Getting Diesel at service station or truck stop?

Forgot about the small tank in my old Dmax. Yes that makes for short trips between fill ups.
IMO the bigger replacement tanks are cost prohibitive unless you plan on using the capacity regularly for a long time like a full timer or hotshot driver.
Don't worry about rollover and accidents with the tank. You could have the same issues with your truck tank if you got hit right. It's diesel to so your truck really can't explode anyway.
With a cheap slip tank and 12v pump or even hand pump, yes you will still have to stop every few hrs to fill up but they can be 5 min pit stops in rest areas or off ramps. Way quicker and easier than hitting the truck stop each time. You can time your fill ups more around your schedule or fuel prices if you're gettin 100 gal at a pop the savings will be more significant.
Plus you can power through when you normally would "have" to stop because no fuel for next 50 mi or something. You can run it low on fuel because when the low fuel light kicks on, a full up is only 3' away from your filler neck!
Burn some more fuel because you kicked it up a notch or headwinds, who cares, just pullover and pump some more fuel in!
If I didn't need the bed of my short bed truck I'd drop a slip tank in it just for ease of use and refueling even though I don't tow heavy or far very often. Woulda been real nice on my way to Alaska last year if I didn't have the TC. Could have passed on those $1.50/litre fill ups!

Well GopackGo you are not the only one. Mine is gravity fed RDS brand. If my truck could not handle the extra weight well that would be another issue. Also the tank has roll over protection. Anyway I could go on but like you said it may not be for everyone

tomman58 wrote:
I think the idea of having an extra tank is not for most folks. When you look at the space needed in the box, no camper top on box, the cost of the tank, all the stuff to make it work and the fact that if you carry say 50 gallons that adds over 355# to you load. At 100 gallons it is 710#. Weight equals less mileage. Not such a good deal at all not to mention you need to do a bathroom stop about every 150 miles anyway.

The OP pulls a 5th wheel and that's why I replied. He doesn't have a truck topper.

When you get 10-12 mpg you can run thru an OEM tank pretty fast. And you sure don't wait till the 1/4 mark to start looking for fuel.

The reason I got my aux tank was because I didn't want to have to start looking for fuel every time I passed the 200 mile mark. I consider the cost (under $1000, installed) to be the same as any other option I got on the truck or my 5th wheel. I will never save enough money by buying fuel at the cheaper places but that's a nice bonus. What I like is the fact that fuel is not an issue in my daily routine. I don't even think about it till the end of the day.

There is not much to make it work. Mine is a gravity feed model and there is just a 3/8 inch line that runs and connects to the OEM filler hose. There is a manual shutoff at the aux tank connection and another auto shutoff where it Tees into the OEM line. That's it. Easy-shmeezy.

Weight. Compared to the wind resistance generated by pulling a 5th wheel down the road at 60 mph, an extra 400 pounds is a non issue. I'll bet an extra 1,200 pounds would still be a non-issue.

Bathroom breaks and fuel breaks are different situations. I stop for bathroom breaks too. At hiway rest stops, Mcdonalds, gas stations, etc. Sometimes I can just pull over on the side of the highway and walk in. There's all kinds of options.

You're right, these aux tanks are not for everyone. But many who pull 5ers have them and swear by them.

Tim

5thwheeler oldman. Did the 26 gallon thing for 7 years worked out okay with the need to pee. All the new 2015's GMC and Chevy have a 36 gallon tank, makes stops less critical.

We have a 36 ft 5th wheel and have been pulling it for a little over 7 years. We normally stop at truck stops/RV Islands. We have the Pilot/Flying J card with the discounts so the price is normally the cheapest or close enough to it. We also stop at TA, Loves etc.

We solve the "going inside" problem with walkie-talkies. DW gets the pump number, goes inside with the credit card, gets the pump started and then calls me so I can start pumping. When the tank is full, I call into her, she signs the receipt and hurries out so I don't forget her.

As far as the fuel tax, it can be a pain but just have DW tell the person at the desk you are a private RV and they should know how to handle it. All in all, there are not that many states where you have to deal with that. The ones that do will normally show different prices for truck fuel and auto fuel.

In the truck lanes, there is normally a line to show you where to pull ahead to after you have fueled and waiting for DW. That lets a truck pull in behind you and start fueling after you have finished. As others has said, if you are going inside to eat, shop or use the restroom, find a parking spot.

About the only comments I have had from truckers start with "I have an RV too". Will some give you the evil eye, maybe, but so will some car drivers if you pull into the auto lanes. Just use common sense and courtesy and all will be fine.

I've considered an extra diesel tank as the Duramax only has a 26 gal tank. I worry that the extra tank would not be safe in an accident. If the worst happens and you are upside down with diesel pooling around you --- not good. Course, maybe it could happen with the factory tank too.

I think the idea of having an extra tank is not for most folks. When you look at the space needed in the box, no camper top on box, the cost of the tank, all the stuff to make it work and the fact that if you carry say 50 gallons that adds over 355# to you load. At 100 gallons it is 710#. Weight equals less mileage. Not such a good deal at all not to mention you need to do a bathroom stop about every 150 miles anyway.

If you're concerned about where to fuel, given your lack of experience I'd totally suggest takin a couple shorter trips to get used to towing the rig and everything that goes along with it.
It'll make your long trip more enjoyable and less risky.
Regarding fuel, you could pick up a used slip tank for a few hundred bucks and put it in the back of your truck and pack an extra 40-100 gal with you negating the need to stop for fuel.
Of course there are worse places to pull into than big freeway fuel stations, and you gotta pull over sometime, hence the practice runs suggestion.
Have fun with your big rig!

I guess I'll be the Lone Ranger here.

I full time so may be a little different then you.

I added an RDS 40 gallon/tool box combo to my truck as one of my first mods. I now carry almost 80 gallons of diesel. I buy fuel when and where I want to.

Normally, I buy fuel after I get set up in a campground for the night. I combine the trip with a grocery or dinner run. Or maybe not. Lots of times the campground is close to a major interstate exit so it may be just a short stand alone trip after dinner at the camper.

I also use Gas Buddy. And since whoever has the cheapest price usually pumps the most fuel, that's where I go. High volume = fresh fuel.

I've been doing it this way since the end of April (8,500 miles). Have not used a truck stop once (except to buy a Trucker's Atlas). Have had zero fuel problems.

I just got to Santa Fe last night. Gas Buddy says there's a Murphy about 2 miles away. Sounds like a Walmart/dinner/fuel run is in the cards.

Love my aux fuel tank. Best Thing Ever.

Tim

Also remember the truck pumps have large nozzles and unless your pick-up has the larger fill tube, you have to hold it tight against the tube and it comes out very fast and will spray the side of your truck. I understand you can get an adapter for the nozzle. Our truck doesn't have the larger fill tube. The biggest problem we have is finding which pump has the diesel at the smaller stations. They should mark them better I believe.