Trailering

Skip stations that have islands arraigned so traffic heads toward the station..

The illustration below should be helpful..



Often that results in extremely tight turns to get around the islands without hitting the station store.. Not to mention there is often a lot of vehicles parked in front of the busier stations and high amount of traffic to dodge.

Something else to consider, you have to be aware of the steepness of the stations entrance and exits, longer trailers will bottom out much easier than short trailers.. So you need to watch for stations that have a gradual entrance and exit pitch.

I have run into a few that hit the tongue jack AND the rear drag bars, scrapping both times.. Don't want to high center the trailer and be stuck half in traffic..

I look for Shell stations. They usually have higher prices and are not crowded because of that.

I try to avoid gas in the city and watch for truck stops out on the highway. Otherwise I just wait my turn at the most accessible slot. If I unhitch for the night I make sure to be topped off for leaving.

Gdetrailer wrote:
Skip stations that have islands arraigned so traffic heads toward the station..

The illustration below should be helpful..



Often that results in extremely tight turns to get around the islands without hitting the station store.. Not to mention there is often a lot of vehicles parked in front of the busier stations and high amount of traffic to dodge.

Something else to consider, you have to be aware of the steepness of the stations entrance and exits, longer trailers will bottom out much easier than short trailers.. So you need to watch for stations that have a gradual entrance and exit pitch.

I have run into a few that hit the tongue jack AND the rear drag bars, scrapping both times.. Don't want to high center the trailer and be stuck half in traffic..

Interesting, almost all of the stations I look for are like your X diagram, but I look for ones with sufficient room to make it easy, Pilots, Flying J, Sheetz, Racetrack, etc where there is 3-4 car widths between the overhang and the back of the cars at the convenience store. I pre-select my stops at ~170 mile intervals and have a backup to each one in case I can't get to my primary for some reason.

My biggest tip is use Google maps in terrain mode and street view mode to look at the stations ahead of time.

X2 for street view in Google maps!

X3 for street view on Google Maps.

Gdetrailer wrote:
Skip stations that have islands arraigned so traffic heads toward the station..

The illustration below should be helpful..



Often that results in extremely tight turns to get around the islands without hitting the station store.. Not to mention there is often a lot of vehicles parked in front of the busier stations and high amount of traffic to dodge.

Something else to consider, you have to be aware of the steepness of the stations entrance and exits, longer trailers will bottom out much easier than short trailers.. So you need to watch for stations that have a gradual entrance and exit pitch.

I have run into a few that hit the tongue jack AND the rear drag bars, scrapping both times.. Don't want to high center the trailer and be stuck half in traffic..

I often find the ones you show as good...undesirable. That configuration is often used when the station has limited land to work with.

On the other hand, most modern stations with lots of space, use the style...you find undesirable.

Thoughts:
- Fill up before hooking up when possible.
- As others have said, look on Google Maps
- Truck stops and rural stations as opposed to stations in urban areas are often more wide open.
- Don't be afraid to wait for an end pump that's easier to get into.
- Don't be afraid to have the copilot get out and back you up to get out.

Fill up before hooking up and fill up again after arriving at destination while out exploring.

I prefer one that is easy in and easy out on the right hand side of the road. That said I've had times I had to back in or back out. Doesn't matter I can back as easy as go forward.

I find that if you can find a station that is configured as undesirable and the right end pump is open a very angled approach will get the tv close enough to the pump and still have maneuvering room between store parking and the pumps. I really do not care if I have to take a lot of room as it is only for a few minutes. I stay away from tandem pumps as I have been stuck behind people that filled up and went in to have lunch forcing me to alert drivers behind me that I have to back out because of an inconsiderate sob.