Is a Generator Necessary for Alaska Travel?

[PKI]

So, just a small side trip here, since the overwhelming advice is o take a generator. The LOLOHO videos said they ran out or low on propane in Alaska, but gave no reason. Is LPG expensive, in limited supply, difficult to purchase while traveling, or did they just teach us that everyone can get focused on a problem and miss important todo items?

We once sailed an additional 8 hours, because I did not stop for fuel as we passed within a 100 yds of a fuel dock. So no stones being thrown here, just wondering about the availability of propane. If we ever do purchase a generator it is likely to be propane powered. Being without electrical and propane would be a real mistake. Pat

[mefly2]

..think that you already answered your own question ... but likely will not need the 2000kw ... just 1 or 2 kw should meet your battery charging and incidental power needs. Any major appliances (possibly including microwave / toaster / electric coffee pot) would justify more power - you may be a long way from service at times.

[crisen]

Originally Posted by PKI

So, just a small side trip here, since the overwhelming advice is o take a generator. The LOLOHO videos said they ran out or low on propane in Alaska, but gave no reason. Is LPG expensive, in limited supply, difficult to purchase while traveling, or did they just teach us that everyone can get focused on a problem and miss important todo items?

We once sailed an additional 8 hours, because I did not stop for fuel as we passed within a 100 yds of a fuel dock. So no stones being thrown here, just wondering about the availability of propane. If we ever do purchase a generator it is likely to be propane powered. Being without electrical and propane would be a real mistake. Pat

We have never had problems buying it along the Alaska Highway even when we travel in winter/spring but it is much more expensive than in the lower 48 it is also pretty steep here in Fairbanks. Except when traveling to the states, we normally only get it here but did need to get a cylinder filled once in Valdez without a problem.

Personally I would not rely on a straight propane powered generator. I think most people will find they use more heat when traveling up here and night temps are generally cooler than your will be used to. This along with your generator will have you filling cylinders pretty often. Maybe a dual fuel setup and plan to run on gas while on your Alaska adventure.

[B00merang]

Kurt
I drove up the Cassiar Hwy last fall, turned left and took the Alaska Hwy to Whitehorse, then veered off across the Yukon River and drove along the Top of the World Hwy (scenic but muddy and at times intimidating...caribou season) via the small community of Chicken to Anchorage. Maybe 50 percent of the campgrounds I stayed in had hookups. Like the other person said, the most scenic ones did not. I'd take a small 2,000W generator. You'll be glad you did. Safe travels. jon

[Martin R]

Simply connect to your usual shore power cable and plug in as usual

[housebg]

well let me tell you one thing it is better to have and never need than not .I was going to Alaska in 2012 and broke down on the alcan hwy 80 miles north of Fort Nelson BC. My alternator went out when unsure we had been plugging in at night and the convertor had been charging the battery and camper battery then we started camping where there were no electric well the generator charged the battery enough for me to get out of the road because it stop in the middle of the road so see my point

[switz]

We have converted our matched pair of Honda 2000 watt generators to propane. We carry an extra 30 pound propane tank for the grill and generators. We can also tap into the front trailer propane outlet to power one of the generators off of the dual 40 pound tanks on the Classic. We are increasing the solar panels from eight to nine 100 watt panels this spring.

Due to issues that did not get resolved last year, we had to cancel our planned Alaska Caravan trip this year and hope to go alone in 2017 or 2018.

We talked at great length with folks that did the WBCCI Alaska Caravan in the past and they stayed in powered parks. Independent steaming requires much more flexibility and capability of power self support.

A good supply of spare parts is recommended as well.

[greenflag]

I made the drive to Alaska in 2013. We spent the summer there. Take a Honda EU2000 generator with you. They are quiet and light weight. You will use it for sure. Some provincial parks and NF campgrounds in Alaska don't have hookups. I carry at least one of mine on all trips outside of CA.
Be prepared for all weather extremes. We had 95 degree days in the interior to cold wet windy rainy days on the coast.
I drove up the Alcan and returned the Cassier Hwy.
Have a great trip. We did!

[NevadaGeo]

You need a generator to power the bug zappers. When I was up there you measured the amount of mosquitoes by how many you got in one swat. Inside the truck.

[mrdfred]

A few yeaRS AGO WE TOOK A 3 MONTH TRIP TO THE Canadian Rockies, National Parks and Alaska. We tried to stay in Provincial and state parks as much as possible. We did not have a generator. We had 1 45 watt solar panel and 2 golf cart batteries we bought from Costco. We used a catalytic heater and never needed AC and watched very little if any TV. With the amount of daylight and abundant scenery , we were never for a loss of what to do. We NEVER ran out of electricity. Perhaps our style of dry camping requires less power, but we never felt like we wanted/needed more than we had. A small generator might be a handy item, but I can't see the need for anything bigger than a 1500 Watt generator unless you plan on using a lot of electrical appliances.

[switz]

A Honda 2000 watt generator can provide 13.3 amps to our Magnum inverter/charger which in turn can put over a 120 amps into the lithium battery. Much faster battery recovery than our 900 watt solar system which can provide which is about 50 amps of power.

[Minno]

If you can afford it, buy golf cart AGM batteries for your trailer. We can go 4 - 5 days of furnace with our AGMs plus lights, etc. We don't run TV on battery.
We haven't been to Alaska (yet) but it's our first bucket list trip when we retire, so this discussion is very helpful.

Kay

[gandttimes]

Originally Posted by Minno

If you can afford it, buy golf cart AGM batteries for your trailer. We can go 4 - 5 days of furnace with our AGMs plus lights, etc. We don't run TV on battery.
We haven't been to Alaska (yet) but it's our first bucket list trip when we retire, so this discussion is very helpful.

Kay

A good golf cart battery will do the same thing without the huge cost, unless your batteries are inside.


George

[bikrmikey]

I went to Alaska in 2006, two month trip. Carried a Honda 1000 generator but never used it. Had a 50 watt panel and 2 golf cart batteries in an 18 ft Caravel. Given the long days that far north you have a long solar charge window each day and you have minimal need to run lights due to the long days. Bottom line you can make without a generator but it's nice to have in case you run into a long period of rain or you are camped in the shade for several days.

[kscherzi]

Thanks everybody for your insights. It appears the general consensus is (1) a small generator is good insurance against extended rain and shade, and (2) especially if not staying at RV parks, which don't sound so great anyway, and (3) might also be useful if carrying a bug zapper. I didn't think about how the long days and little need for lights would factor in on solar/battery.

Thanks again! Time to shop for a generator!

[DreamStreamr]

Like bikrmikey, we didn't use our genset the entire 63 days on the Alaska Caravan, nor on the 45 days enroute to the meetup location (Dawson Creek BC). Our Airstream had 250 watts tillable solar, 460 amp hours capacity in new golf cart batteries (flooded lead acid). Carried 1KW Yamaha, didn't need it once, even boon docking on the way to the meetup. Hey, it's summer sun, even at the northern latitudes. Tillable solar compensates nicely for the latitude.

Bought two packs of mosquito coils, might have burned one coil just to say we did. Bought two packs of bug repellent, used a little. Rain wasn't an issue on our caravan either. You never know.

GREAT caravan, great leaders in the Wally Byam club. We'd do that caravan again in an instant. Or go with a couple of friends too.

[WaLee]

Better to need it and have it than need it and not have it.


Sent from my iPhone using Airstream Forums

[rjack]

Why not?

[switz]

If the generator is along, you have alternate power options if a park pedestal is inoperative or the polarity of the wiring is incorrect in addition to cloud or tree cover impacting the solar input.