Alaska Trip

[GAdams]

I plan to make a trip to Alaska this summer. Will leave about the middle of June and return about the first of September. Have a 27 fifth and pull with a 3500. Does anybody have experience with this trip and what do you recommend that I take in the way of spare parts for the truck? Thanks for the suggestions and help.

 

[Waterpete]

GAdams,

I have been going to Alaska for several years. I make sure that I have good tread on the truck and trailer tires and carry two spare tires for both. Th road can get pretty rough once you get past Haines Junction. Large stones sticking up out of the hard dirt surface.

It's a nice trip.



Pete

 

[Jack in Alaska]

My wife and I have made 44 trips over the Ak. Hyw. since 1963.

The road now is completely different and vastly improved from the first trip in 1963.

I always carry the spares for the truck and RV plus another unmounted tire for both. It has saved me money and time along the way. There is always a place to mount your tire if needed and saves hauling another rim.

Basic tools, a spare belt, fuel,air & oil filter plus oil for one change. A spare headlight bulb (Canada requires lights on 24/7).

I also carry 10 gals. of diesel but rarily use it. When you get into Alaska dump it in the tank and keep the jugs for your trip back.

There are many services along the way but they can be expensive. Watson Lake & Ft. Nelson are both notorious rip-off places. Whitehorse is a modern town with any services you may need and much more reasonable in price.

There are Dodge dealers in Dawson Creek, Ft. St. John, Whitehorse, Fairbanks, 2 in Anchorage and in Kenai.

I hope this helps. Just ask if you have any questions.

Jack in Alaska

 

[Jumbo Jet]

Whew! I bet the road was narrow in 1963. I saw pictures from my Dad's trip in 1974 and they got caught in places where you couldn't even pass another vehicle you met on the road.



I traveled the Alcan in 1977 and saw the 'old' road in places. A lot of the new road was under construction with very large crushed granite that was the base. The paved portions were rough from the freeze/thaw.



I traveled parts of it again in 1993.



I'd love to go back myself.

 

[WyoJim]

Jack in Alaska... . Now there is some good useable information. I will print it and put it in my Milepost.

Expect to leave Wyoming for a wandering highway vacation to Alaska in August. Thanks again... .

 

[MikeBeggy]

I just spent 12 weeks in Canada and Akaska last summer. This was my fist trip to the far north and we learned a lot. All road repairs are done during the summer months which consists of removing very large depths of road bed material and layering new material with calcium chloride for freeze protection. Here;in lies hazard # 1... lots of liquid muddy salt for your undercarriage. Have really big mud flaps before you go. # 2 is the rock used for these same repair sections (many 20 miles long). They crush local shale type rock which yields millions of tiny sharp knives for you to drive on. I pull an Airstream with tires loaded at about half their rated capacity and had 6 flats during the course of the trip (none on the BFG's on the truck). I'm told this is somewhat normal and not faulty equipment. Also. the rocks fly everywhere causing damage to the underside of your towed vehicle. I installed 1/4 inch hardware cloth over my deer guard to protect the AC condensor and intercooler (I copied about half the guys I saw on the road by adding this along the route). Please don't take my opinion as discouraging because the trip was amazing. Being prepared both mentally and with good equipment really makes a difference.

 

[GAdams]

Thanks for the information. I will have all new rubber and carry spare parts. I havbe been told that the water pump is a suspect and I should carry a spare, any thoughts on this?

 

[Sled Puller]

Never made the trip, but I think I would carry some hoses, fuel filters, and maybe a lift pump.

Genos used to sell a "Boonie Box" Make sure you have the right filters. Take several in case of a bad batch of fuel!



Radiator seal and fix a flat maybe.

J-B Weld, Duct tape, ETC.



Let us know how the trip goes!

Gene

 

[dodger22]

GAdams - thanks for posing the question, you beat me to it! We are planning to leave Southern Ontario June 7 for Alaska.



Thanks also to other members who responded re mud flaps, spare tires and hardware cloth. You can be sure I will be following your advise too.



Has any one had any experience with those plastic headlamp covers? They're supposed to prevent breakage from flying stones. As I recall Geno's has them for about $40 and I'd like to know they work before spending the money.



Someone told me truckers were notorious for overtaking too fast and throwing rocks up. The solution apparently is when you see them gaining on you to pull into the centre of the road to slow them down and then pull over to let them pass. Anyone care to comment on this?



Thanks,



Richard

 

[Jack in Alaska]

I personally think the headlite covers are not worth the price. Also covering yourself up with hardware cloth is not needed. A piece behind the grill would be ok to protect the radiator. .

Mud flaps are great on both the truck and trailer.

Cover any exposed wires and piping under your trailer with old cut up inner tubes held on with duct tape or tie wraps. .

Pulling into the middle of the road to slow down a truck is NOT the thing to do. You slow down and pull as far right as possible. That is the courteous thing to do. When in doubt... slow down.

You might as well make up your mind to accept some nicks and scratches from the trip. It is a good rural road but it is not an interstate. Oo.

 

[Speedo]

Alaska trip.

The road has sure changed since I came up here in the sixties,

but it is still an adventure. While you have been given some

good information I would like to offer a few suggestions from what I've learned form my own travels over the Alcan; Keep

a camera ready there are things that are going to happen on your trip that you will want to have pictures of and they can be gone quickly. Take your time and enjoy the trip it will be an experience so enjoy it. Coming up in the middle of June the amount of daylight can mess up your internal clock, you will

almost have to force yourself to stop at night. Keep your eyes

moving, there are almost always things to see but you will have

to pay attention to find them some times. Drive safe and enjoy your trip.



Gus

 

[Jack in Alaska]

Alaska info

http://www.dced.state.ak.us/tourism/pub/rvtips.pdf



Take a look at this website. It has all kinds of info on the Alaska Hyw. as well as the roads in Alaska including maps.

You could print it out to take along on your trip.

I hope this is helpful... ... ... ... Jack

 

[dodger22]

Jack in Alaska - thanks for the good info particularly re trucks passing and also the web-link. I agree with your comment re pulling over when trucks want to pass and I guess you're right about getting nicks and scratches.



One acquaintance of mine ruined his fifth wheel in Alaska and actually bought another one there to replace his old one. I guess the wooden frame members must have been a bit rotten to start with and with all the bouncing around a portion of the trailer separated from the chassis!! Very expensive trip.



Thanks again,



Richard