As you probably know, I want to do a caravan in the summer of 2012 for bus nuts and even sticks and staples that want to go. The trip would go across the United States up into Canada and then across to Alaska.
Unfortunately although many have expressed a desire to go, people just arent coming forward yet to confirm anything. I suspect that is for a combination of reasons (ie. unsure of what life will bring mostly). But I think probably the cost of fuel is a HUGE concern with people, as I know it is with me.
For the fuel cost issue, IF I was able to line up several stops along the route at people's homes and whatnot where they made bio-diesel and we were all able to purchase it at a much reduced price then the filling stations along the way, would more people be willing to commit to this? Anyone?
Im not sure of the laws in Canada and stuff on this, and Im open to taking a tanker along with our own fuel (if I can line that up), but maybe one of you know...
Im just throwing this out there to see what you have to say. NOTHING is carved in stone at this point.
Fuel in Canada is amost 5 bucks a gallon. I would avoid Canada as much as possible and go north from Seattle. That way you only have to go thru B.C. to Alaska.
I would love to that but the cost of Fuel would make it impossible,here in this part of NY I shockingly paid $4.07 a gallon yesterday. I'm afraid my coach will soon become a lawn ornament
I would love to go but I don't have that kind of time. 6 more years and I'll be leading the way.
Just a word to the wise for first time bio diesel users. Take plenty of filters. Bio diesel is a solvent that will remove the biuld up in the fuel tanks and send it stright to the filters. I had to do a roadside change as I felt a loss of power and didn't want to try it any further than I had gone. The good thing is once it is clean then your good to go.
Fred MC, going north thru BC is a consideration.
fredcliff, the cost of fuel is horrific I agree...... that's why Im thinking bio diesel for everyone that wants. Would you consider running it in order to save your coach from being a lawn ornament and make this incredible trip?
wal1809, I had thought about making it a 2 month trip.... but maybe that is unrealistic for most people. Maybe a 2 week trip so people can schedual vacation time at their work would be more inline? Thanks too for mentioning that about the extra filters! I look forward to your caravans :)
Doesn't biodiesel already cost more than dinodiesel?
No it doesnt cost more. Most people get the used veggie oil from restaurants and stuff for free and then process it into bio. The chemicals and stuff used to process it run about $1.20 a gallon so there is sufficiant room for mark up from a brewer and yet we would save money as opposed to buying diesel #2 at the pump....
Summer 2012 is a ways out for me to commit to anything. Maybe by spring 2012 I will know? I doubt with the shifting economy anyone can commit to anything right now.
I am actually buying a Bus with the very thought in mind of doing an Alaska trip. Whether it ever happens is another thing, but I intend to build light, build reliability, and hopefull install at least a 100 gallon auxillary tank. While I cant say if I could entirely cross Canadia without a stop, I would at least have greater range to find cheaper fuel, or, only have to buy enough to get into Alaska. However, looking at Gasbuddy, fuel in Alaska isnt a lot cheaper than Canada.
Remember, if your tanks are full in advance, and you roll into youre yard on fumes, you can shift the cost of two tanks of fuel to another period in time. More fuel onboard shifts more of the expense away from the actual trip.
You might want to factor in the cost of some windshields. Campers that I have seen make the trip defiantly look like it. I would personally love to go but my employer would not be very understanding. Also not being able to have the firearms I would like to carry would be a big problem in Canada.
Barn,, you can carry long guns thru Canada to Alaska as part of your "survival kit", just no handguns.>>>Dan
They provide a strong box you can put your handgun in when you enter Canada, and theyll open it when you cross back into the states. I would just leave it behind rather than hassle with it. A loaded 30-30 by the door would suffice.
I looked into Ferry travel from Seattle to Anchorage just to avoid Canada all together. Wow, you can buy a lot of spendy fuel for what that would cost.
Someone please help me out here;
Isn't biodiesel and WVO two very different fuels?
jack, wvo stands for waste vegetable oil. Some people use it straight but they have to do some modifications on their fuel system to run it and have a 2nd tank for it. They have to start and stop the engine on diesel fuel but the driving in between warm up and the last few miles before shut down is done on diesel. However with biodiesel (which is wvo processed with added chemicals) it can be run just like diesel #2 without needing to do modifications to the fuel system.
Average price for diesel reported in Alaska right now is $3.77 a USgallon.
However, in and around Fairbanks, the stations are ranging around $4.12 a USgallon
http://www.alaskagasprices.com/index.aspx?fuel=D (http://www.alaskagasprices.com/index.aspx?fuel=D)
Average price for Diesel in British Columbia right now is $1.24 a litre/ 4.68 a USgallon
Same as Alaska, higher prices further away from the source.
http://www.bcgasprices.com/index.aspx?fuel=D (http://www.bcgasprices.com/index.aspx?fuel=D)
I don't think there's a cheaper way to go to Alaska than taking the coach.
So, be..
happy coaching!
buswarrior
Inspired from the 'brat's comment on another thread:
For a multi-vehicle caravan, there might be some savings by fueling them all on the same fuel account, as if you were a fleet.
Call a couple of your local national fuel retailer's fleet fuel account representatives and see what the volume thresholds might be.
happy coaching!
buswarrior
Quote from: buswarrior on March 06, 2011, 08:22:23 AM
I don't think there's a cheaper way to go to Alaska than taking the coach.
happy coaching!
buswarrior
I dont think that there is. Not if you want to see anything and stay a while.
Hi guys!
I live in Alaska, and I have been traveling back and forth for about 10 years. If the majority of people are coming from central US, I would suggest going in at Alberta. You can stop at Yellowstone WY. Then Glacier N.P. MT. From there I would suggest going up Hwy 93 to Radium Hot springs and through the Canadian Rockies. "This is a must see"
Going back and forth to Boise ID. it costs about $200.00 more than going Washington and into B.C. And there are a bunch of tourist attractions along the way.
Once you get on the Alaska Hwy, I would plan a overnight stay at Liard Hot springs mile 495 Alaska Hwy. You will need a well deserved soak in the springs about this time, and you don't want to drive afterwords. "I tried that once"
The springs are natural and outdoors with nice boardwalks, the campground is nice also with good separation from other campers.
When you get to Alaska, if you don't have the money to travel all over AK, My recommendation is skipping Fairbanks and going down to the Kenai peninsula. I live in Homer Alaska at the tip of the Kenai peninsula, and it's probably the most beautiful place in Alaska you can drive a bus too. Fuel prices here today are 4.10 gal. Diesel.
If you guys make it to Homer, look me up, I have a boat and would like an excuse to go fishing. "Free to bus nuts"
As far as fuel goes, It's going to be expensive! My bus has 760 gal capacity, I buy bulk, and don't stop along the way.
Good luck! I hope to meet some of you busnuts!
Gary
PS. If you have problems in Alaska, I'll do my best to help.
Quote from: Seayfam on March 06, 2011, 11:07:34 AM
My bus has 760 gal capacity, I buy bulk, and don't stop along the way.
Gary
Man, if you thought mentioning 100 gal aux. tank caused trouble, that Okie guy is gonna ream you a new one when he reads this. ;D
maybe litres? That would be more conventional.
760 litres is 201 USgallons.
760 USgallons would be closing in on 6100 lbs.
happy coaching!
buswarrior
BW, I know a guy that goes to Alaska every year in a MCI he has a 530 gal aux tank plus what the main tank hold so he close to 700 gals we had to move his tank to rear it was causing problems in the middle bay ( doors bending ) that was 10 years ago and he still goes every year
good luck
Wow, I wonder what the weight on the front axle was with it in the middle bay?
That's why we roll our own!
Do it your way!
happy coaching!
buswarrior
BW, way to heavy lol
Quote from: buswarrior on March 06, 2011, 01:01:37 PM
maybe litres? That would be more conventional.
760 litres is 201 USgallons.
760 USgallons would be closing in on 6100 lbs.
happy coaching!
buswarrior
Take a look at my pics of the tank in my blog listed in my sig. The aux is 560 us gal and the main is 200 us gal. The aux is mounted in the bay right in front of the drivers.
I hardly notice a difference full or empty. My bus is heavy either way. I figure I save approximately $1,000 one way Idaho to Homer AK. :) ;)
Gary
Love that bus Gary!!
I love that auxiliary tank too. It took me some time to find it as it is so dern huge. I'll take you up on the fishing in a few years.
I live in Anchorage and would love to host all of those headed to the "Great Land" for a BBQ brisket feed. I pastor a great church in the midtown Anchorage area with nice sized parking lots, perfect spot for connecting for dinner with our Alaska bus nuts! Let me know when you are coming! We might even be able to find some moose meat for those with discriminating taste!
Quote from: gmorton on March 06, 2011, 10:14:59 PM
I live in Anchorage and would love to host all of those headed to the "Great Land" for a BBQ brisket feed. I pastor a great church in the midtown Anchorage area with nice sized parking lots, perfect spot for connecting for dinner with our Alaska bus nuts! Let me know when you are coming! We might even be able to find some moose meat for those with discriminating taste!
gmorton, thank you for the offer! That will certainly be taken into consideration
Quote from: Seayfam on March 06, 2011, 11:07:34 AM
Hi guys!
I live in Alaska, and I have been traveling back and forth for about 10 years. If the majority of people are coming from central US, I would suggest going in at Alberta. You can stop at Yellowstone WY. Then Glacier N.P. MT. From there I would suggest going up Hwy 93 to Radium Hot springs and through the Canadian Rockies. "This is a must see"
Going back and forth to Boise ID. it costs about $200.00 more than going Washington and into B.C. And there are a bunch of tourist attractions along the way.
Once you get on the Alaska Hwy, I would plan a overnight stay at Liard Hot springs mile 495 Alaska Hwy. You will need a well deserved soak in the springs about this time, and you don't want to drive afterwords. "I tried that once"
The springs are natural and outdoors with nice boardwalks, the campground is nice also with good separation from other campers.
When you get to Alaska, if you don't have the money to travel all over AK, My recommendation is skipping Fairbanks and going down to the Kenai peninsula. I live in Homer Alaska at the tip of the Kenai peninsula, and it's probably the most beautiful place in Alaska you can drive a bus too. Fuel prices here today are 4.10 gal. Diesel.
If you guys make it to Homer, look me up, I have a boat and would like an excuse to go fishing. "Free to bus nuts"
As far as fuel goes, It's going to be expensive! My bus has 760 gal capacity, I buy bulk, and don't stop along the way.
Good luck! I hope to meet some of you busnuts!
Gary
PS. If you have problems in Alaska, I'll do my best to help.
Gary, the trip sounds absolutely beautiful! Thanks for the suggestion
Quote from: buswarrior on March 06, 2011, 09:07:37 AM
Inspired from the 'brat's comment on another thread:
For a multi-vehicle caravan, there might be some savings by fueling them all on the same fuel account, as if you were a fleet.
Call a couple of your local national fuel retailer's fleet fuel account representatives and see what the volume thresholds might be.
happy coaching!
buswarrior
Will do! Thanks for the suggestion