Stopping for grub n gas
Do you just look for truck stops. Any suggestions or clues to look for so I don't pull off and find places I can't fit. I'm pulling a 33 foot travel trailer. Thanks and happy camping
Forum Discussion
As Cool Canuck said, Truck Stops are the last place I stop. My trailer is 35 and 1/2 feet long. With the cargo carrier on the back the trailer is 37 1/2 feet long, and with truck I'm a total of 59 feet long. I've never had problems getting into anywhere. If it looks too tight, I simply drive on.
We stop everywhere, but sometimes do have to park out a way. But getting fuel has never been a problem. Sometimes a "challenge" but not a problem. I take diesel, and have driven through many normal car gas stations to find out they don't sell diesel. Those are the only ones we've had trouble with.
We stop quite frequently when we travel. A 3 hour drive will take us 8 hours, because we stop so much. Small Mom and Pop stores to mega Wall Marts! Small back road gas stations and restaurants that aren't even listed in a phone book they are so out of the way.
Think of it this way... Semi trucks and cargo trucks have to make deliveries to all these places. Where do they park when unloading. If they can get in and get out, then my 59 foot rig can too.
Does it take a little thought before pulling into that parking lot! Yes, absolutely! If they don't have space to drive completely around their building, we pass that one up. Is there space to park on the side or behind the building, or a lot next to them, or across the road? If so... GREAT!
We have attempted to pull into some fast food restraunts and could not get enough space to park. We simply moved on down the road. It's happened before, it will happen again. No biggie, just move on. But we also have to keep an open mind. A parking lot next door may be just fine. It's really all a matter of how desperate you want to use that business!
But the out of the way, unnamed, and back road places are the best experience! Truck Stops are just too commercial. We absolutely enjoy visiting with the local people and simply talking to them. Everyone loves to talk about their home, and you won't get that one-on-one experience from the big box truck stops at all.
We stop everywhere, but sometimes do have to park out a way. But getting fuel has never been a problem. Sometimes a "challenge" but not a problem. I take diesel, and have driven through many normal car gas stations to find out they don't sell diesel. Those are the only ones we've had trouble with.
We stop quite frequently when we travel. A 3 hour drive will take us 8 hours, because we stop so much. Small Mom and Pop stores to mega Wall Marts! Small back road gas stations and restaurants that aren't even listed in a phone book they are so out of the way.
Think of it this way... Semi trucks and cargo trucks have to make deliveries to all these places. Where do they park when unloading. If they can get in and get out, then my 59 foot rig can too.
Does it take a little thought before pulling into that parking lot! Yes, absolutely! If they don't have space to drive completely around their building, we pass that one up. Is there space to park on the side or behind the building, or a lot next to them, or across the road? If so... GREAT!
We have attempted to pull into some fast food restraunts and could not get enough space to park. We simply moved on down the road. It's happened before, it will happen again. No biggie, just move on. But we also have to keep an open mind. A parking lot next door may be just fine. It's really all a matter of how desperate you want to use that business!
But the out of the way, unnamed, and back road places are the best experience! Truck Stops are just too commercial. We absolutely enjoy visiting with the local people and simply talking to them. Everyone loves to talk about their home, and you won't get that one-on-one experience from the big box truck stops at all.
