Author Topic: I5 RV Fuel Stop  (Read 19032 times)

Edward Buker

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I5 RV Fuel Stop
« on: July 29, 2015, 04:12:16 PM »
Anyone know of an RV convenient fuel stop along I5 between Tacoma and the Oregon border. Thinking I would get less biodiesel in the blend.

Thanks Ed

Bill Sprague

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Re: I5 RV Fuel Stop
« Reply #1 on: July 29, 2015, 04:41:41 PM »
Our favorite is Gee Cee's in Toledo at exit 57.   They do charge a couple pennies more if you use a credit card, but it will still be competitive.   We liked it because it was so close to the freeway, wide open and easy to get in and out of.   Recently a Pacific Pride self serve was put in between Gee Cees's and the freeway.  That's where I set my personal fueling record of 12 minutes starting from the off ramp to the on ramp!

On the south side of Olympia, in Tumwater is a Pilot/Flying J.  We never used it.  In the heart of the Tacoma tide flats (Fife) is a Love's.  Avoid it.  It is a traffic nightmare. 

Some like the Safeway in Woodland because it seems to be a little cheaper.  I tried it once and thought getting in and out was a PITA. 

Bill Sprague

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Re: I5 RV Fuel Stop
« Reply #2 on: July 29, 2015, 05:11:47 PM »
I forgot to add that there is an Indian owned fuel stop next to the casino in Fife with diesel lanes.  It is far easier to get in and out than the Love's a few blocks away.  It tends to have the cheapest fuel in the region, if price is important. 

(And just in case I've offended anyone, in Fife the Puyallup Tribe seems to prefer "Indian" over "Native American".)

Joel Ashley

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Re: I5 RV Fuel Stop
« Reply #3 on: July 29, 2015, 07:56:09 PM »
Bill fergot to menshun his fueling record was for 2 gallons   ;D .
Joel and Lee Rae Ashley
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Bill Sprague

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Re: I5 RV Fuel Stop
« Reply #4 on: July 29, 2015, 11:28:27 PM »
Bill fergot to menshun his fueling record was for 2 gallons   ;D .

That all our new motorcabin needs to go 100 miles!

Jerry Carr

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Re: I5 RV Fuel Stop
« Reply #5 on: July 29, 2015, 11:54:33 PM »
Bill I also use the casino for a EZ fuel, I do wish they had the larger hoses on the RV/Truck pumps. When we add 50-100 gallons its a little slow. I know that you will not be adding more the 20gallons but gee for us "Big Guys"
 it really helps.
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Jerry Carr
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Mike Humble

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Re: I5 RV Fuel Stop
« Reply #6 on: July 30, 2015, 12:17:45 AM »
Gee Cee's is easier on and off for SB. Flying J is over the freeway and left turns.  Haven't used the others.
Mike
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Edward Buker

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Re: I5 RV Fuel Stop
« Reply #7 on: July 30, 2015, 06:25:22 AM »
Thanks for all the help here! I like the smaller nozzles, same issue as others with slow filling due to the fuel inlet not being designed to enter at the top of the tank.

So it is down to Gee Cee's or the Casino. Which is closer to I5 and easier in and out or are they both about the same? The other question, does anyone know if either of these fuel stops sell straight petroleum diesel or is it a Bio blend? If a Blend has it typically been B5, B10, B20? These are my tie breakers...

Thanks Ed

Joel Ashley

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Re: I5 RV Fuel Stop
« Reply #8 on: July 30, 2015, 08:26:38 AM »
I guess you could call Gee Cee's and ask them about their blends, Ed.   360-864-4300

-Joel
Joel and Lee Rae Ashley
Clackamas, Oregon
36.9 ft. 2006 Monterey Ventura IV, aka"Monty Rae"
C9 400HP Cat

Edward Buker

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Re: I5 RV Fuel Stop
« Reply #9 on: July 30, 2015, 03:55:27 PM »
Joel, Bill, and others,

Joel, I gave them a call....Gee Cee's being Texaco rarely gets a bioblended delivery and if they do it is at a B5 level blended into what is already in the feed tank. This looks like an "easy street" fuel stop, plenty of space, small nozzle diesel at the car lanes......Thanks again.

FYI I have found most Chevron and Exon stations in my travels are also using minimal Bio blend diesel if any. Not sure about states that might have some mandates. I still try and keep the Bio Blend level low when I can....

Later Ed

Stan Simpson

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Re: I5 RV Fuel Stop
« Reply #10 on: July 30, 2015, 05:42:07 PM »
Just curious...last year on our big trip to Washington and Oregon, we found that using the car/pickup truck lanes for diesel always resulted in a higher price. Is that still the same?
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David T. Richelderfer

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Re: I5 RV Fuel Stop
« Reply #11 on: July 30, 2015, 05:54:32 PM »
In Oregon, the larger truck stops, like SpaceAge, Pilot, Flying J,... will post three diesel prices.  The lowest price is for PUC plated trucks.  The PUC price is about 30c cheaper than the non-PUC cash price to the public.  The non-PUC credit price is about 5c higher than the cash price.

If you use the GasBuddy App or similar software on your cell phone, then many times the quoted price is the PUC price, not the non-PUC price.  So, if you consult a cell phone App and see a diesel price that is relative too cheap, then you are likely seeing a PUC price.  Also, some filling stations sell B20 and that locally is about 20c cheaper than the other stations' non-PUC cash price.  But, B20 has less energy than a B0, so you are getting what you pay for.
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Edward Buker

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Re: I5 RV Fuel Stop
« Reply #12 on: July 30, 2015, 07:00:26 PM »
Stan,

I have not noticed that. What I have found is the lanes that cars and pick ups use, out front, typically have the same price cash or credit card for some of the major players like Exon and Chevron while at the Truck Lanes at the same stations have a credit card use increase cost per gallon. May be a volume of sales thing. Exxon in Missoula along I90, nice truck stop called the Town Pump was this way. There are those stations that play the cash credit price game at all the pumps mostly in the cities.

David that PUC price can be confusing for sure, thought I was getting a deal first time I ran across that :-) In general on this trip I have found Pilot, and Flying Js to be pumping 10-20% Biodiesel in a lot of states. At the same time Chevron, Exxon, and Texaco have been pumping minimal if any bioblends. Gee Cee's that was kindly pointed out to me as a good fuel stop, is a Texaco in southern WA and my next fuel stop after that will be a Chevron at exit 567 in Arbuckle Ca north of Sacramento which is also bio free. A Pilot not far from there is pumping B15. It is taking a little more effort but I am finding it pretty easy to avoid high % Bioblends by sticking with those major players.

Later Ed


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Re: I5 RV Fuel Stop
« Reply #13 on: July 31, 2015, 12:06:37 AM »
As mentioned in an earlier post, don't use the car lanes in AZ unless you want to risk a $1K fine. Vehicles over 26K lbs are charged an added tax. State started enforcing this since it has budget problems.
Steve
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Joel Ashley

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Re: I5 RV Fuel Stop
« Reply #14 on: July 31, 2015, 12:44:38 AM »
Thanks for that info, Steve.  We haven't done the Snowbird thing yet, but Lee has been wanting to.  Good thing to know about the car lane restrictions.  Though some we know do it annually, a few relatives that have tried couldn't handle the "desert flu" spores when the sand blows so with our allergies we have some reservations about wintering down there.

In Oregon, that 30 cent factor David mentioned is due to trucks (PUC registered) paying that amount in tax separately.  Other vehicles like ours have the tax built in to the price.  As an advocate of Pioneer Fuel (Pacific Pride), I'm always ready to recommend that option for ease of access and such, but Gee Cee's sounds like a great place to go too, and they have a good rep for eats as well.  Seems like they were in the CFN network if you belong to that.  Fortunately for us, when the time comes, there seems plenty of Pacific Pride's in Arizona, so the lane restriction regs won't likely be a concern for us.

-Joel
« Last Edit: July 31, 2015, 12:53:42 AM by Joel Ashley »
Joel and Lee Rae Ashley
Clackamas, Oregon
36.9 ft. 2006 Monterey Ventura IV, aka"Monty Rae"
C9 400HP Cat