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Fuel Cards: any additional alternatives?

We have been using the TSD fuel card for the last five or six years, sometimes there is no discounted diesel on the route we're taking and I was wondering if anyone uses another discount fuel card like mudflap that offers a discount similar to or greater than what we get with the TSD card (open roads app)
If there is another card that has a different set of fueling locations with the discount, it would be nice to have.
The TSD card has been great since (I think) Rudy introduced it and we often save between 30 and 40 bucks on a top off, this is serious money.
Thanks
David
David & Emma Roche
Dino (Golden Doodle)
1999 U270 WTFE 36' Build # 5534
Xtreme "Lights, Stripes & Roof"
Motorcade# 18321
Dayton, Ohio
Towd: Jeep Grand Cherokee
Two Townie Electra Bikes

Life is made to enjoy, the Foretravel helps!

Re: Fuel Cards: any additional alternatives?

Reply #1 –
I have had great luck using the gas buddy app.  Also i find that avoiding the big name truck stops and getting off the interstates the prices are usually quite a bit lower.
George Mann
2002 U320 #5934
2017 Rubicon
2013 BMW GS
Waterford MI

Re: Fuel Cards: any additional alternatives?

Reply #2 –
Mudflap sometimes has good prices and sometimes does not. A few days ago, I stopped at a Buc-ee's in Kentucky, not intending to buy fuel. But, since I was at half a tank, I checked the Mudflap app but did not find a price within fifty miles that was better than Buc-ee's. Other times I have checked and the Mudflap price has been a few cents cheaper than the best price I could find on Gas Buddy. So it depends.

One other thing that can save you money is the right credit card. I have the Sam's Mastercard, and it gives me 5% back on fuel purchases. There are one or two other cards that also give 5% on fuel; if you don't have one, it is worth getting one to use just for fuel.
Dave and Kathy Bennett
2004 U270
Build #6253
1600W Solar
700 AH Battle Born Lithium
2015 Jeep Wrangler

No matter what happens, remember you always get the trip out of it.

Re: Fuel Cards: any additional alternatives?

Reply #3 –
Have used mudflap a few times when they had best price in the area I was in. They charge 1.9% on cc. No extra if you give them bank info. You do have to go inside on every purchase, before and after.
2014 ih45  (4th Foretravel owned)
 1997 36' U295 Sold in 2020, owned for 19 years
  U240 36' Sold to insurance company after melting in garage fire
    33' Foretravel on Dodge Chassis  Sold very long time ago

Re: Fuel Cards: any additional alternatives?

Reply #4 –
I can't help with a discount card other than TSD but I do know that buying fuel from a station that doesn't sell large quantities of fuel as in "off the beaten path" runs the odds up substantially that you will buy a tank full of dirty fuel and the few cents per gallon "saved" turns into a problem that can last for a lot of trips. For me the "cheapest" fuel I can buy is the cleanest fuel I can buy.
Dub McBride 1996 270

Re: Fuel Cards: any additional alternatives?

Reply #5 –
I agree with Dub. Saving a few cents is lost if you get stranded and have to change fuel filters due to the choice of cheaper but possible dirty fuel.
The  Open Roads program for me is more about the ease of USE.  I can keep my fuel purchases totally separate from my other operating costs and the EFS card limits don't require me to swap cards or re-enter information.  Its mapping portion gives accurate selections for my fuel stops.  It makes picking easy access places simple.
glen
Retired Nurse and Bat Chief
2001 U320 36' 450 Cummins
Past 1981 Bluebird 36' 3208 Cat
HD2500 Chevy Toad

Re: Fuel Cards: any additional alternatives?

Reply #6 –
We are big fans of Mudflap.  I use GasBuddy for our tow vehicle, but not for the coach.  When I select the option "truck stop" on GasBuddy, it eliminates many options where our coach actually would fit. 

Mudflap works great.  A lot of newer Mudflap locations don't require you to go inside anymore, but it doesn't bother me going inside twice to get the best diesel deals. :D  What I like about Mudflap is the ability to lock in a price - when you see a price at a station, you click "get a code."  That code locks in that price for 24 hours.  We often will get the fuel code the day before we know we are driving through the area.  If the price goes down before we arrive, we simply cancel the first fuel code and get a second one.  However, if the price goes UP, Mudflap honors the price that you locked in when you got the code.  ^.^d
The selected media item is not currently available.Amanda and Douglas
Lily *meow* (RIP 7/19/23) and B.T. *meow* (RIP 9/12/18)
1997 U320 40' - "Brawley"
Motorcade #17266
Escapee #113692

Re: Fuel Cards: any additional alternatives?

Reply #7 –
We never go to small out of the way fuel stops, years ago stopped off I-10 just entering Texas heading west and needed fuel, paid for about 80 gallons of water, lost what I paid for the fuel, got about 30 miles down the road before we came to a stop, had to drain the fuel tanks, two fuel filters later we were back on the road,
Love the ease of our TSD , however locking in a price sounds like a great idea!
Thanks for the info.
David & Emma Roche
Dino (Golden Doodle)
1999 U270 WTFE 36' Build # 5534
Xtreme "Lights, Stripes & Roof"
Motorcade# 18321
Dayton, Ohio
Towd: Jeep Grand Cherokee
Two Townie Electra Bikes

Life is made to enjoy, the Foretravel helps!

Re: Fuel Cards: any additional alternatives?

Reply #8 –
I've been using Mudflap with good results.  Since I know my route, I just look for the best priced stations along the way.  Since all Mudflap stations I've ever been to are larger truck stops, fuel probably has a higher turnover than a smaller station, and is likely fresher as a result.  Some stations require you to go inside, but many do not.  You can type the 8 digit number in on the pump and roll, if you don't care for the printed receipt with the station price, when you fill up. Mudflap is going to text you the charge, gallons, etc anyway.  Out West, this was every station I went to.  Here on the East coast, there are several I've been to that I have to go to the fuel desk to do.
Keith
2003 U320 38' #6197

Re: Fuel Cards: any additional alternatives?

Reply #9 –
Been using the TSD at Loves Stations. Seems in our travels, we never have had to use any other brand as the Loves are always within refill distance.  The Loves fuel quality seems good and with the volume of fuel they go through, I don't feel water in fuel will ever be an issue.

As I have been told many times " Sometimes Cheaper Is Not Always The Least Expensive"
Mark & Bev
2001 U295 36' Slide
Cummins ISC 8.3 350HP
Build #5802
Jeep Wrangler Toad

Re: Fuel Cards: any additional alternatives?

Reply #10 –
Out in the west (north to south) we have been using TA, Maverick & on occasion Loves. In the last few trips south to Tucson. We have seen the discount at loves diminish. Although I haven't checked loves prices lately. In all honesty, It can seem like so much more work to save just a little. So end up defaulting to well used and easily accessed stops.

I have never until this thread heard of Mudflap.

Our biggest savings in the cost of fuel was from me slowing down and gearing down on hills. When we first got the coach, we were using all 450HP to rip up hills. Now I slow down and gear down and jumped from 7.1 mpg to 8.2 (15+% reduction in fuel usage)

Jerry & Nona and Kimeru the cat that thinks she's a dog
1998 36' WTFE U320  #5314 Motorcade #17711
USAF 1975-1995
2019 Subaru Crosstrek 'toad'
2003 Subaru Legacy touring car
jerry Fincher | Flickr