picking gas stations

[Spinal_Tap]

One of the aspects of any trip that gives me a little stress is finding a gas station that I can easily pull into and get out of without my wife or multiple strangers having to direct traffic for me. How do you more experienced guys/girls do it? Is there a way to identify trailer friendly gas stations?

thanks

[ceaser_22000]

also findfuelstops.com is a good site lets you see all the stations along your route with street view.

[FordDiesel250]

We try and use auto/truck stops

[Lantley]

mister_d wrote:
I'm confused.. why can't you come out the way you went in?

You can if you care to back out all the way! Make sure all the 4 wheelers know your intentions so they can stay out of your way.
Just because you can pull up to a pump does not mean the will be clear access to the exit while towing a trailer

[mister_d]

I'm confused.. why can't you come out the way you went in?

[rjsurfer]

carmelo wrote:
We have one absolute rule and that is to NEVER pull into anyplace that I cannot see an EXIT. Period. This includes CG offices, state and national parks as well.

It is much safer and easy to stop SHORT than to pull in and have to figure a way out. THE WIFE will exit the truck and go find the exit-----if it exists.

Our experience.

CCC

Great rule...

It took a long time to realize that it's much better to slow down to a crawl before making that turn into a gas station and check it out before committing. I don't care if I block traffic for a millisecond or two, sometimes I will put the flashers on to be courteous to those directly behind me.

Ron W.

[Cougarnewbie]

We use Next Exit. We love it. R V friendly stations are listed in red. When I get down around a quarter tank I tell the navigator. She tells me the next exit with a red listing. Down side is it is only good on interstates. There is another directory, but I don't remember the name. It is a lot more expensive.

[mister_d]

We find an exit with lots of choices - drive by and find one that looks easy. I'm not going to plan gas stations in advance or hope some book is up to date and correct.

[carmelo]

We have one absolute rule and that is to NEVER pull into anyplace that I cannot see an EXIT. Period. This includes CG offices, state and national parks as well.

It is much safer and easy to stop SHORT than to pull in and have to figure a way out. THE WIFE will exit the truck and go find the exit-----if it exists.

Our experience.

CCC

[PA12DRVR]

I was almost always able to find an accessible gas pump at the Flying J, Loves, etc travel plaza.

When I switched from a suburban to a P/U truck, I added a tank in the back so I could drive all day without filling up and then fill up after dropping the trailer (admittedly diesel, but there are similar options for gas)

[thomasmnile]

In town,finding a gas station/convenience store with ample maneuvering room can be a challenge. There's a Racetrac about a mile from my home and right off I-4 used by RV'ers all the time, but they have a devil of a time getting in and out, partly due to the access and exit, partly because of traffic volume.

Along the Interstates, plenty of convenience stores with spacious pump islands and very tall awnings, limiting concerns about vertical clearance. And in most cases the fuel cost is less than Flying J, Love's, Pilot, TA, etc.

[dadmomh]

Generally Pilot, Flying J, TA or Love's, with Sam's/Walmart/Murphy USA all possible. Love Gas Buddy! When we have a choice, we drive nearest the building and then turn into the pump island heading out...we seem to be able to avoid most of the auto traffic that way and always try for an outside island. Agree that starting your search for a station at about the 1/2 tank point is good advice.

[wbwood]

When we were towing our 35' long and about 12' high TT, we would start looking for a gas station when the truck computer said 100 miles due to empty. If there was a truck stop with a big area for gassers, we would use it. Some Flying J's have RV pumps and offer both gas and diesel. They are off to the side of the regular pumps. But we found that we had to pick where we could go that we could get into and not cause any traffic problems. It's a task.

[Goose2448]

I deal with it as I go. Being used to driving large rigs is helpful. I have pulled into gas stations in downtown Tampa with 64' rig, 27' foot of that being the truck(you can image my 40 acre turning radius). It isn't easy, but its doable. You just learn the rig and you know what you can and can't do. I use commercial pumps when I can, or the RV pumps, even if I am not towing. I have noticed though that Pilot has switched to all B20, front and back, so I guess I am not going there anymore. As far as gas pumps, just line up and wait. But what ever you do, don't ever block the diesel pump if there are other gas pumps open.

[Eyetattoo]

I use the "Gas Buddy" app on my phone. Many of the stations have had pictures uploaded so you can kinda see what it looks like. The added benefit is you will know the prices before hand and if they actually have diesel.