gas stations

JBarca wrote:

BarneyS wrote:
I will scope out the station before pulling in - even if means holding up some traffic for a few seconds. Also, I have had to back out of a station on more than one occasion. When that happens, my wife will act as spotter and stop traffic if necessary. I have even asked a fellow traveller to help me if my wife was not along.

Generally it is not a problem and if you try to get the outside pumps or stations that have parallel pumps to the road (getting rarer!) you will be ok. Beware of stations that have the pumps perpendicular to the station and close to it that allow patrons to park in front of the building. That is the situation that would most likely make you have to back out or wait for someone to move. In cases like that, I will not pull in unless the end pump is available.

It is not something that would require an app or something like that to help you out. Of course, truck stops are always an option but they are usually quite dirty.
Barney

I'll add 2 things to what Barney said as that is exactly what we do too.

1. When we hit 1/2 a tank, I'm aggressively looking for a gas station. I can better pick and choose. We have a GPS with gas stations on it and it helps, but I do a slow pass by and , yes or no quick. In time you know where not to go...


2. When you pull in make sure you are approx 2.5 to 3 feet from the pump with both camper and truck. More than a normal car. You need that extra room to swing or back up and have a space cushion to now be sweating bullets you are going to hit the pumps. You need to "expect" the jerk who will zip in front, next to and behind you as they cannot wait 10 seconds. I have learned to just sit and wait. Wife gets all boiled about it, I don't need the stress, I'm camp'in...

The key to learn is what you can and should not do. It comes with time and practice to learn your rig turning needs. And most times sealed in your memory forever on a close encounter....

And let me add to this...

1/ If the pumps do face the building, I try to find a station that I can pull in and fuel and pull out beside and behind the building. I can find that with most of the gas station/gps maps on a smart phone.

2/ Since I do not have a large tank (25 gal) going 150 miles between fuel stops is not the most practical for me so I plan my fuel stops. If I have a full day of driving I tend to go longer than when I get closer to the end. I use this website to find fuel stops and use the maps to find gas stations with easy in-oh.

Click for fuel stop program