mxw1
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Re: Taking an RV to Alaska
We drove to Alaska and back from california in summer of 2015 in a 34 foot class A motorhome. The Alcan is paved, but not a freeway. The roads aren't any better than a 2-lane state highway, with plenty of damage from traffic and winters. Our motorhome is built on a Ford TRUCK Chassis, stiff leaf springs, on truck tires with over 100 PSI pressure. We felt and heard every bump. Our dishes, pots and pans are right behind our seats. We slowed way down when there was road damage. We noticed that people with trailers often drove by us at much higher speeds with their trailers bouncing around behind them. Those occupants probably didn't feel or hear the bumps like we did. They had late model pick-up trucks with plush seats and much softer suspension and tires. We heard of people stopping for the night only to discover that their microwave had ripped out of their cabinets and were on the floor or found their hinges sheared on the refrigerator doors. You can realy damage your rig if you aren't careful. Be careful, take plenty of time and enjoy your trip. It should be the best vacation you have ever taken; it was for us. Mike567Views0likes0CommentsRe: Roll Call Alaska 2015
We got back from Alaskan Trip on August 22nd after leaving home May 1st. Traveled about 10k miles in 2003, 34 foot, National Motor home. Gone almost 4 months. Great vacation, first time to Alaska. Did much boon-docking, quite easy to find places. We visited Haines, Fairbanks, Denali, Chicken, Anchorage, Wasilla, Palmer, Seward, Valdez, Homer and every little place between. Tried to visit anywhere there was a paved road. I especially liked Anchorage; great Bike paths, lots of museums. Hard to Boon-dock, stayed in a private campground and Elks Lodge. I'm not a big city person, but this isn't that big; about 200K people. I'm glad we did this trip. Chance of a lifetime. I would do this again. We had Great experiences. I was surprised at how little it rained, much less than I had expected. Same with mosquitoes; didn't need to use my face net at all. There were 3-4 evenings that mosquitoes were bad enough to be pests, that's about all. Here is what I was disappointed in though... The condition of the roads, especially in Canada. I understand about permafrost and frost heaves, etc. The good roads are not as smooth as our US roads are in the lower 48. You can really tell the difference in a motor home because you hear all the rattles and squeaks that you wouldn't hear while towing a trailer. The bad roads are really rough. It's a shame. The 300 or so miles from Whitehorse to Alaskan border are in terrible condition. It seems to me that the Yukon Gov't doesn't care about the travelers on this section of road because there's very few places for tourists to spend their money here. It is obvious that they don't spend much on road maintenance here. This section of road will really lower your average speed or you will break something serious on your rig. The turnoff for Haines Alaska is along this section of the Alcan hwy and it is 155 miles of perfect road. It looks like it was paved yesterday. It gets the same weather as the Alcan does, so I don't believe the excuses of Permafrost and Frost Heaves. The difference is; It gets maintained. Shame on Yukon Gov't. By the way, I didn't plan on driving to Haines, but I'm glad we did. It is a jewel of a town. Well worth it. Alaska is beautiful to visit, but I wouldn't want to live there. So much we take for granted in the lower 48. Not every place has electricity and running water. I would go again, but I think I'd fly or Cruise ship to Alaska, then rent a motor home while there and drive around for a month or so, then fly or cruise back. One more thing; the road from Tok to Chicken Alaska is bad. We were told at the visitor's Center that the road is paved all the way except for the last 2 miles or so. It was at sometime, but again it has fallen into disrepair, narrow, hilly. I believe it took us 3 hours to travel the 66 miles. The further from Tok you get, the worse the road becomes. Any questions? Mike605Views0likes0CommentsAlaskan trip on 2 wheels
Hi, We are planning our 1st time trip to Alaska, using our 34 feet Sea Breeze motor home. Whenever I think I might be forgetting something, I think about what this guy accomplished in 1978 on two wheels. He did a nice job of documenting his trip, never paid to stay anywhere overnight and never ate in a restaurant. This is also before it was all paved. Mike Check this out; http://www.mopedtrip.com/intro/index.html3.2KViews0likes11CommentsOld cell phones work in Alaska?
Hi, This seems like an easy question but my provider can't give me a yes or no; just maybe. Here is my question; I plan on driving my motor home up to Alaska during the summer of 2015, and meeting two other couples when we get to Anchorage. I'd like to be able to use my cell phone to make the connection with friends, if for nothing else. My cell phone was bought from Verizon in March of 2007, I believe it's an LGVX8300; which is supposed to be 1X Generation. It works fine everywhere we have coverage in the states. My provider is Verizon. I don't use a cell phone very much. I went to my local Verizon store in Santa Maria, Ca.and asked the associate there if it will work in Anchorage and he told me No, because I need to have a 4G phone (4th generation). I believe the only 4G phones available are "Smart Phones" and I'm not interested in having one and paying extra for the monthly data connection charge. I called the Verizon 1-800 Help line and talked to someone who said it might work in Anchorage, but it might not... I called the local Verizon store in Anchorage and asked the sales associate there and at first he said yes, but then put me on hold and came back on line and said it might not, because they use a 4G system... So before I drive all the way there with my old phone, has anyone had any recent experience with using their old cell phones near Anchorage? I understand that my phone will not work in Canada and cell phone coverage is spotty in Alaska, but where there is cell phone coverage, will it work with their 4G system? Sorry for the length of this post, but I wanted to present as much info as possible. Thanks, Mike2.5KViews0likes8Comments
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