Alaska Cruiser Trek 2008

[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]

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]

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]

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]

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:whoops
-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]

--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]

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!

 

[Kroll]

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!

110 km on the big highways, but no one will stop you if you're going 125. you'll blend in just fine!

 

[DSLTOY]

Apparently Mark is processing the registrations, the check I sent with my registration in early Feb. was deposited a couple days ago

 

[AKcruzr]

I just finished driving up (2 weeks ago) the way you are coming, the road was excellent most of the way until I got to the Haines Junction area. The worst part was before and after Tok. After Tok really doesnt matter to you guys but, be forwarned slow waaaay down for the whooops. The worst price for diesel was Watson Lake if I remember correctly $1.49 ltr almost $6. a gallon. Im pretty sure the price has gone up since then. The best price for the trip was Missouri, $3.75 a gallon.

 

[DSLTOY]

Patrick thanks for the road report, did you go through Edmonton or Prince George ? What was the driving time from Tok to Anchorage?

 

[AKcruzr]

Patrick thanks for the road report, did you go through Edmonton or Prince George ? What was the driving time from Tok to Anchorage?

Roger,

I went through Edmonton, I have been through Prince George twice, I really wanted to avoid the mountain areas as much as possible. I dont exactly remember the time from Tok to Anchorage. I would estimate that it took 6 hours and I was not doing the posted speed limit for most of the trip. We actually drove from Haines Junction to Wasilla, we left Haines Junction around 0630 stopped in Tok for lunch and arrived in Wasilla about 1900.
I drove from Great Falls, MT to Wasilla 2500 miles in 4 LONG days, I was the only driver since my wife has NO desire to tow a trailer.

Patrick

 

[AKcruzr]

Roger,
I wouldnt worry too much about a hard top where you will be traveling a soft top will be fine. The trails arent that tight and the willows arent as thick there as they are on other trails up here. There are a couple of people that run soft tops full time up here including me, now that Im back up here.

Patrick

 

[Kroll]

So whats the current count for rigs ?

 

[Clutchee]

Hey folks.....need to introduce myself.....I'll be DSLTOY's passenger
I truly look forward to meetin & helping out during this experience

Need to go ahead & ask for a "favor"
I'll be flying in to participate as will be Chattfj40 brother-we both need a ride to Tok from Anchorage.
Personally I will just be carrying a back pack, my gear will be coming up from TN with DSLTOY in the rig.

My tenative plans are to fly in on the 10th of July to Anchorage & back out on the 20th from Anchorage.

Basically needing a ride to & from.....

Anyone that can help please let me know....