Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Alaska What to Carry on Alcan

I know we just had a thread.

Spare tires, tools. Fuel. Food. Sleeping bag. vehicle fluids.

What am I not thinking about? Air compressor of some kind, good 12v version. Tire plugs. Usually have that stuff.

But a fuel tank leak thats killing me on our diesel tractor, gave thought... fuel tank patch, patch for tail pipes, patch or stop leak for radiator, heads, etc???

Spare heater hose, splice kit, radiator clamps.

Trying to make up a list.

Id SWEAR I posted this last night, but I can't find it now... either last nights wine got me, the net got me or sober as I am now I'm blind. LOL

Thanks for tidbits. I"ll let it go a month or two and then print it out.

Jeff

Good list, I might add;

An alternator

A water pump

Belts

Starter

I would start with new belts and hoses; carry extra common items if they aren’t prohibitive like thermostat, radiator cap, perhaps alternator, water pump. Starter doesn’t get used much considering the length of trip. Common marker and signal lamps and fuses, couple extras. A spare to match what you’re running. A tube of good gasket maker/repair. A large packing box or other big cardboard to lie or kneel on if you need to change tire or work beneath the vehicle, ramps if you have room.

You can’t bring every foreseeable item of course. Some of these things, like starters, alternators, etc.... if you have a bunch of miles on them, maybe change em out ahead of time so they’re fresh, especially if they happen to be a real pita to work on.... consider that you probably won’t have better conditions along the road.

The good thing is that today’s machines tend to be so highly reliable that problems are unusual, especially if you’re just doing consistent, steady driving.

BTW, the Canadian customs has only ever bothered to know if I had enough money not to become a burden to their country, and tried to determine whether I was sneaking handguns in....... or drugs.

They couldn’t care less if you break down. 😁

Water pump is new. Alt will be. Just smart IMHO.

cardboard, ramps or jack stands. Had not thought that... floor jack and bumper jack yes.

Tstat. Rad cap. Fuel cap. Bulbs All on the list now. Gasket maker a given.

Hopefully the odds are high I don't break down in Canadian customs. LOL.

Starter is a question, may just put a new one on. Can probably find an old one and old Alt at the junk yard to turn in for the cores... keep the ones that are working fine now for spares.

Rigs have gotten better, tires have gotten hugely better, the roads are much better... it ain't your Daddy's Alcan!

It was not what I considered bad in 86 either. Suspect its better by now. Only traveled a bit on it in 95 on our honeymoon. Can't say it seemed better but no worse than in 86

Oh BTW I had in my original post asked what has changed, it used to be duct tape, bailing wire, hose clamps, pepper, raw potatoes and nylon stockings and a crescent wrench or three... LOL

Cardboard is my latest “why didn’t I do this years ago” deal. Turns a pebble surface into tolerable, gives some needed insulation between ice and knees or shoulders at minus something, makes a surface to catch small parts or slide oil pans (or body) on, saves some dirt and wear in the trunk or a semi-decent pair of pants, and it’s cheap to throw out or replace when it needs cleaning/drying.

One of the things I’ve been doing with my combination wrenches is to tie a loop of parachute cord with a dog-chain snap on it and thread the other end through each box end in order. Helps keep each wrench accounted for. Those 10mms, 12s, and 9/16” seem to sneak off if you don’t keep after them. 😝

[quote=Sitka deer]Rigs have gotten better, tires have gotten hugely better, the roads are much better... it ain't your Daddy's Alcan![/quote

This ^

New oil, good tires, new belts, hoses in good shape, oil if your rig burns it and a credit card authorized for Canada. The roads in Canada are better than in Ak. There is lots of gas along the way. Plenty of traffic in the summer. It is a fun trip take your time. Lots of wildlife in the early morning and evening. The wood bison are really neat. If you are driving in winter take along winter gear and maybe some gas as some places are closed for winter.

Women, for tradin purposes once you get here.

Traded mine before I even got on the road.
Didn't get fair market value, but she's happy to be free (I guess), and I'm happy to be here so there's value in that.

A flashlight is handy.
Couple pairs of sunglasses.
Wet wipes and a roll of TP.
An extra set of keys hidden under the chassis.
A scrub pad for your windshield.
Silicon based windshield wipers.

I traveled it 5 times winter, fall, winter, summer 2 times. The trip in the summer of 2016 all II had was plug kit, and the tire foam 4 cans if I remember right. I gassed up ever chance I had, I only had one issue on that trip my windshield wipers. Outside Edmonton pissing rain and my wipers went too [bleep]. On other trips we had portable air compressor, extra fuel cans with fuel. But the biggest make sure you tell your bank you are traveling through Canada.

Sat phone.

So you can text and drive there, too?

It's a long way between fuel stops. Gotta do something to pass the time while driving.

A plastic bucket, has a lot of uses, doesn't really take space if you pack in it.
Good duct tape, some good wire. Instead of spare hoses, install them. Hoses rarely go bad anymore.
Make sure the serpentine belt tensioner is really good. (A frequent breakdown item on the Pa. Turnpike)
Maybe a spare headlight "bulb".

Tire patch kit, spare fluids, serpentine belt, air compressor, jump start pack, duck tape (naturally), Milepost, can of PB Blaster or Liquid Wrench, road flare kit, tow strap, jumper cables, a real good spare tire and if you have them, good contact numbers of people you know that live along the way. I don't know if you still have my number or not but if something happens once you cross the border into Alaska shoot me a text or give me a shout and i'd be glad to assist.

I'm sure you're planning on checking your rig over well before you leave, replace anything that is suspect so you won't have to mess with it on the road.