Alaska & the North in general is not the dark side of the moon. Many have been wherever you might go before. It is all very civilised. Not much different than traveling around the lower 48 except the scenery is stunning & there is more liklyhood of seeing wildlife ambling across the road. There are not many roads to choose from. As already pointed out, you basically do it clockwise or anticlockwise.
Everyone you meet in CGs is on the same mission & are willing to socialise. Roads are not covered with gun toting drug dealers as on Alaska State Troopers.
You apparently have lots of time. 4 months door to door is great. Go with a basic plan that is wide open to changes along the way.