Alaska trip 2009

[RWPor]

Planning a round trip to Alaska in a 2007 5. 9l CTD which will have about 40k miles when we leave. Will be pulling a 14k 5th wheel. I know there are some issues and weak points with the truck ie ball joints, fuel pump, 48re etc. Should I upgrade the TQ & valve body, ETC this is about all I know , am interested in any and all suggestions as to what should br replaced or spare parts.



Thanks

 

[Grizzly]

Planning a round trip to Alaska in a 2007 5. 9l CTD which will have about 40k miles when we leave. Will be pulling a 14k 5th wheel. I know there are some issues and weak points with the truck ie ball joints, fuel pump, 48re etc. Should I upgrade the TQ & valve body, ETC this is about all I know , am interested in any and all suggestions as to what should br replaced or spare parts.

Thanks

I've made that trip twice. In 1995 we towed an 8K 5er, which was too big and too heavy. In 06 we towed a 11' 3" Lance camper, which was too small, but we got good mileage. I believe that towing a 14K 5er is too big and heavy and your mileage will suffer, more especially with today high fuel cost. Canada's a bit higher for diesel then we are. You may want to consider a smaller lighter 5er.



I can't suggest any mods for your truck, but I can give you tips on Alaska and the Yukon.

 

[Larv]

We pulled a 7k TT on our 2004 trip with no issues. Yes, the fuel mileage will suffer when towing anything but I figured why did I buy this CTD? Our CTD does have the 6 spd with the Jake Brake. That's the best $$ I ever spent on the truck. Other than that it is factory stock.

We drove approx 10k on the trip, so if you have any ?? email or PM me.

Larv

BTW, my email addy is -- email address removed --

 

[HBarlow]

I made the trip five years ago with an '01 Dodge Ram w/Cummins HO/6speed towing an 8500# Avion TT. I think the truck had >100k miles when I began the trip and I experienced NO problems whatsoever, not even a chipped windshield. No, I take that back, I had a nail puncture in the left rear trailer tire but noticed the tire looked underinflated during a frequent rest stop break and used a can of Wal-Mart tire sealer/inflater and drove on. I had the tire casing washed out and the tire plugged at a tire dealer in the next town along my way. I performed a regularly scheduled oil and filter change along the way.



If your truck doesn't have an exhaust brake now is the time to install one.



Much of the Alaska trip warnings and preparation suggestions you'll receive are based on road conditions 20 or more years ago. They are mostly unnecessary now. You will encounter lots of dirt roads in construction zones and the number and frequency of frost heave encounters increase as you travel north but simply slowing down and limiting your daily travel objectives to a leisurely number will make the trip more enjoyable and protect your equipment from damage.



The trip is a great experience and your problems should be few.



Oh, BTW, the Alaska guidebook, "The Milepost" is useful. The Milepost warns that travelers are not permitted to overnight at "turnouts" along the route. I ignored that warning and camped along the highway all the way to Fairbanks and all the way home. I only stayed in RV parks in Anchorage and Fairbanks. RCMP cars observed me overnighting along the highway on several occasions and ignored me.

 

[Grizzly]

A current Milepost is a must, as Harvey said. With a 14K 5er, I also believe an EB is a must. Many of us here at TDR have been there and are more than willing to share our thoughts and do's and dont's with you.

 

[Larv]

I couldn't have said it any better than HBarlow! You'll encounter a few frost heaves along the way. Just watch for wavy fog lines as they will be your warning of these upcoming frost heaves. Just slow down a bit. You'll see gouges in the pavement where others didn't slow down! I think some go up there expecting the Alcan to be like fwys in the lower 48.

I didn't even get a chipped windshield. I did install a piece hardware cloth in front of the radiator coil. I also wrapped the exposed TT ducting (gray and black water tanks) with pipe insulation so they wouldn't get broken by gravel. Was that necessary? I don't know but it made me feel better and it was cheap!

Enjoy!

Larv

 

[Buffalo]

Larv & you other guys,



I have a 25' Nash bumperpull trailer that weighs somewhere in the 7000 lb. range. My truck is an '03, HO with the NV-5600 (6-sp. stick). I'm interested in your thoughts on an exhaust brake with a lighter weight trailer such as what I have. LARV, you seem to think that the exhaust brake was a very good investment & I'd love to have one but, I haven't been anywhere that I wish I had an EB & I travel the mountainous West & have been back East & into Ontario, Can. , twice for the entire summer. Do you feel that the EB's are really that necessary?



Thanks for your advice.



Joe F.

 

[jelag]

Harvey is on point... I've done it 3 times on a goldwing (motorcycle) coming back on the ferry... we are now planning 45 days to Alaska in our 5er in either 2009 or 2010... .

All I'm going to do is change the trailer tires before I go.....

I've used the current mile post each time... available at any good bookstore... this book is updated and printed each year... get only the current one for up to date information... Front to back it lists almost everything at the mile posts on the highway from Dawson Creek to Fairbanks... if you make the reverse trip you just start at the back and work forward. .

Joe F. the key to an exhaust brake is the extended life of the brake system and the ability to go down a 6% grade with out touching the brake pedal with most trailers under 12-14K lbs and some brake us with trailers over 14K...

I just had my 05 apart for a bad front ujoint... see my post under 3 gen trucks... and at 80K miles with an exhaust brake towing in the pacific northwest we had over 50% of the pad left...

My 04 truck went 160K miles towing a 20K lb work trailer before the first brake job.....

It's the extra safety, peace of mind and extended brake pad life... go to one of the web pages and check them out...

 

[Buffalo]

jelag,



Thanks for your reply. The PacBrake PBRX, you sell, is the unit I am most seriously interested in.



Joe F.

 

[JCrockett]

Don't forget your TDR Travel Companion, there are several of us resident Alaskans (including myself) that will give TDR members a hand if anything does go wrong on your trip, at least if you are in the state of AK. Enjoy your trip.

 

[Mr.Goat]

I spent 3 months in that neck of the woods in 2005. Do your home work on the things to see (milepost).



Make sure the Dodge has been thoroughly checked from bumper to bumper. The only issue I had was with tires. At the time I had the stock BFG's, which were in new like condition. Trouble is they came from DC with low pressure valves in them, which are only good for about 50 psi. Our E class tires are good for 80psi which you run at when hauling. I blew a valve right out of the R front. Shot off to God knows where like a bullet. Good thing I had just got into the camp ground and was sitting idle. Talked to another chap with the same truck and tires as mine, same thing happened to him.

Then I also picked up a nail and screw and punctured two more. I chaulked that up to S... T happens.



Don't fret about all the terrible roads, the Alaska highway is not the same as when your Grandpa made it. It's mostly paved with gravelly stretchs and some frost heaves on the paved sections the worst being south of Tok in the northern part of the Yukon. So don't go strapping the front of the Dodge with large sections of frame and screen to protect the front from flying stones as you don't need it.



You can drive your Lincoln Town car anywhere you want to go and not rip the muffler off. Even the Dempster which is all gravel is Lincoln friendly.



The price of fuel will be expensive. It's only money and you can't tke it with you. So go and enjoy the sights, as the price of fuel is not going to get any cheaper.



There's not much the folks here on the TDR don't know about travelling to Alaska. They are a wealth of information.

 

[K5IP]

Enjoy the trip, it is the last "great American road trip" and you really need to experience it.

We have made the trip 5 times using our 95 2500. Our 5th wheel trailers keep decreasing in size (are we the only ones who downsize?). The last two trips have been with a reasonably light Nash 21. 5 trailer. Last year fuel costs came to $800 from New Mexico to Ancorage and I expect they will be about 25% higher this year.

I averaged in the mid 14MPG range while towing. Others have suggested using an engine brake and while it is helpfulll, even necessary on my 95, you have much better brakes on your newer truck. Brake pads are cheap and I think I would now skip the expensive engine brake.

In all of our trips we have never had a problem except for trailer tires (Michilen even fixed that), but you might want an extra spare if you are still using ST trailer tires.

Enjoy

Rog

 

[Grizzly]

Hay guys, I believe we're beating a dead horse here. RWPor, the originator to this thread, has not responded since his initial post. To bad because there have been some excellent post here.



Hi Mr. Goat, hadn't heard from you in a while. Mr. Goat and a few others provided me with the most influential information on our trip to Alaska two years ago.

 

[maxburk]

We have made the trip four times and plan to go again in 2009. The first trip was in 2001 with a 36ft 5er with three slides. DUMB!! After returning we sold the 36ft and bought a 22ft 5er with a 6ft slide. What a great decision. We have traveled every road in Alaska that connects and camp anywhere we want. We have only made three major changes on the trailer. We sealed the bottom with six inches of insulation and added an aluminum floor. That keeps all dust out and the heat in. We added a water purification system since we boondock most of the time. Third, is we changed to load range E tires since the trailer came with C rated tires. One trip to Inuvik in the Northwest territory cured us of ever buying another C rated tire. Six flats in 900 miles of shale road.

Oh, we have a 2001 HO with 6sd and EB. We have 140K on it now. Only problem is the dreaded lift pump problem. Go rid of the origional pump long ago. Hope to see some of you on the Alcan!!

 

[viper700]

The alcan is a great road to run on. A little gravel in a couple of construction areas. Frost heaves from Destruction bay to Alaska border not bad just slow down when you see the little flags. We have run the Alcan 9 times in the last 4 years. 8 times to Yuma and back to Anchorage and once up from Dave Smith. The only trailer I haul on it is a 12 tandem cargo trailer with my ATV and tools in it. Hauling a small trailer you can run steady 65/70 mph most of the time.

 

[Jack in Alaska]

60 trips (30 round trips)over the Alaska Highway for me since 1963. The last one April 2008 and going again in Oct. to Casa Grande, Az.

Use the Milepost but DO NOT depend on the lodges/fuel between the towns to be open or even be there anymore. The towns are approx. 300 miles apart so fuel should not be a problem.

The road is in great shape with minimal gravel in short construction zones. Please don't be a "dufus" and make a giant pipe frame with wire mesh over it for the front of your rig. NOT NEEDED ANYMORE. You would be surprised how many still do it.

Have a great trip.

 

[Larv]

I bought the Jake Brake for peace of mind and especially to save on the brakes. I had a '99 CTD with an AT and the brakes were real crappy so I got the brake. Do I think it was necessary? You betcha!

Larv

 

[GColeman]

I just came on back on Monday from a 3 week motorcycle adventure to Alaska. Best road trip you will ever take. Get a new Milepost, a spare or 2 for your trailer and have fune. Absolutely the trip of a life time. Covered 6800 miles in 18 days plus about 500 miles on a ferry.

 

[BlitzkriegSSII]

I have made the trip 5 times and and i still love doing it. What time of year are u going? That makes a diff as to what you should bring with you. Some things you might want to get are some good lights ie. KC Daylighters, a full fuel can, a tire plug kit with a small air pump. At one time they were talking about needing a passport but im not sure if its needed yet or not. If you are going in winter it can get really cold (-40) so you'll need to be ready for that. And take a camera its a really nice ride!

 

[RWPor]

60 trips (30 round trips)over the Alaska Highway for me since 1963. The last one April 2008 and going again in Oct. to Casa Grande, Az.

Use the Milepost but DO NOT depend on the lodges/fuel between the towns to be open or even be there anymore. The towns are approx. 300 miles apart so fuel should not be a problem.

The road is in great shape with minimal gravel in short construction zones. Please don't be a "dufus" and make a giant pipe frame with wire mesh over it for the front of your rig. NOT NEEDED ANYMORE. You would be surprised how many still do it.

Have a great trip.

Have you towed your Mobile Suites to Alaska, most of the responses say a smaller trailer is better. Since we already have the 5th wheel 14. 2 k aqnd 34 ft long I was wondering about your experience if you tok it to Alaaska.



Thanks Rwpor