Fairbanks to Georgia - January

Biscuitsjam · 09-28-2019, 08:46 AM

I have orders! I'll be leaving Fairbanks in January to head to Georgia. I have two options:

1. Drive my pickup truck with 4wd and Blizzak tires down the ALCAN and leave my skoolie in Alaska for 6-18 months.

2. Drive my skoolie down the ALCAN and tow my pickup truck behind it on a trailer.

It's a 4200 mile drive, about 2500 of that to get to the Canadian border. My bus has 0 traction on ice. I have front tire chains now and can buy rear chains also. Max speed when chains are installed is 25-30 mph. I could also sipe the tires for a few hundred dollars. I have been driving on winter Alaska roads for a couple years now but haven't done the ALCAN and I'm nervous about my bus's traction.

Link to previous discussion:
http://www.skoolie.net/forums/f13/alcan-in-march-28196.html

PNW_Steve · 09-28-2019, 08:58 AM

I don't envy you having to make that trip in January.

Which ever you choose, have a safe trip.

TJones · 09-28-2019, 09:10 AM

If you have a safe place to store the bus until better weather that may be your safest option. Even with good tires or chains a blizzard could leave you buried on the side of the road or at a truck stop. Towing a vehicle adds to danger of driving on snow and ice. Also a simple road side repair in the summer could be an expensive tow in the winter.

Ted

Biscuitsjam · 09-28-2019, 11:09 AM

If I leave the bus in Alaska, it could potentially be a year and a half until I'm able to get it - that's not something I'm happy about.

o1marc · 09-28-2019, 12:25 PM

Do you have time to get the beus out before the weather hits, get it to the border or somewhere away from the extreme weather roads and pick it up there when you leave in Jan.

TJones · 09-28-2019, 12:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Biscuitsjam

If I leave the bus in Alaska, it could potentially be a year and a half until I'm able to get it - that's not something I'm happy about.

Your right. 6 months would be ok. 18 months would be a long time. Is there anyone that could road trip with you and drive the pickup ahead as a scout for bad road conditions? Then you could tow the pickup if the roads are good or drive the pickup if the conditions get bad or if you have steep grades to pull. Your t444e might not like pulling a vehicle over mountain passes.

Ted

Biscuitsjam · 09-28-2019, 01:38 PM

I'm currently deployed. I'll get back in mid to late December and need to be on the road by mid-January.

I can probably get a buddy or two to do the drive with me, but I haven't asked yet.

PNW_Steve · 09-28-2019, 05:07 PM

I would give some consideration to flying to Georgia and then fly back to Alaska this summer to retrieve the bus.

Jaker48895 · 09-28-2019, 05:07 PM

I'm stationed in GA. Where will you he going? Curious to hear what you decide to do.

Biscuitsjam · 09-29-2019, 03:57 AM

I'll be going to Benning again.

If I drive, I get 13 days of uncharged leave to make the trip (regardless of whether it actually takes 7 days or 15), plus about $3000 in my pocket after expenses and a portion of my household goods. I also have my truck, my bus, or both in Georgia.

If I fly, it's a lot easier, but I get 1 day of uncharged leave to fly and about $60 in my pocket after expenses with no vehicle and no household goods.

Biscuitsjam · 10-08-2019, 12:06 PM

I'm going to do it. I'll tow the pickup with the bus. On certain stretches, my co-driver will scout ahead in the pickup.

If the weather looks too rough when it's time to start, I'll take the pickup only and store the bus. Either way, I'm driving.

Sleddgracer · 10-08-2019, 03:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Biscuitsjam

I'm going to do it. I'll tow the pickup with the bus. On certain stretches, my co-driver will scout ahead in the pickup.

If the weather looks too rough when it's time to start, I'll take the pickup only and store the bus. Either way, I'm driving.

think about installing automatic chains - they don't do a lot of good in deep snow, but they can be a great help in icy conditions, like black ice, plowed but slippery snow - iced up intersections - I'm looking for a set for my bus right now

Biscuitsjam · 10-09-2019, 12:17 AM

Automatic chains are an interesting option. I don't have the time to figure it out though, since I only have about a month to clear post, ship household goods, and get my vehicles ready for the trip.

The manufacturer's website claims approximately $1900 per drive axle and 6-8 hours of labor. It might be possible to pull one off a junked vehicle, but since the kits are customized, it might require modification. Trying to do that work outside in Fairbanks in January (quickly!) is infeasible.

I'll have regular chains, which I understand give slightly better traction, though they require a lot of labor to install/uninstall on the side of the road.

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