dav5942
Stuart, FL
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Joined: 05/24/2004
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Wow! Guess RV traveling is not for everyone! Can not remember anything bad about our 3 month Alaska trip this year. Planning for 2011 now!
2007 Newmar 42' Mid Engine w/Fatboy,ATVs-in Garage,Rubicon w/4" lift,MotorMetal whls,MickeyT Baja tires-Cherokee w/4"lift in tow, Hog Valley FL(a diamond in the rough)
Alaska '09 Part2
Alaska Fishing Newmar Mid Engine '09 On the Road Again
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joe b.
Florida
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Joined: 08/24/2002
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As has been mentioned before, driving to Alaska is not for everyone. It is too bad those that don't enjoy the trip, can't figure it out in advance that it isn't for them. The Alaska Hwy described by the OP, was not the Alaska Hwy I used this summer. All in the eye of the beholder.
I know why I go to Alaska, time and time again. For most of you, I feel I understand for the most part, why you go. It is to experience the differences, that travel offers to each of us. Some have the flexibility to enjoy in the differences we find and others, such as the OP don't. The very small per centage of travelers to Alaska that don't enjoy the trip, must be expecting something that they don't find. What that "is" I don't pretend to comprehend and suspect most of you don't either.
Have a good friend in Colorado, after hearing me and others regale him with stories of great travel experiences in Mexico, decided to go himself with his wife. He hated the trip and swears he will never enter the Republic of Mexico again. He just kept saying "it is all different, the people, the money, the language, the roads, the laws, etc." My comment to him was, "did you expect it to be the same as Colorado?" Why would a person travel to Mexico or to Alaska if they thought it was going to be "just like home"?
People could save themselves a lot of money and aggravation if they could figure out ahead of time, which category of RVer they are when it comes to "differences."
What is the number one bit of advice experienced Alaska travelers give to 1st timers? When you get to the Alaska Highway or the Cassiar Hwy, slow down and then slow down some more. The only thing that will cause the vehicle damage mentioned by the OP is excessive speed. The road isn't moving, just the vehicle so all damage done is directly related to the vehicle speed. Most of us drive up numerous times and never do any serious vehicle damage, others, especially some newbies, can virtually destroy their RV on the first trip. Every trip we see a few RV drivers that must think they are practicing for a NASCAR event.
Thanks to the OP for posting his views, as all 1st timers need to give some thoughts as to their personalities and ability to slow down and enjoy the trip. Otherwise take one of the kerosene queens, run by Alaska Airlines or other carriers north to the Great Land. It is worth seeing and experiencing, IMHO.
joe b.
South Florida, Stuart
Formerly of Colorado and Alaska
Driving a Dodge/Cummins/Lance
www.pajbcooper.com web site
http://www.picturetrail.com/jbpacooper
Alaska 2004/2006/2009 - Colorado photos
"Without challenge, adventure is impossible".
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sue.t
Vancouver Island, BC, Canada
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Joined: 08/05/2004
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oh dear ... I don't know what to say.
only 30 days? We drive from Vancouver Island to Yukon each year and find 28 days to be hardly enough time.
$200 a day? Wow. Our costs are usually about $900 per week, although last year with the high fuel prices the cost was $1,000/week.
Horrible roads? The ones you were on were the good roads. We drive the backroads to get away from all the people driving the good roads. Admittedly, the section of the Alaska Highway between Destruction Bay and Beaver Creek is just plain awful. That's likely where the axle got bent on our fifth wheel last year.
Yet we've travelled goat trails pulling our fifth wheel and not had an issue. We've were even in 4-wheel drive through a construction zone on the Campbell Highway with mud to the hubs, yet didn't have a problem (mud to the hubs pulling a fifth wheel isn't a problem ... it's an adventure!).
My impression is your expectations weren't realistic. Which is unfortunate. People either love the north or hate it. You either get it or you don't.
Some folk prefer urban RVing to rural camping. That's okay. For others who prefer the same style of RVing, your post is good info. If folks are worried about getting their RV dirty and need their GPS to find campgrounds, then this isn't the trip for them either.
We'll be driving back next year for trip #11.
sue t.
Pictures from our many RV Adventures to Yukon & Alaska
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JohnJ
Utah
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Joined: 10/24/2001
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Sorry you didn't enjoy your trip. Our trip to AK followed much the same route without any of the difficulties you seem to have experienced. I can only guess that you went TOO FAR, TOO FAST. We took almost three months to do the trip and had absolutely no damage to either our truck or fifth wheel. I can't imagine driving until 11:00 p.m.
JohnJ
2001 Ford F350 PSD 4x4 Dually
1998 Coachmen Prospera 5th wheel
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Deb and Ed M
SW MI, USA
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Joined: 06/07/2004
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We too, did a "drive-by" of Alaska: Michigan to AK and back in 26 days. Yes, we missed many wonderful things - but it was the only free time we could scrounge up. Better to have seen it briefly, than not at all.
But I thought it was the most incredible, fantastic, scenic trip we've ever taken!! We met awesome people and experienced things that are unlike anywhere else. Yeah - we hit a few bad stretches of road - and laughed about it. The dust in the road construction sections was annoying - until it rained. For days, I had a reminder written in the mud sprayed across the back of the MH: "I will not complain about dust again!"
For me, the "worst" part of the trip was the "taste". What I mean is, that a quick trip to Alaska is like getting a taste of the most delicious food in the world. It haunts you - makes you crave more. Some day I'll go back when we have more time - and I'm gonna PIG OUT!!!!
Deb
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resmas
Alaska
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Joined: 05/05/2008
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Doctor J wrote: We found out that school was still in session and once they let out for the summer near the end of June and July, finding sites became more difficult.
Safeways seem to be everywhere and you will need to get a card. We figured that salmon would be dirt cheap, I mean you can get it for $7/pound in the lower 48. Well, it was $12.99 at Safeway and then only if you had a Safeway card. If you didn't it was $29.99.
I have to disagree with this info.
Schools get out up here about the 3rd week of MAY. School is never in session in June or July. Schools start back up around the 3rd week of August.
And I don't know what salmon you were looking at at Safeway? Maybe the pre-smoked commercially packaged non-refridgerated kind? Fresh reds and silvers run about $4-9 per lb depending on if you buy it whole or fileted. Kings are a bit higher, but I've never seen Kings for over $14lb. Heck, KING CRAB is only $13 a pound here. And you don't HAVE to have a Safeway card, though it does make the "only with card" sale items much cheaper.
I agree with joeb. - I wish you could have saved yourself the money and just not come. But you never know until you try. But hopefully you'll be able to look back in a few years and have a good laugh about the experience.
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M GO BLUE
Southgate, MI
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Joined: 01/29/2001
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I'm still trying to figure if it is posiblew to do Texas to Alaska and back in 30 days AND enjoy it at the same time??? hahahahaha
ERIC & BEV
2005 Chevy Silverado 3500 dually CC/LB Duramax/Allison
2008 Jayco Designer 35RLTS fith wheel
Onan 5500W Marquis Gold gas generator
KEEP A LOOK OUT FOR OUR SPRING 2010 RALLY!
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lonnie4801
Texas
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Joined: 01/22/2005
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Good Sam RV Club
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I made a 3 month trip to Alaska in 2005 and another one this year. In fact we are currently in Canada on our way back to the lower 48. I believe these people took a wrong turn somewhere because they don’t appear to have traveled the same roads I did – and there are only a couple of ways into Alaska and I have taken both of them.
Guess it is a good thing they didn’t take the Top of the World or they would have really trashed that route.
I found the roads to be in good condition with very little construction work. Left Dawson Creek on May 22 on the Alcan.
As for the dust, these people are from Odessa, Texas. I retired from Lubbock, 125 miles north of Odessa, and have worked in and around Odessa for years. You have to clean the dust off your TV screen daily to see what’s on. I never encountered dust on either trip like the dust we have in West Texas.
Let’s get real – 8,000 miles in a month in an RV and expect to have fun. For people that don’t expect, or want to experience difficulties experienced by citizens in other parts of the, world the best solution is to stay home.
I for one will make the trip again in a couple of years. Glad to see others are going to stay away – makes driving easier.
Everyone is entitled to an opinion and this is mine.
Lonnie and Sue
2007 HR Ambassador 40'
2008 Chevy Colorado Z71 4x4 Crew Cab
West Texas, Retired
Fulltimers. No more grass to cut, no more leaves to rake, and can move if we don't like our neighbors.
States we spent time in, drive throughs not marked.
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JCGibson
In the Missouri Ozarks
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Joined: 08/01/2006
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There are also cheaper bus rides into Denali national park than $82. The green buses up there don't provide lunch for you (you have to bring your own food and drinks for the day), but you can go much farther into the park on them.
DH and I
2 teenagers
Boo (cat)
Bella (new puppy)
Buddy (dog) R.I.P 1995-2009
'08 Dodge 3500 Megacab w/Cummins Diesel
'09 Heartland Big Horn 3400RE
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Luke Porter
Not on the road :(
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Joined: 10/03/2000
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joe b. wrote:As has been mentioned before, driving to Alaska is not for everyone. It is too bad those that don't enjoy the trip, can't figure it out in advance that it isn't for them.
Yeah, this guy should have figured it out before leaving Calgary--or maybe even before leaving the States.
States I have spent the night in my current rig, bought three years ago.
Have RV'ed through 49 states and been in all 50, just short of my half-century.
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