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Sjcjr · 05-06-2014, 04:24 PM

I own a 30 ft flying cloud. I usually travel the interstate. At times it is difficult to find a fuel stop that will allow easy ingress/egress. When towing what is your preferred type fuel stop for re-fueling? Does anyone carry a five gallon plastic container filled with extra fuel for emergency just in case you can't find a suitable fuel stop?

HowieE · 05-06-2014, 04:45 PM

Unless you are on that last leg going north to Cartwright Labrador, 430 km, there is no reason to carry extra fuel.

I think you be hard to find any exit from the interstate system that was no easy off easy on and almost every one has some form of fuel stop. Now that said you will pay extra at any exit stop off the Interstate system. I have found fuel $.30 a gallon cheaper just 1/2 mile past the station just off the Interstate. At 40 gallons per stop I will drive that 1/2 mile.

Get Gas Buddy app for your phone. It gives prices and map direction.

Alumitater · 05-06-2014, 05:07 PM

We carry a copy of "NEXT EXIT". It is arranged by State; then by interstate no. It lists RV friendly gas stations in "Red" and other RV friendly places like Cracker Barrels, etc also in "Red" and tells which side of interstate they are on. Probably the most used purchase for our airstream travels. It is a "MUST HAVE" as far as the "navigator's seat" is concerned.

Landrum · 05-06-2014, 05:13 PM

There is an iPhone App called iexit. Perhaps it is developed by same company as the book, but it is free and does that very thing. Of course you have to have cell phone service, so the book might be a good backup.

sandlapper · 05-06-2014, 07:02 PM

We usually fuel up at the truck stops. Not my favorite place, they are usually very busy and I don't want to hold up the working driver, but at 57' total length, pretty much a must. plus we need diesel, which even further complicates fueling. A necessary evil.

John

wahoonc · 05-06-2014, 07:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sjcjr

I own a 30 ft flying cloud. I usually travel the interstate. At times it is difficult to find a fuel stop that will allow easy ingress/egress. When towing what is your preferred type fuel stop for re-fueling? Does anyone carry a five gallon plastic container filled with extra fuel for emergency just in case you can't find a suitable fuel stop?

I do carry a back up can just in case, however I use a steel safety can. The plastic aren't.

I look for large name brand stations, quite often they incorporate a truck stop. Depending on the rig I may need diesel or gas. In my part of NC; Loves, Hess/Wilco, TA and Davis get my vote. Lots of resources out there, GasBuddy is a good one.

Aaron

Sjcjr · 05-06-2014, 07:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wahoonc

I do carry a back up can just in case, however I use a steel safety can. The plastic aren't.

I look for large name brand stations, quite often they incorporate a truck stop. Depending on the rig I may need diesel or gas. In my part of NC; Loves, Hess/Wilco, TA and Davis get my vote. Lots of resources out there, GasBuddy is a good one.

Aaron

Where did you but the steel safety can? How much?

Farmer Dan · 05-06-2014, 08:14 PM

Sjcjr,
To keep gas for my mower, etc, I use a 5-gal steel safety can from Gemplers.com Its Eagle brand and has a plastic funnel that fits on the spout. It is available in red, blue, or yellow for $44 plus shipping.
Dan

Landrum · 05-06-2014, 08:43 PM

I just bought one of those as well. I had it with the stupid safety spout on the newer plastic fuel "cans". You can also buy them at Lowes and Tractor Supply.

Jammer · 05-07-2014, 03:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sjcjr

I own a 30 ft flying cloud. I usually travel the interstate. At times it is difficult to find a fuel stop that will allow easy ingress/egress. When towing what is your preferred type fuel stop for re-fueling? Does anyone carry a five gallon plastic container filled with extra fuel for emergency just in case you can't find a suitable fuel stop?

I do not carry extra fuel for my tow vehicle because of the possibility of contaminating the fuel with dust or dirt and the considerable trouble and expense involved in replacing fuel filters on modern tow vehicles.

Then again I have room for 38 gallons in the factory tanks.

Easy is in the eye of the beholder. Too, fuel station layouts do vary regionally. I can get my 30' trailer in and out of all but the smallest gas stations as long as the islands aren't saturated with cars. Sometimes, rarely, I need to get out and look, or use a spotter.

Bk Yd Safari · 05-07-2014, 04:04 PM

Truck Master Fuel Finder's web site usually has a "street view" of the fuel stop...the fuel stops listed are usually truck stops...the site has a section where you can enter your beginning and ending locations and it will list the fuel stops along the way whether or not interstate routes. also you can use the street view function in google maps and get a good idea of the entrance/exits of fuel stops.

wahoonc · 05-07-2014, 04:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sjcjr

Where did you but the steel safety can? How much?

I buy mine from Airgas Safety, but any good industrial supply house should have them... $45 range for a 5 gallon. I buy the JustRite brand, they are all steel, the Eagle have a plastic handle that doesn't last as well.

Aaron

Silver Hawk · 05-07-2014, 04:43 PM

I put a 90 gallon tank in the front of the bed of my TV - 15-1700 miles between fuel stops. Got tired of getting stuck in small gas stations made for cars and dealing with cars in the stations. Now I have plenty of time, and no pressure, to find a good pull through gas stop. Best thing I ever did!

perryg114 · 05-07-2014, 04:57 PM

I have been lucky enough that most of my trips don't require me to stay on the interstate 100% of the time. I am sure those exit apps can help. Looking at the gas stations from Google earth can help as well. The stations with the pumps parallel to the road are the ones you want. Those are much easier to get in and out of. The ones with the pumps facing the store don't want anything pulling a big trailer. I don't do truck stops. Also if you have a choice between one with a long line that is ten cents cheaper than the one across the street pick the one with higher prices and less traffic. It is worth $5 not to have to deal with penny pinchers that don't mind waiting 30 mins to get gas.

wahoonc · 05-07-2014, 06:23 PM

I have an extended main tank on my F350, IIRC my total capacity is now 58 gallons of diesel. I still carry a 5 gallon can...

In all my years of traveling I have only used my emergency can for myself once, for others quite a bit more often.

Aaron

87MH · 05-08-2014, 08:06 AM

The Cracker Barrel Restaurant chain has done a great job of locating their sites at easy on/off interstate intersections. The food is consistent, and there is usually a choice of fuel options close to the restaurant.

Even if we do not choose to eat when we stop for fuel, the atmosphere of a "mom and pop" operation far outweighs the baroness and industrial atmosphere of a truck stop environment.

Many, many times older couples have approached us at neighborhood gas stations and reminisced about memories of an Airstream lifestyle of years ago. Never happened at a larger commercial truck facility.

Skater · 05-08-2014, 08:22 AM

With the B190, which ran on gas, while towing a car, I couldn't back up, yet I never had any issue getting in or out of any gas station. There were a few I avoided due to obviously tight lots, and once or twice I had to wait for someone to move, but, generally, no problem.

With the trailer, since we have a diesel truck, I use the truck pumps. My tank is ~35 gallons, so any delay to the truckers will be short - certainly less than it would be for another truck in front of them. And the truck pumps have higher credit card limits and larger nozzles. Finally, if someone wants to start counting "minutes of delay incurred to another motorist," truckers slow down my commute every day where there is a hill on the beltway, so they're probably still way ahead of me. I'm not complaining - just pointing out that sometimes we're going to have to wait for one another even when no one is doing anything wrong.

I've also used some regular gas stations with our 30' trailer, and I haven't had a problem yet. And now I can back up. (I still watch for and avoid tight stations, though.)

exallen · 05-08-2014, 12:00 PM

After running out of diesel in my F250 in Amarillo, had to purchase a plastic 5 gallon diesel container. Yellow Briggs Stratton. Works pretty well, but had to re-read instructions on the safety nozzle to get it right. Real trick getting the diesel engine started again. The Miles to E dash warning LIED big time. Fortunately, we were only a block for the Flying J.

Flying J (alias Pilot) offers a free RV traveler's card that gives a discount (3 cents). I've also found that I get the cash price even when using my credit card.

After the running out of fuel experience, decided to avoid doing it in the future. So for peace of mind and additional miles between fuel stops, invested about $1800 (installed) on a 50 gallon in-bed tank. It automatically transfer fuel to the main tank as needed, and gives you a constant readout of gallons in the main and aux tanks.

Finally, Gas Buddy is a great app that gives a cost per gallon where you are on any place you're going. Flags that station that is 20 cent/gallon less. Caveat of course is being able to get you rig in to the pump. I have a 30' Classic and generally don't have too much trouble. Just always be extra cautious and recruit some help for extra eyes.

switz · 05-08-2014, 01:14 PM

My 2012 Cummins diesel manual explicitly limits bio-diesel to 5% or less. That restriction cuts out Pilot/Flying J and Loves which have placarded their diesel pumps with "may contain up to 20% bio-diesel". What a rip-off. Premium prices for a fuel mixture with substantially less BTU energy per gallon then straight diesel at the same or lower prices at Chevron or Shell which have not posted they are selling garbage from the diesel pumps.

To get traveling stop location choice, I swapped the 34 gallon stock fuel tank for a Titan under bed 56 gallon tank. That is more fuel range than my body will tolerate without a stop anyway.

perryg114 · 05-08-2014, 03:21 PM

When I had my F350 Diesel. I put in an 90 gal bed tank from Northern Tool. It was about $700 with shipping and a hookup kit and fuel filter. I still have the tank. My Excursion has a 44 gal tank but it is gas. I hated having to search for diesel so I bought the tank. I hate truck stops. Truck stops seemed to be designed to waste your time.

Perry