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07-26-2013, 08:59 PM
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#1
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Senior Member
Monaco Owners Club
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Kamloops, BC. Canada
Posts: 985
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Diesel pumps
Do all flying J service centres only have "cardlock pumps?"
A lot of service stations make it just about impossible to fuel up anything over 25 feet long.
I try to look for a diesel pump on the end of the row and hope to be able to get out.
Why do they not have more drive through RV lanes without using a cardlock.
Any knowledge about service centres would be greatly appreciated.
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07-26-2013, 09:58 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2007
Posts: 190
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We just fill up at the truck islands. Go inside with our FJ loyalty card and visa card and fill it up. Never used a card outside unless we were at the RV pumps, but slow filling there. Have used quite a few of them with no problem.
__________________
07 Tiffin Allegro Bus 42QRP
08 Dodge Dakota toad
Sea eagle 10.6 inflatable
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07-26-2013, 10:55 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Outdoors RV Owners Club
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Manitoba,Canada
Posts: 2,789
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I don't know about the fuel supply situation in BC. But in Western Canada, Flying J is pretty low on the totem pole. You'll have a lot better luck using Co-Op Fuel Centers and Husky Truck Stops. Most Husky Truck Stops have LOTS of parking available for you, whether you're a big truck or a RV. The Co-Op Fuel Centers in general are very clean and well managed. Many Co-Op Fuel Centers have lots of back yard parking space. Both Husky and Co-Op supply propane, and are easily accessible with a coach.
Even our local Flying J, which advertises that it supports all RV activity, can't get it right. Most evenings, the RV parking spots are full of semi-tractors and cars. Most Canadian Flying J's charge more for their fuel than anybody else. They just don't get it.
As far as travel in the U.S.A. is concerned, we gave up on Flying J several years ago. The RV lanes are an absolute joke. At one Flying J, we were trapped in the RV fuel lane for over 2 hours, waiting for the people ahead of us to finish their lunch in the restaurant before they came back out to move their RV out of the fuel lane. The management would not help us. It was as if because we were 'RV'rs', time didn't matter. Then, when it looked like we could leave, some cars parked in front of the RV lane and we couldn't leave for another hour. This cost us our travel plans for that day.
At another Flying J, we waited over half an hour for a man to arrive to fill our propane tank. As he filled our tank, he told us about a couple that were stuck in the RV lane with their 45' coach and toad. Before their experience was over, they had to unhook the toad to be able to work the coach out of the RV lane, but not until some parked cars finally got out of their way. My problem with this story was, this guy thought it was funny!
We will use Flying J when and only when we can clearly see that they are running a good business, which means a lot of highway tractor business. Then we will use the truck fuel lanes, get in, fuel up, get out. Most, if not all, Flying J's are very dirty at the highway tractor pumps. We wear dedicated shoes for fueling at pumps, and don't walk into our coach until we have removed those shoes.
We buy fuel at Co-op, Husky, Petro-Can, Esso, and many others including Flying J. At the end of the day, Flying J offers no better pricing, and all too often, worse service, than any of the others.
__________________
2016 Creekside 23RKS
2012 Ram 2500 Laramie 4X4 Cummins 6.7L
Canada, eh?
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07-26-2013, 11:11 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: ...East Texas
Posts: 5,324
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We have found Flings J in Canada to be almost all card lock. We have used some Canada Husky's that were tight getting into, but worked. In the U S we use Flying J most of the time primarily for the good access. A few have poor access, but we have never been "trapped" in the pumps, either at rv island or truck island (we were once at a Love's ...dirty place, rude help, and no place to park an rv even for lunch).
__________________
Paul (KE5LXU) ...was fulltimin', now parttimin'
2022 Coachmen Leprechaun 319MB
towing 2017 Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited
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07-27-2013, 07:00 AM
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#5
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Senior Member
Country Coach Owners Club Retired Fire Service RVer's
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Ocala, Florida
Posts: 6,295
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Many PFJ stops have dedicated RV islands now. This makes it pretty easy to fuel. We don't have to put up with the truck lane rudeness (generally from the 18 wheel drivers).
__________________
FMCA #F431170, GS #822128658, Escapees SKP #112655
2012 Airstream Mercedes Interstate Class B
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
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07-27-2013, 08:19 AM
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#6
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Senior Member
Entegra Owners Club
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: Cape Cod, MA
Posts: 1,795
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I find the truck lanes to be much easier than the RV lanes. I got the FJ card where they bill you monthly. Just one swipe put in your code fill up and go. I have never run into a rude trucker there. At the RV pumps it always seems like the guy in front of me fills up then shops for a while before he moves. The truckers fill up then pull ahead before the go inside.
__________________
Jeanie, Ed & Slade the GSD(RIP)
Cape Cod, MA
2017 Entegra Aspire RBQ & Silverado Crew or GC
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07-27-2013, 10:17 AM
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#7
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Senior Member
Alpine Owners Club
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Traveling in North America
Posts: 2,248
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Quote:
Originally Posted by steved44
We just fill up at the truck islands. Go inside with our FJ loyalty card and visa card and fill it up. Never used a card outside unless we were at the RV pumps, but slow filling there. Have used quite a few of them with no problem.
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A lot of the Flying J and Pilot stations now let you do everything in the truck lanes, even printing out the receipt if you have the loyalty card. Not all, but they are making progress in updating the pumps at the truck lanes, especially those that hae upgrade to include DEF at the pumps.
Barb
__________________
Barbara & David O'Keeffe
Figment II (Alpine 2002 36 MDDS)
On The Road since 2006
Blog
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07-27-2013, 03:13 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: ...East Texas
Posts: 5,324
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Quote:
A lot of the Flying J and Pilot stations now let you do everything in the truck lanes, even printing out the receipt if you have the loyalty card.
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Have you found truck pumps where you can no only activate the pump but actually pay at the pump with a cc?? I believe I used to, but have not in recent years. Therefore I always use the RV island because when I pay at the pump I get a 5% instant rebate from my bank. The F-J 1 cent discount is piddling compared to 5%.
__________________
Paul (KE5LXU) ...was fulltimin', now parttimin'
2022 Coachmen Leprechaun 319MB
towing 2017 Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited
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07-27-2013, 03:28 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2013
Posts: 1,685
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Maybe it is just my paranoid way, but I obsess about getting blocked in at those RV fuel pumps. That's why I head to the truck lanes to rub elbows with the truckers. Prior to arriving, we always view the truck stop on Google satellite maps. That's a big help to calm the apprehension about traffic patterns, and maneuverability.
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07-27-2013, 08:32 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Illinois
Posts: 405
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I use this site: Find The Cheapest Truck Stop - TruckMaster Fuel Finder when we are traveling. It posts the fuel prices for diesel and often has a picture of the station. Some PFJs are fine for RV lanes and others are close to impossible. Gas Buddy also works and may have a picture of the station.
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07-28-2013, 07:52 AM
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#11
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Moderator Emeritus
Jayco Owners Club RV Trip Wizard
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Poinciana FL
Posts: 7,781
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We've experienced some "tight" RV lanes at Pilot/Flying J, as well as rude people that will block the RV lanes or even cars that will use the RV lane when there were a dozen open "regular" lanes. One time we pulled up behind a guy in a pickup truck, he was outside the truck talking on the phone. He must have talked a good 10 minutes. It was only after the phone conversation ended that he went over to the pump and started refueling. I'd assumed, when I pulled in, he'd already done so and would soon be on his way, especially when he saw me waiting. Some people's kids.
Now that we're 63' long, with toad, I don't even bother trying the RV lanes, I go right to the truck lanes. I've never experienced rude treatment by any of the truckers. You do want to follow the rules, ie, as soon as you're fueled up, pull ahead before going in to pay.
I just recently got the Pilot/Flying J charge card, I've not yet used it. Depending on your Good Sam membership status you can get up to 8 cents per gallon discount off the cash price. We'll get 6 cents per gallon. (5% would be more like 15 - 20 cents per gallon @ $3.50 to $4.00 per gallon).
Previously I've used the loyalty card. I've continued to use Pilot/Flying J as I'd only have to go into the building once, to pay for the fuel pumped, as opposed to twice, once to get the pump started, the second time to pay the bill. If other companies would offer a similar convenience I'd check into those as well.
__________________
Jay and Peggy Monroe
"Can't take it with you, not leaving any behind"
2024 Jayco White Hawk 26FK
2024 Ford Expedition
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07-29-2013, 07:33 PM
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#12
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Member
Newmar Owners Club Freightliner Owners Club
Join Date: Apr 2011
Posts: 62
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We are lifetime members of Good Sam and got the PFJ card. We used the card for the trip to the GS rally in Phoenix last year. We got the advertised .08 off for diesel. Unfortunately we also found PFJ to be .10 to .20 more expensive than surrounding stations.
Used the truck lanes almost exclusively. Be careful their pumps are made to fill semi-trucks. Lots of pressure!!!
Used RV lane once and got held up by a u-haul truck that could not figure out the pump.
Not once did we see a card lock at any of the stations.
See you down the road, Dave
__________________
Dave, Marie & Duchess Salem, Or
Amateur Radio Operator, N7BQ
'98 Newmar Dutchstar 38', 300 Cat
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07-30-2013, 07:18 PM
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#13
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Senior Member
Alpine Owners Club
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Traveling in North America
Posts: 2,248
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Quote:
Originally Posted by AFChap
Have you found truck pumps where you can no only activate the pump but actually pay at the pump with a cc?? I believe I used to, but have not in recent years. Therefore I always use the RV island because when I pay at the pump I get a 5% instant rebate from my bank. The F-J 1 cent discount is piddling compared to 5%.
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Yes, we have done EVErYTHING at the truck pumps, using the loyalty card and our Visa card, even prints out the receipt. They are the newer pump areas where there is also DEF available for those that need it. Older ones will pump using the loyalty card, but have to go into the store to pay/get receipt.
Barb
__________________
Barbara & David O'Keeffe
Figment II (Alpine 2002 36 MDDS)
On The Road since 2006
Blog
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