Fueling up at a truck stop

[jimmac28]

I need some help on fueling up my new to me diesel at a truck stop. I’m taking a trip from Chicago to Nashville, so this will be the first time I’ll have to stop on the road with the trailer.

I know with the fifth wheel its better just to go through the truck fuel racks, but how does the pay part work and is there anything that I have to be aware of?

[jimmac28]

Thanks for all the great advice, this thread has sticky written all over it. 🙂

[greende]

Same here, I have a 5 gallon diesel can that I use for my Kubota tractor. When going out of state, I put it in the bed full just in case.

[Cummins12V98]

avvidclif1 wrote:

laknox wrote:

avvidclif1 wrote:
I try to make all my stops at Wally World where they have diesel. Not only is it cheaper than the freeway truck stops but I use their credit card which gets anywhere from 5-15 cents off/gal. That adds up in a hurry. We ran 3700 mi last month on a trip and several times the difference in truck stop and Walmart was 30-35 cents/gal.

I will admit they don't want big rigs at their pumps and designed them that way but by being creative I've managed to get in everywhere I wanted to without unhooking.

Wally World has an app for their store and you can specify w/fuel pumps. Gas Buddy works real well also. I also use Gas Buddy to see which side of the state line to fill up on. Missouri diesel is 40 cents/gal cheaper than Illinois for example, same brand station just on different sides of the Mississippi.

I usually drop off the DW at the door of the store to get any needed supplies and then fill up and go back and pick her up.

Now if they ever put the diesel pumps in the middle instead of on the end I'm in trouble.

I use Gas Buddy regularly, but I do have an issue with them in that they rarely verify station info. Wrong phone #'s and, more importantly for us diesel-burners, listing stations as having diesel when they, in fact, do not. Have run into that several times and nearly been burned when running near-empty.

Lyle

That's why I carry a 5 gal can in the back.

Smart move!

[avvidclif1]

laknox wrote:

avvidclif1 wrote:
I try to make all my stops at Wally World where they have diesel. Not only is it cheaper than the freeway truck stops but I use their credit card which gets anywhere from 5-15 cents off/gal. That adds up in a hurry. We ran 3700 mi last month on a trip and several times the difference in truck stop and Walmart was 30-35 cents/gal.

I will admit they don't want big rigs at their pumps and designed them that way but by being creative I've managed to get in everywhere I wanted to without unhooking.

Wally World has an app for their store and you can specify w/fuel pumps. Gas Buddy works real well also. I also use Gas Buddy to see which side of the state line to fill up on. Missouri diesel is 40 cents/gal cheaper than Illinois for example, same brand station just on different sides of the Mississippi.

I usually drop off the DW at the door of the store to get any needed supplies and then fill up and go back and pick her up.

Now if they ever put the diesel pumps in the middle instead of on the end I'm in trouble.

I use Gas Buddy regularly, but I do have an issue with them in that they rarely verify station info. Wrong phone #'s and, more importantly for us diesel-burners, listing stations as having diesel when they, in fact, do not. Have run into that several times and nearly been burned when running near-empty.

Lyle

That's why I carry a 5 gal can in the back.

[Allworth]

Hess stations like for every pump handle to be green (Hess-Green). Sometimes diesel pumps have orange handles.

[laknox]

rjsurfer wrote:
I just wish there was some convention at these gas stations that could point you to the diesel pump, something like a green light or cone on top of the pump so you could see it from the road.

I rarely use truck stops, no need, but I dislike driving up to a station slower than I would like to get the lay of the land so to speak before pulling in.

What I have learned is to avoid stations that have their pumps perpendicular to the road, pumps that are parallel or at some angle to the main road are usually easier to navigate with a fifth wheel.




Ron W.

Most all stations here in AZ have a green background on their sign boards at the street to designate diesel. I can't think of a single on here that doesn't. In CA, I've seen a green sign used for a different grade of gas, but not often.

Lyle

[laknox]

avvidclif1 wrote:
I try to make all my stops at Wally World where they have diesel. Not only is it cheaper than the freeway truck stops but I use their credit card which gets anywhere from 5-15 cents off/gal. That adds up in a hurry. We ran 3700 mi last month on a trip and several times the difference in truck stop and Walmart was 30-35 cents/gal.

I will admit they don't want big rigs at their pumps and designed them that way but by being creative I've managed to get in everywhere I wanted to without unhooking.

Wally World has an app for their store and you can specify w/fuel pumps. Gas Buddy works real well also. I also use Gas Buddy to see which side of the state line to fill up on. Missouri diesel is 40 cents/gal cheaper than Illinois for example, same brand station just on different sides of the Mississippi.

I usually drop off the DW at the door of the store to get any needed supplies and then fill up and go back and pick her up.

Now if they ever put the diesel pumps in the middle instead of on the end I'm in trouble.

I use Gas Buddy regularly, but I do have an issue with them in that they rarely verify station info. Wrong phone #'s and, more importantly for us diesel-burners, listing stations as having diesel when they, in fact, do not. Have run into that several times and nearly been burned when running near-empty.

Lyle

[ol_Bombero-JC]

Dave H M wrote:
In the 13 years that I ran a diesel, I never used the trailer truck lanes. Sometimes the RV lane on the auto side and a lot of times the diesel pump in the auto lane if no specific RV pumps are designated.

First diesel p/up truck in 1985 - 6.9 Ferd.

Rarely found the need to use the truck (semis w/trailers) lanes at truck stops - but in 1985, not too many RV lanes for diesel.

Caveats at the *NON*-RV lanes:
Usually the truck pumps are high-flow - BEWARE !!
"Hit the top" (full) with one of those and you *WILL* be 'wearing' diesel..:D

As others have indicated - no matter which you use, *if* you have to go back inside...pull up (clear the pump).
*Very* unhappy truckers if you don't.

~

Often "normal" gas stations sell diesel at the same price as the truck stops - however you must "eyeball" the access *before* you commit to entering when towing.

Always double check your choice of nozzles at pumps that have both gasoline & diesel.
Diesel designation - (and smell) - should be obvious....but double check anyway.
DON'T rely on the usually green handle!
An error can be costly in time and money..:(

~

[rjsurfer]

I just wish there was some convention at these gas stations that could point you to the diesel pump, something like a green light or cone on top of the pump so you could see it from the road.

I rarely use truck stops, no need, but I dislike driving up to a station slower than I would like to get the lay of the land so to speak before pulling in.

What I have learned is to avoid stations that have their pumps perpendicular to the road, pumps that are parallel or at some angle to the main road are usually easier to navigate with a fifth wheel.




Ron W.

[saddleup]

Man, a lot of you guys have some good coordination going on with your DW's...that would never work for me ha ha - we are always on different wave lengths so to speak.

Also, never had a problem maneuvering at the gas stations with my travel trailer. The diesel pumps are always on the outside islands. Worst thing that I have to deal with is a car blocking my access to the diesel pump and the driver is taking their time in the store. As far as the maneuvering, I would expect it to be even easier now that I have a fifth wheel.

[avvidclif1]

I try to make all my stops at Wally World where they have diesel. Not only is it cheaper than the freeway truck stops but I use their credit card which gets anywhere from 5-15 cents off/gal. That adds up in a hurry. We ran 3700 mi last month on a trip and several times the difference in truck stop and Walmart was 30-35 cents/gal.

I will admit they don't want big rigs at their pumps and designed them that way but by being creative I've managed to get in everywhere I wanted to without unhooking.

Wally World has an app for their store and you can specify w/fuel pumps. Gas Buddy works real well also. I also use Gas Buddy to see which side of the state line to fill up on. Missouri diesel is 40 cents/gal cheaper than Illinois for example, same brand station just on different sides of the Mississippi.

I usually drop off the DW at the door of the store to get any needed supplies and then fill up and go back and pick her up.

Now if they ever put the diesel pumps in the middle instead of on the end I'm in trouble.

[Cummins12V98]

RAS43 wrote:

Cummins12V98 wrote:
Truck stops are usually easy off and on the freeway. So who cares if they are 4 cents a gallon more????? $.04 X 30 gallons = $1.20 savings, big deal.

No worries on clearance.

No worries on old fuel.

Out here I see more then 4¢ difference. More like 10¢ plus the fee for a credit card purchase. You may not consider it much savings but for many like me it adds up in a year, probably a couple of fill ups.
And as pointed out there is usually a fuel stop close to those big truck stops that has better prices, the same fresh fuel, and is just as easy in/out, even with my doubles. I have even seen truckers using them because they are less crowded. JMO

I will also use the other places if they have a RV line but in general I have my stops figured out along I-5 border to border where we do most of our traveling.

[RAS43]

Cummins12V98 wrote:
Truck stops are usually easy off and on the freeway. So who cares if they are 4 cents a gallon more????? $.04 X 30 gallons = $1.20 savings, big deal.

No worries on clearance.

No worries on old fuel.

Out here I see more then 4¢ difference. More like 10¢ plus the fee for a credit card purchase. You may not consider it much savings but for many like me it adds up in a year, probably a couple of fill ups.
And as pointed out there is usually a fuel stop close to those big truck stops that has better prices, the same fresh fuel, and is just as easy in/out, even with my doubles. I have even seen truckers using them because they are less crowded. JMO

[Chalkie]

naturist wrote:
{SNIP}You usually find that the diesel hoses have a green handle. However, I have found some to be colored yellow.

Practically all the gas stations that have diesel fuel advertise their price in a green color.{SNIP}

How true. Seems BP uses yellow which is common in the UK. But, really? You are not in the UK here, so give me a break. Also, you need to watch out for what percent bio-diesel you are getting. My truck is only certified for 5% so if I hit a pump that says 15-20% I move on if I can. A few times I have had to take what I can get, but fill up again as soon as I can.