Pre Alaska trip maintenance

[DDevers]

Good Lord willing and fuel prices allow, the wife and I will be taking a trip to Alaska this summer pulling our trailer. The truck has or will have essentially 80,000 miles on it. I have kept all routine maintenance up to date. The following has repaired/replaced as required: steering box at 29,000 miles, front ball joints at 39,000 miles, last carrier bearing replacement and mid u-joint at 74,000 miles.



From what I can glean from reading various posts on this site is that I should replace the rest of the u-joints since they seem to wear out around 80,000 miles. It still has the original batteries and shocks and they seem to be fine. I haven't flushed the coolant system yet as the book doesn't require it until 100,000.



The trip will probably be around 7,500 miles for us. Thanks in advance for your wisdom. My ears are flapping.

 

[GAmes]

A couple of summers ago I towed my 13,000+ lb 5er to Alaska. The truck had over 600k on it and I didn't do anything special to it. I repacked the trailer's wheel bearings and put a new set of tires on it (they needed replacement anyway). I bought a generator for dry camping. If you fish, DON"T forget your gear. Nearly every provincial campground in Canada is next to a lake. Plan on taking your time. We were gone for about 8 weeks and it wasn't long enough. I'm drooling at the thought of going back. The only things I will do different is pull a smaller trailer and not call the family while I am gone. (A "family crisis" brought us back)

 

[BIGNASTY]

I think I would build a BOONIE BOX its just nice to have extra parts that YOU can install for a JUST IN CASE problem. I take an extra water pump fan belt coolant hoses filters and things like that. You will eventually use these parts or at least I will because I keep my cars and trucks for quite a while. Of course oil and coolant distilled water I know I take WAY TO MUCH BUT I HOPE I HAVE WHAT I NEED WHEN I NEED IT . I have been told that I WORRY TO MUCH but at the price of maintenance work in the ******* ships and on the road well Ill worry about it and it costs nothing.

 

[Grizzly]

Be sure you take along a current copy of the Mile Post and a AAA card with 100 mile tow-in range.



In addition, do a search on a 5 year old thread called, " Alaska trip in a cab-over-camper". Great information and tips.

 

[GAmes]

Good catch on the boonie box. I didn't think about that because all that stuff is always in my truck.

 

[DDevers]

Thanks for the info. I followed the Alaska thread 5 years ago and refer to it whnever I need to dream a little.



I carry extra filters and oil with me but haven't a water pump. I was curious if I should change the u-joints, probably will as I don't like unwanted surprises.



Thanks again.

 

[Wertles]

If you are running original shocks on the truck, I would think about new (Bilstein) shocks all around. I have heard the roads up there leave a little to be desired. For $300 in parts, not bad.

 

[BIGNASTY]

Thanks for the info. I followed the Alaska thread 5 years ago and refer to it whnever I need to dream a little.



I carry extra filters and oil with me but haven't a water pump. I was curious if I should change the u-joints, probably will as I don't like unwanted surprises.



Thanks again.

The unwanted surprises is why I have changed most of what I have changed. I dont want to be out on Vacation and have something that may have cost a few bucks ruin a outing. Peace of mind is priceless to me. Hope you enjoy your Alaska trip take lots o pics for the rest of us. I feel that what you are about to embark on is one of the last TRULEY GREAT DRIVING ADVENTURES

 

[Tractorat]

Unless your u joints truly are worn and need to be replaced, I wouldnt worry about it. And unless you are truly concerned about the water pump going out, I don think I would be too worried about that either.



Make sure your tires are good. Maybe take 1 extra trailer tire, but I dont think youll need it. Take an extra bottle of oil just in case, and at least one bottle of windshield wiper fluid (I might get new wipers before I left. )



I would take an extra air filter and fuel filter, but you will probably be OK.



When you get up north, just take it slow and easy and you should be OK. From what I remember from my trip on 07 the frost heaves can surprise you. You dont want to hit them at 70 miles an hour. Most of them are marked by little flags on the side of the road. But if you miss a flag, or that particular frost heave hasnt been marked yet, its really a good idea to be going slow enough to react and slow down. I remember seeing a few big RV's on the side of the road that didnt see the frost heaves.

 

[bheiting]

My '07 has just under 40k and the water pumping is leaking. It'll be fixed under warranty tomorrow. I wouldn't carry an extra pump along. When they start leaking it usually isn't an emergency. Bringing along a jug of the recommended antifreeze/coolant wouldn't be a bad idea. The boonie box is a great idea. Take an extra fuel filter. I connected a fuel pres. gauge downstream from the filter so I can tell immediately if my filter is getting plugged from a bad tank of fuel.
My wife and I took an extended trip across Canada in '08. Prices spiked at an equivalent $6. 50/gal. Of course the price dropped as soon as we got home. I hope you have better luck. Have a great trip.

 

[ak.sparky]

Tractorat is correct, the frost heaves up here are terrible. Take your time on bad sections and construction areas. I've been over the road a lot and never broke anything. Just dont hurry,besides you'll see more game. Pack spare fluids, coolant,engine oil,atf,power steering , gear oil and brake fluid. Enjoy your visit. Sparky

 

[Buffalo]

Good idea on the "Boonie Box". Replacing the shocks with Bilstein's might not be a bad idea, also. I installed Bilstein's on my truck along with a Lorenz suspension upgrade. It made a nice difference in how the truck handles bumps.



Remember the trailer suspension system. Check your shocks, if you have them, & the springs. I broke a spring on my trailer when I hit a puddle off the freeway & it turned out to be a "tank trap" hole. The truck made it thru fine but the front, left spring loop broke. I didn't even realize it until I hit Taos, NM. I hit the hole in WY. !!! Had trouble finding a new spring in Taos & it took days to get it fixed. When I go to AK. , I'm thinking of buying a spare spring. I think the one I bought was only about $30. 00. The cost of staying in an RV Park & trying to find a spring cost much more.



Everyone I've spoken with as regards AK has been positive. I've talked to some very well traveled people & asked them "if they had one more trip, in them, where would they want to go?" Surprisingly, AK is often the answer. Personally, I can't wait to go, myself!!!



Have fun!!!



Joe F.

 

[Alaskaskiff]

Bring extra fuel filters. I left with 4 and it was not enough. Was not real happy with my alternative filter choices in less populated regions. One bad tank of fuel will make life suck. Happened to me.

 

[DDevers]

Thanks for all of the advice. I'll be sure to take along more filters than I had planned and extra fluids.



The closer the trip gets, the higher my desire builds. I'd be out prepping the truck now but I am lazy and don't like crawling in a foot of sloppy snow.