BUCC-EES at Luling

[Madame Boomer]

I just wanted to give our Texas RV'ers a heads up on Buc-cees at Luling.

When RustyJC and I were heading home from the Christmas Rally, we made our "usual" fuel/potty/coffee refill/doughnut stop at the Bucc-ees at Luling. You know the one on the south side of I-10 across from the Luv's Travel Mart on the north side.

This has been a FAVORITE site for many of us traveling I-10 to anywhere! It was easy-in, easy out for the largest of rigs. They don't allow tractor-trailers, but RV'ers had always been welcomed.

Due to the layout of the establishment, it is easiest for the driver to pull into the fuel island on the SOUTH side where the pumps had both gas and diesel. From there, it was a matter of pulling around and out the exit.

When we stopped, we were shocked to see that they've added about 8 customer parking spaces right next to those pumps. We were low on fuel, but had no place to pull in as there were customer vehicles parked alongside the pumps.

I spoke to the manager of the store and he assured me that he'd send a memo to "headquarters" relaying my RV concern. There IS no place now to pull through to fuel up. I explained that even if two-four spaces were removed, it would make it easier for us to get in and out.

His comment was "I never realized the impact it would have on RV'ers." Isn't that a statement we all hear?

I wonder what impact the loss of RV'ing customers is going to do for their profit and loss statement.....hmmmmmm....let's see.....150 gallons (for most motorhomes) at $2.50 per gallon (diesel) adds up to....A LOT! Times that by ....how many of us Texans stop there on our trips???

Just wanted to let ya'll know that I'm attempting to contact "headquarters" on my own, but until they remove those **** parking spaces, you might as well drive on down the road to another fuel stop that is more RV friendly.

Sandy

[Madame Boomer]

I just wanted to give our Texas RV'ers a heads up on Buc-cees at Luling.

When RustyJC and I were heading home from the Christmas Rally, we made our "usual" fuel/potty/coffee refill/doughnut stop at the Bucc-ees at Luling. You know the one on the south side of I-10 across from the Luv's Travel Mart on the north side.

This has been a FAVORITE site for many of us traveling I-10 to anywhere! It was easy-in, easy out for the largest of rigs. They don't allow tractor-trailers, but RV'ers had always been welcomed.

Due to the layout of the establishment, it is easiest for the driver to pull into the fuel island on the SOUTH side where the pumps had both gas and diesel. From there, it was a matter of pulling around and out the exit.

When we stopped, we were shocked to see that they've added about 8 customer parking spaces right next to those pumps. We were low on fuel, but had no place to pull in as there were customer vehicles parked alongside the pumps.

I spoke to the manager of the store and he assured me that he'd send a memo to "headquarters" relaying my RV concern. There IS no place now to pull through to fuel up. I explained that even if two-four spaces were removed, it would make it easier for us to get in and out.

His comment was "I never realized the impact it would have on RV'ers." Isn't that a statement we all hear?

I wonder what impact the loss of RV'ing customers is going to do for their profit and loss statement.....hmmmmmm....let's see.....150 gallons (for most motorhomes) at $2.50 per gallon (diesel) adds up to....A LOT! Times that by ....how many of us Texans stop there on our trips???

Just wanted to let ya'll know that I'm attempting to contact "headquarters" on my own, but until they remove those **** parking spaces, you might as well drive on down the road to another fuel stop that is more RV friendly.

Sandy

[crudeman]

Thanks MB.. its always good to know these things. I also have my favorite spots along the way and write them in my next exit book so when I am on the road I know where to stop. Loves for sure is not a option no matter where its at. Thanks for the heads-up.

[Dutch 'n Sandy]

The same thing happened to us at the same Bucc-ees location. We managed to park by backing into a spot at the extreme south end of the parking lot. After we went in and used the facilities, we drove accross the street (to the east) and got diesel. You might add that detail to your message to "HQ".

Why isn't Love's an option???

Dutch Dinwiddie

[crudeman]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Dutch 'n Sandy:
The same thing happened to us at the same Bucc-ees location. We managed to park by backing into a spot at the extreme south end of the parking lot. After we went in and used the facilities, we drove accross the street (to the east) and got diesel. You might add that detail to your message to "HQ".



Loves may be a personal thing, but I always use the truck Islands and the two times I have stopped at a Loves I was frowned upon by the counter help, so that was enough for me. Not all rv islands are created equally so I always use either Flying J's or TA's where available or like I said I have some smaller truck stops marked in my book and where there are some good eating places with them.

Why isn't Love's an option???

Dutch Dinwiddie </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

[Madame Boomer]

Dutch -

Luv's is a great place to stop if you are in a car or truck. RV'ers are "frowned upon" if they pull into the big rig sites (usually around the back). This area usually is not posted as exclusive for 18-wheelers only, but you KNOW by the attitudes of the truckers and the Luv's help that they prefer not to have us RV'ers in their way.

The only other option is to use the front section where diesel is available, but at the Luv's across the road from Bucc-ees on I-10 at Luling - it is very difficult to get a large RV in there because of the way the pumps are situated. Then you have to 'fight' the vehicle traffic coming through there as well.

I don't know why a lot of the large companies supplying diesel to truckers don't see us RV'ers as driving big-rigs too! But we aren't catered to by many fuel areas.

Sandy

[allendp]

One Company does just that - Flying J. and that is why I use them whenever I can.

[Don (W5IT)]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">I don't know why a lot of the large companies supplying diesel to truckers don't see us RV'ers as driving big-rigs too! But we aren't catered to by many fuel areas.

Sandy </div></BLOCKQUOTE>


Well Sandy the reason is $$$$$. A truck driver usually spends more on fuel in a month on the road than the average RV'r does in a year.

Do the math. A 18 wheel Tractor gets around 5-7 mpg. Most will do 100,000 miles or better in a year. That works out to be around 8,400 miles a month. If they get 6 mpg that is 1,400 gallons of fuel. Also a truck driver is going to spend more money on other things at a truck stop than a RV'r too. So they really would rather see the truck drivers than the RV'r money wise.

"The hook" (Flying J) is about the only ones that seem to be really going after the RV folks. But then they seem to have more for folks traveling by car/pick-up too. More of a "One Stop Shop" so to speak.

I am like most of yall. I tend to frequent "The Hook" when traveling with the family. Usually we all go in and eat there and stuff. Give everyone a break for a while.....

When it is just me shuffleing a rig around, I stop at whatever happens to be near where I get tired and want to catch some sleep. But even then I would rather stop at "A Hook". Get fuel, eat and crash for a few hours. Then peddle on down the road some more.

But I can tell you I get a lot differant look and treated differantly at places when I pay with the "Company Card" than with my card at most places.....

[crudeman]

Yep without a doubt the "Hook" is the best. I tell ya tho there is a Shell station in Minden La (Exit 49)on I-20 across from the Loves stop that has about 4 diesel islands and that is one of my favorites spots when traveling that direction. That little rest. next door has some killer hamburgers.

[Madame Boomer]

I sent a letter this morning to the Corporate Offices of Bucc-ee's explaining the plight we RV'ers are facing at the #17 store in Luling.

Just in case you'd like to write as well, their address is

Buccee's Corporate
327 FM 2004
Lake Jackson, Texas 77566

I don't know if we'll get a response, but at least I tried to make life a little easier on us RV'ers around the state!

Sandy

[DOUG & DONNA TROTT]

I'm sure most of you know about this:
http://www.flyingj.com/programs/rvclub.cfm

[RustyJC]

Yep, but the route we normally take from Cypress (NW Houston) to San Antonio and beyond doesn't take us by a Flying J - we normally take 1604 around SA to the north if we're going west of SA on I-10.

Rusty

[Barbara S.]

Rusty, there is a Flying J in Brookshire at exit 732 just before we get home. I stopped there hoping to get propane but their service man had already gone home.

Sandy suggested taking Loop 1604 to come home and it was SO much better than fighting traffic in San Antonio on I-10. Thanks!

[RustyJC]

Yeah, but we cut north at the west edge of Brookshire to pick up FM359/FM362 to FM529 to Barker Cypress to Spring Cypress to Telge to get back to the storage lot.

There's a "primitive" Shell station about 20 miles east of Bucee's that has room for a truck and 5th wheel as well as a grassy area for the dogs, so we'll just plan on stopping there until Bucee's decides what they're going to do. Sandy did get a very nice call from the Corporate GM of Bucee's yesterday - he explained why they did what they did, admitted that they didn't think about the RVs, and committed to go over to the facility, look things over again and see what he could come up with.

Rusty