Petrol station fill up
44 replies
Takethedogalong replied on 24/06/2020 14:31
Posted on 24/06/2020 14:31
We towed for 25 years, usually filling up once going down to SW, once coming back up with van on back. We never had any issues, but you just need to take it steady, get the pump on the correct side of vehicle, and be careful entering and exiting. Our route was a mix of motorways and dual carriageways, so we never paid the extortionate fuel prices on service stations.
If you know your route, you could possibly have a look at something suitable via Google Earth, or even phone the garage?
Tinwheeler replied on 24/06/2020 14:46
Posted on 24/06/2020 12:55 by commeyrasYou shouldn't have any problems. Best advice is try to pick a pump that allows easy egress, normally the pump nearest the road. If you get stuck you can always unhitch. Most cars show on the fuel gauge which side the filler is but most hoses are long enough to reach over the car,
Timwheeler. Are you speaking from experience?
replied on 24/06/2020 15:00
replied on 24/06/2020 15:12
Posted on 24/06/2020 15:12
It is rare that I have ever filled up whilst touring. It is many years since I towed for more than 4.5 hours max. Being retired and time available I prefer to keep under 2 hours. We did tow for around 4.5 hours to a site near friends 200 miles in Scotland and before then similar distance and time to Edinburgh. I have a 12 gallon tank, average towing is just over 27mpg but to keep it simple I say 25mpg. I like to keep 50 miles as a minimum reserve and so 200 miles is my range. If travelling this distance it will inevitably involve motorways and so I choose to top up on the motorway where access is easier.
Takethedogalong replied on 24/06/2020 15:17
Posted on 24/06/2020 15:17
Our only issues were when we towed with a Dual fuel vehicle. Access to the single LPG fill up point was often blocked by those not requiring it, but we had the patience to wait.
Many of the routes we used up and down were very familiar, and you soon spot good and not so good fill up places. Not so easy on a new route of course, but nowadays checking things is a bit easier.
Navigateur replied on 24/06/2020 15:30
lornalou1 replied on 24/06/2020 17:42
Posted on 24/06/2020 15:30 by NavigateurThere used to be a deal through The Caravan Club to pay a reduced price at motorway services. They kept changing the name and I'm not sure it is still available.
no one replied on 24/06/2020 17:48
EmilysDad replied on 24/06/2020 18:42
Posted on 24/06/2020 14:29 by richardandrosI have no intention of ever having to fill up with the caravan on the back. My car has a range of just over 400 miles when towing and that's more than enough for a day's driving with the van on the back! If doing a long trip, I always plan stop-overs after about 200 - 250 miles - park the van on site and then nip out to fill up the car ready for the next day. My thinking is that it's meant to be a holiday, not an endurance test but I appreciate some might be more pushed for time than we are.
munro21
Caravanner