Alaska in a Bus Conversion?

[Gary Hatt - Publisher BCM]

If you were considering a summer trip to Alaska in a bus conversion, what would you recommend for preparation, and where in Alaska would you visit?

Also, which route do you recommend to get to Alaska, and what are the road conditions?

When you went, did you travel alone or with a group, and what are the benefits of each approach?

Are there any unusual things bus conversion travelers should be aware of? Things that are easily overlooked?

Do you have any tips on fuel purchases?

What about obtaining bus parts along the way if mishaps happen?

And lastly, for anyone with a vintage bus, are there any good mechanics along the way that would be good to know about?

[dtcerrato]

We are about to embark on our sixth FL-AK-FL round trip this summer. We have completed the round trips four times in our 1953 4104 and once in a 70s Bluebird Schoolie. Most of the trips were done with a four down toad & a couple trips with a trailer or bareback.
In preparation, a great way to save lots of $$$ is to pack tight groceries of the non perishable variety. Canned & dry goods, and any other consumables used like soaps, body wash, window cleaner etc. Our buses lend plenty room for extras. We even consumed the groceries we carried in on the way back. Gotta be careful with perishables like certain fruits, meats, eggs, rice, etc are prohibited at border crossings. Dog food is limited to 50Lbs and documentation like rabies vac. & health certs are required but seldom asked about. Permits are needed for long guns. Pistols take an act of congress. We have a little place in Tok AK, a tiny town with all amenities that has to be driven through in either direction or either border crossing between Canada & AK. Places to visit would be the Kenai Penninsula in the south on the Gulf or Alaska south of Anchorage. There are fishing & sightseeing excursions second to none there. Talkeetna is a neat little place to visit, as is Fairbanks farther north. Prices are cheaper (if you want to call it that) in larger cities. Be prepared for sticker shock when it comes to fuel, restaurants, & grocery stores. Anything for that matter. Road conditions are much better than yesteryear. Mostly paved but will experience some road work detours and don't try to out smart the pot holes & frost heaves - just slow down & take your time. We shy from tourist traps and mass activity in general. We leave central FL in mid May & return in mid Sept. At those times of year there are very few people or traffic on and about. We have done the trip mostly with our wife & have done it solo twice & may do it solo again.The number one rule on fuel is to run on the top 1/2 of your tank. We use Open Roads (TSD) fuel card for discounts in the states. Not so in Canada nor AK though. Bus parts are obtained from our on board spare parts bin or can be shipped from the home front if major. We are of the diy type and carry tools. We have had our share of breakdowns of up to 11 day delays but have always persisted & take it in stride and consider it as part of the adventure. Cell phones are important and there are long stretches without service. Star link is your friend. As far as border crossing - it's usually cut & dry if you're just using Canada as a travel route between the states & AK. If you are spending time & money in Canada and staying places then the questions get many. We have always carried huge amounts of construction materials going north for building our tiny place up there but as long as we were just passing through with US commodity destined for AK on a personal basis - no problem. Enjoy the trip and be humbled when you see people doing the same on motorcycle, bicycle, & foot from places farther south than North America. The Alcan is a highway to be experienced. We don't "rely on" the mile post as many do because most places are either shut down permanently or temporarily for the times of year we travel.

[rusty]

We have been twice. Once in our 05 and once in our Showhauler. You will not have trouble with fuel. Run on the top half of tank. Fuel in larger towns. The smaller the town the higher the price. Road conditions are a crap shoot. Around Destruction Bay seams to be the worst. One time going up there was a 25 mile stretch that was lose rock. Lost a   couple  of lights in the jeep. On the way home it was the best stretch  of road the whole trip.
We had one break down. The alternator on the 05 came lose and took out all the belts.Had all the belts and was back on the road in about an hour. Interesting thing during the break down a car stopped and ask if I needed  help. Carry spare parts.  Major break downs could be a problem away from the larger cities. 
We have been on the Alcan anf the Cassier Highways. Both are good highways and have good sites.
We never had a problem finding a place to stay. We planned ahead. If plans  changed we where able to find a place.
  Way to much to see. Denali NP, Fairbanks, drive up the the article circle see the pipeline. Talkeetna take a plane ride and land on Mt McKinley. Homer is a fun place and a good place to go fishing.  Anchorage a good place to catch your breath and restock. Valdez a fun town take the Lulu Belle for a fun day on the ocean to see wildlife and Glaciers. Skagway is a fun stop. On the Cassier go to Stewart and to Hyder Glacier. We didn't  have time but Jasper and Banff are on our bucket list. We enjoyed both trips. If you are worried about getting a scratch or two   go to Disneyland. The sites and mermory are worth every mile of the trip. Haven't talked to the boss but would go again in a heart  beat
Wayne

[Bearmtnmartin]

My wife and I took our 1981 Bluebird Wanderlodge up to Tukloyuktuk on the Arctic Ocean last summer. Trip of a lifetime. I repowered it with a Cummins ISM and a 13 speed so it was a little stressful wondering what modification would break. But the only work I did was when the steering wheel came loose! And my charge air cooler broke loose when I hit the mother of all potholes and I had to tie it in place for the last 3000 miles.I would suggest being able to work on anything yourself or figure out a way to limp it home. Do not expect any help up there. Not sure about Alaska but in the Northwest Territory we would go 2 hours without passing another vehicle, and services are many many hours away.

[dtcerrato]

Cool, we consider the YT as our back yard as our little place up in AK is only 90 miles inside the border. 10-4 on self help.

[luvrbus]

My job took me to Kenai 2 times a year for 22 years, I don't miss that place in Feb leaving Houston, I would like to take another trip in bus to enjoy some sights. I missed out on Joe Larids Eagle Bus rally he did in Anchorage and have always regrated it I think more than a dozen Eagle owners made the rally from the USA.Lol you do need a long gun (shotgun) in some areas of Alaska certain times of the year to shoot the misquotes, the fishing was always good though. Sonja and I did do the ferry trip from Washington to Ketchikan one year with our bus, I didn't care about Ketchikan much       

[dtcerrato]

We carried two long guns (shot guns) on our 2016 & 2019 trips to AK. Had to get permits to carry. Up to three long guns on each $50 permit. On the 3rd trip we quit carrying as we left one long gun at our AK place. It made it a lot easier at the border crossing where we'd just go right through instead of the need to park the rig and go into the offices. We've heard the mosquitos can get pretty bad but have never experienced the dreaded "swarms" in fact everywhere we've been in CA & AK the mosquitos are tolerable as much or more than where we live in FL. The most exillerating part of any of the round trips to AK was on the 1st one when we entered AK from CA at the farther north border crossing at Dawson City and took the bus & toad (attached) over the wild Yukon River on the free YT gov.ferry to travel the Top of the World Hwy into AK. You have to travel thru Tok AK in either direction going thru either border crossing. The north border crossing (the one with the free ferry) will put you on the unpaved Taylor Hwy with sharp switchbacks and 10+% grades for extreme puckerage!

[luvrbus]

We carried two long guns (shot guns) on our 2016 & 2019 trips to AK. Had to get permits to carry. Up to three long guns on each $50 permit. On the 3rd trip we quit carrying as we left one long gun at our AK place. It made it a lot easier at the border crossing where we'd just go right through instead of the need to park the rig and go into the offices. We've heard the mosquitos can get pretty bad but have never experienced the dreaded "swarms" in fact everywhere we've been in CA & AK the mosquitos are tolerable as much or more than where we live in FL. The most exillerating part of any of the round trips to AK was on the 1st one when we entered AK from CA at the farther north border crossing at Dawson City and took the bus & toad (attached) over the wild Yukon River on the free YT gov.ferry to travel the Top of the World Hwy into AK. You have to travel thru Tok AK in either direction going thru either border crossing. The north border crossing (the one with the free ferry) will put you on the unpaved Taylor Hwy with sharp switchbacks and 10+% grades for extreme puckerage!

If I go back to Ak which I plan on with my daughter, we plan on riding the ferry and barges up to Whitter from WA, if I can afford it. From Whitter to Anchorage is only a 2 hour drive. I have been the route before we used the route to transport equipment to our refinery in Anchorage to keep from entering Canada and we could transport the equipment there faster