Alaska and Back Unscathed...Almost

[Riverbug]

We recently finished 4.5 months and 13,070 miles on the road from MN, through Canada, up the Alaska Hwy, Valdez (twice), Kenai Peninsula, the loop Palmer-Denali-Fairbanks-Part of the Dalton Hwy-Tok, Top of the World Hwy, Part of the Dempster Hwy, Keno City, Down the Cassier, back across the Trans Canada Hwy, and back to MN. I am happy to report no blown tires, no broken leaf springs, or any other suspension related issues.

However, I did have to shore up the bathroom pocket doors which hang on rollers. The framing the rails are connected to was separating from the wall framing which holds the doors up. But the worst problem we faced was found on the return trip after leaving Hyder, AK. This is a bigger issue we still have to deal with. The A-Frame at the front of the trailer cracked where it meets the main frame of the trailer, and the rectangular tubing is slightly distorted indicating it has a slight bend. Also, the cross member at the front of the main trailer frame is distorted and cracked indicating the side I-beams have flexed inward. We were able to have a mobile welder weld the cracks so the A-frame has solid connection with the main frame now. Over the winter we'll decide if we're going to have a new heavier duty A-frame built, or shore it up with angle iron, and add additional cross bracing along the front.

Aside from the issues, it was a fantastic trip that went so fast! We took 11,000 pictures (aren't digital cameras great?). The road frost heaves, and construction are no joke. At this point, we do not think we would take the trailer up again, but it was well worthwhile to go at least once.

 

[WhittleBurner]

It's great you did not let any of the problems you had interfere with having a great time and enjoying the moment.
We have debated taking the trailer vs cruising over to Alaska... Some day we'll make it !

 

[txloser]

What an amazing trip. That would be great. I’d say for that much travel and abuse, the damage isn’t bad at all. You did in a few months what many do over years.

 

[Riverbug]

It's great you did not let any of the problems you had interfere with having a great time and enjoying the moment.
We have debated taking the trailer vs cruising over to Alaska... Some day we'll make it !

If you want to explore all the areas, I would say it's worthwhile to take the RV at least once. I don't know of any other way we would have spent months up there exploring all we did. And in my opinion, if you are going to make the trip you may as well do it all if you can. Next big trip will be going East to Nova Scotia and Newfoundland (aside from FL in winter).

 

[Dragfam1127]

We recently finished 4.5 months and 13,070 miles on the road from MN, through Canada, up the Alaska Hwy, Valdez (twice), Kenai Peninsula, the loop Palmer-Denali-Fairbanks-Part of the Dalton Hwy-Tok, Top of the World Hwy, Part of the Dempster Hwy, Keno City, Down the Cassier, back across the Trans Canada Hwy, and back to MN. I am happy to report no blown tires, no broken leaf springs, or any other suspension related issues.

However, I did have to shore up the bathroom pocket doors which hang on rollers. The framing the rails are connected to was separating from the wall framing which holds the doors up. But the worst problem we faced was found on the return trip after leaving Hyder, AK. This is a bigger issue we still have to deal with. The A-Frame at the front of the trailer cracked where it meets the main frame of the trailer, and the rectangular tubing is slightly distorted indicating it has a slight bend. Also, the cross member at the front of the main trailer frame is distorted and cracked indicating the side I-beams have flexed inward. We were able to have a mobile welder weld the cracks so the A-frame has solid connection with the main frame now. Over the winter we'll decide if we're going to have a new heavier duty A-frame built, or shore it up with angle iron, and add additional cross bracing along the front.

Aside from the issues, it was a fantastic trip that went so fast! We took 11,000 pictures (aren't digital cameras great?). The road frost heaves, and construction are no joke. At this point, we do not think we would take the trailer up again, but it was well worthwhile to go at least once.

I know in the automotive market that I’ve worked in for several decades after welding the frame you weld another metal plate over the repaired cracked area for good reinforcement .

 

[azballoonman]

We did basically the same trip in our 2017 Reflection 297RSTS. Left in May, back to AZ. in Dec. Put on around 16k miles from AZ. Thru Colorado, Dakotas, Montana, Canada(Banff, Lake Louise), Al-Can and Cassier Hwys, Skagway, Chicken, Tok, Denali. Hyder was neat. No issues. Had been prepping for trip for awhile. Upgraded suspension with Moryde CRE3000, disc brakes(game changer!), extra spare(Hide-a-spare), Goodyear Endurance tires, had steel plates welded to back side of leaf spring hangers to prevent torqueing.
Fantastic trip! Would do it again. You just have to take your time and not be in a rush. Some stretches of road were 5-10mph. Ironically, we are doing the east coast next year as you are(Az. via Route 66 to New England then up to Novia Scotia).
Safe travels to you!