Alaska road trip (Deadhorse or bust)

[dpbrown02]

I just got back from our trip last Thursday: NH to Alaska crossing through Portal, ND into Canada. 10,100 miles on the '24 F350 6.7SO towing an 18ft cargo trailer with 4 motorcycles. Ran flawlessly! Here are a few recommendations:

• Download offline maps of the Alaska Highway and Alaska. there is no to little cell service through most of the route. (not that you need the directions [go straight for 1400 miles] but progress is nice and distance to services is useful as well)
• With that, have plenty of downloaded music as, again, there is no service and Sirius XM does not work up that far.
• There is plenty of gas/diesel stops within the Alaska Highway, but after Fort Nelson, there isn't much for approx 150-200 miles. We had 10 gallons of diesel on board in case we needed it, but the 34 gallon tank (at 11.5mpg towing) got us plenty far enough that we didn't end up needing it.
• DEF. If it's a diesel, bring at least 10 gallons of DEF. its expensive in Canada and their truck stops are card-locked so you cant fill it up at the pump like you can in the US truck stops.
• We had a spare unmounted tire for the truck as well as the truck's spare. Its easier to find someone that can help you mount the tire in the middle of no-where than it is trying to find a tire.
• After Haines Junction, its a rough road to the border. There's gravel repair patches, pot-hole fields and the road is just generally rough. Its definitely slower going during this section.
• BUGS. The biggest thing I underestimated was the amount of bugs that hit the truck. We purchased a microfiber window cleaning pad which helped remove them better than the gas station ones, but boy, did they make a mess of the truck. and they stink after a while too. The radiator still stinks of decaying bugs after trying to rinse it out multiple times.
• Wildlife is plentiful: Moose, bear, reindeer, goats, bison, so take it easy and always be on alert.
• I changed the oil and rotated the tires while we were in Alaska for piece of mind (Check the air filter as well for the previous point!)
• Lastly, the Milepost book is a great resource for the Alaska highway and what each little town has to offer.

If you have any other questions, feel free to shoot me a message!

Air filter (for reference)

 

[Godzilla/Tremornator]

I just got back from our trip last Thursday: NH to Alaska crossing through Portal, ND into Canada. 10,100 miles on the '24 F350 6.7SO towing an 18ft cargo trailer with 4 motorcycles. Ran flawlessly! Here are a few recommendations:

• Download offline maps of the Alaska Highway and Alaska. there is no to little cell service through most of the route. (not that you need the directions [go straight for 1400 miles] but progress is nice and distance to services is useful as well)
• With that, have plenty of downloaded music as, again, there is no service and Sirius XM does not work up that far.
• There is plenty of gas/diesel stops within the Alaska Highway, but after Fort Nelson, there isn't much for approx 150-200 miles. We had 10 gallons of diesel on board in case we needed it, but the 34 gallon tank (at 11.5mpg towing) got us plenty far enough that we didn't end up needing it.
• DEF. If it's a diesel, bring at least 10 gallons of DEF. its expensive in Canada and their truck stops are card-locked so you cant fill it up at the pump like you can in the US truck stops.
• We had a spare unmounted tire for the truck as well as the truck's spare. Its easier to find someone that can help you mount the tire in the middle of no-where then it is trying to find a tire.
• After Haines Junction, its a rough road to the border. There's gravel repair patches, pot-hole fields and the road is just generally rough. Its definitely slower going during this section.
• BUGS. The biggest thing I underestimated was the amount of bugs that hit the truck. We purchased a microfiber window cleaning pad which helped remove them better than the gas station ones, but boy, did they make a mess of the truck. and they stink after a while too. The radiator still stinks of decaying bugs after trying to rinse it out multiple times.
• Wildlife is plentiful: Moose, bear, reindeer, goats, bison, so take it easy and always be on alert.
• I changed the oil and rotated the tires while we were in Alaska for piece of mind (Check the air filter as well for the previous point!)
• Lastly, the Milepost book is a great resource for the Alaska highway and what each little town has to offer.

If you have any other questions, feel free to shoot me a message!

View attachment 164278

Air filter (for reference)
View attachment 164279

thx much for all this info!!!!!

I'll be crossing at sweet water, Montana

hopefully weather is cooler & bugs are fewer by the time I'm going (5wks out)

hadn't thought about an extra air filter
thx thx!!!!!!!

makes me want to put in a wire mesh pre-screen or somthing. clean it out at fuel stops. wow!!!!

good to know about plenty of fuel services

I'm may cut back on the extra gas I was going to pack?? just, if there is an off the beaten path that I want to see where it goes or where it ends I don't want to have to turn around due to fuel.

I'm still struggling with spare tires??? fresh set of Gladiator m/t + stock spare. can't decide on another stock spare, just a tire. do I really need a 2nd or 3rd spare???? can't make up my mind on that. space is getting a little tight.

did you use propane? is it available anywhere? that would eleminate the need for a second bottle of that, please advise if you know???

thx again
hope your trip was all you hoped it would be & more!

 

[dpbrown02]

thx much for all this info!!!!!

I'll be crossing at sweet water, Montana

hopefully weather is cooler & bugs are fewer by the time I'm going (5wks out)

hadn't thought about an extra air filter
thx thx!!!!!!!

makes me want to put in a wire mesh pre-screen or somthing. clean it out at fuel stops. wow!!!!

good to know about plenty of fuel services

I'm may cut back on the extra gas I was going to pack?? just, if there is an off the beaten path that I want to see where it goes or where it ends I don't want to have to turn around due to fuel.

I'm still struggling with spare tires??? fresh set of Gladiator m/t + stock spare. can't decide on another stock spare, just a tire. do I really need a 2nd or 3rd spare???? can't make up my mind on that. space is getting a little tight.

did you use propane? is it available anywhere? that would eleminate the need for a second bottle of that, please advise if you know???

thx again
hope your trip was all you hoped it would be & more!

We didn’t need propane but I do recall seeing it at several gas stations in Alaska. I can’t recall if we saw them in Canada though!

 

[Godzilla/Tremornator]

a couple of more little projects getting ready for the trip

got my cooking box sorted out
wok, dutch oven, cast iron griddle plates, 2burner cook top, spices, cooking & eating utensils.

got my camping box sorted out
sleeping bag, cold weather sleeping long John's, balaclava (if it's really cold), wool socks (if it's really really cold), air up twin mattress just in case, hammock (if there is anything to hang it from), camp site perimeter trip line, stakes & trip alarms, pine sol & spray bottle (read bears hate pine???), trash bags, small latrine bucket bags, toiletries, 3 packs of huggies wipes, fire starter cubes, propane torch, 2 small bottles of propane for the torch), 3 lighters for backup, (I was on top of imogene pass 2 years ago & the brand new, thought it was anyway, lighter that wouldn't work, that sucked!!!!), duct tape(speaking of, did ya'll know duct tape is a good fire starter too), painters tape, parachord, oxygen (leftover from colorado), extra cargo blanket, extra bed sheet & stand up shower/toilet tent.

packed the water bladder & accessories for now. guessing I won't really need it till Alaska.

I think that's all the camping stuff???
hope it's all I'll need too

I'll get bear spray in Canada or Alaska before my 1st night of camping in the wilderness.

I have my "texas bear spray"(SEE previous explanation) packed & ready to load. gonna miss not having that through Canada. if I mention Canada sux again, does that mean I'm racist too??? I've read we can't say that about Russia. even though they do too

also today:
got my solar powered (charged) motion sensor lights on my pop up tent mounted.

used industrial velcro. plan to pull them off to prevent the chance of them blowing off on the road. especially the rough ones, Dalton hwy & others. I'll charge them on the dash.

hope I haven't rambled too much
pics attached

Sunday is 4weeks out
getting giddy a little already

 

[Lunch Box 🥩🍔]

a couple of more little projects getting ready for the trip

got my cooking box sorted out
wok, dutch oven, cast iron griddle plates, 2burner cook top, spices, cooking & eating utensils.

got my camping box sorted out
sleeping bag, cold weather sleeping long John's, balaclava (if it's really cold), wool socks (if it's really really cold), air up twin mattress just in case, hammock (if there is anything to hang it from), camp site perimeter trip line, stakes & trip alarms, pine sol & spray bottle (read bears hate pine???), trash bags, small latrine bucket bags, toiletries, 3 packs of huggies wipes, fire starter cubes, propane torch, 2 small bottles of propane for the torch), 3 lighters for backup, (I was on top of imogene pass 2 years ago & the brand new, thought it was anyway, lighter that wouldn't work, that sucked!!!!), duct tape(speaking of, did ya'll know duct tape is a good fire starter too), painters tape, parachord, oxygen (leftover from colorado), extra cargo blanket, extra bed sheet & stand up shower/toilet tent.

packed the water bladder & accessories for now. guessing I won't really need it till Alaska.

I think that's all the camping stuff???
hope it's all I'll need too

I'll get bear spray in Canada or Alaska before my 1st night of camping in the wilderness.

I have my "texas bear spray"(SEE previous explanation) packed & ready to load. gonna miss not having that through Canada. if I mention Canada sux again, does that mean I'm racist too??? I've read we can't say that about Russia. even though they do too

also today:
got my solar powered (charged) motion sensor lights on my pop up tent mounted.

used industrial velcro. plan to pull them off to prevent the chance of them blowing off on the road. especially the rough ones, Dalton hwy & others. I'll charge them on the dash.

hope I haven't rambled too much
pics attached

Sunday is 4weeks out
getting giddy a little already

Really, really enjoyed reading this. I pray for your safety, see you in November sir!

 

[Godzilla/Tremornator]

thx for the support

a little paranoid about being boring & too long winded

just trying to share details
hope
someone catches something they forgot planning their trip

and

someone suggest something I've missed

thx gentlemen!!!!!

 

[Godzilla/Tremornator]

my get un-stuck box & some tools
i have it all the time not just for the trip

anyone want me to list the details?

let me know, be glad to if anyone does

winch, riggings, tools, etc...

it'll be home for my 870 through Canada
grrrrrrrrr
did I mention Canada sux!!!!!!!!!

 

[Godzilla/Tremornator]

found a cheap tire at Walmart online.
decided to take an unmounted extra.

if I don't use it Walmart will take it back as long as it hasn't been mounted.

might try to get a wrecking yard wheel yet, also, maybe?????

might save me from dealing with hand mounting it on the Dalton hyway. probably 35⁰ & raining, knowing my luck

then, there's a mother bear & her cubs to deal with while I gotta flat, or a dang Moose. who knows????

wish me luck!!!!

 

[Lunch Box 🥩🍔]

found a cheap tire at Walmart online.
decided to take an unmounted extra.

if I don't use it Walmart will take it back as long as it hasn't been mounted.

might try to get a wrecking yard wheel yet, also, maybe?????

might save me from dealing with hand mounting it on the Dalton hyway. probably 35⁰ & raining, knowing my luck

then, there's a mother bear & her cubs to deal with while I gotta flat, or a dang Moose. who knows????

wish me luck!!!!

Walmart won't take it back with bear teeth marks!

 

[Lunch Box 🥩🍔]

How many years has this trip been on you bucket list?

 

[NOCO Tremor]

I may have missed it but how long will be you gone for the trip? Sounds incredible and will be the adventure of a lifetime

 

[Godzilla/Tremornator]

How many years has this trip been on you bucket list?

every since I learned to drive
50yrs (ouch)
especially since they built & opened to the public "the haul road" Dalton hwy

always wanted
a get you anywhere truck (finally got it)
2 well trained malinois (out of luck)
since even back then you had to travel unarmed (sucked then & worse now)

didn't know about "Dalton's Gap" way back when, but always wanted to drive as far north as i could & as far south as I could

why
just did????
just cause????


North
I'm about to do. wooohooo!!!!!

South
I gotta get the death wish going first
sux!!!!!!

this truck wouldn't make it through the 1st border town til I'd be carjacked, surrounded by armed cartel asshats. did I mention Mexico sux!!!!! Honduras sux!!!!!! Guatemala sux!!!!!! I've been to Belize heard it's bad now too???? Honduras sux!!!! Costa Rico iffy? Panama iffy? Columbia sux!!!!!! started all this shit. bastards!!!! hear if you can get to Peru & Chile you'd be ok???

Anyway I'll get off my soap box, sorry but....

so south is pretty doubtful as far as I can tell

North
here I come
4 weeks out
I'll hold my nose through Canada, at least they are still civilized but stills sux!!!!!

 

[Godzilla/Tremornator]

Walmart won't take it back with bear teeth marks!

their policy is as long as they haven't been mounted

just put it on a cart over by the wall away from the customer service clerk and point at 'em. they won't notice or care!!!!!


you just gave me an idea. spread peanut butter & honey all in the inside & set it 50 ft or so from my truck. that could be a show & a bear wouldn't care about my old rotten tasting a$$. might be plan "C"

 

[Godzilla/Tremornator]

I may have missed it but how long will be you gone for the trip? Sounds incredible and will be the adventure of a lifetime

figuring a month minimum
but I may take longer
I have a window of, need to get home to vote, but may just check on the house and head some where else, especially since I'll be pretty accustomed & acclimated to nomad life at that point.

still want to dirt only east to west & north to south USA at some point too!!!

 

[speeddev]

I just got back from our trip last Thursday: NH to Alaska crossing through Portal, ND into Canada. 10,100 miles on the '24 F350 6.7SO towing an 18ft cargo trailer with 4 motorcycles. Ran flawlessly! Here are a few recommendations:

• Download offline maps of the Alaska Highway and Alaska. there is no to little cell service through most of the route. (not that you need the directions [go straight for 1400 miles] but progress is nice and distance to services is useful as well)
• With that, have plenty of downloaded music as, again, there is no service and Sirius XM does not work up that far.
• There is plenty of gas/diesel stops within the Alaska Highway, but after Fort Nelson, there isn't much for approx 150-200 miles. We had 10 gallons of diesel on board in case we needed it, but the 34 gallon tank (at 11.5mpg towing) got us plenty far enough that we didn't end up needing it.
• DEF. If it's a diesel, bring at least 10 gallons of DEF. its expensive in Canada and their truck stops are card-locked so you cant fill it up at the pump like you can in the US truck stops.
• We had a spare unmounted tire for the truck as well as the truck's spare. Its easier to find someone that can help you mount the tire in the middle of no-where then it is trying to find a tire.
• After Haines Junction, its a rough road to the border. There's gravel repair patches, pot-hole fields and the road is just generally rough. Its definitely slower going during this section.
• BUGS. The biggest thing I underestimated was the amount of bugs that hit the truck. We purchased a microfiber window cleaning pad which helped remove them better than the gas station ones, but boy, did they make a mess of the truck. and they stink after a while too. The radiator still stinks of decaying bugs after trying to rinse it out multiple times.
• Wildlife is plentiful: Moose, bear, reindeer, goats, bison, so take it easy and always be on alert.
• I changed the oil and rotated the tires while we were in Alaska for piece of mind (Check the air filter as well for the previous point!)
• Lastly, the Milepost book is a great resource for the Alaska highway and what each little town has to offer.

If you have any other questions, feel free to shoot me a message!

View attachment 164278

Air filter (for reference)
View attachment 164279

Thank you for sharing--what an epic experience! One of my closest friends and I have been talking about doing a trip in our 2 trucks up to Prudhoe Bay down to Key West (possibly via the trans-Canadian Highway to the east and then south) for years. It's looking like we're going to be able to make it happen over the next year or two. We're getting excited and the planning and scheming is starting to spool up.

P.S. When I was living up in Annapolis, we took my Tundra up through your beautiful state and did the Trans New Hampshire trail from the CBP office on the border down to Hampton Beach. Such a wonderful experience.

Again, thanks for sharing!

 

[Abe Fromen]

The wife and I dog too are planning on leaving for AK April of 2025 with 22 ft RV

 

[Godzilla/Tremornator]

eta deadhorse
9/3
artic ocean
9/4

weather looks pretty good

 

[Godzilla/Tremornator]

well crud!!!!!!!
dug into the weather calendar a little more

90% cloud cover my whole week in Alaska

no aroura borealis which is why I was waiting this late in the year. April, May and June the sun sets but it's still stupid cold that early. so, I was waiting until the end of summer for the chance of seeing the northern lights. might have to piddle around in Alaska longer now.

hopefully it's a bad Forcast

 

[Godzilla/Tremornator]

picked up the extra tire today

might try a set of them next tire change

4 tires on the ground (newish - 5000miles)
gladiators 35 x 12.5 x 18
stock spare, plus this tire just in case (not mounted)

 

[TellurideTremor]

well crud!!!!!!!
dug into the weather calendar a little more

90% cloud cover my whole week in Alaska

no aroura borealis which is why I was waiting this late in the year. April, May and June the sun sets but it's still stupid cold that early. so, I was waiting until the end of summer for the chance of seeing the northern lights. might have to piddle around in Alaska longer now.

hopefully it's a bad Forcast

The weather / travel gods will collaborate and give you one day of prime weather. I'm convinced.