Help with Long Term planning for Alaska

I did Alaska in 2005 in a truck camper pulling a little box trailer so I had everything I needed, including an inflatible boat. Other than 1 week in Alaska when my wife flew up, it just just me and my dog.

Last year, my wife and I (also a dog) made the same trip in our Class C. Much more comfortable. Since we towed a 4 wheel drive SUV we could access everything I was able to in the pickup in 2005.

We experienced no damage to our rig, except 2 windshield chips - one in Wyoming in a construction zone and one on the SUV driving on the Seward Highway.

Just take it slow and agree with other advice to slow down and move as far right as possible when trucks and other rvs are coming the other direction.

Great trip - you will really enjoy it.

We were there in a 20' Roadtrek, so can't speak to towing something. I don't recall any obstacles being that insurmountable for any sized motorhome or towable combos. The odd soft surface, as in packed dirt/gravel combos, with no flagman or Pilot car/truck was occasionally a bit daunting, expecially near dusk, but nothing too dramatic. The construction workers up there are all 9 to 5ers.

If you want to see variety in RVs that tackle the AlCan Hwy 97, definitely stop in the Walmart/CTC parking lot in Whitehorse and the Walmart in Fairbanks. If you think you've seen it all, I've got news for you, you ain't seen nothin yet.:C

Even Dawson Creek had a few interesting oddities.
There was a guy there hauling a small house boat on a trailer behind a beat up old pickup truck, and after dark, he actually left the store, and proceeded to climb up on top of the house boat, and down inside for the night. First dual purpose, land and sea RV we've ever seen.

Beware the on coming 18 wheelers any time you're on gravel or dirt stretches up there. They will shower you with road debris, as it seems they're all late for something, the way they drive.

Our 31' C with toad took a beating going to Glenallen, Anchorage, Homer, Denali, and looping back down via Tok. There's all kinds of RVs, vans, motorcycles, everything visiting so bring what you're comfortable with. Gas prices, and all process, are higher by about 25% so plan and carry accordingly, but you can still find everything you can want to buy in the bigger cities.

A TC goes everywhere. You have fewer tires to worry about. I rented one on a Dodge in Anchorage and it was great.

A smaller lighter trailer would be okay for all of that driving, something 20 feet and under I would go with a 3/4 ton or a one ton truck.

Best to forget about the Dalton highway.

We pulled a 5er up there with our F350 a couple of years ago. We saw all these truck campers and realized the could go places we couldn't We bought a T/C when we got back and put it on the 350, now we use that setup everywhere we go.Just 2 of us and the dog but it works for us. We saw a couple in alaska that's had 3 kids in their Arctic Fox, and although they claimed no problems , I just can't imagine a trip like that!!

You'll see all different sorts of RVs in Alaska. Truck campers seem to be especially popular, and I can well understand the practicality of them there. Depending where you want to go, relativelyy small ones may be a little more practical. A 26' trailer shouldn't pose many particular problems, generally speaking. Of course, any setup has its advantages and disadvantages and limitations; there are a great many areas in Alaska, vast expanses indeed, that cannot be reached by road at all.

If you're interested in traveling the Dalton highway, I would not suggest going with a brand-new RV. It's a rather grueling, sometimes rough trip for the vehicle. It's also one of the most beautiful roads I've ever been on, particularly in the vicinity of Atigun pass (but far from exclusively in that area).

IMHO a towed vehicle with a motorhome is less of a necessity in Alaska than in many other areas. The only areas where RV parking is much of an issue are areas where there's public transit available.