Prepping for winter Alcan drive

Flying was slow today, so I'm filling my time prepping for the alcan drive I love having the facilities and tools of a bush flying operation at my fingertips.

 

Audiobooks are awesome for long roadies. I make 12+ hrs (each way) trips avery 4 or 6 weeks and a good Virgil Flowers audiobook makes the time pass. Sounds like this is more of a novelty for you than something you want to survive so you may not want one, but keep it in mind.

 

Hey man, I'm with ya. I have done audio books, but I've switched to podcasts. They tend to keep my interest a little better without making me want to go to sleep. I flew skydivers for years and that gets pretty monotonous, so I started listening to a lot of podcasts on my bluetooth headset. I'm already starting my listening list : ) I think that's half the fun of the alcan is pairing the sights and experience to music/listening of thoughtful ideas etc.

 

ha ha, he said legit

 

Hey fellow Alaskan ^_^ anyways I'm from Kodiak, Alaska myself and I drove that Alcan highway all the way to Tempe,Arizona where I am now. Things I did before drive that 3,000+ mile drive was drained and filled my ATF and change the ATF filter as well. I also drove down with E rated tire I know I know it's overkill. Anyways other then that I just filled her up every 1/4 tank it drops at a near gas station. And damn some gas stations in Canada had 94 octan no ethanol which I filled up on. Now I got through Canada in 4 days!!! And I was bookin' it too at about 118mph on them straightaways... I don't advise that you should go that fast especially when it's coming down to winter. Either have a good set of winter tires or have some tire chains on you and you should be set my friend. Good luck on your journey through the Alcan. Oh also once you get past the Canadian boarder it's nothing but loose gravel for maybe 10 miles it felt like after that tho nothing but smooth sailing. Good luck again and drive safely.

 

Thanks fellow Alaskan : ) I'll actually be driving down to Eloy Az in January. I used to fly twin otters and skyvans at Skydive Az and am going there for the new years party. As for ATF, I've got the 6 speed manual, but the fluid was just changed when I had my clutch done. I have decent all terrain tires that should do me ok (They did in the snow on the way up here in early March. I'll for sure have chains too. I also hauled balls on the way up Seattle to Homer in 4 days. I imagine it'll be a little slower going this time around, but I also have no real time constraints this time. Thanks for the good words.

 

I'm doing good on knocking out all my prep items on my pre-alcan checklist. I restored my headlight covers last year, and they are still nice and clear, but I'm going to replace my bulbs with something brighter. I'm not too into 'modding out' my truck, and just want something that I can plug in that will give me a reasonable increase in performance. I'll be doing some night driving on this trip, and need something more than stock. I'm currently looking at these two lights.

$38 SYLVANIA 9003 SilverStar Ultra Twin Pack

http://www.amazon.com/Sylvania-9003...yota:tacoma&keywords=sylvania+headlight+bulbs

$88 SYLVANIA - 9003 (HB2, H4) SilverStar zXe High Performance Halogen Headlight Bulb - Headlight & Fog Light, Bright White Light Output, HID Attitude, Xenon Fueled Technology (Contains 2 Bulbs)

http://www.amazon.com/Sylvania-Silv...yota:tacoma&keywords=sylvania+headlight+bulbs


I'm not sure which is the better option, and wonder if anybody has any input. I've heard that any bulb with blue on it is going to decrease brightness. I'm leaning towards the second set anyways.

 

I switched to one of those super white ultra bright headlights on my last tacoma and found they weren't as good in winter. When the light is too white or blue I find you can't see definition in the snow for shit. I really prefer the warmer tones and old-school yellow beam for winter driving. The light makes better shadows on the snow for contrast so you can see what you're driver over and into. Easier on the eyes too. I wouldn't put the cool tone light or super white on if you are planning on doing lots of driving in snow.

 

If you are going to go with one of these, get the ones with the clear glass. The blue glass does make the light whiter, but it does this by filtering out useful yellow light which is actually better for seeing in fog or snow. Also by blocking some of this light, these bulbs will run hotter and not last as long.

The bulbs with the clear glass might not be as white, but they will put out more useable light.

 

I vaguely recall the spray on stuff, but can't recall.
Kitty litter is good, I carry litter, rock salt and sand tubes. But these are even better. They're traction mats. Had 'em about 25 years, don't remember the mfgr. But they work! Got me unstuck MANY times!

 

I have the zXe bulbs in my truck, and I think they work very well. I recommend them!

 

Nice looking 206

Good luck on your drive.

 

Drove it in 1969 and it was all gravel except for a little stretch in Whitehorse, yukon. The gravel from oncoming semis broke a headlight, parking lights and windshield. .....ran out of gas, etc. but still a great trip

 

Sounds like you are well prepared and up for making an adventure out of this awesome road trip. I drove part of the alcan this summer, was nice. Oh damn i can just image a new yrs eve at the bent prop!! Ive had many drunken nights there.. Anyway one thing that came in handy for me a few times was my battery booster pack, not sure if i saw that in your list. Enjoy!!

 

Definitely sounds like you're well setup and there's a lot of great advice. Good bulbs should be fine. one of the most important thing I learned driving the Alcan a few Decembers ago is a large amount of the Yukon gas stations close after 7pm, so plan on carrying extra fuel and filling every time you're below 3/4. Additionally contact your cell/bank/card company to ensure you don't get cut off or charged usage fees. Additionally AAA works there but dont expect any kind of quick response.

 

Drove it going up to Anchorage in September 1981 and it was all gravel mud. Even worse they were building the new one so they were leaving the old one alone (no grading).

Drove out in June 1984 part of it had been paved and was nice, the other parts not so much. I lost a headlight, got a cracked windshield and broke both my leaf springs (both sides, except main leaf. Loaded down truck kept enough pressure on the springs to make it to KY. The minute I unloaded the springs started falling out).

Today it is all four lane highway (at least that is what I have been told) with a lot of gas stations and motels.

I was driving a 1979 Chevy SB 4x4, mudders, roll bar and topper.

 

The good thing about driving in the early winter is that the roads aren't too gnarly. Since a lot of the road is smoothed over by the ice. Except at the ak-Canada border. That stretch is pretty bad. Be ready to swerve around to avoid the coned off potholes.

 

Oh the bent prop! We have some history. I've spent 8/10 last New Years there including a few when I was working there as a pilot. That place warms my heart and hurts my head

Thanks for all the advice everybody. I'm excited and feeling more prepared every day.

I ended up doing more research and went for the http://store.candlepower.com/64205.html

I do have a battery jumper box as well as am planning to take four 5 gallon gas cans to avoid getting stuck and/or paying the high prices in the smaller towns.

 

Might want to carry some extra gas. Idk what it is like now, but gas stations on the Alcan are few and far between.

 

Gas is covered