Stopping to gas up

A traffic jam around Atlanta? That's a rarity! Sometimes I miss our first 21' Algo TT.

I too agree with the pick and choose method but every once in awhile you maybe caught in the situation that the station will be the only one for miles in the the 1 stoplight town, then you will have to put your driving skills to the test. This just happened to me last weekend I was stuck in a massive traffic jam on the I-285 around Atlanta decided to pull off and fuel up at a Citigo turns out it was the only station in town 1 island 2 pumps and 10 others trying for fuel at the same time it was a little tough & tight but kept a cool head and managed it.

wrenchbender wrote:
I only do truck stops while traveling.

I have gotten to the point where I do the same just because of how much easier it is, but I believe the OP said he has a gas truck, eliminating that option. However others have pointed out that Pilot/FlyingJ locations usually have RV lanes with both gas and diesel pumps.

I only do truck stops while traveling.

The Next Exit book lists all gas stations (Reg & Diesel) on all Interstate Hwys & the stations with big rig access are in red print so they're easy to spot. We would never travel without this book! We also have a Pilot/Flying J charge card so we never have to go inside to pay anymore. When not on an interstate we carry an extra jug of gas & hope for the best.

khager76248 wrote:
Our worst stop was when we had a Class A, and we were towing a car on a dolly behind it. We pulled behind a car that was filling up, not expecting it to take to long. The people in the car, after filling up, went inside the station, and stayed for 20 minutes.

I was so mad, You can not back up a Class A with a dolly behind it. I didn't know what to do. I blew on the horn. I can't believe people are that rude.

Rude and stupid! I gassed my daily driver up the other day. When I pulled in, the car in front of me had no hose sticking out of it so I wasn't sure if they just arrived or where getting ready to leave.

I gassed up and when finishing, a woman came out of the store, paid the attendant (this is NJ where we don't pump our own) and got in her car. The attendant came back to me and I paid. Waited for the woman to leave. When she didn't move, I drove around her. As I passed, she threw it into gear and nearly broadsided me.

The worst experience I had towing was I pulled into a station (couldn't pass it up, I was really low) and when I pulled up to the pump discovered the entrance was the only exit. Had to back up and turn around in a tight lot.

mosseater wrote:
This is one reason I put the backup lights on the trailer at the beginning. People seem to understand quickly when those lights come on.:E

I would say this issue is one of the most worried about issues with newbies. I admit, it fretted it too, at the beginning. Although I tend to stick to the truck stops for ease and speed of fueling, I have no compunction about pulling into almost any station now. It becomes a non-issue in short order. Life's too short to sweat the small stuff.

It's odd that modern travel trailers don't usually come with backup lights. There's a spot for it on the 7 pin. My horse trailer has them. I do have the luxury of having rear facing bright loading lights, so I've thought about hooking those into the backup circuit, but I'm not sure how to wire it and still have a switch in the trailer for normal use.

Old-Biscuit wrote:
We travel secondary/back roads

If I can get into the CG sites we have encountered during our travels then service stations are a breeze

I don't plan, worry or try to over think fueling.

I pull in fuel up and get out....if that takes backing up OH Well....BEEP, BEEP, BEEP

X2 I think this is a perception problem and one of experience towing. I just almost never have any problems with any gas station anywhere. And I am 55+ feet overall.

Remember every gas station is able to accommodate a tractor trailer/pup combination for fuel not to mention the Coke trucks and other delivery semis.

I do occasionally see a smaller station that I don't enter more because of the level of traffic in the place....but with experience you should be able to look at a station from the road and tell immediately if it's ok...and 99.99% will be just fine.

I go where the price is lowest

This is one reason I put the backup lights on the trailer at the beginning. People seem to understand quickly when those lights come on.:E

I would say this issue is one of the most worried about issues with newbies. I admit, it fretted it too, at the beginning. Although I tend to stick to the truck stops for ease and speed of fueling, I have no compunction about pulling into almost any station now. It becomes a non-issue in short order. Life's too short to sweat the small stuff.

I take an approach like Old-Biscuit. I don't worry too much about it. When I need fuel, I'll find a way to get in there and out. There's ways to fill up even when you can't clear the awning at the station. If all else fails then I can leave the same way I came in. It's not very often I'll pass up on a station because of its configuration. Sometimes I'll pull up a satellite image on my phone to see if there's an easier way to get out like driving around the building, but I know I can always get out the way I came in.

I've backed out of plenty of stations. Backing out of a station really isn't all that difficult. Most people don't want to be around when an 8'x11'x35' box is heading towards them lol. Most people will gladly get out of your way or make some room. Not being impolite, impatient, or inconsiderate goes a very long way. Sometimes there are those behind you that don't fully understand the full gravity of the situation and need a little "encouragement" to get out of the way lol.