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.

Hadn't thought of cardboard, funny I use it all the time @ home. Another thing that works well for a pad is campaign signs, kind of a corrugate plastic. Nice for sliding around underneath a vehicle. I've cut 'em for a temporary window fix also.

Campaign year, lots of 'em popping up.

If you know someone at a gas station/c-srore, they plastic signs they zip tie outside (cigarette or coke type) are great pads.
They accordain fold, and are tough as heck.

Remember, Canadian customs is optional. They have an open border. 🤣. (Never needed anything more than a Driver License either, though they have insisted on seeing every last picking thing I’ve had on board a couple of times. )

Yes, was thinking once Mark said cardboard to use the plastic stuff for sure.

Customs. LOL. working on our renewal on passports anyway. They wanted me to dig up 60 rounds of 300 ammo in about 86 or so. Gal was adamant. I had the gun behind the seat in a soft case, bolt out. Ammo was in truck camper in a duffel. In an MTM. Inside a cooler. on the bottom. SO I walked her around and said mam, I"ll sure do what you want but you see that pack up there? Yes, Under it is another. Then a cooler on the bed. In that cooler is a clothes duffel. In there are 3 MTM boxes, 20 rounds each, duct taped shut. If you insist.

She decided it might be ok as is... LOL.

Canadian customs has so far been fine. US on the other hand, you'd think you were convicted of something while out of the country.....[bleep] to US citizens but let illegals down south just pour through.

Just wondering if passport required when driving across Canada?? Cheers NC

That's their requirement.

I've just always handed that to the gate officer. By the time you get to that little hut, they already know everything about you and your vehicle.

I've never been asked for vehicle registration or vaccination records or health certificate for the dog.

I find Canadians (with a single exception) to be fine folks.

supposed to be these days. Was not in 86 last time I drove it

You may not need a passport to get into Canada if you have other proof of US citizenship, but you may have trouble passing back into US without passport or passport card.

Duh, and you might be exact on that.. might not be able to get back to the US. We generally carried one even when not required just in case... never had to produce it though.

Ours are unmarked even after flying in and out of BC a few times years ago to visit relatives

We are headed out in a few weeks with our pick-up camper after a 1500 mile RT run to our remote cabin in Interior and back to Soldotna. I'm taking a rolled up 4X4 plastic sheet that came off a food pallet. A couple hydraulic jacks, one spare tire each for Ram and boat trailer (Interior trip), a compact standard/metric wrench set includes allen wrenches and screwdriver heads to fit handle, set of chocks, a couple jack stands, and wheel chocks. Every vehicle we have carries one of the big X lug wrench tools. those dog-leg jack handles are a joke, as are most of the come-with jacks. Tow strap, We'll take our multi-thing which can inflate tires, and jump start. Also will take my XP-10 compact battery pack, which can also jump start, charge a cell phone or computer, has a flash-light built in. A compact NAPA battery charger for the camper battery - no need for a generator - that can be charged while driving, or with the battery charger from an AC outlet. In the boat for the Interior trip I'll have a 2x2 piece of thick plywood for under the jack if on soft/muddy ground. I learned that one years ago, the hard way! Vise-grips, couple pliers, wire, duct tape - the usual. Several poly tarps of various sizes and camping equipment on Interior trip, only one 8X12 poly tarp to go Outside. Handy things, them.

2003 Ram 3500 with 80,127 miles has good tires, and just went through a checkup. Clutch was replaced summer before last, and maybe 7,000 miles ago. Belts and hoses are good- had to replace the power steering ones at the same time I had factory front hubs (getting marginal- and bad milage!) with manual ones a couple weeks ago. Today I had the differentials and transfer case fluids checked and changed as needed - I did the engine oil change and lube job day before yesterday myself. Had the Automotive shop look for that needle zerk some say is on there, but apparently is not. I couldn't find one, and neither could they. I'll check with Dodge dealer Monday, just to be sure.

I do have a very slightly leaky front axle seal I'll have to watch, but the fluid level was not down. Mechanic said on a scale of 1-10 concern it's about a 3- 4 - just watch it. Said it could be years before needs fixing- about a $700 job from them. I'll likely price it out with my regular guy once back from Interior, just for grins - he'll be cheaper, and knows his chit - he did the hub change-over.

Never had a flat on the Alcan - many on the Manley road, sometimes multiples! I see no reason to take any more than this on the Alcan - and even less than what I'm taking on the (cough) gravel Manley Hot Springs Road, which is about 1000 miles shorter!.

Good luck! Now that you have described how little regard you have for the road it will likely eat your lunch!!!!!



Back in the old days a couple flats a day was not unexpected... I barely remember my last flat...

And Fix-a-flat is the schnizzle!

Oh you need a passport to get into Canada.

Don’t be fooled by my nonsense! 🤥. my birth cert is so old and yellow, I don’t think it would even pass muster for passport purposes, and the latter hasn’t been current since the 80s. 🙄

I don't know about your birth state, but Pa. didn't give them out for years.
The hospital would give your mom this pretty document with a footprint and
a shiny "seal" stamped on it. It was a "certificate of birth", not a birth certificate.

No B.S.

We all thought we had birth certificate's, until the big "Prove your citizenship" crap
to renew the hazmat portion of our CDL's.

As told about by another poster, a tire-plug kit is a good idea.

Rain gear, a tarp or two plus cord and metallic tent stakes, about 6 of the rubber bungee cords, a few loops or feet of baling wire, and bug spray. If raining and you have to work on your vehicle, you can stretch the tarp over the work area and hold the ends to the tent stakes with the bungee cords. The baling wire can be use to hold things together. For example, a loose muffler pipe, and so on.

Don't forget a first-aid kit with bandages.

http://traveltips.usatoday.com/documents-needed-between-canada-usa-car-21162.html



Pay close attention to at the US border rules relating to reentering the US. It's much easier to enter and drive through Canada than it is to enter the US. If you leave the US to travel through Canada and then reenter the US in Alaska, it's a this crossing where you better have the right documents. These rules apply to traveling on land. There are different rules fro traveling by air.

Jeff
You’re gonna need a trailer for all the ‘what ifs’.
LOL

I was afraid it would get to that, but a lot should fit in the "bed" of the airboat. LOL.

RE the first aid kit.. no doubt, EMR here hopefully soon EMT before leave, I carry a big one with me all the time now, including O2... so I hopefully can buy it before I leave or if not will have to piece a big one together.

Last time I drove the Alcan was about 20 years ago- and the roads were pdg then. Surely they can't be worse now? My wife has driven it several times since, no problems.

It's only one oil change from Anchorage to Billings, after all, on paved road....and it's not like it is howling wilderness.... My truck's service is all up to date, hoses checked (power steering hoses replaced) tires were new about 1,500 miles ago, so except for a couple items, which I'll take care of after the Interior trip, I'm in good shape - change fuel filter, drain water filter, flush coolant system, check water pump (replaced about 10,000 miles ago), and something about checking valve something or other - my handwriting sucks. I'll have to check the owners manual.

I beg to differ, Art. I have high regard for the Alcan - so much improved since I first drove it in 1983 until the last time in 96 or 97. In 83 was the only time we have ever had any problems- towing a big u-haul up behind a '76 T-bird with 200K on it, with a 9 month old baby and a 100 lb Lab aboard. And two spare tires.....not used.

Smoke in the cockpit at Pink Mt.!

Cruise control in steering column shorted out (not even being used) - next morning car would not start until jumped- from then on had to pull a battery cable at night to keep the battery live.

Construction segments were minor exceptions the last couple times.....and even those were decent if one held the speed down. The only bad road we encountered that first trip was in Alaska, near the border, and only about 100 miles of gravel total even back then.

Now the Manley road (Elliot Hwy) is a bear - under construction the last two years, probably again this year. Last year it took us almost 2 1/2 hours to travel through 13 miles of construction behind the pilot car. She had to stop and wait for us a few times, because I was not going to go as fast as she was on road like that with a pickup camper towing a boat. Had one flat on the boat trailer, but those tires were about shot anyway. Got three new ones (including spare) when we got back to Fairbanks. Doubt I'll have any problem this year, but one never knows. Murphy and a few buddies always tag along.

The year before last, the clutch blew out at Minto Jct about 10 pm.- that was $989 alone for 119 mile tow back to FBKs! Fortunately the construction camp was just a mile down the road and had a cell phone so I could get a tow on the way(arrived 1pm), and they kept the boat in their yard until I got back 5 days later. A half dozen big watermelons for the crew to show my appreciation seemed a bargain!

Could have been more of a problem had it not been for the location of the breakdown - but someone would have been along eventually. In the Bush, one doesn't worry about time much- or shouldn't. It can be dangerous.

In Manley, we leave our rigs at Frank's Place where they are secure while we are at the cabin 50 miles away. Frank and Dianne won't take cash, but Frank likes beer, and Dianne appreciates (again) several watermelons for the grand-kids. Frank gets a case of the better stuff.

Some things (watermelons!) are more important than carrying a lot of unnecessary or redundant gear- unless of course one needs it to hell and gone out there, and not have it.. . But really, now days the Alcan is a pushover. Assuming your rig is quality to start with. One lousy, 3,000 mile oil change, (maybe 2500 border to border), tho the Alcan proper is only a portion of that. Dawson Creek to Tok? Or Fairbanks.

Good luck on your trip!

Oh yeah- last year I rented a SAT phone for the cabin trip.....

First time we drove it when I was a kid we had a couple break downs and stopped every time we passed a garage to get all the flat tires repaired. Spent two days in Whitehorse waiting on VW bus parts...

Yes, I was thinking that too. Took me 3 trips up the hwy to move in 2004. I remember I thought I needed a nice new Stihl chainsaw; bought one in Reno before I left. I saw the same saw, same price in the True Value hardware store when I got to Kodiak. But, enjoy Jeff. As you know , it is not just the destination, it is the experience getting there. I was in for the Denali Road lottery this year but did not draw, I was looking forward to see AK in September again but not this year.

I drive the worst stretches of this road for work and it's honestly not too bad if you keep your speed down over rough patches. Big stretches without garages and many former stops are out of business. This means you need to be self contained for common problems. Have your vehicle in top mechanical condition before starting out, always gas up when you can and bring a good spare tire, not one of those small fake tires. If you are handy spare belts and a kit to take care of mechanical issues...and if you can fix these things you'll know what to bring. New vehicles usually leave me flummoxed and so I bring less than I used to, when I could take a real stab at repairs. My only two breakdowns where unfixable without spare parts but were close to a major center. I would have killed for a paper and pencil to send a message one time but instead I sent my 15 year old son. Worried about him the whole time, and wouldn't do that again.

If it's summer bring lots of water and some bug dope. A Sat phone with a good travel guide will help speed up rescue, as waiting on a good samaritan to deliver a message is a stressful experience. In Winter it gets more complex and I bring a big Arctic Sleeping Bag, a tarp and an axe with multiple fire starting tools. I also know how to spend a night out at -40. Usually traffic but sometimes not much in bad weather. I don't bring a First Aid kit but I guess I should. I remember a story from Ft Smith where a local gut got broken down and decided to hike to a highway camp 10KM down the road. Mr Black Bear shadowed him for 10KM and it sounded pretty unpleasant. So a firearm or spray might be a good idea though I don't bother unless hunting. Maybe should?

Most important thing to bring is a credit card with a good limit as a break down will be expensive. Does the AAA still cover towing charges? That can be a killer as it can be 3-500KM (or more) between competent garages.

Right -$30,000 credit limits on our cards (paid up), AAA coverage, and a no -time dependent itinerary for us, with a self-contained (more or less) camper pickup.

What could go wrong?

Jeeze- I think that's Murphy at the door now....

You should be fine unless there is a driving under the influence mark on your records.

Might be a speeding ticket from about when I was 20 IIRC. Now 53. So I should be ok.

High lift jack and a bottle jack. Head lamp. Couple of empty anti-freeze or windshield wiper fluid jugs. I also carry my DeWalt impact gun, make tire changes easier. Also one of those electric drill bit sets, brother-in-law ran into an issue where he needed a square bit to fix something and he had every type of screwdriver, but that.

Shovel and an axe.

May consider having your brakes checked before you travel as well Jeff.

A pair of cheap lightweight coveralls can be handy, use ‘em, throw them in a bag and put your travel clothes back on.

Safe travels!

They don't care about moving violations (tickets).

Only interested in actual arrests.

[quote=Akbob5]
....A pair of cheap lightweight coveralls can be handy, use ‘em, throw them in a bag and put your travel clothes back on....

[quote]

good idea, that. But in Jeff's case they might be one in the same. If you think about it , Jeff, get a Canadian inter-provincial insurance card from your agent here. It makes the border guards smile, to think one of us ugly Americans would do them a courtesy such as that.

Will do on the card. I know I have to alert all CC companies, would have verified the insurance was good, but would likely have never thought about a canada specific card.

Carry Fire coveralls all the time for trips like that. both fire retardant and heavy and keep me clean. And reflective at night.

Don't let them know you are an EMT in Whitehorse.... they might kidnap you and make you a Canadian citizen !

LOL

it never hurts to have all those administrative details in place, but I've not had proof of insurance asked for. As I said, passport and a couple innocuous questions. I've not taken firearms through, but can see that changing things. A lot probably depends on who is on duty when you pass, how crowded it is and what they do to speed things up, and the sort of day the agent is having.

Two years ago i "won the lottery' and had to go inside for extra scrutiny based on a random system. Biggest problem it was about 7:30 with shift change going on. Took an extra hour out of my travel.

agree, big time. I hit Winnipeg airport about 30 years ago at 0130, with my 12 gauge and a "green card" allowing me to work in Canada on a banding/telemetry study on Canada geese near Churchill for a month. chunky little woman immigrations/custom agent was in a surly mood that morning.

I've traveled the Alcan at least annually for half a century and it ain't nothing like the old days.

You can plan everything for customs inspections but all rules change with the shift change.

Bring some decent foods as it's difficult on the Alcan. Toad River Lodge USUALLY can prepare a decent
breakfast. Cozy Cafe and Grub and Pub in Haines Jct have treated me well......Cozy Corner Rooms
are some of best on the trip. I try to patronize Contact Creek folks as they stay open all winter.

Last week's trip found the road in best shape ever...much improved from Kluane to Beaver Creek.

Watch out for the Japs on bikes!.....damn near hit one as I popped over a hill and he was traveling mid-road.

I haul firearms every trip....be sure to have paperwork to get back into US.

I'm thinking a simple shotgun of some type, may have to buy a simple double, but would like the 870 instead.

I can figure out Canada paperwork for guns, what the hell would the US want?

Food, I'm simple, I"m by myself. Loaf of bread... sleep in the truck mostly.

Will remember Contact Creek if I see it.

Funny that you mention Toad River, Vern.

2 years ago I had an evening meal with them little asian honeys. A few days earlier i had an awesome grilled chicken breast sandwich in a little cafe in south BC owned by 2 gals. Just great food - fresh and delicious.

I thought I'd have another. Out comes this little breaded, previously-frozen, chicken-flavored hockey puck on a bun. I laughed to my own damn self, filled a hole and slept in my new gooseneck trailer I was hauling up. Trucker next to me really talked up their breakfasts though. I was gone by 0300. Had to do 900 miles to Tok to be home the following day.

I don't think he meant hard to get the guns into AK, just need a passport to re-enter the US.

Blast from the past:

Don't take your half out of the middle!!


Words to "live" by, literally.

Rost,

Have a copy of your Canadian paperwork to show US Customs......don't lose it. US wants you to prove you didn't
acquire the firearm in Canada. I have a Canadian PAL [possession and acquisition license] so I don't have Canadian
paperwork.......therefore I acquire an export permit form US Customs before leaving US.

No expert on bringing guns, but must have “call ATF” on my forehead or something.

Back in the 80’s, traveling by bus (almost empty at that) I was questioned about weapons in my luggage.

“No, none.”

Then, did I happen to own any handguns?

“Yes”

“Where are they?”

Repeat. But they never searched.


Another occasion I had a cased 45-70 up on top for inspection if necessary. Declared It straight away. (No paperwork back then.)

They immediately put me at the curb and had everything inside the car out on the ground. Finding no handguns up inside the seats, behind the dash , or elsewhere- and with a trunkbevery bit as intimidatingly stuffed as the interior had been, they quit. (Sure glad they stopped when they did. I suspect that 41 Remington Magnum ammo in the trunk might have tripped a trigger or two. )

And here I thought they were looking for a bag of weed, or something.

Damn... and I was hoping to bring along some handgun ammo even though the handguns would already be there.... LOL. Maybe I just have to bring brass or components only.

Technically and legally one would think that would be okay. And I know drugs are an issue, especially at certain crossings, but they get real serious about handguns as well. I just use the USPS when shipping components anymore. A piece of plywood in the bottom, (or a complete wooden box) to fit perfectly inside a Flat Rate box and you’re golden. In fact I have 50 pounds of 22, 30, 375, and 45 cal bullets I cast this summer from discarded gillnet leadlines sitting in a medium flat rate box ready to ship. 😎. They may not like it, but “if it fits, it ships”! 😁

No handguns. I know better than that. LOL.

Might have to think about shipping, but part of it was the ability to bring what loaded ammo I have already... but I know.. can't have it all.

Drugs will all be RX stuff with my name on it, mostly for kidney stones, and antibiotics for the trip. No alcohol. Don't do the illegal drugs and never have.

As long as you are aware of their sometimes intense suspicions of those two things especially. It may be a breeze, and apparently often is, but you never know. One kind of places themselves at their mercy on the borders.

I'm sure a truck with a slide in camper pulling an airboat will get some kind of extra attention....

If they hate airboats in Canada as much as we hate them in Alaska... you may have trouble... They might be afraid you will drop it off in their country!

Love you too. Best boat I've ever had.... LOL

I have had a loser boat or two, too!

Not the Rose!?

The Rose is in final sales negotiations...

Sat Phone, AMEX Platinum

Yep. Cell phone, spare tire, and a credit card.

If you're hauling lotsa gear, put the spare tire and jack out where you can get at it.....
Those undercarriage spare tires can be a PIA.

I haven't changed a tire on the Alcan in 3-4 decades.

Like the old Monsanto commercial: Another life enhanced through chemistry!
Thanks to better carbon!

LOL I bought expensive Michelin 100K treadwear tires... had not had an issue in years either. Then had a road hazard get us on the road in heavy traffic last fall. I got to the tire just fine. But somehow I had the dang jack buried. But I had a 10 ton bottle jack at the tailgate. Luck! Nope, I needed the long jack rod to get the spare loose from undercarriage... I dang sure will have a "loose" spare available, even if I have to put it in the back seat. And one up under too.

To all so far, You have certainly noted some things that I may not have thought of and I appreciate it much so far.

Also noted plenty of things I KNOW about, but could possibly forget.

Thanks, Jeff

Jeff-
i can recommend not having the spare too loose.

Don't strap it on the top of your trailer load late at night, in the dark, at 20 below, when you are tired.

You might part company.

"Experience? Is that you again?"

LOL. If I lose it out of the camper or back seat I"ve had a more than minor malfunction

Of course if you put a jack handle on your bumper and drive up and down a gravel road a few times, and make a couple of 20 plus mile trips, that jack handle will still be on the bumper a few days later when you walk around the back. Amazing what you can lose and what you can't lose.

If it's tight, it won't be loose!

Nazi... I"m going back.....

But drop that nut and hear it hit the ground when working on something on that vehicle and never see it again. 🙄

My border crossing into Canada at Roosville was a breeze. I had 2 Rifles and a Shotgun. I had the paperwork filled out and had the guns in case and locked. They had me come inside. Checked my Passport and Firearm paperwork. I signed the paperwork and paid them $25.00 and was on my way. They didn't even check the Firearms. Ten minutes tops. Now coming back into the US at Porthill Idaho border. They asked a lot of ?s and went over all my paperwork and hunting license. Had to unload one cooler for them to inspect the meat and for some reason they insisted on seeing the Moose antlers. They wanted to see all the coolers but changed there mind when they saw how much stuff there was to unload. Asked several times if I had any parts of the Wolf I shot with me. Took 30 - 45 minutes to get back in US. It was late at night and they might of been bored. Good luck on your trip.

Yep....and any spring, when removed from a firearm is lighter than air. If it shoots across the bench it’s gone into thin air. 😁

EXACTLY some of our experiences. US citizens going into Canada never really had much of an issue. US citizens getting back into the US? Like we were criminals. Yet the border down here flows like a river, 24/7/365 with illegals. At least it used to under Obama. Not sure how it is now. Still see no shortage of Mexicans in our area.

I"m HAPPY when I hear it hit the GROUND.. its when you don't... that who knows what flipping crevice its snagged in... usually when then engine is at operating temp too. LOL

Did this 3X. last time was almost two years ago.
Joined AAA.
Made double sure the cell phone coverage was valid.
Short of a friendly Mountie riding shotgun... nothing else comes to mind.
As mentioned, not like the good old days!

I travelled from Taylor to Fairbanks in 1959, with my grandparents (I weas ten). We travelled in a 1953 Buick Special and went up and back with no issues whatsoever. At that time, there was no pavement between Fort St, John and the Alaska border. Now, the highway is pretty good with a lot more traffic. The only negative is that there are fewer fuel stops and places to eat. I would expect that most modern vehicles should be just as reliable as a six year old Buick Special.
We travelled between our home, in Taylor, and Ft. Nelson and up to Summit Lake, frequently.
When we drove up to Whitehorse, a few years back, we had pretty new tires on the Matrix and some camping gear in the back (along with the Airdale). For those "just in case" scenarios, there was a Lee Enfield and a box of 215 KKSP's, on the floor, in the back seat. Next trip, I will carry extra fuel; the Matrix tank is just too small. If we take the truck and trailer, I'll carry a slip tank. GD

When are you traveling?

I"m wondering if AAA is even worth the money? A friend had it in AK. When we had a flat and the lug nuts would not budge, they told us it might be 48 hours before anyone could try to head that way. IF at all. some stuff about where we were (paxson IIRC) and others that are closer to FBks or such always had priority and they didn't have enough help or some such.

If its worth it, I"d obviously pay for it just for the single trip up in the spring and again in 2021 or so when I fly down and ride back up with Carolyn.

But I don't see the need if the help isn't there when you need it. And I get it that we'd likely be in the boonies if we need help, as anywhere else I'm fairly self sufficient.

I got a feeling you can handle sshit. I’ve never had AAA here or through Canada 🇨🇦.

All I needed to know.