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Boatycall's avatar
Boatycall
Explorer
Sep 20, 2014

What to plan for if you're thinking the Al-Can Hwy in a TC?

So, I'm in the initial thoughts/planning stages for doing the Al-Can next year. I get 5 weeks vaca per year, and this year, I'm going to have 2 weeks carry over, so next year I'll have 7 weeks on the books.

I'm thinking of budgeting a month to do the Al-Can. So first, is that enough from Seattle?

Some other questions--
My truck is in great shape, but what do you plan for besides flats?
Besides the normal road-trip stuff like extra fluids, belts, air compressor, etc...

Where would I want to stop for sight seeing?

Where to stay for overnighters?

Sat phone?

Time of year next year to go/not go? BTW, I hate mosquitoes(who doesn't)...

What else?

25 Replies

  • I went in July. I went by myself with my dog. I left Mi went to MT then north. I did this with my family when I was 13, in 71. Its a lot different now. Really no different than taking the backroads anywhere. You do have to plan for fuel a little and don't look at the price if have HBP. It depends who you ask too. One lady coming down said the last 100 miles were almost impassible. I found it to be a little bumpy and dusty, then muddy but no biggie. I took a 2500hd with a lance 815. I did punch a hole in the Transfer case north of Fairbanks, which I repaired with JB weld in the Fairbanks WM parking lot. I also broke a fitting off the heater core on the Top of world highway. That took a little more imagination. I duck taped the heater hoses shut. I kept stopping and adding water out of my fresh tank. I limped back into chicken. They told me I had to call a wrecker from Tok @ $900. I found some old dusty anti freeze in there storage room they forgot they had. I found a gold miner that sold me a short pipe nipple and 2 hose clamps for $25. I made the canadian border before 8pm shut down and still rolled into DC in time for the midnight follies. I never stayed in a CG. I found water and dump availible and never paid for that as well. I have small tanks. I bypassed my shower long ago. I stopped at most look outs and would glass the area. I saw wildlife most tourist never see. I counted 14 moose on one small lake in BC. My phone never worked in Canada. Wi Fi is at most fuel stops and at every info center. I brought 4 cans of bug spray never used any of them. You want to see skeeters come to mi in May. Up there like most things up there its mostly myth. I think any time tween the summer holidays would be good to go. Lots of folks were heading back as I was going up. I never had a flat and only saw one peoson with a flat. They were hauling a TT down the road with only steel rims on one side. Maybe they left that way? Again mostly myth from the old days. All in all it was a great trip. I was a little disapointed because it was not remote enough, not like I remembered. I secound Toad river, and Laird Hot spring. In Alaska I enjoyed Valdeez the most. The Kenia reminded me of tourist towns up north, need a tee shirt? All the fishing is snagging not legal here in Mi. We actually have better fishing. The scenery is unmatched anywhere I have been and I have been around. In alaska you can always see a mountian. Its definetly one for the bucket list, just dont look at the pump in N BC.
  • We went to Alaska 3 years ago, may June no bugs we did not do the Alcan but we did the dempster to the artic circle instead mostly all gravel, go slow and pull over for large vehicles especially those going fast this may help prevent the window loss or light loss. Good luck, we camped free on the whole trip wherever except in town.
  • Forgot to answer your specifics. We went up in August- not sure what it would be like earlier or later.

    No significant problems with mosquitoes in August-- they were worse here in GA.Might want a bit of deet along just in case. We never needed it.

    Rotary RV Park at FT St John as clean and well managed but would not open the gates to let us out until 7 AM.Also wanted $$$ for showers.

    Yukon RV Park at Telsin lake was a nice way station stop overnight

    As mentioned we liked Toad River the best.

    Thw worst CG was at Haines Junction, Kluane RV Park mile 1586. It was marginal at best.

    There is something worth seeing about every hour or 2 along the way,but I swear I saw the same pine tree for 6 days.
  • We just finished the run from Georgia to Anchorage in our Lance 865 TC. It was great. One heck of a lot of piney type trees on a long, long road, with intermittent spectacular sites and lots of furry animals. Stop and enjoy vistas and noteworthy turnouts every chance you get. Not sure of your cell phone service but we didn't have any and thoroughly enjoyed not having it. Most CG's we stayed at had wifi.

    Make sure you acquire a Milepost book and Church's Alaska camping book. They were lifesavers for us on our run last month up the Alaska Hiway. Most of the roads are pretty good. Stop in Whitehorse at the visitors center for updates on the last 100 miles which has the most frost heaves. We averaged 25 mph on that stretch.

    Always drive on the top half of your tank and avoid dropping below half a tank and you should be fine. Milepost will identify gas stops. Be prepared for expensive fuel.

    Along the way we had no problems with the F250, but I broke one water line at the connection to the bathroom sink associated with road roughness/vibration, lost a bolt connection on the rear awning, and had to readjust each cabinet door. I caught one rock in the windshield but luckily it did not crack. Loose gravel and rocks are a problem with passing trucks. All in all it was not too bad. Duck tape as usual was a temporary fix.

    Road surfaces are primarily gravel on tar surface treatment. We only found hot asphalt mix paved roads in the bigger cities. But they are for the most part well maintained. I estimate we ran on about 80 miles total on dirt with no pavement that was under construction. Other than delays on those stretches (one lane pilot car segments) the dirt segments were actually pretty smooth. But they were dusty.

    Toad River was our favorite way station and campground. Fell in love with the place. Some folks dry camp and just pull off at turn outs and have no problems. Momma and I like it a bit cushier and hit the full service campgrounds along the way. The tanks on our TC are small and I like the water supply and sewer connections at full service CG's. We pushed it a bit hard trying to do 360 per day and that was a bit hard. I'd have like to have moved slower but I have ants in my pants trying to get somewhere and we needed to get to Anchorage.

    Good supply stops are places like Wal-Mart in Dawson Creek and Whitehorse. Have a good camera ready and take lots of pics. You'll have fun and make lots of memories.

    We experienced one major crisis. The biggest overall problem we had is that as southerners we are sausage and biscuit and grits type folks being form the south. We didn't stock enough biscuits and sausage , ran out and had withdrawal symptoms by the time we hit the Canadian border. We had to learn to eat cinnamon roles lest we turn into skeletons. Unfortunately we are now cinnamon roll addicts and may have to enter some program to get off of them.