elh0146
Sioux Falls, SD
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Joined: 01/13/2002
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RED903L wrote:We're planning on leaving So. California in late August, and we're on no time schedule as we'll both be retired by then.
IMO, that's way too late. If you're both not going to be retired until then, consider waiting until 2010 to make the trip so that you can get an earlier start.
Quote:The only suggestions that have been made are:
1. install the shocks that mount between the sleeper over hang and the top front fender/firewall area of the truck, and
2.place an inflated inner tude between the roof of the truck cab and the camper overhang
Why??? We've made 2 trips to Alaska, the first one in a truck camper and didn't have either of these items on our truck and camper. At no time did we have a problem. If the overhang of your camper is bouncing up and down on the roof of your truck, you have some REALLY BIG problems!!!
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elh0146
Sioux Falls, SD
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Joined: 01/13/2002
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joe b. wrote:The Alaska Highway is no longer a wilderness highway but is a good two lane paved road through a beautiful wilderness.
Agreed.
Quote:The trip to Alaska is not at all difficult, just a series of 300 to 500 miles days, one after the other.
Wow, I'm glad we don't travel with you!!! 300 miles in one day is a LONG, LONG day for us...we'd never consider doing 500 miles!!! 
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joe b.
Florida
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Joined: 08/24/2002
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Sounds like two of us are happy we don't travel together. LOL
I travel to Alaska and northern Canada to spend my time in those places, not at campgrounds along the way. If I want to spend time in Kansas or South Dakota, that I will do on a separate trip. I am an early riser and often times I am on the road by 6:30 AM. The best time to see wildlife IMHO. Some days I will have 300 miles in by the time I stop for lunch. Some folks like to sit around the campgrounds till 10 AM and then stop about 3 PM and spend the rest of the day doing whatever they enjoy, drinking, watching TV, reading, hiking, birding, fishing, etc. Last year another forum member made the same comment as above. She said she and her husband took 24 days to get to Alaska compared to the 10 driving days I normally take to get to Fairbanks from south Florida. My only comment to her was that those extra two weeks they took to get to Alaska, I had enjoyed being in Alaska, fishing, hiking, taking photos, visiting friends, and enjoying the north country. Different strokes for different folks.
If a person is making their one and only trip to Alaska, then I can see some shorter days but I am hoping to make at least a total of 15 round trips. The one for this summer will be the 12th round trip to/from Alaska by RV for us. (plus several more by car/pickup and small aircraft) We normally take one day off a week to "take care of business", i.e. laundry, shopping, propane, any vehicle maintenance needed, etc. The length of a driving day so much depends on a persons age, health, enjoyment of driving or not, and their reason for going to Alaska.
joe b.
South Florida, Stuart
Formerly of Colorado and Alaska
Driving a Dodge/Cummins
www.jbpacooper.com web site
http://www.picturetrail.com/jbpacooper Alaska 2004 - Alaska 2006 - Colorado photos
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5thwheeleroldman
Texas
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Joined: 06/26/2007
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We lived and worked out of Anchorage for 2 1/2 years in the mid 1980's. By mid to late September, I was shovelling inches to feet of snow off my driveway. Part of the road back to the lower 48 would probably be worse. Be sure to think ahead as to when you begin your return trip.
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elh0146
Sioux Falls, SD
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Joined: 01/13/2002
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joe b. wrote:Some folks like to sit around the campgrounds till 10 AM and then stop about 3 PM and spend the rest of the day doing whatever they enjoy, drinking, watching TV, reading, hiking, birding, fishing, etc.
Yep, that pretty much describes our traveling style! 
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loggenrock
New Hampshire
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Joined: 06/28/2007
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Resources - Mike and Terri Church's book on Alaska RV camping; Milepost; lots of free stuff from info booths! Check back in this forum - the thread this summer was "On the road to Alaska" - you will find a ton of info there from all of us who were "on the road"! Look at posts from sue.t, joe b., ak traveler, explorenorth - all have valuable input - likely others - these folks all helped us in our planning/travels! ST
2003 Roadtrek 190P Chevy 3500, and a pair of Limmers...
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loggenrock
New Hampshire
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Forgot to mention - "Alaska toursaver" book - costs $100, but gets you "buy 1 - get 1" at many attractions - just using it once for a whalewatch out of Seward saved us $140, so we were "up" $40 just with that, plus many other places like the SeaLife Center, Eldorado Mine, etc. Figured we SAVED over $200 by using this book. ST
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flylipsdaddy
Michigan
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Joined: 03/25/2008
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Thats not leavin much time to see a State that BIG before it all gets covered with snow.Last year we crossed the border in Wa.the last week of May and the timing was perfect-1 to 2 weeks ahead of everybody else.Take atleast 3 months up there and you still won't see "enough".Just goin thru Canada will probably take a week each direction. ENJOY !!
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