Unless you have a very large
camper/motor home that contains lots of storage space, if you are going to be
on the road camping for more than a week, you’ll most likely need to do laundry
and restock your perishables/food stores at some point. While many campgrounds
have limited laundry facilities and that is always an option, so remember to
pack some clothes detergent, I have found from time to time the laundry
machines are down or busy. During our recent trip we burned through a propane tank
in 5 days because of cold temperatures (average high was 50 and average low was
35 with a very brisk wind). We needed to refill one of our RV propane tanks before departing for the next leg of our journey to a very isolated location. We decided to do the almost 10 days of laundry that had accumulated as well as
stop at the local Walmart and restock perishables and food stores before we
departed the next day to our next destination which would be isolated.
A Google search identified a couple of propane fill locations and two
laundry mats. The Propane refill turned out to be a minor difficulty. The first
time we attempted was on a Tuesday afternoon at 2pm. The place, Ferrell Gas was
not open and the other place, Dowdle Gas, was out of business. We returned to
Ferrell Gas on U.S. 80 just east of U.S. 43 on Wednesday morning with our empty
tank. The guy working could not fill the tank (really?) and suggested we simply
swap the tank for a Blue Rhino tank. As we have purchased this kind of swap
before at Walmart for our home gas grill, I was familiar with the process. I
was initially hesitant as I hated to give up my RV tank, but the guy assured me
the tanks were the same. The swap cost $18.79, a little more than I have paid
in the past. Upon return to the campsite I discovered the tanks were not the
same. Our RV tank was 21.7 lbs while the Blue Rhino was only 15.7 lbs.
Additionally the Rhino tank had a coat of spray paint over pretty sizable
surface rust.
I called Ferrell Gas to speak with the guy in order to return to pick up
my tank and the phone was answered by the Carabelle, Florida Ferrell Gas location. I was
told he was now at lunch and would return later. Four additional calls forwarded
to different Ferrell Gas locations do not yield success. Apparently, the phone
automatically kicks incoming calls to another business office. I failed to make contact over the next 3
hours. I left messages at these other locations as well as being forwarded to
the guy’s voice mail, none of which resulted in a returned call. Finally, about
4pm I called and reached the guy. I explained as it was late and the next day
was a holiday, I would return Friday morning. I ask the guy to fill my tank and
have it waiting. I told him I would pay the difference for the core charge on
the Blue Rhino tank swap. He attempted to assure me the tanks were the same. I
told him they were not and that I had set them side by side and saw where they
were not the same. Finally, I explained to him in a very direct/blunt manner
that I was the customer and these were my instructions. He agreed and I gave
him my telephone number for any further issues.
Friday morning I called at about 9:30am and got forwarded to the Dothan, Alabama office. Nope, not doing this again. I drove to the facility and met with the
guy. He retrieved my tank. It was still unfilled....big surprise. I asked if
there was another propane refill station in the area. What do you know there
was one at the Alabama Co-Op Farmer’s Supply….right next door. I paid the core
charge, $28.00 (really?) and loaded up. I
went next door where a very helpful man filled my RV tank and charged me $11.39.
I could have done this Tuesday afternoon or Wednesday morning…had I known. So,
all this to say I don’t recommend using Ferrell Gas company, especially the one
in Demopolis, Alabama.
Friday morning with our propane situation finally resolved, we then
focused on laundry. It has been almost a lifetime since I used a commercial
laundry mat. We located a great little local place on U.S.80 in Demopolis
called Suds. They had three different sized commercial washers, 1 top loading
and 2 front loader types, and 2 different sizes of commercial dryers. Since I
had almost ten days of laundry I
selected the largest front loader. The female manager of Suds was patient and
helpful with me as I navigated my first time use of a front loader. We spent 1
hour and 45 minutes at the laundry and left with a clean, folded load ready to
check off the next task.
After a 30 minute stop at Walmart with my list, we completed the restock
task. Milk, bread and fruit were now resupplied for the next leg of our
journey. We returned to the campsite for a well-deserved nap after lunch and
then dinner at The Red Barn in Demopolis. Please see a review on this fabulous
meal experience.
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