Hi All,getting ready to go on our first major 2 week vacation to Moab and Zion with the Ram 3500 and 40' Montana.we have done over half dozen trips in Oregon.still new to the 5th wheel/diesel truck part, not new to RV had a 35' class A and toad.my question is what lanes do you use at the truck stops?the normal lanes or the trucker lanes and how do the truck lanes work?i plan out my gas stops ahead of time with several apps i find google maps to be helpful to get a quick look.thanksJeff

I always use the truck lanes. I have a Flying J card so I don't have to go inside to pay. I have a $2000 monthly limit tied into my bank checking account. They automatically take the charges out the following month on the 23rd. It works great for me and have had no issues for three years doing it this way.

Pull up have your wife go inside tell $ amount you won't exceed, diesel only or DEF also and pump number. Have her use the restroom, she get's two rings from you indicating you are finished, you pull ahead and she comes out after paying and drive off into the sunset!

Don't know about Loves, but Flying J /Pilot has its own credit card now. We us regular gas, so the only issue we have is ease of exit when choosing a lane! The Flying J/Pilot credit card works like every other one does.

We also use the RV Plus Card for Pilot Flying J. We prefer Flying J and use the RV lanes there. With either the Flying J card or RV Plus Charge Card you don't have to go in. We get 7 cents off cash price per gallon using the card. They deduct the entire amount each month (no interest). You do not have an option to pay a portion as it's a charge card not a credit card. If we use Pilot or Loves we use the truck lanes. We do go prepay inside (overestimate the cost they will only bill the amount you pump). We don't need a receipt so I go back to the RV. They start the pump, we pump and pull out. When done pumping pull forward immediately so the truckers and get in.

Many pre-merger Flying J's have dedicated "RV Lanes" which I use. I've never been in a pre-merger Pilot that had any dedicated RV lanes. If the particular truck stop I'm using doesn't have RV lanes, it's off to the truck lanes for me.

pilot/flying J/loves etc...what lanes do you use?

minnow
Explorer
Sep 20, 2016
A little hard to do when they block you in at the pump while they go inside to buy a 96 oz slurpee.
gmc851
Explorer
Sep 19, 2016
Try to remember they are on the clock and you are on VACATION. Get in get out.
minnow
Explorer
Sep 07, 2016
I ordered my Titan Tank tank today. Will be here in 1 week and installed a day after that. Will see you all on the road but not at Loves and Flying J.
laknox
Nomad
Sep 06, 2016
Here's another example from current (9-6-16; ~9AM) AZ diesel prices off Gas Buddy.

From PHX:
Love's at 83rd Ave., S of I-10: $2.34
Shell, with truck pumps at 51st Ave., S of I-10: $2.01.

From Yuma:
Love's at Ave. 3E, S of I-8: $2.49.
Baron Fuel on 16th St./Hwy 95 about 3/4 mile E of I-8: $2.08.
41 cents per gallon difference. Why would I =not= give Baron my business?

Even with discounts from Good Sam's, Love's CC, etc., I can virtually guarantee you you're not going to make up that kind of difference, IMO.

Lyle
ramgunner
Explorer
Sep 06, 2016
We use the truck lanes, and the RV Plus Card. It starts the pump - no need to go in. We get in, fuel and DEF, and get out.

Lifetime GS members get $0.08 off of the CASH price for each gallon of diesel. The pumps start out showing the credit price, while the cash price is usually shown on the sign out front.
Cummins12V98
Explorer III
Sep 06, 2016
eb145 wrote:
Cummins12V98 wrote:

Those that use the Pilot/FlyingJ card what percentage or cents per gallon do you get off? I get 4 percent with my Visa/Costco card.

It looks like the Pilot Flying J RV Plus card is 6 cents off the cash price of diesel, so about 12 cents per gallon I guess. https://www.rvpluscard.com/

With my Costco Visa card my net price would be $3.36 per gallon. Can you use the RV card at the truck lane pumps?

Here’s an example
Posted Diesel Credit Price . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $3.50/gal
Cash Price . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $3.44/gal
Good Sam Member Discount . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $0.06/gal
Your Price . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $3.38/gal
That’s a savings of $.12 per gallon off the credit price!
laknox
Nomad
Sep 06, 2016
minnow wrote:
After this past week using truck lanes twice and getting blocked in by the "professional" truck drivers, I'm getting a aftermarket mid ship replacement tank installed so I won't have to worry about fueling up while towing. As a side be benefit, I will be choosy as to where I buy diesel. Loves, pilot and flying j seem to be 35-60 cents more per gallon than non truck stop diesel stations. I'm done being taken advantage of.

I agree. The truck stops are usually =much= higher, at least out here in the West, so I use Gas Buddy to find cheaper fuel. Biggest issue that I have is, if I try and use a "truck lane", the d@mn fuel nozzle is too fat to fit all the way into the filler neck of my truck. I have to sit there and babysit it, usually only at half-rate, to keep it from falling out or shutting off. Given that you can find much cheaper fuel if you go 1/2 or a mile off an interstate, it's worth saving $4-5 per tank, IMO. Now, I =have= used a truck stop on occasion, but that was when there was literally no option available. I also carry at least one 7 gal can with me and use Gas Buddy to see what fuel prices are along my route. That allows me to skip a town with higher prices for one a bit beyond my normal range for lower prices.

Lyle
lynndiwagon
Explorer
Sep 06, 2016
It won't help for this trip, but the recommendation by minnow is a good one. With my 60 gal. aux tank I rarely need to fuel up while connected to the rig. I usually try to find a Walmart or something similar for cheaper fuel plus no hassle from rig being hooked up. In the rare instance where I'm connected I use the FJ RV plus card.
Paul_Clancy
Explorer
Sep 06, 2016
I use the truck lanes. Wife goes in and pre pays - shops etc. I finish and pull ahead. She cashes out - pretty simple. I've only had trouble in Cali in weed and another stop further south where the truckers get very aggressive in the lots with how they drive. Guessing they don't like RV folks.
john_bet
Explorer II
Sep 06, 2016
I use the up front lanes if they have diesel fuel and an easy way in and out. Other wise I use the truck lanes and have never been given any flack by anyone. If I have to make a couple of trips inside I have problem with that. I usually need to move anyway. We used the up front lanes at a Loves station once and had to wait for ever for the person in front of me to finish thier goofing off inside and to move on. Not again if I can help it.