How to get it home the first time Part IIA -- King of the road (or maybe Joker)

[BG6]

Guess what?  The DISCLAIMER still applies -- anything I tell you might not work.

Okay, so you've read the first two parts, you're trying the trip on your own.  You ignore all of the people at the tour company who are making bets on how far you get, and to a THOROUGH pre-trip inspection.  If the company has a printed form for this, borrow a handful of them and check off each item, sign and date it, and stuff this into the Manila envelope that has all of your documentation.  Toss this envelope on the dash in front of you.

So, there you are, idling, aired up.  Ask yourself one last time if you are really ready for this.  If this is your first time driving anything this size, you really would like to have some driver give you a few minutes of transition training.  Make sure that you understand how to get it into and out of reverse, for instance, and watch the other drive do it a couple of times.

Ready?  No, not yet.  Adjust your mirrors.  Clean the windshields.  Turn on the radio or music player and set it.  Belt up, release the brakes, get in gear, and EEEEEeeeeaaaaaase forward.  Get your mind a couple of seconds ahead of the steering wheel.

Okay, that was all half an hour ago, now you're on the road, and you think you need fuel.  If you think it, you need it!   I make it a policy to put an amount equal to half a tank of fuel in at the first fill up, but no more than 3/4 on the fuel gauge (which I keep an eye on), and never pass a fuel stop with the needle at or below 1/4 tank.

But wait, I'm getting ahead of myself here.  You pull off the highway, and aim toward Bubba Bigwheel's Truck Center.  Which driveway do you want, the one marked TRUCKS or the one marked CARS?  If in doubt, pull into the truck driveway, while taking a good look at the car side.  There is a lot more room on the truck side, and you may need to fill there.  OTOH, if the sign says CARS/RVs, then go into the RV side.

The advantages of the RV side are that it's usually faster than the truck side, and you don't have to worry about the problems you may face on the truck side.  If you go in, have them write "RV fuel" on the receipts!

If you're fueling on the truck islands, you now discover Fuel Challenge #1 -- getting them to turn on the pump for you!  Most truck stops don't have card readers at the truck pump, even if the car side has them.  Even if they do, most truck stops don't take Visa on the truck side card readers (they will take it inside).  We will assume that there is no card reader.

No card reader USUALLY means that there is a phone near the pump.  Truckers call this "Dial a Prayer" -- it connects to the cashier inside, who expects to be talking to a commercial driver.  They will ask "Company?"  Say "I'm an RV."  They will usually ask you to come in and pay first.

If you HAVE a card reader, it will probably ask you for unit number, USDOT number, etc.  Your unit number is RV.  If you MUST put in a USDOT number, it doesn't know if you are reading it off the side of your rig or off the side of someone elses.  You can put in random numbers for most entries, but I suggest that you put in your real mileage.

Whatever you do, eventually the pump is activated.  Now you discover that your fuel cap is on the RIGHT side of the coach, while the main station of the pump is on the LEFT side.  Pull the handle out and flip the lever or push the selector, then carefully set the handle on the ground or hang it somewhere (other than the normal place).  Now go to the other side.  There is a "satellite station" over there, which works like a regular pump.  As you fuel, check the gauge and underneath.  IF YOU DETECT A FUEL LEAK, SHUT OFF THE HANDLE IMMEDIATELY, but remember that the pump is still going until you shut it off on the main station.

Everything is going fine, though, so you just keep fueling.  While you do this, check on the main station now and then.  Make sure the nozzle is still where you left it and not leaking.  These are high-volume pumps, and leaks are common.

When you reach your desired cutoff point (or the tank is full), hang the satellite nozzle back up, then go around and do the same on the main station.  Until you shut off the main station, the whole system is still live.

Now, and this is IMPORTANT, get in the coach and PULL FORWARD so that the next user can get in and start fueling.  There is no more certain way to attract unwanted attention than to camp on the fuel pump.  Remember, you are between the other drivers and their paychecks, their chance to rest or to get home after weeks or even months, and if you slow them down here, they will remember you 500 miles down the road and find a way to express their disapproval.

Now, whether you had a card station or not, go into the building and find the fuel desk.  Tell them "the RV on Pump ____," and they will find your receipt, which is a large form.  Check the purchase amount, sign it, and give the whole thing back -- they will tear off the part that you need.  AS SOON as this is done, go back out and move your coach.

If you buy more than a certain amount (generally 50 gallons), most truck stops will give you a free shower.  If you need a shower but don't buy fuel, it will cost $10 or more.  Some stops ask for a driver's license or credit card to make sure you bring the towels back -- I NEVER gave that to them.  Those which insist will usually take something else of value, or a cash deposit.

Fueled up, cleaned up, and back on the road . . .there's a signpost ahead . . .you're entering the Scale Zone . . .in Part IIB . . .