DIESELMAN is Back from Alaska!

[DIESELMAN]

What a let down..... Drive all the way to Alaska and back in 12 days flat (Flagstaff, AZ) without any trouble and didn't even get to see any real cold weather. 7200 miles, 9800 lb trailer one way, 12-16mpg there, 19 mpg back(80-85 mph average on way home). Next trip in March.



You guys in Fairbanks are wearing shorts with that weather up there!



Coldest start-up with plug in, -28, no trouble. Coldest without somewhere around -20, same story.



Had Eric's guards on and stayed toasty at all times! (Also plugged the bumper holes)



Funny thing, last week the kids up there had school cancelled, due to lack of snow , freezing rain, nasty stuff, just like Kansas City Snow!



What'd I miss??

 

[moparguy]

DIESELMAN, looks like you stayed hooked up, no bad weather, that's a good thing right.



What kind of load on the trailer? It'd have to be a very profitable run to dead head that far. If you need a co-driver, let me know... ... . Well, I'd be there in sprit anyway.



RJR

 

[Vaughn MacKenzie]

Dieselman, with your lift, big tires, and the fact you've got a longbed 4x4 quadcab, you are turning in some impressive mileage numbers!

 

[DIESELMAN]

moparguy - the kind that's too expensive to trust to anyone else, and no, its not from mexico its electronics.



Vaughn - just leveled, not lifted, mileage actually improved with miles and larger tires. 65 mph is the sweet spot for best economy now. Besides, it's all down hill from the top of the world isn't it??

 

[Elite1]

Originally posted by DIESELMAN

What a let down..... Drive all the way to Alaska and back in 12 days flat (Flagstaff, AZ) without any trouble and didn't even get to see any real cold weather. 7200 miles, 9800 lb trailer one way, 12-16mpg there, 19 mpg back(80-85 mph average on way home). Next trip in March.



You guys in Fairbanks are wearing shorts with that weather up there!



Coldest start-up with plug in, -28, no trouble. Coldest without somewhere around -20, same story.



Had Eric's guards on and stayed toasty at all times! (Also plugged the bumper holes)



Funny thing, last week the kids up there had school cancelled, due to lack of snow , freezing rain, nasty stuff, just like Kansas City Snow!



What'd I miss??

Just wondering what kind of trailer you were towing@9800lbs. , was it a 5th wheel?... I am considering buying the same truck you have and towing an 8500 lb. 5th wheel, 40 footer. How did she tow, do you have exhaust brakes?

 

[DIESELMAN]

I wish I had a fiver for it. Boxed tandem axle cargo trailer with a weight distributing hitch, stuffed to the hilt with microwave radio gear. E-Brake didn't show up in time but I didn't miss it. The truck handled the load like a dream.



Trailer is only 24' long and weighs 2600 of the weight empty, Truck had about 1400 in the back, rest was trailer cargo.



I was about an inch or inch and a half low in the back because I also didn't get firestone bags for the rear yet, was sitting firmly on the overload springs. Driving in the dark got me a few headlight flashes so I aimed them down some, that was the end of my technical prep. Theres not a lot of traffic to deal with past Lethbridge, and the roads are a lot smoother in the winter.



Drove about 600-800 miles per day except for a couple days. Changed the air/fuel/oil filter before going and today, oil was a little black but still good, fuel filter picked up some crud, was dirtier after the trip than before. If I were to make this a habit, a transfer flow tank is my next purchase, I had to get fuel every day, and some places that I thought would be open, weren't. (And an Espar heater ).



My report, all thumbs up!

 

[MMeier]

DIESELMAN, so how many miles do you have on your beast now? Also, how often do you make this trip? My brake's been on order since 11/11, saying it should be here beginning of next week. We shall see!! Was the 17,000 before or after the trip?

 

[nanook]

Fairbanks weather today is 34 degrees above zero, freezing rain, all schools cancelled due to ice on streets, but I'm at work, gotta pay for my new truck that is sitting in Tacoma waiting for a barge ride to Alaska... ...

 

[Animal]

I'm heading that way

Dieselman,



I'm heading down to Phoenix on the 14th from North Pole, how was the roads? I'm driving with a friend and hope to make the turnaround in 7 days.



Thanks

 

[DIESELMAN]

7 Days - I was bustin' my hump to do it in 10 once last summer(myself), Beaver Lake Lodge is one of my home away from homes when I am at Eielson, a genuine 1 Star Lodging Experience ( I usually rent a house, am needing one for this summer, 4 guys, working Eielson to Chena and over to Donnelly on the AF Ranges, June through August, if you have any ideas... )



Roads are fine, which way are you going? I went and came back through Lethbridge, Montana, Idaho, Utah, to Arizona. No troubles. Roads are actually great up there in the winter, much smoother.



BUT, I had NO stormy weather to deal with, no Snow Plows in the way, just ICE up your way, actually very pleasant weather, never a@@bite cold at all.



If you come this way, Honk! I live off of Hwy 89 in Flagstaff!



Enjoy the ride!

 

[Animal]

Radio’s, are you doing the install of the new digital backbone on the Eielson Range. I use to work on that gear. Donnelly is one ugly hill in the winter. As to the renting of a home, I have two, two bedrooms I rent out but they are full right now, but I have a friend that has two apartment complexes that may have openings. Let me know about one month before and I’ll see what I can do.



That looks to be the same path I’ll be running, give me your phone number and if I have time or trouble I’ll stop by.



The weather has turned ugly for the last couple of days, snow and it’s getting colder. It’s going to be about –20 tonight for the start of the trip.

 

[DIESELMAN]

Animal - Not that gear, but yes, I am doing that --- I have been at the range several times since 2000, have we met?? I PM'd cell number to you!