Alaska here we come!

[JKinney]

http://www.canadianembassy.org/government/guncontrol-en.asp

I just went to this site bringing in a long gun? pay 50. 00 and fill out some forms. Handguns require pre approval from the canadian gov. as you must state that you are transporting to an approved hand gun target shoot etc. as i read it carrying for protection is not going to grant you pre approval.

 

[viper700]

Texas Diesel

If you slow down when you see the flags you wont have any problem. The frost heaves when you see them coming will make you think they don't look to bad but that is not what will happen. I had my Dually almost airborne a couple of times. Just slow down and you will be fine. For the short trip you are doing it will be a pain in the tail to haul the BMW and trailer. Run light run fast. We usually do almost 600 miles a day in about 10 hour days. Next week will be my 7th trip since '02. I had already researched the Canadian websight and it looks like handguns are still not leagle unless you were going to a special function under a permit. just transportation through canada is still not allowed. The fee is now $25. 00 not $50. 0 I went to Alaska in 1971 compliments of the USAF and that has been my home ever since.

 

[Larv]

Handguns were not legal last year. They quizzed the heck out of us entering Canada. They couldn't believe we were from ID and wern't traveling with guns. I finally convinced them the guns were home.



Do watch the fog lines. If they get wavy you've got frost heaves coming up. Don't rely totally on the flags to warn you about the heaves as some of them aren't marked with flags. That's why you watch the fog lines and some of them aren't visible either. All things considered the road is good. It is an awesome trip. We took 10 weeks and are going back in '07.



Larv

 

[Texas Diesel]

What is a fog line?



Looks like we're back to the long gun or carbine. Want something big caliber enough for bear. Just in case my grilled fish attracts dinner guests :-laf



We're going to fly her to a large US city near or crossover point into Canada on both directions, that will give the max possible time to see the sights. This makes sense, it would take more than a couple of weeks to see all of Texas and Alaska is almost as big as Texas :-laf



What about diesel fuel? Is the stock tank enough?



Spare tires? I was told to carry a minimum of TWO spare tires/wheels. Why?



Looks like the BMW/trailer will be staying home, light and fast sounds like wise advice!

 

[JKinney]

Handguns were not legal last year. They quizzed the heck out of us entering Canada. They couldn't believe we were from ID and wern't traveling with guns. I finally convinced them the guns were home.



I posted a link from the canadian embassy, no they are not illegal you just cant have one without proper preapproved paper work. as to the fact that they quizzed you, what would have happened had you showed them a hand gun.

 

[Larv]

>>>>>>>>>>>TexasDiesel, a fog line is the white line on the right side of the road just right next to where the pavement ends. At least, that's what we call them here in Iduho! LOL

If the fog line appears wavy you've got some heaves coming up and some of these heaves you can see where TTs have drug probably going too fast. In spite of all that the road system you'll be on is a good road.



We encountered some road construction on the Cassiar Hwy and they use a water/sodium chloride solution to keep the dust down. If you do encounter something like that wash you rig(s) asap as that sodium chloride is very corrosive. We came home on the Cassiar and stopped in Hyder to see the bears and a guy from Seattle spends his summer in Hyder washing cars and TTs. Best $50 I spent and he did a good job on the p. u. and TT. Just my . 02 worth... ... .



Larv

 

[Larv]

>>>>>>>>>TexasDiesel (again), I just have the stock tank on my Dodge and finding fuel was never a problem. I would highly recommend burning on the top half of the tank though. There are stretches of the road where I wouldn't want to be down to a quarter of a tank so I just filled up more often than I would normally and it was never a problem.



As far as the spare tire(s) I did have two spares for the TT but just the normal one for the p. u. I never had to use the extra spare but it gave me a little peace of mind knowing I had it. I've had trouble with TT blowouts before so that's why I bought the extra spare.



http://www.rv.net/ This is a good link for info, just click on the Ak forums. I got a ton of info here when planning our trip... ... .



As someone else posted a passport is a good idea. My wife had one and I had the birth cert and driver's license. I think the passport is a better idea and I'll have one for our 2007 trip plus I think in the near future we all need one anyway due to a new law that was passed.



Hope this helps. PM me if you've got anymore questions... ...



Larv

 

[viper700]

Texas Diesel

As Larv say's fuel is not a problem. I have a transfer tank and pack 100 gal total. We travel with friends with a dodge with stock tank and they will fill up every 200/250 miles. Plenty of good stops for fuel. Don't worry about the Bears at that time of the year they are still in hibernation, also you wont be cooking any fresh fish along the way unless you bought it in a store. All the lakes and most rivers will still be frozen over. When you get to Dawson creek it will be right at 1640 miles to Anchorage. When we travel from Yuma to Anch it is 3,806 miles. We can do that in 6 1/2 days. The Canadian border at Sweet water start of I-15 to Anch is 4 long day's. Lethridge 60 miles north of the border is a good over night place. Also temperatures going north will mostly be freezing at night for sure and good chance during the day, so you might not be able to use your water system in the camper. If you really want to carry a weapon an 18. 5 " barrel shot gun with 3" mag OO buck is a good thing to carry. Go on line to the Canadian firearms website first and down load the form for guns "909" and fill it all out. Only one copy not 3 as they will run it through the copy machine. The permit is good for 60 days but is renewable up to one year at no extra charge. Also bring at least 75 canadian dollars with you. For incidentals and for the $25 canadian that the gun permit will cost you. During the day at the border stop with a larger customs crew you can use a credit card but after hours we found they want correct money in canadian $$. For all your purchases Food, Fuel, Motel, use your credit card and let the credit card do the canadian exchange. Best deal for you in the long run. The credit card company will charge you a couple of bucks for the service. North to Alaska next Wednesday and counting down. One more thing as you cross the border at Sweetwater a few miles into canada there is a little town that is "Milk" something. On the east side of the road going through town they have a you do it truck wash. The car bay is big enough for a truck and cabover camper and it has the most powerful pressure washer I have ever seen. I did mine and it was the best $12 canadian I ever spent.

 

[polarbull]

Tex,

I have made it from Harlingen to Anchorage in 4 1/2 days but then I'm a insomniac. Made it from Seattle to Anchorage in 40 hrs on a different trip but that was in a car & my lead foot. The best advice I saw so far was to have tire chains, you probably wont need them, but if you do you REALLY need them.

 

[dcoffman]

Tex We left Va late may crossed the Alaskan boarder on june 1. They had just gotten the water and such on at the campgrounds. It was still pretty chilly threw the Yukon.

24 days is pushing it . Wish I was able to go back. But at least I got to go once. I loved, and so did the wife, every mintue of the trip. Good luck and happy trails!!!

 

[Texas Diesel]

Thanks again for all the advice and explainations and stuff!



Question: Would delaying the departure one month, 5-4-07 through 5-28-07 (planing on her flying up to meet me at the Canadian border on 5-4-07) be a better idea? Will one manth get us into better climate?



Ok on the AK forum on rv.net.

 

[NoSeeUm]

I am also more or less planning a trip to Alaska September ish. Good luck and post here how it went for you TD.



Jim

 

[polarbull]

Tex,

I would wait till May if possible, might be a lil muddy in spots but the higher elevations would be less likely to have icing conditions. Most of the road is gr8 cept between Fort Nelson & Whitehorse. It is still mostly the old section & it is narrow with some tight off camber turns in the hilly sections. If your not pullin ur car carrier I see no reason for chains. I dont know what is the difference between Canadian & US diesel but I always get better mileage & performance in Canada.