Extra Tires to the Yukon?

[brulaz]

A friend who went the Alaskan highway up to the Yukon as far as Dawson City says I should carry more than one spare tire each for my truck and trailer when we go this July/August.

But his experience was over 10 years ago. And AFAIK the only non-paved road we may attempt is the Dempster Highway, maybe up to Inuvik, maybe further.

Are the roads that bad? All my tires are new.

[almcc]

We did the Alaska Highway twice, once in 1992 for the fifty year anniversary and again in 2008. We didn't do the Dempster but in 08 we did the top of the world highway and went to the end of the road in Alaska to the west.

I did lose a tire in 08 and found a replacement in Alaska. My recommendation would be if you have tires that aren't mainstream (for example 19.5's) you may want to take an unmounted replacement in addition to your spare and be aware that all tire shops may not be able to mount and balance your particular size. I've had this problem even in the US.

[AlaskaShooter]

Top of the World Hwy is correct. I generally stop at the AST Post in Tok and ask for the latest road report before I head over to Dawson City.

I have not driven the Hwy up to Inuvik however I led a group of 10 friends from around the US and Canada on a motorcycle riders tour of Alaska years ago. Two of them split off and rode the Hwy north to Inuvik and back. At that time it was a challenge on a touring motorcycle but they survived the adventure.

The Haul Road to Prudhoe Bay I have driven half way. It was a fun one day drive. Roads were gravel with a couple experimental paved areas to see how they would hold up. Mosquitos were terrible above the Artic Circle. We got out of the rig at the Circle to have a lunch break and the blood suckers drove us back into the Jeep.

[DrewE]

brulaz wrote:

AlaskaShooter wrote:

...
On road that is very unpredictable is the hwy between Tok and up through Chicken on your way to Dawson City.
...

You mean from Tuktoyaktuk through Inuvik to Tsiigehtchic ??
(Had to look up the spelling on those ...)
That part of the Dempster?

I believe he's referring to the Taylor Highway (Alaska 5) between Tetlin Junction and Jack Wade Junction, and possibly the Top of the World highway it connects with. This would be approaching Dawson City from the other direction, of course. The Taylor Highway north fro Jack Wade Junction to Eagle is also quite "interesting."

[brulaz]

Nevermind.
I found Chicken over in Alaska.
You're talking about the Top Of THe World Highway

[brulaz]

AlaskaShooter wrote:

...
On road that is very unpredictable is the hwy between Tok and up through Chicken on your way to Dawson City.
...

You mean from Tuktoyaktuk through Inuvik to Tsiigehtchic ??
(Had to look up the spelling on those ...)
That part of the Dempster?

[AlaskaShooter]

Soren:

Interesting addition to my post. Thanks for the info. I don't recall the figure the US paid Russia for all of Alaska but I'm betting we got the better of that deal. 🙂

[soren]

AlaskaShooter, interesting post. One surprising thing I learned, after spending time at the Alcan museum in downtown Dawson's Creek, is that the idea the the US "gave" the highway to Canada at the end of the war, is a myth. Technically they did, but they charged them $108 million for air fields, telephone systems, and other improvements. I get the feeling that the Canadians were not too thrilled about it, as they handed over nearly a billion and a half, in today's dollars, for a poorly built dirt trail. Apparently funding is an ongoing issue, as the US seems unwilling to continue funding for the Shakwak agreement, that rebuilt and maintained the highway from Haines Juction to the AK. border for the last few decades. Ironic that the states have a far greater need for that section than Canada does, but the Yukon government had to hire American lobbyists in an attempt to get paid.

[AlaskaShooter]

In 2016 I put all new tires on the entire rig. New Michelin's on the F-550 and new tires on the trailer. Truck because at 60,000 miles they were shot and trailer which we bought used just to trash on the Alaska Adventure were 8 years old and out of my tire age comfort range. Put higher Load Range tires on the trailer for the trip. I took one spare for the truck and two for the 5-er. Never had a tire issue during our 8,000 mile, 3 month trip.

If you plan to venture up to Inuvik or Prudoe Bay then spares are a must.

After living up there for 25 years and venturing around most of the state, Yukon and BC I've seen lots of motorists with flats, lost exhaust systems, failed drive line U-Joints and some nasty wildlife collisions over those years.

On road that is very unpredictable is the hwy between Tok and up through Chicken on your way to Dawson City. I've crossed it a half dozen times and every time it's in a different condition. My first time was years ago in a 4x4 Dodge. It had new tires. There were several sections of shot rock paved road and we came across several vehicles that had flats that looked like they had been put through a tire shredder. We stopped and all had spares but all were travling and had a vehicle full of stuff and had to unload behind the vehicle to get to their spare.

The Alaska Hwy was built by the USofA. When it was given to the Canadian Govt. part of the deal was the US would fund road maintenance. For multiple years the US did not ear mark funding to maintain the Alaska Hwy Canadian Portion which is a majority of the route. If they did they threw chump change to the Canadian Govt sort of like they do the US Interstate system.

But it's been 30 years since my 1st trip to move to Alaska and the Hwy is vastly improved from back in the day. They Alaska Hwy is short now then back then since they have straightened many sections from when the original road was built for the US Military. This has resulted in the travel distance being shorter from start to end then original road. They have also done a lot of safety improvements by doing large cut backs of brush and timber from the Hwy so animals are much less likely to pop out onto the road right in front of you. Cutting down on accidents, injuries and fatalities. One trip I came across a Ford F-250 that had hit an adult moose. The front end of the pickup was relocated to on top of the engine and the moose was in the windshield of the cab.

[soren]

ppine wrote:
Thanks to all the Canadians that know better.

LOL, Like Sue, who lives on the AK. Highway and finds no need to carry more than one spare for each vehicle. Might be time to give up on this one, Eh? It's pretty simple. IF you are going to do one of the extreme routes that 99% of summer travelers pass up on (Dempster, Dalton, etc) be prepared. If not, you don't need extra gas cans, extra tires, fan belts, and all the other **** that some claim. It's a remote highway, not a trail.

BTW, I looked back at your posts on this thread, and you didn't mention your experience travelling the AK,YT highway system? I'm a novice compared to Sue, but I've done over 10,000 miles on the AK Highway alone, so far, and been on just about every navigable road listed in the Milepost.............. and you?????

[ppine]

Thanks to all the Canadians that know better.

[ccchuck]

The only "on the road" flat we have had in some thirty-odd years of RVing happen in Wrangell-Saint Elias National Park.
The access road is an old railroad bed, granite gravel, did a number on my tow car's right rear.
Dark was coming, I changed it quickly, and my mind kept saying, "we don't have another spare"..

[daveB110]

Carried two spare tires and wheels in a 1983 trip to Dawson City. Never had a problem with flats or tires. That was back in the day when pavement was pretty much unkown there. Your trip could be different of course. But one spare should get you to a tire shop for a repair.

[brulaz]

time2roll wrote:

ppine wrote:
Some people think traveling with no spare is a good idea. Go ahead.

One spare per vehicle and a plug kit would seem to be sufficient.
There is a road right? This is not overland through Russia or Africa.

Seems it's the remote, non-paved roads with few services (and no cell) that are the biggest concern. Like the Dempster Highway to Inuvik and beyond (~750km of gravel).

(although construction on the paved sections has been mentioned as well)

And even when you get to a remote garage, like in Inuvik, there's no guarantee they'll have the size right tire. Emphasis on the "remote".

I'm getting new truck tires next week and will save 1 of the take-offs and prolly mount it on an old rim for a second spare. And am looking around for a good used trailer wheel and tire for a second spare there. Luckily we have an 8' bed but it's already pretty full. 😞

[sue_t]

We typically carry only one spare for the truck and one for the fifth wheel. Usually this is okay BUT last year after going through a construction zone south of Whitehorse, one of our truck tires collapsed near Rancheria. It was a goner. Put the spare on and thought we'd buy a new tire in Watson Lake to have another spare, but there wasn't a new tire of the right size available there, so we bought a different size used tire just to have a spare, in case we got another flat. Got home okay though. A few years ago we had another flat near Rancheria after driving through a construction zone only 3 km from Rancheria. On one of our trips to Inuvik, we had two flats. You never know so it just depends how well prepared you want to be.

[time2roll]

ppine wrote:
Some people think traveling with no spare is a good idea. Go ahead.

One spare per vehicle and a plug kit would seem to be sufficient.
There is a road right? This is not overland through Russia or Africa.