylinders into service as possible.

Calor added that it apologises for any inconvenience to its customers and that it is “working tirelessly” to increase supply as soon as possible. “Whilst we continue to increase the cylinders in circulation, we are also encouraging customers to help us by returning any empty or unused cylinders to improve availability,” it said.

However, Michael Hold at Adventure Leisure Vehicles in Cumbria, commented, “Calor has misjudged the number of people buying barbecues and patio heaters and the volume of new buyers in the caravan and motorhome market. We can’t get new cylinders, only replacements for existing ones, and we’re having to buy cylinders on the ‘black market’.”

He added that he understands a large number of 5kg patio heater cylinders are believed to be heading to the UK and caravan and motorhome buyers may be forced to use these, rather than the usual sizes that are normally seen in leisure vehicles.

In the meantime, we understand that the delivery of some sold caravans and motorhomes is being delayed by the lack of availability of gas cylinders.

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