Planning
Postmaster
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 2,598
Likes: 5
From: Maryland
We are leaving this friday on a 6000 mile cross country trip. Can someone tell me why y'all are refueling every 170-180 miles? I've only towed the tt one time so far with the new truck, and it was only 150+/- miles round trip. But I still had half a tank when we got home. Why would I refuel then?
I was "planning" on stopping once between fillups to stretch or use the bathroom, there will be five of us in the truck. But I was hoping for 350-400 miles out of a tank, not 180.
Am I missing something?
Thanks
Ken
I was "planning" on stopping once between fillups to stretch or use the bathroom, there will be five of us in the truck. But I was hoping for 350-400 miles out of a tank, not 180.
Am I missing something?
Thanks
Ken
Hotshot
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 11,591
Likes: 14
From: Pflugerville, tx
We are leaving this friday on a 6000 mile cross country trip. Can someone tell me why y'all are refueling every 170-180 miles? I've only towed the tt one time so far with the new truck, and it was only 150+/- miles round trip. But I still had half a tank when we got home. Why would I refuel then?
I was "planning" on stopping once between fillups to stretch or use the bathroom, there will be five of us in the truck. But I was hoping for 350-400 miles out of a tank, not 180.
Am I missing something?
Thanks
Ken
I was "planning" on stopping once between fillups to stretch or use the bathroom, there will be five of us in the truck. But I was hoping for 350-400 miles out of a tank, not 180.
Am I missing something?
Thanks
Ken
26 - safety = 20 usable * 10 = 200 miles/tank.
26/4 = 19.5 is 3/4 tank.. so 175-200 is the no worry refuel range
Post Fiend
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 11,314
Likes: 4
As Sam showed 200 miles or about 4 hours is a good easy range...
but be flexible and have fun - there's a reason they call it a RECREATIONal vehicle
I NEVER carry extra fuel because we use interstates and there are always truck stops at the very least... the truckers can use them too
We personally use Flying J and Good Sams RV+ card and their phone app which tells us egg-xatly where they are and how much the fuel and DEF is there...(You'll like the $2.79 def pumps much better than the bottles!)
many don't like them, but it is convenient and easy to pull into the truck lanes... from what I understand too, there are rv lanes which allow you to dump, etc..
most truckers don't mind us there - they jump in line behind us because they know we will be MUCH quicker than the large cars and probably won't go inside because we are towing our bathroom !
so between the phones and tablets and truck electronics - you will have MORE than enough info to make it a lazy trip ! (but let your co-driver do all the electronics so you can drive !)
but be flexible and have fun - there's a reason they call it a RECREATIONal vehicle
I NEVER carry extra fuel because we use interstates and there are always truck stops at the very least... the truckers can use them too
We personally use Flying J and Good Sams RV+ card and their phone app which tells us egg-xatly where they are and how much the fuel and DEF is there...(You'll like the $2.79 def pumps much better than the bottles!)
many don't like them, but it is convenient and easy to pull into the truck lanes... from what I understand too, there are rv lanes which allow you to dump, etc..
most truckers don't mind us there - they jump in line behind us because they know we will be MUCH quicker than the large cars and probably won't go inside because we are towing our bathroom !
so between the phones and tablets and truck electronics - you will have MORE than enough info to make it a lazy trip ! (but let your co-driver do all the electronics so you can drive !)
Lead Driver
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 9,762
Likes: 115
I carry extra fuel because I don't always travel the interstates. I also take advantage of cheap(er) fuel prices. I filled up the tank and my extra 30 gallons worth for $3.59... I do like the $2.79 for DEF at Pilot/flying J but for some reason their diesel was $3.85 (w/ cash discounts) and next door it was $3.69 and then a cash discount on top of that. I don't hit Pilots enough to worry about getting their benefits so I take what I can get at the pump.
Moral - don't just assume they are the cheapest prices for fuel. The others had truck lanes so it wasn't like I was going to a place with no turnover either.
Moral - don't just assume they are the cheapest prices for fuel. The others had truck lanes so it wasn't like I was going to a place with no turnover either.
Hotshot
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 11,591
Likes: 14
From: Pflugerville, tx
I carry extra fuel because I don't always travel the interstates. I also take advantage of cheap(er) fuel prices. I filled up the tank and my extra 30 gallons worth for $3.59... I do like the $2.79 for DEF at Pilot/flying J but for some reason their diesel was $3.85 (w/ cash discounts) and next door it was $3.69 and then a cash discount on top of that. I don't hit Pilots enough to worry about getting their benefits so I take what I can get at the pump.
Moral - don't just assume they are the cheapest prices for fuel. The others had truck lanes so it wasn't like I was going to a place with no turnover either.
Moral - don't just assume they are the cheapest prices for fuel. The others had truck lanes so it wasn't like I was going to a place with no turnover either.
I can get fuel in austin for 3.44 (11c/gal disc (~3%) at the local grocery) today, then look ahead on gasbuddy to see areas of pricing.
~100 gals can get me ~1000 miles towing.
Senior User
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 274
Likes: 0
From: Waco, Tx
We are leaving this friday on a 6000 mile cross country trip. Can someone tell me why y'all are refueling every 170-180 miles? I've only towed the tt one time so far with the new truck, and it was only 150+/- miles round trip. But I still had half a tank when we got home. Why would I refuel then?
I was "planning" on stopping once between fillups to stretch or use the bathroom, there will be five of us in the truck. But I was hoping for 350-400 miles out of a tank, not 180.
Am I missing something?
Thanks
Ken
I was "planning" on stopping once between fillups to stretch or use the bathroom, there will be five of us in the truck. But I was hoping for 350-400 miles out of a tank, not 180.
Am I missing something?
Thanks
Ken
Junior User
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 79
Likes: 0
I have the 26 gallon tank. I carry 3 extra 5 gallon cans of diesel in my tool box just in case I miss a stop or there is not a major truck stop available when I get low. I prefer Flying-J and Pilot but I will use Loves. As other have mentioned there is a .6 discount if you have the Pilot card. My present fiver is just over 39' long and weighs in just under 15,000 pounds. I have been through 30 states with it during 2014 and only once have I found a Pilot or Flying-J that was priced .15 more above other stations in that same area. In my humble opinion, if you are pulling a longer fiver or TT you should be fueling up where the truck/tractor semi trailers are fueling up. If you have a 28' TT then I guess you can shop around and squeeze into a automobile lane someplace that sells diesel. I am 6'1" and have a hard time using a 20" windshield washer brush to clean my windshield at a regular gas station. At truck stops a midget could wash my windshield with the 6' brush they usually provide.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 1,865
Likes: 34
From: Annandale, VA
Are you guys using Flying J / Pilot credit cards for the discount?
I used to have a Flying J Card that gave me a slight discount at the pump... but it wasn't a credit card... just a discount card.
Thanks for the information!
I used to have a Flying J Card that gave me a slight discount at the pump... but it wasn't a credit card... just a discount card.
Thanks for the information!
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Hotshot
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 11,591
Likes: 14
From: Pflugerville, tx
pay in full at the end of the month.
some discount. 7-8-9cents/gal depending on GS membership type
and if you use the card, no $75 or $100 limit at the RV or truck lanes
New User
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
Just returned from a 9000+ mile 10 week tour of the USA (home in SoCal) and got 10.9 (manually calculated) pulling 13K 5vr. Generally used CC at 65 mph, not faster because of trailer tires. As others have said... wind has big impact. Never seemed to get head/following wind but quarter (side) wind sometimes affected by almost 2 mpg. Nice thing was that truck is so heavy that it handled wind great... I never once thought of stopping because wind was too high, and many times through Nebraska and Iowa it was howling.
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