Readying TT for ALASKA Trip

MNMCKAY wrote:
For those of you that have found yourselves in a similar position PLEASE share with us HOW TO PREPARE OUR TT CAP for ROCKS.

ROck Tamer hitch mounted Mud flaps.

I did get a rock chip back in 2000 on the Glenn, short gravel area and a mini-truck flying in the other direction threw a bunch of gravel up. Never had a problem with big rigs, there are strict laws governing driving with cracked windshields in AK and semi drivers don't want to have damage any more than you do. If you watch an oncoming big rig up there, they for the most part, are driving slower than on hard pavement and they will slow down even more as you approach and move as far right as possible.

But, you asked about chips from your own rig, the lower portion is susceptible to chips and sometimes it is inevitable and cannot be avoided. I have seen lots of trailers with aluminium diamond plate covering the lower two to three feet of the skin. Twice I have seen holes caused by rocks stuck between the dual rear wheels that caused real damage. One was a hole about 2 or 3 inches in an aluminum mudflap and the other a slightly larger hole in the diamond plate on the trailer it's self.

I would bet that excessive speed was responsible for both.

So my practice is slow down, pull over as far as safe and smile or wave at a trucker or driver that does the same.

For protecting the front cap of mine I used a box I got when I bought a refrigerator and stuck it on with duct tape. Not pretty but effective. I threw it away once we finished the top of the world.

Take an extra leaf spring for your RV.

Box in your leaf spring brackets at the front and rear.

When driving through frost heave areas, watch to guy in front of you. When he bounces, slow down to prepare for the bounce.

Spent 9 weeks touring Alaska and didn't have a single problem with rocks. I felt the roads were better up there than they are here in Michigan. They don't know what pot holes are. Occasionally there were rollers in the road but if you slow down they aren't a problem. I did have two flat tires, one on trailer and one on truck. The truck tire hit something in the road while passing a load of junk that was broke down next to the road. The trailer tire went flat over night in campground. Also if your going by the Air Force base in Fairbanks don't stop and take video's of jets taking off, military police (although very courteous) frown on it.

Maybe just have been lucky but after two trips to Alaska I never had any damage to the tow vehicle or trailer, no cracked windshields, no flat tires, no damage of any kind. As you have a Lance travel trailer you may want to search the Lance owners website for information on a protective cover for the front window on your trailer, www.lanceowners.org . There are a couple of solutions, 1) a do it yourself polycarbonate sheet over the window, and 2) a vinyl tarp material that snaps in place over the window from Autoweave Upholstery in Colorado

Just drive to AK and have fun.
It’s not magical. The rocks aren’t bigger and they don’t jump out of the ditch at you.
2 years in AK including a couple drives up. No cracked windshields, no flat tires, no body damage.
Yet I’ve replaced 2 windshields in the last 3 years driving around good ole King county wa and had 1 blowout and picked up a screw or 2 in tires.

If you’re a city slicker, the lions and tigers and bears will scare you. Fortunately it’s light out 20 hours a day so you can see them coming ! Lol

You could add a piece of plywood or diamond plate on the front of your trailer to account for flying gravel. Maybe put some mud flats on your RV. Take two spares. Add some solar panels. Keep your propane tanks up and watch your water tank.

Remember, Alaska is not a third world country like some you tubers will have you believe. The best thing to have is lots of time with a heapin helpin of patience.
Hope you have a great trip!!!!

no truer words were spoken. We drove up and did a 3 year assignment at Ft Richardson. Windshield nary a chip until driving out thru Canada and met an oncoming logging truck. Bam a nice size rock put a great big shooting star design in the windshield. :R

Our 2017 Alaska trip was a breeze. We pulled a fifth wheel and had a LineX spray (like Rhino liner) in a matching color on the lower front. The truck had Rock Tamers. I did place a piece of screening behind the grill (in front of the radiator), but didn't seem to need it. All in all, we get more damage from the road junk in North Idaho in winter then we encountered in Canada and Alaska.
The comments on here are all pretty on point, be careful and enjoy the trip. Oh, when you get to the Salty Dawg in Homer, look for our dollar bill on the wall.