Truck stop question

[firedreamer]

So sorry for having to ask this but when we start traveling can rv'ers stay at truck stops like Flying J / Pilot etc and for how long if so? Also when getting fuel at them , which pumps does one use, the reg car islands or the ones the trucks use?

[rob_fla]

I do not stay at truck stops overnight but do use Flying J / Pilot for fuel regularly

Flying J has RV Islands, I use them when available

If the Flying J RV Islands are not available or at Pilot I use the truck lanes.

Get familiar with the operation of the Truck Pumps and be in and out, do not park in the truck lanes, it will agitate the truckers that make a living driving.

[RV4us2]

I have used both truck and car islands. Depends how crowded they are. Most of the truck islands have DEF nozzles too if you need that. Truck nozzles fill faster but I discovered you have to slow the fill towards the end otherwise the tank did not fill completely. No experience with overnighting.

[mhs4771]

We primarily use Pilot/Flying J for fuel and never try the RV lanes because we don't want to risk getting trapped by cars in doing their shopping an parking in front of the store.
We are Life Members of Good Sam and have the Pilot/Flying J/Good Sam card which gives us 8 cents of the cash price and will start the Truck pumps.
I wouldn't try staying overnite in the Truck parking area as many times they a full and they have to have time parked, we don't.

[ET156]

some truck stops have spots just for Rvs. to stay over nite after you fuel up make sure you pull up past the pumps so the next truck can get fuel. Time is $$$ for drivers.

[spindrift]

Unless it's clearly marked that RVs can park overnight (maybe a small time truck stop in an out of way location), please don't do it. Those spaces are for profesional drivers and it's a courtesy to them to move on and find either a campground or a Walmart. I fuel at the truck islands all the time. Much easier in and out. Just don't park at an island and go in to do your shopping. That's a NO NO. If you need to go in, pull your rig up all the way so as to allow for another truck to come into the island behind you. Again, it's Trucker's Courtesy.

[thomas861]

I stop mostly at Pilot/Flying J when possible. I also generally go thru the truck pumps unless the RV pumps look particularly roomy, many times there's just not a lot of room to pull thru those RV pumps. It's also a fast fill up with those high flow truck nozzles and we pull up and are out of they way in no time. Much easier to add DEF if needed in the truck lanes.

[RW Cal]

Thanks for the info on the Good Sam Card. I knew about the discount, but I didn't know about being able to use it to pump on the truck island.

[firedreamer]

thanks all, sounds like great advice and we will follow it. I am unfamiliar with the term DEF tho?

[firedreamer]

ok just researched DEF amd my truck is a 2005 so not an issue for me. Thanks again

[atom ant]

Learning a little more about these myself.

Watch pricing - sometimes the truck stops can be 0.30 to 0.40 higher than the local RV lanes at another station. And when you read the signs, give it a few seconds, because the truck stop signs alternate between card price and cash price. Often, the Good Sam discount often doesn't get you down to what the other RV lanes are.

I seek RV lanes when I can, but don't always get my way. Given the choice, I just don't see paying higher at a truck stop for an oily, stinky island with noise so loud you can't hear someone talking to you and a staff that is typically less help to a novice than a Las Vegas card dealer. Add to that the fact most are Biodiesel blends, up to 10%, that doesn't do my rig any good in storage. If your pickup is not a daily driver, that might concern you on the last fill up of the day.

[Dave&Ginny]

As others have already said, yes you can buy fuel in the truck islands but be aware you might get tied up behind a driver who goes inside for quite a while. Once you do fuel, pull forward if you have to go into the store to pay.

Many Flying J truck stops have areas marked "rv parking". I have spent the night there without any issues. These areas are also marked with signs "no trucks allowed". When using these areas use the same rules as the Walmart lots.

I have also parked where big trucks park long enough to have lunch but since I used to make a living with trucks, I understand that these lots fill up and I try not to get in the way of a tired driver. Please keep in mind, there can be as much crime in truck stops as there is in rest areas.

[Rick and Mindy]

I will do whatever I can to stay away from the truck pumps. The drive around the building just to get to the pumps is usually littered with shards of metal, bolts, and whatever else seems to fall off those big rigs. I cringe thinking of all my tires driving over that stuff. To me, it's just an accident down the road waiting to happen!

[mhs4771]

Yes, once in a while you can get stuck behind a Trucker who doesn't follow their own rules, but for the most part we've been lucky enough to pull right up to the pump, get our fuel and be off.
We have gotten hung up trying to use the RV lanes and that was with our 36' Montana, so I'm not about to try is with this 43' Monster.
Generally as a rule, Pilot/Flying J are priced about the same as Loves, TA's, and others, so once we take 8 cents off the cash price we're close to the lowest prices at the local gas stations and don't have to worry if we can get in and out.
As they say "To each their own".

[travelin' texans]

We usually only travel 200-300 miles a day which is almost a tank of fuel then park & go into town, can generally save 20+ cents per gallon & not have to deal with the NASTY truck stops. DW hates to go into the store to get them to turn the Pump on & pay, I don't know why they can't program those pumps to take a personal card. We both worked at a fuel Terminal before retirement & (no offense to the truck drivers on here) 95% of those drivers were the dumbest, nastiest, most foul mouthed people ever & scared the crap out me thinking they were hauling 9000 gallons of fuel into DFW traffic.

[ted 95]

I only use the truck pumps. There is too much risk at the RV islands. Don't forget your rear swing is big and the truck lanes are always straight in and out. A couple of experienced people on this site have clipped their rear cap and that bill is over 10k to repair. For sleeping over have done it many times with the motor home and now with the 5er. Just don't put out the slides

[Char & Steve]

We always use the truck lanes with the RW attached. Just a lot easier and never a problem so far. We did stay in a truck stop one time with the MH and towing the Jeep because my headlight switch blew and we were trying to get home. Well long story short we hit traffic and ended up in one of the worst truck stops in NJ right off 95 under the hwy. No sleep that night. Left all slides in and parked out of the way but the drivers just closed in on us and to top it off one pulled in about 1 foot away from our side with a refer and it ran all night. I'm sure that was intentional but I had no headlights so couldn't really move anywhere easy. Guess I deserved it.

Steve

[gridiron]

I almost always use Flying J and I never use the RV lane. I always use the truck line as it is much easier and safer. I have found the truckers are very friendly and there have been no issues.

[RCAircraft]

We have stayed at a Flying J. We park with the big rigs and keep our slides in. As some of the large rigs run their engine all night it can be noisy. Usually we stay at a motel that has RV/big rig parking. Much better sleeping in a quite room.

[travelin' texans]

Originally Posted by RCAircraft

We have stayed at a Flying J. We park with the big rigs and keep our slides in. As some of the large rigs run their engine all night it can be noisy. Usually we stay at a motel that has RV/big rig parking. Much better sleeping in a quite room.

Not questioning your choice, but you have beautiful RW & would rather pay $100+ to stay in a motel instead of $40 in a rv park & sleep in your own bed???