I pulled in at Donnington Park Services at the A42/M1 Junction 23 and could not get to the pumps at the "car" side if you park in their new Caravan bays. The road only allows you access to the HGV side of the pumps but I filled up OK. I actually drove around 3 times to see if I had missed a sign but I am certain that I did not. I think that ignoring the Caravan sign would entail a trip through the car park to get to the "normal " fuel pumps.I did not try it to see.
Re: Donnington services, if you want to fill up after parking you need to go as if you're leaving completely but follow the road round to the right. This enables you to re-enter the complex and the petrol station on the car side. I know a lot of services have this option towards the exit in case you missed a turning/forgot something, tho be aware they can sometimes be a tight turn if you've a long rig!
Tks for that Peter, I thought it was worth mentioning as the topic had come up. As I said the HGV pumps were OK, I didn't actually notice if they were larger or the flow was faster. I am assuming that on exiting from the carvan park area you go round the roundabout( the one in the services not the main one out on the main road) and back in again but following the car park sign?
I'm suprised anyone finds it a problem getting on a pump with the van on. The only people who have problems are some of those behind us witing for a pump maybe. You haven't mentioned your route, but won't have to go far off a motorway junction don this way before you find a filling station. I certainly wouldn't carry a jerry can of diesel. One little spillage & the stink will be there for ages.
I normally know exactly where I am going to stop for a break,refuel, walk the dog etc before I leave home. 10 minutes with a Routeplanner(of which there are dozens on the WWW) and Google Earth and I am sorted. I also have a Sat Nav in the car and make sure it takes me the route that I have chosen from the Routeplanner.
Jerry+Tina: Indeed that is correct. Happened to be there last night on the way home from Nottingham thanks to the A52 being shut, so was able to check it out!
The problem I find with filling up anywhere is people are generally inpatient and always in a rush but will still queue yards back from the pumps and try and cut over to the next available pump rather than waiting in line.
Quote: Originally posted by Grampian91 on 28/7/2010
The lorry pumps have bigger nozzles and the flow rate is massive.
You are likely to get more over yourself than in the tank.
Few years back i pulled up behind an escort van, I said to the driver he should not fill up at the HGV pump, He told to to f off he can fill up where he likes, I went and gave my fuel card to the cashier, When i came back his shoes and lower part of hos trousers were covered in diesel, I couldnt help laughing at him.
I can put 100+ litres in before you can put 30 into your car.
Dont risk it. Find a services where you can access the proper pumps from the caravan parking area, I have used the supermarkets at the cribbs causeway before.
Much cheaper. They can get quite busy but plenty of room with a caravan in tow.
LPG also.
Few years back i pulled up behind an escort van, I said to the driver he should not fill up at the HGV pump, He told to to f off he can fill up where he likes, I went and gave my fuel card to the cashier, When i came back his shoes and lower part of hos trousers were covered in diesel, I couldnt help laughing at him.
ha ha thats funny as hell poetic justice that.bet he wont be as quick to snub advice in future.
we never had that hassle when I drove the lorries,they were filled up for us at the depot.too many people were skimming it so they got their own pump in and the mechanics filled them every night.
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I've run low on fuel and had to buy some from a m-way services in the past. On one occasion it was late at night and the entire fuel station was deserted - which is actually illegal! I complained to the Highways Agency and got a very sarcastic email reply!
On another occasion, I had to negotiate a narrow 90 degree turn between a set of pumps and the fuel station building, which was overflowing with newspaper display racks and the like. Very tight exit.
So, yes, there can be problems. Some services seem to have been designed by someone who had never driven anything longer than a Mini.
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Topic: Filling up at services?
