Alaska Cruiser Trek 2008

[Mark W]

Originally Posted by D'Animal

So how water proof are the factory connections on a 3FE?

Hit them with a good dose of silicon grease and they will be happy... seal the seams of the ecu with silicon sealant. And a good does of grease for the plug sockets too.


No worries... I have a picture somewhere of my SOA '62 with a coating of .5-1 inch of flash frozen ice up to the windshield after repeated bashing in and out f a deep trench through a semi frozen creek at about -10F. Was in the water for several minutes total and no problems with the connections. Took days to get th starter dry enough so that t did not free when th rig was parked. But no problems with any connections.


Mark...

[Mark W]

Originally Posted by cardinal33

santa brought some dry sacks a body lift ARB lockers and a compressor and some other fun necessities - work starts now - on a scale of 1 to 10 how bad are the skeeters going to be?

For the most part bugs will be a minimal concern on this trip. A lot of time in th higher country. Very little time in swamp or heavily wooded areas with standing water. There are a couple of routes that we may take a look at which will present challenge in terms of mud and soft terrain. The mosquitoes are usually part of the package in those areas. No expectations of camping in any of these areas though.

You DO want bug dope... head nets are usually overkill... but can be handy to have.

Mosquitoes don't like me. To nasty for them I guess... but if you are sensitive to them, we may be in some spots that will drive you nuts... but again, not for the most part.


Mark...

[Mark W]

Originally Posted by Ratpuke

Screw that. I'll go.

Damn... if Ratpuke offers to rid shotgun... I'd make damn sure I had a seat open!


Mark...

[Mark W]

Originally Posted by DSLTOY

Thanks for the info.
Another question for those that have wheeled in AK, hard top or soft top, I have both but rarely run either down here as our trails always have off camber sections next to trees and tops don't survive.

This run will not have much of th heavy brush that can b so hard on soft tops. The hard top is a bit nicer in water crossings... the hard doors anyway.


Mark...

[Mark W]

Originally Posted by DSLTOY

Todd and I are planning on leaving TN on the 5 th and driving about 20 hrs/day. Our plan was to recover/relax at Tok but if people at going to meet in Anchorage we could drop the trailer and go down to anchorage., our passengers are flying into Anchorage and we had made arrangements with a friend that lives there to get them to Tok. I looked at the Chamber of Commerce website for Tok and it looks like there are stores and supplies there, is this true? What is the best place to leave our Tow Rig and Trailer?

I will be getting back to this later... but currently my plan is to cam at the Tok River, about a mile in from the highway crossing... 20 or so miles out of Tok. I will be there Friday, with the Trek starting Sat morning. We will have the radios turned on sh that you can call us when you reach the river. The run into the rally point may b daunting if you are not used to water crossings. We will come out and meet you at the road unless we are already there.

If it turns out that all of the folks up from th 48 are staying in Tok the last night... we can come into town and meet there... we will see how that goes.


Leaving trailers/tow rigs in Tok should work okay... we have also left them at the Mentasta Roadhouse... about 20 mils past the trailhead we will go in at. I am slightly less comfortable leaving rigs thre, due to some of the elements in Mentasta. It is very likely that we will be coming off the trails via Mentasta. if all was to go ideally we would exit the trails at Paxon...about 150 road miles from wher we leave the road.

The "locals" will be heading out from Anchorage and th Mat-Su Valley, so if you do com into town, tow rigs can b dropped at th shop and you can convoy back out with us...


Like I said, this will be revisited... )


Mark...

[Mark W]

Originally Posted by The Dude

Howdy!

My wife just asked an interesting question, how many women are taking the trip?? So far I think it's just her and Medicbob's daughter?

We are getting very excited. I made what I hope is the final order from Cabelas.

My bumpers are almost done (hanging in the garage with paint drying) and I just have to rig up the shower, compressor and do some PM on both axles. Oh, and install the heavy spring for the Dakkars... And order and install the fridge

I thought I was closer to being ready...

we can't wait to meet you all.

any news on MW

I had been expecting that my wife would be riding with me, or driving her rig... I had expected that my youngest daughter (21) and her fiance would be along... look like neither will make it though... Past Treks have had a high ratio of wives and kids participating... this year it is looking much lower.


Mark...

[Mark W]

On the question of fuel. I will be hauling an M416 which will have fuel along with other supplies and gear. The plan is 10-15 gallons per rig. 2-3 50 gallon drums most likely. This is in addition to the minimums listd in th requirements. Expect 5-8 mpg on th trails for the gassers... I get less than 5 often with the big boogers and low gearing. IIRC Bruce got 8mpg with the 3B when he was last summer.


Mark...

[The Dude]

Thanks for posting up Mark. I just told the wife, You just got me really excited!

If needed we can haul a trailer. I would prefer to get one from Alaska so that I don't have to haul mine from SK, but if it is needed for fuel ect let me know, Its a CDN M101 on 9.00R16

[Mark W]

Originally Posted by The Dude

Thanks for posting up Mark. I just told the wife, You just got me really excited!

If needed we can haul a trailer. I would prefer to get one from Alaska so that I don't have to haul mine from SK, but if it is needed for fuel ect let me know, Its a CDN M101 on 9.00R16

I have an M416 and an M100. In the past we have used a single mini-truck w/trailer or to mins for support... fuel and gear. we have fewer rigs this time around so I expect that th single trailer behind my rig will suffice. If the need arises, I will press one of th ACC into towing th second trailer.


Mark...

[Kroll]

Just curious if there is going to be a fitness test done to the vehicles ? Any pre-run inspections and what not.

[Mark W]

Originally Posted by Kroll

Just curious if there is going to be a fitness test done to the vehicles ? Any pre-run inspections and what not.

Casually... If we are aware of any item that does not meet the requirements, that will merit attention... But I am not going to inspect your rig looking for flaws. There are so many things that might possibly become a failure point on a run like this, it is not realistic to expect to catch them all. In fact it is almost certain to b something that would be missed in an inspection..., a clutch fan that fails... a waterpump... alternators dieing from th silt, springs cracking, electric fans dying, axle shafts and birfields snapping, carbs full of water... stuff like that

This is not like a jeep jamboree with hundreds of participants and cases of beer, so I am assuming that everyone who makes it up here is responsible enough not to knowingly bring a rig that is not up to par in ways that a pr-inspection will find.


we have never left anyone at the trailhead.


But if someone did show up with a rig that flat out did not belong on the trail... it could happen I guess


I don't expect that to ever be a factor for the Trek though.




Mark...

[The Dude]

So does this mean we all made the cut...

[BlueHZT60]

This is a day 1 river crossing. Enjoy yourselves

[The Dude]

this is going to be SO much fun!!

[medicbob]

Originally Posted by BlueHZT60

This is a day 1 river crossing. Enjoy yourselves

My 4 inch lift and 35 inch tires are seeming pretty puny right now..checking on floaties

[DSLTOY]

Originally Posted by Mark W

On the question of fuel. I will be hauling an M416 which will have fuel along with other supplies and gear. The plan is 10-15 gallons per rig. 2-3 50 gallon drums most likely. This is in addition to the minimums listd in th requirements. Expect 5-8 mpg on th trails for the gassers... I get less than 5 often with the big boogers and low gearing. IIRC Bruce got 8mpg with the 3B when he was last summer.


Mark...

Mark great to hear from you, we are so looking forward to the trip. Will you be carring any Diesel or do I need to carry a 7 day supply?

[BlueHZT60]

Another Teaser or two The rest I'll leave for your adventure

I'd love some fossils from the rock pile there at the snow. You'll know when you are there. The fossils are full of ammonites (snails) and some trilobites. Bob

[Mark W]

Originally Posted by DSLTOY

Mark great to hear from you, we are so looking forward to the trip. Will you be carring any Diesel or do I need to carry a 7 day supply?

I expect that if I have 10 gallons fr each gasser, I will have 5 per oil burner.


Mark...

[Mark W]

Originally Posted by medicbob

Thanks for the offer. I would love to help you out if I had a way.. Whats your thoughts on needing those gay limb/cable risers for my pertty 80? Much over growth?

Just saw this question, did see if Pat had answered it for you.
no real need.. for th most part we will b n higher country... open spaces and lighter vegetation.


Mark...

[Mark W]

Hey guys... I see a couple of people involved in this discussion, apparently heading up, that I have not talked to, or received applications or entry fees from. If you have not sent me an application in your name for your rig you need to contact me... I will be watching here, and I can be reached at the shop... 907.373.3789... also feel free to call my cel 907.355.4929.



Mark...

[medicbob]

Originally Posted by Mark W

Hey guys... I see a couple of people involved in this discussion, apparently heading up, that I have not talked to, or received applications or entry fees from. If you have not sent me an application in your name for your rig you need to contact me... I will be watching here, and I can be reached at the shop... 907.373.3789... also feel free to call my cel 907.355.4929.



Mark...

I just sent out another updated contact list (3.0) with your numbers included.

[medicbob]

Hey Mark, I don't have a CB. I have a ham and a couple of GMRS radios. Will this suffice?

[Mark W]

Originally Posted by medicbob

Hey Mark, I don't have a CB. I have a ham and a couple of GMRS radios. Will this suffice?

A cb would be helpful just because I do not expect everyone to have a 2m... I will be running both and I expect that one or more of our locals will as well. all of the Alaskans will have cbs. And I expect that all of us from up here will have a GMRS or four in the rig


It is frustrating in the extreme to have to try to coordinate with a few people communicating on one frequency and a couple on another


One or the other is a requirement... Th GMRS are nice for out of vehicle use... I love them for than... but when traveling the trail... we have found that they are almost always not loud enough to hear in a modified FJ40... and they can be a pain n th ass because people don't secure them... you are calling them and the radio has bounced under the seat :(


I may have some cbs and mag antennas that can be tossed in rigs real quick
I have to look as see what is on th shelf

even a hand held is better than nothing... of course it has some of th same limitations that th hand heald GMRS has

if every one has a 2m... tht is by far the best... but I do not expect that to happen.


Mark...

[medicbob]

Originally Posted by Mark W

A cb would be helpful just because I do not expect everyone to have a 2m... I will be running both and I expect that one or more of our locals will as well. all of the Alaskans will have cbs. And I expect that all of us from up here will have a GMRS or four in the rig


It is frustrating in the extreme to have to try to coordinate with a few people communicating on one frequency and a couple on another


One or the other is a requirement... Th GMRS are nice for out of vehicle use... I love them for than... but when traveling the trail... we have found that they are almost always not loud enough to hear in a modified FJ40... and they can be a pain n th ass because people don't secure them... you are calling them and the radio has bounced under the seat :(


I may have some cbs and mag antennas that can be tossed in rigs real quick
I have to look as see what is on th shelf

even a hand held is better than nothing... of course it has some of th same limitations that th hand heald GMRS has

if every one has a 2m... tht is by far the best... but I do not expect that to happen.


Mark...

Thanks Mark. I have a handheld CB but it is a p.i.a. JUst another excuse to spend money! Now to decide on using my RTT or rough it. cya