Alaska trip in a cab-over-camper

[Grizzly]

My wife and I will be planning a trip to Alaska in our Dodge and 11'-3" cab-over-camper this coming August. I made this trip 10 1/2 years ago on my 95 Dodge and my 29' 5er and I know that the Alcan highway has been greatly improved since then. My question is, should I screen off the cab-over window to prevent rock damage. I will screen off the front end of the truck to prevent rock damage to the radiator, headlights and hood. I have a wrap-around grill guard on which I will attach a 1/4" grid screen. We plan on returning down the Cassiar Highway, which I believe has more gravel then the Alcan. Any thoughts are appreciated.

 

[Rman]

I've never traveled that road in particular, but my window has seen some hell in the past 2 years now and held up well. Screening the radiator is almost a must though. How would you go about screening off the cab over? Interesting idea. Have a good trip!

 

[SBall]

Say Griz,

We traveled from Pa. to Alaska and back summer of 04, and didn't bother with screening off the cab-over window or the radiator/headlights. While the Alaska highway had some sections that were still dirt, I was amazed at how civilized the majority of the route up was. I think our own Pennsylvania Turnpike was a rougher ride than the Alaska Hwy! Now the Cassiar Hwy was something different- many miles of dirt and potholes, with lots of heavy truck traffic. Oddly enough, it was on the Cassiar that we realized our best fuel economy, 18MPG hauling our truck camper with two canoes on top. This was because we seldom exceeded 45MPH as we attempted to dodge the potholes.



I swear my wife (as navigator), had us on virtually every potholed road in Alaska and BC, and eventually our exhaust system fell off at the header pipe, dictating some roadside surgery with my tools and penetrating oil, as I separated and removed the exhaust system from around the axle so we could continue into the next major town where we had a new exhaust system installed.



So my advice would be to take some basic tools, duct tape, , and a spare air filter element. Enjoy your trip.

 

[GDollenger]

I just drove from Anchorage to New Jersey last August towing my 29' 5ver. I did not screen off anything on my truck or camper. The only problem I had was 2 flats on the camper. So my only reccomendation to you would be to have an extra spare for your truck with you, it could save a costly headache and extended delay somewhere.

The roads were all in very good condition, with most of the construction being up in the Yukon Territory just before entering Alaska. I do highly encourage you to travel through Banff and Jasper national parks and also stopping at Liard Hot Springs to go for a refreshing dip. Enjoy your trip, you will love it.

 

[RCook]

We took the Cassiar up and back a few years ago. The Cassiar goes through really neat country, and I also highly recommend the icefield parkway along the Canadian Rockies.



No windshield damage on those many miles of gravel road (I think more is paved now), but took a fatal hit on pavement up in AK. A car threw up a golf-ball sized rock which landed right on the edge of the windshield - huge crack! Other rocks that did not hit near the edge did only relatively unimportant "repairable" chips.

 

[Grizzly]

I just drove from Anchorage to New Jersey last August towing my 29' 5ver. I did not screen off anything on my truck or camper. The only problem I had was 2 flats on the camper. So my only reccomendation to you would be to have an extra spare for your truck with you, it could save a costly headache and extended delay somewhere.

The roads were all in very good condition, with most of the construction being up in the Yukon Territory just before entering Alaska. I do highly encourage you to travel through Banff and Jasper national parks and also stopping at Liard Hot Springs to go for a refreshing dip. Enjoy your trip, you will love it.

We are planning on spending some time in Banff and Jasper NP's with Lake Louise a priority. I have been there twice before, awesome. Thanks.

 

[Grizzly]

We took the Cassiar up and back a few years ago. The Cassiar goes through really neat country, and I also highly recommend the icefield parkway along the Canadian Rockies.



No windshield damage on those many miles of gravel road (I think more is paved now), but took a fatal hit on pavement up in AK. A car threw up a golf-ball sized rock which landed right on the edge of the windshield - huge crack! Other rocks that did not hit near the edge did only relatively unimportant "repairable" chips.

While traveling the Cassiar Highway, did you spend any time in Hyder? A TDR member, Snapshot, from Alaska told me some great things about Hyder, so plan on spending some time there.

 

[Nate]

I just drove down this fall. The ALCAN is just about all paved now, just spots that they were doing construction were dirt.



Cassiar highway is mainly dirt.

 

[Grizzly]

I just drove down this fall. The ALCAN is just about all paved now, just spots that they were doing construction were dirt.



Cassiar highway is mainly dirt.

Last time I went to Alaska, I was told that the Cassiar Highway was gravel. Is that no longer true? That the biggest reason I want to screen off what I need to. I didn't travel the Cassiar last time because of the gravel.

 

[RMachida]

Last time I went to Alaska, I was told that the Cassiar Highway was gravel. Is that no longer true? That the biggest reason I want to screen off what I need to. I didn't travel the Cassiar last time because of the gravel.

As of last summer, the Cassiar is still over half gravel. In all my trips (8 rt + 3 onew-way), I never had a windshield crack from rocks. I did get a crack on window of the cab-over camper once but that was it. Personally, I wouldn't go through the trouble of building the screens.



I did get a rock chip on a rental car in Albuquerque a couple of weeks ago from some kid with mud tires tearing around the streets downtown...

 

[Grizzly]

As of last summer, the Cassiar is still over half gravel. In all my trips (8 rt + 3 onew-way), I never had a windshield crack from rocks. I did get a crack on window of the cab-over camper once but that was it. Personally, I wouldn't go through the trouble of building the screens.



I did get a rock chip on a rental car in Albuquerque a couple of weeks ago from some kid with mud tires tearing around the streets downtown...

Sorry about the rock chip in Albuquerque, I hope it wasn't one of my kinfolk. You think the Cassias is OK to drive and is it worth doing so even with all the gravel?

 

[JWRowe]

Alaska Hwy/Cassier

Good evening,

My wife and I made this trip in summer of 04. Every mile of both roads and many more roads besides. Some normal repair work on Alaska hwy, But Cassier had about 30 miles total in about three different sections that were under major repair when we went thru, I did not screen anything but my radiator and that was done for love bugs on a Florida trip and it is still on the truck many years later, I see no need to screen the entire front and would not do so if I were going to make the trip again. Also did not do the overhead on the slide in camper.

Cassier trip was more than worth it. Scenery is just beautiful. Learned that 3/4s of the worlds jade comes from these mountains. If you go on this road PLEASE make the side trip to Hyder,AK. Must go thru Stewart, BC and cross over. Small village with about 100 population but we stayed there three days. Fished for salmon and caught so many I finally had to stop as my arms were to tired to go on any longer. No fish story about that, Getting a fish every third or forth cast. Did combat fishing on the Kenai River and that wasn't as much fun. Went thru Chicken on the Top of the World Highway and in to Dawson City, YK. Spent three days there too. Good luck and have fun no matter where you decide to go.



Regards, John

 

[DBF]

Sorry about the rock chip in Albuquerque, I hope it wasn't one of my kinfolk. You think the Cassias is OK to drive and is it worth doing so even with all the gravel?

We went up & down the Cassiar in 2005 with the truck and 5er. Had a standard grill-covering bug screen snapped on, but that's all. No damage at all.



We suffered a few windshield chips on the Dempster Hwy and the Dalton Hwy, but that's another story.



There are a few pictures of past trips in my gallery.



DBF

 

[tandersen]

Grizzly are you going to be towing anything? Give us a report when you return. We're thinking of making the same trip within a year or two. I've heard also bring spare tires and I would suggest gps. Tom

 

[RMachida]

Grizzly are you going to be towing anything? Give us a report when you return. We're thinking of making the same trip within a year or two. I've heard also bring spare tires and I would suggest gps. Tom

Would recommend the Cassiar anytime (plus it is 100 miles closer!) The only negative is that to access the highway, you need to travel on Hwy 17 through all these small town and everyone of them has a speed trap set up. Some even have hwy construction workers diverting non-locals through them. At least that was how it looked... .

 

[Grizzly]

Grizzly are you going to be towing anything? Give us a report when you return. We're thinking of making the same trip within a year or two. I've heard also bring spare tires and I would suggest gps. Tom

We are not towing anything. I'm only taking the one spare tire that's on my truck. I'm not taking a GPS because I don't have one. We are taking a current MilePost. A MilePost worked great 10 1/2 years ago.

 

[jeepit]

Wow, this sounds like a trip I would like to be doing!!

 

[dcoffman]

My wife & I traveled both Alcan & Cassiar and loved them both . Do stop on the Cassiar at the jade mind you'll love it. I put new tires on 5er and truck before we left,both needed them, and had no problems with tires . Got a crack in windshield,pilot bearing in Fort Nelson & 5th gear nut in Williams Lake,BC. That also is a beautiful place. We had a great time and are planning on going again in two years. Have fun you will enjoy.

 

[dcoffman]

Yes take a new mile post. It will still work good ,it is the bible for going way up north.

 

[MABurns]

How would you go about screening off the cab over? Interesting idea.

An effective way to do it is take a thin sheet of 3/8 ply wood or even heavy card board and cut it out to the shape + 1" around the window and then take it to a boat yard/marina storage type place and have then shrink wrap the front third of the the camper. It might take a litte bit of duct tape to hold cut out over the window while they apply the shrink wrap.



Cut out the window for the pass through window when all is said and done cut the shrink wrap off when your done with your travels and you will have a like new (minus all the bugs and grime) front end.