tomseeley
Murrysville, PA
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This is a pet peeve of mine. I'm curious if there's a forum or a sticky message somewhere devoted to this specific subject. I haven't found one, so I'm proposing to start one here.
The issue is unique to those of us driving standard pickup trucks that use diesel, not gasoline, and towing travel trailers or 5ers. It might also be relevant to others but I only have experience with my pickup and my travel trailer, so that's who I'm addressing at the moment.
As all of us driving standard pickup trucks that use diesel, not gasoline, and towing travel trailers or 5ers know, standard pickups usually cannot accommodate wide diameter fuel hoses that you find at the truck diesel pumps, because they usually won't fit in our tank openings at all. If they fit in at all, they fit in so tightly that if the pump is a high speed pump, and it usually is, the fumes can't escape from our tank fast enough and that tricks the pump into thinking the tank is full, so the pump clicks off every few seconds. All in all, it's next to impossible to use tradtional truck diesel fueling stations conveniently if at all.
The problem THAT causes for many of us towing trailers with our pickups, is that many stations that do provide diesel at the "car island" parts of the stations don't design them so we can get our truck-plus-trailer into them easily, if at all!
So here's my suggestion for a sticky post people can respond to for others' benefit:
Let's compile a list of stations we've found while we're out on the road where we've found easy access to the kind of diesel fueling stations we need!
For example, I'll start with this one, and let's see if this idea takes hold.
If you've ever traveled I-70 between the Washington DC/Baltimore area and western PA, you know that you have to go through Breezewood! Well, the last time I did that, westbound, I found a Shell station that is wonderfully well designed to address my pet peeve. It's the first right turn you'd make, after you turn right onto the busy street that runs through Breezewood, coming off of westbound I-70 headed toward the PA Tpk. There's a stoplight that makes your turn into and out of easy, and the diesel pumps at the car island are in the middle of a huge open area that even the longest truck-trailer combo can easily get into and out of.
If this idea has legs, add to this thread with your experiences with well-designed stations.
And I may also start a thread for BADLY designed stations from this point of view! Beleive me, I got a WHOLE lot more entries to put into that thread than into this one! Like just about every stop on the PA Tpk!
* This post was
edited 09/05/08 12:56pm by tomseeley *
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BB_TX
McKinney, Texas
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tomseeley wrote:
As all of us driving standard pickup trucks that use diesel, not gasoline, and towing travel trailers or 5ers know, standard pickups usually cannot accommodate wide diameter fuel hoses that you find at the truck diesel pumps, because they usually won't fit in our tank openings at all. If they fit in at all, they fit in so tightly that if the pump is a high speed pump, and it usually is, the fumes can't escape from our tank fast enough and that tricks the pump into thinking the tank is full, so the pump clicks off every few seconds. All in all, it's next to impossible to use tradtional truck diesel fueling stations conveniently if at all.
I have had 2 diesel trucks and the truck nozzles fit easily in both, snug but no problem. As far as cutting off, it is due to the MUCH higher flow rate than a standard pump. By simply barely pulling the lever and getting a slow flow, I have no problem with it cutting off. I just watch the numbers turning and get near the equivalent rate of a standard pump.
Finding stations that I can get into pulling the 5er is sometimes a problem. Even along major highways and interstates, sometimes it is hard to find stations with an easy in/out without getting off and on more than one exit.
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camping man
Central Fla.
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Dodges will take any nozzle easily . I always use the large nozzles even in the double pump lanes if that's all that's available.
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HarryWM
Wherever we are parked this time.
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Check the pump closest to the office/store/whatever at the diesel islands and I think you will "normally" find a smaller diameter hose with nozzle that will fit restricted fill neck and lower flow pressure.
Harry
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mtlogger
Montana/Guatemala
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tomseeley wrote:As all of us driving standard pickup trucks that use diesel, not gasoline, and towing travel trailers or 5ers know, standard pickups usually cannot accommodate wide diameter fuel hoses that you find at the truck diesel pumps, because they usually won't fit in our tank openings at all.
Huh, what? My Ford 350 and my youngest son's Dodge have no problem with the larger nozzles.
Quote:If they fit in at all, they fit in so tightly that if the pump is a high speed pump, and it usually is, the fumes can't escape from our tank fast enough and that tricks the pump into thinking the tank is full, so the pump clicks off every few seconds.
Maybe its a Chevy/GMC problem.
If you put your finger on the little holes at the tip of the nozzle it won't foam and blow back on you. And, if you adjust the angle, it won't click off prematurely.
Quote:The problem THAT causes for many of us towing trailers with our pickups, is that many stations that do provide diesel at the "car island" parts of the stations don't design them so we can get our truck-plus-trailer into them easily, if at all!
The closest pumps at Flying J, Conoco & Town Pump stations have the Chevy nozzles. FJ's in Butte, Billings, Casper, Cheyenne; Bosselmann in Neb; Town Pumps in Kalispell; Cenex in Ronan, Laurel & Cody.
Matt J - 1956 416 Unimog w/32ft Jamco and two mules & 1988 PB379 in MT; Unimog 1750L camper in Guatemala
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HarryWM
Wherever we are parked this time.
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mtlogger wrote:
Huh, what? My Ford 350 and my youngest son's Dodge have no problem with the larger nozzles.
Quote:If they fit in at all, they fit in so tightly that if the pump is a high speed pump, and it usually is, the fumes can't escape from our tank fast enough and that tricks the pump into thinking the tank is full, so the pump clicks off every few seconds.
Maybe its a Chevy/GMC problem.
The closest pumps at Flying J, Conoco & Town Pump stations have the Chevy nozzles. FJ's in Butte, Billings, Casper, Cheyenne; Bosselmann in Neb; Town Pumps in Kalispell; Cenex in Ronan, Laurel & Cody. It was also a problem with my '99 F-350. The only truck sized nozzles that fit were those without a lip (like a ring on the end of nozzle). Most truck nozzles had this lip.
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F-TROUP
VISALIA, CALIF
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It's a General motors problem, just like back in the 80's they tried to use their gas engines as diesel. Maybe they don't want to retool for their filler necks.........LOL
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tmm2good
Arvada, CO
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My GMC takes the big nozzles just like your Ford or Dodge does................
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INBellbuoy
Indianapolis, IN
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I had a buddy with a 90 or 91 Ford that wouldn't take the big nozzles either. And he worked for Navistar, too. Fortunately, my Dodge does. Have you tried the book "The Next Exit"? We keep it in the cab and it comes in quite handy especially since our fuel gauge doesn't work.
I know what you mean about Breezewood. When I lived in DC briefly I learned to avoid Breezewood using I-68 thru Western Maryland & WV, and I-29 which also keeps you off the PA turnpike that has neither and acceleration nor decceleration lanes at exits. I darn near rear-ended someone who got down the ramp & stopped there at Washington, PA --- also a very narrow and what I think a dangerous strech of I-70.
INBellbuoy, wife of 29 yrs, 11 yr old son, & Scruffy the 75 lb Goldendoodle, 2001 Dodge 3500 Quad Cab w/ Rancho 9000's & Firestone Ride-Rite Air Bags, 2005 Lund 1800 Explorer w/ 90 hp Yamaha, 2006 Host Yukon W/ Tent w/80W solar panel & Kipor Generator
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D&E Johnson
Ontario Canada/Brenda Arizona
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Get the book "The Next Exit". It covers all the exits of the interstates in the US. Its great. When the caption is written in RED, it means you can get a trailer with a truck into the station for gas or diesel easily. It also tells what is at each exit, which fast foods, restaurants, motels, stores etc. I bought ours at Flying J, 14.95. It is updated each year. We use it traveling to Arizona and then home to Canada each year..wish Canada had one too!. Money well spent. Dona
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