Shopsmith Forums

Has anyone driven the Alcan recently?

I have a grandson-in-law in Anchorage who is about to leave there and he plans to drive. He just will not give up his truck and the Army will not pay to relocate it so he is going to drive it.

BTW I think he paid $900 for the truck. He bought it from someone who was leaving Alaska a year ago.

What say you?

never done it, but read this:

The problem in Alaska was primarily mud - the truck got coated. The only real problem there was that it sometimes screwed up the tire balance because it was so thickly encrusted. Some of the RV parks have hoses so you can wash the mud and road salts off your vehicle. If you're driving any of the dirt roads (Denali Hwy, Dalton Hwy, Dempster Hwy, Top of the World Hwy, Steese Hwy or McCarthy Road) - carry a spare tire and expect to get very very dirty. If you're just driving the main paved roads, I wouldn't worry about it - though I'd still make sure I had a good spare.


A good coat of wax is one thing that comes to mind. Considering a wire mesh (hardware cloth) screen in front may help, and on dusty roads keep the windows shut and the blower on to keep pressure inside the car greater than outside - that keeps dust from entering any nooks or crannies.

According to a documentary on the Alcan I saw recently about all that is necessary is to shift into "common sense"...
I am just assuming that it is a 4X4.


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BIL pulled a tandem axle camp trailer from AZ to near the Arctic circle. On just the Canadian stretch of the AlCan, he replaced nine tires. For the entire trip, he had to replace every tire on both the trailer and the truck (not a dually) at least once and some twice. He started out with 6 ply Michelens on the truck. Ended up with 4 ea. 10 ply Coopers. They are still on the truck 2 years later.

beeg wrote:What I've heard about it is. EXPECT to replace a windshield.

that is the way in Arizona, we have stones flying all the time, no grass here.

windshield replacement is automatic with most insurance co.

Dusty..

My wife and I lived in, and around Anchorage, for almost 30 years and have drove the Alcan a number of times. I was orginally there for a tour of duty for USAF at Elmendorf AFB in 1959 and 1960 (was there when Alaska became the 49th State).

In driving the Alcan, my best advice is to take it easy! Do not try to push the driving to arrive at any given point as fast as possible. Slow down, enjoy the scenery, take gobs of pictures, look for wildlife, etc.

There are many stores in Anchorage that specializes in preparing vehicles for the trip. Things like headlight screens, windshield screens, emergency gear, spare tires, etc., etc. The more prepared you are, the more enjoyable the trip. Maybe spend a day or two and try to catch some fish dinner in Canada. The people there are great!

Anyway, we drove a few times when the only paved part of the highway was in and around Whitehorse NWT. The rest was stones and mud. Expect to have an emergency or two. That's the fun part! (just kidding).

Try to cover as much as you can because mud and dust will get into everything! There is a publication that you can pick up and read before heading out. I believe it's called the Milepost. It breaks down the highway into miles to and from the next gas station, rest area and, or bed and breakfast. Keep this in the vehicle to see where you're at at all times.

I believe the last time we drove, it took us 6 days from Anchorage to Chicago. The only breakdown we had, at that time, was a broken headlight, which we got fixed at the next checkpoint.

Anyway, that's what I remember about the drive. Very enjoyable and some great scenery!!

Regards

Jim in Tucson Arizona

dusty wrote:Has anyone driven the Alcan recently?

I have a son-in-law in Anchorage who is about to leave there and he plans to drive. He just will not give up his truck and the Army will not pay to relocate it so he is going to drive it.

BTW I think he paid $900 for the truck. He bought it from someone who was leaving Alaska a year ago.

What say you?

I say the guy that sold the truck for $900 was smart.

dusty wrote:Has anyone driven the Alcan recently?

I have a son-in-law in Anchorage who is about to leave there and he plans to drive. He just will not give up his truck and the Army will not pay to relocate it so he is going to drive it.

BTW I think he paid $900 for the truck. He bought it from someone who was leaving Alaska a year ago.

What say you?

Cannot say recently, but we made the trip from Elemdorf AFB in Anchorage, AK back in 1978. Was all gravel the whole way If I remember correctly. Made the trip in a 1977 Ford XLT Supercab pulling a 21ft Prowler travel trailer. It was pretty country back then.

When I was in Cleveland and the owner of the company I was in repairing their computer just pulled into the parking lot after completing the trip in the late 70's early 80's.

I know he had the windshield replaced and there wasn't a spot of paint left on the truck from the front doors forward. It was a new truck when he started out. Had two blown out tires strapped to the roof and some seriour reinforcment in front of the radiator. That is about all I remember except he did have some rather colorful words for describing the big semis that passed him on the trip up the road.

Must have been a fun trip because the smile didn't leave his face for almost a month.