Where get gas with trailer attached
I was wondering when pulling the trailer on the road if there are any hints getting gas in the tow vehicle and not having problems fitting in and getting out of the gas stations. thanks, Dean
Forum Discussion
Depending upon the length of your camper, this is always a challenge. I absolutely do NOT use truck stops (I despise them), so diesel fuel is even more challenging as often there is only 1 pump for diesel at "normal" gas stations.
Here's what we do! #1... I forget about traffic and I forget what's going on at the gas station. If I end up being a jack-a$$ to block the entrance or block a set of pumps, or block in cars that are parked! #1 ... I DON'T CARE ANY MORE! It takes time to get this attitude, but I've encountered way to many rude morons that don't give you time time of day. The WILL NOT wait on you, they will not give you an opening, they dodge around you when your backing up. So I finally got the same attitude..... ONLY I'M BIGGER... So bit me! Get that attitude, and you'll be able to navigate most gas stations.
OK, now that the anger is over!
#2. In a country setting, most gas stations are accessible with a trailer (at least in the Ohio-Indiana-Illinois-Michigan to Florida zone they are. So, if at all possible you have PLAN your fuel stops to avoid towns and congested areas. We do this at all costs. If doing this, this eliminates the need to be a bad boy with #1 above!
#3. Sometimes you really do not know what's going to happen before you actually see the fuel station. Sometimes you can't even figure out how to get into them unless you go cross-country! In that event, you have to circle them, or circle the block, or drive up and down the road a couple times to figure out how to navigate before pulling in, so you can pull out the easiest way.
#4. Fuel up at 1/2 a tank, never, never, never on empty. That way, if you CANNOT get into a specific fuel station, you've still got plenty of fuel to make it to the next one. And yes, it is OK to drive right on by a fuel station if the situation looks too tight for comfort. Drive on, and don't look back. We have done this so many times, it's just second nature now.
#5. When traveling to new territory we've never been to before, we use the I-phone app "Gasbuddy" (Gasbuddy.com). We set it for "diesel" and just hit the map feature. The map will come up and you can select your next fuel station. You can zoom in on the map and zoom right down to the nitty-gritty and make a judgment call if you want to tackle that station or not, before you even see it. When traveling, we live by this... This also eliminates the need to use #1 above!
Hope this helps. (do all you can to avoid #1, but if you find yourself in that position, it's OK)
Here's what we do! #1... I forget about traffic and I forget what's going on at the gas station. If I end up being a jack-a$$ to block the entrance or block a set of pumps, or block in cars that are parked! #1 ... I DON'T CARE ANY MORE! It takes time to get this attitude, but I've encountered way to many rude morons that don't give you time time of day. The WILL NOT wait on you, they will not give you an opening, they dodge around you when your backing up. So I finally got the same attitude..... ONLY I'M BIGGER... So bit me! Get that attitude, and you'll be able to navigate most gas stations.
OK, now that the anger is over!
#2. In a country setting, most gas stations are accessible with a trailer (at least in the Ohio-Indiana-Illinois-Michigan to Florida zone they are. So, if at all possible you have PLAN your fuel stops to avoid towns and congested areas. We do this at all costs. If doing this, this eliminates the need to be a bad boy with #1 above!
#3. Sometimes you really do not know what's going to happen before you actually see the fuel station. Sometimes you can't even figure out how to get into them unless you go cross-country! In that event, you have to circle them, or circle the block, or drive up and down the road a couple times to figure out how to navigate before pulling in, so you can pull out the easiest way.
#4. Fuel up at 1/2 a tank, never, never, never on empty. That way, if you CANNOT get into a specific fuel station, you've still got plenty of fuel to make it to the next one. And yes, it is OK to drive right on by a fuel station if the situation looks too tight for comfort. Drive on, and don't look back. We have done this so many times, it's just second nature now.
#5. When traveling to new territory we've never been to before, we use the I-phone app "Gasbuddy" (Gasbuddy.com). We set it for "diesel" and just hit the map feature. The map will come up and you can select your next fuel station. You can zoom in on the map and zoom right down to the nitty-gritty and make a judgment call if you want to tackle that station or not, before you even see it. When traveling, we live by this... This also eliminates the need to use #1 above!
Hope this helps. (do all you can to avoid #1, but if you find yourself in that position, it's OK)
