Alaska to Colorado
- Thread starter Schattenjager
- Start date
A few considerations II
I drove from Anchorage to Haines on December 5th and 6th of last year. A few things to keep in mind.
1. Get the antifreeze mixture right about 70/30. The temp at 8pm was -20F and much colder overnight so be prepared for that situation.
2. Bring an extension cord. The motels in Haines have plugins but more than make up for the costs by charging extortion prices for cord rentals. Bring your own and it turns out to be good deal form you, not them.
3. Be prepared for some dark hours if you push to get from Anchorage to Haines Junction in November. The light goes away around 4pm and the last street light is in your rearview mirror past Palmer. The stretch from Tok to Haines Junction is especially dark if overcast and the cute little rabbits run in front of your car with a death wish. To avoid them could easily cause you to ditch or worse and in that weather this could be serious.
4. Consider overnighting at Tok rather than Haines Junction. This would allow you to drive during daylight hours and push into Whitehorse on your second day. I have driven to Hainers many times but last December I went over 300 miles and encountered only three cars going the other way. Those were some desolate miles and I would enjoyed them more in daylight.
Thats about it, hope all goes well on the way as I am sure it will given your rig and preparations.
I drove from Anchorage to Haines on December 5th and 6th of last year. A few things to keep in mind.
1. Get the antifreeze mixture right about 70/30. The temp at 8pm was -20F and much colder overnight so be prepared for that situation.
2. Bring an extension cord. The motels in Haines have plugins but more than make up for the costs by charging extortion prices for cord rentals. Bring your own and it turns out to be good deal form you, not them.
3. Be prepared for some dark hours if you push to get from Anchorage to Haines Junction in November. The light goes away around 4pm and the last street light is in your rearview mirror past Palmer. The stretch from Tok to Haines Junction is especially dark if overcast and the cute little rabbits run in front of your car with a death wish. To avoid them could easily cause you to ditch or worse and in that weather this could be serious.
4. Consider overnighting at Tok rather than Haines Junction. This would allow you to drive during daylight hours and push into Whitehorse on your second day. I have driven to Hainers many times but last December I went over 300 miles and encountered only three cars going the other way. Those were some desolate miles and I would enjoyed them more in daylight.
Thats about it, hope all goes well on the way as I am sure it will given your rig and preparations.
Schattenjager
Expedition Leader
Thank you AK Trooper - I will heed your anit-freeze wisdom. The extension cord goes in the rear door pocket! Thanks again - I apprecate you taking the time to pass on sound advice!
Chance Favors the Prepared Mind
:archaeolo
Chance Favors the Prepared Mind
:archaeolo
Schattenjager
Expedition Leader
*UPDATE* - Well, my Disco is almost ready for the journey! I have the OME MEDIUM kit on and yesterday I mounted the BFG AT's (235/85/16) They fit just great - Went through a ditch to stretch the articulation and had more room than I had anticipated. The only down side is the front wheel wells: I do not think I will have enough room for chains - and by checking the weather along the Alaska Highway and the Cassiar, I'm going to want them on board. Soooooo
As the time for departure draws near, the belt on the budget grows tight. I really do want an ARB Bull Bar - heck, I may actually NEED one. Wouldn't that be a first... With Moose, caribou, and deer being real threats and the added room for chains the ARB would give me, I do want to try to get one. Where is the best place for price to get one? They do not seem to EVER go on the used market, but hey, I can dream a little.. Any suggestions?
As the time for departure draws near, the belt on the budget grows tight. I really do want an ARB Bull Bar - heck, I may actually NEED one. Wouldn't that be a first... With Moose, caribou, and deer being real threats and the added room for chains the ARB would give me, I do want to try to get one. Where is the best place for price to get one? They do not seem to EVER go on the used market, but hey, I can dream a little.. Any suggestions?
bigreen505
Expedition Leader
Check the forum sponsors, they are all great. Hopefully without upsetting Paul and Wil, Nathan at Pangaea-Expeditions (www.pangaea-expeditions.com) is the resident Rover guru and I would check in with him first. He can probably also answer you questions about whether the chains will fit.
devinsixtyseven
Explorer
i dont know if this is sacreligious or not to suggest, but if you're having trouble clearing the front bumper with the chains, and an arb bumper would solve the problem, have you considered trimming the current front bumper? an arb bumper will be much easier to source, and less expensive to ship, once you're in colorado.
the ak highway isn't really requiring of chains, but i've heard the cassiar can get nasty due to the climate.
the ak highway isn't really requiring of chains, but i've heard the cassiar can get nasty due to the climate.