Refueling Along Rural Routes

[DRSMPS]

This summer we've transitioned from travelling along major highways to some more rural roads. We find we really enjoy travelling these routes through many small towns. The scenery is much more interesting and there are plenty of places to stop and sight see.

The problem we are encountering is how to plan for refueling. Typically along highways there are many truck stops. At these, we have no issue pulling truck and trailer into a pump. However, along the rural roads the gas stations often are too tight to maneuver the rig through. I can travel approx. 5 hours on 1 tank, so I often find myself finding a place to unhitch and then bring the truck only to the gas station. This is doable, but adds extra time and work. I also don't like leaving the TT unhitched along a side road or a parking lot while I fuel - worried about theft or tickets.

I've been experimenting with mapquest and google maps to try and plan my routes. I find that using the Satellite image I can estimate the size of the gas station and determine if I can safely maneuver through it for refueling. I then program the address in my GMP and plan for these stops. I also find, although my truck is gas powered, if I search for gas stations that carry diesel they typically accommodate larger vehicles.

Does any manufacturer make a GPS which has this type of information already loaded into it? Are there websites out there or maps I can purchase that would make this easier?

Also, is there a way to determine overhead clearances along a route? I've only encountered this once, but a ran across an underpass that only had 12 feet of head clearance. Luckily I was paying attention, pulled over and detoured around it. It would be great to find this info out ahead of time.

Thanks for any feedback or input you may have.

[Monaco_Montclai]

Real simple, the stations that will handle 18wheelers ,will handle u. Good idea, try use it all the time , plus knowing how much u use is a key too. Works for us , and now it's all happy-camping

[egarant]

I am still wayne_tw wrote:
You know, every gas station has tractor trailers that enter it to deliver gas. Perhaps you are more cautious than you need to be.

The tractor trailers do not pull next to the pumps under the awning, they dump their fuel into tanks that are located away from any obstructions.

[john_bet]

I have driven Montana 200 from Glendive to Great Falls a couple of times and had no trouble with fuel. Also took US-50 from Indiana to Colorado without fuel problems. JME.

[h2guy]

wintersun wrote:

h2guy wrote:
I'm sorry, but I just can't, understand, running out of fuel. Its ALWAYS avail.
Unless you make a really dumb decision I guess.

You don't get around much do you or is English a second language?

If we stayed on major interstates for 100% of our travels refueling would be a minor concern. But the OP asked about "rural routes" and this measn places other than interstate highways.

There are stretches of highway in California and Utah and Montana and New Mexico where we barely make it with our truck and it has a 36 gallon fuel tank. When you are getting 10 MPG that translates to 300 miles of safe driving range and it definitely affects how I plan our travel routes.

There are small towns where the stations are not open on Sundays or at night or on holidays and this also needs to be taken into consideration. Most gas stations do not pump diesel which is something else we need to check while planing our fuel stops.

Boy, I hate to get into a Pis***** contest, but........

I've got 297000 miles on my truck, 191K of that pulling my 15K 5ver, and camping/putting slides out, at 701 locations, from Key West to Anchorage, and Bangor to San Diego.

A whole bunch of that wasn't Interstates. And I've NEVER come close to running out of fuel.

Rest of your comments are just, aw, never mind.

[Roy_Lynne]

What ya do is, when the tank gets at 1/2 you start looking for gas stations. Also I'm a map reader and before I go, even with a GPS I look at map in the morning before we leave and check out what is ahead, if there are any places to stop that might be interesting (brown signs)and any long stretches to be concerned about. Knowledge is power, my friend.

[ktmrfs]

what I've found is that rural stations in general are easier for me to get in and out of than many stations along the interstate. Seems like at least in the west/midwest small towns also have lots of farmers/ranchers coming in with bigger trucks and/or trailers anyway and the islands are pretty easy to get in and out of.

And I've found diesel also easy to come by in rural areas, again probably because so many farmers/ranchers need diesel. just need to watch which pump. Last week in two different towns the diesel island had red diesel(off road), on road #2 diesel, and #1 diesel.

We just watch for how far to the next station. In many places it can be 100-150 miles between stations. We carry and extra 10 gallons of diesel, but haven't had to use it yet.

Biggest downside to small towns is pumps aren't always open 24/7. expect them to closed in the evening and occasionally not be open on sunday.

[wintersun]

h2guy wrote:
I'm sorry, but I just can't, understand, running out of fuel. Its ALWAYS avail.
Unless you make a really dumb decision I guess.

You don't get around much do you or is English a second language?

If we stayed on major interstates for 100% of our travels refueling would be a minor concern. But the OP asked about "rural routes" and this measn places other than interstate highways.

There are stretches of highway in California and Utah and Montana and New Mexico where we barely make it with our truck and it has a 36 gallon fuel tank. When you are getting 10 MPG that translates to 300 miles of safe driving range and it definitely affects how I plan our travel routes.

There are small towns where the stations are not open on Sundays or at night or on holidays and this also needs to be taken into consideration. Most gas stations do not pump diesel which is something else we need to check while planing our fuel stops.

[concord_05]

The all stays camp and Rv app for IPad shows routes that have low clearance.

[martipr]

I have stopped using the Interstates or major highways unless I have to.
I have a 30' TT and have had few problems fueling up. If all else fails, if I can pull in forward, I can back out and have had to a couple of times. We love the scenery and the small towns. Finding a campsite along the rural roads is more of a problem that fuel.

[Airstreamer67]

My least favorite duty while traveling is refueling a 50-foot rig.

I used to have to do it every day.

That's why I got a 90 gallon RDS auxiliary diesel tank for about $500.

Now I choose when to refuel, and it's only once every three days or so that I face this task, and usually while dining out and unhooked at a campground.

[2112]

h2guy wrote:

2gypsies wrote:

2112 wrote:

h2guy wrote:
I'm sorry, but I just can't, understand, running out of fuel. Its ALWAYS avail.
Unless you make a really dumb decision I guess.

there are many small towns in Texas that do not have gas stations. The next one may be 50 miles away and you may have to ask a local which way to go to find it. Not a dumb decision but an uninformed action. As a motorcycle rider with a180 mile range, I have been stuck twice before the era of Internet, smart phones and gps.

...and that's exactly why you don't let your fuel tank get so low that you can't make it 50 more miles. Run off the top 1/2 tank and you won't have problems. How do you think local people that live and work in those areas get their fuel? It's doable.

Thank You!

Now we have 4G LTE to guide the way.

What I did find out is there is usually an above ground tank behind the local feed store or auto repair shop for the local tractors. It took a nice, caring local to point this out to me. There is usually gas there but not for the general public. I had no problem buying a gallon to get me down the road. That wouldn't do a big rig much good though.

But, the most important think learned was a dot on the map with a name next to it doesn't say 'gas sold here'.

[h2guy]

2gypsies wrote:

2112 wrote:

h2guy wrote:
I'm sorry, but I just can't, understand, running out of fuel. Its ALWAYS avail.
Unless you make a really dumb decision I guess.

there are many small towns in Texas that do not have gas stations. The next one may be 50 miles away and you may have to ask a local which way to go to find it. Not a dumb decision but an uninformed action. As a motorcycle rider with a180 mile range, I have been stuck twice before the era of Internet, smart phones and gps.

...and that's exactly why you don't let your fuel tank get so low that you can't make it 50 more miles. Run off the top 1/2 tank and you won't have problems. How do you think local people that live and work in those areas get their fuel? It's doable.

Thank You!

[2gypsies1]

2112 wrote:

h2guy wrote:
I'm sorry, but I just can't, understand, running out of fuel. Its ALWAYS avail.
Unless you make a really dumb decision I guess.

there are many small towns in Texas that do not have gas stations. The next one may be 50 miles away and you may have to ask a local which way to go to find it. Not a dumb decision but an uninformed action. As a motorcycle rider with a180 mile range, I have been stuck twice before the era of Internet, smart phones and gps.

...and that's exactly why you don't let your fuel tank get so low that you can't make it 50 more miles. Run off the top 1/2 tank and you won't have problems. How do you think local people that live and work in those areas get their fuel? It's doable.

[Tom_Diane]

While doing rural routes for a change of scenery and you need fuel, why not find a small town with a city parking lot or a grain elevator close y and drop the RV. Had an occasion this summer where I needed fuel and my son said that other with trailer and such get in and out, so I tried it. Didn't work because I couldn't swing wide enough to get close to the pump. So I dropped the 5er in the grain elevator lot out of the way of everything and drove half a block to get my fuel. Takes all of what? 2 minutes for a 5er and 5 minutes to unhook and re hook a t.t.?