Alaska trip

[Oldwing]

Newbie to the forum here and to Aframes, too!

LOML and I are heading for Alaska from MN next week. We are towing our A128s with a first generation Tundra. We would like to protect the front panel as much as possible from rock chips and other damage. We're considering a thick rubber mat from the local farm store, held in place by screws at the top and double-stick carpet tape. Does anyone have any thoughts, or better suggestions? BTW, the sky is NOT the limit.

Also, if you've made the trip, we'd love to hear about it.

Much appreciated.

[1A Camper]

Welcome to the site.

We tow with a full size Chevy express Van and have put a few miles on the A Frame and find only only the first 18 inches from the sides pick up rock dents. So the whole front would not needs covering.
We are doing the trip mid August and are not doing anything to protect the front ( well I did put a heavy layer of wax on it.).
We have friends that have done the trip twice and about all they have said is get the " The Milepost" Book and go and have fun. We have the 2015 67 Edition. They also said stop at all "information station" as good information is to be had at them. They said the A Frame would be idea for the trip.

[Oldwing]

Thanks for the good information, Steve. I've also considered some heavier duty mudflaps on the truck, and you've given a good endorsement for that notion.

Maybe we'll see you on the road. Have a good, safe trip!

Bruce

[RichardEB]

We are currently in Alaska from Florida and have been here for about a month with our A124. We have not had any problems so far. Dirt but no dents. The road from Dawson City to Chicken was by far the worst. You can check us out at burroughsbucketlist.wordpress.com .

[Oldwing]

Wow, Richard, that's one heck of a trip. You've also done a superb job on the blog. It looks as if your camper held up pretty well, too.

[Ramblin Recks]

Originally Posted by RichardEB

We are currently in Alaska from Florida and have been here for about a month with our A124. We have not had any problems so far. Dirt but no dents. The road from Dawson City to Chicken was by far the worst. You can check us out at burroughsbucketlist.wordpress.com .

Thanks for sharing your blog, well done! We look forward to reading of your adventures .

[Dsfast]

A real good blog thanks for sharing

[lonewolf465]

We pulled our 2012 Flagstaff A-frame to Alaska in 2103. I would suggest a good set of mud flaps for your tow vehicle. We have a set that mounts on the hitch and can be removed easily. In addition to MILEPOST, I would suggest getting TRAVELER'S GUIDE TO ALASKAN CAMPING by Mike and Terri Church. It lists all the public and private campgrounds in northern BC, Alaska and Yukon in great detail. We used it daily. The Yukon Government campgrounds are very nice. Consider the Cassiar Highway on the return trip.

[Oldwing]

It's difficult for us to plan a trip because we don't like to plan. We like to feel free to change our minds based on what we find along the way. So, good references are really useful. Thanks for the book recommendation. We're not likely to do this trip again and very much want to do it right the first time. The return trip will take us through BC and down the west coast through the redwoods Avenue of the Giants, Yosemite, maybe Yellowstone (even though we've been there many times before).

BTW, if anyone has the opportunity to go to the Redwoods State Park, please do so. It's breathtaking.

[speedcat]

Wow....thanks so much for documenting your experience. We are discussing such a trip when we retire 6-7 yrs from now. I want to spend a summer in Alaska and this encourages me even more. I am curious as to why you would not make this trip again? Again, I appreciate you sharing your trip with those of us who just dream of such

[Santabobswife]

Originally Posted by RichardEB

We are currently in Alaska from Florida and have been here for about a month with our A124. We have not had any problems so far. Dirt but no dents. The road from Dawson City to Chicken was by far the worst. You can check us out at burroughsbucketlist.wordpress.com .

Richard, thank you for posting your blog information. I enjoyed it tremendously. Santa Bob and I will be making an extended trip from Georgia to Alaska in 2017 to celebrate our 50th wedding anniversary. We will be taking our Sunseeker MH. Looking forward to seeing so much mor than when we flew up.

[BamaBob]

Originally Posted by Oldwing

It's difficult for us to plan a trip because we don't like to plan. We like to feel free to change our minds based on what we find along the way. So, good references are really useful. Thanks for the book recommendation. We're not likely to do this trip again and very much want to do it right the first time. The return trip will take us through BC and down the west coast through the redwoods Avenue of the Giants, Yosemite, maybe Yellowstone (even though we've been there many times before).

BTW, if anyone has the opportunity to go to the Redwoods State Park, please do so. It's breathtaking.

Sounds like you are taking the same route we are planning to take in 2018: Rocky Mountain Route ("Classic" Alaska Highway) up to Fairbanks and the Inside Passage down (Fairbanks-Anchorage-Valdez-Tok-Whitehorse and on down to Vancouver)

Like you we will probably only do this once (too many other places to see ) so we are being obsessive about planning for the trip.

Here is a good website that discusses the routes to-from Alaska:

North to Alaska

Regardless of websites, the Milepost is your best friend - order a copy now (best price is on Amazon.com) and the paper milepost comes with a free electronic edition you can access from your laptop or download a complete ebook edition to your iPad.

Another travel resource we found that is good for any RV trip planning is RV Trip Wizard (www.rvtripwizard.com) it is a annual subscription site but for the $30/year you get a lot of bang for your money IMHO.

[RichardEB]

Glad you liked the blog. Alaska is wonderful and everyone should go but there are just too many other places to see in this world to repeat ourselves.

[RichardEB]

Our main resource was fantasyrvtours.com We decided to go at the last minute and they already had the reservations you can't get at the last minute. I am also glad to be part of a group in such a vast wilderness.

[pgandw]

Courtesy of Uncle Sam's frequent relocation club, we made one trip (one way) from Elizabeth City, NC to Juneau AK in 1993 towing a PUP (4 weeks). DW was 3-4 months pregnant. In 1999, we made a one way return from Kodiak, AK to Oakland, CA, this time with a tent and 2 young kids (5 weeks). Have visited Alaska regualrly since, but not camping.

A printed copy of the Milepost is an absolute must. We had a copy of Woodall's for our camping info, but really not needed once we were past the Lower 48. You will spend much time off the communications grid.

In Northern BC, the Yukon, and Alaska, a different code applies. You will stop and help anybody that needs it - and they will stop and help you when you need it. Strangers are your friend, the environment is not (especially coastal BC and coastal AK). We had a transmission front seal leak, then reseal near Chicken Alaska (then population 32). We helped folks with lower 48 tires on their van conversion (8+ ply tires are the only tires that will survive on some Alasaka roads). One of our boat trailer tires lost its tread, and a Bearing Buddy departed on the rough roads. In all cases, strangers helped us, and we helped out total strangers.

Unless there is wind, lakes and ponds and wetlands mean mosquitoes. Alaska mosquitoes, AKA the state bird. Swarms of mosquitos. Laird Hot Springs (northern BC) and Triangle Lakes (central AK) are wonderful places to camp and enjoy yourself - until the wind dies at dawn and dusk. Even in Tok we had to give up the tent for a motel when the wind died, and the mosquito swarms began. Just a warning, hanging around the picnic table or the campfire clothed in mosquito netting is not as romantic as it seems. Watching a 3 or 5 year old get eaten alive the moment they stepped out of the tent is not our idea of fun (nor are the swatting parties inside the tent or car just from opening the door).

That said, those trips are lifetime memories and I would do them again in a heartbeat. The top of the world road from Dawson City to Chicken is incredible. Skagway is a special place to me - walking the town, driving the highway, and riding the train were all great. Another special (unfortunately occurs in late November/early December) is the gathering of eagles upstream from Haines.

Ride the ferries to Sitka and Ketchikan for the beauties of the rain forest. Juneau is another great place on the ferrry system. And Kodiak is a total change of pace and scenery from the rest of Alaska.

Fred W
going: 1987 Coachmen PUP
1993 Ford Explorer
return: 1993 Ford Explorer (with 8 ply LT tires!) towing 14ft aluminum skiff
1998 Eureka 7x8 ft tent