Alaska caravan trip- Question about fuel cost and interest to EVERYONE

[happycamperbrat]

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.

[Fred Mc]

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.

[fredcliff]

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

[wal1809]

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.

[happycamperbrat]

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

[Brassman]

Doesn't biodiesel already cost more than dinodiesel?

[happycamperbrat]

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....

[artvonne]

  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.

[Barn Owl]

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.

[Utahclaimjumper]

Barn,, you can carry long guns thru Canada to Alaska as part of your "survival kit", just no handguns.>>>Dan

[artvonne]

  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.

[jackhartjr]

Someone please help me out here;
Isn't biodiesel and WVO two very different fuels?

[happycamperbrat]

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.

[buswarrior]

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

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

I don't think there's a cheaper way to go to Alaska than taking the coach.

So, be..

happy coaching!
buswarrior

[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