Diesel fueling Etiquette

[thirtydaZe]

This is actually a source of stress for me when pulling our TT in uncharted areas.

Truck stops, am i to use the semi areas, or the stalls for regular travelers?

Will I fit at that station?

Is my rig in someone's way?

Heading into the mountains, where will i be able to stop?

Once i hit ½ tank it's full on paranoia.

Something about the open road, towing, unfamiliar locations, it drive me insane worrying about my next stop.

We traveled the Ohio turnpike and each time we stopped it specifically said truck, rv, etc, use this entrance, every time i pulled to the diesel pump, i was in the wrong spot to fuel a non-commercial vehicle.

What are your go to places? large truck stops, local gas stations, i'm always looking for the easy in/easy out where i ruffle no feathers.

I love being on the road, doing the lifestyle, but this drives me crazy....

[jnharley]

If you do not want the PFJ credit card, you can get the customer card that has pump start so you do not have to go inside until time to pay. It will also give you your discount.

[Halmfamily]

When pulling our fiver I use truck stops 90% of the time, easy in easy out. Running bobtail I use whatever I can find. I do have a 110 gallon auxiliary tank so at regular fuel stations it can take a while to fill both tanks. The last time I pulled into a small station while pulling our fiver I had to leave about five feet of the fiver in the road, only filled main tank and backed out. If you have a Pilot/Flying J fuel card you can pay at the truck pump with no limits. Relax and have fun.

[Drew_K]

First, buy the AllStays app if you have an iPhone. It's $10 but it tells you exactly where the truck stops are and how far away you are from them.

I just use truck stops and have never had an issue. It was a little stressful the first time I used one, but it's by far the easiest way to fill up. The procedure is pretty simple:

- Pull into an open lane or wait your turn if there's a line.
- Once you're at the pump, go inside and tell the cashier how much in $$$ you want. Overestimate how much you want. They'll refund you the difference.
- Pump your diesel.
- When finished, pull your truck up to the yellow line so someone can use the pump behind you.
- Go back inside and check with the cashier to get a refund of your unused amount. Love's will automatically apply the refund and leave a receipt in a bin for you at the cashier. Other truck stops will issue the refund later in the day.

My last bit of advice is to get an auxiliary fuel tank or, if you have a small on board tank (less than 30 gallons), replace it with a larger one. It's really nice having the extended range. I replaced my puny 26 gallon with a 50 gallon, giving me 400+ miles of towing range.

[obgraham]

You have the same right to access those pumps as Bubba and his Pitbull do. And the dealer is just as happy to sell their fuel to you.

I never apologize for where I am fueling. I do however everything I can to not slow up the next guy,

[john_bet]

Since 24 May and almost 6k miles I have done all the above. In fact just today I pull into a truck stop on I-80 east of Cheyenne,WY. with pumps out front thinking they had diesel there. They did, but you could only get to the one pump that had it is if you came in the marked exit. I want around to the semi pumps, did a prepay, filled up and went in for receipt and discount change. Not one word from anyone. As said by others you are over thinking it, so just relax and go,go,go.

[Oaklevel]

Fuel where you fit. Last weekend I filled with the big trucks because the trailer would not fit in the car diesel area. No big deal!!!!!!!!. Did have to go in & pay first as the commercial pumps were not set up to take credit cards. Filled & pulled away.......& parked..... Be courteous & use common sense.

Parked with the big trucks at a truck stop last summer to walk the dogs & a trucker stopped mid aisle jumped out ....I was thinking.... ut oh. He came up with a picture of his Boxer & said he just loved the dogs & his had recently passed.....super nice guy...... They are just making a living......Be courteous, be smart, allow room, use common sense.

[southernsky]

On my 2011 3500 I still have 10 gals. left at 1/4 tank. I figure I'm getting around 10 mpg so I still have a around 100 mls. to look for a fuel stop. I stop anywhere my rig will fit for fuel. Sometimes my smokin' copilot has to guide me in, but no problems..

[naturist]

(a) as long as you get in, do your business, and get out of the way, nobody cares. Relax.

On the other hand (you knew there was an other hand, I'm sure) EVERYBODY hates the a*******e who camps on top of a pump fills up, goes inside, gets a hot dog, pays for it, eats it, pays for the fuel, chats up the clerk, mosey's out to the rig, then sits in it for a spell calculating fuel mileage and where he's gonna spend his NEXT vacation before finally pulling out of the way.

Those guys deserve a full set of flats all 'round. Plus a dead cell phone battery.

[Scott_85]

I hate the car that pull up to the diesel pump and get gas then leave the car go inside get some food then get back in the car and start eating before pulling off.

[fj12ryder]

All of this is good advice.

If you have the funds and can spare the weight you might check into an auxiliary tank. Not necessarily for the range, but for the fact that you're not forced to stop for fuel. I have a 40 gallon auxiliary tank and it allows me to only fill up at the end of the day after we have pulled in and set up the toyhauler. We don't have to stop at truck stops, we don't have to worry about blocking anyone, we don't have to worry about being able to get in and out, etc. It is just one less chore to keep track of during the day's travel.

I have about $350 invested and it was worth every penny. It's just a cheap Farm Store tank with a manual fill nozzle, nothing fancy but it does the job.

[GaryWT]

Every time I pull up to a pump without the trailer and someone pulls behind me I say to myself, it's going to be awhile. Usually 2 cars make it through the next pump before I spend my $100 to fill up... It is what it is.

[oldchief7155]

Use Flying J. THey have lanes especially for RVs.

[ronniedean1234]

Speaking of Etiquette, last fall we were at a truck stop South of Boise Idaho, pulled in to fuel up then parked out where the big rigs park, went inside to grab a bite to eat and noticed outside there was a nice yellow jeep sitting in the fuel lane with no one around, after about 10 minuets I said to the wife, wonder where the people are that own that jeep, another 10-15 minuets go by and I am commenting what kind of jerk would leave there rig in a fuel lane unattended, well low and behold 2 young people finished there lunch behind us, walked out without paying for there meal and drove off in the Jeep. Well as the old saying goes, YOU CAN'T FIX STUPID

[mlts22]

Once I start hitting the road more often, I'm going to see about getting a Pacific Pride or similar cardlock type of card. Unmanned pumps are a lot easier to deal with than the ones at the crowded gas stations.

[thirtydaZe]

Great info everyone. We are going to move slow and relax for our upcoming trip. Only going to drive 4 hours per day on the way up, then see what coming home brings.

Hopefully doing it that way will slow the pace. Seems to always be more hustle and bustle than necessary.