Traveling from east coast next week primarily via I40. Anyone have any preferences TA, Pilot/FlyingJ, Loves as a place to fuel/sleep/eat? Or, is it pretty much a wash? I have been following the topic regarding CHP/DOT in Love's parking lot. That doesn't particularly concern me. Missing a speed limit sign does!
Just me-I favor Love's. Like Pilot also. Flying J is alright if it has an RV island-also usually has a free dump. Most will allow you to sleep in the front parking lot-not very quiet, but less noisy then being parked next to a big rig with a refer unit blasting. Good Luck, TomC
Still prefer the far most corner of a WalMart parking lot for quiet nights.
Iv'e been noticing alot of the flying J's are charging for use of they're dump stations now.
The major truck stops work for me, am getting away from Wally World as some have a layout that is difficult even with a 36' setup and even rough when towing. My usual is the Flying J, but not always. Do enjoy the 6 cents off a gal and pay at pump with their credit card, they deduct from my bank, I never get a bill, just a statement.
Having been a trucker (refer type) many years ago, I prefer parking next to trucks, they have better parking lot etiquette.
Dave M
Quick Trip if you can find one fuel is cheaper than F/J , Pilot or Loves without a card and FWIW FJ/Pilot has raised the dump fee to $7.50 with their card and fueling we stop using the above 3
http://www.findfuelstops.com/ (http://www.findfuelstops.com/)
http://www.dieselboss.com/fuel.htm (http://www.dieselboss.com/fuel.htm)
Hi Joel, dont forget Maverick, sometimes they're cheaper, lvmci...
Yep Maverick is the old F/J owners Circle K has some fuel stops also anything off the Interstate is going to cost less and I like to get off the freeways but we are never in a big hurry
I'm not familiar with Maverick. Do they operate in the East? I loved the old Flying J.
Mostly here in the west and spreading they are in Neb is as far east as they are now but growing steadily east it belongs to the Call family they seem to being going back to their roots like the old F/J Jay started in late 60's
It takes time and planning to get the cheapest fuel. I research ahead on a trip using gasbuddy.com, then look at the station on google sat to see if I can get the bus/tow in the station. You can save .15-.20 per gallon by staying away from the truck stops and interstate. If you have reward cards from say Safeway or Kroger that is a good option. Truck stops suck but sometimes they are the only place you can get a 45 footer and tow into.
Thanks all. One thing I liked about Loves was that you can download a file of all their locations into MS Streets & Trips. Then they show up on your route map. Makes it real easy to plan a stop. We will probably take a couple of side trips. Walmarts will work if we don't use one of our membership campgrounds.
Clifford, looks like I may need my rubber ducky in Arizona! Visiting a friend in Prescott Valley. Where are you located?
Don't forget Loves has a discount program thru Prevost Car Co, givibg 10 cents off cash price, also direct deduct from bank acct, 5 cents most other stops. Check it out, if your a traveler, might be worth the $25.00 intro fee.
Feel I do not travel enough to justify at this time.
Was just informed by a Prevost card holder that there were too many hoops to jump thru trying to use the card for the 10 cent discount, so he turned it in & canceled the acct.
Am only 72, maybe will hang up the tool belt soon.
Dave M
You need to watch Loves they blend their fuel here in AZ it is from 5% to 13% bio the Loves close to us is at $3.83 per gal cash drive 1 mile and you can buy it anywhere from $3.51 to $3.55 cash or credit card
I will say it again, (i shop very little at WalMart/Sam's) but their MasterCard gives 5% cash back on fuel purchased any where. That seems to be as good of a deal as you can find.
Quote from: Lostranger on September 17, 2014, 06:53:15 AMI'm not familiar with Maverick. Do they operate in the East? I loved the old Flying J.
Yeah, Jim, in our area of the country, Flying J was usually the price leader. Truck stops within 10 miles of FJ were usually 10-12-15-25 cents cheaper than ones on down the road. But when J Call was killed in an accident, the family lost control of the company and the "bean counters" drove it into bankruptcy. Within weeks, FJ prices were up to "average" and all their competitors went up too. They were my fave too, in the old days.
Quote from: eagle19952 on September 17, 2014, 11:03:59 AMI will say it again, (i shop very little at WalMart/Sam's) but their MasterCard gives 5% cash back on fuel purchased any where. That seems to be as good of a deal as you can find.
I put a fair amount of $$$ on my Wah*Mott card every month (only place with merchandise around me) and they gave me a 15 cent discount from Memorial day to Labor day. Even though that's expired, it's still 5 - 10 cents, dependent on location. And their regular pump prices are also way below the competition, which is already high here in "If is moves or if it doesn't, tax it" North Carolina.
Yep 5% is better than .10 cents a gal off the inflated prices at Loves's it's $3.53 at Sam's here take another 5% for their credit card or gift card it helps over a year. I know if you worry about the price of fuel you shouldn't own a bus which is true but I could save almost 3 grand a year by shopping
agree, but my rebate checks pay my G-kids bills.... :o
I agree with Clifford - I could likely save a lot if I bought fuel more wisely but most of the time I just can't be bothered. I do enter California and BC with a full tank and leave as close to empty as I dare to. I also like to use Google Streetview to "drive" the route ahead of time if we're going to an unfamiliar Wallyworld, which is our preferred overnight stop. I tend to buy fuel where its convenient on the interstate - usually at a truck stop but I have zero loyalty - whichever one has the tallest sign and looks to be the easiest access. Unless I'm in familiar country.
Got to say I've had my fill of filling in postage stamp sized fuel stops. Four wheelers blocking satellite pump, "clusters"... One place so small we had to drop our trailers to get in. Company looking for THE cheapest fuel!
I'm in retired mode now. We live a frugal life, but we pick our battles. We will have breakfast and lunch on the road (not while driving - CHP all over that). The money we save will pay for dinner and make up for whatever higher fuel prices we pay at convenient fuel stops.
We have no brand loyalty either. We do use a particular credit card for most purchases which provides us with nice cash back checks. And, much to our delight, fuel is 5% reward (not 5 cents) this month. Not all stops take it - we'll find out before planning the next stop.
Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences.
In Chino Valley there is a nice big Safeway easy pull in to and they take AEX what is trip in mileage 800 ? make Vegas your stop going and coming fuel is not bad there we fill at Searchlight sometimes
If you get off 40 I am 8 miles north of Needles you can stop and plug in for the night if you need a stop over then that will leave 200 miles to Prescott
Clifford, we will be coming from Atlanta area - 2600 miles. Would love to stop by and say "Hi" if Needles hasn't washed away by then. Probably be in your area Sept 28-29 depending on side trips. Thanks for the Safeway info.
I cross check gasbuddy.com (here is sample from Atlanta) http://www.atlantagasprices.com/index.aspx?fuel=D&area=Atlanta&dl=Y&intro=Y (http://www.atlantagasprices.com/index.aspx?fuel=D&area=Atlanta&dl=Y&intro=Y) with http://autos.msn.com/everyday/gasstations.aspx?icid=sn8 (http://autos.msn.com/everyday/gasstations.aspx?icid=sn8) (here is sample from Atlanta) http://autos.msn.com/everyday/GasStations.aspx?m=1&l=1&zip=32401&x=13&y=10 (http://autos.msn.com/everyday/GasStations.aspx?m=1&l=1&zip=32401&x=13&y=10)
And also watch the signs many times little stops that are not commonly used will be cheap trying to attract customers.
I try to avoid the big name trucks stops when possible.
OH yeah we have Mavericks in our area too. But they are owned by local company called Cox Oil who also run a chain of "Little General"s too! (not even closely related to the ones referred too above.
;D BK ;D
Quote from: B_K on September 18, 2014, 08:08:27 AM
I cross check gasbuddy.com (here is sample from Atlanta) http://www.atlantagasprices.com/index.aspx?fuel=D&area=Atlanta&dl=Y&intro=Y (http://www.atlantagasprices.com/index.aspx?fuel=D&area=Atlanta&dl=Y&intro=Y) with http://autos.msn.com/everyday/gasstations.aspx?icid=sn8 (http://autos.msn.com/everyday/gasstations.aspx?icid=sn8) (here is sample from Atlanta) http://autos.msn.com/everyday/GasStations.aspx?m=1&l=1&zip=32401&x=13&y=10 (http://autos.msn.com/everyday/GasStations.aspx?m=1&l=1&zip=32401&x=13&y=10) ...
I haven't tried the others but I've found that Gas Buddy has a very useful "Diesel Fuel" section (reporting diesel prices only). One problem is that they want a location and it would really help to be able to put in something like "I-40, Tennessee" to get all the reports on the route. If you're running I-40, it doesn't help you much to know that a station in Chattanooga is 3 cents cheaper.
Thanks for those links, BK