First trip to Alaska

I can't see why you would destroy your unit travelling the Alaska Hwy? Thousands travel it every year in their RV's.

You must have been talking to someone who drove it back in the 60's when it was a gravel road, and flat tires were the order of the day. Back then you were advised to pack more than one spare tire, and plenty of extra fuel.

Today the Hwy is paved it's full length, although you may run into sections under repair.

This is an excellent site with trip info all along it, broken down into several different sections, starting at Mile 0 in Dawson Creek, BC, and ending 1520 miles later in Fairbanks, Alaska.It shows where food, camping or fuel are available.

http://www.milepost.com/highway_info/alaska_highway

Destroy your unit? Could happen if you do not drive according to road conditions. In northern Canada and Alaska the roads have frost heaves. You can't drive 60 miles an hour. There's a stretch, say Whitehorse northward to Alaska, where you might be doing 30MPH or less because of road conditions. There's lots of great scenery to look at.

That said, if you have major time constraints you should consider flying in and renting a class C or doing the cruise ship.

We took all summer - took about two weeks to get there from SweetGrass Montana to Tok, Alaska. Some folks do that drive in 10 days.

Where to start.....

First, you won't destroy your unit unless you deliberately go over frost heaves too fast. You're bound to hit one frost heave too fast, but that will be a memorable and learning experience and as long as you learn from it, your unit will be fine. I drove the Alcan the 1st time in 1974? and was under commercial pressure to make a fast trip...admittedly in a pickup with trailer but even back then the road didn't destroy the rig. In 20+ trips on the Alcan, I never had any damage that was in the "destroy" the rig realm. Admittedly, never drove an RV, but did drive everything else and the damage was limited to headlights and windshields except for a leaking gasket on an axle (happened a couple of times) and for a busted brake line..and since the cause of the brake issue was somewhere in Montana, I don't think either the gasket or the brake issues count as an Alcan issue.

How much time? Made the trip from Los Anchorage to Spokane a couple of times in less than 72 hours. Made the trip from Los Anchorage to Seattle (without intending to see any sights) in 20 days due to weather and fires (this was WAY back in the day). I also think Alaska is worth a 72 hour round trip to fly up from Houston

....my only suggestion would be to take as absolutely long as possible. As you say, you don't want to get to AK and just turn around. Equally, IMNSHO, there are many parts of Canada that you don't want to simply pass through without enjoying the trip. There are parts of BC and the Yukon that are (almost :) ) as scenic as Alaska.

When I was doing go-fast trips, I figured I would make 50 miles an hour for every hour between wakeup and go to sleep...including fuel stops, etc. and that was in a pickup, truck, whatever, not an RV. I think one would be pretty hard pressed to make 500 miles/day....and is that how you want to spend your trip?

If it were me and I was on vacation, I'd plan on taking 21 days from Seattle or Montana to get to Tok...probably would take less even with sightseeing, but why constrain yourself? Plan on a solid two months in AK, then 15 days back.....an honest 3 months round trip.

If/when I retire, I plan to take a least a month to drive/camp from Couer d Alene to Tok.

Seems that everything in Alaska takes 3x as long to get to so you will not be able to do many miles in one day once you get to Alaska. I would go with the 3 month recommendation. You won't regret it. Can't wait to go back. We've been 2x. Once on a cruise and once we flew in and rented a class C. Love both trips. Frost heaves only allowed us to go 15-30mph in some cases and road construction had traffic backups that took much longer. Take your time and enjoy!

You should buy the Milepost (www.milepost.com) and get complete, thorough, and very recent information about every highway route "up North." You will soon realize that driving these major routes will be not much unlike driving aany other highway in North America.

Actually, I have experienced the worst, rough, unmaintained roads in North America in, of all places, New York state.

Many stories you'll hear are heresay and talk of conditions from many years ago. The major routes are just like any two-lane roads you'd drive in the lower 48. Yes, you'll encounter construction/repair areas but again, you also can run into that in the lower 48. You won't destroy anything if you drive a reasonable speed. Millions of RVers have driven it and some in spanking new RVs. You'll see all sizes of RVs and all types.

Sometimes you'll be down to 35mph. It's not an interstate-type of trip and I would highly advise you not to plan 400-500 miles/day. It won't happen. Plan on 200 max and see the sites as you travel. Sometimes we moved 50 miles/day if we came upon a beautiful place to stop for a night or two. There are plenty of great boondocking spots right along the highway.

This shouldn't be a rushed trip. There is so much to see in Canada and the Yukon even before you get to Alaska.

Most RVers who are retired or have unlimited time typically cross the Canadian border around the end of May and begin their trip back from Alaska by the end of August. Plan on 3 months from the time you cross the Canadian border. Then you will have had the 'Alaskan Experience'!!

I do believe we will attempt the trip again this coming Spring if I can get my AFIB to behave. I figure about 250 miles per day or so because I don't want to get too tired. Downsized our truck to F150 Ecoboost so now have to downsize our TT somewhat. Probably down to a 25 or so rather than the 34 footer now.. Been twice so far, but then again might go back to Newfoundland.

You will hit one bump of frost heave, your RV will jump up in the air and back down, your head will swing back and forth, your wife will scream, you will look at each other scared as hell, then you will slow down, very slow and start enjoy the scenery! Watch out between Destruction and Alaska Border.

Enjoy, it is so much nicer at slow speed in AK, have a safe trip.

Turbo Diesel Dude wrote:
I do believe we will attempt the trip again this coming Spring if I can get my AFIB to behave. I figure about 250 miles per day or so because I don't want to get too tired. Downsized our truck to F150 Ecoboost so now have to downsize our TT somewhat. Probably down to a 25 or so rather than the 34 footer now.. Been twice so far, but then again might go back to Newfoundland.

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what the heck is AFIB ?

we are snowbirds currently staying in Beverly Hills, FL. when are you going to Alaska?

ac bill wrote:
I can't see why you would destroy your unit travelling the Alaska Hwy? Thousands travel it every year in their RV's.

You must have been talking to someone who drove it back in the 60's when it was a gravel road, and flat tires were the order of the day. Back then you were advised to pack more than one spare tire, and plenty of extra fuel.

Today the Hwy is paved it's full length, although you may run into sections under repair.

This is an excellent site with trip info all along it, broken down into several different sections, starting at Mile 0 in Dawson Creek, BC, and ending 1520 miles later in Fairbanks, Alaska.It shows where food, camping or fuel are available.

http://www.milepost.com/highway_info/alaska_highway

I rode it in 1962 on Honda, fuel was no problem, carried a extra tire. Had to make a chain out of a log tigher, far less curves today. Wow that was 52 years ago, Hello