Just to let you know, my husband and I entered Alaska May 29, 2023. We woke up to a couple inches of snow and slush in Tok. We really could count on one hand how many days were completely without rain, from May 29th until we left September 6th. We did however have sunshine and less rain on days we had planned excursions, thankfully. Yes, it barely rained the previous summer. Prepare for both. By entering end of May, we avoided the Tok area mosquitos. We also avoided them by spending the entire July in the Kenai. I have to make note that alot of campgrounds going through Canada and in to Alaska are not open until mid May. So keep that in mind if you are thinking of going up earlier. Also the upper border crossing near Dawson City, isn't open that early either. We originally called to make a reservation in Whitehorse 2 weeks earlier. The receptionist just laughed. Speaking of the Kenai, bring bear spray. There were alot of bears walking through Hidden Lake Campground. The Hidden Creek Trail had a looseleaf note left, dated the day before. "Three grizzlies spotted on trail today!" We used our whistles the entire hike. You could see over 5 trees had their bark removed, up to 10 feet from the ground. That same day, we were on our way back to camp. I stopped to take some dusk pictures. No bear spray on because we were done for the day. I got back in the truck and my husband says, "Is that a bear behind us?" Yes it was! Another time my husband turned around, down by the river at Russian River Falls, only to look straight in to the eyes of a mother bear, with cub, 20 feet away! As for pictures of Denali, stay out late or getting up early can help. When I say early, I mean 3:18am for a sunrise picture of Denali on June 15th! Sunset is around 11:45 pm. Denali South Viewpoint has a wonderful view, and I don't mean the one you get just off the parking lot. Walk a little farther to the end of the path to the right. Also if you can boondock, stay at Denali South. You can get some pretty good pictures in early am and late night. Also don't believe the weather forecasts. If you have the time, go and see for yourself. One of the days I took pictures all afternoon, evening and in to night, even though the weather forecast said it was cloudy! Denali National Park, though closed at mile 43, still has two pulloffs between Riley and Savage. The one with the bronze plaques gave me my pink sunrise of Denali. Speaking of that, if you camp in Riley, you can use your vehicle and drive up to Savage. There is a hiking trail across from the Savage Cabin and another good view of Denali. If you can, stay 5 days at Riley and then 5 at Teklanika with an unlimited bus pass. At Riley you can book ranger led hikes. A ranger hike necessitates purchase of a green bus pass for the day. Take advantage of it after the hike and ride until mile 43. The day we did that, I took my best bear, caribou and sheep pictures there. Once at Teklanika, the next day you can start to use your passes for unlimited trips per day. Though, to be honest, the two we took per day were plenty! I didn't bring our solar panels because we have a small 23' bumper to hitch trailer, and I didn't think with trees and rain they would be worth it. What was definitely worth it was the Bluetti AC200Max with two DC charging blocks. Those were plugged in to our Champion 2500W duel fuel generator. The set up worked flawlessly, after I connected the Bluetti directly to the trailers 12v system. Daily use needed only an hour on the generator to fully charge the Bluetti, with those two bricks. It would have been a trying experience if we had run the Bluetti on AC power only. It uses 55w/hr just to have that side on. Get a 12v cord for your cpap if it will help conserve battery power. If you have an America the Beautiful Pass, you get half off of any BLM campsites, such as Tenderfoot, Hidden Lake. If there is a certain whale you wish to see, research when it is usually seen. We had one unscheduled fishing trip, with Red Door, in Homer, where we limited out on fish, saw puffins, saw several whales and a rainbow at the tip of the Kenai. We went on two whale cruises and saw no whales on them. We did however, see a very large portion of the Columbia Glacier have about a 1/4 mile of calves in a domino effect, puffins, numerous sea birds, sea otters, sea lions, sheep on the mountainside and jellyfish. Beluga whales were seen many times off the road on the Turnagain Arm. We also saw whales from a turnoff near mile 48 on the Sterling highway. I totally agree on things to purchase, or not. You don't need all the gadgets. The number one I can say is new tires for the vehicle and the RV. Repack your trailer bearings before and after the trip. Also look at your axle. Is it still bowed slightly upward? I had already planned on an axle upgrade, but it turned out to be a good thing, because even though we weigh everything, and balance the load, our axle was shot! It was actually drooping before the trip. So check your axles and springs. Extra wiper blades came in handy as well as lots of velcro, gorilla tape and short drywall screws! For boondockers, Halibut Campground in Anchor Point was great for going in to Homer, but staying out with the wildlife. Olnes Pond north of Fairbanks was also awesome. Gold Mint Campground up at Hatcher Pass was one of our favorites too! All in all, it was an epic trip and I am already taking note of the campsites you mentioned for what I hope will be a next time!
We were in Alaska July 14th through Aug 21st. AlCan in Cassier out. Loved Cassier, although both are beautiful drives. We crossed into Canada at Sweetgrass Montana and took the AlCan. Destruction Bay to Tok was part of the worst road, followed by Denali Highway...and they use the term "highway" very loosely...the Denali and Dalton Highways are gravel roads and Denali you don't dodge the pot holes, you try to pick the smaller ones. Not complaining, it was part of the experience! Just figure you are going to be moving at a much slower pace, so sit back and enjoy. First, we have a 21-foot 2015 Rockwood camper and a half ton pickup. We had a lot of tar speckles on the camper from driving through construction areas, and there are a lot. Used WD-40 to get it off. We put new camper tires on in 2022 and put new tires on the truck before we left, and we didn't have any problems. We boondocked along the side of the road most of the time, staying in campgrounds when we were going on an excursion. We also used iOverlander. Agree with your assessment of the campgrounds. They aren't posh, but I wouldn't want them to be. My husband at one point talked about flying to Alaska and renting a camper there. Then he realized how much we would have to pack on a plane, and he quickly decided driving was a better idea. We live about 45 miles west of St Louis, and it took us a week to get to Alaska. Since we knew we were going to be gone for at least 2 months, we didn't want to board our 7 yr old Lab Molly. She is our best camping Bud, and the trip wouldn't have been the same without her. Our truck is gas, and like you said, just fill up when you see fuel. But "The MilePost" does a wonderful job keeping you informed. Speaking of "The MilePost," get it well in advance and read through it. Highlight points of interest. It will also help you plan your trip and possibly what order you want to do things. We did not make any reservations pre-trip. We didn't know how long it would take to get from place to place, and we didn't want a schedule anchoring and stressing us. We had no problems getting campgrounds or excursions on the fly. It was one of the most relaxing trips we have ever taken. 0:01
This was great information! We spent 7 weeks in Alaska and want to add a few more comments. We boon-docked a lot. Unless a sign says "No Overnight Parking", it is usually okay to stay overnight. If you are worried about getting gas, the best resource we discovered are visitor centers... they know what's ahead. We didn't bring any extra parts or upgrades and did just fine... just like the Hanks said.
Over 2 years ago while waiting on our class C to be delivered we began watching several couples/families RV channels. Your channel is the only one we’ve stuck with. Keep up the great work/fun. We’re planning Alaska for 2025 so the tips are much appreciated.
Love your channel, catch you every week. I went to Alaska in 1976, still remember how beautiful it was. And the sun going around in a circle it seemed. Keep up the great content!
Ok, Everyone Loves Valdez, me too. BUT know one 18:24 checks out Haines. Access via Yukon. Same small coastal setting. Epic drive across top of the mountaines to get there. Brown bears for free Cheers from Yukon
You guys are great reporters. I will recommend you to my friends. We have driven up 10 times in the last 12 years, but we prefer late July and August. Fewer mosquitoes and better silver salmon fishing in Valdez.
Thank you so much, Karla! We truly appreciate your support in watching. 10 times!? Ya'll are pros by now 🙂 We hope to make it back soon for some salmon fishing too. Cheers!
Hello guys! Thanks for another great video, Alaska is next.one of our top "bucket list" trips. We are so excited to say that we did score an RV site at the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta this October and we cannot wait. Will work on Alaska next.
Loved the comments and watched your whole Alaska series. We lived in Alaska (Anchorage) and your video was like us going back in Time. Young, excited, and curious. We spent 24 years living overseas (Africa, Europe, Asia) after Alaska. Winter is the best time to see Denali. No clouds, no rain, and no daylight. So we did what you did and flew around the mountain in a small plane and a helicopter. The helicopter almost flew into the crevasses and still gives me goose bumps today. Adding, I am a mosquito magnet and my wife isn't. I wore long sleeve, gloves, and a net and she didn't. I have pics of me covered in black mosquitos. The dog sled adventure is so good. We used to help an Iditarod competitor and work with her dogs. OMG!
Great video. I would highly recommend bringing a serpentine belt for your motor too. That and a spare fresh water pump. Both are small and can save your bacon.
Thanks guys. I'm thinking about going in the summer of 2025 with a friend of mine and his wife. The good thing is he's been a truck driver his whole life and did his own mechanical work. I'm not anticipating any breakdowns but he sure would be a handy guy to have along if it happens. Keep the good stuff coming guys.
you guys have put together one of the best Alaska series videos. I lived there for 26 years, and drove out with my RV in 2022 (I've driven the ALCAN both directions a couple times). You really highlighted everything well, were very spot on about pretty much everything you spoke about. Everytime someone asks me about traveling to AK, I point them in your direction. Marc & Trish KYD did a great series many many years ago... you guys rocked a current video. Thanks for putting together such a thoughtful and real video.
Extra stuff: I lived in Prince George in the 1970s (teenager) & we’d always saw 4x4s with 2 extra wheels, at least 2 large gas cans (30gal?), and other things strapped to the vehicle’s roof. Dad worked on it during WWII in the RCAF (mechanical dude) & so we drove it a bit after Dawson Creek & it was hairy! Hairpin turns, & gravel roads…and we didn’t go far from Dawson Creek! So nice it’s a nicer road. It’s on our bucket list. BTW any place with frost heaves & lots of snow & cold have two seasons, winter & construction.😂
I live in NW BC and the fuel situation is usually good during the peak travel months. It's outside of those months that some places close down. If you are driving in October or November for example, expect some places to be closed so always top up when you can. The reason it is recommended to top up all the time, even in the peak months, is because fuel delivery can be an issue so some place may run out of fuel. Which has a snowball effect and other places run out faster.
We were planning to do Alaska this summer, and then we bought a new Brinkley, and like you mentioned, we noped out. We just don't want to destroy the new rig the first year we have it. We are however kicking around the idea of doing the TransCan from Vancouver to Nova Scotia. Thanks for the info kids! We're still planning to go in a couple years so this is great information.
That's wonderful to hear that ya'll got a new Brinkley! We hope that it treats you well for many years to come 😊 Thank you for your wonderful support and taking the time to comment
@@HappilyEverHanks Thanks for the reply. Side bar, in case our email didn't make it through to you, you're more than welcome to come take a tour of the Brinkley. Unless my eyes are completely failing me I think we're pretty much right in front of you at your current campground. Working all day today but if you have any free time this evening or this weekend swing on by.
Absolutely!! We are so happy to hear that you agree on that part 😃 We love keeping things flexible and fun. It makes for more adventurous times! Thank you for your wonderful support and for watching
Thanks a lot Hanks, living here for 30 years, there is never a summer season when there isn’t road construction. I would agree, just take your time and the best travel time is the year after the new roads have been completed. So good!!! Three years later, they are back to being awful. Great video as always.
A couple suggestions from someone that worked in Denali for four months and traveled around the state. Denali is VERY strict on your over all length of Rv rig and tow vehicle for parking inside the park. Don’t think you can budge one inch. Bring lots of insect spray along with good rain gear. If hiking bear spray is a must and learn how to use it.
Thank you for sharing this, Rick! It's really nice to have the inside scoop from you. We appreciate your time in sharing and watching our videos - Kyle and Renee
You guys nailed it 100%. We traveled to Alaska in 2022. Your answers mimicked our experiences almost exactly. We traveled from Valdez to Prudhoe Bay and just about everywhere in between. It was by far our favorite journey being full-time. We didn't experience the wet weather that you did. It was 80 when we went to the Arctic circle . Great job as always 👍
Thanks for the tip about Talkeetna air. We are planning to go back in 2025 the fishing with the Bears and sell Doc know with Talon air was an awesome trip and of course halibut out of Homer was up there to thank you for all you guys do be safe.
We traveled from Corpus Christi, Texas to Anchorage and back. 10 weeks starting May 1. 24' travel trailer and 3/4 ton truck. Snowed on us in Tok. Ran from fires most of the trip. One day in BC we drove without ever passing a car. Only a few came by in the other lane. Could stop and take pictures of the abundant wildlife without worries about the traffic. No mosquitos. Paid too much for RV sites that had no hookups. Fuel was way too expensive in Canada. Figured out at Bear Lake to have been $10.22 a gallon. Too old to try this ever again but it was worth it!!!
The diesel is only a problem in the winter ( Dec. - March ) I went up in January. some of the gas stations are seasonal. But with watching your millage even then you should be fine.
That’s interesting you said that. I didn’t think about winter being a hard workaround. Thank you for your wonderful support and for your time in watching our videos - Kyle and Renee
For years this was on my bucket list but after watching your trip I think I changed my mind. I may go but not take my solitude, i might try to rent a truck camper if I go. What I didn’t like about your trip was all the bad weather.
Wonderful video. It's so great that you share your experiences and are really down to earth. Y'all aren't always trying to sell something which is also a big plus about your channel. If you're ever coming through south Louisiana (again) give us a shout and we can set you up with a place to stay and some really good food
Thank you very much for taking the time to write this wonderful comment! It means a lot to us and we appreciate your time in watching our videos!! - Kyle and Renee
Great job guys! You have subjected your trailer to some pretty rough roads. Food for thought have all of your spring hangers inspected to make sure you don't have any cracks starting. I just got done installing new 4000k leaf springs and welding in braces that go side to side on the spring hangers to try and prevent cracks in the frame and broken spring hangers.
Funny about the mosquitoes. I have been there almost once a year the last 13 years. Daughter lives in Palmer. But I said when first went there that I believe they have someone somewhere that trains the mosquitoes to attack in squadrons. I'm usually there in the late summer. This year I just missed you guys I believe as the campground in Palmer was where you stayed. And golfed. Any thought of returning to Alaska. Oh, the Alcan across to North Dakota US/Canada entry is the only way I'd do it again. You guys are fun and great!! :)
Love the Q&A and the data. Not sure if you crushed my Alaska Dreams or just made me more realistic? LOL We did add you guys to our "RV TH-cam Channels to Watch" video. Looking forward to your next drop! Todd & Dee
Thanks for the information. We are planning on heading there in a few months and were wondering about many of the points you brought up. We appreciate it.
You two always make my Thursdays better! My husband and I live in southeast Washington and plan to RV down to the Grand Canyon area in the fall. I don't think I could talk my husband into RVing to Alaska.
We are not reservation people either,we called the campground for a winter stay in Canada from the ferrie from the mainland to Vancouver island. We think it’s the way to go
Our high point was flying over Denali with Talkeetna Air, so glad you mentioned that. We also took the Alaskan RR on every rail they had. Karl, if you take vitamin B12 the mosquitos should leave you alone.
We don’t have our Airstream yet but we can’t wait to take her up to Alaska! Your videos have been so informative. Keep ‘em coming. We appreciate so much how you broke down your actual costs in a previous video. Now we know a good ballpark of how much we need to budget (Flight over Denali? Heck yea!!!). We hope to meet you guys on the road someday. Your sense of humor reminds us of…..well…..us. 😊
Hi there! Thank you for your amazing support and for taking the time to write such a great comment for us. We are glad to hear that the financial videos have been beneficial in watching. That is so exciting to hear that you're going to take an airstream up to Alaska! Keep us posted on your travels, we can't wait to hear all about it 😃 See y'all out on the road! - Kyle and Renee
Hey guys, been benging your earlier videos. Go back and look at WINTER RVING. Is that icecicle behind Renee inside or outside the rv? Man it looks cold in Pennsylvania.
Hi Rick! Thank you so much for watching our older videos, it means so much to us 😃 Yes, Pennsylvania get so stinkin' cold during the winter time. We are over the winter RV living LOL
My ex and I drove up to Anchorage from Nebraska. It took us 7 days to drive. We had to stop at 2 pm. To ensure we had a place to sleep. There was one place we stopped at only had a twin bed.
Never thought tires would be such a "ooohh" thing, but wow your tires. I am quite attracted to them. Alaska is on my list - not so sure it's on my husband's list, but I do all of the planning, so there ya go! Thank you for a very informative and fun video! Curious as to 2wd / 4wd. We need to upgrade our truck and 4wd is the way we want to go, but in the meantime, we have an older Dodge Ram / Cummins diesel dragging a less than 22' Imagine.
Great job guys. Can I ask what size is your fift wheel. Wandering about hauling ours up there's it's 40 feet and I have a one ton Ford with no duals is that enough thank u keep up the good work
Hi Mike! We have a 34 foot fifth wheel. It's honestly hard to say, because so many different rigs very in weights, and the trucks follow suit with how much they can tow. A great place to start is in the door jam of your truck within the yellow sticker. There you can find a reference point of your specific trucks payload. Also you can check out the user manual for specifications on tow ratings and limitations. Hopefully this was a little bit of help. We appreciate your great support and for taking the time to watch our videos - Kyle and Renee
Last year was our Alaska trip, No time limit, took 6 months, took the Alcan, 1 year old RV, 2 spares for RV (42 ft), no issues. We left March 13 and returned in October. Fun Fun Fun til daddy takes the salmon away. Bears we missed, everything else yes.
The mosquitos are bad in southern MS lol I'm fortunate where they don't really bother with me but my nephews come down and by the time the get from the car to the door they're all bit up lol
We are thinking of going to Alaska in 2025. Hubbie is ALL in…me…not so much. Being out in the middle of nowhere really scares me. We’ve got lots of research to do. Love watching your videos and will use them in our planning.
Thanks for sharing your experience you two. So interesting to hear your favorite campground was Deadman Lake. Angie and I had agreed to camphost there from May-July iin 2020, however we cancelled going with they closed the border due to covid. Maybe someday we will get there. Safe Travels you two. Sean
Renee funny you should say going stir crazy in a smaller rig. Today we parked our 42’ Solitude and moved into our Imagine 22mle 26’ today for our trip to AK late April for the summer.
My husband and I just spent 3 1/2 months in Alaska last summer. We have a 23' bumper to hitch trailer. A Viking 17BH to be precise. It was the perfect size.
Ok, I’m almost positive I saw you guys driving through the construction near Dawson City late last summer. I thought I was crazy, but I’m pretty sure I just saw a clip of it
Upper Lake Trail. I think you mean Upper Trail Lake, just north of the little community of Moose Pass. There's a nice free camping area there. Lower Tail Lake also has a nice campground but it's not free.
Yes and no.. I would say more so in British Columbia. Having the diesel exhaust brake has really helped in not over using our brakes. We appreciate all your wonderful support in watching our videos 😊 Stay safe
Honestly I would not recommend relying on bear spray only! I would have some additional means of safe guarding against bears, as something that weighs as much as a VW bus is not going to stop on a dime even with bear spray especially if it is charging you at a full run. But I also would recommend being mindful of your distance to anything wild, as the closer it is to you the greater the chances are that it “WILL” hurt you. As there are places in Alaska where you are required to have a firearm on you when you go outside for a reason.
Thanks for the solid advice! It’s definitely smart to be extra cautious when it comes to wildlife. Appreciate you looking out for us! Also, thank you for your support in watching our videos 😀
Hi Joan! We really appreciate your support and for taking the time to write this wonderful comment. We are so glad you think of this as a sitcom 🙂 Many thanks for watching our videos!
I’m really glad that Dexter snuck into your video (on the other side of the screen door!). You’ve been neglecting the sexy Dexy fans these last few weeks. 😂. Thanks for all the info and enhancing my Thursday evenings.
Great information for anyone planning an RV trip to Alaska. Through your videos as you traveled in Alaska it is Beautiful I just don't think my wife and I will be traveling up there, So I will #THANKSHANKS for all the videos of there travels through and around Alaska. Have a great week see you again next Thursday. Hello to Dexter the traveling Cat.
I was up there 18 months ago and flew/drove. There were many places along the side of the road where people were camping. I don’t believe they were official campsites, possibly snow chain areas I guess. Also, I was shocked at how good AT&T 5G service was almost everywhere along the highways. Better than Texas for sure. You definitely need reservations in Denali NP. Anchorage was like most cities in the US. Pretty much has everything. Juneau was cool, you can get really close to the glacier which is near town. I liked Alaska, but our fly/drive trip to Glacier NP and then up to Jasper and Banff in Canada was spectacular.
Hi Hanks! Great video on quite realistic. We are gettinh set to make a trip back to AK next year. In terms of the cost, what was the invremental coat of the trip to AK? In other words, how dies the cost of your AK trip compare to the same 78 days you soent im the lower 48 the prior year? Keep up the great Vids!
Hi there! This is actually a wonderful question that you brought up and one that we are going to be answering on tomorrow nights video! We hope to see you there. Thank you for your wonderful support and for taking the time to watch our videos 🙂 - Kyle and Renee
Just to let you know, my husband and I entered Alaska May 29, 2023. We woke up to a couple inches of snow and slush in Tok. We really could count on one hand how many days were completely without rain, from May 29th until we left September 6th. We did however have sunshine and less rain on days we had planned excursions, thankfully. Yes, it barely rained the previous summer. Prepare for both.
By entering end of May, we avoided the Tok area mosquitos. We also avoided them by spending the entire July in the Kenai.
I have to make note that alot of campgrounds going through Canada and in to Alaska are not open until mid May. So keep that in mind if you are thinking of going up earlier. Also the upper border crossing near Dawson City, isn't open that early either. We originally called to make a reservation in Whitehorse 2 weeks earlier. The receptionist just laughed.
Speaking of the Kenai, bring bear spray. There were alot of bears walking through Hidden Lake Campground. The Hidden Creek Trail had a looseleaf note left, dated the day before. "Three grizzlies spotted on trail today!" We used our whistles the entire hike. You could see over 5 trees had their bark removed, up to 10 feet from the ground. That same day, we were on our way back to camp. I stopped to take some dusk pictures. No bear spray on because we were done for the day. I got back in the truck and my husband says, "Is that a bear behind us?" Yes it was! Another time my husband turned around, down by the river at Russian River Falls, only to look straight in to the eyes of a mother bear, with cub, 20 feet away!
As for pictures of Denali, stay out late or getting up early can help. When I say early, I mean 3:18am for a sunrise picture of Denali on June 15th! Sunset is around 11:45 pm. Denali South Viewpoint has a wonderful view, and I don't mean the one you get just off the parking lot. Walk a little farther to the end of the path to the right. Also if you can boondock, stay at Denali South. You can get some pretty good pictures in early am and late night. Also don't believe the weather forecasts. If you have the time, go and see for yourself. One of the days I took pictures all afternoon, evening and in to night, even though the weather forecast said it was cloudy!
Denali National Park, though closed at mile 43, still has two pulloffs between Riley and Savage. The one with the bronze plaques gave me my pink sunrise of Denali. Speaking of that, if you camp in Riley, you can use your vehicle and drive up to Savage. There is a hiking trail across from the Savage Cabin and another good view of Denali. If you can, stay 5 days at Riley and then 5 at Teklanika with an unlimited bus pass. At Riley you can book ranger led hikes. A ranger hike necessitates purchase of a green bus pass for the day. Take advantage of it after the hike and ride until mile 43. The day we did that, I took my best bear, caribou and sheep pictures there. Once at Teklanika, the next day you can start to use your passes for unlimited trips per day. Though, to be honest, the two we took per day were plenty!
I didn't bring our solar panels because we have a small 23' bumper to hitch trailer, and I didn't think with trees and rain they would be worth it. What was definitely worth it was the Bluetti AC200Max with two DC charging blocks. Those were plugged in to our Champion 2500W duel fuel generator. The set up worked flawlessly, after I connected the Bluetti directly to the trailers 12v system. Daily use needed only an hour on the generator to fully charge the Bluetti, with those two bricks. It would have been a trying experience if we had run the Bluetti on AC power only. It uses 55w/hr just to have that side on. Get a 12v cord for your cpap if it will help conserve battery power.
If you have an America the Beautiful Pass, you get half off of any BLM campsites, such as Tenderfoot, Hidden Lake.
If there is a certain whale you wish to see, research when it is usually seen. We had one unscheduled fishing trip, with Red Door, in Homer, where we limited out on fish, saw puffins, saw several whales and a rainbow at the tip of the Kenai. We went on two whale cruises and saw no whales on them. We did however, see a very large portion of the Columbia Glacier have about a 1/4 mile of calves in a domino effect, puffins, numerous sea birds, sea otters, sea lions, sheep on the mountainside and jellyfish. Beluga whales were seen many times off the road on the Turnagain Arm. We also saw whales from a turnoff near mile 48 on the Sterling highway.
I totally agree on things to purchase, or not. You don't need all the gadgets. The number one I can say is new tires for the vehicle and the RV. Repack your trailer bearings before and after the trip. Also look at your axle. Is it still bowed slightly upward? I had already planned on an axle upgrade, but it turned out to be a good thing, because even though we weigh everything, and balance the load, our axle was shot! It was actually drooping before the trip. So check your axles and springs. Extra wiper blades came in handy as well as lots of velcro, gorilla tape and short drywall screws!
For boondockers, Halibut Campground in Anchor Point was great for going in to Homer, but staying out with the wildlife. Olnes Pond north of Fairbanks was also awesome. Gold Mint Campground up at Hatcher Pass was one of our favorites too!
All in all, it was an epic trip and I am already taking note of the campsites you mentioned for what I hope will be a next time!
Please copy paste all yr good information and post on a blog or website !!!
We were in Alaska July 14th through Aug 21st. AlCan in Cassier out. Loved Cassier, although both are beautiful drives. We crossed into Canada at Sweetgrass Montana and took the AlCan. Destruction Bay to Tok was part of the worst road, followed by Denali Highway...and they use the term "highway" very loosely...the Denali and Dalton Highways are gravel roads and Denali you don't dodge the pot holes, you try to pick the smaller ones. Not complaining, it was part of the experience! Just figure you are going to be moving at a much slower pace, so sit back and enjoy.
First, we have a 21-foot 2015 Rockwood camper and a half ton pickup. We had a lot of tar speckles on the camper from driving through construction areas, and there are a lot. Used WD-40 to get it off. We put new camper tires on in 2022 and put new tires on the truck before we left, and we didn't have any problems.
We boondocked along the side of the road most of the time, staying in campgrounds when we were going on an excursion. We also used iOverlander. Agree with your assessment of the campgrounds. They aren't posh, but I wouldn't want them to be.
My husband at one point talked about flying to Alaska and renting a camper there. Then he realized how much we would have to pack on a plane, and he quickly decided driving was a better idea. We live about 45 miles west of St Louis, and it took us a week to get to Alaska.
Since we knew we were going to be gone for at least 2 months, we didn't want to board our 7 yr old Lab Molly. She is our best camping Bud, and the trip wouldn't have been the same without her.
Our truck is gas, and like you said, just fill up when you see fuel. But "The MilePost" does a wonderful job keeping you informed.
Speaking of "The MilePost," get it well in advance and read through it. Highlight points of interest. It will also help you plan your trip and possibly what order you want to do things. We did not make any reservations pre-trip. We didn't know how long it would take to get from place to place, and we didn't want a schedule anchoring and stressing us. We had no problems getting campgrounds or excursions on the fly. It was one of the most relaxing trips we have ever taken. 0:01
This was great information! We spent 7 weeks in Alaska and want to add a few more comments. We boon-docked a lot. Unless a sign says "No Overnight Parking", it is usually okay to stay overnight. If you are worried about getting gas, the best resource we discovered are visitor centers... they know what's ahead. We didn't bring any extra parts or upgrades and did just fine... just like the Hanks said.
Thanks Hanks for all the great info! I love how Dexter kept popping up at the door like, Hey I’m here, put me in the video! 😂😂❤️❤️
Love Dexter
Another enjoyable video with good info!
Cool how you mentioned Liard Hot Springs as seeing stuff along the way. It’s a pretty special place. 👍
Over 2 years ago while waiting on our class C to be delivered we began watching several couples/families RV channels. Your channel is the only one we’ve stuck with. Keep up the great work/fun. We’re planning Alaska for 2025 so the tips are much appreciated.
Love your channel, catch you every week. I went to Alaska in 1976, still remember how beautiful it was. And the sun going around in a circle it seemed. Keep up the great content!
Loved the update! Thanks Hanks for the informational and educational videos! Love you 3! ❤
Thank you so much, Ron! Your support means so much to us 😃 - Kyle and Renee
I love Dexter! More of Dexter in the videos would be great! Thanks for all you do! 👍🙃
Ok, Everyone Loves Valdez, me too. BUT know one 18:24 checks out Haines. Access via Yukon. Same small coastal setting. Epic drive across top of the mountaines to get there. Brown bears for free
Cheers from Yukon
It's definitely on our itinerary for next year!
Always love the Thursday video drop. Thanks Hanks.
Thanks Hanks for the recap of Alaska trip. I really enjoyed that trip with yall. Thanks for the good info.
Thank you for answering so many questions!!
Keep going, you are very much appreciated by the rest of us travellers!!
Absolutely, Karen! Thank you for your amazing support 😊 You mean so much!!
You guys are great reporters. I will recommend you to my friends. We have driven up 10 times in the last 12 years, but we prefer late July and August. Fewer mosquitoes and better silver salmon fishing in Valdez.
Thank you so much, Karla! We truly appreciate your support in watching. 10 times!? Ya'll are pros by now 🙂 We hope to make it back soon for some salmon fishing too. Cheers!
Hello guys! Thanks for another great video, Alaska is next.one of our top "bucket list" trips. We are so excited to say that we did score an RV site at the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta this October and we cannot wait. Will work on Alaska next.
Loved the comments and watched your whole Alaska series.
We lived in Alaska (Anchorage) and your video was like us going back in Time. Young, excited, and curious. We spent 24 years living overseas (Africa, Europe, Asia) after Alaska.
Winter is the best time to see Denali. No clouds, no rain, and no daylight. So we did what you did and flew around the mountain in a small plane and a helicopter. The helicopter almost flew into the crevasses and still gives me goose bumps today.
Adding, I am a mosquito magnet and my wife isn't. I wore long sleeve, gloves, and a net and she didn't. I have pics of me covered in black mosquitos.
The dog sled adventure is so good. We used to help an Iditarod competitor and work with her dogs. OMG!
Looking forward to see you guys back on the road again.
We love you guys!!!! This weekend we started to binge watch your shows and we are hooked!!
We are so thankful to have your support! This truly means a lot to us 😊 Much love from the Hanks family!
Welcome !!!!🎉🎉🎉🎉❤
Great video. I would highly recommend bringing a serpentine belt for your motor too. That and a spare fresh water pump. Both are small and can save your bacon.
Thanks guys. I'm thinking about going in the summer of 2025 with a friend of mine and his wife. The good thing is he's been a truck driver his whole life and did his own mechanical work. I'm not anticipating any breakdowns but he sure would be a handy guy to have along if it happens. Keep the good stuff coming guys.
you guys have put together one of the best Alaska series videos. I lived there for 26 years, and drove out with my RV in 2022 (I've driven the ALCAN both directions a couple times). You really highlighted everything well, were very spot on about pretty much everything you spoke about. Everytime someone asks me about traveling to AK, I point them in your direction. Marc & Trish KYD did a great series many many years ago... you guys rocked a current video. Thanks for putting together such a thoughtful and real video.
Thanks for the information. Love wildlife at a safe distance...in a natural setting.
Thank you, Patricia 😊 We do too!! We appreciate your great support in watching
Extra stuff: I lived in Prince George in the 1970s (teenager) & we’d always saw 4x4s with 2 extra wheels, at least 2 large gas cans (30gal?), and other things strapped to the vehicle’s roof.
Dad worked on it during WWII in the RCAF (mechanical dude) & so we drove it a bit after Dawson Creek & it was hairy! Hairpin turns, & gravel roads…and we didn’t go far from Dawson Creek! So nice it’s a nicer road. It’s on our bucket list.
BTW any place with frost heaves & lots of snow & cold have two seasons, winter & construction.😂
Love your vid!!! Thanks. Alaska is on my bucket list!! Safe travels.
Thank you very much 😃 You will absolutely love Alaska when you are able to visit one day soon!
Yeaaa! It’s Thanks Hanks Thursday…seems like I have waited a whole week to see what you all are doing. We sure love your videos, so, Thanks Hanks!
I live in NW BC and the fuel situation is usually good during the peak travel months. It's outside of those months that some places close down. If you are driving in October or November for example, expect some places to be closed so always top up when you can. The reason it is recommended to top up all the time, even in the peak months, is because fuel delivery can be an issue so some place may run out of fuel. Which has a snowball effect and other places run out faster.
We were planning to do Alaska this summer, and then we bought a new Brinkley, and like you mentioned, we noped out. We just don't want to destroy the new rig the first year we have it. We are however kicking around the idea of doing the TransCan from Vancouver to Nova Scotia. Thanks for the info kids! We're still planning to go in a couple years so this is great information.
That's wonderful to hear that ya'll got a new Brinkley! We hope that it treats you well for many years to come 😊 Thank you for your wonderful support and taking the time to comment
@@HappilyEverHanks Thanks for the reply. Side bar, in case our email didn't make it through to you, you're more than welcome to come take a tour of the Brinkley. Unless my eyes are completely failing me I think we're pretty much right in front of you at your current campground. Working all day today but if you have any free time this evening or this weekend swing on by.
Love your videos. Just got a 5th wheel, and learning.
Congratulations! We are so happy for you. Thank you for your wonderful support! We couldn't do it without you watching 😊
Watched all your Alaska videos. Great.
I am with you guys on the reservations thing. We hate having our days laid out. RVers tend to be adventurous and flexible.
Absolutely!! We are so happy to hear that you agree on that part 😃 We love keeping things flexible and fun. It makes for more adventurous times! Thank you for your wonderful support and for watching
Merci beaucoup pour toutes ces informations qui vont nous aider à préparer notre prochain road-trip pour l'Alaska.
Thanks a lot Hanks, living here for 30 years, there is never a summer season when there isn’t road construction. I would agree, just take your time and the best travel time is the year after the new roads have been completed. So good!!! Three years later, they are back to being awful. Great video as always.
A couple suggestions from someone that worked in Denali for four months and traveled around the state. Denali is VERY strict on your over all length of Rv rig and tow vehicle for parking inside the park. Don’t think you can budge one inch. Bring lots of insect spray along with good rain gear. If hiking bear spray is a must and learn how to use it.
Thank you for sharing this, Rick! It's really nice to have the inside scoop from you. We appreciate your time in sharing and watching our videos - Kyle and Renee
You guys nailed it 100%. We traveled to Alaska in 2022. Your answers mimicked our experiences almost exactly.
We traveled from Valdez to Prudhoe Bay and just about everywhere in between. It was by far our favorite journey being full-time.
We didn't experience the wet weather that you did. It was 80 when we went to the Arctic circle . Great job as always 👍
Awesome work HANKS!!! Thank you sharing you incredible journey!!!!
Thank you for your amazing support! We are so happy to hear that you enjoy 😊 - Kyle and Renee
Yup, 2022 was our shakedown trip in our brand new dp. Came back with the same windshield and tires, hooray!
Thanks for the tip about Talkeetna air. We are planning to go back in 2025 the fishing with the Bears and sell Doc know with Talon air was an awesome trip and of course halibut out of Homer was up there to thank you for all you guys do be safe.
Absolutely, Mark! We are so happy to hear ya'll are heading back soon 😃 Thank you for your wonderful support
We traveled from Corpus Christi, Texas to Anchorage and back. 10 weeks starting May 1. 24' travel trailer and 3/4 ton truck. Snowed on us in Tok. Ran from fires most of the trip. One day in BC we drove without ever passing a car. Only a few came by in the other lane. Could stop and take pictures of the abundant wildlife without worries about the traffic. No mosquitos. Paid too much for RV sites that had no hookups. Fuel was way too expensive in Canada. Figured out at Bear Lake to have been $10.22 a gallon. Too old to try this ever again but it was worth it!!!
The diesel is only a problem in the winter ( Dec. - March ) I went up in January. some of the gas stations are seasonal. But with watching your millage even then you should be fine.
That’s interesting you said that. I didn’t think about winter being a hard workaround. Thank you for your wonderful support and for your time in watching our videos - Kyle and Renee
For years this was on my bucket list but after watching your trip I think I changed my mind. I may go but not take my solitude, i might try to rent a truck camper if I go. What I didn’t like about your trip was all the bad weather.
Oh, you guys went to cooper landing. My Inlaws were work-camping there that summer.
Big thumbs up! For the Hanks, including Dexter!
Thank you very much Steven!! We appreciate your support 😃 Stay safe
Wonderful video. It's so great that you share your experiences and are really down to earth. Y'all aren't always trying to sell something which is also a big plus about your channel. If you're ever coming through south Louisiana (again) give us a shout and we can set you up with a place to stay and some really good food
Thank you very much for taking the time to write this wonderful comment! It means a lot to us and we appreciate your time in watching our videos!! - Kyle and Renee
This video makes me homesick! I grew up in Fairbanks and spent a lot of time in Healy.
Great job guys! You have subjected your trailer to some pretty rough roads. Food for thought have all of your spring hangers inspected to make sure you don't have any cracks starting. I just got done installing new 4000k leaf springs and welding in braces that go side to side on the spring hangers to try and prevent cracks in the frame and broken spring hangers.
Lovely video….Alaska is beautiful. Enjoyed all the videos you filmed up there 🎉❤
thank you for your excellent breakdown of costs! we are retired and need to learn to budget...ugh
We are still learning to budget.. it’s a hard habit to stick with 😅 thank you for your wonderful support!
Funny about the mosquitoes. I have been there almost once a year the last 13 years. Daughter lives in Palmer. But I said when first went there that I believe they have someone somewhere that trains the mosquitoes to attack in squadrons. I'm usually there in the late summer. This year I just missed you guys I believe as the campground in Palmer was where you stayed. And golfed. Any thought of returning to Alaska. Oh, the Alcan across to North Dakota US/Canada entry is the only way I'd do it again. You guys are fun and great!! :)
International Peace Gardens Dunseith ND. Beautiful!
Love the Q&A and the data. Not sure if you crushed my Alaska Dreams or just made me more realistic? LOL We did add you guys to our "RV TH-cam Channels to Watch" video. Looking forward to your next drop! Todd & Dee
Awesome Trip, Awesome vids. Thank you!!!
Thank you very much, Jim!! Your support means so much to us! 😊
Thanks for the information. We are planning on heading there in a few months and were wondering about many of the points you brought up. We appreciate it.
You two always make my Thursdays better! My husband and I live in southeast Washington and plan to RV down to the Grand Canyon area in the fall. I don't think I could talk my husband into RVing to Alaska.
We are not reservation people either,we called the campground for a winter stay in Canada from the ferrie from the mainland to Vancouver island. We think it’s the way to go
Yes!! Nicely done 😎 We are right there with you. Thank you for your support in watching our videos, we appreciate you
Our high point was flying over Denali with Talkeetna Air, so glad you mentioned that. We also took the Alaskan RR on every rail they had. Karl, if you take vitamin B12 the mosquitos should leave you alone.
We don’t have our Airstream yet but we can’t wait to take her up to Alaska! Your videos have been so informative. Keep ‘em coming. We appreciate so much how you broke down your actual costs in a previous video. Now we know a good ballpark of how much we need to budget (Flight over Denali? Heck yea!!!).
We hope to meet you guys on the road someday. Your sense of humor reminds us of…..well…..us. 😊
Hi there! Thank you for your amazing support and for taking the time to write such a great comment for us. We are glad to hear that the financial videos have been beneficial in watching. That is so exciting to hear that you're going to take an airstream up to Alaska! Keep us posted on your travels, we can't wait to hear all about it 😃 See y'all out on the road! - Kyle and Renee
Hey guys, been benging your earlier videos. Go back and look at WINTER RVING. Is that icecicle behind Renee inside or outside the rv? Man it looks cold in Pennsylvania.
Hi Rick! Thank you so much for watching our older videos, it means so much to us 😃 Yes, Pennsylvania get so stinkin' cold during the winter time. We are over the winter RV living LOL
Fantastic video Hank's thank you
Thank you very much Jack! It means so much that you took the time to reach out to us 😊 We appreciate you watching - Kyle and Renee
Love how Dexter is looking out the door.😅
Hi Eugene! He certainly tends to do that quite often 😄 thank you for watching!
Excellent content!! Thank you. Take care. For fun check the temps in Fairbanks right now. Uffda!
Great job Hanks... always love your content and tips.
We travelled up the Stewart Cassiar & home via the Alcan.
My ex and I drove up to Anchorage from Nebraska. It took us 7 days to drive. We had to stop at 2 pm. To ensure we had a place to sleep. There was one place we stopped at only had a twin bed.
Sorry, this was in the late 70s.
Never thought tires would be such a "ooohh" thing, but wow your tires. I am quite attracted to them. Alaska is on my list - not so sure it's on my husband's list, but I do all of the planning, so there ya go! Thank you for a very informative and fun video! Curious as to 2wd / 4wd. We need to upgrade our truck and 4wd is the way we want to go, but in the meantime, we have an older Dodge Ram / Cummins diesel dragging a less than 22' Imagine.
Great job guys. Can I ask what size is your fift wheel. Wandering about hauling ours up there's it's 40 feet and I have a one ton Ford with no duals is that enough thank u keep up the good work
Hi Mike! We have a 34 foot fifth wheel. It's honestly hard to say, because so many different rigs very in weights, and the trucks follow suit with how much they can tow. A great place to start is in the door jam of your truck within the yellow sticker. There you can find a reference point of your specific trucks payload. Also you can check out the user manual for specifications on tow ratings and limitations. Hopefully this was a little bit of help. We appreciate your great support and for taking the time to watch our videos - Kyle and Renee
Great job. Watched all Alaska videos!!!
Last year was our Alaska trip, No time limit, took 6 months, took the Alcan, 1 year old RV, 2 spares for RV (42 ft), no issues. We left March 13 and returned in October. Fun Fun Fun til daddy takes the salmon away. Bears we missed, everything else yes.
Nice!
Hi Hanks: We love your videos. We are planning a trip to Alaska this summer. Who do you recommend for the dog sledding? Thanks Hanks
The mosquitos are bad in southern MS lol I'm fortunate where they don't really bother with me but my nephews come down and by the time the get from the car to the door they're all bit up lol
Thank you Hanks I love watch your vido . Always wating yo see what you both got into . Keep it up thank you
Great video. Awesome Alaska info.
Thank you very much! We are so happy to hear that this was helpful 😊
We are thinking of going to Alaska in 2025. Hubbie is ALL in…me…not so much. Being out in the middle of nowhere really scares me. We’ve got lots of research to do. Love watching your videos and will use them in our planning.
Wow! Thanks Hanks :-) All ready to plan our next vaca to Akaska. Great Video.
Howdy Hanks, it's great to see you today.
Hope all is well with you. 😊
Thanks for sharing your experience you two. So interesting to hear your favorite campground was Deadman Lake. Angie and I had agreed to camphost there from May-July iin 2020, however we cancelled going with they closed the border due to covid. Maybe someday we will get there. Safe Travels you two. Sean
Someday I want to go dogsledding! Thanks Hanks for this delightful, inspirational, and informative video! Loved seeing sweet Dexter too 🥰
Another great Video Thanks Hanks!!
Really enjoying your channel BTW mosquitos in Florida Everglades are the worst!
Renee funny you should say going stir crazy in a smaller rig. Today we parked our 42’ Solitude and moved into our Imagine 22mle 26’ today for our trip to AK late April for the summer.
My husband and I just spent 3 1/2 months in Alaska last summer. We have a 23' bumper to hitch trailer. A Viking 17BH to be precise. It was the perfect size.
Ok, I’m almost positive I saw you guys driving through the construction near Dawson City late last summer. I thought I was crazy, but I’m pretty sure I just saw a clip of it
We learned so much from this video. We have hope to go in 2025. Going to watch your budget video now. 😊 Lynn and Danny
Upper Lake Trail. I think you mean Upper Trail Lake, just north of the little community of Moose Pass. There's a nice free camping area there. Lower Tail Lake also has a nice campground but it's not free.
Us, too. We never make reservations. We feel like we never know how long we'll want to be somewhere.
We want to do alaska but not sure when it'll be.
Did you guys go through some crazy highway inclines ? The one thing I'm always stressing about is the grade % going down the mountain!!
Yes and no.. I would say more so in British Columbia. Having the diesel exhaust brake has really helped in not over using our brakes. We appreciate all your wonderful support in watching our videos 😊 Stay safe
Honestly I would not recommend relying on bear spray only! I would have some additional means of safe guarding against bears, as something that weighs as much as a VW bus is not going to stop on a dime even with bear spray especially if it is charging you at a full run. But I also would recommend being mindful of your distance to anything wild, as the closer it is to you the greater the chances are that it “WILL” hurt you. As there are places in Alaska where you are required to have a firearm on you when you go outside for a reason.
Thanks for the solid advice! It’s definitely smart to be extra cautious when it comes to wildlife. Appreciate you looking out for us! Also, thank you for your support in watching our videos 😀
Awesome. Thank you for all the great information.
Thanks Hanks.
I've decided that happily ever Hanks is my best sitcom Renee Kyle you guys rock stay safe out there by the way I'm not an RVr I😊 love your show
Hi Joan! We really appreciate your support and for taking the time to write this wonderful comment. We are so glad you think of this as a sitcom 🙂 Many thanks for watching our videos!
I’m really glad that Dexter snuck into your video (on the other side of the screen door!). You’ve been neglecting the sexy Dexy fans these last few weeks. 😂.
Thanks for all the info and enhancing my Thursday evenings.
Great video, great info! Thanks Hanks!
Think of the drive this way, LA to Chicago is approximately 2015 miles. Thay's one way. Then you hzve to drive back.
This is so great content..Thank you for sharing with us..❤
Great information for anyone planning an RV trip to Alaska. Through your videos as you traveled in Alaska it is Beautiful I just don't think my wife and I will be traveling up there, So I will #THANKSHANKS for all the videos of there travels through and around Alaska. Have a great week see you again next Thursday. Hello to Dexter the traveling Cat.
You should see the roads i drive with my rv thoes roads look pretty good
I was up there 18 months ago and flew/drove. There were many places along the side of the road where people were camping. I don’t believe they were official campsites, possibly snow chain areas I guess. Also, I was shocked at how good AT&T 5G service was almost everywhere along the highways. Better than Texas for sure. You definitely need reservations in Denali NP. Anchorage was like most cities in the US. Pretty much has everything. Juneau was cool, you can get really close to the glacier which is near town. I liked Alaska, but our fly/drive trip to Glacier NP and then up to Jasper and Banff in Canada was spectacular.
u should get electric jack that can pick up/hold the rv
Thanks for asking my "Bears?" Question. 😂. So bear spray.... GOT IT!! 😂
Hahaha! Absolutely 😁 Thank you for suggesting such a great topic!
Hi Hanks! Great video on quite realistic. We are gettinh set to make a trip back to AK next year. In terms of the cost, what was the invremental coat of the trip to AK? In other words, how dies the cost of your AK trip compare to the same 78 days you soent im the lower 48 the prior year? Keep up the great Vids!
Hi there! This is actually a wonderful question that you brought up and one that we are going to be answering on tomorrow nights video! We hope to see you there. Thank you for your wonderful support and for taking the time to watch our videos 🙂 - Kyle and Renee
Ok we will check it out! Sorry for all of the typos:)
13:02 Halibut (not a salmon, still good eatin)
We are thinking of driving a 40' RV up to Fairbanks without a car/tow. What do you think? Better to bring another vehicle? RV is a 2022 so fairly new