Alaskan pro/con

ajriding wrote:
I am interested to hear from Alaskan owners about what is bad about the camper.

How well do the seals work? Are they airtight? No drafts? How long do they last?
Are there risk of the lift system failing realistically? (I had a HILO and always worried each lift would be the last)
Folded, is it weather tight? driving in pounding rain, no leaks? No leaks when up?
What are the eventual weaknesses of the camper?
What breaks?
What kind of mileage do you get (include motor, truck, speeds etc)?
How sturdy is it off-road? very rough roads?

Has anyone put a shower inside? I personally am fine with a portable toilet, so would take out the toilet for a shower.

I have a very very, very nice fiberglass TC that I am happy with, it is the most aero hard-side (nonfolding) TC there is. My fuel mileage would not be that big of a difference, I get 15-16 now, and I imagine an Alaskan I would get 18 easily, maybe 19 on a great day, so the monetary difference is not that great. $200 for a 6,000 mile trip maybe, so mpg not a big factor, but stress on the truck motor comes into play and the speed I can travel too.
I also think the Alaskan would go off road more places than a full size rig.

Has anyone put a window AC unit on the back wall?

I have interest to have a lowered TC since I do many cross country trips, and end up off road where a low CG would e huge for me. I am not wild about folding campers, but the Alaskan is a maybe. I have had canvas side TC and trailers, and a HiLo and did not like them. The hilo was not airtight, but otherwise was great. It raised in 20 seconds so easy to stop, raise, get snack and lower in 12 seconds, I was just worried the cables would eventually break, maybe not an issue with AKan since no cables…

I am looking for happy or unhappy owners thoughts.

Hi ajriding. We have owned a 2007 8.5 foot cab over Alaskan sense new. Very happy overall with it. So here goes with my 2 cents worth. To answer your questions, the seals work really well they are double with two wiping type seals all the way around. The con is those seals need replacing occasionally. Mine have never been replaced in the 12 years sense new but will need them soon, they have tendency to crack from dry rot, cost I am guessing around 200 dollars. The cab over panels seals can have some minor air leaks when very windy, however I have never seen any rain leaks at all. Camper stays very warm with the furnace, very well insulated. lift system takes a little learning curve to operate but works very well, 12 volt hdy pump and 4 hdy cyl. Less than 2 minutes to lift, lock safty pins and raise front cab over panels. Toilet accessible with top down. Ref can but is difficult. Top down for travel no leaks in hard rain so far. 2005 dodge ram 3500 drw auto. 5.9 cummins,about 14 to 15 mpg at 60 mph. Last year in wyo. cruse at 80 mph about 12 mpg. Cons are no shower,but really like the cassette toilet. Very limited storage inside. Cab over mattress a little thin with little room to add a thicker one. No grey tank, storage and grey tank issue solved with adding a flat bed and boxes.
See photo in TC photo thread page 134. AC can be added on roof. PM me if need further info. Ramp