Stopping For Gas

Gdetrailer wrote:

fulltimedaniel wrote:

Johno02 wrote:
But the tanker trucks don't have to get to the pumps.

This is not always true. In some stations they must go under the canopy to be set up correctly to dump.

In any case if there is room in the lot for the tanker and the Coke Truck there is room for your TT and truck.

My combination TT and truck is a bit more than 53 feet long. I have never found a station I couldnt get in and out of. The vast majority are plenty big enough.

I think some folks have a bit exaggerated view of how big they really are and the space they need to maneuver in.

remember the length that really matters is the distance between your two pivot points...where your trailer connect to the truck and the centerline of the trailer axles.

A 40 foot 5th wheel may have the same pivot to pivot distance as my Bumper pull TT. and thus will maneuver in the same space.

Just "because" a tanker truck can get UNDER the canopy does NOT MEAN THAT YOU WILL GET CLOSE ENOUGH TO THE PUMP!

I have never seen a station yet that has the tanker dumping right at a pump.. Sure, they may drive under the canopy in order to get to the station tanks but they are not needing to jockey that rig into the pumps..

Most stations have no more than SIX FEET of pump hose, so you need to be able to get your entire rig within 4ft of the pump.. Many small stations just do not have the room to go straight in so you will find yourself backing up and pulling forward to jockey close enough just to get the nozzle in..

An experienced person with towing takes this for granted, NOVICE or NEW folks to the world of towing may not have the experience that you and I have and using your advice can get them into trouble like clipping a pump, damaging their trailer or another motorists vehicle..

Well what I was trying to say was that I have seen many cases where the tanker has to go Through the pump aisles to get set up correctly for the dumps. Thus there is plenty of room.

Everyone has to judge for themselves of course. But if you never try you will never learn. The stations in this country that cannot fit an RV are probably 1-2% of the total...mostly older out of date stations in central cities or small towns.

And with all due respect if a person cant get within hose distance of the pumps with their rig (ie they dont know how to set up that turn properly)...perhaps driving one isnt what they should be doing.