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Old 10-29-2019, 08:16 PM   #1
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Should I take a new AS to Alaska?

I'm planning a trip to Alaska and thinking about trading in my 25ft AS trailer for a new 30ft. However, I'm concern about taking the new 30ft to Alaska due to the roads and maybe damaging the new trailer. Would it be better to just take the older 25ft or would it be ok to take the new trailer?
Thanks for any advise.
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Old 10-29-2019, 08:37 PM   #2
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Taking any Airstream on the RD puts it at risk.
Many would say take the old one and get the new one when you get back.
Others would say the memories made in the 30’ trailer if you take it would add to its personal value.
Only you can make the call.
I would take the one I felt I would be the most comfortable in.
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Old 10-29-2019, 08:43 PM   #3
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Hi

There are a lot of threads here on Alaska trips. There are also roughly a billion YouTube videos. That can give you a good general idea. None of it will predict what will (or will not) happen to your trailer.

You *can* easily damage your shiny new trailer on it's second trip out down a typical PA road (I have a rock hit on a window shield to demonstrate this ....). You can also go down some pretty insane roads and have no damage. (I have a *lot* of data on this ....).

If you take off in April and get back in October, that's a whole pile of days on the road. Indeed for some of us, that's a normal year. Even so, its not a normal trip. This or that on an Alaska trip is closer to this or that in a normal year of travel. That skews what you see a bit. Indeed, most don't spend that long on an Alaska trip. Most don't spend that much time on the road either.

If something goes wrong on a brand new trailer (or a used one), parts of the trip are a long ways from support. I would prefer to start small and build up confidence in a rig. There is a counter argument that all trailers (even Airstreams) wear out in use or in storage. Brand new vs "well used" tires are one example of this.

So what can happen? Well you could tumble over a cliff when somebody comes around a corner in your lane, that's pretty rare (we came very close a few months back). Way more likely are a few rock dings. Having a few things tumble out of here and there is also pretty likely. It's a slam dunk, you will come back with a lot of mud. A cracked windshield on your truck is quite possible. I have seen all of that over the last year, none of it involved Alaska ...

Yes, we are going around in circles about an Alaska trip here as well .....

Bob
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Old 10-29-2019, 09:49 PM   #4
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We had some of your same concerns. We took our 23 to Alaska in 2016 and picked up a new 25 when we got home. We had zero issues with the 23, so probably could have been successful with the new 25.

However, a reasonable break-in period and re-inspection would be wise with a new trailer. Two of our fellow travelers had issues with their electric awnings and wished that they were near an Airstream dealer.

The Alaska Highway goes through an annual maintenance routine during the summer. They tear up several thirty mile +- streatches to repair permafrost induced damage. So muddy washboard is very common. We all taped cheap yoga mats to our front and roadside windows as well as on the stainless steel front guards. We used hitch mounted RockTamers to keep rocks and gravel from kicking up onto the trailer.
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Old 10-30-2019, 12:01 AM   #5
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Hi, I always tell people that if you have a brand new tow vehicle, and / or a brand new trailer, wait a few years before you take them to Alaska. They will get dinged.
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Old 10-30-2019, 06:01 AM   #6
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We went to Alaska a couple of times with our very old 25. I liked the size of the trailer for the trip. This is a trip where one pulls a lot of distance on 2 lane roads. There is probably less chance of having an equipment failure with a well used unit. Warranty work is going to be hard to obtain in Alaska and the Yukon. Whichever you decide, go for it. As Bob pointed out, the main thing about Alaska is just how long the trip is and how much driving you will do. And how dirty the trailer will get. A fine, volcanic ash, that penetrates all. All the roads we went on were at least fair to good. There area lot of repair areas. Me, I would go ahead and take the trip rather than delay it for a new trailer.
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Old 10-30-2019, 07:22 AM   #7
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Hi

By the "usual route" it's about a 10,000 mile round trip from Richmond VA to Homer AK. Obviously, you will drive a bit seeing sights in route and once you get there. Are the tires on the existing trailer "ok" for another (maybe) 15K miles? This is not the sort of trip where "I'll wing it" seems to be the best approach.

Indeed trucks have tires as well. I'm looking at our truck tires ....

Bob
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Old 10-30-2019, 08:41 AM   #8
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Originally Posted by uncle_bob View Post
Hi

By the "usual route" it's about a 10,000 mile round trip from Richmond VA to Homer AK. Obviously, you will drive a bit seeing sights in route and once you get there. Are the tires on the existing trailer "ok" for another (maybe) 15K miles? This is not the sort of trip where "I'll wing it" seems to be the best approach.

Indeed trucks have tires as well. I'm looking at our truck tires ....

Bob
We have a similar interest in this thread. We currently have an older 19' vs newer lightly used 25'. We had planned on selling the 19' and eventually taking the 25' on some epic journeys including the AK run. The 19' CB is a great AS but the 25' twin is a much more comfortable rig for us on longer trips. Our last months-long trip was a few years ago through all the western states. 40K miles and I had every one of them planned....until we got to the first major stop at the Black Hills. Fellow campers started telling us all the great places we should see along the way and one detour led to another. Our trip planner went right out the window. Those were simpler times though, with fewer RVers and less competition for campsites. I don't recall ever needing reservations more than a few days out for even the most popular sites. Not so today, peak seasons in popular areas might be months to over a year out on reservations. It gets easier if you are willing to boondock. Knowing me, I'll get "paralysis by analysis" prepping for an AK trip.

We had spares for the truck and the trailer for that trip and never had a flat . We did however, smoke the brakes dropping into Death Valley and needed new pads. I have had more brake issues than tire problems on these mountain trips.

I think before we tackle AK, we'll do some extended runs on better roads in the lower 48 to "break in" the 25' (and break us in using it!). Not too concerned about rock dings...all part of the equation if you enjoy the wilder places. We'll wrap it and put on the Rock Tamers and hope for the best.
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Old 10-30-2019, 09:06 AM   #9
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We took our 30' to Alaska last year along with a new Silverado. Regardless of what you take, take it easy in the heeve areas. You will be fine. You will see 5Ws and everything imaginable making the trip. Our friends took their 70 AS they bought at a yard sale. Just be ready to take it easy and let the impatient folks pass.
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Old 10-30-2019, 09:50 AM   #10
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I have made three thips to Alaska with a 29' and 30' Airstreams. The last trip was the Alaska Caravan in 2018. Had no real problems but have very good tires on both the TV and AS. The roads are generally very good except in construction areas. When meeting oncoming traffic in construction areas slow down, move over and take it easy. Zip tie your safety chains up so they do not drag and scatter gravel (will not affect their operation). The road from Glenellen to Tok was especially rough so take your time and watch out for frost heaves which are generally well marked and enjoy the trip.
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Old 10-30-2019, 09:55 AM   #11
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We took our 30 foot AS to Alaska in 2010 with no apparent damage and didn't put additional protection on it. The main thing I did to my truck was to put good aftermarket mud flaps on it from duraflap.com. They are wider than the tires and four inches off of the ground. This,really prevented any thing from the rear tires from hitting the trailer.
My,main concern would be with a new trailer and no shake down trips before going on a 15000 mile trip with very limited support.
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Old 10-30-2019, 10:59 AM   #12
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We took our 25’ to Alaska. No damage in AK. We will be getting two new rock guards thanks to Hwy 2 near Shelby MT. Going again this year. I would not take a 30 ft new Airstream to AK.
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Old 10-30-2019, 11:33 AM   #13
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Road trip Alaska!!!

I would!!! I have have made at least 25 round trips from the 48 to Alaska with the big truck and believe me you much safer driving through Canada and into Alaska than you are just about anywhere in the lower 48 especially on any busy interstate. The only issue could be bears trying to get at your food when parked. Don’t leave ANY outside! And don’t leave any opened on the inside!
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Old 10-30-2019, 11:37 AM   #14
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Do what makes you happy! We took a really short long weekend trip to "test" the Airstream and be close enough for help should an issue arise. We did have one phone call to ask a question, but aside from that...Nada.

Then, on the way home no more than 1 mile from our house a goofy duck decided to smash right into the Airstream! Dented it pretty good. So close to home...who knew he was waiting to ambush us?

Can't predict the future, can't even try so your best bet is to do whatever makes YOU happy!
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Old 10-30-2019, 12:11 PM   #15
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Do what makes you happy!

Then, on the way home no more than 1 mile from our house a goofy duck decided to smash right into the Airstream! Dented it pretty good. So close to home...who knew he was waiting to ambush us?

Can't predict the future, can't even try so your best bet is to do whatever makes YOU happy!
So true! Our first trailer logged 50K miles through 40 states without so much as a flat tire. Then, while parked in front of our house getting loaded for the next trip, our equally "loaded" neighbor plowed into it coming home from a tailgate party. Insurance company totaled it and we bought our first Airstream.
Sometimes you just can't account for the other guy or the unpredictable no matter how prepared you may be.

We are planning on taking our 2019 25' FC to visit friends in Homer in 2021 after a few 2020 lower 48 excursions to break it in.
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Old 10-30-2019, 12:39 PM   #16
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Quote:
Originally Posted by larrysun View Post
I'm planning a trip to Alaska and thinking about trading in my 25ft AS trailer for a new 30ft. However, I'm concern about taking the new 30ft to Alaska due to the roads and maybe damaging the new trailer. Would it be better to just take the older 25ft or would it be ok to take the new trailer?
Thanks for any advise.
Not knowing is part of the adventure.

Don't over think it. Just go. Enjoy.
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Old 10-30-2019, 01:09 PM   #17
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Go to Alaska

Just spent 67 days on the road, 12,670 miles. 32days in Alaska. Came over Top of the World reform Dawson City and down from there to Fairbanks, Denali, Anchorage, Homer, Valdez, Skagway and as many points in-between. Many gravel rds and heaved highways. Just pay attention to orange flags at heaves and you'll be fine. No flats or mechanical problems for trailer or tv. Planned for many months and a lot of common sense. Go and enjoy your new travel, that's why you bought it
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Old 10-30-2019, 01:29 PM   #18
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My first big trip in an RV—ever—was also my first big trip in my 2019 Airstream. And it was to Alaska this past summer. My question to you is: why would you buy a trailer you wouldn’t take with you to one of the most amazing destinations on the planet? Because it’s too shiny?

I suppose there are people who treat their Airstreams like heirloom china. I know a lot of people with extremely nice cameras who treat those cameras like jewelry. They don’t take many pictures. They just like having cameras I suppose. No judgements, but I don’t have a lot in common with them.

It’s all just stuff. Get insurance. Be careful. I bought my Airstream as a tool for finding experiences my family and I can cherish, and because we did exactly that, I have no regrets.
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Old 10-30-2019, 01:48 PM   #19
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Can't wait until its my turn for the trip to ALASKA!
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Old 10-30-2019, 02:06 PM   #20
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Hi

One planning observation:

If you target mid-May as the earliest arrival time in the Yukon, your likely departure from VA is in mid to late April. The season in VA (and south) is open for camping well before then. I'm not sure it ever closes over on the coast You can indeed do a couple small shakedown trips on a new trailer before you head out on the big trip.

Bob
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