Upgrade for Alaska?

How about an E350 van? Many people areusing them successfully.

I really like the van idea and I explored it for some time, but our TT loaded is right at or a bit over a van's capacity. I/we really want something that won't sweat the mountains.

We even explored an F-350 to custom 6-seat Excursion conversion. Interestingly, the cost of that is what nudged us into the C+ market.

A friend towed his Excursion behind his DP. He had to install a drive line disconnect and it was a PITA. I believe the disconnect was needed because the Excursion didn't have a manual transfer case that could be put in neutral. After a lot of problems and carrying a spare drive line, he dumped the Excursion and bought a new Chevy 4X4 CC to tow - no more more towing problems. I wouldn't tow to the Excursion to Alaska when places to get it worked on are far ways apart.

Bill

Is that 30-40 days IN Alaska, or 30-40 days for travel AND time in Alaska? The trip from VA is probably going to take 2 weeks each way and those will be long days. You might be able to reduce that to about 10 days travel one way, but those are going to long travel days. Assuming 2 weeks travel one way then your time in Alaska is going to be 0-10 days if your estimate includes travel time. Remember too that a lot of the hiways you'll be traveling in Canada have a speed limit of 100Kph or 62 Mph.

Trackrig wrote:
A friend towed his Excursion behind his DP. He had to install a drive line disconnect and it was a PITA. I believe the disconnect was needed because the Excursion didn't have a manual transfer case that could be put in neutral. After a lot of problems and carrying a spare drive line, he dumped the Excursion and bought a new Chevy 4X4 CC to tow - no more more towing problems. I wouldn't tow to the Excursion to Alaska when places to get it worked on are far ways apart.

Bill

Would my '97 f350 cc be a better choice for a toad?

You might make it from Virginia to Tok in 11-12 days. We have driven three times from Maryland to Alaska, but have never driven straight through without stopping for a day of rest here and there along the way. We usually spend two nights in Whitehorse as it is a good place to stock up on food and take care of any issues with car/truck/motorhome. Also if you are driving the Alaska Highway there are places along there where you will want to take time to stop. We have taken 9 weeks twice to do the trip and 12 weeks once. Our 9 week trip this year did include Oregon and Washington, but we also did not go to several places in Alaska that we have already visited several times. Taking only 30-40 days to travel to and from Virginia to Alaska is really making for long driving days and very little sight-seeing.

We spent almost 4 weeks just in Alaska this time and spent no time in Fairbanks or Anchorage, just overnight stops.

With only that little time, you might do better to fly to Anchorage and rent a motorhome and spent the whole time in Alaska.

bob_nestor wrote:
Is that 30-40 days IN Alaska, or 30-40 days for travel AND time in Alaska? The trip from VA is probably going to take 2 weeks each way and those will be long days. You might be able to reduce that to about 10 days travel one way, but those are going to long travel days. Assuming 2 weeks travel one way then your time in Alaska is going to be 0-10 days if your estimate includes travel time. Remember too that a lot of the hiways you'll be traveling in Canada have a speed limit of 100Kph or 62 Mph.

That is total duration. I was figuring 10 up, 10 back, 7 in AK, 3 for difficulties and 5 emergency days. All I'm going by is internet mapping. Is there a more accurate way to plot the journey?

A friend of ours just did a run from New Jersey to Alaska and back in 40 days with 7 people in a 31' C (no toad). Word of warning - they were maxed+ on the payload of the C with 7 people and their stuff.

bee_46 wrote:
You might make it from Virginia to Tok in 11-12 days. We have driven three times from Maryland to Alaska, but have never driven straight through without stopping for a day of rest here and there along the way. We usually spend two nights in Whitehorse as it is a good place to stock up on food and take care of any issues with car/truck/motorhome. Also if you are driving the Alaska Highway there are places along there where you will want to take time to stop. We have taken 9 weeks twice to do the trip and 12 weeks once. Our 9 week trip this year did include Oregon and Washington, but we also did not go to several places in Alaska that we have already visited several times. Taking only 30-40 days to travel to and from Virginia to Alaska is really making for long driving days and very little sight-seeing.

We spent almost 4 weeks just in Alaska this time and spent no time in Fairbanks or Anchorage, just overnight stops.

With only that little time, you might do better to fly to Anchorage and rent a motorhome and spent the whole time in Alaska.

I hate to fly and love to drive. Plus, I really wanted to see Canada through the windshield. Thank you for the advice, we may be able to stretch it to 45 days, but that would be it. I get an estimate of 77 hours from my home town to homer, but that is just my navigation app or the internet. Unfortunately, I've got to get back to work. If I have three capable drivers, would you say that shooting to get to AK in 9-10 days is within the realm of possibly or unrealistic bordering on impossible?

Just the to and from totals about 12,000 miles or more depending on route. That would be a minimum of 300 miles a day for 40 days. Trying for 10 days each way would be 600 miles a day. You will be beat to pulp upon arrival.

We do Alaska every year and 500 miles in northern BC, the Yukon, and Alaska is a 12 hour trip.