Events/Trails Alaska Road Trip with my new '97 LC

[Buckru]

Ok, wives who don't own 2 cruisers.

 

[NLXTACY]

I had the axle seals from Marlin as well, but after reading a lot stuff on here I may just go with OEM. Everyone agree?.

I'm only commenting on experience but I did a full axle service using everything brand new and decided to try out the Marlin seals. My DS one started leaking after two weeks. The PS one last another six months. Replaced both with OEM. Shouldn't have to touch them again for another 250k.

BTW, if you had your own Filipino you could have done the PHH in half an hour and for $85

:Flipoff2: best money spent ever.

 

[NLXTACY]

If you're talking Canadian border you could just leave your bear spray at home. That stuff can be purchased at any camping store here. Might pay a few bux more but save yourself the hassle.

When I went to Glacier I got hassled for my bear spray only because it wasn't certified for use in Canuckistan. They let me keep it if I didn't use it on Canadian grizzlies.

 

[NLXTACY]

Your not allowed to say things like this in the 80 section for fear of wives reading. They must never know the truth.

That's not why at all! If the Wives knew the truth then they wouldn't release funds for all the needed PM and bad ass mods "required" for the trip. Don't ruin it for the rest of us

 

[MtMan]

BTW, if you had your own Filipino you could have done the PHH in half an hour and for $85

:Flipoff2: best money spent ever.

What was her name?

Bahaha...
Thanks for the feedback on the Marlin seals...I have both so I'll just go OEM.

 

[MtMan]

FOR THE RECORD, I've tried talking to my wife about this stuff and her eyes just glaze over. So I've done my due diligence. Also, she left for a 2 week trip to see family and left me at home alone with the credit card.

 

[80seriesnut]

FOR THE RECORD, I've tried talking to my wife about this stuff and her eyes just glaze over. So I've done my due diligence. Also, she left for a 2 week trip to see family and left me at home alone with the credit card.

NICE!

 

[Photoman]

The high points were the 'Top of the world' highway, Dawson City, Haines, Stewart/Hyder (visit the Bear Man on the mountain in Stewart! HANCOCK HOUSE PUBLISHERS - Great Bears of Hyder AK and Stewart BC - Author Info)

Cheers,

Gord

I am fortunate to be able to have Keith "The Bear Man" Scott as a friend and lucky to have shared time with him. I very much enjoy our conversations when he calls. The world needs more like him.

Picture of Keith. We were following some bear tracks in the snow but lost them on the rocks.

It is a very good idea to carry bear spray. This Brown Bear was curious when a few of us were photographing it and ended up ruining my equipment that it was next to along with a bear safety guys camera gear next to it. Interesting insurance claim.

 

[MtMan]

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• MtMan
• Jun 8, 2017

Ok, I'm dredging this thread up from the dead. All because tomorrow morning we're actually doing it. We're driving to Alaska from Hannibal, MO. 5 years ago we made it as far as glacier national park and the days/nights were getting too cold so we turned around. But now the kids are much older (14, 11, and 6) and I'm currently between jobs with a little money in the bank. The truck is fixed up (I'll make a list soon of all the prep work completed) and the rtt, water tank, and awning are installed. Our itinerary is set for the trip up to Anchorage. But we'll play it by ear once we get there. We're planning on 10 days up. 5-6 weeks total. So, I'll do my best to update the thread when data coverage allows. Otherwise, were looking forward to a trip of a lifetime and making some great memories with the wife and kids. We finally stopped talking about it and just did it.

 

[1973Guppie]

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• MtMan
• Jun 8, 2017

Ok, I'm dredging this thread up from the dead. All because tomorrow morning we're actually doing it. We're driving to Alaska from Hannibal, MO. 5 years ago we made it as far as glacier national park and the days/nights were getting too cold so we turned around. But now the kids are much older (14, 11, and 6) and I'm currently between jobs with a little money in the bank. The truck is fixed up (I'll make a list soon of all the prep work completed) and the rtt, water tank, and awning are installed. Our itinerary is set for the trip up to Anchorage. But we'll play it by ear once we get there. We're planning on 10 days up. 5-6 weeks total. So, I'll do my best to update the thread when data coverage allows. Otherwise, were looking forward to a trip of a lifetime and making some great memories with the wife and kids. We finally stopped talking about it and just did it.

start a new thread!

 

[ajax1]

Nice

 

[musthave]

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• MtMan
• Jun 8, 2017

Ok, I'm dredging this thread up from the dead. All because tomorrow morning we're actually doing it. We're driving to Alaska from Hannibal, MO. 5 years ago we made it as far as glacier national park and the days/nights were getting too cold so we turned around. But now the kids are much older (14, 11, and 6) and I'm currently between jobs with a little money in the bank. The truck is fixed up (I'll make a list soon of all the prep work completed) and the rtt, water tank, and awning are installed. Our itinerary is set for the trip up to Anchorage. But we'll play it by ear once we get there. We're planning on 10 days up. 5-6 weeks total. So, I'll do my best to update the thread when data coverage allows. Otherwise, were looking forward to a trip of a lifetime and making some great memories with the wife and kids. We finally stopped talking about it and just did it.

Enjoy your trip! It's the trip of a lifetime from the sounds of it. Look forward to seeing pics of you and family enjoying the cruiser.

 

[jvazquez53]

I did that trip but backwards, from Anchorage to Utah. Was awesome! However I did it in a soccer's mom vehicle, a Dodge Grand Caravan hauling a small trailer. That was in 1998, I don't know how much the ALCAN has changed, but back then gas stations were about 3 hours apart, same for lodging. Be prepared for road repairs as some of the highway areas are gravel and they get maintained in summer. also watch for vehicles throwing rocks, I had the van's windshield chipped by an oncoming truck. Enjoy the trip!

 

[Peluo]

I second the use of Toyo Open Country MT. Did all of South America with them not one Punture vagamundos4x4 My next trip would be to get to Alaska someday

 

[ThomasMore66]

I'm in.

 

[TrickyT]

Here's another good Alaska trip report for you to read: Trip Report: Dalton Highway in an 80, Plus Introduction

 

[MtMan]

We're driving through Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan right now. Heading to Calgary for the night. We hope to be in a place with wifi for awhile so we can upload pics and commentary. So far just a lot of flat windy roads. Yukon, ho...

 

[Hornd]

Driving Alaska’s Dalton Highway

Trip Report: Dalton Highway in an 80, Plus Introduction

*Sorry for repeat on 2nd Link.

Another Good Alaska Read. I have read and watched it multiple times

Proenneke's Cabin - Lake Clark National Park & Preserve (U.S. National Park Service)

 

[Seth_O]

My wife and I are planning Prudhoe '18 in my '93. Please keep us posted on your travels! I love reading/seeing folks adventures in their rigs. We're not taking the kids though, just us. I am very interested to hear your thoughts on the RTT as I'm debating whether to get one for the trip.

Drive safe!

 

[80inOR]

Just did Portland to Fairbanks in '15 and didn't have any issues at all. I would not worry about a second spare unless you plan on taking the Haul Road up to the North Slope. If you are staying on well traveled roads, your pop-up will be just fine. Some of the roads less traveled might be more of a challenge though. If you can carry extra fuel do so, as some of the smaller towns do not have all night gas stations.

Do NOT take a gun without declaring it, you will lose it for good. You have to fill out form CAFC 909 EF and the border agent must witness you signing the form.

If you are going to be there in late September, you may want to take chains with you. The earliest I have ever seen snow there was early September, but you are almost assured snow by October. The good thing is that the bugs wont be too bad when you get there.

If you had planned on an LED lightbar or something similar...do it. Wildlife abounds on those roads and it will be getting dark early in September.

Plan on construction delays. When we drove through 2 years ago I would say we probably lost about 5 or 6 hours of travel due to construction. It may be much less later in the year. We did our trip in June.

Keep your Camera out and charged. We saw Moose, Bison, Caribou, Bears, mountain goats, etc... all through the trip. You never know what is around the next corner and sometimes just the time to dig out the camera means the shot is gone.

Give yourself a couple of days around Denali, it likes to hide in the clouds. I have been through Denali Park close to a dozen times and have had one good day of unobstructed views.

If you like to fish, there may be some late silver runs and Halibut should still be good. I recommend a charter out of Homer called Midnight Sun charters for any Halibut runs you want to do.

Lots to do there, so just research things you like to do. I lived there 22 years and still did not get all of it done.