On a trip like this, the following attributes are important to me, after completing several cross country trips:
Low NVH
When I'm pounding the pavement for days on end, I want to be driving something that transmits low noise, vibration and harshness. Nothing tires me out faster than hearing wind, engine and pavement noise on a long drive. Having a vehicle that is smooth, rather quiet and tight is something I'd look forward to driving at the beginning of each day. The Alaskan hwy's are brutal and I'd want the suspension and road noise to be kept at a minimum. If the vehicle requires "work" to drive, chances are that I wouldn't want to get behind the wheel eagerly every day.
Smooth aerodynamics
Ability to handle strong head and cross winds for hours on end is paramount. A lifted vehicle with a tall signature or a brick on wheels won't do for me. Fighting the steering wheel for hours on end just plain sucks. Having a 18 wheeler trying to blow me off the road won't do.
2wd vs 4wd
If I were going to Alaska and hit some of the forest roads/trails, I'd pick a 2x2. This isn't a four wheeling trip, rather an extended camping trips with occasional forays into the forest and logging roads. Four wheeling in Alaska requires a level of 4x4-ness that can only be achieved with large MTs, tall lifts and snorkels. Yes, it'd make me cautious as to where I go but extra fuel hit and more drivetrain (heavy) wear and tear just doesn't seem worth it to me.
Fuel type
This trip is all about setting the cruise control and forget it! The engine lugging along at a mild 1600rpm or so should yield for decent fuel economy and we all know that a petrol engine may not be able to pull well at that engine speed unless it's a huge gas guzzler. Yes, today's modern petrol engines can do it but the OP's budget won't allow it. So, I'd look for a TDi engine of some variant.
Sleeping mode
Setting up bedding every night is damn annoying so if I don't have to put my bedding away every morning, that's a huge plus for me. If I want to pull over for a quick hour nap w/o having to "setup" the bedding, that's what I'd aim for.
Security
I'm a proponent of keeping all of my junk inside the rig vs dangling out of the rear or on top. Thieves are always looking for an easy target and if they see a dirty van with rastafarian/Grateful Dead curtains on the windows with nothing on the outside, they'd likely to move on. Or, they just might knock on the door and ask for a bong hit!!
Safety
In the case of a mild roll over or a crash, I'd want everything inside secured that can become a projectile. I am not sure what to do with three dogs but having everything else neatly compartmentalized is a huge priority with me. How pissed off I'd be in the afterlife when I look down and watch myself surviving a roll over only to be beaned by a flying cast iron pan, LOL!!!
Inclement weather
When it rains, and you know this is going to be a regular event in Alaska, camping inside a tight quarter with three stinky mutts is not fun. To that end, I'd want a living space that can accommodate all four comfortably. Stepping over the dogs while cooking, bathing, or whatever just gets annoying. A rollout awning with the optional room addition would be a nice feature if the OP is planning on camping at one spot for a few days. You an have the choice of building the room with nylon mesh or solid panels for privacy. I vote for nylon mesh so the bugs stay out while lounge inside during the day with the pooches. I love my roll out awning from Ironman4x4 as it was inexpensive and can be deployed in less than five min.
What type of vehicle has all of these features, probably none. As we all know, it's all about compromising using the budget on hand. However, couple of vehicles come to mind: VW Eurovan or a Sprinter 118". I just love how the Eurovan does it when it comes to space saving. It has a shower, small kitchen, sleep on top while the dogs are on the bottom, easy to drive, decent on fuel. However, I question the engine/drivetrain reliability on a long trip like this. One break down and the entire trip's fuel budget may go down the crapper.
The Sprinter 118" maybe a good compromise. I'd buy a commercial van, gut it out, sound proof and insulate all panels, then build myself a cozy little studio inside it. The wheels are easy to find anywhere USA, probably can run on the crappiest diesel, could go with vege oil if so inclined, or just run on Bio if desired. You can find parts in any MBZ or Dodge or maybe even some Freightliner parts houses (not sure on that one). That engine is the bombdiggity in my book. It's quiet and pulls like a mule while sipping fuel. If a normal height isn't tall enough, perhaps go with the medium top? Not sure if I'd want a dually rear or not. Someone with more experience needs to chime in on dual rear tires. Furthermore, this van can fit in more parking and home garages in terms of height and length. The high top may not fit unless you have an eight garage door I'd venture to guess. The turning radius of these vans is awesome and with a set of Bilstein shocks they don't sway as much as one would expect. I drove a 140" and just couldn't believe how well it handled the turns. The one I drove was super quiet but it was a short test drive for me.
The OP is good with her hands and I bet she can build a nice nest inside the Sprinter for her and her pooches. I'd want a nice bed, with reading lights, LEDs everywhere, perhaps a solar panel on top to keep the house batts charged. Perhaps invest in a RV type of electric fridge (not three way), build some cabinets so that everything has its place. I have an Engel and I don't think I'd like to dig through it daily for my food. The upright RV Fridges with shelves are easy to work with and meant to be used daily, just like a home fridge.
I'd also invest in a Wabasto or a Espar hydronic heating system. Not sure if they make one that can both heat domestic water as well as heat up the engine coolant? I have a diesel Espar in the Kamparoo for space heating and it's great so IMHO this would be a worthwhile feature to look into. Additionally having one of those aerodynamic air conditioning unit that you see on tops of RVs would be a requirement for me. Sometimes it's just nice to pull over and catch a nap inside an air conditioned living quarter while it's blazing hot outside. You will refreshed and eager to continue on your journey. Besides, three pooches will need some cooling!
Now, we all know that when the travel bug hits, the OP ain't gonna just go to Alaska. If the rig is setup properly, I'm going to predict that she'll end up in Baja or even in Mexico and beyond :sombrero:
Anyway, just my .02 cents worth! :coffeedrink:
