Avoiding motorway fuel prices
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I have a sat nav with POIs for supermarket petrol stations along my route. A lot are closer to motorways than you would think. And the saving can be a lot if filling a 70 litre fuel tank from close to empty.
Use a normal filling station every 5 refills or so for the better fuel additives.
As for the cassette, use Dometic capsules, and ordinary toilet paper...No problems.
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The cheapest I could find the capsules was 68p each. Compared to the Lidl bio pods I have been using at 12.5p each that seems expensive. Are there any advantages over the bio pods? I started using them after reading the thread on CT and they work really well.
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There's no way I would leave the motorway to get fuel unless it was on the junction itself or within metres rather than miles. I like to keep going and coming off the motorway would be a mental effort for me! lol.
I try to plan to avoid motorway prices but been stuck with it on a couple of occasions on return journeys. I then put in just enough to get me home.
There are some very unkind remarks about the loo roll thing; but what baffles me is the notion that cheaper supermarket paper will not degrade. For sure it does.
Also some of those sensitive souls who are squeamish about the subject would suffer in those places already mentioned where you cannot flush loo roll. Sicily is another example to add to those mentioned.
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thanks for all those kind and informative replies folks, actually on the way home we discovered so many filling stations in Penrith, so close to the M6 that we probably could have done without the can. Also the most amazing farm shop called Cranstones which is very close to the junction and very well worth a visit. I will try the bio pods next time.
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Agree re Cranstones. We have bought some amazing venison from them and their Cumberland sausage rings are very good. Was there room for your caravan? I was thinking we might struggle with the MH, as the times we have visited with just the car it has been very busy.
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Hi, leaving aside the toilet issues-will look at the info re pods-if making a journey and may need to get fuel I have found a very good way to locate filling stations is to use viamichelin.
You can either input your start and end points to get a route and then click on the fuel pump logo or just go to the map screen and do the same.
Have used it for all our foreign trips and when used with streetview, to avoid those places where an outfit may struggle to get access, makes planning stops a lot easier.
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Re Cranston’s. You will struggle with a caravan in the car park, but there is an overflow bit that may be OK (though I can’t really remember). We go regularly to buy their own smoked back bacon in bulk (then divide into smaller bags for the freezer). Coincidentally we had some for breakfast this morning at Englethwaite Hall.
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When travelling down Spain on their motorways, a few years ago, I got my sat nav to indicate fuel stations en route. Those shown did include Pfs's in nearby towns and villages.
Cannot the same be done for the UK?
I personally do not bother when on home soil as I rarely empty a tank with my travels, including when towing.
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This solves most of the fill-up problems.
http://www.justoffjunction.co.uk/petrol-stations.php
Some of the stations might not be caravan friendly though!
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https://www.petrolprices.com/, and its associated smart phone app, is useful. You can plan ahead using the website to see cheap fuel stations near a motorway junction or use the app to see where you can get cheap fuel close to your current location whilst on tour. If there's a convenient supermarket the minimal inconvenience of leaving the motorway is outweighed by a potential saving of up to 25p a litre.
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I always try to use supermarket fuel stops and research convenient ones on my planned itinerary. If passing anywhere near Luxembourg, it always pays to arrive with an almost empty tank, providing substantial savings for those with big tanks. Martelange, just on the border, has about eight or nine fuel stations next to each other, doubtless to supply the cross-border trade.
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I always try and use supermarkets for fuel too and alwats fill up before my journey. I can't recall the last time I ever travelled more that 350 miles in one day towing a caravan - even on a long haul journey to France, Italy, Germany etc., and fortunately the Discovery will adequately cover the journey providing I fill up before hand. I don't think I have ever 'filled up' at a motorway service station.
Love it or hate it, for real emergencies, I've got the Esso Card which is available to all Club members. This gives you a fixed weekly price irrespective of the price at the pump. In some parts of the country, where fuel is priced higher, this is useful. Unfortunately/ fortunately, in the Tamworth area, we are fortunate enough to have very competative fuel prices - 123.6 at the moment for deisel at Sainsbury's (121.6 for petrol)
Another idea is to download the 'Petrol Prices' app from Google Play Store or the Apple equivalent. This gives you a list of the cheapest fuel available wherever you happen to be.
David
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Our trip to Cornwall each summer 420 miles, we carry 2x10 ltr cans of derv, it's not just the price on the motorway's but have you all tried using a lorry pump in a modern car, the nozzle is too big, O.K. for motor home
and the car pumps can be tight with your caravan on the back or the canopy a bit low
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+ 1👍🏻
On our journeys from and to Cornwall we rarely fill at m/way service stations and it was the same when we had a caravan. Even with a big T/A van we never found a forecourt too tight or a canopy too low.
Carrying extra fuel is unnecessary and a hazard.
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I came back to Cornwall last weekend - heading south pulled off the M5 at junction 17 near Bristol (Cribbs Causeway) - first left at the end of the slip road and you quickly come to Asda filling station - no difficulty access for caravans, no super fast lorry pumps, no low canopy, no need to carry fuel in jerrycans - just the usual low Asda prices and a choice of pay at the pump or go inside to pay the lady.
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I'm not sure there was ever an enquiry; it is difficult to see how Government could restrict prices - especially a Government that believes in free markets.
In June 2018, however, the then transport secretary did argue that prices should be displayed on electronic displays at the side of motorways. It was argued that this would be an "End of [the] motorway service station petrol rip-off" (quote from the Daily Telegraph). This has never happened on any motorway I travel on (and I travel a lot).
In France they do have that system - flagging up the price at not just the next services but the next several (certainly on the A28 and A10 anyway), but the price differential between autoroute and supermarket is just as great as in the UK so it did not end the "rip-off" in France!
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Since we obtained the clubs Esso fuel card and with the weekly texts to advise of the following weeks price, it has normally saved us money when filling up ,especially in rural areas it was cheaper than Morrison's at cromer, and would mean big savings if useing Esso at motorway service areas ,and you get Nectar points
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I think if I felt the need to carry jerry cans of fuel either to save a few £s, or stress myself out wondering if my driving 'skills' would prevent me from negotiating a mainstream fuel station, I'd give up towing. I like many will fill up at a cheaper station but will not go out of my way for a saving of a few pounds.
I have come across the bad parked car from a few drivers who want to purchase other than fuel, and want to be as near to the door as possible, but its life.
Even worse is mainland Europe where the driver has fueled and paid, then decides to sit in the stations cafe for a drink and snack whilst the car is still at the pump, of course I'm behind waiting for that owner to reappear
now that does get me irate.0
