Getting gas with long trailer?

[Mondooker]

Hi guys, I looked on Utube and found diesel videos but no gas. Diesel is easy in that you can go to any truck stop, get in line and pump diesel. However, truck stops don’t have gas lanes so how do you fuel a gas truck? Certainly not unhook every time?

I don’t ever remember being at a gas station and see a guy pulling a long trailer getting gas. So what’s the answer? And if you know of a video I’d love to see it.

Thanks guys

[Curly2001]

Sometimes, if you can hang back and watch the gas islands to see who on the outside is ready to leave and then you can move in. Make sure you have an exit plan but most often you can get out. It seems as though lately the distance between the store and the islands is getting tighter but most times you can negociate that distance to move all the way around them to get to the other side if you have to reach those pumps. Just be patient.
Curly

[Veebyes]

BarneyS wrote:

Veebyes wrote:
Snip...Never have had to abort with our 12' 10" air draft.

Spoken like a true sailor! :B
Barney

Yup, 30 year boater who lives in an area where bridge heights are not posted & one needs to use own reference marks on the bridge for tide.

Tide is something we don't have to think about at gas stations. At gas stations somebody can get out & have a look. Can't do that under bridges.:)

[BarneyS]

Veebyes wrote:
Snip...Never have had to abort with our 12' 10" air draft.

Spoken like a true sailor! :B
Barney

[Veebyes]

gtnsmlr wrote:
I think it would be a lot less hassle if they passed a federal law requiring that awning heights be clearly verified and posted.

A low pump island top is extremely rare these days. The few that are left are in small stations in small towns & are left overs from long ago in old small towns.

In 14 years & 230,000 miles back & forth across the country very very few times have we had the need to get out & look. Never have had to abort with our 12' 10" air draft.

[Thermoguy]

Lantley wrote:

Thermoguy wrote:
Wow, so many people overthink this. Getting gas is simple and many gas stations have large areas that are not an issue for a truck and trailer. I have a diesel but never go to the "truck" island, always the same side as vehicles. It's probably harder to get diesel as there are limited pumps and you often have to wait for an open pump. But, if you are traveling on the interstate or highway, most if not all stations are going to have ample room. I can't even recall backing out unless there is a car at the pump in front of me and I can't go forward or don't want to wait. Just look before you drive in the driveway, if it is too tight, go to another one, usually across the street. I think I spend more time looking for the price then looking if I can get in and out. This really is a non issue, or at least not worth stressing or even planning in advance. I have never looked at Google to see if the station is large enough. If you wanted to gas up in the city, then you might have to think a little harder for a station with room, but no the interstate, don't even worry...

You claim that it is not an issue then you mention if it's too tight go across the street......THe idea is to pull into an accesible place the 1st time!
Getting gasoline while hooked often requires effort.It's not as easy as getting diesel.
It's not the issue of our lifetime, but it is worth some discussion and often requires some planning/scouting.

My Point was, you can tell before you try to pull in if it is a good gas station or not. Along the interstate I would venture to guess 90% of gas stations can accommodate a larger rig. Not at the Diesel island, at all islands. I drive a diesel but always use the standard islands, don't like the dedicated truck islands and I'm not one to get in the way of a commercial trucker. I have never planned ahead other than to only stop for gas when I can see that there are multiple choices or that the station can accommodate me, this is easy to see before you take the exit. Also, if there is a Love's or other truck stop, I have found the gas islands are wide and easy to get in and out of.

[gtnsmlr]

I think it would be a lot less hassle if they passed a federal law requiring that awning heights be clearly verified and posted.

[BarneyS]

In over 35 years of towing a large travel trailer, i only had to back out of a station twice _ both times back into a busy street. Had no problem with my wife stopping traffic and me slowly backing up. Cars stopped and no one honked.

We always gassed up or fueled up at local gas stations that had diesel fuel. Never a problem.

My advice, learn to back your rig, use the outside pumps, and don’t worry about it.:)
Barney

[tomman58]

NamMedevac 70 wrote:
temporarily unhook the trailer. Extra work is good for the

Not worthy of even a thought

[NamMedevac_70]

temporarily unhook the trailer. Extra work is good for the

[Mondooker]

RVing is not for those who dislike paying attention and sometimes following the rules. Do you find that as a rule, people are pretty good about giving extra room and/or hanging back when needed? I’ve had little trouble with folks while driving a motorhome. I would think the same is true pulling a fifth wheel?

I’ve always used diesel pumps in the past without issue using truck stops. It’s nice to know that FlyingJ has pull through RV gas pumps. After reading this thread I’m a lot more confident in getting gas from non-truck stop stations.

[ford_truck_guy]

Whenever I go to a NEW destination, I always do a google map of the route.. I figure out the mileage and look on google street view to scope out the fuel stops along the route, in the range I am usually at..
I have never had an "OH CR@P " moment since doing it that way.

I did once have an HEIGHT issue down south... almost took down some low hanging lights at a smaller station. The Canopy had the height, the lights hanging under the canopy, not so much.. But ALMOST didn't count that day ! ! !

[Mondooker]

Hi guys, I want to thank you one and all for your comments. I was afraid when I made the post I’d get something like “that is such a stupid question.”
One thing that brought up the question is I was at Walmart the other day. Plenty of room to get in and plenty of head space. But you’d have to back out, something I’d not want to do in a busy place.

[Lantley]

Thermoguy wrote:
Wow, so many people overthink this. Getting gas is simple and many gas stations have large areas that are not an issue for a truck and trailer. I have a diesel but never go to the "truck" island, always the same side as vehicles. It's probably harder to get diesel as there are limited pumps and you often have to wait for an open pump. But, if you are traveling on the interstate or highway, most if not all stations are going to have ample room. I can't even recall backing out unless there is a car at the pump in front of me and I can't go forward or don't want to wait. Just look before you drive in the driveway, if it is too tight, go to another one, usually across the street. I think I spend more time looking for the price then looking if I can get in and out. This really is a non issue, or at least not worth stressing or even planning in advance. I have never looked at Google to see if the station is large enough. If you wanted to gas up in the city, then you might have to think a little harder for a station with room, but no the interstate, don't even worry...

You claim that it is not an issue then you mention if it's too tight go across the street......THe idea is to pull into an accesible place the 1st time!
Getting gasoline while hooked often requires effort.It's not as easy as getting diesel.
It's not the issue of our lifetime, but it is worth some discussion and often requires some planning/scouting.

[Thermoguy]

Wow, so many people overthink this. Getting gas is simple and many gas stations have large areas that are not an issue for a truck and trailer. I have a diesel but never go to the "truck" island, always the same side as vehicles. It's probably harder to get diesel as there are limited pumps and you often have to wait for an open pump. But, if you are traveling on the interstate or highway, most if not all stations are going to have ample room. I can't even recall backing out unless there is a car at the pump in front of me and I can't go forward or don't want to wait. Just look before you drive in the driveway, if it is too tight, go to another one, usually across the street. I think I spend more time looking for the price then looking if I can get in and out. This really is a non issue, or at least not worth stressing or even planning in advance. I have never looked at Google to see if the station is large enough. If you wanted to gas up in the city, then you might have to think a little harder for a station with room, but no the interstate, don't even worry...

[tomman58]

think every flying J has a set of gas pumps separate from the normal gas ones for RVs and such. I always had a problem with their pricing even though we got diesel . I've seen motorhomes having to disconnect their toads to do pumps. Good luck