Alaska 3 or bust!

[dtcerrato]

The scariest butt puckering event of the trip was approaching the top of a second gear 8+% hill climb just minutes after the sky opened up with accumulating snow. Almost 4000' at the summit the rear duals started slipping on a fresh blazed snow pack at the same time seeing a sign reading truck brake check pullout 8+% downhill grade ahead - needless to say we hit the pullout and were prepare to spend forever there but after 3 hrs with improve conditions moved on down the steep grade w/o issue. No jakes but the progressive air over hydraulic toad supplemental braking proved to be worth its weight in gold. Mostly great highway but not w/o steep up & down grades and long sections of pot holes & frost heaves and loose gravel. The full rear under bumper mud flap helped but the toad was no where to be found under the caked on road grime. Oh what fun! 

[sledhead]

glad you guys made it safe and sound and most of that salt $#!% from the trip will wash off when the weather warms up

we have been going through a heat wave 84 - 86 f last few days thats to hot for me for this time of the year and the black flies are out in force in the bush cuz you know they need to be in full for all the campers that come up for the may 24 weekend

[windtrader]

Dan! u da man! It's inspiring to watch the journey and amazing progress and lack of mechanical or other issues on such a long trip. Still winter? I guess you are all set if climate changes keeps going and spring flowers show up in April or May. lol

[Van]

What a great journey! Glad you made it. Alaska sounds nice right about now even for only the ice cubes, 106* here today.
Enjoy!

[dtcerrato]

Thanks for all the kind words. It took me a full day just to unpack the inside of the toad. It was loaded solid. We had to use the 4 wheel toad to run over the snow in the drive to flatten it out some to get the bus in. It was such a great feeling having the power turned on ahead of time and hooking to septic, water, & electric. We made it from FL to AK w/o dumping or filling our 100Gal potable tank. We'll be unloading & pressure washing for the next few days and tromping in deep wet snow doing it. 

[dtcerrato]

Thanks for all the kind words guys...
Here's some numbers to ponder on and maybe helpful to those who plan to travel.
1st off for comparison the fuel total for our 2016 & 2019 AK road trips in that order were $4700 & $5400 round trip. With the same Bus pulling different toads but close by fuel consumption average this 2022 trip fuel cost one way was $3650 USD which would equate round trip to $7300 USD and in our favor as we estimated it at around $8000:)but a fair increase to what we expected before fuel prices spiked.
The numbers are for one way (so far):
USA miles -1966. Canada miles - 2519
USA fuel total - $1647 minus TSD discounts of $103 = $1544:)
Canada fuel total - $2567 CAD or $2003 USD
Average US diesel price - $5.39/gal.
Average Canada diesel price - $6.21/gal. USD (2.104/L CAD)
Total one way trip mileage - 4485
Moving average speed - 51.2 mph
Maximum speed - 72.4 mph
Overall average speed - 21.6 mph
Moving time at the wheel - 87:35
House genny hours run - 8.5
The above genny hours are credited to solar power & low consumption diesel air heaters. Less than 1/2 of a 30 Lb. LP cylinder used for refrigerator & HWH mostly.
100 gal. of potable water was 10% full at destination. One gal. of engine oil, no mechanical issues. 7.15 mpg average at a GVW of 34,960 Lbs. Incl. toad.
Actual general trip time was 11 days plus two days stopped - 13 days total corner to opposite corner... 

[DoubleEagle]

Dan,

The only disappointing number I see is that you only saved $103 by using the TSD Card. Did you have to go out of your way any to use the card, do you think it was worth the trouble? Just like many, I envy your determination to get to Tok despite the weather. You are really living to the fullest.

[dtcerrato]

Walter

$103 is better in my pocket than not at the very least. Keep in mind it could only be used in US not in Canada
With that being said it is a 6.2% savings. Cash back reward credit cards don't come near that. The TSD card didn't cost anything and the app integrates with google maps for an accurate bullseye to a truck accommodated pump which I found will fill you in short order and able to get more in the tank than at auto pumps. I think it's worth it. Discounts varied though from .50/gal. To in the teens. Wifey & I shy from people in general, especially tourists so our strategy since our 1st trip is to go off season - early up and late back. It also gives us a sense of more for the money for the cost of fuel.

[windtrader]

DanWonderful report. Very long trip yet safe, sound, and no incidents. You are easily the expedition bus trip expert! The most interesting aspect of your trip is the fact how large North America is and how the climate varies so drastically across the land.

[luvrbus]

AK is beautiful,I worked for a oil company that sent me to Cook Inlet every year,I had to travel from the Bay Of AK to Anchorage in that muddy inlet for 2 months fishing was good though,I would not want to live in AK full time it's not fun all the time fighting the slush and insects when it warms up ,Ak should be on everyone's bucket list ,the Eagles had rally in Anchorage and had a good turn out lol Joe and Frankie had trouble getting some to leave   

[lostagain]

4 or 5 years ago I delivered a truck from BC to Haynes Junction Yukon, almost at the AK border, late April, then again early May. What a gorgeous country. Will go back in the motorhome some day, and take our time to see the sights.

[Utahclaimjumper]

 In 1990,, the wife and I flew, ( my twin engined aircraft ) to Fairbanks and spent a month flying all over the state of Alaska from the Arctic circle south to Skagway and Homer then west to Bethel and back to Anchorage and back to California... Of course that was when you could afford it with Avgas at $6 dollars a gallon.. and the aircraft was only burning 32 gallons per hour to travel at 200Kts. ( 230 MPH)..>>>Dan

[Kevin]

Happy to hear you folks made it in okay! Sounds like pretty smooth sailing with bus running great, and no problems or breakdowns. I can only imagine the feeling of the rear tires beginning to break loose in the snow however, yikes! I'm sure that pullout was a sight for sore eyes at that point, lol! Here's wishing you and Sandy a very pleasant stay. Please continue to keep us posted on your AK adventure Dan!

[buswarrior]

Nothing  else handled the snow better than the 4104, except maybe the 530x transit cars.

Right balance of weight to tire contact,  and not enough power to get into trouble.

Everything that came after can be put into situations, moving or stopped, that they will be stuck or sliding, when a Highway Traveller will just move along.

Thank you for the opportunity to live vicariously!!!

Happy coaching!
Buswarrior

[dtcerrato]

Well yesterday wifey & I mowed & weed eater. Then today went to our local diesel station and filled up @ $5.20/gal.
We set the bus up in it's summer campsite, full hookups and blocked solid. Lots of sun now temp touched 60 today, yippie!
The surrounding mountains are breath taking with solid snowpack all the way to the valley floor they rise from. Life is good...

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