The Wide Open West - an Example

[Traver8]

Hello All,

I have been thinking about posting this for some time and have finally captured the picture I needed.

For all of you who are not familiar with the wide open spaces we have in the Western part of the country I thought I would share this example.

Some of you who have traveled may recognize this location as it is near a popular destination.

Hope this works.

Here is the photo link:
Click For Full-Size Image.

[dapperdan]

wows, this was the price for Diesel at Coldfoot Camp March of 2013. We were there for Aurora photography and sight seeing.

Up there you CAN'T argue........ the price is the price! :B


It gets REALLY dark up there, perfect for time-exposures!




Dan

[DrewE]

wowens79 wrote:
I wonder what the prices are like at the last gas station after the sign, and the first one after the long stretch??

My range is only 175-200 miles

I don't remember what the prices were, but in general one doesn't go to Alaska (and in particular along the Dalton Highway) primarily to fill up with really inexpensive fuel. It didn't strike me as horribly outrageous given the remote locations.

The scenery, especially around and when crossing the Brooks range, more than makes up for the fuel costs. I don't care to think of what a 120 mile tow would have cost had that been necessary, though.

[Old-Biscuit]

'Next Services' implies that there is a fuel station RIGHT there.......so one fills up/tops off etc regardless of the price.

Hobbies are NOT cheap :B

[wowens79]

I wonder what the prices are like at the last gas station after the sign, and the first one after the long stretch??

My range is only 175-200 miles

[time2roll]

[DrewE]

Is the Dalton Highway in Alaska part of the west? There are 240 miles of no services between Coldfoot and Deadhorse.

[paulj]

NV/OR 140 is one of the longest stretches. Winnemucca, NV to Lakeview, OR.

[time2roll]

Have not driven this one yet:

[NRALIFR]

^ The boss would have said “We can make that, no problem! It’s fine. It’ll be fine.” LOL

Of course, she knows about the Jerry can too. :W

:):)

[ppine]

In the West there used to a lot of small gas stations and motels in remote areas out by themselves. People did not travel as far in a day with the older cars and more primitive roads. Many of those old buildings are still standing but long closed.

It is counter intuitive but there are lots of places like Nevada,eastern OR, NE CA, Utah, etc where the facilities are actually further apart today than they used to be.

I cannot imagine having a vehicle with a range of 175 miles. A Ford diesel has a stock 35 gallon tank. Running empty the range is well over 700 miles. Pulling a TT I can still go about 450 miles.

[time2roll]

Especially important when you only have about 175 miles range.

I had to make a quick exit for this one:

[NRALIFR]

Long “No services” stretches like that are why I started carrying a 20 liter Jerry can of Diesel on the back of the camper. Headwinds and terrain can also change your fuel consumption enough to put you in pucker territory unexpectedly. Having that extra to put in the tank has saved my bacon several times.

I even used my fuel can on a recent east-coast trip, where there are no shortage of fuel stations. I had about 150 mile range left, but could tell from GasBuddy that there was a Kroger store in 175 miles where I could use my saved fuel points and get $.40 a gallon discount for up to 35 gallons. We stopped for lunch at a rest area and I dumped it in.

It pays to plan ahead and have options :C

:):)

[Chris_Bryant]

We had a 1960 VW bus (bought new) that had no fuel gauge, just a two pickup system so you ran out and pulled the knob out for another gallon or so, around 100 miles.
My Dad quickly learned to write down the mileage so he knew how much gas was left- in the ‘60s services were even more sparse!

[profdant139]

Well, you got me beat:


Click For Full-Size Image.