Alaskan TC Owners

[countrycampers3]

Alaskan TC Owners,

Looking ahead at our next TC Rig, and I would like to ask some of you who own an Alaskan a few questions.

Like do you think you actually save on fuel without such a High Rig to catch the wind and cause drag to lower you fuel economy.

Do the seals that seal off the upper half and lower seam to do a good job on keeping out bugs and wind. Especially during winter Camping, which we do a lot of. Any drafts that you notice? How long have you had your Rig, and did the seals need replacing?

How well insulated. Would you give high rankings for cold weather. We've camped at well below -0 temps, and want to be toasty.

Any other information of Pro's and Con's you might have would be appreciated.

Are there any Alaskan TC owners anywhere in the Middle Region of the Country that we could meet and see your TC. That is the hard part to find one to view. There aren't many around and then to find one close to view is difficult.

Thank You for your help.

[gkirtley]

I owned an Alaska(n) cabover-style camper for a number of years in the 80s. I had an interesting experience in cold weather. I purchased it in Sioux Falls, S.D. from a pair of Swedish cabinet makers who owned the franchise there. Since I used to live in N. Minnesota I thought I would go up and visit some of my old neighbors while I was close-by (relatively speaking). It was December and the temps were dropping to around -30F at night and around 0F during the day in the Grand Rapids area. I slept in the camper and stayed most of the time in the neighbors house.

When I decided to leave after 2 or 3 days I went to lower the camper and it wouldn't budge. The two seals (one is on the bottom of the camper top and the other on the top of the camper bottom) were basically frozen from the cold and and body moisture. We tried pouring some almost boiling water on it with mixed results. It would thaw it out but by the time we got around the perimeter it would refreeze. We got it broken loose but it would not go down evenly. Since it was a cabover model it is basically unbalanced to begin with due to the overhang on one end.

We went and borrowed a construction heater and made it like a sauna in there and then it dropped fine at that point. Sometimes I wished I still had that unit but it had some drawbacks including the mosquito intrusion mentioned in another post--that is for real in bad mosquito country. Rain and snow weren't much of an issue because the folding panels cover most of the bed before you put them into place. If the bugs were real bad we would spray a fogger around the outside before set-up. On ours there was no screen on the door(s) either so you had to deal with that as well.

[Butch50]

Scott&Julie wrote:

Butch50 wrote:

Dave Pete wrote:
They are "Alaska" by the way, not "Alaskan". (And it's realtor not realator and nuclear not nucular but we don't have time to talk about that right now). Just kidding. Really, who cares! 🙂

But I don't own one, never used one. We had a fabric pop-up and camped as low as -33 degrees. HIGHLY unrecommended. But we've been comfortable down to -5 dry camping and unplugged.

I have several hunting partners (Wyoming Rocky Mountains) who ALL use Alaska campers (but they don't do Internet), on trailers and haul their ATVs on the trailer too. Makes a nice platform for a camp and stuff. But they park it after setting up once. Yes, they are wide open when setting up. Bugs, rain, snow, whatever - are all coming in. But once up they are going to be more snug than a fabric. Good quality, excellent manufacturer support, expensive.

But they are still a pop-up and that means interior amenities are affected.

Down the road we just LOVED our pop-up. Love the compact nature traveling! We could make short stops and use this or that (porti-potti?) without a full pop-up. Not sure if an Alaska will allow that.

At camp? Very cozy, enjoyable! But compared to our travel trailer? Oh the TT is WAAAY nice at camp. Still, for off-road or small road, can't beat a pop-up and Alaska is a great pop-up choice.

It's all a balance of pros and cons and I hope this helps some.

I hate too disagree but they are Alaskan not Alaska campers. This is per the manufacturers Alaskan web site

Also Alaskan

But can a canadian goose get in the openings when setting up?

Only if you give the goose a little goose in the rear with a stick!!!

Sorry for getting off track here and now time to return to the regular topic.

[rottidawg]

Check out this forum for pop up camper/Alaskan answers:
http://www.wanderthewest.com/forum/forum/18-alaskan-camper-discussions/

[Scott_Julie]

Butch50 wrote:

Dave Pete wrote:
They are "Alaska" by the way, not "Alaskan". (And it's realtor not realator and nuclear not nucular but we don't have time to talk about that right now). Just kidding. Really, who cares! 🙂

But I don't own one, never used one. We had a fabric pop-up and camped as low as -33 degrees. HIGHLY unrecommended. But we've been comfortable down to -5 dry camping and unplugged.

I have several hunting partners (Wyoming Rocky Mountains) who ALL use Alaska campers (but they don't do Internet), on trailers and haul their ATVs on the trailer too. Makes a nice platform for a camp and stuff. But they park it after setting up once. Yes, they are wide open when setting up. Bugs, rain, snow, whatever - are all coming in. But once up they are going to be more snug than a fabric. Good quality, excellent manufacturer support, expensive.

But they are still a pop-up and that means interior amenities are affected.

Down the road we just LOVED our pop-up. Love the compact nature traveling! We could make short stops and use this or that (porti-potti?) without a full pop-up. Not sure if an Alaska will allow that.

At camp? Very cozy, enjoyable! But compared to our travel trailer? Oh the TT is WAAAY nice at camp. Still, for off-road or small road, can't beat a pop-up and Alaska is a great pop-up choice.

It's all a balance of pros and cons and I hope this helps some.

I hate too disagree but they are Alaskan not Alaska campers. This is per the manufacturers Alaskan web site

Also Alaskan

But can a canadian goose get in the openings when setting up?

[Dave_Pete]

countrycampers I might add... Our pop-up had a hinged entry door (for full height) so there was NO door frame header to hold the back box of the camper together at that upper open place. Over time, we began to see a "spreading" of the box due to that and it affected how well the back door would seal. I felt there would be great difficulty in strengthening and squaring up that problem area so we sold the camper before it became too bad (yes I shared that with the new owner).

Many pop-ups, and I don't know about the Alaskans, maybe different by model or year, have a short entry door that eliminates the concern. Just something to consider if you choose an Alaskan or other pop-up.

[Dave_Pete]

LOL. Whoops. I hope we didn't hi-jack this post.

[realter]

Dave Pete wrote:
They are "Alaska" by the way, not "Alaskan". (And it's realtor not realator and nuclear not nucular but we don't have time to talk about that right now). Just kidding. Really, who cares! 🙂



And all this time I thought it was REALTER!!!

It's all a balance of pros and cons and I hope this helps some.

[Dave_Pete]

Okay, I'll take your word for it. And I just checked the site too. Nice to know, thanks!

[Butch50]

Dave Pete wrote:
They are "Alaska" by the way, not "Alaskan". (And it's realtor not realator and nuclear not nucular but we don't have time to talk about that right now). Just kidding. Really, who cares! 🙂

But I don't own one, never used one. We had a fabric pop-up and camped as low as -33 degrees. HIGHLY unrecommended. But we've been comfortable down to -5 dry camping and unplugged.

I have several hunting partners (Wyoming Rocky Mountains) who ALL use Alaska campers (but they don't do Internet), on trailers and haul their ATVs on the trailer too. Makes a nice platform for a camp and stuff. But they park it after setting up once. Yes, they are wide open when setting up. Bugs, rain, snow, whatever - are all coming in. But once up they are going to be more snug than a fabric. Good quality, excellent manufacturer support, expensive.

But they are still a pop-up and that means interior amenities are affected.

Down the road we just LOVED our pop-up. Love the compact nature traveling! We could make short stops and use this or that (porti-potti?) without a full pop-up. Not sure if an Alaska will allow that.

At camp? Very cozy, enjoyable! But compared to our travel trailer? Oh the TT is WAAAY nice at camp. Still, for off-road or small road, can't beat a pop-up and Alaska is a great pop-up choice.

It's all a balance of pros and cons and I hope this helps some.

I hate too disagree but they are Alaskan not Alaska campers. This is per the manufacturers Alaskan web site

Also Alaskan

[Dave_Pete]

They are "Alaska" by the way, not "Alaskan". (And it's realtor not realator and nuclear not nucular but we don't have time to talk about that right now). Just kidding. Really, who cares! 🙂

But I don't own one, never used one. We had a fabric pop-up and camped as low as -33 degrees. HIGHLY unrecommended. But we've been comfortable down to -5 dry camping and unplugged.

I have several hunting partners (Wyoming Rocky Mountains) who ALL use Alaska campers (but they don't do Internet), on trailers and haul their ATVs on the trailer too. Makes a nice platform for a camp and stuff. But they park it after setting up once. Yes, they are wide open when setting up. Bugs, rain, snow, whatever - are all coming in. But once up they are going to be more snug than a fabric. Good quality, excellent manufacturer support, expensive.

But they are still a pop-up and that means interior amenities are affected.

Down the road we just LOVED our pop-up. Love the compact nature traveling! We could make short stops and use this or that (porti-potti?) without a full pop-up. Not sure if an Alaska will allow that.

At camp? Very cozy, enjoyable! But compared to our travel trailer? Oh the TT is WAAAY nice at camp. Still, for off-road or small road, can't beat a pop-up and Alaska is a great pop-up choice.

It's all a balance of pros and cons and I hope this helps some.

[woodhog]

How do you keep things dry when opening or closing one of the Alaskan campers? In a driving rain and wind there must be a lot of water entering the bed section?

Also they have no gray water tank, how do you handle the gray water disposal?

[dcsparky]

I own an Alaskan and have camped it at around 17 degrees. I can't tell for sure if it save money over a full up one. I have a 2006 diesel ram shortbread. I can tell you it a joy going down the highway at 70 to 75.

I average between 14 and 16 mpg depending on my foot and the torain.

Its not the biggest camper but the construction quality is great.

Mine is 2 year old.

I love th fact that I can cruise down the highway without any worries including low bridges. I store it in the garage.

The upper part is insulated you can get insulation on the floor. The side walls are not insulated except for the fact that you double wall with the cabinets.

The only thing I actually occasionally miss is an indoor shower.

[joerg68]

The last I know, Alaskan was alive and well.
There is a dedicated Alaskan forum over at "wander the west".
Don Wheat, the owner, had posted there about his plans with the company.

[Camper_Jeff___K]

I thought Alaskan closed shop or was up for sale.

[countrycampers3]

kohldad wrote:
Not an owner, but did see one at the recent TC rally we attended. Biggest thing which I did not like is the front is open allowing all the bugs to enter while you set it up. May only take a couple of minutes, but some places I've been that would allow a hundred mosquitos or flies to enter. Of course, this wouldn't be a concern during your winter camping trips.

Thanks. Appreciate that. I had forgot about that I remember seeing that in a video or something. Definitely a con.