Building for Alaska/ TransCanada Adventure

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I went to REI today (FINALLY) and looked at the different map software they had to offer. Heres what I found.

1. DeLorme Topo USA 7.0 DVD - West Region: This seems like a pretty comprehensive setup for what I am looking for. DeLorme Topo USA 7.0 DVD - West Region at REI.com

2. Garmin MapSource TOPO Canada: I could not find North America, but it was the one I just looked at so I am only using this particular one for reference. Garmin MapSource TOPO Canada at REI.com

3. National Geographic TOPO! Explorer Deluxe: This has not gotten great reviews, but apparently the interface is much better now due to the recent upgrades they have made. They also have individual software for each state, but as I am covering multiple states i am not sure whic way I am going. http://www.rei.com/product/776043

One big question I have is what scale to go with....the smallest I want to go is 1:100,000. I'd like 1:24,000 but that only comes with the state software. So what is good enough for driving in the middle of nowhere?
 
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I have the DeLorme TOPO 7.0 Love it. Most of the forest service roads I have ever been on are shown.
 
Niner---I was impressed with the display they had of DeLorme at REI. They had the "flyover" presenting on the screen, which is not necessary I guess, but it did give a great representation of the terrain. I am trying to weigh the pros and cons right now between the Delorme and the National Geographic.

From what I have read so far, it seems DeLorme is more 4x4 oriented whereas NG is more hiking oriented.
 
Ok despite the advice of some on this thread, I went ahead and bought DeLorme Topo 7.0 and so far it seems pretty user friendly. Tomorrow I am taking it on a short test run to see how it matches against my maps. One thing I have not figured out yet is if there is a way to make Forest/County roads bold or standout somehow. My reason being is I have searched for some trails without being armed with a road and come up empty handed. One example is the El Camino Del Diablo trail. I am assuming the only way around this is knowing before searching.
 
Its been a long time since I posted on this whether it was out of anger or the fact people had lost interest since my change of plans, but the stars have aligned and all is clear for the trip next year, at least as clear as can be. Season be damned, I am going to Alaska next year towards the end of the summer.
After some long deliberation and talking with my wife about our life situation, I know there is not a better time to take this trip and that its something I have to do, which my wife God bless her, is all for.
I now have a trip companion, my cousin from Washington, and no real limit on time as both of us will be in similar situations when Im back.

So Im kick starting this thread up again to soak up all the advice I can from you guys.

Heres everything how it stands so far.

The biggest thing I had to rethink was my budget, realizing I had bitten off more than I could do in my typical idealistic fashion. Still stopping hopefully at around 10K, the biggest thing I changed was the lift. Although everyone wants a Slee lift in their stocking for Christmas (at least this guy does) it just isnt gooing to happen.
In my correspondence with Christo, I have decided to go with the OME 2.5" Heavy lift. In the future if I need more, I can just upgrade if Im that unhappy, which I dont think will happen.

As for tires, burn me if you please, but I am pretty set on getting BFG AT 315's on the truck rather than spending an extra $400 on the Toyo MT's. If someone who has driven the roads truly thinks they arent up to task, let me know because I plan on these going on in about a month and a half.

Like I mentioned before, Im not taking this trip, Im letting the trip take me for at least a month.

I wont put all of my thoughts into this one post, even though I have a million things running through my head at the moment, but let this be the resurrection of the trip.

As usual all your comments and ideas will definitely be appreciated.
 
As for specific questions about things I need to take care of prior to leaving:

I need to know how to apply for a HAM radio general license. Keep in mind Im in Afghanistan with nary access to internet.

Also, I think I may get a cheap kayak...recommendations on lakes?

As for a tent, I have a good 3 season backpacking tent right now, which I dont think will do much except act as a decent mosquito net; Given the cold nights there should I be looking at upgrading to a 2 season for more warmth? I'll be using this on top of the truck as well for my primary living space.
 
I'll take some photos over Leave of the prebuild so everyone can have a reference of the build from beginning to end. Tires and hopefully sliders will be going on at that point and then the real work will begin upon my return next spring.

P.S.- If anyone is wondering about the situation over in Afghanistan, the most I can say is that the news doesnt report much because they dont come to the bad areas. Weve lost over a dozen of our guys due to wounds in action and 1 KIA. And thats just my company. Pray for us, but mostly pray for the families because our sacrifice is their sacrifice.
 
I have just now noticed this thread. Not a lot to add. But... based on about a dozen trips up and down to the '48 (another one or two coming this winter too) and over 25 years of exploring Alaska roads and trails:

Do not bother with a CB. Virtually no use of them up here and the range makes them useless except for communication withing a convoy.

Bull bars and cool wheels and aggressive tires and lights and gas cans on the bumpers and winches and and and and... cool stuff, but if you are traveling the roads, none of that is all that important.

Do not get overly wrapped up in your rig and all the add ons. You can make this trip in a Subaru Justy. People do so daily.These are modern North American highways that you will be on for the most part. Even if you do the Dalton and the Denali and the few other graded and maintained gravel highways, it is not third world conditions.

Go ahead and build the rig as much as you want, but realize that you are doing so because it adds to your perceptions and your experience, not because you need the upgrades to complete the journey.

If you want to leave the road system and explore the back country... Then you will need a bit more capable rig of course. But even finding the trails to explore can be a bigger problem than anything else. Your maps will not show them. The trails that do appear on your maps, usually do not exist. you really really should be doing this in the company of someone who knows the area and the trails that you will follow. Anything beyond a little bit of dinking about to get away from the highway to camp can become problematic.

Just make sure that maintenance is up to par and that your creature comforts are addressed, and hit the road. :)


Mark...
 
cool cool dude, look forward to hearing more about the build up.

i just returned from helmond province 6 weeks back too, i am in the navy seebees over there doing a s*** ton of construction. and yes the press sucks at reporting what realy is up.

cheers bro
 
On tires, seriously consider load range E tires for heavy gravel road use. They are built tougher than the load range C or D tires. Also seriously consider using a tire size that is standard to a common production vehicle. The more remote the area, the more likely you can find a replacement tire off the shelf.
 
As for the tires, I'm not immensely worried about the quality of BFG's as Ive put my current pair through the rigors of Moab. I just know shale can tear tires to shreds.

Understand also, Im not building this rig specifically for this one trip. I think I mentioned earlier I will be going to Central America around Guatemala and Nicaragua later the next year. This trip is going to stretch my legs I guess you could say.
 
Then I'd be doubly careful that the tire size is a universal one. The rule on expedition rigs is stock, stock, stock. You keep it stock so you can get parts anywhere.
 
Labrador

Just came back last week from driving the Trans Labrador Highway and the 389 in Quebec.
We left Halifax NS in our 86 HJ60 on 28 Aug and made a circle thru Nfld, Lab, and Que driving 6250 km with many detours, arriving back in Halifax on the 22nd of Sept.

There are long stretches of gravel road in Lab and Que but the trip was mostly highway We took 4 ferries.Next summer the final section of the Trans Lab should be finished cutting out a 12 hr ferry ride.

We loved every minute of it.

Let me know if you want any details.
 
HFXcruiser said:
Next summer the final section of the Trans Lab should be finished cutting out a 12 hr ferry ride.

Let me know if you want any details.
Click to expand...

:cool: I'd been wondering when that section of road would be finished.

Do a trip report thread. I'd love to see it.
 
Blue Phoenix said:
Next summer I will be going on a trip to Alaska from Colorado and doing the Dalton Highway up to the Arctic Circle, as many here have already done. After that though, and this is still undetermined, I will be making my way from West to East across Canada. First off, I would like any useful information from those who have made the trip or one like it because I know there will be alot of details I may miss. So routes and stop-off ideas are totally wanted.
Mostly though, I'd like some recommendations from the equipment list I am compiling.
My budget is around $10,000 for the build I am thinking, but I am building from stock, so the expensive items really add up. Here is what I have so far:

What I need:
ARB front bumper
Warn XD9000
Superline Synthetic Winch Line--------I read an article in Overland about the incompatibility of synthetic line with certain winches....Anyone know about this?
OME Heavy 2.5IN Lift
ICOM IC-706MKIIG CB Radio----Might still go with this even though theres alot of nays as to its usefulness way out in BFE.
CDL Switch
ARB Touring Rack
Eezi-Awn Rooftop Tent---Not sure if funds will stretch this far. I may stick with my 3 season tent.
National Luna Dual Battery Setup
Slee Step Sliders
Engel Freezer Fridge-considering size still and availability of funds
Pull-Pal
Slee Rear Bumper with Tire Carrier.

Items I would like more input on:
Delorme Topo USA 7.0----------Still going back and forth between this and NG Topo.
Lowrance GPS-it wont be leaving the vehicle-----Eh...Maybe
Toyo Open Country MT/ BFG KM All-Terrain 315s (6)
Snorkel with prefilter
Driving Lights-Lightforce, IPF, PIAA, Hella (I am aware of build
quality issues with some of the Hellas)
Ive seen various setups, but looking for whats best for me--------Leaning more and more towards lightforce, but theyre HUGE

Ive already PM'd most of the vehicle:
Axles, Fluids, PHH, etc. More ideas welcome.

Again thanks for all the input and I am really looking forward to this build. I'll be in Afghanistan from May of this year until May of the next, so I'm still deliberating on leaving it with someone to be worked on, or just waiting and doing it all at once when I get back. But I look forward to all the input while I plan this trip.:cheers:
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i apologize for giving an input so late in the game and it's probably invalid for the most part...

I love long road trips and can offer some ideas but some of my ideas are geared for long driving comfortably, w/o appearing like a Camel Trophy rig going down the road. Driver fatigue increases when you're trying to control a top heavy rig down the road on a super windy day. So, a well setup rig with a good suspension will go a long way IMO.

I see a trip like this taking mostly on paved roads with short side trips off road but not too deep due to solo traveling. With that in mind, I question the need for the highlighted items above. IMHO, a trip like needs to be done with fuel economy and efficiency in mind. Adding armor, heavy mud tires, etc doesn't make sense to me. I'd stick to a set of 285s A/T tires with triple sidewall as I can't stand the droning of M/T tires for hours and hours and hours on a road trip. An added benefit with going with 285s is that you won't have to re-gear, saving more $$. When you return home, you can sell the A/Ts and then go with bigger tires and re-gear as you see fit.

My money would be spent on something like this:

I like the OME 1" lift solely from the standpoint of being able to support the extra cargo and front bumper weight. I also like the idea of not having a RTT but rather a RTT on a trailer that rides in the 80's slipstream. I think you'll get tired of setting up a 3 season tent on the ground every night. A good RTT, like the Maggiolina with a hard top, make sense to me. The hard shell helps with the aerodynamics and easy to open/close using a cordless drill or a 12vdc drill. You can leave your bedding inside, including pillows. If it rained at night, who cares, close up shop and take off in the morning. Trying to install a RTT cover every day will get old, especially when the weather is bad and it's raining sideways.

Again, I'm not foreseeing you going wheeling in the deep marshes and crossing the deep rivers by yourself, correct me if I'm wrong. But I do like the snorkel purely from the standpoint of giving the engine cooler air and making the air filter stay cleaner longer. Perhaps a Donaldson or Centri pre-cleaner in lieu of the Safari snorkel tip would be better?

Sliders - these are necessary but look for the lightest unit in the market. I like the units that has the ability to house an aux battery or an air tank. Having more weight centrally located is desirable IMHO.

From what I hear, windshield, headlights and front radiator protection is vital for a trip like this in that area.

I'd also install a 25 aux tank and carry two jerry cans in the trailer. If going with an aux tank, I'd most definitely go with a set of Air Lift air bags for supplemental weight carrying in the rear. I think no matter what you do, your rear will be sagging and bottoming out with all the weight unless you add the air bags inside the rear coils. When you come back home, you can air the bags down so that an empty 80 doesn't provide a harsh ride. Another benefits to the air bags is the ability to adjust your head lights aim when fully loaded. Just a thought.

I like the need for aux light but this needs to be done without blocking radiator cooling. So, perhaps a pair of 6" pencil beam light is better than a bumper full of lights. Honestly, I'm not overly impressed with my Lightforce 170s to provide for pencil beams; the round spots provided by the LF are just too large to go very far. My KC daylighters have a tighter focal point and I can throw them out way further than the LFs. I'd want to see animals 3/4 mile away when traveling down the road at 70 mph for evasive maneuvers.

I like the ARB bumper from animal protection so a winch of course is a must :D

More things I think would be helpful:

  • upgrade low and high beams to HIR bulbs. These two sets will do a great job of providing huge flood light in front of the 80 while using the factory harness. These lights uses no more power than the stock bulbs so no upgrade is necessary.
  • a map light with an adjustable light output for the navigator. I have a Orsham (spell?) light that's 12" long.
  • Upgrade both front seat bottom and back cushions. A right arm rest for the driver seat will really help the driver from road fatigue but this is custom work. I installed an arm rest from a RRC on mine and it really helps the driver's posture on a long haul.
  • Cargo drawers in the back for quick access of roadside lunch breaks, jumper cables (to help out others), water and food access.
  • Remove the second row seats and place a Milford cargo barrier directly behind the front row. Then setup a compartment system that'll house heavy stuff like spare parts, recovery gear, etc. Again, keep the weight toward the center of the vehicle.
  • Loud horns. :D
  • Two spare tires for the 80 - one under rig, one on the trailer.
  • Trailer tires to be smaller and skinny A/T tires for trailer light weight-ness.
  • Rig up a 7 pin trailer connector and have the ability to turn on reverse lights on the trailer when the 80's reverse lights are on.
  • A backup/utility light mounted high on the rear spoiler. Good for setting up camp or just a nice work light if needed. Remember, I'm not going with a roof rack so the rear spoiler is the only mounting that's high enough for a light. A switch to turn on the light and/or automatically comes when backing up.
  • I'd rent a satellite phone for this trip. This may be more practical than a HAM radio but I'm not really sure on this one.
  • Cup holders. I don't know how, but two cup holders would be really handy!
  • Front windows tint - not necessarily a dark tint, but more for canceling out the UV rays to make the driver and passenger more comfortable.
  • Goes w/o saying, do the usual PM, including a HG if not done and ALL coolant and emission hoses, starter contacts, Alternator brushes, water pump, Tstat, etc
  • laptop mount for GPS mapping software. Cig lighter receptacles throughout the cabin.
  • York air compressor for inflating/deflating tires regularly for ride control off the pavement.
  • Bilstein oem replacement shocks for a good control of the heavy body. These shocks will greatly reduce your body roll.
  • Scangauge to help you calibrate your right foot for optimum efficiency :D and to keep an eye on things.

My list won't certainly make you look cool going down the road but with modest speeds, you should be able to maintain same or better than 13mpg and have decent power to climb hills. On super windy days, the 80 won't be all over the road due to a lower profile and that translates into less driver fatigue and more efficiency.

I use Topo and that suits me fine. You might want something else for better resolution maps. A simple $30 generic USB GPS receiver found on Ebay will work fine for using a mapping software.

Since this will be the first of many long trips, I'd not go crazy on mods because you'll definitely gain some insights from this trip and then modify your rig for the future trips.

Just my .02 cents!
 
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This is actually the first time a travel trailor has made sense to me...mod the trailer not the rig.
Adding Scanguage to the list. I had planned on doing the headlights with new IPF bulbs during PM.

Im ordering the sliders from SLEE in a couple of weeks so theyll be delivered in time for me to put them on. Ill make sure to post pics after the install.

As for the Lightforce lights...this is the first "negative" ive heard about them. Ive been going between these and the Hella 1000s. I plan to get a pair, one pencil and one fog. From what Ive read, the 1000s are a tight fit.

As for activites:
I was brousing a recent issue of Field&Stream the other day and came across an article on Alaskan Fishing on a budget. It outlined some great spots around Highway 1 and Highway 3 that could be fished without spending gobs of money, which is always a plus. I plan on going to Homer anyways to catch a ferry to Kodiak Island. Not sure if anyone caught the article, but it looks like a lot of fun.



As for trails, all of the maps Ive seen are typical road atlases and not much in the area of trails. Is there an Alaska equivalent of Charles A. Wells guides on backcountry driving? I dont plan on doing anything hardcore, but getting off the beaten path is definitely on my list of things to do.
 
Blue Phoenix said:
As for trails, all of the maps Ive seen are typical road atlases and not much in the area of trails. Is there an Alaska equivalent of Charles A. Wells guides on backcountry driving? I dont plan on doing anything hardcore, but getting off the beaten path is definitely on my list of things to do.
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There is no such animal for Alaska. We do not have "old roads" and fire roads the way you do in the '48. Our old roads are very few and far between and they are usually sled dog trails and "winter roads" which means that at some point in the past someone walked cats over the frozen marshes to reach a mine or remote town. Or the "trail" or even "road" is simply a track up a braided river bed to reach a pass to the next drainage.

Our trails are either an old route to a mine or such that has been kept open by ATVs and buggies... or simply a hunting trail laid down by the same folks.
These do not appear on any maps that you can buy. You can find intriguing hints sometimes to the general location in the Alaska Road Commission archives... or the state's RS2477 data base.

Better results from talking to locals and old guys who have been out there for years.

None of that will help you much in this case though :(


Mark...
 
HAHA, Yeah I thought my question might lead to me asking the locals, which is great because I dont think theres a book out there that can match local advice.

As for the places Im looking at fishing, here they are:
Willow Creek- Susitna River drainage
Talkeetna River- Clear creek and Montana Creek
Russian River- no explanation needed I think
Quartz Creek
Ninilchik Creek- On my way to Homer

Im looking at going to Denali now as well and doing some backpacking for a few days. I know laws are in the process of changing, but is it yet legal to take firearms into national parks? I dont plan on doing much hiking without mine.
 
Another question: How should I go about island hopping in SE Alaska near Juneau? I imagine there are ferry services. I intend on going to Wrangell, Prince of Wales, and Admiralty Islands. Has anyone pointers about a side trip like this?

I feel like a turd asking for all of this information, but the time it would take me to do it here would mean me never leaving. Thanks again for everything guys.
 
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