Finding a friendly place to fuel up.

Truck Plaza's ( truck stops)and use the truck pumps. Straight in / straight out...easy access.

Rule #1: Stay away from heavily-populated areas.

I see you're from MD. Back east, you may have a low-clearance problem, but out west, rarely.

Look for truck stops and fill up there. Easy in and out most of the time. FlyingJ's usually have a RV lane and that will work fine in most cases. Don't even think about using convenience stores unless you have a clear entry/exit point for the coach. Pick the end pumps if you try the smaller stations.

Did you get your MD Class B drivers license in order to drive a coach over 26,000 lbs? If not, make sure you are covered under your insurance in case of an accident. Or, a CDL license will work rather than a Class B license.

There is a Truckers road guide that lists low bridges and things like that. Also, there are GPS systems for trucks and RVers that will route you away from these places also. You will fit under all the Interstate bridges since big trucks travel them all the time. There is also a Mountain & Grade guide out there which will tell you about steep grades, curvy roads, etc.

If I am going to drive on old roads in the mountains I use Google Earth to scope out what the roads look like, especially long grades over 8% which can be a bear to run on.

Enjoy the coach and get out on the road.

Former MD resident.

2oldman wrote:
Rule #1: Stay away from heavily-populated areas.

I see you're from MD. Back east, you may have a low-clearance problem, but out west, rarely.

I have Baltimore 15 minutes to the East and Washington DC 30 minutes to the South, I understand well about heavily populated areas! My first trips longer than a weekend will be to Skyline drive and possibly the Smokies. There's some pretty winding roads so I need to do my homework.
Thanks for the response!

leaddog wrote:
Look for truck stops and fill up there. Easy in and out most of the time. FlyingJ's usually have a RV lane and that will work fine in most cases. Don't even think about using convenience stores unless you have a clear entry/exit point for the coach. Pick the end pumps if you try the smaller stations.

Did you get your MD Class B drivers license in order to drive a coach over 26,000 lbs? If not, make sure you are covered under your insurance in case of an accident. Or, a CDL license will work rather than a Class B license.

There is a Truckers road guide that lists low bridges and things like that. Also, there are GPS systems for trucks and RVers that will route you away from these places also. You will fit under all the Interstate bridges since big trucks travel them all the time. There is also a Mountain & Grade guide out there which will tell you about steep grades, curvy roads, etc.

If I am going to drive on old roads in the mountains I use Google Earth to scope out what the roads look like, especially long grades over 8% which can be a bear to run on.

Enjoy the coach and get out on the road.

Former MD resident.

I don't know that I've ever noticed a flying J around this area. Maybe because I've never had a need.
I'll check out all those suggestions. So there's a GPS specific to trucks and RV's? I kind of like the idea.
I plan on getting the Class B endorsement as soon as I can.

leaddog wrote:
Look for truck stops and fill up there. Easy in and out most of the time. FlyingJ's usually have a RV lane and that will work fine in most cases. Don't even think about using convenience stores unless you have a clear entry/exit point for the coach. Pick the end pumps if you try the smaller stations.

Did you get your MD Class B drivers license in order to drive a coach over 26,000 lbs? If not, make sure you are covered under your insurance in case of an accident. Or, a CDL license will work rather than a Class B license.

There is a Truckers road guide that lists low bridges and things like that. Also, there are GPS systems for trucks and RVers that will route you away from these places also. You will fit under all the Interstate bridges since big trucks travel them all the time. There is also a Mountain & Grade guide out there which will tell you about steep grades, curvy roads, etc.

If I am going to drive on old roads in the mountains I use Google Earth to scope out what the roads look like, especially long grades over 8% which can be a bear to run on.

Enjoy the coach and get out on the road.

Former MD resident.

Good advise but I never would take the time to google earth my route, I just stick to interstate highways or US highways. I inquire on here about a road that I am not sure of IE HW 1 in California a few months ago.

Some people use the various online satellite views to check fueling stations as well as RV parks to get an idea as to the layout for ingress and egress. Some use one of the newer GPS units that allow you to input your coaches height, width, and length. Some go ONLY to truck stops and some people start looking for fuel when they get to 1/2 tank or so and will pull in to any station that obviously offers plenty of room to maneuver to top off the tanks.
A lot depends on if you plan on traveling the interstates and want to travel around heavily populated areas, with fueling stations on every corner, or plan on traveling the back roads where the stations are few and far between.
We travel a lot out West and we have driven through some areas of the Western states where the nearest place to buy fuel, either diesel or gas, may be 100 miles away. We have also found that all gas stations have gas, but not all of them have diesel. I do carry an empty 5 gallon gas can in case I have to buy some fuel and my coach just won't fit at the pumps.
Just do your homework and remember that the internet is your friend and I would suggest stopping for fuel before the gauge reads close to empty when in an unfamiliar area.
Have fun if you leave Maryland going south and plan on crossing the 301 bridge. I do it all of the time to see our kids in Maryland but a lot of people will not cross that bridge with their RV.

rgatijnet1 wrote:
Some people use the various online satellite views to check fueling stations as well as RV parks to get an idea as to the layout for ingress and egress. Some use one of the newer GPS units that allow you to input your coaches height, width, and length. Some go ONLY to truck stops and some people start looking for fuel when they get to 1/2 tank or so and will pull in to any station that obviously offers plenty of room to maneuver to top off the tanks.
A lot depends on if you plan on traveling the interstates and want to travel around heavily populated areas, with fueling stations on every corner, or plan on traveling the back roads where the stations are few and far between.
We travel a lot out West and we have driven through some areas of the Western states where the nearest place to buy fuel, either diesel or gas, may be 100 miles away. We have also found that all gas stations have gas, but not all of them have diesel. I do carry an empty 5 gallon gas can in case I have to buy some fuel and my coach just won't fit at the pumps.
Just do your homework and remember that the internet is your friend and I would suggest stopping for fuel before the gauge reads close to empty when in an unfamiliar area.
Have fun if you leave Maryland going south and plan on crossing the 301 bridge. I do it all of the time to see our kids in Maryland but a lot of people will not cross that bridge with their RV.

Thank you! And as far as the bridge, I was actually a police officer in that county. When they closed the bridge because of high wind or other conditions I was many times the guy that got to run over to VA and back to make sure nobody was on the bridge. My daughter is at VCU in Richmond. I never... EVER.. go 95. I always cross the 301 bridge. I was going to contact MD toll facilities for more velcro to put the EZ pass in the coach.
EDIT: Almost forgot. I've never run out of fuel in a car, boat or helicopter. I don't plan on doing it in a coach. I'm the guy who starts looking at around a half tank.

Stratman50th wrote:

rgatijnet1 wrote:
Some people use the various online satellite views to check fueling stations as well as RV parks to get an idea as to the layout for ingress and egress. Some use one of the newer GPS units that allow you to input your coaches height, width, and length. Some go ONLY to truck stops and some people start looking for fuel when they get to 1/2 tank or so and will pull in to any station that obviously offers plenty of room to maneuver to top off the tanks.
A lot depends on if you plan on traveling the interstates and want to travel around heavily populated areas, with fueling stations on every corner, or plan on traveling the back roads where the stations are few and far between.
We travel a lot out West and we have driven through some areas of the Western states where the nearest place to buy fuel, either diesel or gas, may be 100 miles away. We have also found that all gas stations have gas, but not all of them have diesel. I do carry an empty 5 gallon gas can in case I have to buy some fuel and my coach just won't fit at the pumps.
Just do your homework and remember that the internet is your friend and I would suggest stopping for fuel before the gauge reads close to empty when in an unfamiliar area.
Have fun if you leave Maryland going south and plan on crossing the 301 bridge. I do it all of the time to see our kids in Maryland but a lot of people will not cross that bridge with their RV.

Thank you! And as far as the bridge, I was actually a police officer in that county. When they closed the bridge because of high wind or other conditions I was many times the guy that got to run over to VA and back to make sure nobody was on the bridge. My daughter is at VCU in Richmond. I never... EVER.. go 95. I always cross the 301 bridge. I was going to contact MD toll facilities for more velcro to put the EZ pass in the coach.

On our last trip, they had finished the construction/repairs on the 301 bridge and it was open to two way traffic again. It still costs a lot to get out of Maryland but at least it is free to get in to the state. Our kids live in Lexington Park so we would really have to drive way out of our way if I didn't take the 301 bridge. It is just another bridge to me.

I purchased the Next Exit book and have found it to be well worth the money. Update it every other year.