Where get gas with trailer attached

pitch wrote:
Question for you guys that know your gas stops before you leave. How? Why? Is it that you always travel the same route? I just cannot imagine that level of planning. You never get stuck at an accident scene or in construction that messes your schedule up?
Never are distracted by an alternate unplanned attraction?

I don't know, I am out to relax and explore, tight logistics and planning would kind of take the fun out of it for me.

x2

I've never found this difficult in rural areas, where gas stations are designed to meet the needs of farmers and others who frequently tow work equipment. Truck stops and travel centers also usually have plenty of room.

I avoid convenience store outlets, most are now laid out to bring fueling customers inside to buy something else that might be profitable, as there is not much margin out at the pumps.

When traveling I fuel up when necessary before getting into dense urban areas (this includes the residential suburbs) so that I can get to the other side without stopping. Not only are most of the gas stations built on the convenience store model with little room to move around, people will park at the pumps for several minutes to take care of their business inside, and streets also tend to be clogged. For me, this is a general rule even when I'm driving just my van or sub-compact car.

Question for you guys that know your gas stops before you leave. How? Why? Is it that you always travel the same route? I just cannot imagine that level of planning. You never get stuck at an accident scene or in construction that messes your schedule up?
Never are distracted by an alternate unplanned attraction?

I don't know, I am out to relax and explore, tight logistics and planning would kind of take the fun out of it for me.

Once when the trailer was new I actually unhooked the trailer in a lot next to the gas station and then hooked up after I got gas.

Most of our trips are within one tank of gas so we fill up at home before we hook up. If I need gas to get home, we fill up during the weekend before we hook up. If travelling, to date we have pulled into campgrounds for the night before needed gas so we get gas ahead of time. This year we are planning a longer trip so we will most likely fuel at rest stops along the highway.

Thanks for the good suggestions. I have started to plan a trip out to the Black Hills, Yellowstone and Grand Tetons this summer and I am just looking for ideas where to get gas and not familiar with the area.

thanks,
Dean

For diesel: I use truck stops most of the time. Easy in / easy out although you pay extra for the 'privilege.' I also replaced my puny 26 gallon tank with a 51 gallon, so I can easily tow 400+ miles before having to refuel.

For gas: +100 to figuring out where you want to stop for fuel in advance. This includes looking at Google satellite view and street view to make sure you can fit. You might have to wait for a particular pump to become available but just plan on being patient.

Also consider carrying a can of fuel. It'll give you an extra 40+ miles of range in case you need it.

2112 wrote:

schlep1967 wrote:
I know about how far I can go on a tank of fuel. So I will look at google maps and find stations in that area. Then look at street view to see how much space there is to get in and out.

^^^ This ^^^

I know all my gas stops before I leave the house.

X3

I can't recall it ever being a problem. Of course I am not real long at 48 feet. I pull in take the room that I need do what I need to do and leave. I try to cause as little disruption as possible, but if someone gets their feathers ruffled that's on them.
If you are an interstate traveler you really will have no problem,those exit stations are usually HUUUGE!

We use findfuelstops.com

We start looking for gas at around 150 miles.

Put in Starting point and a point about 200 miles out from there.

You can click on the station, it tells you the exit and you can see an aerial google map how to get in and out of there.

I map them out before the trip and write them down in a spiral notebook.

Lantley wrote:

DutchmenSport wrote:

2112 wrote:

DutchmenSport wrote:
...
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 bite me!

Well if you can't beat 'em, join 'em!

I really try to avoid this attitude, but we've been in some situations (even this last Christmas on our Florida trip) when people were so rude, we could barely move he trailer to get out of the station and out of everyone's way. It's those time you just have to show everyone you are bigger than them! Sometimes this is the only language that some people recognize.

Dutchman Sport you and I are usually on the same page, but we disagree on this.
If you have a diesel I recommend using a truck stop.
All your grief centers around you choosing not to use truckstops.
Using a truckstop does not require one to enter warrior mode to get fuel.
One of the biggest untold advantages of having a diesel is you can refill at truckstops.
I can agree that truckstops are not perfect,they maybe very busy places with lots of commotion some can be seedy. The pumps can be oily and dirty. Some,not all are uninviting.
However they all have is SPACE.
SPACE to:turn,swing,pivot and make an uninhibited approach to the pump.
The ability to pull right up the the pumps without obstacles supersedes any other requirement for me while towing. For this reason I use truck stops exclusively while towing the RV.Once I pull up to the pump. I can deal with anything else.
But If i have to fight just to get to the pump, my mindset is shot and my experience will be bad!LOL.
Did I mention I will be pissed off even more if I have to fight and jockey some more to pull away from the pump.
Use truckstops fueling doesn't have to be a battle

I do the same and especially like the FJ RV islands. If getting fuel at non truck type stops one thing to be especially watchful for is the blind side rear swing of your TT when turning. I've read of more than a handful of mishaps from this.

Larry