Alaska and Back!!

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   Hello fellow RPODers. We are new to RVing and are going to start off with a 15,000 Km round trip from Southern Ontario to Alaska via western Canada, southern B.C, Vancouver Island, northern BC, and back through northern Alberta to Calgary for the "Stampede" and limp home from there. Wow, I'm exhausted just writing it down!!
We plan to take up to 10 weeks, starting off around May 24,2016. We have a new 2015 RP 179 and our TV is a new Q5 Audi TDI.

I'm from BC and have travelled across Canada at least 4 times that I can remember. But, I have never towed anything, so this will be an experience of a life time.

I guess what we are looking for are the things that we should be ready to deal with towing a trailer that kind of distance. Yea, I know its a big question with lots of variables, but I have to start somewhere. I purchased the latest "Milepost" and we are using the internet gather info on availability of camping sites on our trail. We plan to boondock alot.

Thanks for any comments or advice you may part with.

Steve and Jan

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Slyder Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Newbie Joined: 13 Sep 2015 Location: Ontario Canada Online Status: Offline Posts: 12	Topic: Alaska and Back!! Posted: 25 Feb 2016 at 2:26pm
	Hello fellow RPODers. We are new to RVing and are going to start off with a 15,000 Km round trip from Southern Ontario to Alaska via western Canada, southern B.C, Vancouver Island, northern BC, and back through northern Alberta to Calgary for the "Stampede" and limp home from there. Wow, I'm exhausted just writing it down!! We plan to take up to 10 weeks, starting off around May 24,2016. We have a new 2015 RP 179 and our TV is a new Q5 Audi TDI. I'm from BC and have travelled across Canada at least 4 times that I can remember. But, I have never towed anything, so this will be an experience of a life time. I guess what we are looking for are the things that we should be ready to deal with towing a trailer that kind of distance. Yea, I know its a big question with lots of variables, but I have to start somewhere. I purchased the latest "Milepost" and we are using the internet gather info on availability of camping sites on our trail. We plan to boondock alot. Thanks for any comments or advice you may part with. Steve and Jan
	Steve and Jan 2016 r-pod 179 2015 Audi Q5 TDI

Leo B Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List podders Helping podders - pHp Joined: 13 Jan 2012 Location: Lyndonville, VT Online Status: Offline Posts: 4518	Posted: 25 Feb 2016 at 2:33pm
	Sounds like a great trip!
	Leo & Melissa Bachand 2017 Ford F150 2021 Vista Cruiser 19 csk Previously owned 2015 Rpod 179 2010 Rpod 171

DavidW Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 13 Jun 2013 Location: Ottawa, Canada Online Status: Offline Posts: 129	Posted: 25 Feb 2016 at 2:54pm
	Wow Steve and Jan, You are certainly adventurous! I would probably start by recommending that you spend a couple of week-ends prior to the May two-four week-end trying out the R-Pod at some of the Ontario Provincial Parks close to where you live. (At least 3 Parks in Southern Ontario are open year-round as is Mew Lake in Algonquin Park. The rest open anytime from end of April to the May long week-end) I would spend one week-end at an electrical site. You will want to make sure that you have at least 75 - 100 feet of electrical cord with you. The second week-end I would pick a non-electric site to test out your boon-docking skills. Both week-ends should give you some experience backing your trailer into the sites. While this Forum (and the FB R-Pod owners forum) will give you lots of great tips and short-cuts, only by getting out there yourself will you be able to iron out any issues you might face. Have fun! David
	David & Liz 2014 R-Pod 178 2019 Chevy Traverse And Lily (our 8 yr old Golden)

CozyPod Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Newbie Joined: 14 Jan 2016 Location: Bama Gulf Coast Online Status: Offline Posts: 37	Posted: 25 Feb 2016 at 3:49pm
	WOW! Sounds like a great trip. I spent some time in Alaska and am so jealous. Take lots of pics. Travel safe....................
	David & Suzanne

Slyder Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Newbie Joined: 13 Sep 2015 Location: Ontario Canada Online Status: Offline Posts: 12	Posted: 26 Feb 2016 at 6:39am
	Thanks Folks for the replies. David, your right on with the pre- camp trips to practise the art of RVing. We live 5 mins from Turkey Point Prov park, so it would be a good start.
	Steve and Jan 2016 r-pod 179 2015 Audi Q5 TDI

ron_whitt Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 08 Sep 2011 Location: Chesterville On Online Status: Offline Posts: 261	Posted: 26 Feb 2016 at 7:24am
	Steve and Jan, fantastic good for you folks. What David said plus maybe pick up a KOA book for campsites as well. Way back when, we tented across Canada with our kids and found the KOA book to be very useful. With the KOA book you know exactly what kind of campground you are getting.
	Ron & Shirley 2020 Tacoma 2012 177 rpod

DavidW Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 13 Jun 2013 Location: Ottawa, Canada Online Status: Offline Posts: 129	Posted: 26 Feb 2016 at 9:41am
	Slyder, Turkey Point would be good but you will have to wait until May 13th for it to open. Other options would be Rondeau and Bronte Creek which both open on April 1st. (All are within the 5 month window for booking now) I have camped at both and would recommend Bronte Creek because it is really close to Sobeys, Canadian Tire and Walmart so that you can quickly stock up on supplies. Cheers, David
	David & Liz 2014 R-Pod 178 2019 Chevy Traverse And Lily (our 8 yr old Golden)

john in idaho Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 04 Nov 2014 Location: Eagle Idaho Online Status: Offline Posts: 613	Posted: 26 Feb 2016 at 10:44am
	A friend made the journey from Idaho to Alaska with a motor home and a jeep towed vehicle. When they got back they had to have the jeep repainted. You might want to consider a full width "mud" flap.

marwayne Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 25 Oct 2011 Location: Edmonton AB Can Online Status: Offline Posts: 1003	Posted: 26 Feb 2016 at 12:33pm
	Make sure the front end of you Audi is covered with a good rock guard, and don't forget the lights
	If you want something done right, do it yourself. 2011 RP172, 2016 Tundra 5.7 Litre, Ltd.

briankirk22 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Newbie Joined: 27 Sep 2015 Online Status: Offline Posts: 2	Posted: 26 Feb 2016 at 2:06pm
	My wife and I drove from Sonoma County in California to Homer Alaska last year in early April with our Pod for our Honeymoon. We were a little more ambitious than we should have been and did got up there and back in 2 weeks. The Pod did great and so did my BMW X1, I have since upgraded to a Toureg TDI. Good call on the Milepost, It goes over the route from the US and covers all the highways in Alaska as well. It lists gas stations, if they have Diesel, their hours, food stops, historic landmarks, as well as RV parks and hotels(we ended up staying at one hotel in Fort Nelson as the local RV Park was still snowed in). It was our bible we studied it for a month before our trip and the trip would not have been as enjoyable without it. I would recommend mud flaps on your Q7 if you don't already have them as there are many places along the route that are not paved and are just hard packed gravel but well maintained. Oh and watch out for the pot holes they are marked by cones and orange flags alongside of the highway. We plan on doing it again later this year and taking a little more time to do it. I would not be telling you the truth if I said I didn't have my pedal to the floor on the way up and back. 10,000 miles in two weeks and spending 4 days in Alaska requires a lot of driving in a day.