Driving along the highway today, I noticed a "Petro" truck stop AKA Travel Centers of America along the highway. This got me to wondering, why do we always talk about Pilot / Flying J and Loves? What about these other truck stops? Are they any good? Are there any advantages to other chains or even local mom and pop stations? Are you a creature of habit and only go to your favorite chain, or do you like to try all the options?

holstein13 wrote:Driving along the highway today, I noticed a "Petro" truck stop AKA Travel Centers of America along the highway. This got me to wondering, why do we always talk about Pilot / Flying J and Loves? What about these other truck stops? Are they any good? Are there any advantages to other chains or even local mom and pop stations? Are you a creature of habit and only go to your favorite chain, or do you like to try all the options?they're all good. it's just that Flying J and some Pilot stops have dedicated RV lanes making it easier...generally...to fuel.

holstein13 wrote:Driving along the highway today, I noticed a "Petro" truck stop AKA Travel Centers of America along the highway. This got me to wondering, why do we always talk about Pilot / Flying J and Loves? What about these other truck stops? Are they any good? Are there any advantages to other chains or even local mom and pop stations? Are you a creature of habit and only go to your favorite chain, or do you like to try all the options?At one time the Petro Truck Stops set the standard for all others to try to follow. Of course they were only in Texas at the time. They had a GREAT restaurant (Drivers only section), Individual rooms for showers, Cleaned after each use. A truckers lounge, A huge truckers store, and many of them had a Brokers house in them. To help drivers get loads home. The one in McAllen, Parked over a thousand trucks.

Right before I put our motorhome in storage in California, I stop and fill up at the T/A station at Dillion road and the I-10 in Indio, CA. It's not the cheapest but the most convenient. I usually look for Flying J's/Pilots when en route. The 'Prevost' group have a deal with Love's to get a nice discount on fuel. I'm just not excited about giving them my checking acct. number. You know how hackers can get personal information now-a-days, I just want to be careful.We normally avoid Love's as they always seem to be dirtier than the others.MM.

Pilot/Flying J gets more mentions because they cater more to RV'ers and there's just plain more of them. P/FJ has over 550 locations, Love's has 300 plus, and TCA/Petro has 249 at last count.

I find truck stops are often gathered together like ducks on a lake. If that is the case I pick the one with the easiest MH access and egress.

What about the "other" truck stops | Good Sam Community

27 Replies

Tvov
Explorer II
Apr 11, 2015
This thread is getting odd... :)
DutchmenSport
Explorer
Apr 11, 2015
OK, I've been thinking about this thread.... sometimes things just flip in my brain and I can't get away from it. This is one of those times, for whatever reason! So, I'm back! :B

I've read all the responses on this post, and some of the other similar posts about truck stops, and I will say this in all fairness of argument ... here goes... hold on, this may open a new can of worms....

I don't do truck stops because they are generally dirty, grimey, oil and fuel spilled, nasty, and .... face it ... creepy! But I do flush my black tank without gloves!

OK, there ya go! Call it an inconsistency in my way of looking at dirt? And whag's creepier than looking down a sewer hole in the ground? But, that's OK. I'm ready for the back-lash of comments now! :E Pour it on, I have my armor on now!
prstlk
Explorer
Apr 11, 2015
No it is not. Any place ...any place that dispenses fuel of any kind is required to have a system in place to collect spilled fuel and waste water. Fuel floats above water, so it's not a complex problem. You can clean any fuel lane anywhere without a hassmat permit, white suits, etc. Just follow the rules for your city, county, state.
I will not patronize pig pen lanes, just take my $$$ down the road
prstlk
Explorer
Apr 11, 2015
holstein13 wrote:
prstlk wrote:
However in all our FT experience the truck lane bays are a mixture of fuel water and "don't" know.
Why someone can't throw some Tide on top and pressure wash these lanes once a week is beyond me.
This is actually much more complicated than you may realize. If they pressure wash it, they would be forced to use a containment system and dispose of all the waste properly. It's far cheaper to allow the majority of the fuel evaporate and clean them less frequently.
mtrumpet
Explorer
Apr 10, 2015
JimM68 wrote:
The real Flying J's, I always know what to expect. Easy in, easy out.
Original Pilot's are often much smaller, harder to maneuver in.
Love's are usually good, T/A's as well.

Sometimes I've pulled into a "truck stop" where the only real option after fueling was to pull straight ahead into a parking space, go inside for a meal or a SHOWER, AND THEN "BACK OUT" WHEN DONE... Sorry guys, I have a shower, and I don't backup.

:h Huh?
JimM68
Explorer
Apr 10, 2015
The real Flying J's, I always know what to expect. Easy in, easy out.
Original Pilot's are often much smaller, harder to maneuver in.
Love's are usually good, T/A's as well.

Sometimes I've pulled into a "truck stop" where the only real option after fueling was to pull straight ahead into a parking space, go inside for a meal or a SHOWER, AND THEN "BACK OUT" WHEN DONE... Sorry guys, I have a shower, and I don't backup.
down_home
Explorer II
Apr 10, 2015
We stopped at Petro in West Memphis a few years ago, now. They a huge smoked inch plus thick pork chop that was simply great and more than I could eat.
We ate at one in Arizona that had southwest type fare. It was good but basic no epiucrian experiene. This was the reason most Drivers stopped there, some of the said.
Look for where the Independent Truckers with new rigs eat. They make over 6 figure incomes and new trucks every year or so. If the ycan find a spot they go where the best steaks etc are served.
They spend their lives on the road and eating good is part of it. It is not suffering bad food until they get home. To some they are home on the road.
PaulJ2
Explorer
Apr 10, 2015
holstein13 wrote:
prstlk wrote:
However in all our FT experience the truck lane bays are a mixture of fuel water and "don't" know.
Why someone can't throw some Tide on top and pressure wash these lanes once a week is beyond me.
This is actually much more complicated than you may realize. If they pressure wash it, they would be forced to use a containment system and dispose of all the waste properly. It's far cheaper to allow the majority of the fuel evaporate and clean them less frequently.

If everyone brings a little fuel home on their shoes they would seldom have to clean. Called dispersal.
rk911
Explorer
Apr 10, 2015
MagillaGorilla wrote:
Talk to me about these truck stops that you speak of. Ive never been to one. Are they OK to stay at over night or are they something that belongs 5 chapters into a good horror novel?

truck stops are generally fine. when we were using them we would avoid those in big cities or large urban areas. the Flying J's and some Pilots have RV spaces in front. no matter where you want to spend a free night always, always ask permission first.
Campfire_Time
Explorer
Apr 10, 2015
MagillaGorilla wrote:
Talk to me about these truck stops that you speak of. Ive never been to one. Are they OK to stay at over night or are they something that belongs 5 chapters into a good horror novel?

More like a 50 page rv.net thread on over nighting at a Wally World. Oh wait, that IS like a horror novel! :B