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03-20-2018, 02:40 PM
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#1
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Member
Join Date: Nov 2011
Posts: 44
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What was Flying J thinking?
It was past 1:00; my wife and I were tooling down I-95 near Cocoa, Fl and looking for a place to have lunch. Lo, and behold, a Flying J with a Wendy’s lay ahead at the next exit. Great, we thought, lunch without parking headaches.
The place looked new. Signage was pretty specific: “CARS AND RVS” here and “TRUCKS” there. Were we, with our big moho, and towing, no longer welcome in the truck area? Obediently, we followed their directions. Great access to pumps. Lots of marked parking spots, at least if you were less than 20’ long. Not a single big rig parking space, and no string of 7 adjacent car spaces in a row was in sight.
We made a big loop and headed for the truck area. Here, a fully paved area with a zillion big marked parking spots loomed ahead of us; unfortunately, every one of them was back in! There was maybe space for three units, in an unmarked area, where a big rig could park, but only if trucks hadn’t grabbed them first.
We did park there and have lunch, but I wondered how a company like Flying J could not be aware that motorhomes towing dinghies cannot back-up. I talked to the manager, and she said, “Gee, I never thought of that.” Well, duh! I used to think Flying J coveted the RV business. What were they thinking?
Maybe the guy who picked the Brown’s QB draft choices is now in charge of Flying J facilities layout (Don’t get it? Ask a rabid NFL fan).
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03-20-2018, 02:45 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Newmar Owners Club Freightliner Owners Club
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: Odessa, Tx.
Posts: 845
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I never felt like the truck stops "wanted" RVs there. Just some companies are more tolerant than others. IMHO, YMMV
Glad to hear it worked out for you.
__________________
John and Sue from W. Texas
2001 DSDP, 3126B Cat
"the Oilfield PAID me to retire, so I did" :-)
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03-20-2018, 02:46 PM
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#3
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Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: western NC mountains!
Posts: 4,106
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yes, we find that 'RVs' on signs does not typically apply to a 40' motorhome or fifth wheel, especially ones with toads... and we've never been turned away from using the 'Trucks Only' lanes!
so, my thought with flying J is this: they would rather RVrs use the 'retail' pumps, not the semi truck lanes, but that's easier said than done when you need diesel, and when you are 60' to 70' long.
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03-20-2018, 02:47 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Newmar Owners Club
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Wellington, Florida
Posts: 13,599
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Hi jswickard,
What you saw has basically been they way for decades. Not all FJ's but most are like what you saw. We have lunch in rest areas. And we always go to the truck pumps. FYI, we are a truck.
__________________
Gary
2005 Newmar KSDP 3910 + GMC ENVOY XUV 37K lbs Moving Down The Road
The Avatar Is Many Times Around The USA
Nobody Knows Your Coach Like Somebody Who Owns One Just Like Yours
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03-20-2018, 02:48 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2017
Posts: 178
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I figure I’m as big as a truck so I park with the trucks. Never been told not to. There are truck stops that have no pull through parking. When we find one of those we continue on to the next one.
__________________
—————————————————
2005 Fleetwood Revolution 40C W/Cat C7 towing 2007 Jeep Wrangler, Demco Challenger Tow Bar, Blue Ox Patriot II Toad Brake
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03-20-2018, 03:46 PM
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#6
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Member
Join Date: Feb 2012
Posts: 38
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38' towing a Jeep: we typically only fuel at Pilot/Flying J. While in the fuel line one of us will slide into the restaurant & get something to go. We'll eat somewhere else down the road. I don't like taking up a truckers slot. They're working, we're on a full-time vacation ~~~
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03-20-2018, 03:53 PM
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#7
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Member
Join Date: Jan 2018
Posts: 30
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Quote:
Originally Posted by GaryKD
Hi jswickard,
What you saw has basically been they way for decades. Not all FJ's but most are like what you saw. We have lunch in rest areas. And we always go to the truck pumps. FYI, we are a truck.
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Aren't the taxes different (more) in the truck lanes?
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03-20-2018, 04:04 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 35,349
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I use the " My Pilot " App to locate Flying Js that have RV parking.
They probably send RVs into the car pump area, because they don't have gas in the truck lanes.
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03-20-2018, 04:13 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
Newmar Owners Club
Join Date: Feb 2008
Posts: 151
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jswickard
It was past 1:00; my wife and I were tooling down I-95 near Cocoa, Fl and looking for a place to have lunch. Lo, and behold, a Flying J with a Wendy’s lay ahead at the next exit. Great, we thought, lunch without parking headaches.
The place looked new. Signage was pretty specific: “CARS AND RVS” here and “TRUCKS” there. Were we, with our big moho, and towing, no longer welcome in the truck area? Obediently, we followed their directions. Great access to pumps. Lots of marked parking spots, at least if you were less than 20’ long. Not a single big rig parking space, and no string of 7 adjacent car spaces in a row was in sight.
We made a big loop and headed for the truck area. Here, a fully paved area with a zillion big marked parking spots loomed ahead of us; unfortunately, every one of them was back in! There was maybe space for three units, in an unmarked area, where a big rig could park, but only if trucks hadn’t grabbed them first.
We did park there and have lunch, but I wondered how a company like Flying J could not be aware that motorhomes towing dinghies cannot back-up. I talked to the manager, and she said, “Gee, I never thought of that.” Well, duh! I used to think Flying J coveted the RV business. What were they thinking?
Maybe the guy who picked the Brown’s QB draft choices is now in charge of Flying J facilities layout (Don’t get it? Ask a rabid NFL fan).
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That FJ is new -- and I don't like it either. But it is still way better than the much older Pilot just a mile down the freeway at exit 201. That one is impossibly small for all vehicles!
I've been in a couple of FJ's like this and at least have been able to pull up to a curb for the few minutes it takes to walk the dogs. Otherwise, I agree the lack of pull-through spaces is really bad for those of us towing.
__________________
2023 Fleetwood Fortis 32RW
2018 Ford Flex Toad
Roadmaster Sterling AT towbar + Invisibrake
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03-21-2018, 07:24 AM
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#10
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Senior Member
Newmar Owners Club
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Wellington, Florida
Posts: 13,599
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Hi Mikenchelby,
Not that I can tell from the sign and the receipt. At a J, the price I pay at the truck pumps is the same as at the RV pump.
__________________
Gary
2005 Newmar KSDP 3910 + GMC ENVOY XUV 37K lbs Moving Down The Road
The Avatar Is Many Times Around The USA
Nobody Knows Your Coach Like Somebody Who Owns One Just Like Yours
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03-21-2018, 07:37 AM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2017
Posts: 2,807
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Mikenchelby
Aren't the taxes different (more) in the truck lanes?
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No, tax is on the fuel, not who buys it.
The only different taxing is for "off-road" fuel, especially diesel for farm equipment.
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03-21-2018, 07:46 AM
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#12
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Senior Member
Thor Owners Club Pond Piggies Club Outdoors RV Owners Club
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: NE. Ohio USA
Posts: 5,973
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Some J's next to the 2-3 RV pumps many times there is space for few (2-3) longer units to park. Even with our 25' tt, we would park in the truck lot many times. I'll fuel up at the RV island, the wife and kid would go in to use the facilities. If I had to also use the facilities, sometimes after fueling I would have to drive out and into the truck lot to find a space. And many times that would be all the way to the rear of the truck lot. It is what it is.....
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03-21-2018, 07:54 AM
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#13
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Senior Member
Entegra Owners Club
Join Date: Nov 2012
Posts: 8,108
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Let's face it, it is a truck stop, not an RV stop. Their primary business is trucks and so they optimize their space to service the trucks. The Flying J RV lanes are a nice exception, for the shorter rigs. Even when I drove a 40 footer and toad, I could usually use the RV pumps. Now that I drive a 45, no way. I have to use the truck pumps. If there is no pull through parking, then I fuel up, move on, and have my lunch somewhere else. But if you look hard there usually is someplace that you can park, unless the whole place is filled to capacity.
__________________
Marc and Jill, Wellington FL
2013 Entegra Anthem 44SL
2018 Lincoln MKX
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03-21-2018, 08:15 AM
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#14
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Senior Member
Newmar Owners Club Tiffin Owners Club Workhorse Chassis Owner
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Byhalia, MS
Posts: 3,367
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Flying J isn't the same since it was bought out by Pilot several years ago. Many of the old FJs had separate RV pump islands with both gas and diesel. From what I'm reading here, that isn't happening anymore. Also, FJ used to have the lowest price on fuel anywhere. Not so anymore. They are as high or higher than anyone else now.
jt
__________________
2019 Tiffin Phaeton 40IH
2005 Newmar Kountry Star Gas (Sold)
2022 JL Wrangler 4xe or 2017 Harley Ultra in tow
JT, Em & the boys, Kong & Baxter (rescued grey tabbies)
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