Cost of diesel across Canada to Alaska

[Grizzly]

I have my RDS 91 gallon Combo/Tank/Toolbox in the 3rd truck coming up on 350,000 miles. Not one problem. And the ingenious little collar that fits in the filler neck line ($50) has an internal float valve that just keeps the main tank full until the fuel in the aux tank is exhausted.



No wires, no pumps, no solenoids. Install the tank and collar in one hour. And the price cannot be beat.



mi dos centavos

Thanks Berry, I'll check it out.



george

 

[CMeier]

Another thought on an aux fuel tank. We went to Alaska several years ago driving a Chev 2500 gasser pulling a 27" Airstream. I only carried two 5 gal jerry cans of extra fuel and only needed one of them one time and that was my own fault. Didn't pay attention to the gas gauge coming out of Denali on the way south to Anchorage (didn't leave Denali with a full tank!). The truck averaged about 9-10MPH. My point is an aux tank is not really needed.



The round trip was a little over 11K miles from Tijeras, NM but on the way up we used the ferry from Prince Rupert to Haines which cut off some of the mileage. We also took a round trip mini-bus tour from Fairbanks to the the Artic Circle.

 

[Grizzly]

Another thought on an aux fuel tank. We went to Alaska several years ago driving a Chev 2500 gasser pulling a 27" Airstream. I only carried two 5 gal jerry cans of extra fuel and only needed one of them one time and that was my own fault. Didn't pay attention to the gas gauge coming out of Denali on the way south to Anchorage (didn't leave Denali with a full tank!). The truck averaged about 9-10MPH. My point is an aux tank is not really needed.



The round trip was a little over 11K miles from Tijeras, NM but on the way up we used the ferry from Prince Rupert to Haines which cut off some of the mileage. We also took a round trip mini-bus tour from Fairbanks to the the Artic Circle.

Hi neighbor. I live some 20 miles west of you in the North Valley up against the river.



If you've read my other post you'll know that we have made the trip twice, with each trip taking 11K miles round trip. On our last trip we had our Lance camper, which made it impossible to use an auxiliary tank or to carry jerry cans. We averaged 14. 5 mpg. Towing the 5er we get 10. 5 mpg. If I can't find a 60 gal fuel tank tool box combo, I will take 3 or 4 jerry cans. Best price I've seen so far is a RDS 75 gal/tool box combo for $850 plus shipping from Northern Tools. See link RDS Auxiliary Fuel Tank/Toolbox Combo — 75 Gallon

 

[ak.sparky]

Diesel is 4. 09 today at Fred Meyer in Fairbanks. Lowest price in town.

 

[Grizzly]

Thanks ak. sparky.

 

[Bovee]

I live in anchorage and just came back from fairbanks and diesel is 4. 19/gal on average. hope that helps

 

[Grizzly]

It does help Bud, thank you. How about other places in Alaska, such as Seward, Valdez, Homer Skagway and Tok.

 

[Bovee]

I have lived here almost my entire life. i have traveled the alcan 7 times all the way to minnesots. dont believe the horror stories you here. the trip is beautiful and easy. fuel prices aren't 7 dollars a gallon. its reasonable everywhere except the villages where you wont be driving to. i have never been to skagway. but homer
seward there all about the same as anchorage. close enough that is. tok was 3 cents a gallon more than anchorage the last time i was there. dont believe the stories. just come to alaska. you wont regret it.

 

[Grizzly]

I have lived here almost my entire life. i have traveled the alcan 7 times all the way to minnesots. dont believe the horror stories you here. the trip is beautiful and easy. fuel prices aren't 7 dollars a gallon. its reasonable everywhere except the villages where you wont be driving to. i have never been to skagway. but homer

seward there all about the same as anchorage. close enough that is. tok was 3 cents a gallon more than anchorage the last time i was there. dont believe the stories. just come to alaska. you wont regret it.

Thanks Bud. My wife and I love Alaska. Been there twice, 95 and 06.

 

[Tractorat]

Another thought on an aux fuel tank. We went to Alaska several years ago driving a Chev 2500 gasser pulling a 27" Airstream. I only carried two 5 gal jerry cans of extra fuel and only needed one of them one time and that was my own fault. Didn't pay attention to the gas gauge coming out of Denali on the way south to Anchorage (didn't leave Denali with a full tank!). The truck averaged about 9-10MPH. My point is an aux tank is not really need

I made the trip up the Alcan about 4 years ago. Someone on the TDR said to just drive on the top half of my gas tank (which I always do anyway), and I would be fine. I did take two 5 gal cans for extra fuel, but I didnt need them. I did bypass one fuel opportunity on the way back thinking I would find cheaper diesel soon, but it was a farther drive than I expected to the next gas station and I started to get worried. But, when I did stop, I wasn't even close to running out.



The added benefit of driving on the top half of the tank is that you get to get out and stretch. On the long slow drive up the Alcan, 150 miles can be a long time sitting in the drivers seat.

 

[Grizzly]

I made the trip up the Alcan about 4 years ago. Someone on the TDR said to just drive on the top half of my gas tank (which I always do anyway), and I would be fine. I did take two 5 gal cans for extra fuel, but I didnt need them. I did bypass one fuel opportunity on the way back thinking I would find cheaper diesel soon, but it was a farther drive than I expected to the next gas station and I started to get worried. But, when I did stop, I wasn't even close to running out.



The added benefit of driving on the top half of the tank is that you get to get out and stretch. On the long slow drive up the Alcan, 150 miles can be a long time sitting in the drivers seat.

I like the idea Tractorat, but when you only get 10. 5 mpg towing a 5er, that top half won't last long.

 

[Tractorat]

I like the idea Tractorat, but when you only get 10. 5 mpg towing a 5er, that top half won't last long.

Roughly 178 miles, or 3-4 hours. Good excuse to stop and rest your butt.

 

[RMachida]

I have lived here almost my entire life. i have traveled the alcan 7 times all the way to minnesots. dont believe the horror stories you here. the trip is beautiful and easy. fuel prices aren't 7 dollars a gallon. its reasonable everywhere except the villages where you wont be driving to. i have never been to skagway. but homer
seward there all about the same as anchorage. close enough that is. tok was 3 cents a gallon more than anchorage the last time i was there. dont believe the stories. just come to alaska. you wont regret it.

+1 on the stories. 10 round trips in the last 30 years...

If you decide to venture off of the Alaska Highway such as on the Campbell Hwy or up to Dawson CIty, the fuel price will naturally be higher.

 

[bheiting]

Question for TDR members in Canada. How much is diesel across the Cassier Highway to Tok, Alaska? How much is diesel in Fairbanks and Anchorage?



We're thinking of making another trip to Alaska this summer. The cost of diesel could stop us as it has the last two years.



We'd be towing our 5er, on an 11,000 miles round trip.



Thanks, george

Have you seen the TruckMaster Fuel Finder web site? It's geared for over the road truckers, but it's a great free site if all you need is truck stop locations. Some fuel prices are listed. It covers the US and at least most of Canada. It's great for planing your next fuel stop. If I'm going to be without internet for a while, I just take a screen shot of the info. and keep the file on my laptop. With a paid subscription you get much more, including a blog, etc.

 

[BillRamsey]

Wife went from central Texas in July and the prices ranged from 4. 35 in the southern part to 5. 75 up around Whitehorse. Put on the H &S delete and 5 inch should get better milage this year

 

[Grizzly]

Wife went from central Texas in July and the prices ranged from 4. 35 in the southern part to 5. 75 up around Whitehorse. Put on the H &S delete and 5 inch should get better milage this year

Bill, Can you elaborate, I lost you here.

 

[Ghosterbear]

We took the trip to Alaska in 2009 towing a 34 Holiday Rambler 5th wheel. We put 12700 miles on going up through Calgary;Jasper; through Alberta; Yukon Territory; Alaska & British Columbia. Spent 97 days on the trip.

Took extra fuel filters; oil filter and air filters. Spare serpentine belt; idler pulley; and radiator hoses. Our was a totally stock 2006 3500 dually with one 5 gallon "jerry can" for extra fuel. Never had a problem getting fuel a long as we topped off at every opportunity! Only spare part we used was 2 of the air filters as it was very dusty in most areas and it rained only 2 days on the whole trip. Had a lube oil & filter done in Anchorage. Cost of fuel in Canada was over $4. per liter. We ran General Grabber HTS all season tires and never got a flat. Only damage was a broken fog light in Montana.

 

[Grizzly]

Ghosterbear, Are you sure fuel was over $4 per liter? That would be over $15. 20 per gal. I assume the fuel was diesel. What mileage did you get pulling your 5th wheel? george

 

[Shadrach]

That should be $4 a gallon as our fuel in Edmonton is currently $1. 12 a litre ( at Flopping J ) . Assuming the dollars are equal that would be about $4. 25 a US gallon. So for "only" 150 bucks you could fill your tank Shad

 

[Buffalo]

Another Aux. Fuel Tank Option.

In 2004, while traveling through IN. , I stopped at Dually Depot in Elkhart, IN. & purchased a 115 glllon, in-bed aluminum diamand-plate fuel tank for my '03. This is the tank that many of the guys that haul trailers to dealers out of IN. purchase. I'd seen many of them in truckstops fueling up & admired them.



The tank, with $61. 00 worth of fuel, installed, was $1,132. 94 (out the door).



The trucks fuel pump draws fuel from one or the other tanks thru the use of a six-way Pollack valve & there is a rocker switch mounted on the dash that determines which fuel tank you are using. Works well.



Altogether, there are close to 150 gallons on board when full. I drove from St. Ignace, MI. (the first town on the north side of the Mackinaw Bridge going into the Upper Penninsula of MI. ) to Guyman, OK. before I stopped to refill & I still had about half of my main tank left. That's close to the N/W Texas-N/E New Mexico line.



One thing to consider is that there is a lot of fuel weight on board when full. However, I do like that fact that there is a LOT of fuel in the truck.

BTW, on that trip, I always had my Nash 25-S (25') travel trailer hooked-up to the truck.



I, to, am looking forward to a trip from Phoenix to AK. in the near future. It's on my bucket list!!!



Joe F.