Alaska Cruiser Trek 2008

[DSLTOY]

Originally Posted by 73fj

The easiest would be hwy 43 from Edmonton to Grande Prairie. Coming up through Grande Cache is scenic, but the highway is very narrow and has A LOT of oilfield traffic. Plus its uphill all the way from Hinton.

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.

[medicbob]

Originally Posted by Ducks

I've been wavering between an h41 or 4.11 diffs. Why would you recommend the 4.11 diffs over changing the transmission to the h41?

I have an H41 with 4:11's. Changing the diff gears will help mostly with keeping in your power band with larger tires on the highway. In essence keeping the gearing stock and making it easir to pull those long steep grades. Switching to an h41 from an h42 you will see dramatic changes in your crawl ratio and offroad performance (lower crawl ratio). Choose diff gears for highway performance. Chose H41 for offroad. Do both!

[lowenbrau]

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.

Hard

The alders will eat your soft top windows in the first mile. Hardtops survive leaning on trees better too. If its sunny enough to pull the top off, a kazillion mozzies will hatch from the nearest puddle and cause you to put on a bug suit anyway. Ratpuke and I found it better to just 'hotbox' in the Cruiser with a bug coil smoldering in the ashtray.

[coldtaco]

What he said I got some window screen and put it in the rear windows on my70 for the 06 treck did a good job.

[chattfj40]

Originally Posted by coldtaco

What he said I got some window screen and put it in the rear windows on my70 for the 06 treck did a good job.

Hmm, not a bad idea at all! Might even screen the front windows

[DSLTOY]

Guess I better get the porta power out and straighten the body so the hard doors will fit again.
Thanks

[Kroll]

So I sent my form and $300 today!
Looks like I will be leaving Edmonton on July 3rd.
Anyone planning to be in the neighborhood at this time ?

[2ndGenToyotaFan]

Originally Posted by lowenbrau

Ratpuke and I found it better to just 'hotbox' in the Cruiser with a bug coil smoldering in the ashtray.

Now THAT's funny!

[The Dude]

Originally Posted by Kroll

So I sent my form and $300 today!
Looks like I will be leaving Edmonton on July 3rd.
Anyone planning to be in the neighborhood at this time ?

We are planning on heading out on the 5th and then run pretty hard to Anchorage to load up with food, do any repairs etc. and have a few days to relax/prepare for the Trek.

Not sure if guys are getting together for a pre-stage somewhere or not. I am sure that will be determined closer to the date.

[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?

[coldtaco]

Yeah, there are places to shop in Tok. The best place is probably Three Bears and the cheapest gas in town is at the Shell card lock, also run by Three Bears I think. As to safe parking while going to Anchorage, can't help you there. It's about 360mi? to Anchorage from Tok, so I don't know if it's worth driving there and back just for shopping unless you want to play tourist before or after the run.

[Kroll]

Wow 20hrs a day is quite the pace!
I'm planning on doing about ~550km a day. As well stopping at Liard Hot springs for a few days and to spend some time in Whitehorse to visit my passenger's family. Is anyone doing anything interesting on the way back ? I am heading north to dawson city.

[DSLTOY]

Originally Posted by Kroll

Wow 20hrs a day is quite the pace!
.

There wil be two of us driving a 4 door International tow rig with a bed in the back seat, if we manage to get ahead of schedule we will stop at a motel for a night.

[medicbob]

My daughter and I are staying in Tok the 10th and 11th. I believe the motel we are staying in is called the Snowshoe Motel? We called Young’s Motel but they didn’t have any rooms available. July 8th and 9th we have a room at the Puffin Inn in Anchorage. On the way home we are taking a ferry from Haines to Prince Rupert on July 24th. I’m excited about the trip but sick at the gas prices. Headed through Montana on the way up, and down the coast on the way back. Leaving Phoenix around the 21st of June. Hope to be back around the 2nd of August.

[medicbob]

Originally Posted by Ducks

I got an email from him 10 days ago. He said that he has been "really out of town" which for Mark would seem pretty far out. He also mentioned that he has been very busy with non-cruiser related stuff but will start communicating about the ACT in the next week or so.

Time is Flying by for me. A little too fast at times. Anybody else driving an 80 up? Looking at everybody's rigs it looks like I might be the weak link. I'll just keep my strap pre-installed. Any word from Mark lately?

[The Dude]

Yup, it's coming up fast!!

By the looks of things, I think your truck will be just fine. Duck's and Kroll's rigs are under going some modifications, but I don't know exactly what or what stage they are at.

For us I still have a long laundry list:

Spare tire/fuel can swing out (in the works)
Onboard shower (the wife will kill me if I don't get this done)
order up the ARB fridge and install
rebuild front and rear axles
paint hood
figure out how I am going to get everything in the rig and still be able to sleep on the bed in the back!!

I really don't want to haul my M101 up there if I don't have to. Actually I don't mind hauling it up there, I just don't want it to slow us down off the trail. Not sure on what spare to bring either. XML on regular rim or a XL (9.00R16) on a split rime with tubes...

As for Mark, i hope he's still around!! I haven't heard boo from him in months.

[medicbob]

Originally Posted by The Dude

I really don't want to haul my M101 up there if I don't have to. Actually I don't mind hauling it up there, I just don't want it to slow us down off the trail. Not sure on what spare to bring either. XML on regular rim or a XL (9.00R16) on a split rime with tubes...

As for Mark, i hope he's still around!! I haven't heard boo from him in months.

I've been going back and forth on tires. I thouht about driving up and back on all terrains and buying some swampers up there. I am running out of money fast. I think I'll drive up on my KM2's and be done with it. I did decide to use my RTT instead of a tent. I will be on the heavy side. I'm going to try not to worry about it and just realize I'm there for fun and if I get stuck theres plenty of help around. I think from talking to Mark it's going to be more fun than hardcore from previos years. The water crossings is whats the big unknown as far as preparation. I just want my truck drivable after we are done..

[Kroll]

Originally Posted by The Dude

Yup, it's coming up fast!!

By the looks of things, I think your truck will be just fine. Duck's and Kroll's rigs are under going some modifications, but I don't know exactly what or what stage they are at.

For us I still have a long laundry list:

Spare tire/fuel can swing out (in the works)
Onboard shower (the wife will kill me if I don't get this done)
order up the ARB fridge and install
rebuild front and rear axles
paint hood
figure out how I am going to get everything in the rig and still be able to sleep on the bed in the back!!

I really don't want to haul my M101 up there if I don't have to. Actually I don't mind hauling it up there, I just don't want it to slow us down off the trail. Not sure on what spare to bring either. XML on regular rim or a XL (9.00R16) on a split rime with tubes...

As for Mark, i hope he's still around!! I haven't heard boo from him in months.

Well my list still consists of a few goodies.
It just puked snow here in Edmonton, so that put my plans of parking the cruiser a week or so behind!
I still have a lot to do.
-Install rear swing-out tire carrier w/ CB mount.
-Install ARB locker(s) and onboard air system.
-Rebuild tcase.
-Rebuild both births.
-Rebuild my carb.
-Get a new Rad.
-New side engine gaskets.
-Install 4.56s front/rear (If funds allow!)
-Install rear fender flares. (RCMP have given me a few warnings already)
-Mount a dual battery tray and get another D34 Optima battery.

Otherwise my rig should be ready!
I have a few long nights ahead of me.

[chattfj40]

Well it looks like we're all in the same boat so to speak...Here's my to-do list. I have to have most of this done by GSMTR in May, but several things can wait till after...

--New Gauges...95% done, just need to redrill and rotate the parking brake housing to accept the new sender. Should be done tomorrow, fire it up and check for problems

--Metal-Tech Tube Fenders. Pass side is done just needs to be blasted, primed, and painted. Driver's side is about 25% done...should be working on that again tomorrow and hope to have it wrapped up by the end of this weekend

--New IPOR dual rear swing out bumper arrived last Thursday...hope to get that on tomorrow as well, but might have to wait till the weekend. Also got a new Skid plate from them to install as well

--Drawer System, looks like this is gonna have to wait till after GSMTR...oh well

--My idle is kinda high, so I'm burning a lot more gas than normal...seems to be a sticky throttle linkage, changed to a stiffer return spring and that sorta helped, but still not quite there...should be fixed this weekend

--The other project for tomorrow is reinstalling the Diff in Roger's International tow rig. He had it re-geared to allow us to cruise at 75 till we get to Canada...This should prove interesting, as its one heavy bastard!

We'll that's all from Tennessee. We're still looking for that 3rd rig to join us so if anyone sees this that might know someone who wants to go, PM me!

Todd

[lowenbrau]

Originally Posted by chattfj40

--The other project for tomorrow is reinstalling the Diff in Roger's International tow rig. He had it re-geared to allow us to cruise at 75 till we get to Canada...This should prove interesting, as its one heavy bastard!


Todd

What are you planning to do when you get to Canada where the speed limit is 70MPH? Re-gear it so you can go 85 like the rest of the trucks?

[DSLTOY]

Originally Posted by lowenbrau

What are you planning to do when you get to Canada where the speed limit is 70MPH? Re-gear it so you can go 85 like the rest of the trucks?

Just keep driving at 75. I guess I must have screwed up the conversion, though your speed limit was lower the ours.

[chattfj40]

well, when I wrote that I was thinking up farther north...but it didn't come out that way...

I also thought the limits in Canada were 100kph or 62, but hey if their 70...then even better!