Forum Discussion

brooks379's avatar
brooks379
Explorer
Jul 06, 2014

Up the Dalton with or without TT

I've been making plans this year for a trip to Alaska in 2015. We will spend a month or so there just camping and enjoying the beauty of Alaska and one thing I really want to do is drive the Dalton Highway to the top....

I have been as far as Fairbanks before and I have driven the Alcan highway hauling drilling pipe and pipeline supply's to Fairbanks when it was still 1300+ miles of gravel road so I do know a little about those kind of roads. Question is should I haul my 30' TT up the Dalton with me or leave it in Fairbanks ?

I really want to take it up with me and stay up there for a few days or just pull over and make camp when we feel like it but I never see any threads about people going with their TT and wondered why they don't go up with them ??? I know it is hard on a TT and it cost a lot to get a tow out or a repair but what are the reasons most people don't take their TT up the Dalton Hwy ? Do most people just run up real quick and back ? Do you see many TT's or 5er's on it ?

5 Replies

  • orfsotr's avatar
    orfsotr
    Explorer
    Jul 08, 2014
    There is really no way to tell until you get there! Condition of the road depends on time of year, weather, etc. The Dalton carries a LOT of truck traffic! If you plan to take your TT, have an alternate plan (like leaving it at Marion Creek) if necessary!
  • johntank's avatar
    johntank
    Explorer
    Jul 07, 2014
    I made it all the way to Coldfoot about 15 years ago and the reason I stop was the weather (rain) not hard, just enough to make a mess of truck and trailer. When I got back I found out my trip up the haul road had done a good job on the under covering of my trailer (rock & mud from roadway), so protection for the front and behind the wheels of trailer is good insurance. MHO
  • keyspirate's avatar
    keyspirate
    Explorer
    Jul 07, 2014
    We did it last year with truck camper and cargo trailer and had no problems. Where they were working on the road it was very muddy and ended up with serveral inches of mud on the truck and trailer. It took about 2 hous of washing when we got back to Fairbanks . Would do it again!
  • brooks379's avatar
    brooks379
    Explorer
    Jul 06, 2014
    Thanks Lonnie, I have seen your site before from researching the Dalton Hwy. You have some great pics of your trip for sure (You sure rack up the miles !!!) !! I am leaning on taking the TT with me because I would like to stay up there for a few days and your pics are helping me decide. Real nice site you have !
  • lonnie4801's avatar
    lonnie4801
    Explorer
    Jul 06, 2014
    We have taken our motorhome as far as Coldfoot twice and parked it at Marion Campground. Then we drove the pickup to Prudhoe Bay (Deadhorse). Have actually made the drive 3 times, in 2005, 2009, and 2013, but in 2009 we left the motorhome in Fairbanks.

    In my opinion the road in 2013 was good enough to have taken the motorhomes all the way to Prudhoe Bay but we didn't know that until after we had driven it in the pickup. We did pass a travel trailer between Coldfoot and Prudhoe Bay, and there were 2 parked at a pullout across from Deadhorse Camp.

    You can see my comments about our trip to Prudhoe Bay at the website in my signature. I give my impression of the road conditions at the time, and they have improved each trip. Just go to the section marked "2013 Trip Log - Alaska" and select "Alaska, July 26 to Aug 7". When the page loads just scroll down to July 30, the start date of the trip up the Dalton. Photos are posted in the section just to the right.

    There are plenty of really nice places to pull out for the night.

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