DP fueling stops

[rk911]

Originally Posted by turbopilot

Based on Pilot Flying J web site around 180 of the 700+ PFJ locations have RV lanes.

Go to this planning map and click on Pilot Flying J Travel Center layer. You will need to zoom down on the map since there are so many locations. All PFJ locations with RV lanes are noted on the map next to the PFJ icon. You may need to zoom in and out for all the labels to render.

https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer...0242656245&z=4

virtually none of the Pilot stations and travel plazas have RV lanes. FJ has numerous franchise locations that may or may not have RV lanes. FJ also operates traditional "gas stations" which, of course, don't have RV lanes. but nearly every FJ truck stop/travel plaza we've used...and we've been traveling by RV since 1986...has had a pair of RV lanes on the car side of the plaza. your website lumps all of the PFJ operations together.

another fueling option for RVs is Pioneer Fuel, a division of Pacific Pride. we used them for a while because their totally automated stations are super EZ to get into and out of and have both diesel and gasoline. the only problem as we saw it was the price of fuel was not posted. you had to call to get the price. we stopped using them for that reason. the last time we used them was in 2011 and things may have changed since then.

[docj]

Originally Posted by CFXCH

I usually know when I need to fuel up on long trips. I usually google name of town or city where I intend to get fuel and search just 'fuel'. I then go to google maps and Street view or satellite view and you can pretty well determine if you can get in and out with room to spare. Usually current prices are listed with the station search. Has worked well for our 8 years of full timing and 10,000 miles + per year.

That's pretty much what I do using TruckerPath as a way of identifying locations that don't show up easily on Google searches. We've been at this for ~8 years and 65,000 miles.

As for those who argue that price is of no concern, I see no reason why I would want to pay ~10-30 cents a gallon more at a major truck stop compared to the price at an independent station that's often just on the other side of the interstate. I usually pump 50-70 gallons, so that's a savings of up to $20. If $10-$20 is of no consequence, I'm glad for you, but for us, it's enough money that I would want to save it as long as it doesn't require me to drive any significant distance.

At 8 mpg IMO it makes little sense to drive any significant distance to get to slightly cheaper fuel but quite often it requires nothing more than getting of the interstate at a different exit. One post in this thread stated that a fuel saving of nearly $200 over the course of a trip wasn't worth the effort. I don't think I put much effort into finding cheaper fuel and I'll take all the $200 checks you wish to send me!

[N6WT]

I drove big rigs for a few years and have just become used to tight gas stations even with my 40' DP and towing. It just does not bother me. That being said we try and use Costco for diesel when we can find it. I have never had a problem getting in and out of a Costco gas station.

Here is a link to Costco gas stations with diesel.
https://www.costco.com/gasoline-diesel.html

When I can't find a Costco I use gasbuddy.com to find diesel.

73
Kent
N6WT

[rk911]

Originally Posted by soricobob

Check out "Next Exit", an invaluable resource, particularly until you establish your favorites.

we've been burned several times by the Next Exit. when there is no FJ around we'll use TNE as a resource especially if we're in an unfamiliar area. several times we've exited heading for an "RV Friendly" gas stop only to find that it wasn't...not even close. not sure how TNE categorizes fuel stops as "RV Friendly" but we now check those recommendations with Google Earth.

[Renipladlo]

All - If you join Good Sam, at Camping World (both owned by same parent company) then you can go to the Pilot/Flying J website and apply for a "Charge Card", (Not Credit Card-balance due each month), based on membership level with GS, that determines level of discount I think). Regardless, Pilot/flying J stations are all over the place, and if you go into the truck lanes, it faster, safer, and easier. One Poster above provided video to how you fill up at truck stop. YES, that video is 100% right on the money, except, DO NOT BUY DEF AT TS, it might have been sitting in the tank and be on the stale side. Instead, buy your DEF at Walmart, either their brand or name brand. Make sure the inner seal is intact, plus if the WM brand, get this little device to check it, test good, fine, tests bad, take it back - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01DVAL4I2...v_ov_lig_dp_it .

One other point, in AZ, all truck stops/lanes have some listed as RV only, you pay a cheaper price for the diesel, as the road taxes are reduced for RV's. You have antennas up there, which may be sticking up.

If you insist on going to gas stations, Murphy usually has necessary clearance for the roof over the island, but check your height, and then add 1 foot to it to be safe.

[turbopilot]

Originally Posted by rk911

your website lumps all of the PFJ operations together.

Correct. It is all one company now. Based on last update by PFJ, 273 locations are called "Flying J". The other 507 locations carry some variation of Pilot in the name. 51 locations designated as "Flying J" do not have RV lanes based on the PFJ database. I have found some errors in the PFJ data base. For some reason several of the new locations with RV lanes where included in the PFJ data base. Just to make it more interesting there are 33 Pilot locations with RV lanes.

For instance the Beaver, UT Flying J recently installed new RV lanes with DEF but it is not listed in the database.

[PatriotMike]

I have a 40 ft DP with toad. Last year we did a 75 day trip from Nevada to Bar Harbor and back. I stopped exclusively at truck stops. Yes you have to go in, and maybe you pay a little more, but to me it is worth it to have the ease of access your almost always get with a truck stop. Besides, usually when it is time to refuel it is also time to hit the head and refill my coffee..... And there is nothing better than truck stop coffee!!?

[N6WT]

Originally Posted by PatriotMike

And there is nothing better than truck stop coffee!!?

OMG! Yuk! That stuff has been cooking all day! LOL

73
Kent
N6WT

[Zoo]

Originally Posted by Sarge77

I’ve never fueled at anywhere other than Flying J/Pilot and I have also never had to pay .30 more per gallon for diesel. I have learned that some people get confused about pricing because in states like Arizona that have a special diesel tax that price is the one advertised but the tax only applies to commercial vehicles so RVers aren’t subject to the special taxes.

Its a very rate occasion that with my .09 deduction per gallon I get using the Flying J card that I find myself paying much more (if anything) than the cheapest local fueling station in town. Not having to drive into town and having room to roam is a good thing to me but I know some people that will drive 5 or 6 miles to save a few cents. At 8 mpg I don’t actually see where they get much savings if they have to drive 12 addition miles to find cheaper fuel. And as far as going inside (I only HAVE to do that if I was a receipt) I don’t think thats a big deal. Fueling time is also leg stretching time so I’m ok with that.

Sarge77, same here. PFJ, with the RV card - Everywhere, good spacing along the interstates, easy in and out, $.09 discount, pay directly at the pump without having to walk inside, DEF right there in the same transaction, and no cars or tight maneuvering. Some have dumps & propane in the car/RV area, but otherwise I'll always go through the truck lanes to fill up and get back on the road. It doesn't get any easier.

[Captn John]

Let me try to understand ~~ $30K to $500K for an RV and $30K to 75K for a TV or toad and we worry about pennies for fuel? Nope~~ I tried and will never understand pennies over convenience and safety. P & FJ are my favorites. I get 9 cents a gallon off diesel and an email notice when my account will be debited, no card payment to worry about. I'll be looking into the Loves card too. Never had to stand in fuel, pumps nice and fast, restaurant on site. DEF at the pump. Nope, with the 5er attached I'll pay the pennies per gallon.

[rk911]

Originally Posted by Captn John

Let me try to understand ~~ $30K to $500K for an RV and $30K to 75K for a TV or toad and we worry about pennies for fuel? Nope~~ I tried and will never understand pennies over convenience and safety. P & FJ are my favorites. I get 9 cents a gallon off diesel and an email notice when my account will be debited, no card payment to worry about. I'll be looking into the Loves card too. Never had to stand in fuel, pumps nice and fast, restaurant on site. DEF at the pump. Nope, with the 5er attached I'll pay the pennies per gallon.

while i personally put convenience and safety over price-per-gallon an argument can be made that watching pennies can one day enable you to get that motor coachor truck-on-steroids.

[LarryGee]

For those of us who don’t have large class A’s but rather a class C with a toad, those truck lanes are still helpful. Problem is, most diesel nozzles are too large for the coach fuel opening. Buy and store a nozzle reducer !

[Ray,IN]

Originally Posted by LarryGee

For those of us who don’t have large class A’s but rather a class C with a toad, those truck lanes are still helpful. Problem is, most diesel nozzles are too large for the coach fuel opening. Buy and store a nozzle reducer !

What is the brand, and where can I find one? The one for VW's is for emergency use only per Amazon reviews.

[BobGed]

Originally Posted by rk911

[snip]
another fueling option for RVs is Pioneer Fuel, a division of Pacific Pride. we used them for a while because their totally automated stations are super EZ to get into and out of and have both diesel and gasoline. the only problem as we saw it was the price of fuel was not posted. you had to call to get the price. we stopped using them for that reason. the last time we used them was in 2011 and things may have changed since then.

Yep things have changed. The owners of Pioneer Fuel retired this year and sold their accounts to PetroCard Those of us with active Pioneer Fuel accounts at that time were grandfathered in to the PetroCard system. However since they are based in Oregon they cannot open any new accounts for other than commercial customers.

I use the Pacific Pride locations every chance I get if they're not located too far off the highway. They are easy in easy out, never crowded and many are updated to now include DEF. They are usually reasonably price somewhere between the lowest standard service stations and the PFJ discounted cash price using the RV Plus card.

If I can't find one when needed then I'll use the PFJ RV lanes where I can swipe my PenFed card and get a 5% statement rebate. If they're crowded then I'll go to the truck lanes and swipe my RV Rewards card.

I have also recently applied for the Loves .10¢ per gallon discount card that Mr.Mark mentioned.