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RE: Question for TEXANS- Class A non CDL
The introduction to the Texas Drivers Handbook for 2023, just like the 2010 version that I eventually got around to reading, contains a very clear disclaimer that nothing in the handbook is meant to reflect the actual laws.
In my case, back in the 2010 era, when I spent a couple hours with a DPS examiner, she and I both got comfortable with the idea that I needed a Class A non-commercial to use my fully rated F350 towing the 16,000 GVWR KZ Escalade...which I promptly ignored for the remaining few months before I sold the truck and trailer.
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PA12DRVR
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03/28/23 09:59am |
General RVing Issues
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RE: Help making a decision on truck purchase.
Somewhere in the past 6 pages, the OP stated that he was looking at a replacement vehicle to get into 4WD.....and since he was getting into 4WD, he wanted to evaluate 1/2 ton options.
- Having made a couple cycles of living in AK then Texas then AK and finally resting in AK, I consider 4WD a must have. With the steep driveway I have at the house, I wouldn't get 2WD out without tirechains and a freshly plowed path. FWIW, one fine January day a while back, I lost the TC on my little wrangler turning it into a poseur 2WD. Had to get a snatch and grab with the local wrecker service and the Wrangler wasn't under the "discount towing" insurance. So $185 dollars later, it was out of my driveway ready to drive under 2WD to the shop. Long way of saying that 4WD has at least the potential to save some big $$ hits and might offset a lot of fuel costs.
- So if 4WD is something the OP wants, that may resolve the "buy or not" decision.
- If buying....it's up to each person, but in my case, I'm a follow the numbers guy; If I was buying, I'd want to buy within the GVWR / GCVWR #'s. So confirm the weight of your 5th wheel (including pin weight) and use that for shopping.
- As to what to buy, the market is still different than what it was but it may be getting back to normal. Dunno, but it still seems like prices and interest rates on new vehicles are pretty high.
- Can't speak for CA or the mountain west, but up here, if one can get a good bargain on a used 4WD, the time to get that bargain is early summer long before even a hint of the coming winter....
- If that holds true elsewhere, it might be possible to source a good used 4WD 3/4 ton that would clearly handle the OP's trailer...and likely quite a bit below the cost of a new 1/2 ton.
- Maybe that cost savings for a bit more competent truck would ease the pain of not getting any better MPG.
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PA12DRVR
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03/28/23 09:38am |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: Vancouver, Seward, Anchorage and Fairbanks
Thank you, I’m getting some good info - don’t stop.
Just to note, we are flying to Vancouver and taking a cruise to Seward. After Seward begins our road trip portion.. We will however be spending a few days in Vancouver before boarding ship.
Although it depends a bit on the route / itinerary, have the supplies (film, cards, whatever) to take lots of photos on the trip from Vancouver to Seward. there are some cruises (I understand, haven't done it) that drop anchor in the panhandle cities (JNU, KTN, etc) in the early morning then depart in the evening (6 pm -ish) and sail at night...hopefully yours travels during the day so you can see the sights.
Will you be renting a car from Seward / Los Anchorage? Makes it a bit easier to move around but a bit more dependent on open lodging. The earlier poster who noted the "boring" (my words) Interior is largely correct for "sightseeing". Not much to see / do in the Fairbanks area other than a riverboat cruise, a couple museums, and hunting trips. However, if time permits, a road trip to Deadhorse/ Arctic Circle gets into country that is different that any part of the L48 and the drive down the Richardson (i.e. the "Old Road") from circa Big Delta to Glennallen is pretty scenic.
Mid-September (if you need lodging) will likely mean that you overnight in Los Anchorage, Talkeetna, Healy, or Squarebanks. Many of the lodges and so forth between those places will be closed by the time you get to that part of your trip. I believe McKinley / Denali Nat Park may still be open but the nearby lodging might take some snooping to find an open place. The "glitter gulch" compound just outside the park entrance tends to rapidly shutdown in Mid-September.
If it's of interest, I'd begin inquiring sooner rather than later about available flight seeing options from Talkeetna / Healy / Denali Park for that time of year. Similar "tourist" stuff (riverboat cruises, etc) may be limited due to the late season. Fishing trips will still be in full swing (if that's your thing) but they should be looked into as well just to ensure there's room. Given your itinerary, I'd suggest (again...if of interest) you take your Seward time and slot in any wildlife cruises, fishing, or glacier cruises on that end. Leave the trip to Los Anchorage and Fairbanks for road-based sightseeing and any flight seeing.
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PA12DRVR
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03/24/23 10:45am |
RVing in Canada and Alaska
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RE: Question for TEXANS- Class A non CDL
FWIW....when I live in Ewe-stun, admittedly a few years ago now, there were vendors (for lack of a better word) that offered all sorts of driver training, from ordinary DL stuff for teens to full-on CDL with all the endorsements training.
About the time I simultaneously realized I needed a Class A non-CDL AND decided to ditch Texas for Alaska, I found a couple of places that (for a fee) would provide, over the weekend, training and testing for the Class A non-CDL, including (they were a contractor of some sort for DPS) issuing the new / upgraded license. Fairly steep (recall it being $400 at the time) cost, but it was essentially a plug and play...set aside a weekend and $400, come out of it with a Class A non-CDL.
Never attended and it might be only in the bigger areas, but something like that might be an option.
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PA12DRVR
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03/23/23 09:54am |
General RVing Issues
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RE: Vancouver, Seward, Anchorage and Fairbanks
Speaking strictly for the Alaska part....it's hard to make recommendations without a bit of narrowing it down: are activities (i.e. hiking, climbing, fishing, hunting ) preferred or observation? By mid-September in Alaska, the "tourist" attractions are beginning to shut down: many flight seeing operators, excursions, fuel/lodge infrastructure, etc.
I'd suggest some variant of a wildlife / scenic excursion out of Seward into the Kenai Fjords Nat. Park. I believe they run those through mid- if not the end of September, but I haven't taken one in a couple of years, so can't be sure. Unfortunately, in mid-September, both bear viewing and whale watching (if either are of interest) are pretty sketchy or non-existent....you can always see resident bears or resident Orcas / porpoise / seals / sea lions, but the big bear gatherings or the gray whale migrations are over.
Whittier (sort of on the way to Seward from Los Anchorage) offers glacier viewing tours through September. Focused on glaciers, so any wildlife is luck of the draw.
If McKinley / Denali sightseeing is of interest, I believe there are still options in Mid-September from both Anchorage and the Denali area....and seeing Denali on a clear fall day is pretty spectacular.
If you have an interest in fishing, while weather conditions get generically dicey in September, there are lots of options for saltwater (silver salmon, halibut...although tailing off, possibly rockfish, etc) and freshwater (Silvers, trout) fishing. Freshwater would be from Anchorage or the nearby Mat-Su area (Willow, Wasilla) or Kenai Peninsula (Soldotna, Kenai), while saltwater would be very do-able from Seward.
Just for road sightseeing, even as a dyed-in-the-wool "there's nowhere like Alaska" guy, the trip on the highway past / through Kluane is incredibly spectacular. In Alaska, presuming clear days, the stretch between circa Trapper Creek to Nenana (on the Parks Highway) is incredibly scenic. Similarly, the Seward Highway from Los Anchorage to Hope can be very scenic. Not on your list, but the Richardson from Glennallen to Valdez is arguably one of the most scenic drives in AK and the stretch (on the Glenn) between Palmer and Eureka is also quite scenic. Lastly, in mid-September you'll be fighting the hunters (legit and lazy road hunters) but the Denali Highway (between Cantwell on the Parks and Paxson on the Richardson) is my favorite drive in Alaska.
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PA12DRVR
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03/23/23 09:37am |
RVing in Canada and Alaska
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RE: Question for TEXANS- Class A non CDL
Drove a F350 / 5th wheel combo that was well past the 26,000 mark for about 7 years based in Ewe-stun. Blissfully ignorant for the first 6 years, planning for coming back to AK in year 7, so never got the Class A Non-Commercial, but that was what was required. Never stopped nor ticketed nor in a wreck.
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PA12DRVR
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03/21/23 10:52am |
General RVing Issues
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RE: F-250 vs F-350 srw
I bought my last truck (an F250) on a Wednesday and by Thursday was wishing I had spent the extra $1000 (closest I could get the dealer) for an F350 for no other reason than some weird mix of buyer's remorse and "I want the next step up-itis"....but that was buying new. If your current F250 setup works, why change it?
If I were buying new, I'd buy within all the ratings, just 'cause that's how I like to do it; but if you've put the miles and time in on your rig and nothing's blown up, started to sag, drip fluids, rub, etc., I can't see a basis to change.
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PA12DRVR
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03/15/23 09:30am |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: How To Set Up An F-250 For Towing?
FWIW....in one of my iterations, I pulled a 34-ish foot long circa 9,000 # TT with a chevy 2500 diesel. All well within various ratings. I had (IIRC) circa 20% or so tongue weight and the truck didn't squat to any significant degree...and it pulled / stopped turned just fine.
Nevertheless, I went ahead and got a weight distributing hitch (Reese something or other 2.0). What that did was not only put a bit of weight on the front end, but it entirely eliminated any issues with my doors being blown off by passing semi's...instead of the truck or trailer being pushed, it was like the entire 50+ foot long setup was being pushed as a unit, no swing in between trailer and truck. Without the WDH, it was not a problem, but with the WDH, I could essentially ignore the overtaking semi's...that was reason enough for the WDH for me.
...and FWIW, a good number of those semi's were on I35E/W, US 287, and I-40.
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PA12DRVR
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03/14/23 10:41am |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: I Bought Too Much Truck
In previous chapters of the life, I used an F350 (DRW, 8' Bed) for my daily driver in Ewe-stun for a couple of years; does it limit you? Yes. Is it impossible? No. Wife and I parked in the same parking garage at work...she had her choice of spots with the Prius; I had to get there early to get a first floor spot, ideally one of 10 that pulled straight in from an entrance. Very do-able. If I wanted to see a show in the Theater District, it was either a cab / Uber / Lyft thing or take the Prius. Trip to Santone for the Riverwalk? Park where convenient and walk. RV trip from Ewe-Stun to points NW? I always enjoyed having "More" truck rather than less. I think a bit of driving / parking / maneuvering will get you more comfortable with the truck.
I also had an F550 Dump truck for a plow business. Had to use that for a daily driver for a 3-4 month period up here in AK....now, that may have been too much truck for anywhere except Los Anchorage, but even that worked out fine. :)
..currently have an F250 with the 6.5' bed. Don't tow RV's anymore, but tow the boat, the sno-go's, the ATV etc....and I've repeatedly kicked myself for getting the 6.5 instead of 8' bed. Unless your life is strictly towing with an empty bed, I suspect that once you start outfitting the RV, there'll be times when it's nice to have extra room in the bed. ....and the longer WB does drive nicer.
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PA12DRVR
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03/13/23 08:32am |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: Denali Hwy 8
Can't help on the camping spots (as I've only used a pickup / -12 / tent on this road). Only recommendation that I'd have it to go slow. As MORSNOW indicated, there's limited "big" spots....maybe plan on 2 nights on the road? Dunno.
The Denali is, IMNSHO, the best of the road drives in Alaska for scenery and such. Of course, the Richardson down to Valdez is spectacular, the Haul Road can be very nice, and even the little old Parks (between Talkeetna and Clear) or the Glenn (between Palmer & Glennallen) offer some nice views, but for a road trip that is very do-able in summer, that is somewhat remote but not really, and that offers great vistas nearly everywhere, the Denali can't be beat.
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PA12DRVR
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02/27/23 08:57am |
RVing in Canada and Alaska
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RE: Do we have a pickup glut already?
New 3/4 or 1-ton SRW pickups are pretty rare up here, particularly in anything below the zoot suit option package.
Increasing #'s of new 150 / 1500's on the lots but pricing is still pretty high. Some months ago a query for a 3/4 ton was met with "That'll cost you MSRP + XX% if we can get it"....now the response is "We only have 2 and they'll cost you MSRP + XX%".
I've only had good luck with 3-4 used vehicles over nearly 40 years, so I tend to buy mostly new, but I can't bring myself to pay the current sticker price....so we'll just keep using the aging fleet.
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PA12DRVR
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02/24/23 09:20am |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: Roadtrip by car vs RV, a couple of thoughts...
When we lived in Ewe-Stun, the default was always the RV for a road trip; even if the #'s penciled out as a push, the ability to have our own kitchen, beds, shower, grill resolved any debate.
Now that we are back in the Last Frontier, the RV days are over and any road trips to the L48 will involve fly then drive. Spent 6 weeks on the road just prior to the Covid panic driving and moteling...very enjoyable.
Ewe-stun or Alaska, if the destination is the thing (rather than the journey), we're quite likely to fly
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PA12DRVR
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02/22/23 09:39am |
General RVing Issues
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RE: Ram Reduces Max Tow Ratings
Hope the better half gets better soon, Grit.
The last time I bought a truck, as I've done for 20 years, I looked at my expected tow/ carry requirements and bought a truck where the requirements fit within that truck's XXWR numbers.
Now that it's been nearly 4 years on that truck, when I have a load to carry or pull, I like to get a sense of what the load weighs, but, as I've done since the 70's, I decide to carry or pull based on experience, conditions, distance, terrain, time of year, and, yes, XXWR numbers...but those numbers are one of only 6-7 factors and certainly not the dispositive factor. While I admit to factoring the ratings in to a purchase decision, nevertheless, it's always intriguing to me the degree of hyperventilating that occurs over ratings.
As Grit said, anyone that buys a new 2500 truck to pull 20,000#'s needs to feel some pain. My buddy in La Plata county pulls incredible loads with his 80's vintage F350...probably close to or over 20k...but not far, not fast, and certainly not as a dedicated new truck / load combo.
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PA12DRVR
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02/14/23 10:03am |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: Diesel to Gas Power Observation
"As to gas and diesel prices, here in the PNW we have seen diesel lower than gas within the last 18 months."
Prolly have to go back 24 months for the Los Anchorage area, but diesel was noticeably cheaper in that timeframe.
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PA12DRVR
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02/01/23 09:23am |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: DISCUSSION: 8 ft + crew cab vs. SUV
"My other idea is to put a basic camper-top/cap on the truck and SOMETIMES use it for QUICK, solo camping trips.
I don't need to discuss 4WD...do most of us NEED it? Probably not."
I live in Alaska where I truly need 4WD every so often (probably need 10x per year, convenient much more than that) and I won't drive a vehicle up here w/o 4WD. When I lived in Ewe-stun, decided that I didn't need a 4WD F350, so got a 2WD F350. Some years later, at selling time, even the Ewe-Stun market dinged it for being only 2WD...and I managed to get stuck (spin-out, not buried) on wet grass (FL, AL, and MS) at least 3 times in the years that I owned it and camped (5th Wheel) with it.
Caps: Main reason my pickups have a cap is for (relatively) dry storage of the gear I carry. Caps rule out sno-go, SxS, or other bulky item transport...but that's what trailers are for. I've used the cap more than once when my "I'm a tough Alaska guy, I can camp in a tent" opinion got hammered by hard rain :(, but it's mostly so that I can carry stuff without having to worry about it being soaked or buried in snow or covered in dirt.....the bed stuff still gets dusty if it sits there for a while.
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PA12DRVR
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01/25/23 09:34am |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: DISCUSSION: 8 ft + crew cab vs. SUV
Over the 40+ years since I've been driving, I've had 1/2, 3/4, and 1 ton trucks and 1/2 and 3/4 ton Suburbans as well as a 1/2 ton Toyota Sequoia. I currently have 2 each 3/4 ton pickups with caps on them, 6.5' bed; an '09 Chebby and a 2019 F250. I tow a variety of non-RV bumper pull stuff. The 5th wheel days are behind me.
Were I to start again with the proverbial magic wand: Single Rear Wheel 350 / 3500 Pickup with a Cap, 4WD, most likely diesel, 8' bed; game time decision of either a bed slider or a "Decked" setup. I won't spend the money to replace what I have, but in this ideal world, the 350 / 3500 and the 8' bed provide convenience and capacity disproportional to the cost. In my experience, the extra length of 8' vs. 6.5' doesn't make it any more difficult to park.
Loved my 3/4 ton 'burb, but in the end, I "need" to haul fuel cans and other "stuff" that just doesn't work in enclosed, nice environment.
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PA12DRVR
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01/23/23 10:27am |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: RVIA Certificate?
"Another case of why are you asking us schleps on the internet and not just doing the logical thing…."
^^^ That....but since I'm adding my schleppy $0.02: The rule is that an RVIA # is required, not if RVIA is valid, worthwhile, the same as USF or NFPA, or makes sense. If the park requires an RVIA #, either don't go (because you don't comply) or call and explain the situation and see if they'll give you an OK / waiver over the phone. The value or legitimacy of an RVIA # is not the issue; the issue is that the Park has a rule...either comply with it or seek their waiver.
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PA12DRVR
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01/19/23 09:50am |
General RVing Issues
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RE: Rivian R1S
"I have read many Canadian gasoline stations also close in the winter if traveling to/from AK. Am I wrong?"
I made my 1st winter trip on the Alcan going from Los Anchorage to Seattle area in 1972....I had only a learner's permit at the time and was on the trip with my uncle's foreman to help get hay and a trailer from Seattle and return. I would estimate that at that time 75% of the roadhouse stations through YT/BC outside of identified cities were closed in (IIRC) January...part of that was that there were a LOT more places 50 years ago and the winnowing effect was taking place. A colleague (admittedly not my direct experience) made the trip North from Seattle this year leaving on 2-Jan, getting here about a week ago. He reported that he had no problem finding stations to keep his 30+ gallon diesel tank at 1/2 or higher. He never had to get into the 20 gallons of spare diesel cans in the back of his pickup.
....which is a key point on this rambling message. Until my latest trip (3 years ago, helping someone relocate from Ewe-Stun), in 20+ trips since that '72 trip, I've always made a point to carry at least 10 gallons of fuel for any trip outside of the May - August window. That gave me anywhere between 150 and 220 miles of "Oh ****, I'm getting low" problem solving. I'm not sure what the mitigation is if one's pure EV lasts shorter than expected in cold weather.
...and again, I'll admit to a morbid fascination of "what can go wrong", but I'm unwilling to take the drive, at any time between October and April which is winter driving with all the risk that entails, between Los Anchorage and Glennallen even though the mileage looks to be within the range of an EV and even though there might (probably?) be charging stations in Glennallen.
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PA12DRVR
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01/16/23 05:43pm |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: Rivian R1S
...and there are (based on rough quick look) about 30 charging stations in Alaska. Just as a for-instance, there are 3 locations (depending how one counts "location" and there are more than 3 stations) between Los Anchorage and Valdez. Anchorage lists 8 charging stations but once outside of the core area: One of the other charging locations is at a local chain grocery store and has been blocked off twice in the past 3 weeks...presumably due to cold, although at the then -15 F, it wasn't that cold. Two of the other locations include a private campground (closed for the winter) and a public (State of Alaska DNR) campground and conference facility, also closed for the winter. There are probably others, but I would not choose to take a 180 mile drive (Anchorage to Glennallen) without the ability to "charge up" nor the additional 120 miles to valdez with no ability to "charge up" on that leg until reaching Valdez.
Again, if I were to spend $100,000 or so on a summer-only vehicle, I'd probably be looking at something different. FWIW, there's an identifiable segment of Los Anchorage drivers that do the commute in their Teslas....although strangely enough over the past two weeks (when we had a bit of below zero weather), the Teslas weren't as noticeable.
...and I use GWN to refer to Alaska, although perhaps misappropriating the name from Canada.
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PA12DRVR
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01/13/23 02:53pm |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: Rivian R1S
Well they are as fast as they are ugly!
I’d love to have a ripper 11 second EV. But even though it smoked a TRX, if I had to drop $100k on a pickup truck for some silly reason it would be a TRX Redeye or the baddest new diesel 1 ton in my favorite color! Not an ugly midsize toaster oven.
Back in the day, when I worked for Baker Poppa in Ewe-stun, I was the first employee to get a Prius, the then closest thing to an EV....so I've got nothing against EV's per se, but for this kind of price tag a quick look through the local fora and boards indicates: Could probably buy 2 relatively late model diesel (certainly gas) pickups, not new but close; Could buy an airworthy C180, although would need at least cosmetic work; could buy a moderately upgraded PA-12; could cover 65% of the cost of a rough C182; could make a 65% down payment on a new tricked out 24' ocean boat or could buy a low-time late model 24 or 26' in the same make in nice condition ready to go; or could buy 3 new sno-gos and a smaller Kubota tractor.
The $$ just doesn't make this sort of vehicle attractive, never mind the dearth of charging stations up here in the GWN.
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PA12DRVR
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01/13/23 10:20am |
Tow Vehicles
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