After a 2500 mile trip and several gas stops, I've come to the conclusion that gas stations make no effort whatsoever to be accommodating to people with trailers. From the way pumps are lined up in their lot, to the tightness of getting in and out, right on down to where they hide the air pumps (assuming you can find a pump that actually works). IT doesn't make sense to me that you'd have a giant lot for people to drive and park in, but then leave no room to get in and out of the pump areas or even to access the air. I tried 4 diff't service stations trying to get air. The first I was able to get lined up and close enough to the pump only to then realize that there was a quarter stuck inside the machine and thus it didn't work. The 2nd place I found would've caused me to block an entire entrance to back in to a spot where there was free air and a working pump. The 3rd place was hidden in the corner in a parking spot, which someone inevitably always parks in and the 4th place had no connector to actually be able to put the air in the tire.Also, side note......when will people realize that gas pumps are not parking spots. You pull up, fill up, and move out of the way. Don't park there, go inside, take a dump, browse for snacks, chat with people and then come back 20 minutes later to move your car and leave.Sorry I had to rant and the gas stations won't listen to me. I felt like at least complaining to other people that deal with the same thing would make me feel better. :)

You sound just like my husband and I have to agree with you too. I have often thought that there should be a Forum here for good Gas Stations - sorted by State. I wonder if it could be done? Then whenever you find a good gas station you can add it to the list.We have a Pilot/Flying J card and we use their gas stations whenever we can - and their App on the iphone will tell you where the nearest stations are, if they have dedicated RV lanes and if they accept the card - and a lot more. After using the stations you can also rate them and comment as to how good they are or aren't.Loves gas stations also have a similar App and that is useful too.I have also downloaded Trucker Pro App which tells me not only the gas stations around but also rest areas and more. We have used some Shell stations found on this App which have proved to be excellent.Just a few thoughts....

I am a civil engineer who has experience with site design. I'm not specifically going to defend the gas station owners, but in many cases their lots are not big enough to accommodate large vehicles and trucks, unless they are specifically designed for commercial traffic (such as truck stops).What happens is that over time, highways are widened, which requires strips of land to be acquired along the frontage. This eventually reduces the land that the gas station has to work with, forcing modifications where pumps and/or buildings have to be relocated. The gas stations also have to meet township codes which require certain offsets to property lines, so this becomes a challenge as the lot shrinks.Newer gas stations built on large lots don't really have an excuse, but most of the older stations do have challenges when it comes to accommodating larger vehicles. In many cases the lot is just not big enough to properly fit the pumps, awnings, buildings, etc that RV'ers can negotiate easily.Also, on state highways, most DOTs regulate the access to the lot, especially if the property is at a corner of an intersection. So the owner can only have a certain number of driveways, and they have to be a certain distance from the intersection, at a certain angle and width. This is done to control the flow of traffic and reduce the number of conflicting turning movements. It dictates where a vehicle can enter and exit the gas station, and many times not to the advantage of someone driving a trailer-type rig.

Thats what I like about Flying J truck stops. They have rv pumps. I like not getting pushed by Trucks, LP at the pump most time, dump stations. I will pay a few more cents a Gal more and use them over a reg truck stop or gas station if I can.

RavensFan24 wrote:... Also, side note......when will people realize that gas pumps are not parking spots. You pull up, fill up, and move out of the way. Don't park there, go inside, take a dump, browse for snacks, chat with people and then come back 20 minutes later to move your car and leave....Can't change the location of the air pumps, that's why I have my own air compressor, I got tired of struggling to get air at gas stations and then face all the obstacles you've described. Do yourself a favor, purchase an air compressor that get's up to 125 pounds from Lowe's or Home Depot (won't cost that much), and save the headache like I did! Best purchase I made for my camper! (and my truck, and my car, and my bicycles, and my utility trailer, and my John Deere riding lawn mower, and my sons car.... ... you get the idea).Anyway, about your "rant!" OH HOW I AGREE WITH YOU! MOVE IT MORON!

I hear you, it sure can be a challenge getting fuel when hitched to our 33' TT but we have always managed. I've long given up on relying on gas stations to air up any of the tires on all the vehicles we own since most are anemic at best. We have both AC (stored in TT basement) and DC portable compressors (stored under truck seat) that we bring for our trips, and at home we use our pancake compressor to fill our vehicle tires quickly.

When will gas stations start truly accommodating trailers?

GilliedogKiwi
Explorer
Jul 23, 2015
You sound just like my husband and I have to agree with you too. I have often thought that there should be a Forum here for good Gas Stations - sorted by State. I wonder if it could be done? Then whenever you find a good gas station you can add it to the list.

We have a Pilot/Flying J card and we use their gas stations whenever we can - and their App on the iphone will tell you where the nearest stations are, if they have dedicated RV lanes and if they accept the card - and a lot more. After using the stations you can also rate them and comment as to how good they are or aren't.

Loves gas stations also have a similar App and that is useful too.

I have also downloaded Trucker Pro App which tells me not only the gas stations around but also rest areas and more. We have used some Shell stations found on this App which have proved to be excellent.

Just a few thoughts....
Doug33
Explorer
Jul 23, 2015
I am a civil engineer who has experience with site design. I'm not specifically going to defend the gas station owners, but in many cases their lots are not big enough to accommodate large vehicles and trucks, unless they are specifically designed for commercial traffic (such as truck stops).

What happens is that over time, highways are widened, which requires strips of land to be acquired along the frontage. This eventually reduces the land that the gas station has to work with, forcing modifications where pumps and/or buildings have to be relocated. The gas stations also have to meet township codes which require certain offsets to property lines, so this becomes a challenge as the lot shrinks.

Newer gas stations built on large lots don't really have an excuse, but most of the older stations do have challenges when it comes to accommodating larger vehicles. In many cases the lot is just not big enough to properly fit the pumps, awnings, buildings, etc that RV'ers can negotiate easily.

Also, on state highways, most DOTs regulate the access to the lot, especially if the property is at a corner of an intersection. So the owner can only have a certain number of driveways, and they have to be a certain distance from the intersection, at a certain angle and width. This is done to control the flow of traffic and reduce the number of conflicting turning movements. It dictates where a vehicle can enter and exit the gas station, and many times not to the advantage of someone driving a trailer-type rig.
sncraig
Explorer
Jul 23, 2015
Thats what I like about Flying J truck stops. They have rv pumps. I like not getting pushed by Trucks, LP at the pump most time, dump stations. I will pay a few more cents a Gal more and use them over a reg truck stop or gas station if I can.
DutchmenSport
Explorer
Jul 23, 2015
RavensFan24 wrote:
... Also, side note......when will people realize that gas pumps are not parking spots. You pull up, fill up, and move out of the way. Don't park there, go inside, take a dump, browse for snacks, chat with people and then come back 20 minutes later to move your car and leave....

Can't change the location of the air pumps, that's why I have my own air compressor, I got tired of struggling to get air at gas stations and then face all the obstacles you've described. Do yourself a favor, purchase an air compressor that get's up to 125 pounds from Lowe's or Home Depot (won't cost that much), and save the headache like I did! Best purchase I made for my camper! (and my truck, and my car, and my bicycles, and my utility trailer, and my John Deere riding lawn mower, and my sons car.... ... you get the idea).

Anyway, about your "rant!" OH HOW I AGREE WITH YOU! MOVE IT MORON!
Sandia_Man
Explorer II
Jul 23, 2015
I hear you, it sure can be a challenge getting fuel when hitched to our 33' TT but we have always managed. I've long given up on relying on gas stations to air up any of the tires on all the vehicles we own since most are anemic at best. We have both AC (stored in TT basement) and DC portable compressors (stored under truck seat) that we bring for our trips, and at home we use our pancake compressor to fill our vehicle tires quickly.
RandACampin
Explorer II
Jul 23, 2015
Why should they cater to trailers? It probably represents a negligible portion of their business.
danimal53
Explorer
Jul 23, 2015
the service plazas on the Ohio turnpike are actually GREAT for RVs/TTs. They have regular gas pumps by the big truck pumps so you can easily pull right thru, and they are clearly marked Diesel or Gas.

As a bonus, some of the plazas have dedicated RV overnight parking. For $20, you get electric hookup, potable water available, and a dump station

not sure of the air fill situation, haven't had a need yet.

we plan on stopping for a night on our next trip east.

check it out here:
http://www.ohioturnpike.org/travelers/service-plazas

would be great if other states catch on and use this as an example!
msgtord
Explorer
Jul 23, 2015
A couple of newer Chevrons here have the pumps angled so that you can pull in and drive out really easy with a trailer. It's the older stations that you are forced to back out after fueling. We really like to take the two lanes when traveling, but it's tough to find the stations that can accommodate a trailer. I have had to route to the interstate for fuel because the smaller towns in west Texas could not fit the trailer.
NanciL
Explorer II
Jul 23, 2015
Did it ever occur to you that those gas stations just might have been built before trailers were made longer and longer ?

I have a 25 footer and would never go longer.

I also have my own 12 volt compressor that does a great job of topping off the tires.

Over the years I have listened to the people with monster RV's and longer trailers complain about not being able to get into a camp site, and it should be obvious to them that the camp sites were built a long time before they got their monster RV

Jack L
wildtoad
Explorer II
Jul 23, 2015
I think most gas station owners make the best of the land that have to deal with. It's not just trailers, even with my short mh some places are hard to get into or just can't. I'm sure it's a thought process they go through to determine how many pumps/island they can get to serve the most people with the least amount of waiting/backup. One of the fallouts may be not being able to serve the larger/longer units.