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Old 07-01-2014, 12:47 PM   #1
JandC
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Loves vs. Pilot/Flying J

Will be back in central Illinois soon after our trip out west. Haven't figured the final numbers yet but fuel probably cost us over $2,500. Throughout the trip I tried only using major truck stops, which were usually Pilot, Flying J, Loves, or some TA's. Pilot and Flying J's are getting better about having a working kiosk available so you can just swipe your card and print a receipt quickly, as long as you are using your Pilot/Flying J card. It makes the fuel stop pretty quick. Most of the others aren't bad either when using a regular credit card. Loves is horrible! They always want you to come in and estimate how much fuel, either leave the cash or run the card, then when done come back in and settle up, which could mean running the card a second time. It is just time consuming and goofy the way they do it. Do they not want RVers purchasing diesel from them or what?
 
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Old 07-01-2014, 12:58 PM   #2
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Never have figured out what love's is thinking, but that and the fact they are often very tight keep me away whenever possible.
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Old 07-01-2014, 01:12 PM   #3
richfaa
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Same here with Loves. It is a big hassle to fuel there.
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Old 07-01-2014, 06:02 PM   #4
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Same here. We avoid Love's as much as possible.
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Old 07-02-2014, 01:23 AM   #5
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It's not just Love's - most truck diesel pumps seem to be set up that way. Although Love's, Pilot & Flying J are usually a bit cheaper in VA, I've found them to be higher priced in PA and NY including whatever discount I can get, so I've used whatever GasBuddy tells me is lowest on our four junkets to upstate NY. Didn't matter if it was Sunoco, Exxon, or whatever, I had to go in first and then afterwards at all the truck pumps. To tell the truth, I liked the chance to stretch & walk a bit and it only added a few minutes to the stop.
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Old 07-02-2014, 05:35 AM   #6
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I put the Flying J/Pilot App on my phone so I can see where the next stop will be or where the closest one is so I don't have to go searching for a stop. Works out pretty good that way and I use my RV card from from Good Sam which makes it easy to keep track of fuel and costs. Besides I like Flying J's pepperoni meatball pizza lol lol lol
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Old 07-02-2014, 08:23 AM   #7
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Anyone use the AllStays? app
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Old 07-02-2014, 08:30 AM   #8
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It's the same stupid routine on the PA T-Pike when you use the truck islands. IF you can squeeze into the auto fuel island you can swipe, pump, print 'n go.
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Old 07-02-2014, 11:53 AM   #9
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During our trip I always located our gas stops the night before. With this 26 gallon tank you can't get too crazy. Even though I carry 15 extra gallons in cans I would prefer not to use it. With my range there were times I was forced to pull into a Loves while traveling out west. Next year if we go back out there I may add another 5 gallon can and make sure I can skip them altogether. I did some research and found the email address for the district manager of Loves that includes Illinois. I sent him an email telling him why Pilot and Flying J got almost all my fuel dollars this summer instead of Loves. I am sure he/she will read my email and they will immediately change their policy and start offering an RV friendly fuel card that can be used at the diesel pumps!
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Old 07-03-2014, 01:12 AM   #10
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Hi

We avoid Flying J / Pilot unless we are in real need of fuel. About 2 years ago they started holding the difference between the estimate and the purchase.

Last year when we made the first trip to Lincoln Nebraska we were in a hurry and made the 1,500 mile trip in 2 days. By the end of the trip Flying J / Pilot was holding over $300.00 and held it for 3 days.

We found in the return trip that Loves and TA didn’t do this.

Sorry but I am not financing Flying J / Pilots bottom line.

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Old 07-03-2014, 06:15 AM   #11
richfaa
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Never saw the problem even when you did have to leave your CC and estimate a purchase .Now at most all FJ's and many Pilots who are catching up you can just swipe the card at the pump enter your code ans fuel.
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Old 07-03-2014, 01:06 PM   #12
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My problem with the lot of them is the price. Always significantly higher than "regular" gas stations. Yes, I know some of them can be a bear to get in or out of, but I always take my time and figure out where I can go and where I can't. I think the truck stops all have higher taxes thrown on directed at 18 wheelers, or they just charge more for the captive audience.
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Old 07-03-2014, 04:45 PM   #13
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Well, it never hurts to have a minority opinion expressed.

We almost never use a truck stop for fuel purchase. Our preference is just regular stations--looking for the best price and the ability to swipe the card and get a receipt at the pump.

Over 17 years, four different fifth-wheels, and 150,000 miles of towing this has worked for us. In fact we find it less of an access problem with regular stations than with truck stops.

Of course, as I'm sure most of us do, we try to fill up while in an overnight stop and not hooked up.

As I began, just to state a minority opinion, but based on much experience. Thanks for letting me share.
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Old 07-04-2014, 02:24 AM   #14
Phil P
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Hi

We use truck stops because while I am fooling with fuel, checking tires etc wife can walk the dogs and get some refreshments of she likes.

Because I don’t use credit cards I am able to check the charge over the internet within in minutes of the purchase.

When you swipe the card at the pump there is a hold placed on your account in an amount determined by the proprietor. If you try to exceed this amount the pump stops and you have to swipe your card again. If you don’t us it all the hold remains for 24 to 48 hours.

At legitimate truck stops and gas stations they swipe the card for the amount you ask for and give you a receipt. When you are finished you return with your receipt and they adjust the charge to the correct amount and provide you with a second receipt that has the gallons on it as well.

If you have the capacity to check the charges real time you will find that at the legitimate truck stops and gas stations your account will be charged with the amount of the actual purchase.

Flying J / Pilot and a lot of gas stations have stopped doing this. They swipe the card for $300.00 and you use only $200.00 they give you the second receipt with the proper amount and gallons but don’t adjust the charge for 24 to 48 hours.

Sorry I just don’t finance their bottom line so I don’t go back to the ones that do this.

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Old 07-05-2014, 01:59 AM   #15
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Most truck stops around here charge 5 to 6 cents a gallon more to use credit card. DW usually goes in and stands by the register until I finish and just pays cash.
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Old 07-05-2014, 02:50 AM   #16
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I have never noticed a higher price when paying by credit card. My receipt shows the price per gallon on the pump. we have been using the RV plus card since it came out and it is a 6 cent discount. If you are a trucker you normally have to enter accompany code and are charged accordingly. With the RV plus card you enter a PIN code.
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Old 07-05-2014, 03:12 AM   #17
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Once again, my problem is not with the discounts or cash or credit. Just looking at the road side signs. Anywhere from 5 to 15 cents more a gallon than a regular gas station?
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Old 07-05-2014, 04:50 AM   #18
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I will have to admit that we do not consider "regular' fuel stations when on the road and pulling the Montana. We are willing to pay a few cents more for the convenience of ease of fueling at a truck stop. Looking at Gas Buddy for our Home area Regular station prices are from 3.899 to 3.999 with the pilot at 3.939. Now should we be unhooked that is a different story. Here we fuel at a sheetz less than 1/2 mile from my driveway at 3.899 diesel as well as a speedway the same distance. We are right off a Ohio TPK exit.

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Old 07-05-2014, 05:43 AM   #19
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And there is of course some regional differences. I got diesel close to home for $3.86. If you go over to the interstate to the FJ it's $4.07. That's almost $8 a tank. If there is no alternative, fine, but if I can see a way to get the rig into a smaller place, as well as back out again, I will do it.
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Old 07-05-2014, 10:29 AM   #20
JandC
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I do like washing my windshield at Flying-J or Pilot with those 7' long handled sticks. Can't really do that with the 20 inch handle brush at the corner discount car gas station. It is also pretty hard to step inside you Montana and make a sandwich or do anything else to it while stopped in a little gas station blocking half their pumps. I guess when I first hooked up to something that was 8' wide and over 39' long I decided there was no more running through the drive-up window for food or pulling into the busy corner gas station. But that is just me......heck I know folks that will drive 20 miles across city traffic and use $5.00 in gas just to save $3.00 on a dinner.
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