Truck Stops on I-25 in New Mexico - Montana Owners Club

AZbear · 05-07-2011, 06:29 AM

We will be traveling from Phoenix to Colorado Springs with our Montana 3400 this summer. I've looked at the Next Exit and other books about availability of truck stops from Santa Fe to Raton (before hitting the pass). Does anyone know of a good sized truck stop that can handle the large 5th wheel. I have no hesitation going through the truck lanes in the stops, I just concern the auto areas due to lack of maneuvering and height of canopies.

Any thoughts would be appreciated.

sreigle · 05-07-2011, 07:59 AM

I assume you are referring to fueling and not overnighting?

Any of the stations listed in RED in the Next Exit will work just fine for you.

AZbear · 05-07-2011, 08:42 AM

Yes, only for diesel. So I can be comfortable that any in red are big rig friendly?

sreigle · 05-07-2011, 11:24 AM

Correct. We use the Next Exit and if it's in red we know we're ok. Some places may have both car diesel and truck diesel and the red only means somewhere there is ok for you. Truck diesel for sure and possibly the car diesel lanes, too.

For non-interstates we use The RV'ers Friend. CW has it and maybe some bookstores. It shows most of the truck stops on the non-interstates. Those are always fine for us. They may even include those on interstates. I'm not sure.

Our The Next Exit is several years old. We recently bought the Exit Now book, which has pretty much the same info, just organized differently. We'll see if we like it as well. One thing it has that I do look is Low Clearance locations. The title for that section references Interstate low clearances but I find it includes non-interstate locations as well. Pretty much the same location found in The Motor Carriers Atlas.

Jolu · 05-07-2011, 12:45 PM

AZBear,
We have filled up many times at a good sized station at the last exit in Raton as you are heading North. There are several stations there at that exit. The newest one is left over the overpass. I don't remember the brand name but there is an easy end pump at the far end and you can go around the station and head back to I-25. Seems they were always priced with the rest of them.
No problem in and out.
If you can plan your fuel stop for Colorado you will probably find prices a little less. You will find better prices in Pueblo. Trinidad will have a shell station right off I-25 easy to see at the WalMart exit but the prices may be more than Pueblo. The stations in Pueblo would be at the north end at the Canon City exit hwy 50 to the west. I mention that exit because the stations would be closer to I-25 but they are more congested near the interstate.
Now, between Albuquerque and Santa Fe the San Felipe Hollywood Casino on the right side has has a large station and $10 camping with electric. Dump and water.
I would recommend do a search at GasBuddy.com for the city you would like to stop at. They will even have a map for you.
Joe

AZbear · 05-07-2011, 01:47 PM

All,

Thanks for the great information - it's given me more comfort for the trip. I do have a 50 gal tank in the Ford, and probabaly could make it over the pass without issue, but would be more comfortable even partially filling up before the hills.

sriegle - I looked for that book, "The RV'er's Friend" without luck. Does it go by another name?

Being fairly new to the Fifth Wheel club, and having a 13'3" height, I'm still leery of gas stations - I'm sure the comfort will come with time - just needs pre-planning.

sreigle · 05-08-2011, 02:52 PM

Here's a link to RV'ers Friend.

http://rvbookstore.com/shop/detail.aspx?p=300&m=2

As for gas station canopies, I've only found a very few that would be a problem. I tend to be paranoid about it and tend to hang my head out the window as I'm pulling up to the pump. If I can, I use the first pump in line so I don't have to have the Montana under the canopy right away. Then while the tank is filling I walk out a ways and eyeball the clearance. This past Fall we pulled into one that was marked 13' 1". I last measured our towing height at 12' 10". So after eyeballing it from the ground I climbed the ladder and eyeballed it again. I was prepared to back the truck out from under and then make a sharp turn to go around if needed. But it looked like we'd be ok so we just pulled straight through, very slowly, holding our breath. And we were fine. It never hurts to be cautious but just keep in mind you can pull the truck to the pump and then walk around for a looksee.

AZbear · 05-13-2011, 04:20 PM

Thanks for the info - I've ordered the book to add to my references. Yes, with the front A/C on the Montana, I''m at about 13'3", so have to be very careful. Too bad more stations don't have clearance signs on their canopies.

I also don't mind going through the trucker lanes. Diesel definitely comes out faster!

scattershot · 05-14-2011, 05:41 PM

We usually fill up at the Shell station (I think, it's the second station on the right after you exit)in Raton. Exit to the right, and pull around the building, the auto diesel pump is the closest one to the building, with plenty of access. The other pumps in that row are for big rigs, and the nozzle won't fit.

AZbear · 05-15-2011, 04:49 AM

Thanks - we'll look for that station. Good thing for my F250 diesel - the truck nozzles do fit, so for us it's no issue. Just got to be very judicious dispensing gas as it comes out like crazy - need finesse.

sreigle · 05-17-2011, 04:03 PM

I don't mind the truck pumps, either, except most require I go inside and leave a credit card or cash, then go fill up, then go back inside and settle up. I'm finding a few now with pay at the pump that works with visa and master card. Otherwise, if I can negotiate getting in and out ok, I'd rather use the car diesel pumps with pay at the pump.

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