'22 GX460 on the ALCAN

[Rednexus]

View attachment 4000951
Here's the setup as towed - the back sags a little more than I'd like, but for one trip, I didn't really feel like modifying the suspension. I haven't had any issues with sway after 800 miles of highway driving, but still contemplating a WDH. I've got a few weeks to make that call - I'm mostly concerned with fatiguing the rear suspension. I don't have a tongue weight, but weight is as evenly distributed across the axle as I could make it.

I'd throw a set of Firestone bags (around $120) in the rear. You can easily adjust for that small of a trailer with 10-20 psi in the bags. You'll need to pull the rear coils, cut down the isolators, install the bags, and run the hoses, which is a few hours of work but not overly complicated. I run them in my GX470 and they leveled out a 5,800 pound trailer. Presumably you are going to have a compressor with you anyway, but if not they can be inflated with a bike pump.

A WDH setup is great for a big trailer, but is a pain for daily use and will cost a lot more than bags. I can also see the arms, chains, etc. getting caked with ice/snow if you are driving it in winter conditions. At that point it might preclude unhooking from the trailer.

Just FYI, I totally trashed a set of Ironman coils on my GX after towing our camper about 2,000 miles. They were initially fine with the bags at 30 psi, but I ended up needing 50 psi to level the rig and more or less ruined the bags in the process. So, it's certainly a "real" thing. My camper was probably much heaver than that small enclosed trailer. I now have Dobinson's variable rate rear coils - which did great with the 5,800 pound trailer and 30 psi in the bags.

 

[Cold Iron]

I second the Firestone Ride Rite bags, had them on my Taco. With Daystar cradles for off road use so I didn't stretch them and plumbed individually.

Because my 19 is a Lux I don't need to bag it though because the factory already did it for me

 

[re_guderian]

Going through this thread. Daughter and son-in-law heading up to Fairbanks for the military from TX, leaving late October. No choice in the dates, and pushing to leave sooner, but unlikely. Assuming snow/winter storms are possible. Going to be interesting. Would appreciated hearing from folks who have done it in the late Oct/early Nov time frame. Honestly a little nervous about the weather more than anything. Three full size pickups pulling 2 big trailers.

 

[Rednexus]

Going through this thread. Daughter and son-in-law heading up to Fairbanks for the military from TX, leaving late October. No choice in the dates, and pushing to leave sooner, but unlikely. Assuming snow/winter storms are possible. Going to be interesting. Would appreciated hearing from folks who have done it in the late Oct/early Nov time frame. Honestly a little nervous about the weather more than anything. Three full size pickups pulling 2 big trailers.

The photo I posted with the Gladiator was October 21, 2022. For that trip, our local contacts said that the weather could turn pretty quickly by early November. We had maybe 5" of snow around the BC/YT boundary but the road was mostly plowed. I'm no expert on the ALCAN but I'd personally be nervous heading up the in November and (if I was going), would bring lots of sleeping bags and other emergency supplies so I could spend a night or two in the rig if something happens (I actually do that down here when we get the below-zero arctic blasts - as there have been multiple instances in the past decade of people getting stranded overnight on the interstate due to pile-ups).

 

[chapo19]

@re_guardian - I recognize that I haven't made this drive, but for what it's worth, I'm preparing for the worst case: additional gas can, fire-starting supplies, numerous emergency blankets, 2 sleeping bags, camp burner, wilderness survival first aid kit (tourniquet, Israeli bandages, etc), road flares, tire patch kit, a snow suit, 3 meals worth of non-perishable food, a GPS emergency locator, and several flashlights. In addition, I've got a battery jumpstarter + tire inflator, and snow tires to swap on with chains as a backup. Not sure what I've overlooked, but I feel reasonably prepared.

 

[re_guderian]

The photo I posted with the Gladiator was October 21, 2022. For that trip, our local contacts said that the weather could turn pretty quickly by early November. We had maybe 5" of snow around the BC/YT boundary but the road was mostly plowed. I'm no expert on the ALCAN but I'd personally be nervous heading up the in November and (if I was going), would bring lots of sleeping bags and other emergency supplies so I could spend a night or two in the rig if something happens (I actually do that down here when we get the below-zero arctic blasts - as there have been multiple instances in the past decade of people getting stranded overnight on the interstate due to pile-ups).

Appreciate the insights. Like I said, not much choice in dates, SIL has a reporting date in Fairbanks. Group will be 3 trucks, 2 one-tons that will be pulling large trailers, and a "spare" 3/4 ton truck for emergencies. 4 total drivers between the 3 rigs so we can switch off/support as needed. Progress is going to be slow, and we're planning for that. Will definitely plan for being stranded in snow/cold. I'm an Arizona resident for the last 30 years, so having a hard time wrapping my head around the temps, haha. Wanna go out in the desert at 120 degrees? No problem. -20? Uh, wut???

 

[Devils Paw 80]

Appreciate the insights. Like I said, not much choice in dates, SIL has a reporting date in Fairbanks. Group will be 3 trucks, 2 one-tons that will be pulling large trailers, and a "spare" 3/4 ton truck for emergencies. 4 total drivers between the 3 rigs so we can switch off/support as needed. Progress is going to be slow, and we're planning for that. Will definitely plan for being stranded in snow/cold. I'm an Arizona resident for the last 30 years, so having a hard time wrapping my head around the temps, haha. Wanna go out in the desert at 120 degrees? No problem. -20? Uh, wut???

Excellent idea to allow yourselves plenty of time, in the event of snow and/or ice. There's a decent chance you will have good road conditions for most, if not all, of the route. -20 is unlikely. You shouldn't see temps below 0F IMO.

 

[Rednexus]

Appreciate the insights. Like I said, not much choice in dates, SIL has a reporting date in Fairbanks. Group will be 3 trucks, 2 one-tons that will be pulling large trailers, and a "spare" 3/4 ton truck for emergencies. 4 total drivers between the 3 rigs so we can switch off/support as needed. Progress is going to be slow, and we're planning for that. Will definitely plan for being stranded in snow/cold. I'm an Arizona resident for the last 30 years, so having a hard time wrapping my head around the temps, haha. Wanna go out in the desert at 120 degrees? No problem. -20? Uh, wut???

Honestly the grizzlies up there had me the most nervous - as I went on a solo hike around Carcross on my weekend in Whitehrose (which is actually a really cool town). I felt at ease after a few minutes in the woods, however. Later that evening I went to the hot springs outside of Whitehorse and was talking to a couple of local guys. I mentioned my relaitve unease in grizzly country, and they asked if we have poisonous snakes and spiders at home (we do, but I'm sure you have way more in AZ). They then noted they were just as uneasy around those as I was being in grizzly country. It's all relative .

I would definitely add bear spray (1 can per truck) or other suitable (e.g., lead-based) predator defense to your packing list. Also, it didn't get light until like 8:30 AM when I was in Whitehorse in October. Kind of makes getting an early start impossible unless you want to drive the ALCAN at dark.

 

[re_guderian]

Honestly the grizzlies up there had me the most nervous - as I went on a solo hike around Carcross on my weekend in Whitehrose (which is actually a really cool town). I felt at ease after a few minutes in the woods, however. Later that evening I went to the hot springs outside of Whitehorse and was talking to a couple of local guys. I mentioned my relaitve unease in grizzly country, and they asked if we have poisonous snakes and spiders at home (we do, but I'm sure you have way more in AZ). They then noted they were just as uneasy around those as I was being in grizzly country. It's all relative .

I would definitely add bear spray (1 can per truck) or other suitable (e.g., lead-based) predator defense to your packing list. Also, it didn't get light until like 8:30 AM when I was in Whitehorse in October. Kind of makes getting an early start impossible unless you want to drive the ALCAN at dark.

Bear spray gets confiscated at the CA border. Will have to buy up there. we don't plan on getting out and recreating. It's a moving trip, so all business this time.

 

[Rednexus]

Bear spray gets confiscated at the CA border. Will have to buy up there. we don't plan on getting out and recreating. It's a moving trip, so all business this time.

I had to buy a can for around $50 CAD, and ended up leaving it dangling from a branch at the trailhead. Kind of a waste, but worth it to hike in such a gorgeous place. Having a can in the rig certainly be good if you were to get stuck somewhere - or even for making a "nature calls" stop on the way up there.

 

[chapo19]

Update from the road - I've made it to Boise, camped just outside Grand Teton last night and played on the trails for a bit this morning.
- I followed the crowd's recommendation and installed the RedArc Elite - what. a. difference. Thanks for steering me that way. I put the control knob right above the gas tank release, and have only hit it with my knee getting in/out twice so far.
- I made it as far as Kansas before I determined I needed a WDH. I'm not sure if my loading is uneven, but between the rear squat and sway when I hit windy Kansas, I opted to upgrade. This has also made a huge difference in controllability, especially in Colorado, Wyoming, and Idaho where crosswinds on the highway have been extreme. (Side note: if you're in the Wichita area and need anything trailer or camper related, I highly recommend Trailers and Hitches Inc on Quail Road in Augusta. They went above and beyond).

Will update post-Yukon as I get into Alaska!

 

[re_guderian]

We made the trip from Killeen, TX to Fairbanks no problem in 10 days (4,000 miles) with the kids with a minimum of drama. One trailer tire blow out, an electrical issue on one truck, quick trailer brake wire fix, and a few stolen load straps. Weather was fantastic, relatively speaking. Only one day of snowfall, and about 500 miles of snowpacked roads. Return Trip to Phoenix was a little worse in terms of roads and snow, but still not very stressful. One entire day of about 45mph, but that's it. Many services closed for the winter. We had 10 gallons of diesel in Jerry cans. Cold enough to require anti gel.

 

[Devils Paw 80]

We made the trip from Killeen, TX to Fairbanks no problem in 10 days (4,000 miles) with the kids with a minimum of drama. One trailer tire blow out, an electrical issue on one truck, quick trailer brake wire fix, and a few stolen load straps. Weather was fantastic, relatively speaking. Only one day of snowfall, and about 500 miles of snowpacked roads. Return Trip to Phoenix was a little worse in terms of roads and snow, but still not very stressful. One entire day of about 45mph, but that's it. Many services closed for the winter. We had 10 gallons of diesel in Jerry cans. Cold enough to retire anti gel. View attachment 4035858View attachment 4035859View attachment 4035860

Great photos. Do you recall the location in the first one?

 

[r2m]

We made the trip from Killeen, TX to Fairbanks no problem in 10 days (4,000 miles) with the kids with a minimum of drama. One trailer tire blow out, an electrical issue on one truck, quick trailer brake wire fix, and a few stolen load straps. Weather was fantastic, relatively speaking. Only one day of snowfall, and about 500 miles of snowpacked roads. Return Trip to Phoenix was a little worse in terms of roads and snow, but still not very stressful. One entire day of about 45mph, but that's it. Many services closed for the winter. We had 10 gallons of diesel in Jerry cans. Cold enough to retire anti gel. View attachment 4035858View attachment 4035859View attachment 4035860

That is absolutely awesome! That's been on my bucket list for some time now. Although, we'd like to make it all the way up to Dead Horse. Google Maps says it's a 68 hour drive, so I'm thinking, about a week to 10 days to get up there?

 

[re_guderian]

Great photos. Do you recall the location in the first one?

Southbound, between Beaver Creek and Destruction Bay. Lemme see if the photo has more precise coordinates.

 

[re_guderian]

That is absolutely awesome! That's been on my bucket list for some time now. Although, we'd like to make it all the way up to Dead Horse. Google Maps says it's a 68 hour drive, so I'm thinking, about a week to 10 days to get up there?

Winter will add time. Multiple rigs added time. Traveling with 4 dogs added time. Traveling with trailers and heavy loads added time (we passed exactly no one in 4000 miles). We made it from Fairbanks to Phoenix doing exactly nothing but driving and sleeping in six days. No stops for scenery, etc. It WILL take longer than you plan. I will definitely do the Dead Horse trip, but not in the winter. Car rentals for gravel roads are EXPENSIVE up there.

 

[re_guderian]

Great photos. Do you recall the location in the first one?

62.180250,-140.670849, looking ssw, between Snag Junction and Dry Creek

 

[Rednexus]

Those pictures make me want to skip work for about a month and make the drive! Glad I got to see the small piece I did a few years ago, but the whole thing would be even better.

 

[MallCrl]

That is absolutely awesome! That's been on my bucket list for some time now. Although, we'd like to make it all the way up to Dead Horse. Google Maps says it's a 68 hour drive, so I'm thinking, about a week to 10 days to get up there?

From the East coast to Prudhoe in 10 days is absolutely possible in the summer if you aren't stopping for the tons of sights along the way (especially through the Canadian Rockies).

The Milepost (the AK driving bible effectively) really talked up the drive time up the Dalton vs. what we experienced... We made it from Fairbanks to Coldfoot before lunch, and because we couldn't move up our "put your feet in the water" reservation, ended up just hanging out in Coldfoot for the rest of the day, and again, were in Deadhorse before lunch time. The drive south we did in a single shot from Deadhorse to the AK/Canadian border, which was a bit of a long haul, but Deadhorse to Fairbanks in a single shot was totally doable, even with a bit of snow and lots of muddiness along the Dalton.

 

[folivier]

An alternative to Prudhoe Bay is from Dawson City take the Dempster Hwy. to Tuktoyaktuk. There are hotels in Inuvik before Tuk. We drove that this summer, not in my GX but with friends in a Honda CRV and Jeep Rubicon. Walked into the Arctic at Tuk. Great trip, much less traffic than the Dalton, only a couple semis. No oilfield traffic.