kd5drx
Mosul Iraq
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Joined: 06/02/2008
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Ok here's the deal. I am going to be coming home from Iraq in April and we are going to go from Oklahoma to Florida for a month or so. We just bought a 2008 Raptor 3712TS. We have an old but still very good 1992 Ford F350 dually with after market turbo on the 7.3 motor and a 5 speed trans. So i know he truck will handle the trailer no problems there. My wife is going to get a job up there in Alaska working for 3 or 4 months beginning the 1st part of June 2009 and we figure coming back around 1st week in Sept maybe 2nd week. Now my questions are what is going to be the biggest challenge we will face on the trip up threw the Canadian north west and all.I am planning on adding a large diesel in bed tank to the truck so we can pick and choose on the fuel a little. And i am also planning on going to the same size tires on the truck as well as the Toy Hauler that way i can carry more spares and have better use of them will have 2 mounted spares for each and probably 2 or 4 extra tires not mounted just in case we can't find 16E rated tires.Any way i lived in Fairbanks for about 4 years or so along time ago so i am aware of the things in Alaska to watch for and things like that. And i drove over the road in the states professionally for 14 years so i can pretty much get around down here and no what to look for but that stretch threw the Canadian north west is the one that i have no experience with. Any advise or extra things we need to look for we have a while to plan it and get it right. Oh by the way the reason for the Toy Hauler is we have 2 Harley's in it we ride every where so once we get to Alaska and set up house it is 2 wheel adventure time all over the state to see the sites.
1992 Ford F350 7.3 diesel Hypermax Turbo 5 speed,2008 Raptor 3712TS, His 1997 Road King Custom Hers 2004 Heritage Classic custom. And don't forget Chooch the scooter pooch
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joe b.
Florida
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Joined: 08/24/2002
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The Alaska Highway is no longer a wilderness highway but it is a good paved road through a beautiful wilderness. Of course there are the stretches of construction where you have to slow down and take it easy. With parts of the road built over permafrost and the resulting freezing and thawing and movement of the soil, construction on the roads is just a fact of life. By the time they get one stretch of road fixed, somewhere else has deteriorated to be next on the repair list.
Tire problems for most people are a thing of the past. Over the years most of the tire problems I have seen are on trailers. Too many of the manufacturers use, especially in the past, too small of running gear, including tires on trailers. This plus the voluminous spaces to pack stuff, leads to overloading.
Now I know no one on this forum runs their tires under inflated and they check them everyday, but when I am in campgrounds, I see many of the "others" that don't check their tires and keep them aired up properly.
I have yet to make the numbers work for me on installing an auxiliary fuel tank. To me they only work if you can buy cheap fuel at both ends of the trip and make it between them without having to fill up. I figured if I filled up in Montana then I would have to fill both tanks about Watson Lake to Whitehorse, the most expensive fuel on the trip. Never figured out how it would save me enough to justify the original tank expense. If you only need an aux tank to increase your range, then they work fine but diesel is readily available throughout Canada and Alaska.
The drive to Alaska is not at all difficult. Just a series of 300 to 500 mile days one after the other. More of them than many RVers have ever done. With the Alaska Highway now paved, it is a totally different drive than it was before. I have done 9 round trips on it prior to the paving and 2 trips since it was paved. Not near the adventure it was before but still one of life's great opportunities to have a great time and experience many different things than what most have experienced.
joe b.
South Florida, Stuart
Formerly of Colorado and Alaska
Driving a Dodge/Cummins
www.jbpacooper.com web site
http://www.picturetrail.com/jbpacooper Alaska 2004 - Alaska 2006 - Colorado photos
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kd5drx
Mosul Iraq
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Joined: 06/02/2008
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Thanks for the update on the Highway i know it has gotten allot better over the years so i may not have to worry to much with the tires then good less weight to carry and more room for the wife to pack stuff OH BOY. And as far as the fuel tank it is more for range then anything i only have like 35 Gal between the 2 factory tanks and that works out to about 250 miles so its not allot of range but will work from what i have been reading its not near as bad as it was in the old days when i looked at doing this the first time back in the early 70's.
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Can-AmDuo
MD
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Joined: 09/24/2004
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I am sitting in our fifth wheel in Juneau as I type this. We have been in Alaska travelling all over with only a 35 gal stock tank in our truck. We have had no problem at all finding diesel whenever we needed it both in Canada and here in Alaska. The best advice anyone can give you is SLOW DOWN. The roads are built on permafrost and this plays havoc with the pavement. Remember there are only two seasons up north ... winter and road construction. STAY AWAY from the fuel stop in Cantwell. They gouge ... $1.00/gal above the stations in Healy and Trapper Creek.
Life is partly what we make it, and partly what it is made by the friends we choose.
Check our Alaska Trip BLOG at http://www.photowebworks.com
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kd5drx
Mosul Iraq
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Joined: 06/02/2008
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again thanks for the info on the fuel availability. And i understand slow down i am sure with the way ours is set up probably 50 or 60 is going to be top speed for us not that it want do better just no use and it should get better fuel millage that way. We pulled the small trailer to Florida lat year and had both scoots in it and ran close to 70 most of the time and it only got around 9 mpg pulling the little 7X14 enclosed trailer so i am sure i will slow down to 60 on the interstates and see how the fuel millage goes with the big trailer back there.
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mcgillagorilla
north pole ak
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Joined: 01/02/2004
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just a small note. rember that between destruction bay and the alaskan border is some real rough road, in some places 35 miles an hour is too fast. i would either do it yourself or have it done, pack trailer bearings, adj trailer brakes, and for mypiece of mind i always carry one or two fuel filters in case of bad fuel. have a good trip and bring lots of film for camera. enjoy.
bob mcgill
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