Gas challenged?

[jjjandrbaker]

Knowing that I'm going to get some snarky comments, I'm going to go ahead and ask my stupid question of the month. I am on a 19 day cross country road trip. I have tried to use gas stations that accommodate RVs. So far, I have not been able to figure out where I am supposed to get my gas. I have been to a Flying J, Love's, and TA. The regular pumps are hard to get into. The truck pumps, seem to only have diesel. I haven't seen any pumps designated for RVs. My trailer is a tiny 15 footer. I know you guys with bigger rigs aren't using the regular pumps. Where am I supposed to be going? Remember, I said it was a stupid question. Be gentle!

[CavemanCharlie]

I don't travel very far so I can get to my campground, unhook, and then go get gas.

I see some of you recommend getting gas at half a tank. I don't know about that. For me this would involve stopping every 100 miles or so. Not going to get very far that way.

When not towing and just driving around in my truck I know I need gas when the little red light next to the gas gauge pops on. When that happens I have about 20 miles to go.

I would not do that towing !! But, I think looking for gas at 1/4 tank would be what I would personally do. However, again, I don't travel far. There may be places in the country where the distance between gas stations is further apart then around here.

[dewey02]

x2 on most of this advice.
It is trial and error and learning by experience where you can fit your rig.
We've found it is usually when we are in urban areas that we have problems. They put gas stations on very small lots (probably due to the price of land) with no manuevering room.
When you are out in rural areas, there is often much more room to enter and exit.
Just make sure you've got enough gas left in the tank to pass one or two stations to find the one that can accomodate you.

And I am very pleased that your suspicions about people getting snarky with you didn't happen. It seems like all the responses have been kind and helpful. 🙂

[PawPaw_n_Gram]

jjjandrbaker wrote:
I've been stopping at about the half tank point. There have been times when I've pulled into a station and pulled right back out and goner to another one.

Looking for fuel at the 1/2 tank mark gives you more options. Waiting to 1/4 tank can force you to have to deal with places you would rather not go into.

I have pulled up, then pulled right out of stations, and will continue to do so in the future if the layout is unsuitable.

I vastly prefer the end pumps on a station. Almost always easier to get into/ out of.

Just last Monday, I purchased gas at a station for $2.19, while the one across the road was $2.14, and the Murphy USA at Walmart a half block down was $2.09. Simply because the way the new Murphy USA was built, I could not get my rig into, nor the station across the street with less than 25 feet between the pumps and the front of the building.

I've learned to try to look at a prospective station on Google Maps/ Bing Maps satellite view. I also keep a list of RV friendly stations in my GPS.

We've pulled this TT over 20,000 miles in the past 2 1/2 years. Hooked up, I'm right at 60 feet long. Also, if I make a hard cut to turn, the back end of the TT will swing out almost four feet, something else I have to watch for when looking at a station for clearance.

The best news is that by the time you finish your trip, you will be able to look at almost any station from the street and know if your rig will fit. Practice is the best teacher.

[jjjandrbaker]

Well, thanks for all the answers. I guess I'll just keep doing what I've been doing. That is stopping at stations that look usable to me. I've been stopping at about the half tank point. There have been times when I've pulled into a station and pulled right back out and goner to another one. Sounds like that's what everybody does. I've never had this problem before. This is the first trip that I'm not taking the trailer off the hitch at night. I'm moving from camp to camp every day, and just don't see the point of taking it off. Normally I stay longer at one site and fill my tank while I'm out and about exploring the area.

[wanderingbob]

Go to a regular station . Yesterday the price difference between Flying J and a small station was sixty cents for fuel and fifty three cents for gas . I am over sixty feet long and will drive several miles to save fifteen dollars .

[F1bNorm]

What's important is not to wait until you're on your last drop of gas. If the station isn't right, you can go to the next one. Top off the tank while you're out sightseeing in the TV. When on the highway, get off at the first off ramp to a town, again you will have more choices with out having to double back.

Norm

[F1bNorm]

What's important is not to wait until you're on your last drop of gas. If the station isn't right, you can go to the next one. Another thought, top off the tank while you're out sightseeing in the TV.

If it really bothers you, use the gas station apps to pick a station and as mentioned, use Google street view, where you can actually see the pumps.

Norm

[Terryallan]

jjjandrbaker wrote:
Knowing that I'm going to get some snarky comments, I'm going to go ahead and ask my stupid question of the month. I am on a 19 day cross country road trip. I have tried to use gas stations that accommodate RVs. So far, I have not been able to figure out where I am supposed to get my gas. I have been to a Flying J, Love's, and TA. The regular pumps are hard to get into. The truck pumps, seem to only have diesel. I haven't seen any pumps designated for RVs. My trailer is a tiny 15 footer. I know you guys with bigger rigs aren't using the regular pumps. Where am I supposed to be going? Remember, I said it was a stupid question. Be gentle!

Actually I know what you are talking about. There are many stations that have their pumps so close to the building that you can't make the turn from the building side, or turn quick enough from the road side. you will have to avoid those stations. However there are many stations you can get into by using the end pumps, and of course there are those with the lanes parallel with the highway. You just have to be careful which one you pull into. I have been known to pull into the lane from the road, and then to back out as there was no room to get between the lane and the building.
Google earth is a good tool to use to find a station you can use

[Janss]

I belong to Costco and Sam's Club, so often use their gas stations which are generally very accessible in and out, as well as usually being the lowest priced gas around. But most importantly, I look up gas stations on Google maps satellite view to see the layout. I also use gasbuddy app to find the least expensive gas. But in the end, convenience is worth more than the couple dollars I might save on cheaper gas.

[IDoMyOwnStunts]

Remember that even small gas stations get their fuel delivered via big rig. If they can get in and out, usually you can too.

I prefer large pull-throughs, but I've fit my 30 footer (50 feet overall) into some pretty small stations before. Never used the RV pumps.

[bikendan]

Sorry but trying to understand your problem.
I've been pulling our 25' HTT for 10 years and have never had much of a problem finding a pump in the regular auto islands.

Never have needed to go to the trucker side.
I often pull into Costco pumps with no problems.

So not sure why pulling in with a 15' trailer is such a problem.:h

[doxiemom11]

We are 48' overall and use regular gas stations most of the time. Usually the outside pumps - just have to look at layout for in/out plan. The few times were have used Flying J we have not seen any specific RV pumps either and since we are gas would not ever go into the truck diesel area. There is so much traffic and things moving around , starting stopping and it seems that because they are usually right off the x-way the left turns to get out and back on are hard because the semi's keep pouring in and out onto the roadway too either blocking your vision, or already in the lane you need to get into. So much easier, cleaner and less stress at the regular stations.

[braindead0]

I have no problem using regular pumps with my setup, there should be plenty of room for your 15' TT. Are you having ground clearance problems getting in? Hard to maneuver? Just not comfortable negotiating tight areas with the trailer?

[camperforlife]

I pull a 35 footer and use the regular pumps all the time albeit I am selective as to which station I use. I have a 36 gallon tank and usually start thinking about gas when I get down just above 1/4 tank. I try to exit where there is a truck stop and a variety of stations. Those that have an easy access outside lane or stations that have the pumps parallel to the building are my pick.

[coolbreeze01]

I use regular stations. I don't use Flying J, Love's, or TA if I can help it.
I don't find them user friendly and they are usually dirty.