Alaska Trip

[terry 01]

We purchased a 3700FL last fall and are getting ready for a trip from our home in TX to Alaska. Looking for advice, recommendations, anything that might make the trip better or safer. Just changed the tires to The G rated 670's including spear. Should I protect the 5th wheel front? Would large mud flaps be enough? Terry 01

[alandaudrey]

Terry, you are planning a great trip. I hope you have enough time to enjoy everything and not have to rush.

The first thing you will need is a copy of "The Milepost". It is available at most bookstores or on Amazon. When we made the trip from Houston to Alaska in 2009 you could count on most gas stations to be open about every 50 miles or so on the Alaskan Highway but with the recession many have closed up. The Milepost will give you mile by mile information on everything on each highway in Alaska.

Many attractions don't open until about the third week of May.

You need something to deflect stones on the gravel stretches of road. If you use mud flaps make sure they almost reach the pavement. Mud slings from the top of the tire but stones kick from the bottom.

If you find yourself driving back through BC in the fall while the salmon are spawning you need to stop at Hyder, Alaska off the Cassiair highway, (highway 37 going south from Watson Lake) I recommend stopping to see the bears fishing and feeding on salmon. The parks department have built an elevated platform to watch the bear activities.

Have a fun trip.

[Art-n-Marge]

Wow, alandaudrey kept it brief. There have been many topics posted prior and some long ones too (I'm guilty of doing that, too). There's lots to consider, starting with getting a Milepost!

Depending on the route, bring a sign with you to leave at Watson Lake's "signpost forest" (12 miles east of the northern end of the 97/137 junction). Depending on the season, a horrible fishermen becomes a great fisherman, but watch for bears!

Don't forget a very good tool kit and spare parts! It not just what you can do to your rig when towing but the opposing traffic does not drive slow and the rain of gravel from opposing vehicles can create problems.

I hope you have plenty of truck for the tow with large mudflaps. If some areas are under construction and it has rained, the road will be a mess. Stopping in Hyder is interesting too. It's the ONLY Alaska town on the Southeast passage that you can drive to right on the Alaska/Canada border and hopefully unlike when I was there, it doesn't rain. The town's roads are dirt compared to its Canadian border neighbor whose roads are paved. LOL.

Allow plenty of time (and money).

Don't forget to check the trailer suspension before you go. The U-bolts are infamous for being loose when the rig is new, so you'll need to torque these until they settle in.