ALCAN HWY.

[lopo]

Has anyone heard of anyone taking a vintage trailer on the Alcan hwy. to Alaska or even part of the way? How much do we have to baby our "babies"? What would you to do beef it up for rough roads?

[61 Shasta]

Lopo, I really don't think you need to "beef" anything up. We have only made one trip, (2001) and that was in a motorhome. Yep, you find some rough roads and area's that are more gravel than blacktop but if I were leaving tomorrow with my Shasta compact (if it was done), I really wouldn't worry about beefing anything up. Now, the suspension will probably get more of a workout than traveling in the lower 48 but if yours are in good shape you should be fine. It isn't like traveling this route 30 years ago, most of the roads are in pretty good shape and services are available at decent intervals. I would carry a spare tire, as you would anyway and unless it is some special size, you would find replacements many places along the way. You might consider going from a standard 2 ply tire to something a with a little more beef to it like a 4 ply. That will give you more piece of mind when you do hit those spots where they have used larger rocks for fill than what we see here. We didn't hit many of those spots but they are there. Make sure your tow vehicle has good rock/mud flaps as the gravel area's can do a number on your trailer front end. I would also consider putting a good set on my trailer as some of the products they use on the roads is very "sticky" and mud flaps would help keep your trailer from slinging it all over underneath as well as up the sidewalls. We found campgrounds to be plentiful along the way, we went without any reservations and never spent one night without a place to camp. I will say some nights were spend in roadside pulloffs but we never did encounter any problems. I'm sure you will get plenty of responses to your request for info so I will sit back and think about your question and if I think of anything else, I will pass it along. The one thing I will stress now though is, GO! This was our road trip of a life time. I would also suggest you ask someone to make the adventure with you. Even though my wife and I are seasoned travelers and travel extensively by ourselves we found that the piece of mind of having someone in the tail-gunner or lead position makes it easier to relax and really enjoy the experience. Good luck Again, if I think of anything else, I will pass it along and certainly if you have questions feel free to contact me either through this thread or by PM.

[Gone Kayaking]

My grandparents took their airstream on the ALCAN all the way to alaska from California 2 times round trip back in the 1960's when I'm sure the roads were much rougher than they are now. I am completely envious if you are planning this trip. You must make a travel blog with lots of pics and tales if you do.

[lopo]

I wanted to go to Alaska in 1968 instead of moving to Florida, and I just woke up and realized that I can go now if I want to. Your Aqua Dream held up under some pretty rough conditions in the Northwest, right? Since my husband can't go, I'd like to find someone to caravan with me, but oh, trying to find the right traveling partner is not easy. I am not a planner and maker of reservations so I could drive another person batty.

[boandsusan]

Our retirement dream is to ride our motorcycles to Alaska and back. I hadn`t thought about making the trip in our compact! How kool would that be? Lopo, I posted the picture of the ac and bed for you earlier.

[offspringin]

that sounds like an amazing trip. I don't know what the temperatures are when/where you would go but you may need to winterize it while towing??? dont want to arrive and find busted lines or drains etc. just a thought i had....

[vikx]

Sounds like a blast!

Take a vacuum cleaner, lots of dust on the gravel portions.

Would you all believe my Dad helped build the Alcan highway? T'would be fun to follow the trail.

[lopo]

I don't have anything to winterize, offspringin. I'm keeping it simple with no water on board, and I have a Chevy Astro for tow vehicle with all the back seats removed so plenty of storage for jugs of water. I've changed my mind on buying the two-way fridge and got the Norcold icebox from vintagetrailersupply.com. No shower, and a Luggable Loo. I will buy either the little Honda or little Yamaha generator so that I can boondock. I'd like to be able to mount it on the trailer but haven't gotten to that part yet.

I drove a 1968 Land Rover (with the big tire on the front - that model) from South Florida to Guatemala a few years ago so I know about dust and gravel and rough rides. They say late spring/early summer is wetter, cooler, and muddier on the Alcan than in the late summer, but the animals haven't been driven back to the woods yet like they will be by late summer - and the road and campgrounds will be more crowded late summer, I think. I don't have heat in the Compact. I'll probably get one of those Mr. Heater Buddy propane heaters as well as carry a little electric one.
Vikx, that's so cool that your dad helped build the road! I'd say you should definitely follow the trail.
Do I hear us putting together a caravan???

[Gone Kayaking]

I would love to do this, but I blew my long vacation wad last summer, and will be doing a longer vacation in 2013 when we do the grand canyon (in kayaks) for 16 days so I'm afraid I'm out unless you're looking at 2015....

[lopo]

Kayaking is something I've never done, but is on my list. Your trip doing the Grand Canyon sounds super!!

[nomad]

Alaska has always been one of my dream destinations. In 1980 I had just finished restoring a 66 volvo wagon,was single with no ties, and a little cash in hand. I had been reading National Geographic's great book on the national parks and decided to see as many as I could and head for Alaska . I packed up some clothes, my sleeping bag,and camping gear and hit the road. I spent about three months going from one park to the next My dad flew out to Jackson Hole and we fished and camped the Tetons and Yellowstone park. He flew back to Chicago about a week and a half later, and I continued my journey up through Glacier and into Canada. I headed west up through British Colombia and reached Vacouver. It was another 1400 miles to Alaska so I headed down the coast to San Diego, back up to Sacremento,and back through the Rockies to home in Connecticut. Never made it to Alaska but it was a trip I'll never forget. Lopo, if you have the time and the means, go for it! You will always be thankful you did.Your trailer shoud be fine with a little careful preperation, and there are always some helpful people along the journey.Good luck!

[mamasherb]

What wonderful memories you made, Nomad! Thank you for telling us about that trip.

[61 Shasta]

Lopo, Sounds like you are getting lots of encouragement for your trip and sounds like perhaps there maybe others out there that would want to do it with you. So, grab yourself a book called "The Milepost" and start planning. That publication is a must for anyone making this trip. It gives you mile by mile information along with a ton of information on the journey. It is updated annually and again is a must have. On our trip we left Washington on the 18th of August which is kind of late to make this trip as many of the tourist attractions and campgrounds were closing down for the winter months on our return trip. We had no problems though and the fall colors were absolutely awesome. Unfortunately, on September 11, 2001 we were in Seward when the terrorist attack happened. Needless to say, we were in a stupor for a few days after and could only think about getting back home. So, we did not visit many of the places we had planned to see on the return trip. However, we made it home safely. Good luck on your planning and keep us informed.

[lopo]

Yes, what a great story of "it's the journey, not the destination," nomad. And you know, I do finally have the time, and by shifting priorities, the means, I think. And it is the journey, not the destination, and mostly I want to get on the road (highways and byways, not interstates which I hate as much as I hate flying), and head west. I was never able to imagine the trip as one motel after another, and when I got saw my little Compact, it began to dawn on me that finally I can just "go," my way, and all the way to Alaska if I want to.
Hearing some of you say you think it can make it with me is such a huge support. The roads don't worry me. Roads I know. However, I've never been in a campground in my life, and learning how to handle this little trailer by myself does nag at me a bit. But surely by the time I reach Colorado, I'll have figured out how to level it and stabilize it, and who knows, maybe even back it.

[lamacki1]

Lopo - this seems like an awesome trip to make. Planning is half of the fun! I am the ultimate planner - makes my family nuts, most likely, but I love it. I have so many places I want to go and Alaska is one of them. There's a Shasta calling my name...somewhere.

[lopo]

I don't know if he's got another Shasta or not, but the guy I bought mine from is in Central Michigan, and I believe he's got a little Fleetwing for sale. If you would consider something other than a Shasta, write to him. I actually contacted him for the Fleetwing and he talked me into his Shasta. Mark is very trustworthy. He'll tell you exactly the condition it's in - and it won't be junk. PM me if you want his contact info.

And I am NOT a planner - not at all! Having my Compact to pull over and sleep in when I say oops, it's time to get off the road and me with no park nearby will give me great comfort. Now I just wish I still had my little dog to take with me.

[boandsusan]

We are also keeping it simple, No tanks on board! Lopo, you say your not a planner but I think you are putting a caraven together without realising it lol. We used all my hubby`s vacation time on a trip to Europe (I felt I needed to see home) last Sept/ Oct, but we`d be ready, say sometime 2013 (hmm 13? I`m not scared lol) or even the following year. I think a half a doz Shasta`s travelling together would be soooooo much fun.

[boandsusan]

We used a small electric box heater in Nov, when we were trying the compact out. One night it was 29 degrees and we had to get up and turn it off, it got so warm in there. Its just a small (9" x14") blower heater from Wally world. I think an electric blower heater would be safer than propane. We use a small generater when boondocking, it has no problem running the big ac/heat roof unit on our Airstream.

[lopo]

Oh, I'm too A.D.D. to be a planner, but I do tend to be a connector and activator. Here's how it goes for me: I start the idea, and the rest of you will plan a caravan, and do it, and I'll be somewhere else doing something else by then, already having been there and back. Or not. My true partner in caravanning will be the person who says I'm putting on my coat and will hook up my Shasta and meet you at the edge of town in 30 minutes. Tough to do when you're still working, I know.