Where is the Fuel Cap in an Itasca Navion?

I’m going to make this short and sweet because something tells me we aren’t the only ones who’ve run into this issue. First let me clarify, Vanessa and I are not novices when it comes to automotive technique. Can we break down an engine and build it up again? No. But we can change oil, change a tire, install new wiper blades, and find a fuel cap when necessary. Except on our RV. We could not find the fuel cap in our Itasca Navion.

Embarrassing story commences.

Driving home from the dealership, La Mesa RV, we had half a tank. You would think that financing an RV and spending all that $$ would mean at least a full tank of gas — think again. However, La Mesa RV really was fantastic and we have nothing by praise for the team in Port St. Lucie.

So, we stopped for gas at a Shell station when it got a bit low. Now granted, we know that with a diesel engine, the tank isn’t where it would normally be. Our first look was under the hood, as some diesel engines have their tank there. Wrong. Our second guess was behind the driver’s side door (where the tank was for the moving truck we rented long before). Were we right? No.

We searched the body of the RV like somebody told us we’d find gold. We opened compartments — sometimes two to three times just to double and triple check. We got down on the ground and looked under the RV. We checked the engine again, and again, and…..well, you get the picture.

We could not find where to put gas in the Itasca Navion. We were stumped.

Now beyond just sussing it out on our own, we also tried asking for help. The only two people in the Shell station were the constructios workers who did not speak English, and the not-so-helpful attendant who stared languidly as he slowly drank a Coke.

After a solid twenty minutes of searching, along with calling our good friends Mark and Sahar (Mark is a mechanic), and googling the absolute heck out of this situation, we were flummoxed.

Until…. eureka! Why don’t we call the number for Winnebago and speak to a representative. Surely Winnebago Road Side Assistance can tell us, “Hey dummies, your fuel cap is ________”. Then they’d laugh and we’d feel like amateurs, but at least full-tank-kind-of-amateurs.

After being on hold for a few minutes, a woman from Winnebago answered the phone. The conversation went something like this…..

Me: Hi, I have a huge problem. It’s embarrassing. We just bought an Itasca Navion and for the life of us we cannot find where to put gas. We’ve searched EVERYWHERE. It’s the diesel engine. We’re literally stumped. Can you help us?

Winnebago: (Pause) Wait, do you need roadside assistance?

Me: I mean, figuratively yes. We’re technically on the side of the road you could say, and we can’t move until we put gas. So assistance is needed.

Winnebago: But do you need someone to come and help you?

Me: No, not really. We just need someone to tell us where the gas cap is.

Winnebago: Well, we can’t help you unless you need roadside assistance.

Me: You can’t just tell me where the fuel cap is?

Winnebago: No.

Me: Okay, thanks for nothing. Bye.

Now, beyond the string of curse words I issued after hanging up the phone, I also realized that the lady from Winnebago probably had zero idea of where the fuel cap was. Because nobody who has a soul would leave two girls stranded when all she had to do was utter a sentence of less than five words…..Am I right?!?!

So, Winnebago woman, you are forgiven. Why are you forgiven? Because five minutes after we hung up, we found the answer we were searching for.

The hidden location for the fuel cap in our 2007 Itasca Navion is…..

Wait, still don’t see it? Maybe we’re not so crazy after all. Take a closer look below…

There it is……to the right of the driver’s seat when you first open the door.

So in case anyone has this problem again, where you are literally at a loss for words except ones that are banned from Sunday School and G-rated movies…….you’re welcome. I wish there was a blog like this when I was searching.