Fuel stops

[Old_Vet]

Every winter we head for El Centro, California from our home in Northern California. The shortest route in down I-5 to the 210 which skirts the east side of L.A. I was wondering if any one knows of a good fuel stop on the 210. I'm pulling a 35 ft 5th wheel with a Ford Diesel. Scares me to just pull of when I see the gas station signs. I'm afraid I wont be able to turn around.

[Paul_Clancy]

I didn't find through LA on I5 as bad as I had thought it would be for traffic. Having said that there are some brutal expansion joints/potholes and no easy fuel access I could find between the grapevine and sandiego. Ended up dumping in a 5 gal can at a rest stop. Wow.

[ol_Bombero-JC]

Monaco Montclair wrote:
Don't t worry bout a thing. Just watch the signs that have desel . I do, if the big trucks can get in , wow good idea, works for me . Now it's all happy-camping

It's just a piece of cake when you're in Virginia, ROTFL.

The population of L.A. County (alone) is 2 million more than the entire *state* of Virginia!
Add in Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, and Ventura County -
and you can add the Virginia population to that total.

Thats somewhere in the neighborhood of 18 million folks - lots of whom are commuting to and from all of those counties (especially L.A.) during a normal work day.

BTW - you will have lots of time in traffic - if you can take your eyes off the road - to be looking for a "desel" sign..

*ANY* freeway (including the 210) anywhere close to, through, or around L.A. is a nightmare to be avoided like the plague.

*If* you must do that - drive through in the early (2 or 3 AM) hours.
The loss of a night's sleep is well worth it..;)

.

[big_bird_2]

You have never taken the 210

[Monaco_Montclai]

Don't t worry bout a thing. Just watch the signs that have desel . I do, if the big trucks can get in , wow good idea, works for me . Now it's all happy-camping

[Puddles]

Old Vet wrote:
Every winter we head for El Centro, California from our home in Northern California. The shortest route in down I-5 to the 210 which skirts the east side of L.A. I was wondering if any one knows of a good fuel stop on the 210. I'm pulling a 35 ft 5th wheel with a Ford Diesel. Scares me to just pull of when I see the gas station signs. I'm afraid I wont be able to turn around.

Get a copy of THE NEXT EXIT... fuel stations, shopping centers that can handle large rigs are marked in red... been a really helpful book for me... see it on Amazon .com

[chipsahoy]

What part of Nor Cal? We used to live in So Cal and went to Sacramento area and Bay area quite often. We would stay away from 210 all together due to traffic. I hate stop and go especially when towing. I much prefer taking east Hwy 58 across from SR-99 to south SR-295 at Kramer Junction to south I-15. Much easier drive when towing. If coming down I-5 there several options to going east over to Hwy 99. Fuel is easy too. There is a Pilot just north of Bakersfield. A Loves in Tehachapi, Pilot at Kramer Junction (although more expensive) and a Loves in Hesperia where 395 meets I-15. If you must take the 210 stop in Castaic and refuel as stated above. I do not know of any RV friendly places between Castaic and the truck stops in Ontario!! Good Luck and be safe!

[Lowsuv]

We fuel up just east of ARVIN CA on CA 223 near the intersection of US 99 .
Coming from i-5 southbound :
We VERY much prefer cutting off of i-5 onto ca 223 through ARVIN CA when towing to Palm Springs .
CA 223 is south of the Bakersfield (58 ) Exits on i-5 .
223 ( Bear Mountain Road ) has 2 fuel stops near the intersection of US 99 .
The first is at CASTAJO ROAD just west of the US-99 overpass .
This is a truck stop .
Continuing east on CA 223 a few miles is a Farm Stop at CA 184 ( Wheeler Ridge Road ) just north of 223 on 184 .
This farm stop has cheap fuel . It is Co-Op .
We then continue east on CA 223 to join US 58 which takes us through Mojave CA .
We follow US 58 eastbound until we can turn right onto US 395 southbound to San Bernardino .
Abundant truck stops on 395 .
From 395 we turn southbound onto i-15 to San Bernardino
From 1-15 ( and 215 )we turn eastbound onto i-10 toward PS .
This is the lowest traffic route we have found to get to PS .
Virtually no stop and go except at Mojave and Kramer Junction .
We avoid Palmdale / Lancaster when towing but others may prefer it .
Through Palmdale would be the 2nd choice , we will no longer do 210 .

[big_bird_2]

I live just off the 210 near the 2. You can get fuel at the Pilot in Castaic, it is not super friendly, but it works. From there on it is a headache. Do not use GPS to locate the station. I have not found fuel from Castaic to the 605. I think it opens up after the 605, but I have never had to fuel until state-line. I would carry a 5 gal can and make sure it is full. Good luck. L.A. is very RV unfriendly.

[2oldman]

Just stay away from big cities and you'll be fine.

[SailingOn]

The web will show you
Pilot/FJ locations here. FJ's smartphone app will also show real-time prices and distance.
TA's locations: here.
Allstays has a web site and an app which show truck stops in general.

[GPG52_]

I agree with those who use truck stops as you are sure to have plenty of room.
Good Sam Club Members have a discount at Flying J's which I believe have about 25 locations in California.
Not sure if any on your route.
Good luck!
GPG

[Me_Again]

Why even go over the grapevine? It is a rate race.

At Lost Hills on I-5 head east on 46 to 99. On the East side of Bakersfield on 58 is the Orange Grove RV Resort. There is a Shell at the exit before that(Weedpatch hwy) with diesel at the Truck Stop behind it. Easy in and easy out.

Then you have a nice scenic pull over the Tehachapi! Turn South at 14 and head to Palmdale. Do not take Palmdale Dr, continue South for two miles and exit on Avenue E and head East to 138. You will have a nice rolling drive to I-15 on 138. Head down the hill to I-215 and at University head East on 210, then onto I-10 like normal.

From the Shell in Bakerfield it is 206 miles to the Pilot at the West end of Palm Springs.

As a side note I-5 is getting bumpy again North of Lost Hills. 99 might be better from Stockton down. I cross over on 120.

Chris

[Shepherd]

I installed an 80 Gal aux tank by RDS.:C

[hbensley]

I am ordering an ATI auxiliary fuel tank. There are many to choose from. I'm getting the 42 gallon size that fits under a tonneau cover. There is one with a tool box top but it will have to be modified to fit in the bed of my truck. The last one mentioned would be around 50 gallons.
Price is about $700 and $1100 delivered to my door.