Two Alaska

dtcerrato · March 30, 2019, 06:40:36 PM

Starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel. Never had the bus packed so tight. The interior "looks" normal but behind every door and drawer is packed to the hilt. Bottom compartments are packed as tight as possible. Underbelly is carrying maybe a couple hundred lbs. with a loss of 2-1/2" of ground clearance. There are 4 separate units laced onto the roof at maybe 900 lbs. total & no higher than the roof A/C. The lightest our bus weighed was 22,500 + the heaviest was 28,500 (w/o toad). Don't really know what it weighs now so we'll scale it at the start of the trip. Alaska & North Western Canada have been breaking every record in the book for unseasonable warmth. If we could have known that we'd already be up there. Hope to leave in the next few weeks.

buswarrior · March 30, 2019, 07:40:25 PM

Don't be scaling where there's witnesses, and don't be sharing extremes on here until you've successfully arrived...

Looking forward to living vicariously through your reports!

Happy coaching!
Buswarrior

TomC · March 31, 2019, 07:32:00 AM

You do get weighed going into Canada. At least here in general it is 12,000lbs on steers, 20,000lbs on drives. It would be better if you would have just rented a truck. Good Luck, TomC

buswarrior · March 31, 2019, 11:07:04 AM

Which crossing has scales?

None at the 3 Niagara crossings?

Border function is federal, DOT function is provincial.

There may be scales shortly down the road, but the busnut will be bypassing them.

happy coaching!
buswarrior

dtcerrato · March 31, 2019, 07:29:37 PM

Does anyone on the board know the GVWR of the GM PD4104. The original Calif. registration shows the unladen weight of 26,400. Wondering what would be added to that unladen weight when you add 45 passengers and all the bottom compartment storage (luggage, mail, etc.). Our heaviest weigh ticket was 39,680 - gross - bus, auto hauler trailer with full size PU inside all loaded to the hilt. No steer-drive-trailer breakdown). Just wondering, comments? Don't think we'll be near that heaviest weight...
Not concerned about boarder crossing, we have nothing to hide, no scales for private coaches, BTDT

lostagain · April 01, 2019, 07:04:04 AM

Of course a private vehicle such as your bus doesn't have to stop at the scales. But Department Of Transport/Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance officers will pull you over and weigh you if you look suspicious. They can also do a full mechanical inspection if they feel so inclined. If anything fails, you will be out of service on the side of the road. Been There Done That. Not in my bus, but in a pick up... They will generally leave RVs alone, but don't count on it. Especially in BC. Best is to be compliant.

JC

dtcerrato · April 01, 2019, 07:38:01 AM

"Best is to be compliant" thus the reason for searching the accurate GVWR of a GM PD 4104...

eagle19952 · April 03, 2019, 09:13:20 PM

MAde that trip more than once.
Early breakup can make the roads pure hell.
Never got weighed.
You can get there without going thru most of BC.
I actually like crossing at Pembina - Winnipeg.

chessie4905 · April 04, 2019, 04:56:54 AM

John Holod productions has great videos on travelling to Alaska. Great information on what to expect, routes, services, road conditions, when to leave and when to return, camping, fuel, etc. He has done several trips in a motor home and has included many scenery videos along with the info. We've sat in on many of his seminars over the years at the Hershey, PA rv show.

As long as your gvw isn't over 32,000, you should be good to go. Same front and rear axles as a 4905. Actually, rear is heavier made. As long as your tires are higher capacity than gvw.

Jim Eh. · April 04, 2019, 09:14:18 AM

Quick tip:
Fill up to the brim before crossing into CANADA. fuel is rather pricey these days.

Utahclaimjumper · April 04, 2019, 12:04:54 PM

That should also include California!!.>>>Dan

bobofthenorth · April 04, 2019, 02:16:54 PM

Quote from: buswarrior on March 31, 2019, 11:07:04 AM
Which crossing has scales?
Border function is federal, DOT function is provincial.
There may be scales shortly down the road, but the busnut will be bypassing them.

I've never seen a scale at a crossing either, probably for exactly the reasons cited. In short its none of their damn business. JC is correct - British California can get a little overblown but even there the worst that's ever happened to me is getting pinched for a heavy right foot.

The fuel price is definitely going to get your attention though. Figure roughly double what you're accustomed to. But hey, we're saving the environment so who could be opposed to that?

Jim Eh. · April 04, 2019, 05:33:09 PM

Quote from: Utahclaimjumper on April 04, 2019, 12:04:54 PM
That should also include California!!.>>>Dan

Not sure how much of an increase on diesel but in the last week, gasoline here has jumped about .25 per liter or roughly .97 per US gallon. Aaaand, on the west coast (BC), gasoline has been setting records for high price. 1.58 per liter (roughly 5.98 per US gallon). Again, not sure on the diesel prices but you know it's gotta be high.

dtcerrato · April 04, 2019, 07:07:09 PM

Chessie thanks for that GVW info. We'll try to offset high fuel prices using gas buddy and a smokeless light foot on the pedal...

dtcerrato · April 30, 2019, 05:04:19 AM

Almost 1400 miles into the trip. Bus is weighing at 30,420. Total with toad is 35,840. Aside from the refrigerator cooling unit needing replacement since road bound the bus is running really good. Currently averaging 7 mpg with 11 mpg it's best since rebuild. We feel the difference in leaving a month earlier than our 2016 AK trip as we've woke up to sleet & sub freezing temps - no A/C needed on this one!