catkins
Washington
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Joined: 10/27/2003
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We have a 36' Winnebago towing a Vue. Have a Rock Solid shield (3-4" ground clearance). Concerned about the gravel stretches of road we will travel next summer in Alaska. I am a cautious driver and know I will need to slow down on those gravel stretches and hope those coming the other way have also!
Leave the rock solid shield on or take off? Would you install a Protect-a tow or similar shield for the Vue??
Anything else I need to think about? We will be staying in campgrounds and not heading off onto back roads with this RV. LOL
Thanks for your experienced wisdom!
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NevadaJim
Minden Nevada U.S.A.
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Joined: 11/04/2004
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We used a Protect-A-Tow the rock guard will kick up the gravel at times. We also put screening in front of the radiator and behind the grill to protect the radiator on both the MH and tow. Other things people forget are heavy duty extension cord at least 50 ft.,tow rope/cord better safe than sorry and a heavy duty jack and lug wrench and spare tire most MH's don't have these. Have fun
JimandJerry@charter.net
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Huck BB62
Alaska
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Joined: 08/03/2007
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You can pretty much count on getting rocks, period. There's no avoiding it. Anything and everything you can do to protect the front of your vehicles can pay off. I've talked to some that have escaped without so much as a chip. Others have had all sorts of trouble. Take an extra air filter too because if it's not muddy, it's dusty!
Talking to my father-in-law who made the run between Fairbanks and Deadhorse for a living, you want to get as close to the oncoming truck as you can as it doesn't allow rocks time to make it off of the ground far enough to take out your windshield.
A few tips:
Slow down, way down. This fall when we drove the AlCan, I could hardly believe the speed that some people drive their RVs. The frost heaves can range from mild to wild. If you don't care about your rig, go fast! There's usually little red flags on the side of the road marking the big stuff, but not always. The frost heaves can shift diagonally, this will have the obvious results.
A lot of the rough stuff is road construction and you will be escorted through here. Do NOT feel compelled to keep up with the pace car. Feel free to back way off of the vehicle in front of you.
Pull off frequently to allow people by. You can see way behind you and know that someone's going to catch you. I use the pullover opportunities for taking pictures, walking around the RV to look at it, check the trailer etc. For the life of me, I don't understand the hard core guys that wait until five cars and trucks stack up behind them. You see, up here, this takes a LONG time for this to happen. While someone's within their right to keep driving with only four vehicles piled up behind them, it's an awful practice an is insensitive as they may be stuck behind you for a miles and miles. This does not endear RV owners to the driving public and can cause people to try to pass when it's dangerous. When they DO pass you at speed instead of you pulling over, your chances for the gravel hitting you go way up, don't blame them.
Try to take the opportunity to travel the haul road to Deadhorse. This road goes from Fairbanks to Deadhorse. In some areas, it's desolate, in others, it's amazing, simply amazing. You can boondock at numerous pullouts but the desolation is not for the timid and those used to calling up help. You can always step out on the road though and a flag down someone to help.
I can recommend the fall, right before the cold snaps for Alaska traveling. The colors are amazing and there's a definite reduction in fellow travelers. There's so much to see, it's a different world.
At any rate, you'll love it and will never forget it. Alaska sightseeing makes everything else seem small and compressed. Keep in touch!
As I type this, the snow is softly falling, signaling the beginning of the whiteness that will stay with us for awhile. The studs are on, the pink stuff's pumped, and the world seems so clean and beautiful. I think that a January/February Hawaii vacation is in the works!
'07 Roadtrek Popular 210
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hwybnb
Southern California
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Joined: 05/02/2001
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You are going to get a lot of different opinions on this but we made the trip in a 30' MH equipped with a Rock Solid, towing a Ford Explorer, and had no problem other than a few minor paint chips on the Ford. We did have the Ford's windshield covered with a piece of outdoor carpet which may have prevented chips in the glass. I you are fussy about such things and want maximum protection go with the Protect-A-Tow or something similar.
Do not use a bra or other soft cover on the toad. Dirt and rocks will get trapped under it and do a lot of damage.
If you choose to add screening in front of the radiator do not use anything smaller than 1/4", else you risk over-heating due to restricted air flow.
Drive slow and enjoy the views.
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Popsie
Livingston, TX, USA
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Joined: 04/04/2003
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To avoid rocks kicked up by traffic, all you have to do is observe that when a car or truck kicks up a rock, it always goes out behind the direction of travel (and sometimes partly to the side as well).
Therefore, on a rocky road, (1) stay well back of any vehicles ahead of you going your way, and (2) when someone is coming toward you in the other direction - pull as far to the right as possible and stop until they pass by.
curious Bob - we fulltime with our Cairn Terrier, in 01 National Islander, and 00 Saturn LW2
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JUrban
Delaware
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Joined: 06/28/2004
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I'd definitely agree with Huck BB62. We went up for the first time in 2006 for the once in a lifetime experience. We did over 200 miles on dirt and gravel and had a ball. We were back the next year. It's that kind of place. This year had some grandkids graduating but we'll be off again in 2009. We use a A Coastline Cover and have no problems with rocks or dirt under it as long as we beat the dirt out after a particularly dusty run. We have had 2 of these, one for the last toad and one for the pickup we pull now. We'll get another if we ever replace the truck.
John
2008 Tiffin Allegro Bus 40' QSP
2006 Chevrolet Colorado Toad
BlueOx Aventa LX Tow Bar
SMI Air Force One toad brake
Copilot Live Laptop 10 GPS
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mcgillagorilla
north pole ak
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Joined: 01/02/2004
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i would also carry a spare fuel filter and maybe a belt serpentine or whatever fits your engine in case you break one be careful and take your time and take lots of pictures
bob mcgill
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flylipsdaddy
Michigan
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Joined: 03/25/2008
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And,before you start your toad-look under the hood for dirt and rocks that may be jammed up in there.Spare belt,you bet.Also on the long mountains you'll be climbing-I put the heater on hot and the fan on high{we're talkin MOUNTAINS here}8 miles of 8-10% grades made my engine run alittle hotter than I'd like.
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Gene-C
So. Ilinois
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Joined: 12/02/2000
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I have made two trips to Alaska 2005,&2007. Dodge diesel pickup pulling a 30ft TT. 13,000 miles each trip and 82 days and 80 days respectively. Never had a flat tire on the truck and never broke a headlight or windshield. Got one rock chip in the windshield on interstate 90 in So Dakota while going up. Had two flat tires on the TT. The TT got some rock chips the first trip which was caused from the mud flaps on the truck being to close to the ground( about three inches). It would drag on some of the gravel roads and cause the rocks to fly up into the TT. Second trip I raised the flaps a couple inches and never had a problem.
The dust was bad if it was dry. Good advice to take a FEWspares like fuel filter and fan belt.
The roads in Alaska and the Alaska hwy are good roads. Yes there will be some construction but nothing much worst than the lower 48. The roads that are gravel like the TWH or part of the Cassier will be graded smooth unless there has been rain. Then it will be messy. Don't get worked up about it. Thousand of people drive it each year and you can to.
It is the most beautiful place I have ever been and you will see things you will never forget.
The fun is in the adventure of getting there not getting to the end.
Gene-C
01 Mckenzie Medallion 31ft TT, 01 Dodge Ram diesel,Honda CT110 trail bike On the rear,14 ft boat on the roof of the truck. Finally retired.
South in the winter and North in the summer
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garym114
Texas
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Joined: 07/24/2006
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I used the protect-a-tow on the trip up last year with no damage at all on the toad. The MH just has mud flaps on the rear wheels. Got a little ding in the film protection on front of the MH from meeting a rock hauler. Having emergency road service is easier than hauling a spare around if you don't have one. The frost heaves don't start till you get to Destruction Bay in the Yukon.
In Alaska a lot of the commercial RV parks are just side by side parking with hookups. The most scenic campsites are the state and US forest service campgrounds with more of room between sites. They have no hookups so be prepared to boondock.
Learn how to use your engine/transmission for breaking if you haven't had to do it, before you get to the first big downhill grade.
2000 Sea Breeze with 1998 CRV Toad in Dawson Creek - Start of Alaska Highway
Don't Forget - USS Liberty, June 08, 1967
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