RV Fuel Lane specific gas stations

[Tall Tex]

Do you really need a RV Lane? All gas stations have fuel delivered by an 18 wheeler transport truck. If they can get in so should you. Just watch overhead clearance, your taller than some tankers.

Just something to ponder!

[harbortime]

Originally Posted by Tall Tex

Do you really need a RV Lane?

No, but I prefer them.

Thanks for stating your opinion. We should all be like you.

Cheers

[Dave-Oh]

Originally Posted by harbortime

Are there other RV specific gas station chains that cater to gas rv's other than Flying J's?

Do all Flying J's have RV lanes for gas or just some of them?

What I found traveling from MD to AZ and back - Flying J is the ONLY station that consistently has RV lanes for gassers (separate from diesel only truck lanes and the car lanes).

Another station that seems to have pumps oriented so you can pull in parallel to the store and not have to pull in facing the store then pull out 90 degrees with your toad....is Valero, most but not all. Pilot pumps seem to be oriented wrong for gassers (unless you're shorter and not pulling a toad).

I'm still new and don't like to take chances getting stuck, so I really try to scrutinize a station before I pull in. I did have to unhook to get into a pump in NM (was low on gas, had passed a few stations already and couldn't take a chance on another 60 mile stretch with no gas) so I pulled into an Indian Casino "travel center', unhooked the Toad, managed to get my gas, etc....

I'm 34 feet long plus toad (a class A gasser on the short side of the spectrum). Even using the end pumps, if they're perpendicular to the store, there are usually cars parked in front of the store and not enough space between the pumps and the parked cars to pull straight out and then turn hard left/right and avoid damaging the toad against the Pump-guards. if they place the pumps far-enough away from the building, I'll consider it, but often the risk/reward ratio is not favorable enough with my current fine-maneuvering skills.

filling-up is the one time I wish I had a diesel - PLENTY of travel centers with diesel-only, high capacity pumps and plenty of room to maneuver. Gas requires a bit of scoping-out, on the other hand.

Some folks use Google Earth to check the stations before they pull off the stop.. the copilot is not sufficiently skilled/IT savvy to do this on the fly. I ended up selecting stops that had multiple stations available so i could cruise up to them and see if I could easily pull in and out.

SO: Flying J: Gas Friendly and RV specific. Pilot and Love's: not really. Valero: Usually setup for easy gas access. Others: a crap shoot.

[Sue46]

2 years ago we bought a gasser MH and had similar concerns but they haven't appeared in our travels. Yes, we skip stations that aren't configured correctly but we have learned to check a station out on Google Earth prior to looking for it. We also start looking when we are at 1/2 a tank. We try to be facing out and use an end pump if at all possible.

My wishlist is that GasBuddy would link to Google Earth to display the station. I once had an app for Gasbuddy that did that but that was several phones ago and I can't find the app anymore.

[Tall Tex]

I'm an avid user of GasBuddy and Google Map because I tend to stay away from truck stops because of the increased prices. I do have a Pilot card to be able to pay at the pump and get the nickel discount.

Before we leave home I will plan my fuel stops based on price and street view for accessibility. I've squeezed into many Walmarts, Sams Clubs and convenience stores by doing my homework. It's all part of the adventure.

However, I must say we have had to drop the toad a couple of times to back out of a station because of limited space. We did this at a Walmart one time, hooked back up and then my navigator took me down a dead end street leaving the parking lot and had to drop the toad again to get out. There were words spoken!!

[igave]

Tall Tex:
Sorry to laugh at your expense, but that's funny!
Of course, probably not at the time...

[hdzcar]

Just because an 18 wheeler transport truck delivers gas to a station, that has nothing to do with being able to get in and out with of a gas station in a motorhome pulling a toad. He doesn't siphon the gas out of his tanker using the gas pump.

[FlyingDiver]

Originally Posted by Tall Tex

Do you really need a RV Lane? All gas stations have fuel delivered by an 18 wheeler transport truck. If they can get in so should you. Just watch overhead clearance, your taller than some tankers.

The fuel delivery trucks don't pull up to the pumps. The tanks are usually on the far side of the lot from the pumps.

[WDW]

Originally Posted by Dave-Oh

What I found traveling from MD to AZ and back - Flying J is the ONLY station that consistently has RV lanes for gassers (separate from diesel only truck lanes and the car lanes).



Another station that seems to have pumps oriented so you can pull in parallel to the store and not have to pull in facing the store then pull out 90 degrees with your toad....is Valero, most but not all. Pilot pumps seem to be oriented wrong for gassers (unless you're shorter and not pulling a toad).



I'm still new and don't like to take chances getting stuck, so I really try to scrutinize a station before I pull in. I did have to unhook to get into a pump in NM (was low on gas, had passed a few stations already and couldn't take a chance on another 60 mile stretch with no gas) so I pulled into an Indian Casino "travel center', unhooked the Toad, managed to get my gas, etc....



I'm 34 feet long plus toad (a class A gasser on the short side of the spectrum). Even using the end pumps, if they're perpendicular to the store, there are usually cars parked in front of the store and not enough space between the pumps and the parked cars to pull straight out and then turn hard left/right and avoid damaging the toad against the Pump-guards. if they place the pumps far-enough away from the building, I'll consider it, but often the risk/reward ratio is not favorable enough with my current fine-maneuvering skills.



filling-up is the one time I wish I had a diesel - PLENTY of travel centers with diesel-only, high capacity pumps and plenty of room to maneuver. Gas requires a bit of scoping-out, on the other hand.



Some folks use Google Earth to check the stations before they pull off the stop.. the copilot is not sufficiently skilled/IT savvy to do this on the fly. I ended up selecting stops that had multiple stations available so i could cruise up to them and see if I could easily pull in and out.



SO: Flying J: Gas Friendly and RV specific. Pilot and Love's: not really. Valero: Usually setup for easy gas access. Others: a crap shoot.

Your comment about the co-pilot not bring tech savvy to support you ----either my DW has a twin or she's riding with you. [emoji41][emoji41][emoji41][emoji41][emoji41]

[Donlock]

Anytime I go to use rv only line it's generally full of Rv's, That just take their time,
After getting gas they go shopping ,wash their windows or go use washrooms inside ,walk the dogs etc. I just go to the main pumps if my tank and pump
do not line up my wife moves mh to line up.
Don

[deaton]

Here in Texas we now have Bucee's

The one closest to our house has 128 pumps 64 on each of the two islands

All pumps have gas and diesel

They all have pay at pump and plenty of clearance to get your big rig and tow in and out

They have the cleanest restrooms in the industry - really

Check it out at the 191 exit (New Braunfels, TX)

Bucees has lots of other locations - all in Texas and most have same features but may have fewer pumps

There is also ample parking for your big rig so you can go inside and shop

Food is good, if a bit pricy

Oh, and the price for diesel is typically 25 to 35 cents less than the TA just north of the 191

[SpaceNorman]

Originally Posted by Tall Tex

Do you really need a RV Lane? All gas stations have fuel delivered by an 18 wheeler transport truck. If they can get in so should you. Just watch overhead clearance, your taller than some tankers.

The RV lane can certainly be a help. While all gas stations have fuel deliver by an 18 wheeler - the 18 wheeler doesn't have to pull up a "regular" 4-5 feet from the pump. The transport drive is hitting tank connections that are typically located away from the pumps and is using extension hoses.

The transport driver is often shorter than many of us (my rig is 65' with the toad on). ... AND the transport driver can put it in reverse and back up (an option that's not available to the many of us who two "4 down". Backing up means I'm jumping out to unhook the toad.

I don't tank exclusively at truck stops - but I certainly have to scrutinize a fuel station to ensure I can get in and get out without too much trouble.

[dabrooks]

Originally Posted by SpaceNorman

The RV lane can certainly be a help. While all gas stations have fuel deliver by an 18 wheeler - the 18 wheeler doesn't have to pull up a "regular" 4-5 feet from the pump. The transport drive is hitting tank connections that are typically located away from the pumps and is using extension hoses.

The transport driver is often shorter than many of us (my rig is 65' with the toad on). ... AND the transport driver can put it in reverse and back up (an option that's not available to the many of us who two "4 down". Backing up means I'm jumping out to unhook the toad.

I don't tank exclusively at truck stops - but I certainly have to scrutinize a fuel station to ensure I can get in and get out without too much trouble.

I agree. The previous statement by Tex made no sense to me.

[jholt361]

Avoid Hucks Flying J in Mt Vernon, IL, exit 95 off I-64. They have Flying J signage but refuse to honor Good Sam discount claiming the front pumps are Hucks gas, not Flying J and the pumps in rear for trucks are their Flying J business. Very deceptive and misleading signage. A better choice is Pilot which is 1/10 of a mile beyond Hucks.