Just returned two weeks travelling S.A...only downside was scraping the side of my van exiting one of those grotesque shaped multi pumps in a very busy non user friendly """Service Station""" in large country town....when I say multi pumps I use the word loosely as many lanes have everything on pump except the one thing I desperately seek when towing a 19' van behind a long twin cab Triton set up....DIESEL FUEL'...and 'one' only gets half a second to commit to a busy lane.......
Does this sound familiar?....have you also played the ""which bowser has the black coloured 'Diesel' sign game?"" amongst all the other multi colored signs plus the gas only pumps...........
Some Servos should be forced to have 'non RV friendly' sign placed at the front.....
Here is my recent story which had my wife screaming, my dog barking, and me shedding a non quiet tear plus the undivided attention of all the other Servo users...
I started well upon entering...I avoided the hap hazard parked 4WD to the left who was checking his tyres...dusk was approaching and light was dim.. to my travel weary old eyes at least..and furtively start searching for my 'Holy Grail' ..where is the Diesel pump...if any?.......
None to the left..none to the right.....first couple of rows...I tentatively inch further into the jaws of no return/backing out.....
Wife sees one three down with three cars waiting...two with trailers...I grab the only aisle with one car but no diesel pump, having made hasty decision to exit ASAP...age and experience has taught me when I'm beaten...I wait for the driver of the vehicle...I hadn't noticed there were three kids in his car.....I am holding up everything now with my looooong rig... the driver chooses his sandwiches, drinks and kids lollies, very carefully....far to carefully for me,... before paying for his 'stinking fuel'......the shape of his head tells me which one he is that I await....he triumphantly returns with all his goodies....he departs...I can now make my escape...
To the front of me is the large Ice- vending Chest, the Gas Swap a Bottle' cage, the latest 'bottled water deal' stand plus large number of plastic oil bottles/casks, not to mention the firewood/kindling large cage...I reckon I can get round/past them...and I'm confronted by small car in front who is obviously doing the weekly shopping or perhaps has gone to the Servo to buy his firewood....I throw caution to the wind because I don't want to inconvenience all those who don't give a toss about inconveniencing me...
Scrapeeeeeeeee along the side of my van...I only edging forward at 1/2kph...the grotesque pumps/bowser is even more so..leaning forwards and bent in some places...looks distinctly like 'Leaning Tower of Pisa'....perhaps they are designed to collapse easily..I hope/ponder....I'm committed to my position as a car is waiting behind me..edge forward....like tearing skin from my shin to do so...my beloved van..wife yelling directions...like I need any right now!....dog is barking....I edge forward to find a park to report my recent activities to the 'Day Manager'...
Short Story long.. I give my details...he puts 'Out of Use' tape round bowser even though the only fluid on the ground round it is the window wash bucket and water contents I have comprehensively strewn everywhere...no fuel leaks...how lucky am I ..I think to myself..Manager tells me he will submit details to his Head Office' as usual, as it seems to happen to them on regular basis?.....I take photos of the Leaning Tower of Pisa.....and exit 'WITHOUT EVEN BUYING ANY BLOOOODDDYYYY DIESEL FUEL'...for my trouble..even though Day Manager has told me as an aside...there is a dedicated Diesel pump to the rear of the bowsers....I'm supposed to be a mind reader as well in the few seconds I got to make a decision upon entering..
I have reported to my Insurers & I now wait to see the extent of the extortion claim from them,will be lucky if I don't incur a 'Business Interruption' component to their claim as well..My caravan repairer has told me he feels he can do 'something' to help repair RV cosmetically.....
Can you relate to my harrowing experience??....perhaps I'm no longer as 'Sharp' as I once was......Hoo Roo
-- Edited by Goldfinger on Monday 29th of May 2017 02:25:49 PM
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'You are loved when you are born...you will be loved when you die....In between, You have to manage!'....
Church Sign: 'Where will you be sitting in Eternity?..smoking, or non-smoking?....
I reckon that happens to all of us at some stage - not hitting the bowser - but no signs saying Diesel - the best servos are the ones the trucks use, but the drivers get a bit tetchy if you take too long at "their" pump.
We also have the height problem - can't go under 3.4m - and a lot of the servos roofs are 3.2m!!
Why the servos can't put BIG signs pointing to the diesel pumps is beyond me - such a simple thing to do.
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jules "Love is good for the human being!!" (Ben, aged 10)
Not a good experience At all GF, I hope all gets or got fixed without any drama.
I had similar situations when I first got the Collie, no damage though. I now look more carefully before the point of no return at entrance to servo, no easy access Diesel visable no go in, find first available servo that has what I need. I very really let the tank get under 1/2 full now, mmmm, or 1/2 empty to allow for the 'search'.
I also have the added problem of not being able to use Hiflo diesel as no inlet for that and also got caught out with that, not now as I made up an adaptor fitting on the diesel pump gun, reduced to fit my inlet on Collie. If ya can't join 'em, beat 'em I reckon.
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Live Life On Your Terms
DOUGChief One Feather (Losing feathers with age)
TUG.......2014 Holden LT Colorado Twin Cab Ute with Canopy
DEN....... 2014 "Chief" Arrow CV (with some changes)
What is worse than locating the diesel bowser is; getting the van around between the pumps and realising that all the forecourt paraphernalia won't allow you to exit servo in a forward direction - So the child bride has to guide you whilst reversing out of servo trying valiantly not to rip the bowsers off their pads, onto a main road when there are two or more vehicles behind you with drivers shaking their heads and treating you like the village idiot and kindly letting you know with their horns that this is not the done thing.
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Possum; AKA:- Ali El-Aziz Mohamed Gundawiathan
Sent from my imperial66 typewriter using carrier pigeon, message sticks and smoke signals.
Yep been there done that, but without the need to get diesel for my EFI Petrol Patrol.
I always fill up the night before leaving, not hooked up, but sometimes have to top up during the day due to a small tank & thirsty truck.
At Camooweal some years ago as I was driving out a local raced in and parked his beaut ute right in front where I wanted to take a big swing before making a turn.
Buggar!
So I had to turn a bit early and was set up to scrape a 'sun roof' that they had put over the bowser. Not to be beaten I got SWMBO to lean on the 'sun roof' structure to push it away from the van. This gave me just enough space to get out. Pitty about the 'sun roof' as it didn't spring back to its original position. So I had to get out and go back and push it back to the vertical.
I am always very careful to pick a servo/lane that has a good exit path even if I have to pull up & walk the servo first.
I got told a couple of years ago when getting diesel at a Katherine chain store outlet to disconnect van before coming to their outlet in future. I was apparently slowing down the rate of customers passing through which I could understand if I was.
Anyway, as usual, I took a Valium and will now go elsewhere.
I find that in a lot of servos, if the outside lane has a diesel pump not working, then I am stopping the flow of customers
My fuel cap is on the passenger side, between the door and the Roo Bar
In a lot of places where there is not much room, I am blocking off the bowser behind me
I sometimes also have to wait for the car on my right to move away, before I can turn right to get out of the servo
As Goldfinger says, a sign saying "not suitable for big rigs", would be helpful
I sympathise. Luckily my van is only 11ft long. Luckily also, my diesel i30 hyundai, while towing around Oz has a quick flow large filler neck. Very convenient. Something diesel car buyers might want to check out before they purchase their tug.
When I was in training for my semi license my instructor insisted I stop worrying about other smaller vehicles , that "they will get out of the way" or"they will have to wait". If in doubt STOP!! Remaining stationary is your right if unsure or you are reading signs. If someone is impatient thats their problem.
In this unfortunate incident your attention was divided too much.
FinaÄșly, might be better if your wife got out of the car and walked along the browsers to direct you to a spare diesel one. I'm sure she'd need to visit the ladies room anyway.
Focus on relaxing ...thats why you are on holiday.
Tony.
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Be nice... if I wanted my school teacher here I would have invited him...
An 'interesting' variation on that one is the servo with a few diesel pumps; pick a line, pull in, and there's a piddling tag on the pump handle saying 'Out of Order'. Then out onto the highway, find a turning space, and back into line.
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The Mobile Madhouse: me (Rosie), him (Troy), a kelpie, a kelpie-dingo, a husky & a rainbow lorikeet.
Caltex, Coles and most all the Servos now situate the pumps so you drive in facing the store which also has parking immediately outside. Then the lanes are almost impossible to get into towing a van when there is another vehicle on the other side of the same lane using the other set of pumps - let along going forward with taking out the pump you've just used or hitting the front footpath running outside the shop or the cars parked outside.
The older Servos where the pump lanes ran parallel to the shop so no turning is involved are the best, but obviously take up more land space which is not financially beneficial to the oil companies.
In terms of signs at the end of the pump advising which fuels are there, I rate 7/11 the best - theyre bright coloured and every pump set sells diesel. But still problems with having to drive in facing the shop.
What about the air hoses - theyre usually in the most difficult places to get out, even without a van attached...
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Cheers Bruce
The amazing things you see when nomading Australia
I always have to pause & try to remember which side my fuel inlet is on.
I try to choose a lane that puts that side adjacent to the hose, but most can reach across the back of the tug if I park close enough, but doing so often increases the departure difficulty/risks. I like to park as far out from the pumps as possible without impeding other motorists.
On many new vehicles there is a small arrow on the fuel gauge instrument that points to the side that the inlet is on, but not my old Patrol unfortunately. Does yours? I didn't know that my Mazda 3 had this feature until my Daughter pointed it out.
Simple really??.....I find I have to refill during travel whilst my van is still attached....and the point of my question was: how does one easily identify the easy access to 'Diesel' Servo in unfamiliar surroundings....low fuel in tank....dusky light....few choices.....I find reality takes over.....Hoo Roo
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'You are loved when you are born...you will be loved when you die....In between, You have to manage!'....
Church Sign: 'Where will you be sitting in Eternity?..smoking, or non-smoking?....
Yeah, I have had the problem, as somebody else has mentioned, if it is not a truck servo, stop prior to reaching the servo and walk in and survey the situation and formalise your approach and exit plan beforehand. It takes a little time for sure but in the end it saves a whole lot of trouble.
yesterday, I filled up at a busy servo with no special truck facility and it was a tight servo, I waited until the pump I chose was vacant (both parallel lanes) and parked closer to the centre which did block off both lanes, however a motorcycle got on the pump next to me and filled up. I suppose that a couple of motorists may have been a bit cranky with me, but what the hell, they have no consideration for our needs and they also don't have trouble getting in and out safely from servo's.
I apologised to the operator when paying and he said, "Don't worry about it mate, you have to do what you have to do"...and that is the 'long and short' of the situation.l
We have had many worrying times filling up with diesel and as the designated 'payer of bills' it is also my job to get out and find the diesel bowser.
I think the strangest location was at Meekatharra WA. We couldn't find the diesel bowser and eventually I went into the Service station and asked. We were escorted around the side street and up a lane to the only diesel bowser.
The attendant filled up for us and was very courteous.
Attached are 2 photos, the view up the laneway and a photo of the attendant in the rear vision mirror.
Follow up to my original posting: I have just received a letter from the Head Office of the Fuel Company demanding to know details of my Insurer as 'We are currently having the damage assessed & early indications are that repairs could be major and costs substantial.....and we will be in contact with you and discuss payment.'.......
I made contact with the outer metal shroud housing the pumps and there was no damage or leaking fuel from the pumps....the outer metal shrouds are removed when inspecting pumps and no doubt they have spares 'out the back'..Although I did not hang around after giving my details... and the Servo is some 600 kms away from me, however I bet that bowser was back in service within few hours.......... predictably they will no doubt attempt to 'milk' my situation for all its worth....= Australia today......
Its been handed over to my Insurers together with my photos of the minor damage to their shroud.....
Keep you posted as you may find yourself in similar position....Hoo Roo
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'You are loved when you are born...you will be loved when you die....In between, You have to manage!'....
Church Sign: 'Where will you be sitting in Eternity?..smoking, or non-smoking?....
Follow up to my original posting: I have just received a letter from the Head Office of the Fuel Company demanding to know details of my Insurer as 'We are currently having the damage assessed & early indications are that repairs could be major and costs substantial.....and we will be in contact with you and discuss payment.'.......
I made contact with the outer metal shroud housing the pumps and there was no damage or leaking fuel from the pumps....the outer metal shrouds are removed when inspecting pumps and no doubt they have spares 'out the back'..Although I did not hang around after giving my details... and the Servo is some 600 kms away from me, however I bet that bowser was back in service within few hours.......... predictably they will no doubt attempt to 'milk' my situation for all its worth....= Australia today......
Its been handed over to my Insurers together with my photos of the minor damage to their shroud.....
Keep you posted as you may find yourself in similar position....Hoo Roo
I always have to pause & try to remember which side my fuel inlet is on.
We had trouble with this when we had the bus & the Barina - different sides.
On many new vehicles there is a small arrow on the fuel gauge instrument that points to the side that the inlet is on, but not my old Patrol unfortunately. Does yours? I didn't know that my Mazda 3 had this feature until my Daughter pointed it out.
Barina didn't, Triton does.
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The Mobile Madhouse: me (Rosie), him (Troy), a kelpie, a kelpie-dingo, a husky & a rainbow lorikeet.
Yes to it all. Too difficult to get in, too difficult to get out without reversing, can't find the diesel....sometimes it is even out the back, the roof is too low, we block all lanes waiting to fill up while the driver in front of you goes to the toilet and then has a big shop up, only way out is to reverse out.................. Frustrates the hell out of us. We often pass comment when we pay but it falls on deaf ears. I often get out of the car to find the diesel pump.
If it isn't obviously clear from the road before I pull in to the servo, I just double park in the main street with the hazards on.
Yes, I know it holds up all the traffic whilst I get out of the car and go and walk onto the forecourt to investigate, but if regional towns want to encourage Nomads to visit and spend our dollars then they had bl00dy well better get their act together and provide appropriate essential services.
Having said that, most servos have a high-flow diesel pump on the drive that is closest to the road and usually not under cover. These pumps also usually have an extra-extra long hose which is good if you have the wrong side of your tug to the bowser.
This is done so that trucks can pull up and fill without ripping off the forecourt roof, and the long hose is because trucks usually have tanks on both sides of the cab that need filling which are not always interconnected.
we were in the Longreach towing a suzy behind , went into a servo with limited entrance and exit points
