5er to Alaska vs Truck Camper???

[Crusader295]

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.

[Sturgeon-Phish]

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]

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]

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]

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_]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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

[John_Bridge]

I drove it with a 27 foot tow-behind in 2007 and again in our 40 fiver in 2011. The road is hard on the equipment no matter what you drive . . . but well worth the effort. 🙂

I like the idea of the small Class C. A truck camper seams appealing at first thought, but as has been stated, there is simply not enough room for two people. It's not the destination, remember; it's the journey.

And don't rush through Canada. Alaska is spectacular, but so is Western Canada, especially British Columbia. Mountains all around but no pass higher than 5,000 to 6,000 feet. I recommend taking the Cassiar Highway in one direction and the full Alaska Highway the other. Road repair goes on each summer on all roads. It doesn't favor one or the other. 🙂

[Michelle_S]

We're headed there this summer with our 40' 5er and friends have a 40' MH.

[ontariofarmer]

I'd LOVE to do the Alaska trip. We would take our 5er, it's just a small one. Friends of ours took their 5er and had no troubles whatsoever.

[FiverBob]

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