This question is a bit tongue 'n cheek. I've traded my diesel for a gasser. It's been so easy to pull thru truck stops to get fuel. Now what?? Any tips on finding gas in locations that are easy to pull thru while towing a 5th?

We've typically fill up before hooking up.But when we've had to fill up while hooked up never been much of an issue. If you are concerned, look ahead on google maps in satellite mode. Most big stations near freeway exits have plenty of room.

We still use truck stops. They generally have gas pumps arranged for easy access.

Try to get your fuel while unhitched, like while camping. 11am at a Flying J isn't a great idea. Don't look for the cheapest gas.

How big the camper is in length and the turning wheel base of the truck, creates a learning curve dealing with normal gas pumps.Here are a few tips I learned along the way. Be selective on the gas station, I look for outside island pumps (wait in line if you have to) and I size up the station that I can get out of, what I got into, "before" pulling into it. Can you turn getting out and make the swing?Stay a good distance away (3 1/2 to 4 1/2 ft) from the pump (side of truck to side of pump) to allow your exit turn to not have the camper hit the pumps on the way out. Most/many gas stations that allow cars etc. you have to turn 90 degrees getting out of the pump area. Using an end pump on a gas island allows the camper tail swing to clear better then if you are inside the island. Start searching for a station early. In our case we have a small gas tank, 29 gal. so when I see the 1/2 tank mark, I start searching for a station. It allows me time to pass by what does not look like I can get in and out of it. Yes, having a gasser, most of them have a drinking problem... You will not go the same distance on fuel like you did with the diesel. I need to stretch my legs and drain my tank, so this 1/2 fuel tank guide works on our case. If you get into a situation where you have to use a less then ideal station, let your wife or traveling companion get out and watch for crazy car drivers buzzing in behind you as you have to back out of a pump as you can't go forward. Use your cell phone, put it on speaker, lay it on the console and you are hands free and can talk/hear them.I do look for truck stop stations with gas pumps, Love's, Pilot, Flying J, Travel America etc. if there are any, most times they have more room for RV'er's. But out in the boonies or off the main roads, you deal with smaller gas stations. Same rules apply.Once you master the turning in and out and know how far to stay away from the pump, this is a non issue. Just take a few deep breaths and don't be in a hurry, wait in line if you have to to get the pump that will work for you. It seems when you hook up the camper, all the inconsiderate auto drivers seem to just show up as the gas station. They have no clue what is takes to get a big camper in and out. And the worst is, the ones who park at the pump, go inside and come out 20 minutes later, then start pumping the gas??? Happy travels. John

I always use regular gas stations to fill up our diesel truck with 5th wheel. I only think of 3 times in the last 11 years that I had to back out after filling up.

Gas Engine - Fill It Up | Good Sam Community

goducks10
Explorer
Dec 04, 2021
Turtle n Peeps wrote:
I don't make it as complex as some of you on here.

#1. When my gauge is between E and 1/4 I look for fuel.

#2. I pull into a town and see where most of the fuel stations are located at on my GPS.

#3. I drive down the street and if I see fuel for a reasonable price and an open pump that I can get in to, I pull in and fuel up. If not; I move on till I find a #3 that works.

#4. I continue on down the road until I need to start over at #1 again.

x2
Turtle_n_Peeps
Explorer
Dec 04, 2021
I don't make it as complex as some of you on here.

#1. When my gauge is between E and 1/4 I look for fuel.

#2. I pull into a town and see where most of the fuel stations are located at on my GPS.

#3. I drive down the street and if I see fuel for a reasonable price and an open pump that I can get in to, I pull in and fuel up. If not; I move on till I find a #3 that works.

#4. I continue on down the road until I need to start over at #1 again.
Lantley
Nomad
Dec 04, 2021
My unofficial observation is only 25% of gasoline stations are RV friendly when pulling a 35' trailer. Identifying those stations on the fly is the challenge. Just pulling off the interstate without any prior knowledge or scouting is not good enough. Just rolling the dice leads to waisting time and headache.
Let's face it we are just talking finding a gas station.
Sure you can maneuver and wiggle through lots of gas stations.
Some are manageable until that random car gets in the way.
But the fact remains, there are no dedicated fully clear gas islands like there are diesel islands.
Many convenience stores now have large dedicated diesel islands to accomodate over sized vehicles. These islands are often seperate from the other filling areas. Then there are truckstops. While I agree truckstops can have there own set of issues, access to the diesel pumps isn't one of them.
At the end of the day diesel is much easier to accesss than gas when traveling the interstates with a large RV in tow. I'm not saying it's impossible to travel in a gasser. But I am saying it will take more efforrt to find and manuever through a gasoline station vs. a diesel station.
My own personall preference is that access is more important than other factors when filling with the trailer attached. Acess is more important than price, Its more impprtant than other amenities available. Access is the most important priority.
Yes I try to fill without the trailer if possible. I also have a Enduraplas Auxilary tank. I seldom need to fill while attached but when I do, I'm fortunate in that I need to find diesel vs. gas.
valhalla360
Navigator
Dec 04, 2021
Lantley wrote:
It's not about skill. It's about convenience. I have the skill to back up a 1/2 mile down a single lane road to turn around, but it certainly is inconvenient and not the best approach to making a u turn.
Finding fuel should be convenient

Maybe if you are filling up at an inner city gas station.

If you pull off at a rural interchange gas station, it's largely a non-issue.

Certainly never needed to back up 1/2 mile to get out of a gas station. A few times, we've backed out but it's really the oddity.
Grit_dog
Navigator
Dec 03, 2021
Lantley wrote:
valhalla360 wrote:
Lantley wrote:
Lots of gasser guys in denial. You certainly have to be more selective when fueling a gasser while hitched.
Once upon a time, I had a V-10 Excursion and a 39' TT getting gas was much more challenging then getting diesel.
I eventually traded the V-10 in for a 7.3 PSD Excursion.
Getting fuel was less of a challenge with the diesel.

Having had a diesel in the past, we tried the truck lanes a few times...no thanks to standing in a puddle of diesel.

If you are half way competent handling the rig, it's a non-issue pulling up to a gas pump.

If it were truly a non issue this thread and many with the same topic would not exist
Yes there are some dirty diesel pumps, but there are also some less desireable gas pumps. Cleanliness is a seperate issue.
People are not researching,scouting and reviewing google satelite images for puddles.
They are simply looking for accessible pumps. Finding accesible diesel pumps is much easier than finding accesible gas pumps. Somehow some are still in denial and pretend gas pumps are equally accesible.

This is really a case of discrimination against gas powered truck owners who tow trailers!
Waiting for the class actions here against the major oil companies and fuel station franchises…It’s a travesty! Lol.
ReneeG
Explorer
Dec 03, 2021
Lantley wrote:
It's not about skill. It's about convenience. I have the skill to back up a 1/2 mile down a single lane road to turn around, but it certainly is inconvenient and not the best approach to making a u turn.
Finding fuel should be convenient

Amen. My hubby can do the same and has backed out of many a gas station, because he's had too.
pitch
Explorer II
Dec 03, 2021
It sometimes takes patience. I am 53 ft. I don't mind being "rude" and positioning myself as needed to fuel up. My wife doesn't mind directing traffic. Almost every tight spot is caused by a motorist thatt is not cognizant of his surroundings and willing to make the necessary concessions.
We take only as much time is needed to run the card, fuel, and acquire receipt.
If we have any business inside the establishment I pull away from the pump.

In all of our miles of travel the times we got jammed up at a fuel stop can be counted on one hand!
Sjm9911
Explorer
Dec 02, 2021
Mostly, you get used to it. If on hyways, there are usally choices. You learn to choose wisely. A few times it was an issue with me, once when someone else blocked my forward lane and parked where I needed to turn. Another time , and this was me not paying attention, I pulled into a city during rush hour. There was no where to pull into a station without blocking a street, or coming close to hitting people rushing home from work, so I went back on the road and got off a few exits down. Just dont wait untill your on e to get gas. And , first trip I learned to never take the truck lanes. Some states have the rest stops for trucks only go to diesel pumps, and then stright back on the hyway. Who knew?
Lantley
Nomad
Dec 02, 2021
It's not about skill. It's about convenience. I have the skill to back up a 1/2 mile down a single lane road to turn around, but it certainly is inconvenient and not the best approach to making a u turn.
Finding fuel should be convenient
otrfun
Explorer II
Dec 02, 2021
valhalla360 wrote:
Lantley wrote:
If it were truly a non issue this thread and many with the same topic would not exist
Sure they would...it's simple fear of the unknown.

The guys who drive gas rigs pretty much always say it's a non-issue. It's the guys who have never towed or have always used the truck lanes that ask.
I would venture to say gassers typically haul smaller, lighter rigs. Diesels typically pull longer, heavier rigs. The longer, larger the rig, the more difficult it is to maneuver.

Yes, we've seen a number of folks with large TT/5r's fuel up using the gas/diesel islands. We've done it a few times ourselves. However, it goes without saying a 60 ft. long rig tends to disrupt the efficient flow of pedestrian and vehicle traffic in and around their rig. Most gas/diesel islands are not designed to accommodate longer rigs like this. Some folks are comfortable with this disruption, some are not. Sometimes it's not all about skill.