Driving to Alaska?

[Vaughn MacKenzie]

I've been a 49er for 20 years. . . that is, since 1987 I've been to every state but the biggest one :-laf

Kinda thinking of a road trip up there mid-late August with my folks and have a few questions. The route I'm looking at is to go from Washington State to Skagway AK. Would go up 97 into BC up to Prince George, take Rte 16 over to Rte 37 and follow it to Watson Lake, then Rte 1 towards Whitehorse and dropping down to Skagway. Kinda thought about going to Ketchikan but the ferry is pretty expensive from Prince Rupert.

Questions. . . anyone been on this route especially 37 and 1? Is the road surface decent, is it slow and twisty most the way, etc. ? Is the road down into Skagway any good? In 2002 I drove to Hay River NWT which is about as far north as this trip and the roads were OK, but once crossing into NW Territories the road had big dips and heaves in places and you had to slow to about 40-45 fairly often.

Once hitting 37 are there campsites or accommodations to be found? Is fuel very available and is it pretty spendy?

I'm thinking about towing my small camper along since I'm thinking hotels will be few & far between (and probably spendy). But if the roads are rough, twisty and slow I may want to leave it home.

One thing I want to do is bring some processed WVO along to cut fuel costs, but I'm afraid it might be an issue taking that across the border. Thoughts?

Vaughn

 

[WDaniels]

Vaughn,

Was just talking to a friend the other day and he told me that all the roads to Alaska are now paved. Even the Casier way. If you want total piece of mind, get a "MilePost" and it will tell you everything about driving to Alaska but were afraid to ask. If you are coming that far, come all the way up to Fairbanks, I'll take you and the musses out to dinner and show you some things you've never seen. (Keep it clean you guys!:-laf)

WD

 

[fest3er]

... and show you some things you've never seen. (Keep it clean you guys!:-laf)

WD

Warren, you devil you! I always suspected you had an adventurous side.



N

 

[Cummins Pilot]

I've run the route between AK and the 48 plenty of times towing. Last time was up from Seattle to AK via the Cassiar. It was winter but the roads were good. Some dirt sections still but most is paved. The worst section is northern Yukon. They are working on it slowly.



Fuel is quite a bit more exspensive. (3. 85 liters to a gallon) Plan on 4-5 bucks a gallon in some places. Keep in mind some of the way off places may have old fuel. I picked up a batch that plagued me for a long time (draining the fuel filter time & time again for water + low power). You can bring fuel in but plan to pay a fuel tax on what ever extra you bring. The Canadians won't tax you on what is in your vehicle tank but aux fuel they will tax on. I always carried fuel. In the summer you can get fuel during normal hours fairly frequently. If you can make 300 miles between fill ups you'll never have any worries (in summer).



Bring your camper as places to stay can be booked up or just none around. I always slept in the truck. Never did look for camp sites, plenty of pull outs for cars & trucks to stop with bathrooms.



I've never dropped into Skagway but if its anything like Haines its a climb back up. Roads were good but it was sea level to way up pretty quick.



Like my buddy Warren said get a Milepost (aka AlCan bible).

 

[Vaughn MacKenzie]

Thanks guys, never heard of the Milepost before, I'll have to see if Barnes & Noble carries it. I have heard some of the paved sections were worse than the gravel, that's what my buddy told me when he drove his '68 Impala to Fairbanks and back in '02. The underside of his car got caked with the calcium material they coat the roads with to keep the dust down.

WDaniels would love to go all the way to Fairbanks but I'll only have about 6-7 days to make a quick round-tripper.

One thing I mis-spoke on, when I said camper on my first post I meant travel trailer, I have a single axle 17' trailer I'll probably take, the same one I got airborne on the NY Turnpike in '04. . .

Vaughn

 

[WDaniels]

The worse part of the road is from Beaver Creek to Fairbanks. Of course that is where the US border starts. Lots and lots of frost heaves in the road. That is were you can get your rig to imitate an airplane if your not careful.

Well, get some days and hurry up here. Hopefully I will only have this winter and then one more summer then I'm history.



And Fest3er Your are the fast one. :-laf Running around with all those "quick people. " Good to hear from you.



WD

 

[Paladin1911]

Another recommendation for a copy of the Milepost. If you make it to Anchorage give me a shout and I'll show you around. You've got tour guides in AK thanks to TDR! -Steve

 

[Buffalo]

Cummins Pilot mentioned that you do not have to pay fuel taxes (Canadian) on the fuel that is in your 'main' tank. What about an 'auxillary' tank?



I have a 115 gal. aux. tank in the bed of the truck. I'm sure that some of you guys that have travelled up to AK. have had aux. tanks. Did you have to pay an additional tax, in CAN. ? This is the first time I have ever heard of this practice.



I went into ONT. , CAN, a few years ago ('05) & did not have a problem at the border. In fact, both my tanks were full (150 gals. , on board). No one at the border said a thing, & they looked.



If you DO have to pay the CAN. tax, is it equivilent to just buying CAN. fuel? Or, is it still advantageous to buy the US. fuel & pay the tax?



Thanks.



Joe F. (Buffalo)

 

[Cummins Pilot]

Buffalo,



Heres how I've dealt with fuel in Canada. Most every time I've had to pay a fee to carry extra fuel. The tank also had to have a HAZMAT label so it could be recognized by response crews ect. Running drums they taxed the amount. Can't remember how much since it was rolled into other fees. Bringing fuel will save you. You'd only be paying the fee or tax, not a station's markup on price again.



If your aux tank is plumbed into the primary tank it better be DOT legal (tank & connection). ie no gravity feed systems ect. If you use a hand pump to transfer you are ok. When I ran thru with my personal truck the customs lady stayed inside and looked into the bed and asked what was in my bed "tool box". I told her tools, straps ect. My bed box is a combo tool/fuel box. Tools on top. She never asked what was in the "fuel tank". So I never paid any extra for my 90gals. I didn't have to buy any fuel in Canada.



It almost seems like each border crossing is a bit different and they can charge how they like. What I've found that works best is to have all your paperwork in order in a file folder. Have you load (if your hauling) square and strapped correctly, cab clean ect. This makes you look professional. If you look like you have it together they probably won't hasle you. Of course if someone before you ****** them off who knows.



Some people pay, others don't. Lucky if you don't have to. Good luck.

 

[Buffalo]

Cummins Pilot,



Thanks for the reply. I never thought there may be a problem getting into CAN. with the aux. fuel tank. Especially, after not having a problem at the Detroit/Windsor crossing (Ambassador Bridge).



From what I had heard, getting BACK into the US. was the 'big deal'. I noticed it, also.



My next major trip will be to AK. Probably in a couple of years. It's the one BIG TRIP I've always wanted to do. So, I found it a bit dissapointing to find another potential 'hurdle' to have to jump over. This trip was one of the main reasons for the purchase of the aux. tank.



Do you have any idea how much the taxes would be on about 100 gals. of 'extra' diesel?



Thanks.



Joe F. (Buffalo)

 

[WDaniels]

Buffalo,

I just put a 135 gallon fuel tank in the back of my friends truck last week and he plumed it in to the filler hose. No questions asked at the border, no mention of taxes or anything. I have used the same tank going down and back up and again, no mention of collection of a fuel tax or anything of that nature.

Cumminspilot must look like a criminal:-laf(sorry Tylor)so they stop him. Or maybe his truck looks so decrepid that they stop him so he is no danger to anyone. :-laf:-laf Again sorry dude.

Hope this information helps.

WD

 

[Cummins Pilot]

Thanks Wareen (spelling on purpose).



Running commercial doesn't help things, they like to tax you. Personally I'd run with a gravity feed system & extra fuel with no worries. Plenty of people run with extra fuel and not get charged. Like I said, running comercial (5 of my 7 trips) I've had to pay. Running private I didn't.

 

[Buffalo]

Due to my 'lack of enthusiasm' for 'double' fuel taxation, I'm starting to feel better about my upcoming trip. Especially after reading the last couple of posts.



Thanks guys.



Joe F. (Buffalo)

 

[WDaniels]

Is your name spelt Tyler or Tylor? If I spelt it wrong, which it seems by the funky spelling of my name, sorry. Besides, I've been called alot worse. I was once called "late for dinner. " That one hurt!:-laf

Also, didn't know that you were running commercial. My bad! Besides, B. C. stands for Bring Cash.