Attention: TDR Forum Junkies So how many times do you have to fill up in Canada driving to Alaska? I've thought about driving up there someday. Is it a pretty decent drive in the summer as far as road conditions and accomodations and such? I was thinking a couple extra spare tires, couple extra cans of fuel, and some food & water and I'd be OK. Or does this take a lot more planning than that? I tow a big tank to bring some of that 99 cent diesel home! 
I only took one spare each for the pickup and the trailer, ended up not needing either. Did purchase a good set of chains, but ended up not needing them either. Would have to go look at my fuel receipt to know how many fills for sure, but do know I spent at least $1,000 on fuel & oil change since leaving Bristol, IN. In hindsight I would have done better if I'd had the pickup ferried from Anchorage to Washington and also wouldn't have had to do all that driving and burning my hours. Really shouldn't have made this haul in my Ford, would have been much better off with the Ram, my sleeper, & a 140 gals capacity for fuel. Ran through a couple blizzards on the Alcan, but drove through them no problems. Had surprisingly good luck as far as roads were concerned. This late in the Off Season, not much traffic, cept the always present lumber trucks. They just sailed by me doing no less than 20 or more MPH faster than I. Fuel was available every little berg along the way, just bring gold. Most all stations have Diesel #1, I don't get as good a mileage with it. I carried 3 addl 5 gal plastic containers of diesel in case I didn't make it to the next station. Wildlife all over the road, Mule deer, raindeer, the largest Moose I've seen in my life and no rack so must of been a cow, but larger than a draft horse. Several other smaller critters scurrying around at night, don't know what they were, just saw the reflections in their eyes. I only ran at 55, saw at least 50 dead animals roadside. Anchorage got to 0 degrees F while I was there, local kids all running around in short sleeved shirts. This is balmy weather to them. Me, I caught a cold, got the trots from the water or coffee, and couldn't get outta the place fast enough to suit me. Bottled water might have been a prudent choice. If I'd had wifey along and time to vacation I'm sure it would have been a totally different experience. Worst of the road heaves was around Destruction Bay. Actually they do a great job on that road for the freeze & thaw problem they have. They put little advisory signs along the side of the whoopie doos, says Reduce Speed. Don't say how much to reduce it though. An empty 5er rather flies over some of the irregularities if you don't reduce speed enough. Weighted camper may fare better I don't know. Had a 37 footer with 3 slides and it bounced alot. Actually the dealer rep wrote down internal drawer damage claim to report to the factory under warranty. He mentioned to me that, "very few arrive with no damage at all. " Now I'm sitting in Clive, IA Flying J, out of hours, loaded with a 3 axle 35 ft Raptor toyhauler 5er w/two slides. Camper in front, empty box in the rear, rather throws alot of weight on the hitch. Going to Santa Fe Springs, CA. Glutten for punishment, still running the Ford. . . running West into higher fuel prices. Everything west of Colorado gets outragious.
Cheers,
Steve J.
I only took one spare each for the pickup and the trailer, ended up not needing either. Did purchase a good set of chains, but ended up not needing them either. Would have to go look at my fuel receipt to know how many fills for sure, but do know I spent at least $1,000 on fuel & oil change since leaving Bristol, IN. In hindsight I would have done better if I'd had the pickup ferried from Anchorage to Washington and also wouldn't have had to do all that driving and burning my hours. Really shouldn't have made this haul in my Ford, would have been much better off with the Ram, my sleeper, & a 140 gals capacity for fuel. Ran through a couple blizzards on the Alcan, but drove through them no problems. Had surprisingly good luck as far as roads were concerned. This late in the Off Season, not much traffic, cept the always present lumber trucks. They just sailed by me doing no less than 20 or more MPH faster than I. Fuel was available every little berg along the way, just bring gold. Most all stations have Diesel #1, I don't get as good a mileage with it. I carried 3 addl 5 gal plastic containers of diesel in case I didn't make it to the next station. Wildlife all over the road, Mule deer, raindeer, the largest Moose I've seen in my life and no rack so must of been a cow, but larger than a draft horse. Several other smaller critters scurrying around at night, don't know what they were, just saw the reflections in their eyes. I only ran at 55, saw at least 50 dead animals roadside. Anchorage got to 0 degrees F while I was there, local kids all running around in short sleeved shirts. This is balmy weather to them. Me, I caught a cold, got the trots from the water or coffee, and couldn't get outta the place fast enough to suit me. Bottled water might have been a prudent choice. If I'd had wifey along and time to vacation I'm sure it would have been a totally different experience. Worst of the road heaves was around Destruction Bay. Actually they do a great job on that road for the freeze & thaw problem they have. They put little advisory signs along the side of the whoopie doos, says Reduce Speed. Don't say how much to reduce it though. An empty 5er rather flies over some of the irregularities if you don't reduce speed enough. Weighted camper may fare better I don't know. Had a 37 footer with 3 slides and it bounced alot. Actually the dealer rep wrote down internal drawer damage claim to report to the factory under warranty. He mentioned to me that, "very few arrive with no damage at all. " Now I'm sitting in Clive, IA Flying J, out of hours, loaded with a 3 axle 35 ft Raptor toyhauler 5er w/two slides. Camper in front, empty box in the rear, rather throws alot of weight on the hitch. Going to Santa Fe Springs, CA. Glutten for punishment, still running the Ford. . . running West into higher fuel prices. Everything west of Colorado gets outragious.
Cheers,
Steve J.
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I've been thinking of selling my truck and buying a gasser half ton, but I may just bite the bullet and get a new Cummins 600. 
