First Trip to Alaska

Some folks still think that the AlCan/Alaska Hwy is gravel and mud and that everybody drives like idiots. None of that is true. For us AK may have been an anomaly, while we have only been there three times, one driving all 12,000 miles, twice flying and renting an RV, we have been all over the state. Broken or chipped windshields are common but remember that those big rigs pay as much for a window as we do. Suppose they drive 20K to 50K miles every year, having to replace them every 60 days is expensive. When passing and oncoming semi, slow down, move to right and you just might be surprised to see the semi do the same.

Spare tires are not as important as good new or close to new tires, 6 years or older are not good for driving up and back. If you don't have a rim, don't buy one, carry an un-mounted spare.

I'd leave from Dawson Creek in May but I like snow and Ice. Best to check before you leave home on snow melt time and river breakups.

What we missed most in 2000 was having to come home. I can forget the phone now, but, I really like the internet. It's available most place now, but I think the DGD missed her phone.

So to enjoy more, drive slower, stop often, take pictures, keep a journal and don't hesitate to stop for something you MIGHT like to see. Take your power drill/drive and your sign for the sign forest. Plan on a few hours there. Just slow down and smell everything that you can.

We have a 39' Journey towing a Ford Taurus and did the trip in '14. I second everything rascal said.

We left the 8th of May, from central Al, and kind of sprinted until we reached Banff then we slowed down to around 250 miles a day. If you leave in late April or early May some of the smaller roadside parks and lakes may still be frozen depending on how late winter sticks around.

I have Ready Brake for my braking on the toad and also used the Protect a Tow. The only problem I had was because of the extra length the Ready brake added,it pulled the net for the protect a tow away from the MH and car. I didn't suffer any rock damage, just some tar spots around the edges where it was narrower than the width of my car. They do make a bigger version and I'm going to get one.

We had Verizon with the Canadian package. It worked near larger towns and was spotty the rest of the way.

Its a wonderful trip we're going back in a couple of years! Have a great time!

May I suggest that you consider visiting Valdez. This was one of the most beautiful drives in Alaska.

Steve- have made the run over the past 2 years from west Georgia. 2014 in our TC and 2015 in our Moho to visit our kids in Anchorage. We goof off along the way and take about 22 days to get there and came back without goofing off for a daughter who was having a baby in 14 days)

We had cell phone most of the way (ATT with Canadian package) all the way to Ft St John then nothing until around Tok Alaska.

This year we did it in our 31 foot Itasca Sunstar towing a 2008 Focus on a dolly. I urge a Protect a Tow set up between the mo-ho and the tow car. Also we covered our windshield and front grill with reflectix. While it got unbelievably dirty, we had no scratching or dings in the car (no flaps on the moho).

Cracked the motor home windshield 3 times this year requiring replacement when we got home. Even though there is a good bit of chip seal roadway on the Alaska highway and much flying gravel, the windshield actually was broken all three spots in Wyoming from passing trucks.In 2014 took 3 rocks to the pick up windshield and only had small dings that could be sucked out. Parked at the CG in Anchorage and 5 moho's in a row had cracked windshield

Yes to spares. We carried 3- 1 for the moho, 1 for the dolly and one for the Toad. Chances are you'll be fine but there is some very rough road in AK and the Yukon in spots and if you by chance loose a tire you best have one available because it may be hard to get one. Changing a tire?- hopefully you'd be in an area where you have and can get some roadside assistance. All that said, both years we drove up and back over 20,000 miles and NEVER saw anyone with a flat- (knock on wood)

ALWAYS drive on the top half of your tank. Fuel can be a long way away.

Suggestion -- when on dirt stretches (mostly northern Canada and AK repair zones which can be very long stretches) make sure you have your generator (assuming mounted in rear)turned off. I filled up my air filter with dust and had to search for a place to find a Cummins dealer with one.

Visa and MC cards are the predominant and about only cards recognized in Canada so have one or 2 for fuel.

The wife did a blog and if you'd like the link give me a PM

Its the trip of a life time so by all means DO IT!. You'll be fine.