During his pre-flight check, the pilot estimated that he had eight gallons of fuel on-board the airplane. He departed with the intention of obtaining fuel but by-passed two nearby airfields with fuel service in favor of an airport in the vicinity of the accident location. Prior to reaching his destination and while in cruise flight, the engine quit due to fuel exhaustion. The pilot selected a field for a forced landing. During the approach to landing, the airplane struck a fence and a tree before coming to rest upright in the field. The airplane sustained substantial damage and the pilot was not injured. The pilot's operating handbook for the Cessna 182 states there are four gallons of usable fuel on board the aircraft.