Towing a travel trailer to Alaska? Who has?

[Power Wagon]

Has anyone driven to Alaska with a travel trailer in tow?



If you have, tell us about it.



I have some questions, maybe, as well.



The wife has the possibility of getting a job on a temporary basis up there, and we'd want to drive up there and then take a couple weeks to a month and see what there is to see next year.



Any experience is appreciated



Mark

 

[Happy Camper]

Have not taken a TT but was going to take the 5th but wife said take slide in as we do not know what to expect.



The highway was no different than most in the lower US except when you come to Haines Jct. From there on to the Alaska border it was challenge. Just get shifted into 4th and have to slow for next bump, hole etc. Spent quite a bit of time zig zaging to miss some. (here failure to drive right is quite a fine) no patrol cars except a couple of saturation points, called speed traps. Several signs along the hwy said "all those who hate speeding tickets raise their right foot".



We drove slow, 50mph and enjoyed all the country had to offer.



We did not encounter much construction (15 miles) and for the most part stayed off of gravel roads. Had one flat where a rock was in the tread and hit a chuck hole and drove it in.

 

[merryman]

In 1984 we did the round trip from Southern Oregon to Anchorage, with a side trip to Seward, towing a 27' fiver. (We had an '84 Ford 6. 9 unturbed, with an auto transmission, and on some mountains, we really pulled down--got as slow as 20mph at one point. We took 5 weeks and that did not leave much time for sight seeing.

We had one blow out on the trailer and sufferred no other damage of any kind. We took the main ALCAN highway going up, and the Cassiar (a more westerly route in the Yukon Terr. ) comming back. Although the highway is rough in places, we had no particular problems----we went in late April and the frost heaves had not been repaired, so we had to watch for those; mostly they were marked with flags. The Cassiar was for the most part unpaved, but everbit as good as the paved highway. (We asked a local couple in the Yukon about the Cassiar, and they warned up most sternly that it was far to bad a road for our rig--having generally had poor advice form other, we decided to start on it and turn around if it got too bad)

Since that was over 15 years ago, I do not know whether to expect better or worse now. At that time fuel was never hard to find.

I loved it and have been trying to get it together to do it again--maybe next summer.



Vaughn

 

[Power Wagon]

You should have stopped by Wentland Diesel... we'd have fixed you right up and doubled that 20 MPH



Where's the steep parts?

 

[DavidGardner]

Powerwagon

Go for it! I towed my 24 ft trvl trl to Alaska the summer of 99. No problems at all. My 95 Dodge was totaly stock ecxept for BD exhaust brake at that time. Went up the Alaska highway and came back on the Cassiar. The Alaska highway was supposed to be paved all the way. Don"t beleive it. It is always under construction just like the lower 48 states. My wife and I enjoyed it very much and are planning on going again in the summer of 02.

When we encounterd construction we just slowed down and we did no damage to trl. or trk. All together I doubt if we covered over 45 miles total of construction the whole trip. Fuel was no problem at all-we just rtefueled at the main towns and citys and not any of the little roadside stands. Never got any bad fuel and once in Alaska diesel was cheaper than in the lower 48. Have fun and enjoy.



Remember if it aint broke, your just not trying hard enough.

 

[merryman]

All I can recall about the steepest place that had us down to 20mph is that it was in some REAL mountains in the Yukon. Either the night befor or the night after, we camped in an old gost town that was still pretty much intact, I believe the name was silver city; a really neat place to just nose about. Wouldn't be surprixe if its mostly gone now.



Vaughn

 

[wrward]

Alcan

The year was 1952, Iwas 5 yrs old and my dad drove us from Oregon to Anchorage in a 51 Chevy towing a utility trailor full of treasures in February. You should have no problem now.

We made the same trip 3 more times before 62.

I have heard they replaced the railroad tressel bridge with a real 2 lane bridge.

I have 2yrs 3days to retirement and I will tow it again.

 

[Vaughn MacKenzie]

Mark, a buddy of mine made the trip recently in his '68 Impala. He got a lot of funny looks from locals who took double-takes at the aging American classic . He moved along as fast as he could and it took 58 hours to make Anchorage from Mt. Vernon. The worst thing was the heaves in the road, many of which were 8-12" high, so it was like he was frequently watching for "speed bumps. " There was quite a bit of construction and pavement was poor in a lot of places, like Vaughn & David alluded to. He said the best spots were the gravel areas, since they were smooth he'd motor along at 65 through there. If you make the trip, I'd plan on at least 4 days' travel time.



Driving to Alaska is one thing I've wanted to do for a LONG time. I have been to 49 US states and Alaska is last on the list. I have been stuck at 49 since 1987!



Vaughn