Gas station help!

truck stops have gas pumps to check them out, take a ride in your car to the nearest truck stop ,drive back where the trucks fill up and learn how its done.

Muddydogs wrote:
When the gas gauge reads 1/2 tank its time to start looking for that gas station that has easy access. When on the interstate avoid stations in town and hit the stations before or after the main part of town as there is less traffic. Before you even pull into a station plan your exit and if the quarters are tight move on to the next station. Once you gas up a couple dozen times it becomes second nature. I don't worry about gas prices when I tow so much as I worry about getting in or out of the place so I'm willing to pay a few cents more for gas if a station has more room or a better angle on the pump islands.

X2 . When we had the fiver and one ton half a tank and we were
Looking for fuel. Same with the MH.

As I plan my route I use google maps to check out stations in the area where I know I will be needing gas. Nothing irks me more than struggling in a small tight station, then seeing a huge station with tons of room a mile or so down the road.

Also, if I unhook at a campground to sight see I always top off the tank before hooking back up.

Safe travels.

It's easier now that I've driving a B (now the issue is "does he have diesel?"), but when we had a 38 footer with toad, I would stop well away from the pumps -- in the street if necessary -- get out and scout out the route on foot.

Just because it looks like you can exit by going around the back of the building doesn't mean you can actually get through!

Stay away from small country stores, they usually dont have a lot of room. Start looking for a place to fill up when you are at 1/2, that will give you some choices. When I am going to areas that I do not know, I usally carry 2 5 gallon cans of fuel, for that "just in case moment".

Lesson learn after DH did not pull in to a large open fueling station like I told him to do. DH tells me we have a half tank should be fine. Famous last words. Got down the road only to find it would be miles before the next one. By luck he drove in on fumes at a very small town that the station was open & diesel. Never again no matter what the gauge says he pulls in to top it off. Here in TX some can be far and few, plus being a Sunday. Other times you can get blocked in by other fueling up.

Sharon

Sharon

I start looking when I'm down to a 1/4 tank. Having a 37gal tank helps alot.
Even in stations where the pumps are perpendicular to the building, I just pull into the outside pump. I'll wait for that lane to open up if needed. Just make sure you have an escape route. But I really don't give it too much thought. Worst case is you have to back up. Not a big deal with good mirrors. Besides, your on vacation right? No worries....

We had a whole debate about this topic on another thread. Most gas stations you'll be able to get in and out of, but sometimes you have to pull out your driving skills to maneuver through properly. Some stations don't make it easy, but you can always make it happen. We have the same size trailer and many times we pull in to a spot and then just back out of that spot instead of trying to make a loop.

The 1/2 tank rule is a good time to look for gas. Don't push it past 3/4 of a tank cause that last bit will seem to drop way faster than you expect. Running out of gas is no fun.

I look for Pilot Stations, they are pretty large.

Most places are OK for my 30' motorhome, and even when I was driving a 40' DP, I had no problems with the car islands. In Arizona, the truck lanes have a extra fuel tax that is not applied to pickups or motorhomes, and it is worth it to move to the car pumps to buy 50+ gallons.

Most of the time when they see a larger RV in the area, cars pick the other side of the station to fill up, and give you room to get in and out.

At least you could stay overnight at a campground. Then go out to dinner, and pick up fuel on the way there or back to the campground.

Yes mom's like not cooking a few nights per week.

Fred.

I put notes in our copy of the next exit. A great in and out station in Ohio was closed when we counted on it. Had to stop at one that was a tight squeeze.
Now we do not wait until we NEED it.