Am planning a trip to Alaska this summer with our Crusader 295rst. Some folks have said they had rather take a truck camper rig. Is it ok to take the 5er. Pros and cons please.

My opinion...might not count much. :B When we went, we drove up in a small class C. It was small enough to park any where. The problem with a 5th wheel, trailer combo, or MH towing a toad, you have to come back to where they are parked each night. With a small C or truck camper you don't. We were mostly nomads roaming around. When it got late we just found a place to park. It was about half campgrounds and boon docking areas.

I have done both. Our last 4 round trips have been by TC. over the 52 years I have been driving the Alaska hwy I have never felt the vehicle I was driving had much to do with the pleasure I received from the trip.The TC is more maneuverable but the 5th wheel has more room of course. A person has to decide what they plan to do and what type camper are they. We seldom spend more than a night or two in a spot, except for some of the more urban area, i.e., Whitehorse, Fairbanks, Homer, etc. If the summer is a warm dry one, the TC is great as we are sitting around the campfire most nights, but if it is a cool wet summer, then the TC gets really small for the two of us. Plus there is no place very comfortable to sit in our TC but the 5er has a very comfortable sofa.I usually recommend folks to take what they are comfortable driving. You will see every possible type and size of rig made, on the Alaska Hwy. Over the years I have made more trips in a Class c, but also have done it in a popup trailer, etc. Just never owned a TT or would have used that I am sure.We are headed back north this summer, if all goes well and I am guessing the TC will be the choice. The same truck gets about 1 1/2 mpg better on diesel with the TC than it does with the trailer. We may take our 5th wheel, just not sure. We are finding as we get older, we are doing more stays in one place longer. So the 5er is better for those.

We were there in June 2012 in a Canyon Trail 5vr. We had no trouble finding places to camp. The campgrounds in the Yukon that are government run have free firewood for you to use. We used the one at Watson Lake. Make sure you stop at Laird Hot Springs.We came back down through Washington State to northern California to see the Redwood trees.If you got any questions, ask.

I would agree, take what your comfortable driving. I considered getting a tc just for the trip to save some gas. Then I thought for what, to leave my camper at home. I'm used to the comforts and room in my fw and it was easy to unhook and go on day trips. Worked for me.

Took my 36' fiver for 3-1/2 months. Loved every minute of it. Going back this summer for another 3 months in the same fiver. Plenty of both free and not free places to park it. I second the vote on Liard Hot Springs. If you are small, there is a campground there. We used a park on Muncho Lake - - great scenery and still frozen. We were the first rig in for the year. Do your research, look for good articles on experiences and advice (like what does the number of flags in the white bucket beside the road mean along the Alaska Highway). See ya in Williwaw campground. Bob

5er to Alaska vs Truck Camper??? | Good Sam Community

Sturgeon-Phish
Explorer
Jan 24, 2014
I’ve had a Truck Camper and loved it, and currently have a 5th wheel. If the trip is with two travelers I’d take the TC. The only reason we sold the TC and went back to 5th wheel was we now raise our three grandkids and as they grew, the TC got really tight. With the TC you’ll see that you take what you need, not what you may use. I judge the TC gives you more flexibility just less room.
PA12DRVR
Explorer
Jan 24, 2014
My $0.02:

5th or TC to/from Alaska...your choice. I believe one might appreciate being able to drop off the 5th and just tool around in the truck, perhaps to a little backroads driving.

Although I've seen TC's and trailers in some pretty neat places, I'd still prefer the mobility of just a pickup for kicking about in AK once you've setup camp.
colliehauler
Explorer III
Jan 24, 2014
bigmichael wrote:
We took our previous Excel 38ft fiver up for 3 months two years ago. Had no issues whatever. In my opinion, there are a lot of "old tapes" that still circulate about how bad the roads are. We had friends who bought a truck camper specifically for a trip up rather than take their fiver. Afterwards, they said they would never do it that way again as they just felt too cramped.

We FT so we knew we would miss the room we are used to. We loved it, we're going back, and we will definitely be taking the fiver again.
If you are talking about Sue T. the pictures are from several years as late as 2014. They cover most highways in Alaska.
Less_Stuff
Explorer
Jan 24, 2014
Any trip to Alaska is enhanced with a ride on the Alaska Marine Highway System.
Boats or airplanes are the only way to see Southeast Alaska.
If you take your rig aboard they charge according to it's size.

Valdez to Whittier on a sunny day WOW!

Alaska Marine Highway System.
_en_Plain_Air_
Explorer
Jan 24, 2014
We will be going to Alaska all summer 2015, in a smallish class C to be purchased this year. Cannot wait to hit the road !
soos
Explorer II
Jan 24, 2014
We did the opposite of most, it seems. We just bought a truck camper to take to Alaska. we didn't want to tow our home up there and wanted more freedom to move around at will. We're not fond of leaving our 5th wheel somewhere that's not a campground while we go exploring.
sue
bigmichael
Explorer
Jan 24, 2014
We took our previous Excel 38ft fiver up for 3 months two years ago. Had no issues whatever. In my opinion, there are a lot of "old tapes" that still circulate about how bad the roads are. We had friends who bought a truck camper specifically for a trip up rather than take their fiver. Afterwards, they said they would never do it that way again as they just felt too cramped.

We FT so we knew we would miss the room we are used to. We loved it, we're going back, and we will definitely be taking the fiver again.
colliehauler
Explorer III
Jan 24, 2014
Crusader295 wrote:
Am planning a trip to Alaska this summer with our Crusader 295rst. Some folks have said they had rather take a truck camper rig. Is it ok to take the 5er. Pros and cons please.
Look at Sue T's photos of different roads in the Canada/Alaska.
Peg_Leg
Explorer
Jan 24, 2014
Road wise you can take either one.

Went 2 yrs ago with a popup TC. The popup allowed for better mileage, 13.4 compared to 8 with our 5er. I bought the TC damaged and fixed it to use for this one trip, didn't even do a shake down trip.

If I was going to use a full size TC and the mileage was close I'd take the 5er. I'll for sure take more time if I go again. With the 5er I'd leave early June and return late Aug/Sep depending on the weather.

Either way, GO!
dbbls
Explorer
Jan 23, 2014
I pulled a 34' 5er and had no problems. Saw lots of TC's in Alaska but not on the road to and from. Not sure that a TC will save you much on fuel