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RE: Alaska
I'm not sure exactly what all of your questions are, but will share my experience. I've driven from Portland to Anchorage in 3.5-4 days - straight through. This year my wife and kids took our camper and drove up in 14 days and I flew up and drove the return in 7 days. 7 days travel is 8 hours moving per day, but we did a side trip to Prince Rupert which cost us 1 day. I think we picked up about 6 hours relative to what Google Maps said our route would take, so call it 10% difference. From a planning perspective I'd say 50 hours driving/moving from Seattle. Fuel for the return trip was about $1200 in a Ford F350/Camper - 13mpg. Camping was $10-30/night depending on services.
While there are certainly stretches with out a large number of services and it requires less advance planning if you can camp (i.e. RV/Camper), there are plenty of hotels and other accomodations. They didn't look like the Ritz, but serviceable. The roads are a non-issue -as good or better than country highways in Oregon, but there are frost heaves in the Yukon/Eastern AK that require you slow down.
We have rented RVs in AK as well. Great Alaskan Holidays would be where I would start. Just make sure you know the fully loaded cost after insurance and tax. It makes a difference. A friend rented a nice RV off Craigslist this year and was very happy with it. When we rented cars I think the cost was about $100/day from High Country in Anchorage. They are not as new as the national rental outfits, but tend to have better prices. Once again insurance and tax matter to the final cost.
With regards to the amount of time to spend in AK. My general advice is you can cover Denali to Homer in 7-10 days, but there are a couple of long drives that chew up hours. Lots of threads on the site with regards to how to spend ___ days in AK. My personal opinion gravitates to spending between Seward and Homer with a "less is more" philosophy, but I've been to Denali 3 times so the bud is off that rose for me.
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umpqua
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09/17/12 01:31pm |
RVing in Canada and Alaska
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RE: Insure or not?
We have Allstate. As I recall there was a very small fee for our truck camper and it may have just been a no cost addition to the policy.
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umpqua
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07/09/12 07:01pm |
Truck Campers
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RE: Driving to Alaska
Great thread, thanks for sharing.
You could always make the loop back to Anchorage and go down to Homer again....
My wife and kids are on the road to Alaska and will probably get to Prince George tomorrow. You will probably pass them on the highway.
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umpqua
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07/08/12 05:37pm |
Truck Campers
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RE: Is Alaska biggest tourist trap?
It is the biggest, just ask any Alaskan... Surprised Alaska isn't some kind of RV'ers big rock candy mountain? I guess we all have unrealistic expectations sometimes.
We are of that group of people who find Alaska to be an absolutely wonderful vacation spot and have only experienced the "tourist trap" element when we have been looking for it. We love the Homer Spit, but it is a tourist trap. We always camp on the Spit for a few days, but it is basically a dirty gravel parking lot with a stunning view. We know what to expect and it is fantastic. For the rest of our trip we are much more likely to dry camp at Quartz Creek than stay in a in a RV lot with hook-ups. If you don't like "combat fishing" go for a short hike and you will quickly be away from the crowd. If time and nature have conspired against you and hiking is not an option, I would think of it as a blessing that you can catch salmon from an aluminum platform in the middle of town or at most boat landings on the Kenai.
DW and kids are currently in route to Alaska for their 7th AK summer vacation. We normally fly up and are outfitted with a truck/trailer by friends in Anchorage, but this year she and my cousin decided to drive our truck/camper and combined 4 kids to Alaska. They will be in State/Forest Service campgrounds for most of the stay. I hope to see them again in about 6 weeks.
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umpqua
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07/08/12 03:45pm |
RVing in Canada and Alaska
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RE: Mounting bike rack
Top tube adapters are great. They both reduce the height and generally make loading the rack easier. We have them on all 4 kids bikes. The boys bikes would mount without, but the tubes are at an angle so the rear tire would stick way up in the air.
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umpqua
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07/08/12 03:03pm |
Truck Campers
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RE: What are you paying for fuel?
I think I paid 3.58 at Fred Meyer last week. It would have been slightly higher without discount.
When planning a trip I find this to be an excellent app. You can get a good idea of fuel prices on your route (there is even a route/gas stop planning tool).
http://gasbuddy.com/
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umpqua
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07/07/12 04:54pm |
Truck Campers
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RE: Mounting bike rack
Another vote for adding a front hitch and using it to hold the bike rack.
I just finished doing this on my Ford F350. I then bought a used bike rack because I needed to "adapt" the height by cutting down the upright tube of the bike rack. Otherwise the tires would had been about 5-6 feet off the ground in front of the driver.
We chose a front rack for 2 primary reasons. 1) we have a aluminum rack that we put in the rear hitch (under the rear camper overhang) for a small amount of firewood, generator fuel, etc... 2) fully loaded the rack for 4 bikes adds almost 4 feet to the length. With a 10'6 camper adding 4 more feet off the back didn't seem like the best solution. Doing so would have required an extension and a swinging rack so the camper steps could come down without removing all the bikes.
I'd post pictures of the process and outcome, but the camera is in the truck/camper which left Thursday headed to Alaska with my wife, cousin and combined 4 children. Front rack holds 4 kids bikes where they are readily accessible for use in campgrounds along the way.
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umpqua
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07/07/12 04:46pm |
Truck Campers
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RE: Oregon to Anchorage, 2 Moms, 4 Kids
Thanks to everyone for the offers of assistance if needed and kind words. There is no doubt they will make it and have an outstanding adventure. The schedule is loose enough that even if the kids were to get antsy they never have to drive very far. After Victoria, Laird Hotsprings is one of the only "destinations" they had planned before leaving. Both my cousin and my wife are pretty much "seat of the pants." Milepost and a couple of guide books were on the dash when they left and I suspect once they get past Prince George they will read a day or two ahead.
The truck is in great shape and we husbands are staying home to work and pay expenses. While 500-ish gallons of diesel will be a significant expense, round trip fuel will be significantly less than airfare for 6, they get to enjoy the journey, and have complete freedom in route and once they get to Alaska.
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umpqua
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07/06/12 11:42am |
RVing in Canada and Alaska
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Oregon to Anchorage, 2 Moms, 4 Kids
My wife, kids, cousin and her kids departed for Alaska today. Last winter they decided they would take our truck and camper and drive the Alcan. After several days of cleaning and packing they were ready to go this morning. We expect them home sometime in August.
You will be able to recognize them along the highway - they will be the Blue Ford/Bigfoot Camper with 4 kids bikes in the front rack and an adult bike hanging off the ladder rack on back. First stop is Victoria, BC then up through Whistler to connect into the highway North. They have no set agenda other than my wife saying she would like to be at our friend's house in Anchorage by the 19th... Then it will be down to Homer to see more friends, etc...
http://i1076.photobucket.com/albums/w441/PDX_Wes/IMAG0033.jpg width=640
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umpqua
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07/05/12 01:12pm |
RVing in Canada and Alaska
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RE: test photo
http://i1076.photobucket.com/albums/w441/PDX_Wes/IMAG0033.jpg width=640
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umpqua
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07/05/12 12:57pm |
Forum Technical Support
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RE: Posting pictures within text messages
test2
http://s1076.photobucket.com/albums/w441/PDX_Wes/?action=view¤t=IMAG0033.jpg height=640 width=480
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umpqua
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07/05/12 12:53pm |
Forum Technical Support
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RE: Posting pictures within text messages
Test
http://s1076.photobucket.com/albums/w441/PDX_Wes/?action=view¤t=IMAG0033.jpg height=800 width=600
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umpqua
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07/05/12 12:50pm |
Forum Technical Support
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RE: Victoria Campgrounds
Thanks for the quick replies.
Yes, we do have seat belts for all people as the truck seats 6. Kids are 8-11.
Thanks Again
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umpqua
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06/24/12 10:16pm |
RVing in Canada and Alaska
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Victoria Campgrounds
My wife, cousin and 4 kids are taking the truck/camper and driving from Portland, OR to Anchorage this summer. They will take the Port Angeles Ferry to Victoria and then spend a couple of days before returning to the mainland and driving to Alaska.
Does anyone have campground recommendations for the Victoria Area? Their only planned activity is to see Butchart Gardens. They would prefer kid friendly campgrounds and with the camper don't need hookups, etc...
Thank you.
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umpqua
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06/24/12 03:12pm |
RVing in Canada and Alaska
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