planning for the ALCAN in 2011

[strvger]

ok, been doing some more thinking. would it be worth strapping my 12 ft. aluminum fishing boat onto the trailer? i'm really not much of a fisherman, but do enjoy just being on the water. and if i do hook something worth eating, then there is my meal. what do you think? worth bringing it along? CA. regulations too troublesome?

 

[MountainMike]

Me, personally, I would definitely bring the boat if you have the trailer and truck so equipped. Don't forget to do a once over on the trailer too. Tire wear, pressures, grease the bearings and check the lights and torque specs. I have had to change out trailer bearings 5 minutes before a camping trip in the rain because I didn't think to check them beforehand. No one was happy and I really should have noticed it.

Not sure what you mean by C.A. regulations though

 

[ASMODEAN]

Watching something on the History channel right now about the ALCAN.

 

[LIMA BEAN]

Yep lash it on there, a small raft would be better for room and packing a mile or two into killer fishing spots. For Alaska get The Highway Angler by: Gunnar Pedersen, be amazed what people drive by every mile where you can get into sick fishing in pristine spots. The 20 bucks you spend on it and a Milepost and/or Alaska Atlas and Gazetteer are worth gold and when combined whoa, you will have an extreme knowledge of whats ahead every mile.

 

[feellnfroggy]

Take a rope and inflatable queen size walmart matress. INstant raft. and you can stand on it if your carefull too. Let the air out and more room to pack.

 

[strvger]

Me, personally, I would definitely bring the boat if you have the trailer and truck so equipped. Don't forget to do a once over on the trailer too. Tire wear, pressures, grease the bearings and check the lights and torque specs. I have had to change out trailer bearings 5 minutes before a camping trip in the rain because I didn't think to check them beforehand. No one was happy and I really should have noticed it.

Not sure what you mean by C.A. regulations though

Canada rules and regulations about bringing a boat in from the US. i'm planning on a quick trip to Thunder Bay,On. next month and will stop at the border to see about forms for a shotgun, dog food requirements, and the boat. those are the only things i have questions about... so far.
i'll be strapping the boat to the top of either my tent camper or my utility trailer. it weighs less than 100# and i can move it around easily. probably leave the motor home and just use oars to make it more portable. thanks for the input!

 

[MountainMike]

That's a good point, I have never really thought about any reg you have to meet with a boat. Shouldn't be too much in reality. But if you can, I would definitely bring it, I'll show you some nice fishing lakes!

 

[MountainMike]

So hows the planning going?

 

[feellnfroggy]

You know if you strap the boat down right side up on a trailer you will still have packing room.....inside the boat, LOL.

 

[strvger]

so far so good. truck prep is getting done slowly but surely. got the valve seals changed. bad news is during the process, discovered the head gasket was about to go and ended up having the head shaved. still have an issue as my cruise control is not working and every now and then, it wants to sputter and die. thinking i have a vacuum line off or on the wrong connector. should have it taken care of in a day or two.
got the sway bar on the back and wow! it really helps when my aux. tank is full of gas. also got new glass pack muffler on and i like it. not too loud and doesn't sound like a ricer.
will be buying the wood i need to build out the bed for storage later this week.
also got a good deal on a 130 amp alternator that will be installed early next week. mine is going bad (lights dim when i let off the gas) and a high output replacement will be nice! i already have the set up to run dual batteries, so i'm thinking a marine battery in the bed for added electricals and for an emergency jump if needed.
as for the boat, don't like packing too much in it as the rating is for the boat in the water, not on a trailer. wouldn't like having too much weight in it and weakening the aluminum hull bouncing over literally thousands of miles of roads. probably build a rack on either the utility trailer or tent camper for it. also looking at maybe getting a small 8-10' jon boat instead for small ponds and lakes. we'll see.
so, for now, that's about it. the build continues as does the planning. still have a few months to finish up so i'm trying not to rush things and miss something.
one thing Mike, have been thinking about June, and as there is no air conditioning in my truck, i might be better off waiting 'till Sept. when it should be a little cooler. i know July and at least the early part of August could be hotter even than June. also the campgrounds might not be so crowded. let me know what you think.
i'll post another update in a few weeks when all the electrical stuff and bed build is done.

 

[crbnunit]

I honestly would not recommend anything later than late July or early Aug. The bugs should be mellowing by then. The weather gets more unstable as you get later into the summer/fall. We have had snow in late Aug. and early Sept. Not usual, but it happens. Either way, you end up with more clouds, cooler temps and lots of rain.

Why a "boat" and not something more portable like a canoe?



What is your time line? How long are you staying? How are you getting back? Have you though of taking the ferry back? You can ride it all the way to Seattle if you like.

http://www.dot.state.ak.us/amhs/index.shtml

 

[gwaii]

you should consider a side trip to the islands....i'll take ya salmon fishing,get a tyee.late june is great.

 

[strvger]

driving up and back. Duluth, Minnesota to Fairbanks, Alaska. taking a month, or longer if needed. the whole trip in my 1983 ranger 4x4.
if i could find a 12-13' canoe for a reasonable price, i probably would get it. the small fishing boats go for way less here in Mn.

salmon is a favorite for sure. have to bring my partner on the boat though. 35# basset/beagle mix copilot/navigator.

 

[MountainMike]

one thing Mike, have been thinking about June, and as there is no air conditioning in my truck, i might be better off waiting 'till Sept. when it should be a little cooler. i know July and at least the early part of August could be hotter even than June. also the campgrounds might not be so crowded. let me know what you think.

I honestly would not recommend anything later than late July or early Aug. The bugs should be mellowing by then. The weather gets more unstable as you get later into the summer/fall. We have had snow in late Aug. and early Sept. Not usual, but it happens. Either way, you end up with more clouds, cooler temps and lots of rain.

Basically crbn summed it up perfectly, right now it is absolutely gorgeous here and the mosquitoes are starting to quiet down. It's the tail end of the major tourist time so the campgrounds will be much less busy. When you stop buy this way I strongly recommend staying out at the Fox Lake campground. Good fishing, beautiful terrain and not to far from Braeburn or town.

If you need anything else just let me know

 

[crbnunit]

Drive on down to Anchorage or at least Denali NP. You can cut back across the to Glenn Allen from Anchorage or across to Paxton on the Denali Highway from Denali NP. Well worth the extra miles. I could recommend some really cool places. How much time are you going to have up here and what are you planning to do?

If Fairbanks is really your final destination, make sure you drive out to Chena Hot Springs for a nice soak. Drive about 400 miles North of there and see the Arctic Ocean!