da'gheens Posted December 19, 2019 Report Share Posted December 19, 2019 What are your best tips and ideas for saving on gas / fuel costs? Other than the obvious to just not drive as much. Do you use a membership card? Which one is best? Is buying gas at certain locations or time of the week a benefit? Any suggestions to us for keeping one of our biggest expense down. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SWharton Posted December 19, 2019 Report Share Posted December 19, 2019 Sams Club, Costco, cash back CC. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kirk W Posted December 19, 2019 Report Share Posted December 19, 2019 I use Gas Buddy and also have the app on my phone. Also limit your speed as most large vehicles have a speed at which they are most fuel efficient and in general it will be somewhere around 50 or 60 mph. Every 5 mph increase in speed above that point will generally increase fuel consumption by approximately 10%. With our motorhome I used to cruise at about 60 mph. With my current diesel truck and trailer it seems to do best around 55 mph. Quote Good travelin !...............KirkFull-time 11+ years...... Now seasonal travelers.Kirk & Pam's Great RV Adventure Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandsys Posted December 19, 2019 Report Share Posted December 19, 2019 Buy at busy stations. You don't want old fuel. Linda Sand Quote Blog: http://sandcastle.sandsys.org/ Former Rigs: Liesure Travel van, Winnebago View 24H, Winnebago Journey 34Y, Sportsmobile Sprinter conversion van Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobsallyh Posted December 19, 2019 Report Share Posted December 19, 2019 Sam's Club for gas, not so much for diesel as they are few and far between. Kroger gas/fuel points as Smith's and Fry's have many fuel stations and if they don't they usually have a "partner" in the area. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Randyretired Posted December 20, 2019 Report Share Posted December 20, 2019 I have a Sam's Club cc that gives 5% cash back on fuel almost anywhere and use gasbuddy to find the cheaper stations. The cheaper stations are usually busy for diesel, so they have good turnover. Other than that just think of all of the fun you are having instead of the cost. Quote Randy 2001 Volvo VNL 42 Cummins ISX Autoshift Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pieere Posted December 20, 2019 Report Share Posted December 20, 2019 Some Credit Card companies offer better discounts than others. Truck stops; Pilot; Truckstops of America; Love"s; etc. Some Major Retailers and Grocery stores. Quote Living Life One Day At A Time! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
palmeris Posted December 21, 2019 Report Share Posted December 21, 2019 Tsd logistics for diesel Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
richfaa Posted December 21, 2019 Report Share Posted December 21, 2019 When in tow and in travel we look for convivence in fueling such as easy in , easy out and RV friendly . We primarily use FJ/Pilot with the RV plus card. We are truck and 5th wheel 54 feet long so we need some room to fuel. We have never had a issue with FJ/Pilot and many of them have restaurants at a fair price. if needed. Quote Helen and I are long timers ..08 F-350 Ford,LB,CC,6.4L,4X4, Dually,4:10 diff dragging around a 2013 Montana 3402 Big Sky SKP 100137. North Ridgeville, Ohio in the summer, sort of and where ever it is warm in the winter. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dutch_12078 Posted December 21, 2019 Report Share Posted December 21, 2019 We use our Good Sam Swipe and Save card at Pilot/Flying J for the fuel discount, and pay with our PenFed CU Visa card for an additional 5% savings that's automatically deducted from our balance each month. Quote Dutch 2001 GBM Landau 34' Class A F-53 Chassis, Triton V10, TST TPMS 2011 Toyota RAV4 4WD/Remco pump ReadyBrute Elite tow bar/brake system Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Second Chance Posted December 21, 2019 Report Share Posted December 21, 2019 Our truck burns diesel. We have a Pilot/Flying J fuel card (an actual credit card - not a discount card to use with a credit card) through Good Sam. We have an EFS fuel card for all the other truck stops. EFS actually has better discounts than the PFJ card. Rob Quote 2012 F350 CC LB DRW 6.7 2020 Solitude 310GK-R, MORryde IS, disc brakes, solar, DP windows Full-time since 8/2015 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kirk W Posted December 21, 2019 Report Share Posted December 21, 2019 On 12/19/2019 at 2:39 PM, da'gheens said: Any suggestions to us for keeping one of our biggest expense down. Have we been helpful or were you thinking of some other type of suggestion? Quote Good travelin !...............KirkFull-time 11+ years...... Now seasonal travelers.Kirk & Pam's Great RV Adventure Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
da'gheens Posted December 22, 2019 Author Report Share Posted December 22, 2019 12 hours ago, Second Chance said: Our truck burns diesel. We have a Pilot/Flying J fuel card (an actual credit card - not a discount card to use with a credit card) through Good Sam. We have an EFS fuel card for all the other truck stops. EFS actually has better discounts than the PFJ card. Rob Pardon me, what is EFS fuel card? Everyone has had some great input. Our CC has cash back on gas purchases and there are some other cards specific to a company or franchise with discounts. I was wondering which ones you find to be the best? It would have to be a place you can get gas nationwide right? Like truck stops (flying J) or shell stations. Or is there a gas app that actually pays good discounts. Something you could use on top of looking for the best pump prices. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
da'gheens Posted December 22, 2019 Author Report Share Posted December 22, 2019 Sounds like good Sam's membership has a discount at the major truck stops for fuel and this EFS card? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Second Chance Posted December 22, 2019 Report Share Posted December 22, 2019 1 hour ago, da'gheens said: Pardon me, what is EFS fuel card? Everyone has had some great input. Our CC has cash back on gas purchases and there are some other cards specific to a company or franchise with discounts. I was wondering which ones you find to be the best? It would have to be a place you can get gas nationwide right? Like truck stops (flying J) or shell stations. Or is there a gas app that actually pays good discounts. Something you could use on top of looking for the best pump prices. The EFS fuel card is offered through TSD Logistics: https://www.tsdlogistics.com/services/fuel-program/ . It offers discounts at all the major truck stops. The Pilot/Flying J card is in conjunction with Good Sam Club and is only good at PFJ travel centers. Rob Quote 2012 F350 CC LB DRW 6.7 2020 Solitude 310GK-R, MORryde IS, disc brakes, solar, DP windows Full-time since 8/2015 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kirk W Posted December 22, 2019 Report Share Posted December 22, 2019 8 hours ago, Second Chance said: The EFS fuel card is offered through TSD Logistics: TSD Logistics is a trucking company and it seems that they are selling their fuel discounts to the public as a secondary service. That makes me wonder just a bit if the fuel sellers will eventually object to that marketing to those of us who buy our diesel in smaller quantities? I have considered one but my diesel truck only has a 35 gallon tank. If there is a minimum size fuel purchase, I was not able to find it. Does anyone know if there are other trucking companies who do this? Quote Good travelin !...............KirkFull-time 11+ years...... Now seasonal travelers.Kirk & Pam's Great RV Adventure Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
da'gheens Posted December 22, 2019 Author Report Share Posted December 22, 2019 I did some research into the EFS card andlooks like they offer this so they can guarantee larger "bulk" purchases and get big discounts for their truckers. Its a good offer once you consider the few conditions you have to deal with when fueling up. The only big downside is it does not work for regular gas, only diesel. If they offered it for regular gas every car on the road would have it! Thanks all for your input. I didnt see any secret eye opening ideas that we didnt know about already. Thought I'd ask and see what everyone else does. You just never know. Happy travels y'all! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trainer Posted December 22, 2019 Report Share Posted December 22, 2019 Kirk, I know the ladies that run the fuel program at TSD Logistics. They share that Loves has called them to say how pleased Loves is with the discount offered to motorhome owners. Loves gets add-on sales without any additional accounts to deal with. One discount account to TSD and thousands of motorhome owners benefit and no extra paperwork for Loves. This is a driver's card, so if you stop at any truck pump other than the stated truck stops, you pay the posted cash price, no discount. Since there is no savings, there is no fee. 10% of zero savings is $0. But why stop where there is no discount, unless you are desparate for diesel, when Loves is just down the road. TA/Petro is about 10 cents per gallon less than Loves. Pilot/Flying J is starting to offer mcuh better that the original 10 cents per gallon that they started with. Today in Baytown the discount is $0.1487 per gallon at a purchase price of $2.5503. Across the street at Loves the purchase price is $2.4736. Several weeks ago the Loves Baytown was at $2.38, diesel is up right now. TSD gets extra diesel volumn to help discount negotaions with truck stops, Loves gets extra motorhome business they have been missing and motorhome owners get serious diesel discounts. Everyone wins. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kirk W Posted December 22, 2019 Report Share Posted December 22, 2019 3 minutes ago, Trainer said: They share that Loves has called them to say how pleased Loves is with the discount offered to motorhome owners. I found nothing about only issuing it for a motorhome there. Most motorhomes have fairly large fuel tanks but those of us who tow a trailer with a diesel pickup truck typically have a tank of 35 gallons or so. Quote Good travelin !...............KirkFull-time 11+ years...... Now seasonal travelers.Kirk & Pam's Great RV Adventure Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trainer Posted December 22, 2019 Report Share Posted December 22, 2019 Kirk, To get the real answer to your concern, call Gina Leeper, head of the fuel program. She will give you the straight answer. 903/831-8941 direct to her desk, Mon to Fri. Will probably need to leave a voice mail for her to reurn your call. My bet is she says happy to have you as a card holder. Your truck filler neck needs to be bigger than a car filler neck as card only good at a truck diesel pump. So no go at Bucc-ees for instance. Post her reply, please Sir. Merry Christmas to you all Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
palmeris Posted December 22, 2019 Report Share Posted December 22, 2019 Tsd logistics for diesel, you have to use the truck lanes. There is no minimum requirement. The efs card is linked to a checking account. They debit transaction from it 24 to 48 hours after the transaction. Cost nothing to use, No fees ever, Tsd gets 10 percentage of the savings. Theres an app to show you real time fuel prices and discounts. Check their website, call them for questions. Takes a couple weeks to get set up, cards issued. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whj469 Posted December 24, 2019 Report Share Posted December 24, 2019 I don't drive more then one tank of diesel per day. When I stop for the night I use Gas Buddy to find the lowest cost diesel fuel near me and then go fill up, 48 gallons. F350 and fiver. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kurtsara Posted December 25, 2019 Report Share Posted December 25, 2019 (edited) The best way I found to save gas is to sell everything and not travel. Edited December 25, 2019 by kurtsara Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sushidog Posted December 26, 2019 Report Share Posted December 26, 2019 You could always get something like this low tech, oat powered approach: http://www.skoolie.net/forums/f9/my-grandparents-traveled-the-country-in-a-horse-drawn-camper-16804.html Or if you have a lot of coin but want to save money on gas, the high tech approach: But if you don't have much coin there's still a third option (that you don't have to feed oats). https://www.pinterest.com/ericfro/pedal-powered-rvs/ An extra candy bar now and then is all the fuel you'll need. Chip Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
packnrat Posted January 10, 2020 Report Share Posted January 10, 2020 On 12/22/2019 at 7:47 AM, Trainer said: Kirk, I know the ladies that run the fuel program at TSD Logistics. They share that Loves has called them to say how pleased Loves is with the discount offered to motorhome owners. Loves gets add-on sales without any additional accounts to deal with. One discount account to TSD and thousands of motorhome owners benefit and no extra paperwork for Loves. This is a driver's card, so if you stop at any truck pump other than the stated truck stops, you pay the posted cash price, no discount. Since there is no savings, there is no fee. 10% of zero savings is $0. But why stop where there is no discount, unless you are desparate for diesel, when Loves is just down the road. TA/Petro is about 10 cents per gallon less than Loves. Pilot/Flying J is starting to offer mcuh better that the original 10 cents per gallon that they started with. Today in Baytown the discount is $0.1487 per gallon at a purchase price of $2.5503. Across the street at Loves the purchase price is $2.4736. Several weeks ago the Loves Baytown was at $2.38, diesel is up right now. TSD gets extra diesel volumn to help discount negotaions with truck stops, Loves gets extra motorhome business they have been missing and motorhome owners get serious diesel discounts. Everyone wins. i had to re-read and double check the posting date. but diesel under $2.40 usd a gallon? i wish i could find diesel under $3.80 usd a gallon around where i live. some places closer to the citys are over $4.00usd a gallon. it costs to live in ca. but at least we have good weather. and get to boon-dock in our fixed homes when the state shuts off the power. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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