Road trip to Alaska article in paper

I think folks should take whatever makes them feel comfortable regarding spare parts and the like. However, the degree of preparation of the folks in the article, IMNSHO, is a bit excessive and that much concern over spare parts and the rigors of the trip detracts from the enjoyment.

I've taken 20+ trips on the Alcan with, unfortunately, the latest quite a few years ago now. At least 3 of those trips, I threw a sleeping bag in the back of the car and just headed out (either North or South, depending). Of course, that was with a car, not an RV, but it worked out okay.

A well-maintained vehicle, a spare set of wiper blades, a spare tire and means to swap, and spare headlight (old habits die hard) and the ever present roll of duct tape is all that is absolutely necessary, again IMNSHO.

Look out AKSilverEagle, as Smitty is now 1/2 way thru his first trip, just a bit behind your count:)!

My added opinions and $.02:
-We maintain all of our vehicles on a regular schedule. We shifted some of the schedule forward on both the RV and Toad, to be before we left for this trip. I also pulled up the purchase of new tires for the Toad, as I would have probably ran the existing set another 5K if staying in town. And, not to start a tire replacement topic, our coaches tires were young at 3 years and in good shape.
-I always carry spare belts, fuel filters, fuses, top off fluids, etc.. I also rotate out these during normal maintenance schedules, to keep them within a good shelf life.
-I also double checked the 'misc parts and stuff box' that most people have accumulated, to see if anything else should be added. (Bought a new roll of gorilla, the only thing that seemed a bit low.)

So I always travel prepared, and really did not change this for the Alaska trip. I do wish I had bought a few extra turn indicator bulbs for both the RV and Toad. You see, I call my method of traveling over the rough frost heaved and construction areas 'Slow, pull over and stop, then slow again.'. This means I SLOW DOWN for the areas that need it. I pull over and sometimes stop, to let anyone pass me (usually the big semis and most rental RV's seem to fly much faster then I do in the rough areas), then I go back to my slow pace again. I'm quite concerned that I could burn out my turn indicator bulbs, due to all of the pulling over to let others bounce by me at a faster pace...

My wife and I are lucky, as we have plenty of time and are not needing to getup, and get back, real fast. Others may have schedules that require this method of travel, especially those that fly in and rent the Class C's for a shorter period and then try to cover it all in long days drives.

We enjoy, the journey, as much as were we land along the way...

Nothing wrong with being prepared with extra parts, and good preventative maintenance before heading out on any trip. I have no opinions on the the extra leaf springs, but I will comment that I do carry a few extra parts unique to CC (Level Sensor is one odd one, because we had trouble finding one in a timely manner even in the lower 48.)

Do what you feel is right in preperation from your experience, also be prepared for the 'What if's?' that can happen anywhere - relax, travel safe, and enjoy the ride.

Best, and be safe,
Smitty

Me thinks people who say carrying extra boat trailer springs is overkill, haven't had much long term experience with Salt Water used boat trailers.
Believe me spring failure is not uncommon with Salt Water launched boat trailers.
The springs aren't galvanized even though the trailer should be for Salt Water use.
I'd say the article writer is just being prudent or has experience most people don't.

Thank you, AKSilverEagle......I can understand taking that many parts for an older rig. I agree, the newer models of anything are harder (or impossible) for the owners to fix. My husband has worked on cars, motorcycles and trucks since he was a kid.......but can't fix my daughter's car. :( And we live where we have snow and are familiar with frost heave -- though not as bad as in Alaska. We, too, question the sanity of people that drive like bats out of hexx to get somewhere.....:) :)

Thanks for your input!!!!

Well, some call me eccentric with my 8 beater rigs anyway (that range from 1970 to 1976 model years), but I do put money into them, take care and maintain them as well.

The two factors I don't agree with the posted article are the extra leaf springs to carry onhand and the nearest repair shop stretching 500 to 800 miles apart which is pretty far fetched.

Yeah there are intermittent stretches of frost heaved sections of roadway on the Cassiar and Alaska Highways, and yes even if the trailer leaf springs are well rated for the weight you are carrying on it, the only way you are going to break them is overstressing the springs which can only lead to one element ..... DRIVING WAY TOO FAST OVER UNEVEN ROAD SURFACES AND CONDITIONS !

Time and time again I see rigs passing me like I am some road sign thru the roughest frost heave sections as I tend to slow down between 5 mph to 20 mph as these other commuters will run thru them between 30 mph to 60 mph potentially tearing up their rigs and having to be towed to some repair shop stretching "up to 300 miles away at worst" on the main routes.....The most severe frost heave bumps are equivalent to the same 5 mph speedbumps at your local parking lot shopping mall or complex, now why people insist on driving a heavy rig or trailer way faster on a highway over those type of surfaces is beyond me, however with my travel log track record in the far north including a few backroad type routes, I made it back practically unscaved, but never stranded although I did break down in 2003 on the Taylor Hwy. at mile 117 in my camper, (43 miles from Eagle or 130 from the nearest repair shop in Tok).

It was just so the fuel pump finally quit working as I always made the habit of carrying my tools with lots of spare parts onhand, so as I was sitting there on the remote no shoulder unpaved roadway, it only cost me 20 minutes of vacation time to replace it (not a single vehicle passed by) at a cost of $35 for the part that I had onhand since 1996 -versus- around a $1500 or so tow bill back to Tok (money I sure didn't have in that era) with a potential 2 to 3 days of vacation time lost and wasted.

The only time I carry two spare tires is when I drive on the Dempster or Dalton Hwys., as the Alaska and Cassiar Hwys. are mostly paved and are good enough modern roadways with the intermittent frost heaves, road construction zones, and resurfacing projects you will run into here and there as I never carry more than one spare tire otherwise, however if commuting with a trailer it is a good idea to keep at least one spare tire for it also.

To date, I driven my 70 Thunderbird 15 times into Canada (1985 to 1994), driven the entire length of the Alaska Hwy. (12 times one way or 6 round trips between 1985 to 1991), never broke down but always did carry lots of spare parts onhand and tools.

My camper (signature rig) I driven 11 times into Canada (1998 to 2013), driven the entire length of the Alaska Hwy. (5 times one way or 2.5 round trips between 2008 to 2013), and driven the entire length of the Cassiar Hwy. (4 times one way or 2 equivalent round trips between 2010 to 2013).

Since 2008 upon preparing for my trip to Yellowknife, I really stepped it up for carrying a few more additional parts to what I already have onhand in which I am one person that will be prepared to the fullest upon NOT being potentially broke down or stranded anywhere within Canada as for one gets REAL expensive, and two prolong delays for repair and waiting longer for parts in Canada is quite common.

For all the parts I carry onhand is a longer list of what this person in the article carries, which on an old 40 something year old rig like mine is quite an advantage because I can replace most parts without having to remove other things in between or not enough clearance room to deal with as I can more easily swap out almost any running essential part and be on my way.

Belts, general fuel-heater-radiator-hydraulic hoses, seals, wheel and axle bearings, extra light, relay and ignition switches, spare distributor unit, cap and rotor, and pertronix ignition kit, two carburetors (one new), two new fuel pumps, new master cylinder, new alternator, new starter, spark plugs and wires, solenoid, automotive wiring, extra sealed beams and other lighting bulbs, brake hardware, power steering pump, hi volume water pump, spare automotive wiring of various gauge sizes, various gaskets, air, oil and fuel filters, extra motor oil gear oil and transmission fluid, extra trans cooler and transmission pan, etc. - along with the teflon tape, rtv, duct tape, bungy cords, ratchet straps and such that have saved me a few times as well.....as far as engine timing components is concerned, I have a true double roller premium timing set installed when I rebuilt my engine, as the same manufacturer set on my 70 Thunderbird has lasted 110,000 + miles and not loose or stretched and still going strong, so no need to carry an extra timing chain set for this camper rig.

For me, dragging around 140 lbs. of spare parts with 60 lbs. of hand tools with diagnostic tools is worth piece of mind and not being stranded or fixing or adjusting things on the spot, as I even have a few copies of a four page list of each item onhand and which compartment it is exactly located at or stored.

A similar topic on the truck campers that was posted about replies of how many spare parts they carry with them when camping as I replied to it, but got ridiculed by someone that posted as they would not ever own an old rig like mine because they would have to carry so many parts around, as I didn't reply back to that comment but others did praise about the many parts they do carry onhand as they also would rather fix something if they were broke down on the side of the road, so it's just a preference as someone else commented that they would rather have something onhand rather than not having it when you need it.

As long as someone has their rig properly maintained and have enough confidence to drive it on a long journey far north, I say go for it...a lot of today's rigs are reliable enough but then again not as easily to fix on the side of the road because of their components and designs, so just prepare to have the extra funds available for a worse case scenario upon any extensive repairs and not worry too much until a situation arises....some vehicles will break down that can be beyond our control.

I will make one point clear again, upon rough or frost heave surfaces, do slow way down and really take your time if driving a heavy rig or trailer, as the faster someone drives across those surfaces, the more stress the rig is enduring as suspension and other components tend to become loose, bent, or broken farther down the road as these type of problems can simply be preventive and avoided, but too many people have that hurry up and get there mentality thru these stretches.

Both Cassiar and Alaska Hwy. frost heave stretches I averaged 22 mph to 24 mph as I go slow as a snail for the 100 to 160 mile or so...as most people drive 3 to 5 hours thru these stretches, it normally takes me 5 to 7 hours because I want to ensure my camper rig to stay reliable and not stress out the heavy rig or the camper or ruin it.

Have a nice and safe future travel to the far north.

From reading the article it sounds like he did a lot of pre-trip replacing of parts and was very thorough. He was just going to pack a spare fuel pump and fuel filter which isn't overkill.

With the truck he's towing a heavy oversized boat and for that trailer he's got 2 spare tires, 2 leaf springs, 2 loaded hubs, boat tie downs and spare lights.

A heavy boat trailer will be bouncing around a lot on the frost heaves so if he has the room to haul all the extras, why not? However, there are thousands of boats up there so replacement parts should be readily available.

It sounds like he's a real do-it-yourselfer and could do the repairs himself which would save him time for waiting for parts and money.

Ourselves - before we went we check everything thoroughly and replaced tires. We didn't carry anything special and had no problems. I think it does depend on your confidence in your equipment before even starting the trip.

My problem with an article like that or comments from folks traveling that way 20 years ago, are that they're scare tactics are sensationizing the trip. The trip to Alaska is easy to do, in my opinion. There's nothing scary about it.

I agree with Joe; you are going to Alaska and Canada, not the Moon!
Of course Mr. Murphy is always with you but that's the case every time you leave the house headed somewhere. Belts and hoses I can see but a fuel pump and leaf springs, nope! A Naval Aviators Creed,"In God we Trust everything else we Check". After that you just go with the flow.

Sounds like he is getting way off the Alcan. Maybe getting into some pretty rough stuff. And towing a large heavy boat, could really beat the boat trailer up.

So maybe extra leaf springs etc are a good idea, as it sounds again where he goes is rougher than the Alcan.

Alcan itself to me is no big deal, but I took tools, duct tape, grease etc. And
sure did have the rig checked out before we left.

As for fuel pump and filter, why not they are small, and if the fuel pump goes you are doa. Can't hurt I guess

THANK YOU!!!!!! I read it and thought "whoa"......it DID seem exaggerated. Then I got to thinking that that was the way Alaska was years and years ago which made me wonder why things hadn't changed.

:) Now I'll look foward to a WONDERFUL time......and not have to haul a trailer for all the truck parts!!!!

A better title to the paper article, would have been "A modern day fairy tale" I don't carry any thing for my northern trips than I do for any long trip. Since my truck gets about 10,000 miles between oil changes here in the lower 48, it will do the same in Canada and Alaska. If I leave Florida in the middle of the oil life, I will just plan on have it and the filter changed some where along the way. For some odd reason, Whitehorse YT, tends to work out for us to get it changed a couple of times. Envirolube, on Olgivie St, I highly recommend. LOL

I do carry an extra fuel filter and belt, but they are always in my truck. His comment about how far apart repair facilities are is laughable at best. Where does he think the Canadians that live in the northen parts get work done on their vehicles? Any of the larger towns will be able to fix any know vehicle problem. You might have to wait a day or so for parts but I had to wait a week for a water pump for my previous Dodge and that was in North Carolina, as the part had to be sent by bus, from Atlanta to the Dodge dealer that was working on the truck.

If you vehicle is in good enough shape to make any long trip, it should be fine for a trip to Alaska. I find that the round trip for us from south Florida, will wear off about 1/3 of the tire tread, ±. So I check my tires before the trip to see if I have at least 1/2 the original tread depth still remaining for the trip.

For some odd reason, a good number of new travelers to the north country, really like to exaggerate about the conditions of the trip they took. Somehow they must think it makes other believe they are really adventuresome of something. Just the truth is normally good enough. We have a few on this forum that love to exaggerate and become one trip experts, ready to write a tour guide or lead a caravan. LOL Usually once they figure out that those that have been up several times are laughing at them, they tend to tone down their remarks to make them more reasonable.

The writer of the article, writes like he is a first timer getting ready for his first trip, though he claims to have a couple of previous trips under his belt. Just based upon his comments in the article, I wonder if he has ever driven to Alaska or not.