The AlCan Highway and The Dalton Highway

My wife and I are planning in the summer of 2020 to do the AlCan from Spokane WA to Anchorage and then North to the end of the Dalton . Who has done the Dalton in a 1st Gen Taco? I would like to hear about it .

 

Completely doable with nothing to worry about, it’s a paved and graded gravel road. Make sure the tuck is in good mechanical condition, have a decent spare tire and a gas can, that’s about all you really need.

 

Whats your route looking like for the trip up? I was up and around that area for about 3 months this last summer and had a blast.

Do yourself a favor and pick up a copy of the Milepost book. Lots of good information in there.

I didn't do the Dalton Hwy last year, because I did the Dempster Highway instead, but the concepts are pretty similar. Gravel road mostly, reasonably smooth. You can do it in about any vehicle, but make sure its not one you super duper care about, that its in good shape, and you bring a least a couple of spare tires (3 seems to be a good recommendation if you have a lot of weight).

 

I know someone on here did that Adventure a few years back .

should be able to find it or someone should have a link to it

 

Last summer my oldest son and I drove his 2005 Tacoma with solid front axles and 40" tires from Seattle to Anchorage. Roads were great and we had the time of our lives.

 

Thanks to everyone. Yes I am aware of Milepost and will subscribe soon. The route is Spokane Washington to the ALCAN to Anchorage and then from there north to the far end for a dip in the Arctic Ocean. Maybe some camping and fishing along the way and plenty of pictures. On the way down a side jaunt to Denali then back to Anchorage. We will use the Alaskan ferry system to get back to Seattle as by then we will be tired of driving.
The rig is a 2003 extended cab 4WD Tacoma with 120K miles. 2.7l 4 banger, 5 speed and manual transfer case. Tires are good, brakes are good. Before the trip I will change out all the fluids, belts and hoses and get a new tire for the spare and second spare just in case. Extra gas cans are waiting for me in Anchorage. Not much detail at this time.

 

I drove from NM this year, 2nd trip Awesome experience .
Fill up at 1/2 tank every chance you can, the fuel station you're planning to stop at might be out of gas or business.
Canada has some great free campgrounds with free fire wood
I used freecampsites.net to find free spots along my route
Bring a sleeping mask to sleep with best money I spent.
Drive the Denali Highway (its not in the park) Beautiful area lots animals
My pictures from the trip> https://1drv.ms/f/s!Au66L7C4MC3e8GK1i5mSvcycC4LB

 

Also, when I went AT&T said that my phone would work in Canada. They weren't wrong, however they neglected to mention that my phone would work only with Rogers towers. Turns out, Rogers has no towers in the Yukon, so I had no service there or the Northwest Terroritory. To get around this when I was in a tight spot, I got some credit on Skype and used that over Wifi.

I found the iOverlander app on android to be mostly useful for finding campgrounds and such.

Between Spokane and the alcan there are plenty of great things to see. I stopped in Banff and Jasper and aside from the Canada Day crowds I ran into, it was excellent.

Free firewood is good in Canada - bring your own hatchet. Expect that toward the end of the summer there will be a fire ban.

Consider taking a detour off the last part of the Alcan up to Dawson then over the Top of the World highway, its amazing.

If you're looking for lodging in Fairbanks for a night or several, the University of Fairbanks rents out its dorms. If you bring an ethernet cable, you can get 100mbit upload speeds - great for uploading pictures mid trip. Internet everywhere else is hit or miss.

If you like to hike, take a day and do a Discovery Hike at Denali. Definitely worth it.

I feel like I'm just babbling now. Another good place to look for Alaska information is advrider.

 

I been up there three times, first in the mid 80’s in a new Mercury station wagon, then in 2014, a one year old JeepJKUR and last year in a 06 GX470 with 160k miles on it. As for your Tacoma, I don’t see it being a problem. Just make sure the service are up to date and belts are new and anything that you think might need service or replacement, do it. If you add something new, do it months ahead of time to check it out, trust me on this.
So far I have never had a flat, and for each trip the tires where new, 80% tread or better, the last ones where 10 ply Cooper ST Maxx. I have always carried a good/new spare. BUT my friend went up in a new JLUR and had a tire blow out on the Dempster Highway. Most of the trip you will be on paved roads, except for road work, unless you do the Top was f the Word, Dempster or Dalton (read that part os this is now paved)
I took an extra 10 gals of fuel and 5 of water. Like was said, fill at a 1/2. Get yard foggier to spray before setting up camp, use about 4-5 of the can bug candles around the sitting & cooking area. Use deletion your clothing at the opening, have a mosquito head net for places where it might get bad. BEAR SPRAY FOR EVERYONE and an extra. I have never had a problem with bears and found out that people up north are starting to use beach to keep bears out of trash and away from camp sites. Bears have a 1000% better smell than we do. Just drop a little all around the camp.
Also, unless it has changed, the Dalton Highway will only get you to Deadhorse, you have to take a tour to the Arctic. The Dempster will take you all the way to the Arctic. If you do the Dalton, have enough fuel to do at least 260 miles, that fuel at Coldfoot and Deadhorse. The Dempster has more fuel stops, but two ferry crossings.
I like the Top of the World Highway and a stop at Chicken, but the crossing is only open during the day.
Baniff and Jasper are nice, but Lake Louise can be very busy. Make stops and take your time and enjoy.
I would also check out Homer and Valdez.
I am guessing that you have checked ferry price to get back to the lower 48?

Also, make sure you stop at a reasonable time, it can be easy to go late with the sun so high in the sky.

 

That is the trip of a decade for me. I can't wait to start planning. My fiancé and I are moving to Colorado summer of 2022, we're planning on quitting our jobs at the end of May and taking 4-5 months exploring the Yukon, Alaska, and wherever the hell else we may be interested in. Hope you have and awesome time, and please share with us how it goes!

PS -- I've actually found that the Expedition Overland series has some pretty solid pointers to adhere to, and they stop at some absolutely fantastic places. Really the only reason I subscribe to their channel. LOL

 

NMBruce RE: Ferry prices. This is currently under discussion. There is no time savings taking the boat but the $ are vastly different. I have both time and $ so I could go either way. As to maintenance I intend to start that this summer. I do appreciate all the hints about camping. I have been around Washington state a fair bit and have never seen a bear but there was one killed by fish and wildlife less than a mile from my house. He became a nuisance and would not be treed by dogs so they put him done. About the Dalton, yes you need to make reservations to take the excursion to the Arctic Ocean, it is a "secure area"
I have been to Homer. We stayed in a funny little hotel. House rules: No cleaning fish in the bathtub or hanging out in the lobby in your underwear or naked.
I will look at the Dempster and the Top of the World Highway.

 

Agreed with all of the above.

When were you at Tuk? I was there 7/9-7/11

 

If your trip is scheduled for 2020 and you are thinking of using the Alaska state ferry system on your return, note that next year’s ferry system may be totally different (or nonexistent) if the Governor’s proposed state budget is approved as is: https://www.adn.com/politics/alaska...budget-state-ferries-would-end-service-oct-1/

 

We did the ferry the first time, it was my dads retirement trip and really nice, lots to see. Wanted t do it again, but the cost was just too much.

We camped about 30-40 minutes from Homer, great place on a cliff, got some great eagle pictures

 

We got up there on July 16th, so just after you
It was me and my trailer, a new JLUR with a teardrop trailer and an 2007 LX470 with a roof top camper

 

I drove by myself to Deadhorse from Colorado in June of 2018 and want to do it thru Coeur d'Alene/Spokane again in the summer of 2020...Three vehicles driving together would be a safer way to do it.

 

My next plan is a new pickup (Tacoma, Colorado, Ranger or see what else is out there) around then as I have some friends who should retire about then and then another trip up to the great white north, I want this one to be about 6 weeks

 

ShadowRunner, I live in Western Colorado I'll go again...Two vehicles are better than one and three is better than two.