alaska tour

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Superstock

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Joined
Oct 20, 2012
Posts
32
My wife and I are looking into a 30 - 40 day alaska trip / tour. We live in the northwest so it's not a long drive to get started. We Will be traveling in a 34 ft. class A diesel pusher. We have heard lots of horror stories about the roads tearing everything up. Is there any one here with recent experiences on a trip they have made. Good things or bad things we just want to be prepared properly. We may tow a vehicle on a tow dolly but have not decided yet. Little things like distances between service areas would be nice also. We thank you for helping.
Gary & Patty
 
Hi, and welcome! Check out the resource part of the forum or use search to get some great Alaska trip information from either 'Sarge' or 'Marsha' both who just did that trip and posted great stuff about their different experiences. There are LOTS of forum members who have done this trip. I'm sure they'll be along shortly to share info with you. Safe travels!

Linda
 
In addition to reading the excellent trip reports in the forum library, you might want to pick up a copy of the Milepost magazine.  It's published yearly and lists all services and sightseeing information for each mile of the highways in Alaska.  I belive the 2013 issue will be available in March.  You can buy the 2012 issue at reduced rates and will find it very helpful.

http://www.amazon.com/s/?ie=UTF8&keywords=mileposts+alaska&tag=googhydr-20&index=stripbooks&hvadid=1106549861&hvpos=1t1&hvexid=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=1212338552783832750&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=b&ref=pd_sl_35ah7c2ny5_b

Margi
 
We "did" Alaska last summer (2012) and took a lot longer than 30-40 days, crossing into Canada on June 2 and coming back into the States August 30.  The roads are fine.  You will find some areas under repair, as they are always under repair.  You just need to go slow.....really slow in those sections. 

To try to prevent as much damage as possible, we bought a net that attaches to the front of the car then to the motor home..  It helped with rocks flipping up from the road and damaging either the back of the coach or the front of the car.  I also made a protective cover out of vinyl that we put over the windshield.  We had NO damage to either the car or the coach on the trip. 

There are plenty of fuel stations; and they are identified in the Milepost which you will need to have with you.  Fuel prices were higher in Canada than in Alaska, so were food and campgrounds.  Be sure and visit the Kenai Pennisula, it was fabulous.

Read all the logs that members have written, they are full of all sorts of information and different experiences.

Marsha~
 
How is cell phone reception if any? Or should one not travel alone. We plan on also having CB radio. Thank you for your information it is very much appreciated.
Gary & Patty
 
Hi, Superstock! My husband Don and I are planning a long (110-day) driving trip throughout Alaska next summer, departing our home base of Denver CO May 28-29, heading north through Wyoming, Montana, Canada etc and arriving Alaska in about 3 weeks after leaving home.  We really don't want to have to drive hard and long every single day, so we plan to stay in one place for 2-4 days at least every 6-9 days. Road-weariness makes a long trip a lot less fun for us, we've learned. We need time to hang out and do nothing fairly often, even if it is just to wash the clothes and read a book, or take a bunch of walks and hikes for a couple of days without having to be anywhere on a schedule.

I am posting our planned itinerary on the RV Forum site for trips...see the thread I started a while back.  For me, the planning is more than half the fun. I've had a blast reading Milepost, Frommers, 3 camping NW and camping Alaska books, Michener's Alaska, Berton's Klondike Fever, McPhee's Coming Into The Country, the novels Tisha; Sitka; Two Old Women.  I've made extensive notes of places and things we want to see & visit.

After driving "over the hump" up into Alaska and down to the Kenai Peninsula and Homer, we figured we might be getting a bit road-weary, so we're then driving to Whittier, where we'll take our RV on the ferry to Juneau.  For all of Southeast Alaska, we will "ferry-hop" with our RV from place to place, staying in each place.... Haines, Skagway, Juneau, Petersburg, Sitka, Wrangell and Ketchikan....2 to 5 days, depending on how much of interest seemed to be at each location.  The cost of doing it this way is very affordable...we have a 25-foot Itasca Reyo 25T vehicle.  At the end, we will ferry from Prince George to Port Hardy BC and take a week to drive the length of Vancouver Island.

Stay in touch regarding your plans...maybe we can meet up somewhere if our paths cross....

Salty Adventurer (Susan Alt Johnson)
Denver CO and Silverthorne CO
Itasca Reyo 25T 2013, Mercedes diesel Sprinter
 
To those going to Alaska, we stumbled onto a great fiction writer who actually lives in Alaska.  We found the author towards the last of our trip to Alaska last summer.  The author is Dana Stabenbow.  These are great mysteries centered around things like the Alaska pipeline, the salmon fishing industry, gold mining and several national parks.  She does factual research then develops her plot around the info.  There are about 30 books in the series which are based on the book character Kate Shuguk, a native "Alute" Alaskan. 

There is also another author who writes about mysteries centered around dog sledding.  Sue Henry, the author has a different writing style but it is still a good read.

At this point Tim and I have read every book we can get our hands on.

Marsha~
 
Or should one not travel alone.

That word "should" bothers me a little.  I'm not sure why you wold think you need to travel with other people.  We've been to Alaska twice and went alone both times.  You can certainly go with others if you want to, but we usually prefer to do and see things on our own time and at our own whim.  If you have friends who want to go at the same time, by all means do that if you think it will be more fun.  Both times we met people along the way whose company we enjoyed in more than one location.  But there's nothing wrong with going alone.

In addition to the Milepost you'll need something like the Trailer Life Campground Directory.  As to campgrounds, I'll make a broad generalization and say that most Alaskan campgrounds aren't as fancy as those in the Lower 48.  That's because they have a very limited season and can't afford to upgrade as much as we might down here.  So don't go expecting a lot of amenities at every campground.  Most have basic hookups but not much else.

By the way, 30-40 days isn't much to see Alaska.  It's a BIG state!  We were there for 2.5 months.

Marsha, we enjoyed the Sue Henry books - especially after being there!

ArdraF
 
We traveled solo.  Alaska isn't as remote or as rugged as you think.  We had cell service in most towns and certainly in the cities.  There are lots of fellow RVers traveling and everyone kinda looks out for each other.  A couple of thoughts to help alleviate some of your concerns:

  • Be sure you get a road service such a Coach Net.  They are excellent at taking care of stranded folks.  We ran into several people who had Good Sam Roadside service while in Alaska and they were having a lot of trouble getting someone to help them.
  • There is a satellite phone you can purchase which has 3 capabilities: sending a short email to family to give your location and that you are OK, 911 for medical help, another button to get road service help.
  • Be sure your equipment (RV/tow vehicle) has been thoroughly maintained; hoses, belts, transmission, oil change...everything, including good tires.
  • We have a CB radio and never used it.
Alaska thrives on tourism, they are there to help.
BTW, when you get to TOK, Alaska be sure and order a pizza at "Fast Eddies"; it was the best we have ever had.
Have fun!
Marsha~


 
We would like to travel solo or maybe with a friend that may want to go with us. Our biggest concern is being stranded without some assistance if needed. We have Good Sam's protection so I will check really close on what they have to say regarding this. I had Triple A before and we swapped about a year ago.
 
Well here I am back again, another question is TV reception. it is not a high priority but we do like taking in NASCAR, NHRA, and LDBRS (drag boats), we have a dish or cable and standard HD if there is anything available. Also we are wondering about wifi connections. If we need we will just bring some movies for evening relaxation. You people are great and this is really helping us get ready.
Thank You
Gary & Patty
 
The last time we got anything on DirecTV was at Soldier Summit on the Alcan.  After that you're just too far north and the curvature of the earth makes it difficult aiming.  When we were at Skagway Jerry talked with a fellow who lives there and he said you have to have one of the really big (6 ft.) dishes to get satellite TV.

Funny story.  Every time we'd stop Jerry would start trying to get a signal.  He'd be outside with his compass watching the dish try to succeed.  Within a few minutes half the other guys in the place would be there watching too.  The standard question was "Did you get a signal?"  None of us did.

ArdraF
 
We got a signal several places, but both Fred and I both bought 30" dishes. After a while we gave up because it was just more work than it was worth.
 
Marsha, What type of film did you install on your windshield? I will be heading toward Alaska after the Moab Rally.
 
I will be heading up early this year, have to start work near Denali on May 10th. I will be leaving Montana around the last week of April. I will make sure I post some details and of course my personal blog will highlight the trip, so stay tuned.

Just me and my pick-up and small 5er!

I am an Alaska resident, so for me it is going home and it is THE BEST state for scenery and of course fishing which is the major part of why I moved there years ago....

You will enjoy Alaska and the people there are wonderful. But like others have say 30-40 days is about the minimum to really explore, try and stay longer if you can, you will understand once you get there!!

Jim
 
Henry,  What I made for the windshield of the car is a vinyl cover made of vinyl cloth (black on the outside and soft fabric on the inside).  You can find it at a fabric store, it also comes in different colors.  I basically made it the shape of the windshield, put two long straps on the top ends that could go inside the car.  I open both doors of the car, lay the cover on the window, put the long ends into the car, then shut the door to the passenger side.  At that point  I get in, grab both ends of the long straps and pull them tight.  I have velcro on them to keep them together.  I shut the driver's door and the ends are secure. 

I put "S" clips on the bottom of the vinyl cover and hooked them to the frame of the engine by the windshield washers.  I have to open the hood of the car to hook them onto the engine frame.  I liked that idea because the wind could not get under the cloth and lift it off.  I think I have a picture, if not, we are leaving here tomorrow and I'll get some photos for you.  We still use the windshield cover because it keeps the windshield clean of the light diesel exhaust stuff that sometimes comes off the coach.

I also still need to send you my Excel recap of the trip. (I keep forgetting...slapping forehead).

BTW, if you don't want to make this windshield cover, you can buy them.  I think they are advertised in the FMCA magazines.  I truly believe it kept our car windshield free of rock chips.  We also have a bra on the car.  We had little to no damage. 

I'll get the recap to you asap.

I bet you are so excited.  Take lots of pictures and please do a long here so that we can all follow along.

Marsha
 
Thanks Marsha, and i did receive the info you sent. It's really going to help since I have no plan are reservations along the way. My plan is if I can stay in an rv park I will dry camp.Can't wait to get to Moab and then on to Alaska. Plan on staying until the end of August. We are back in Texas now staying on a lake that we use to live on. I don't know how long I can sit still. I payed a month rent last week and already wanting to go somewhere. We have some property to close on and a car show to make. Will be free after that.
  One other Question, Did you use any thing on the windshield of your RV?
 
Henry, no we didn't put anything on the RV windshield, just went slow when we were in a construction area or when a big truck was approaching.  We moved over onto the shoulder if there was one and slowed down.  We have a roadmaster tow bar and we bought the net protector that goes between the coach (can't remember the name) and the car; we are convinced that did a world of good in helping keep the car protected and rocks from fly upward.

Marsha~
 

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