Roll Call Alaska 2015

[trcgolf]

I know its early but we have been planning for the past 3 months. I know its another 15 months at least till we leave but we are just going crazy...
So here is our very rough plan overview. Leave mid June from western NY; travel west up through Ill., Wis., Min., ND, into Canada.
Diagonally across Saskatch. and Alberta, BC, and YT...
Our first destination is Fairbanks, via Top of the World Highway... thinking of doing the Dempster to the Arctic Circle. I know there will many stops... some short, some long but all will be great.
Fairbanks to Homer with the obligatory Denali stop for a few days.
Homer to Portland Or; Oregon to San Fran; San Fran to home via the Northern US.

We have so much planning yet to do but reading all the Roll Call posts in 2013, and 2014 just keeps us going. Started to plan finances which brings us to the first major question.
I have heard all the diesel advantages and draw backs of the gas engines. We invested in a 32' fifth wheel and 2013 GMC 2500 HD with 6.0L Crew 4x4. The fiver weighs about 8K empty, I would guess 10,500 loaded. ( I will get that checked for sure)Brand new to Rving

The truck is my every dayer.... need the 4 wheel drive here in winter. The decision with gas was pure economics. A Cummins diesel and matching tranny was $9500 more. Doing the math it was going to take a bunch of miles to save enough in mileage to pay for the increase in price. About 100000 mile by my calculation. We not going to be full timers; one long trip a year to Florida.
Traveling around NY and Pa and maybe Florida, that all makes sense but going on a trip like this, I am not so sure gas was the way to go. So I am asking for those who used a truck like mine to haul a fifth wheel through Canada...Alaska...et al... What kind of mileage can I expect? Sorry for the novelette...I will get better at this.

Edited to add 'Alaska' within the title.

[garyhaupt]

Just a note to those either IN Alberta or close....the province is in serious wildfire trouble. You may want to consider looking at your maps and heading west into BC, before heading north.

http://www.edmontonjournal.com/news/edmonton/Wabasca+evacuation+rises+wildfires+burning+across/11083...


Gary Haupt

[Ol_coot]

Made it to Ft Macleod today. Crossed on Hwy 89. Took all of 5 minutes. No inspection, nothing. Could of had an RV full of dancing girls. Oh well, Headed for Edmonton tomorrow.

Anyone considering coming up Hwy 89 from I15 (Great Falls direction)think twice. About 15 miles of road torn up. Speed is about 5 to 10 MPH. And the word RUFF is being nice. And as you come out of Browning another 6 miles torn up but drive able. 10 to 15 MPH.

Be safe, hope to see ya out there enjoying yourself. And yes we have our Roll Call 2015 sign in back window. Honk or wave are stop-by and say Howdy.

Dave/Lynn

[Ol_coot]

Made it to Ft Macleod today. Crossed on Hwy 89. Took all of 5 minutes. No inspection, nothing. Could of had an RV full of dancing girls. Oh well, Headed for Edmonton tomorrow.

Anyone considering coming up Hwy 89 from I15 (Great Falls direction)think twice. About 15 miles of road torn up. Speed is about 5 to 10 MPH. And the word RUFF is being nice. And as you come out of Browning another 6 miles torn up but drive able. 10 to 15 MPH.

Be safe, hope to see ya out there enjoying yourself. And yes we have our Roll Call 2015 sign in back window. Honk or wave are stop-by and say Howdy.

Dave/Lynn

[empty_nest]

trcgolf wrote:
5 days till lift off.... Hard to imagine it is finally here. We have been preparing and planning and before you know it we'll be back.
Heading to Shelby Mt on the 30th...then north. Hope to be in Dawson City Yt around June 20. After that it's were ever the wind blows us. See you on the road.
Black 3500 GMC Crew with a Crossroad Zinger...stop in for a Jameson if you see us in camp.
Dawn and Gregg

Will you be blogging about your trip? Would love to follow along with your progress. Wifey and I are roughly planning this trip in a couple more years, after we retire.

Have fun and safe travels!

[trcgolf]

trcgolf wrote:
I know its early but we have been planning for the past 3 months. I know its another 15 months at least till we leave but we are just going crazy...
So here is our very rough plan overview. Leave mid June from western NY; travel west up through Ill., Wis., Min., ND, into Canada.
Diagonally across Saskatch. and Alberta, BC, and YT...
Our first destination is Fairbanks, via Top of the World Highway... thinking of doing the Dempster to the Arctic Circle. I know there will many stops... some short, some long but all will be great.
Fairbanks to Homer with the obligatory Denali stop for a few days.
Homer to Portland Or; Oregon to San Fran; San Fran to home via the Northern US.

We have so much planning yet to do but reading all the Roll Call posts in 2013, and 2014 just keeps us going. Started to plan finances which brings us to the first major question.
I have heard all the diesel advantages and draw backs of the gas engines. We invested in a 32' fifth wheel and 2013 GMC 2500 HD with 6.0L Crew 4x4. The fiver weighs about 8K empty, I would guess 10,500 loaded. ( I will get that checked for sure)Brand new to Rving

The truck is my every dayer.... need the 4 wheel drive here in winter. The decision with gas was pure economics. A Cummins diesel and matching tranny was $9500 more. Doing the math it was going to take a bunch of miles to save enough in mileage to pay for the increase in price. About 100000 mile by my calculation. We not going to be full timers; one long trip a year to Florida.
Traveling around NY and Pa and maybe Florida, that all makes sense but going on a trip like this, I am not so sure gas was the way to go. So I am asking for those who used a truck like mine to haul a fifth wheel through Canada...Alaska...et al... What kind of mileage can I expect? Sorry for the novelette...I will get better at this.

Edited to add 'Alaska' within the title.

here is my original post when I started this...things have not changed significantly. We are leaving this Saturday with basically the same route. New truck but same route...No reservations yet as we are going to just bump along. As we get closer to some spots I am sure we will get some.
A few more odds and ends needed but for the most part we are ready to rock and roll. This is my second full day of retirement and what a way to start. 3 months on the road with my bride of 36 years..... Should be quite a party,
Look for the Roll Call sign in the window and stop in for a beer.
Safe travels.
Dawn & Gregg

[trcgolf]

5 days till lift off.... Hard to imagine it is finally here. We have been preparing and planning and before you know it we'll be back.
Heading to Shelby Mt on the 30th...then north. Hope to be in Dawson City Yt around June 20. After that it's were ever the wind blows us. See you on the road.
Black 3500 GMC Crew with a Crossroad Zinger...stop in for a Jameson if you see us in camp.
Dawn and Gregg

[sue_t]

I have an old fashioned slide card and it works everywhere I've wanted to use it. Most cashiers tell me to keep it safe because they're far more reliable than the newer cards.

[Kidoo]

garyhaupt wrote:

CA Traveler wrote:
I'm not clear on recent BC changes requiring a PIN as it relates to US cards. Can anyone clarify?

I called the BC Gov't liqour store just now, on your behalf. They'll just swipe, as per usual. That'd apply then to any other retailer.


Gary Haupt

I uses a PIN but I think I allways see a slide on the side of the machines. Maybe they all still have the ability to have a card without a PIN?

[Kidoo]

I was wondering which Canadian credit card did not charge a fee, I found this site talking about exchange fee charged by credit cards to Canadians.

http://www.greedyrates.ca/blog/travel-tip-avoid-foreign-transaction-fees-canadian-credit-card/#.VWO8vNJ_Oko

[garyhaupt]

CA Traveler wrote:
I'm not clear on recent BC changes requiring a PIN as it relates to US cards. Can anyone clarify?

I called the BC Gov't liqour store just now, on your behalf. They'll just swipe, as per usual. That'd apply then to any other retailer.


Gary Haupt

[CA_Traveler]

I'm not clear on recent BC changes requiring a PIN as it relates to US cards. Can anyone clarify?

[CA_Traveler]

2gypsies wrote:
Many credit cards do NOT charge a fee. Our Visa didn't. Also, you could plan ahead a little so you don't run out of cash on Sunday!

Our Amex charges a transaction fee while Visa does not. All cards charge the exchange rate.

We had about $300 in Canadian cash in 2013 just in case but spent very little instead using the Visa card.

[Graydust]

We stayed at Cottonwood RV park by Kluane lake on our way to Alaska and on our way back. They only took Cash. Beautiful place to stay. This was last year. Internet was so bad for cards, in and out connection.

[2gypsies1]

Many credit cards do NOT charge a fee. Our Visa didn't. Also, you could plan ahead a little so you don't run out of cash on Sunday!

[Kidoo]

There is allways an exhange fee, no matter what you buy or if you want money. Major credit cards like Visa and Master card are accepted everywhere. American express is not accepted everywhere and will not be accepted at Costco Canada, they use Capital one / Master card only or cash. Your Amex card will be good to get in, but not to pay.

My tree credit cards charges 2.5% exchange fee when buying something. If I get money from the card, I pay the transaction fee, either a bank or a machine, then I pay 2.5% exhange fee, then interest aplies from the first day on.

I would bring just enough money for the trip and use my credit card anytime I can. You will need cash to use Yukon governement campground and bring some just in case you could not pay for fuel. Campground could be paid in advance, but it is much simpler if you pay at the campsite in the envelope. There is no attendent at those campsite and no host. Also, at some BC governement campsites you have to pay cash in an envelope. At private campground, sometimes you could have a better deal.

This is a good year for your American money, so just enjoy the rebate!