davidnrose
Hemet, Ca. (winter)
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Joined: 07/27/2001
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we're planning on driving our 2001 Dutchstar motorhome to Alaska this summer. I'm going to order a Protect-A-Tow to help protect my tow car. I've heard that removing the large mud flap from the rear of the MH a good idea. Any comments on this? also how can I help to protect my windshield and headlights on the tow car. I guess I'm pretty concerned about the loose stones on the roads up there.
Thanks in advance for any tips.
David and Rosemary- fulltime rvers
2001 Newmar Dutchstar Cat 300hp
2010 Honda CRV toad
originally from Maumee, Ohio
"All Who Wander Are Not Lost"
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Joy
Henderson KY 42420
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Joined: 08/10/2001
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The PAT will protect your car. We didn't encounter any large stone damage but we did get about a million "flea bites" in the windshield. We didn't have any protection for our toad at that time except the rock shield on the MH. In our caravan of 22 rigs, only one rig had any large stone damage - that one put a hole in a windshield, tho! It was thrown by a semi going way too fast in the opposite direction thru a construction area.
See ya' down the road!
Don-SCPO USN Ret.Corpsman
Joy-Ret.Off.Mgr.
Maggie-Chihuahua
Chrissie-Chihuahua
Lucy-Jack/Rat
'06 42' Allegro Bus DP
'06 Saturn Vue
LIFE ISN'T ABOUT HOW TO SURVIVE THE STORM BUT HOW TO DANCE IN THE RAIN.
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Wally Walleye
Shohola Pa
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Joined: 11/29/2005
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When we traveled to Alaska we protected our toad's windshield using a windshield sun reflector purchased at Wallymart. Sewed nylon straps on each cornor. Place the sheild on the outside of the windsheild, opened both drivers and passenger doors, put straps inside toad and tied top straps together and bottom straps together. Straps must be long enough to reach one another on the inside. Closed the doors, The straps are flat and do not interfer with closing the doors.That held the shield on the outside of the windshield while driving. It provided just enough padding to protect the windshield. Most rocks that were thrown up hard enough came from oncoming traffic, sorry to say they were mostly RVers that were in a hurry to travel 6000 miles in 3 weeks. Drive slow on gravel roads, Have fun and enjoy AK it is a trip of a life time.
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lonnie4801
Texas
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Joined: 01/22/2005
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Two trips to Alaska without the large mud flap. As stated, all it does is throw rocks when it touches the ground. However, I do have a hula skirt on the MH. It keep a lot of the dust off of the tow.
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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2gypsies
Enjoying the West!
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Joined: 04/02/2003
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We made the trip in 2009. We left Arizona with a crack in the Jeep's windshield and didn't get it fixed thinking we'd just get another in Alaska. Well, we returned to Arizona after the trip with the same crack! We had absolutely no damage to the motorhome or the Jeep. We didn't do anything special to protect either. We just drove SLOW. When driving on a gravel area and if a truck or even a car approaches you from the other direction, pull to the right side as far as you can. Sometimes we even stopped completely if no cars were behind us. We did not have the mud flap across the rear but we did talk to others in Whitehorse who were removing them because of rocks flying onto their towed. I think the main thing is to keep it slow and enjoy the scenery. Have a great trip!
Extremely Happy Full-Timers for 16 years
.... now trying to adjust to 3-season traveling - and it isn't easy! 
2004 40' Newmar Dutch Star Diesel Pusher
2004 Jeep Liberty
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Tee Jay
Port Angeles, WA
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Joined: 11/25/2007
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If your flap hits the road at maximum spring action you will have a hailstorm of rock on the towed. And you will not slow down soon enough to prevent it. No reflection on you, some just come too suddenly. But the section from Destruction Bay to the border is definite slow down country.
I am told an underskirt solves this. But loose the hangy-downy flap or raise it to eliminate the issue.
Rocks happen. We have been hit several times in Oregon, but not so much to and from Alaska.
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davidnrose
Hemet, Ca. (winter)
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Thanks everyone for all your great tips, goes to show what a great forum this is! For a follow up question, does anyone have any regrets or is there anything you would definitely do or not do if you went to Alaska again. Thanks!
a
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Ivylog
Blairsville, Ga. USA
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Joined: 06/30/2004
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David, a friend went last year in a 2001 Dutch Star with a side radiator. On the way back near Chicken, AK his radiator started leaking putting the engine in limp mode. A shade tree mech was able to crimp off the tube that was leaking and he made it back home to GA. He had to replaced both the radiator and fan as they were eaten up by the rocks as was the front of his jeep. He says he would put a chicken wire shield between the radiator and rear tires to keep the bigger rocks from getting in plus something to keep them off the front of the jeep. Fortunately he had State Farm insurance that paid for the repair and half of the front windshield.
This post is my opinion (free advice). It is not intended to influence anyone's judgment nor do I advocate anyone do what I propose.
04 Monaco Dynasty 42' quad slide
Where am I?
How I tow.
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sd1209
Fallbrook, Ca
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I took my wife's yoga/workout mat and cut it about 2" larger than the outside of the windshield....Put small 3" velcro strips around the w/s and matched it on the mat.....about 6 velcro's in all, very hard to see even if looking for them.....I put the mat on the outside of the w/s with the velcro and also under the wipers......Did this a few mos ago after quite a few small dings from rocks, etc.....Now----after a new w/s and over 2K miles with this 5 dollar setup not even one ding....
About 1K miles ago I noticed the front grill area with quite a few very small dings from rocks....Took my wife's new mat and did the exact same thing for the grill.....It stays in place with about 8 small velcos strips, again very hard to see even if looking for them....Worked fine....
Looking for a use for my wife's 3rd mat in 6 mos now....
Steve and Liz
Fallbrook, Ca
2006 Gulfstream Independence 30' 3 slides....V-10...
2010 Wrangler w/Blue Ox Towbar, Baseplate and braking system
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