Alaska 2017

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After 2 summers of dragging our 2015 R179 from Boston through Montana, Wyoming and Colorado Sharon and I are ready to take the big leap and head for Alaska next summer (mid June to late August). The route is not firm yet but probably up the Alcan spend a couple of weeks (or more) in Alaska then return via the Cassiar Highway with side trips to Stewart and Hyder. I've done most of the research The Milepost, spare parts, extra gas, head nets, bug spray etc. and I will spend most of this winter doing more. 

Has anyone in the group actually done the Canadian, Alaska potions of this trip and if so any special advice favorite campsites or places to stop? All suggestion will be greatly appreciated.

Is anyone planning a similar trip for next year? Maybe we can compare notes and plans.

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ronahue Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 02 Jun 2015 Location: Massachusetts Online Status: Offline Posts: 316	Topic: Alaska 2017 Posted: 16 Nov 2016 at 8:06pm
	After 2 summers of dragging our 2015 R179 from Boston through Montana, Wyoming and Colorado Sharon and I are ready to take the big leap and head for Alaska next summer (mid June to late August). The route is not firm yet but probably up the Alcan spend a couple of weeks (or more) in Alaska then return via the Cassiar Highway with side trips to Stewart and Hyder. I've done most of the research The Milepost, spare parts, extra gas, head nets, bug spray etc. and I will spend most of this winter doing more. Has anyone in the group actually done the Canadian, Alaska potions of this trip and if so any special advice favorite campsites or places to stop? All suggestion will be greatly appreciated. Is anyone planning a similar trip for next year? Maybe we can compare notes and plans.
	Ron & Sharon 2015 R-Pod 179 2022 Nissan Frontier No trees were harmed in the sending of this message but a billion electrons were really agitated

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: 4508	Posted: 16 Nov 2016 at 8:20pm
	Sounds like an amazing trip!
	Leo & Melissa Bachand 2017 Ford F150 2021 Vista Cruiser 19 csk Previously owned 2015 Rpod 179 2010 Rpod 171

ronahue Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 02 Jun 2015 Location: Massachusetts Online Status: Offline Posts: 316	Posted: 16 Nov 2016 at 8:45pm
	Well pack up your 179 and join us.
	Ron & Sharon 2015 R-Pod 179 2022 Nissan Frontier No trees were harmed in the sending of this message but a billion electrons were really agitated

dr.becky Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Newbie Joined: 13 Apr 2016 Location: UT Online Status: Offline Posts: 30	Posted: 16 Nov 2016 at 9:49pm
	We lived there for a dozen years, vacationed there this summer and have a daughter in Fairbanks. Not familiar with Hyder, but know Seward well. It is one of my favorite places in the world. Alaska is BIG. The two I would do are Seward and Denali. Resurrection Bay and the sea life center is amazing. That is about two weeks of travel, if you want to spend time out of your TV. Most folks try to do to much, and miss enjoying the place. Need to reserve camp sites in Denali now, love savage river. I prefer later in the season, less bugs and better berry picking.

Dane Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Newbie Joined: 15 Sep 2015 Location: McPherson, KS Online Status: Offline Posts: 1	Posted: 17 Nov 2016 at 12:19am
	Ronahue: Sounds like our trip this summer (40 days). Some extra special things for us: Sign Forest @ Watson Lake Yk, fireweed and other flowers, wildlife & the Kenai Peninsula, Ak. Seward Highway Anchorage to Portage is a world class scenic drive especially when high tide covers the mud flats! There's not a dull spot on the road if you like mountains, lakes, rivers, flora & fauna, and interesting people. We covered almost all the paved highways in Alaska, Tok to Anchorage, Portage, Whittier, Homer, Seward, Denali, Fairbanks, Valdez, Chicken, Haines etc. I spent 2 years @ Elmendorf AFB, (Anchorage) 1963 - 1965. Summer, 63 went camping with friends on the Kenai and wanted more but the Good Friday, '64 Alaska Earthquake (4 minutes of 9.2) ended that dream. Left 14 months later and still couldn't get back to the Kenai. Your list sounds good, but add cable ties and check your R-Pod electric brake wires at the axle now and then. O.E. cable ties broke and left brake wires dragging on our 2016 178. (Only repair we had in 10,800 miles). If you don't appreciate extra gas anywhere else you'll cherish it on the Cassiar Highway - MANY, MANY miles between gas stations and half of them out of business. Plan to spend a few hours at Jade City (free camping there but primitive) Have a good time.
	Dane

ronahue Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 02 Jun 2015 Location: Massachusetts Online Status: Offline Posts: 316	Posted: 17 Nov 2016 at 6:57am
	Dr. Becky and Dane, Thank you for these tips definitely Seward and Denali are in our plans and we will start making reservations soon. I will be carrying extra gas to give me a little more than 300 miles range and I have already had to use cable ties on the brake lines. Many, many miles of dirt roads through rural Colorado and Wyoming so most loose items have been reinforced.
	Ron & Sharon 2015 R-Pod 179 2022 Nissan Frontier No trees were harmed in the sending of this message but a billion electrons were really agitated

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: 4508	Posted: 17 Nov 2016 at 8:24am
	A 179 caravan to Alaska sounds like a blast!! Will seriously think about it.
	Leo & Melissa Bachand 2017 Ford F150 2021 Vista Cruiser 19 csk Previously owned 2015 Rpod 179 2010 Rpod 171

Blue Highways Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List podders Helping podders - pHp Joined: 20 Sep 2016 Location: NC mountains Online Status: Offline Posts: 84	Posted: 17 Nov 2016 at 5:12pm
	Hi Ronahue! Dane has already offered you great advice on the brake lines and cable ties. We came down the Alcan and then down the Cassiar entering the Lower 48 near Seattle in late summer. Our cable ties holding the electric brake wires against the "leeside" of the axle got showered with sharp rocks during an extended construction zone. They broke and then let the electric lines droop down to a more vulnerable position, where they eventually became severed at the connectors right on the backside of the trailer wheels. It was a $50 repair, but a great step to avoid this is to add very thick black heavy cable ties next to the factory ones just like Dane said, so this won't happen, and monitor their condition after gravel stretches. This was our only issue. The provincial campgrounds all through the Yukon Territories are especially great. They were positioned near streams and lakes of exceptional beauty. They were stocked with free firewood, the campsites were roomy, clean, privacy separated and well-maintained, and most even had paperback book "exchange" boxes at the firewood / water stations. The CG personnel are always really nice and were always careful to accurately adjust US currency to Canadian, due to the approx. 83 cents CDN value of US dollars back then. Campground fees could often be as low as $12 per night. One site had berry picking galore right alongside our R-pod. We loved this boondocking period of the YT stretches the best, tho the BC campgrounds were also great. You will have a blast on this trip (to borrow Leo's great expression). Don't have high expectations for mile distances on a daily basis. You will get further down the road then expected some days, and not be as productive on other days. Although largely the distances are paved, there are many pavement breaks and frost heaves that are most often flagged. Mountain passes and switchbacks also affect the speed of your progress, as you would guess. Always always slow down to protect your suspension for perceived bumps, and use all of the road when available, to pick the best line through rough patches. It's easy to get relaxed and expect L48 road conditions, and then be surprised that a dip and a bump wants to rearrange all your groceries and possessions in one kaboom. We always popped into our R-Pod at breaks to observe how things stayed in place (or not) en route. One thing that we brought that was really handy was a bottle of Goo-Gone, so that I could clean off tar splatters on the lower R-Pod cladding from a construction stretch. That way, we didn't have to live with sun-hardened tar spots for most of a month. (Or is this just an indication of my being an R-Pod helicopter parent??? !!!) Bring a more robust selection of camping repair / road tools than you might otherwise. Eg: a rugged non-adjustable wrench of size to tighten your hitch ball, and hitch assembly; dialectric grease for your hitch ball, (to maintain the electrical ground there for your brakes & lighting, I was informed). Consider Fix-A-Flat cans and a strong little 12V air compressor, though we had no tire issues. Our R-Pod tires wore very well on this trip. Best that you have LT rather than "P" (Passenger) tires if your TV allows for that clearance. In your preparations, become a little more of a "proactive packrat" as you'll never know what kind of little odd repair operation will make things operate smoothly with the tools & supplies you bring with you. Fuel is big. We carried two 5-gal fuel jugs tightly cinched down on outrigger wooden platforms I fashioned side-saddle style to the crossbars that also supported our handy metal Yakima rooftop basket carrier. I also added an auxiliary cross-bed re-fueling tank to the Tundra, but that may be not reasonable for you. Whatever creative & safe ways you find to take extra fuel cell(s) down the road, the peace of mind of being able soak in the beauty and excitement of this trip without sweating over your "low fuel" dash light will help make the trip less concerning. We were careful to keep "BG" consistently in TOW/HAUL mode to lessen transmission wear. Be sure to consistently lock out your overdrive in your particular tow vehicle if applicable for acceleration while the fuel tanks are full or to pull grades up through passes. Fuel weighs approx. 7 pounds per gallon (plus the fullness of your fresh water load), propane, etc. so give your TV the best advantage for its transmission until more of your fuel gets burned off at least. And please prepare your cell phone provider to allow Canadian acess, (and how to use them once set up rather than get shocked by charges). Prepare your credit card companies to allow you unfettered use in Canada. (Many forget this!) It's ugly to have them become inactive to you for a needed charge in Canada. We had so much fun on this trip, so don't let all these nitty gritty precautions discourage this "trip of a lifetime". Feel free to ask any of us out there any small or big or seemingly obvious question and collectively we can make your trip much more fun by putting you in the "aware and prepared" category. My wife is a smart bunny when it comes to food preparation adjustments and "thinking ahead" saavyness related to avoiding hassels and increasing the efficiency of what we spent. I owe her so much for her valuable co-captain skills, sense of humor and proactive ideas that made this great north adventure one to now smile about. Time to stop. Your eyes may have already glazed over ! Brad & Layli R-Pod 179 Towed by "BG" the 2010 Tundra

jalong Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Newbie Joined: 25 Jan 2015 Location: Fredonia WI Online Status: Offline Posts: 31	Posted: 17 Nov 2016 at 7:24pm
	We are looking into a 2+ month camping trip from Wisconsin to Alaska in 2018. From our research the Milepost is a must for the trip. We found an escorted tour company online http://www.rvadventuretreks.com/. Our understanding is they arrange for campsites and tours through Canada & Alaska then you are on your own to return. Has anyone used this company or others tours? How did it work out?
	John & Sue 2016 179 - built in April 2015 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee 3.6L 13-16mpg with 179 - 21-28mpg without

ronahue Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 02 Jun 2015 Location: Massachusetts Online Status: Offline Posts: 316	Posted: 17 Nov 2016 at 8:36pm
	Brad, Thank you obviously a lot of good first hand information.
	Ron & Sharon 2015 R-Pod 179 2022 Nissan Frontier No trees were harmed in the sending of this message but a billion electrons were really agitated