Are you in the market for a 4x4? Fuelture believes that an LPG conversion makes sound economic sense to those buying a new or used 4x4 vehicle. With the fuel economy of some off-roaders as low as 12mpg, switching to LPG can reduce 4X4 motoring costs and emissions considerably.

One of Fuelture's accredited LPG installers advises motorists they can effectively halve their fuel costs by converting their 4x4s to LPG. For high mileage drivers, the payback period for the cost of an LPG conversion can be as low as six months.

Terry Garland of Flintshire Autogas explains: "There are very few off-roaders that cannot undergo gas conversion. Most 4x4s including Range Rovers, Land Rovers, Jeeps and BMW X5s can be converted relatively easily to run on LPG. The vehicles are significantly cheaper to run both on and off road." Newer 4x4s, such as the Land Rover Discovery, can be equipped with a twin tank positioned inside a shield to achieve extra protection. Most of the later type Range Rovers can be fitted with an internal 95-litre tank inside the spare wheel recess.

A key consideration for 4x4s that are frequently used off road is tank protection. On some vehicles tanks are mounted underneath the floor pan. Because offroaders may be driven over rugged ground and ditches there is greater chance of the tank grounding. 

"One fact we emphasise to customers with 4x4s seeking an LPG conversion is that the fuel system and tank is extremely strong," stresses Mr Garland, "The system and the tank are very robust and can withstand the same high impacts as systems installed in cars."

For tanks installed in offroaders, they should be equipped with straps or bolts which can effectively anchor the unit in place. If the tank is above 80-litres, it requires three rather than two straps to be secured firmly in position.

Size is important too with 4x4s. Because there is more space in a 4x4 than a car, there are options to install larger LPG tanks. Some Jeep Cherokees and Range Rovers can be fitted with 95-litre tanks rather than the smaller 43-litre versions fitted to some cars.   

But what about engine performance? Does this affect 4x4s? Fuelture and Flintshire Autogas say a collective no! "There isn't any significant loss in torque from switching from petrol to gas," he claims. 

Are 4x4s more expensive to covert than cars? Stenhouse Motor Engineers (SME), Fuelture's LPG installer in Edinburgh, believes there is little difference in conversion costs.

SME's Allan Wedgewood, says: "Four wheel drive vehicles are not excessively more expensive to convert than cars." He adds: "The cost to convert a Land Rover or newer Jeep Cherokee is around the £2100 mark. These costs can soon be clawed back through the savings on fuel."

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