Driving to Anchorage. What to expect?

[AZ800]

So leavin WA for a couple years, headin to AK for work.
I'm planning on making the first trip up w the sled trailer in mid April.
Obviously don't mind driving in snow etc. New tow rig plenty of spare trailer tires etc.
Never driven thru Canadia haha or up to Alaska, so what to expect. Looks like a 40+ hr drive on paper.
Provided decent weather, driving by myself, am I realistically looking at 3 or 4 days on the road?
Seen a couple different routes suggested once up north a ways. Which way is best?
Am I to expect hundreds of miles of frost heaved crap to drive on or not that bad?
Finally Canadian border. Driving a company truck pulling personal Toyz sleds, quad, etc. Plan on having a Co letter with permission for the Co truck. Titles or registrations for the trailer and toys. Is this absolutely necessary? Got 1 sled no reg yet but have a signed over title? I guess any advice on how to make the border xing go smooth?
Thx in advance.

 

[Phizzer]

Hop on the ferry outta Bellingham and end up in Haines. From there it's less than 800 miles to Anchortown. Thats what I would do. No screwing around with the border, worrying about registration, titles, etc. I have heard horror stories of people crossing the boarder with a sled that doesn't have a clean title. Plus it's a cool ferry ride up, only takes about 4-5 days!

 

[Troy Magrum]

Make sure you have at least one if not two spare tires for your rigs and maybe a plug kit and compressor. I crossed the boarder many times with sleds and never had registrations checked. We even crossed the boarder with an enclosed trailer without a plate (not mine) without a hitch. Not saying to do it. They just want to make sure that you are not selling them without paying proper taxes from my experience. The ferry sounds like fun but I prefer driving. Sounds like fun and allot of great sledding outside of anchorage.

 

[AZ800]

Ya pretty stoked about spending some time up there.
Winters will be up on the N Slope....brrrrrrrrrrr, but just weeds out the pvssies I spose.
Actually planning on taking the ferry up with the family in May, but from Prince Rupert to Haines. Bellingham ferry is pretty much sold out for rooms (family). That will be a lot of fun for all of us.
Besides, ferrying to Haines you still gotta go through Canada.
First trip up there I heading up by myself and will be on a schedule. So really looking for some first hand knowledge about the drive. Got no problem sitting behind the wheel for 16hr's a day if I have to, so is it reasonable to expect that I could gut it out in 3+ days?
If not I'll fly up and drive later, but really want to get the sleds (snomachines, sorry..haha) up there and get a ride or 2 while Im up there before all he!! breaks loose mith the family move.

Extra spare tires, tire plugs, tools and all that stuff, yeah got that covered. Especially with pulling trailers each time. Little air compressor, good idea.

Good to know on the registrations that it's a crap shoot whether you get checked or not. I won't really be a "suspicious" kinda guy. Company rig (Canadian company), not just sleds, but other random household stuff, like I'm moving.....which I am.

 

[plumnuts]

Remember gas stations are few and far up North and many are not swipe card operated, meaning they have to be open for you to buy gas... this past summer on motorcycles we learned that and ended up two times camping near the gas station waiting for them to open in the morning.

If it was me I would pack extra fuel giving at least an additional 150 miles range..

If not riding the boat which route are you taking?

 

[raytech]

AZ,

In the mid 80's I made the drive from Anchorage to Yakima. Everything I owned in a 24' Uhaul towing a company owned S15 Chevy pickup loaded down as well. Never questioned about anything at either border. Granted a different time than what we live in now. I left Anchorage on Saturday afternoon and got to Yakima on Thursday. We spent 14 to 16 hours a day on the road but as you might guess a fully loaded Uhaul towing a vehicle doesn't go anywhere fast. The advice for the extra gear and gas is right on. I would think you could do the distance in three to four days fairly easy.

We were there for two years ourselves and enjoyed the adventure. Take advantage of the opportunities while you are there.

Travel safe and have a great trip!

 

[AZ800]

Which route? I dunno, whatever the mapquest route is I suppose. Not too many ways to get there.
Not taking the ferry on the first trip due to time constraints and $. It's almost $4k when hauling a trailer especially when you get over 7 or 8' tall. Plus the ferry leaves out of Bellingham on Fridays. I'm getting back from vacation wed night and have to be up there to fly out of Anchorage Mon night. Leaves 4 days to drive. That's what I'm trying to figure out, if I'm biting off more than I can chew by doing it in 4 days. No problem running the speed limit + with my setup if the weather and roads allow.
Plus taking the ferry on the 2nd drive up with the family. Less windshield time for the kids and they love going on the ferries here.

 

[lifekicksass]

Ak

I just drove down in Jan with a trailer, and two sleds on a sled deck. No issues at all roads are good except for about 50 miles of them around the Ak border. i didn't use 4x4 at all. Roads were all take care of. I was driving a F250 deisal and fuel was not a concern. The bigger towns along the way have fuel and palaces to eat. I drove to Revelstoke then cut over to Washington. I averaged about 600-800 miles a day. I had no problems keeping at the speed limit or faster. I have been searched before but that only took an hour before i was my way. Its a great drive. Sounds like you will have no issues. Just sit back and enjoy the drive.

LOCK YOUR STUFF UP!! Can't stress that enough. You should think about having some type of anti theft on your truck.....I had everything stolen in Edmonton last year.

Check your PM and give me a call sometime I can give you more info.

 

[AZ800]

Raytech, I know the uhaul gig. Fakin pieces of chit! Took me 3 days in a 26' uhaul pulling a pickup from Albuquerque to Wisconsin hammer down. Never again. If you gotta do the u haul thing get a Penske truck. Abou the same price and they have real med duty trucks. Made a trip from CO to WA moving here with my Jeep, wheeler and sleds in the Penske truck. 72 mph the whole way, much better.
Definately will bring extra fuel and anything else I might need, just in case. Didn't think about no credit cards at some places. Although I can't imagine that's the case nowadays I usually pack some foldin cash anyways.
Biggest issue I got is campin on the side of the road or strange area with a brand new truck and $20k+ worth of toys hooked to the back of it and no gun!

 

[AZ800]

Lifekickass, that's the info I was looking for. Thanks.
I'll have about the same setup. F250, wheeler in the back and 3 sleds plus anything else I can stuff in the trailer. Won't have any security system on the company truck but I'll definately disable it somehow when I get a room
for the night.
That's what sucks is both trips will be hauling stuff that people like to steal. Sleds, quad, trailers, old Jeep, generator and other stuff with motors. All the stuff that the movers don't like to take. Feel better with a 357 on me but no dice thru Canada!

 

[LoudHandle]

All have brought up good points. My ex-wife was Canadian so we made pilgrimages that direction multiple times a year. Unless you decide to head east and catch the Alberta interstate (Calgary / Edmonton) for a speed run. All the routes to Prince George are pretty comparable. Out of Prince George is where you will need to decide. The route I would take is the actual Alaska Highway, while the Cassier is shorter by a couple hundred miles the Alaska is essentially interstate quality now days and you will make better time, even with the extra miles. At Watson Lake the routes reconnect so the rest is a wash. If you are a point and shoot driver like I am figure 36 hours driving time, I hedge the speed limit by a fair margin. We made it to the West Yellowstone, Montana "Sled Expo" in 48 hours with three of us driving around the clock from Valdez, AK about ten years ago. The roads will be better in April than they will be in May, read breakup and unbelievable mud and bad sections. It is best to catch it Mid-winter before the thaw or mid-summer when it is dry and they have had a chance to grade the washboard out. Although it is lightyears better than what it was thirty years ago when we moved up when I was a kid.

As for the Border be prepared with the documentation and be honest and respectful, they are just doing their jobs. If you show up with a chip on your shoulder, they will feel the need to knock it off, and you will have a bad experience. That goes for re-entering the US in Alaska as well.

Once you get settled, if you get down to Valdez, shoot me a PM we can go for a rip.

 

[smitty5.9]

Heat

I believe shotguns are still ok in Canada.
Last time I went I packed a nice little scatter gun for peace of mind. You should verify before doing this yourself but I like the security of having my own defense. Most folks are very nice but you are driving though some of the most remote places you can go.

 

[lifekicksass]

You are right on shotguns. I have carried one with me everytime I have travled thru Canada. I carry a 870 with buckshot. You can fill the forms out at the border or print them out before you get there. Its a $25 fee for the gun permit. Read up on the regs. When I crawled in me trailer for the night I had the shorgun handy becasue alot times I would sleep in random places.

Call your credit card company and let them know your traveling thru Canada.

Dont forget cell phone charges are a pain in Canada.

Call your insurance and let them know your traveling thru.

Defintaly carry some cash I usally carry $500 for random times or random people.

If you plan your trip there are shower stops along the way just have to hunt for them.

Look up Laird Hot Springs its a fun place to stop for a Soak after a long drive.

 

[sidehil]

If we make it on bikes I'll pm you, for the heck of it. Watch out for polar bears, I think the signs are posted. Never made the arctic circle but got close If Mount Hunter and Denali is considered close

 

[plumnuts]

.
Biggest issue I got is campin on the side of the road or strange area with a brand new truck and $20k+ worth of toys hooked to the back of it and no gun!

pay the $25 fee... you can pack a shotgun or a rifle not an issue. We packed a 12 gauge this past summer with no issues... the Canadian guards were more interested in the size of our bear spray than the shotgun... there was no way we were camping in some of the areas we were in without a firearm..

 

[raytech]

AZ,

Ya, I'm definately a Penske guy now when I need a truck. Have made a couple of moves since and what a difference. Back when I made the trip down Uhaul was the only rental that did the Ak to the lower 48 through Canada. I've gotta admit, reading this thread has me just a bit envious of you and is giving me the itch to do the drive again. Best of luck to you and the family!

 

[hivoltagesledhead]

I drive from Prince George to Dawson Creek (Mile 0 on the AK HWY) all the time. The roads are pretty good and gas is not an issue to Ft. Nelson. If you have some kind of 2 way radio that has LAD 1 on it, it will be a big help. The truckers are pretty friendly when they know you are on the air and you want to pass or need road conditions anywhere enroute. If there is an accident, detour, road closure or white out, they will know about it !!!

Double check on the firearm permit. We are not as free about our firearms as the USA. We cant even buy a gun or ammo without a possession licence.

Check out the highway cams on drivebc.ca if you come this way for local road conditions.

Cell service is hit and miss form Prince George to Chetwynd. Definately none for about 2.5 to 3 hrs through Pine Pass....hence the 2 way radio being a good idea !!

If you come through Prince George, let me know, I'll help the best I can...evan have a beer with ya !!

I love road trips and taking in the scenery.....Have a great trip!!!

 

[diamonddave]

Interesting thread...

 

[AZ800]

Thanks for all the help and tips guys!
Will definately be hittin' up you AK guys to ride with. Only got 2 years here in WA and just started figuring out where to go and met some ridin buddies..........onward I suppose. Only supposed to be up there for 2 years so want to take advantage of as much as possible while there.
Can't find my d@mn CB. Think I sold it in a garage sale of something.
The LAD 1 LAD 2 frequencies are VHF?
How's that compare to a CB? Thought about picking up a radio for the drive, for communication as much as entertainment. Gonna be sick and tired of the Ipod by the time I get there!