Finding Large Fueling Centers Ahead of Time

I drove about 15000 miles last year and averaged about 13 mpg overall including tow miles. So that's about $290 for doing nothing. In my pocket, not theirs.

GoPackGo wrote:

Rangerman40 wrote:
It's pretty simple.... Use a truck stop. Go to the truck lanes. Never have to worry about fitting or not. The small swings in price from station to station aren't enough to even make me think twice about it. I just stop when I need fuel.

I think if you use GasBuddy and check the price at a Pilot or Love's and then at a Walmart (Murphy) you'll find there is usually a huge difference in price. That's one reason why I fuel up at the end of the day after setting up at the CG.

The only way to drive down prices is to buy fuel at the cheaper stations. I just will not support stations that want to perpetuate ridiculously high prices.

"Huge" is relative..... Currently the Flying J by by house is .25 more than the Walmart near my house. Assuming my tank is completely empty we are talking 7.50 difference. Not enough to make me care one way or the other.

I haven't reached a point where I have to map out the days pee breaks. The copilot will advise me on that. Besides, we're towing a full service restroom. When and where just isn't an issue.

DKRITTER wrote:
My biggest problem is my bladder and my fuel tank are no where near the same size.

Me neither ! But those two things don't have to be related. You just make independent stops. I carry over 37 gallons in the truck and have an aux tank with 40 more. But I pretty much stop at every other rest stop for a few minutes.

My biggest problem is my bladder and my fuel tank are no where near the same size.

I know before I start where I will be stopping. I know the range of my truck and plan accordingly. Occasionally I will make an unscheduled stop but they are rare, usually for something other that fuel. I find it much more relaxing knowing my stop is 55 miles ahead rather than searching for somewhere to fuel. As far as the layout, there are very few stations anymore that you can't get a rig into and out of. You may have to wait for the gas burners to clear the diesel pumps but thats time well spent checking tires, cleaning windows, etc. Its all about relaxing and enjoying the road, have fun.

I use two apps on my iPhone, Gas Buddy and the Road Ahead. I have two issues with these. Gas Buddy gives you the list in all directions, even if you've already passed the station. The Road Ahead seems to only work on interstates, unless I'm doing something wrong.

We use Allstays which shows major truck stops and Walmarts; and I plan the next day each evening since like all 2011 - 2016 short bed Ford Diesels, we have a 26 gal. tank. That's 3 hours of driving and by then I'm ready for a break. Only rarely do I need to fill up before MT because the next gap to a station is a long one. Prefer Loves because our short fifth wheel will fit through the auto lanes where I can pay at the pump, and because many have McDonalds. Started avoiding Fly'n J after Pilot bought them and the pump maintenance disappeared, and because they don't have major brand fast food--have noticed that they're maintaining their pumps again. REALLY do not like the double walk to the fuel desk to use the truck lanes (for only 18 gallons) so we avoid Pilot where the auto lanes are very often too tight for us (or the auto lanes don't have diesel).

Coach-man wrote:
The best thing we did, was to add a 40 gallon aux tank to our TV. That gives me an extra full tank plus 8 gallons! I can bypass high price stations, and pick the one I want to stop at!

X2.

This is what I did too. Now I can drive all day and not worry about refueling. Then I can fuel up once I'm disconnected.

Rangerman40 wrote:
It's pretty simple.... Use a truck stop. Go to the truck lanes. Never have to worry about fitting or not. The small swings in price from station to station aren't enough to even make me think twice about it. I just stop when I need fuel.

I think if you use GasBuddy and check the price at a Pilot or Love's and then at a Walmart (Murphy) you'll find there is usually a huge difference in price. That's one reason why I fuel up at the end of the day after setting up at the CG.

The only way to drive down prices is to buy fuel at the cheaper stations. I just will not support stations that want to perpetuate ridiculously high prices.