Towing from Florida To Sagway,AK via Canada

Hello ALL,
Yes you read that correct, we are moving to Alaska and we are getting a travel trailer or 5th wheel to live up there.
My question is from all you northern people towing in the cold/snow what kind of mileage would I get if the travel trailer weighing 9500 or 5th wheel the same weight.

I have a 2018 Ram 1500 with the 3.92 rear end and 5.7 liter 2 Wheel drive short bed and yes the 5th wheel will work its a Grand Design Reflection 150 model 260rd or a Grand Design Selection 300rbts regular trailer hitch.

Is is possible for me to drive 600-700 miles a day in the north country, in Canada I will be passing thru Saskatchewan, Alberta and British Columbia then into Alaska.

Please be kind but helpful in your posts.

Not trying to be rude here (just honest) .... No way I would tow that weight, that far with a 1500. And no way in hell I would take a 2wd truck into snow country like that. Buy yourself a 4x4 and preferably a 2500. Seriously, a 2wd truck is the WORST vehicle you could have in the snow and ice.


.

thank you mtnrider we are in the looking stage at the moment

Scottieone12 said:

Hello ALL,
Yes you read that correct, we are moving to Alaska and we are getting a travel trailer or 5th wheel to live up there.
My question is from all you northern people towing in the cold/snow what kind of mileage would I get if the travel trailer weighing 9500 or 5th wheel the same weight.

I have a 2018 Ram 1500 with the 3.92 rear end and 5.7 liter 2 Wheel drive short bed and yes the 5th wheel will work its a Grand Design Reflection 150 model 260rd or a Grand Design Selection 300rbts regular trailer hitch.

Is is possible for me to drive 600-700 miles a day in the north country, in Canada I will be passing thru Saskatchewan, Alberta and British Columbia then into Alaska.

Please be kind but helpful in your posts.

Click to expand...

Alaska? In the winter? With a 2 wheel drive? Pulling a trailer?
I've taken about the exact same trip twice pulling a trailer in the summer. 600 miles a day will be really tuff. Many of the roads are in poor condition. Speeds are usually slow. I carried extra gas and used it a few times along the way. Even 7 or 8 gallons can save you in the areas where gas is sparse. I carried two spares for the trailer. Mileage with 8800 lb. travel trailer and another 1500 in the bed was about 9 mpg. Good luck.

According to ram’s towing guide, your payload ranges from 1580-1720. Advertised pin weight over 1300 lbs. It will be heavier all optioned and loaded up. Weight of you, you passengers, gear, and hitch. I wouldn’t do it.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Thank you guys for the feed back, I might have to look harder at the bumper pull instead of a 5th wheel

Pretty gutsy to do that trip in the winter empty with a 2WD truck, let alone towing. Hopefully you hit get a pleasant weather spell when ever you go.
If you don't have the 32 gallon gas tank, you might definitely want to carry 2-3 five gallon cans of gas with you. Might want to anyway, just in case.

It will do it power wise no issue the 5.7 cam in even the 3500. But as others have stated payload will likely be exceeded and no way in **** I would pull a trailer thru that area in snow season with a 2wd infact I dont think I would do it in summer. I did a 700 mi each way trip to SC from oh thru the mountains and my 18 cc 4x4 3.21 gears would freight train up them pulling my 7500lb tt but those are small mountains and it was 80 degrees out on smooth roads.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G891A using Tapatalk

If you take a 1500 and a 2500 with a 5.7 and stay in the range of a 1500 the 1500 will move the trailer better it's simple math it weighs less but the 2500 will be more secure and stop it faster in.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G891A using Tapatalk

I'm in Michigan, has a snow storm last several days. Glad I got rid of my 2 wheel drive 1500 year and a half ago it would have left me stranded. My 2500 4x4 handled it with ease. Lots of good info here, good luck.

David
Lexington, Michigan

I live in northern B.C., at the start of the Alaska Highway and the roads here are brutal. We actually just got a new contractor for highway maintenance up here and they are dropping the ball big time.
We just had freezing rain then about 5” of snow over top of that so it’s sketchy in places.
You’ll need 4x4, GOOD winter tires(preferably studded) and good spares, tow ropes and anything else you can think of.
We have grandkids in the Yukon and there’s no way we’d travel in the winter. Too many long stretches with no cell service and some very tight windy sections with steep hills.

pacofortacos said:

Pretty gutsy to do that trip in the winter empty with a 2WD truck, let alone towing. Hopefully you hit get a pleasant weather spell when ever you go.
If you don't have the 32 gallon gas tank, you might definitely want to carry 2-3 five gallon cans of gas with you. Might want to anyway, just in case.

Click to expand...

I've got the 32 gallon tank and the additional cans saved me a few times. Here is what happens to me when towing to Alaska. Trucking along with half a tank of gas and a station about 100 miles away. You think no problem but then you hit hills and/or high winds. All of a sudden your range isn't 100 miles. Or you get to the pre-planned station and it is closed. It really adds to the pucker factor.

We used to live in Alaska and have driven the Alaska Highway numerous times, both in winter and summer. A couple of comments...

As has been said above, a 2wd is not a good choice for the country. Even if you make it uneventfully, it's just not the best vehicle for the long winters there. If/when you go to sell it you'll take a beating trying to sell a 2wd in AK.

Going 600 miles a day in the north country is really pushing it. The Canadian highways are usually fine, but are 2 lane 55-60 mph speed limits, slowing down to 30 for every little town. The farther north you go... northern BC and Yukon... the worse condition the roads become. Paving over tundra is an engineering nighmare... I'd plan on 400 miles per day.

I would also go across the US staying south as long as possible and then head north into Canada in Washington or Montana. You'll save on the price of gas, you'll stay in warmer weather longer and you'll get on the other side of the Rockies.

In the winter months Canada requires you have winter rated tires - the mountain and snowflake symbol on the tire - or carry chains. Be ready.

BTW, once you get there you're going to LOVE Alaska! It's an awesome place to live!

Thank you guys for the info, looks like we will stay in the states for as long as we can and down size our trailer size. We will have to go into Washington and leave from Bellingham,wa on the ferry.

The car ferry is a great way to travel to Alaska. Have you done it before? We've taken it several times and i can give you some tips if you'd like...

aces-n-eights said:

The car ferry is a great way to travel to Alaska. Have you done it before? We've taken it several times and i can give you some tips if you'd like...

Click to expand...

Just be aware of some issues with the Alaskan ferry service. July 2017 we loaded in Haines and ferried to Skagway. It was low tide and the loaders were using a hydraulic ramp to compensate for the difference between the ramp and ship. They hooked the rear axle on my TT and rolled it up into the frame thereby totaling my trailer. We were stuck in Skagway. No mechanics, welders, or tow trucks. Nearest help is Whitehorse about 105 miles away.

Haha sandawilliams you are just the grim reaper of dreams aren't you

Kidding aside, info like that is priceless because it something you wouldn't think of to prepare for or avoid.

No we have not done it yet, the company should be flying us out in a month to check it out, we are going to Wrangell, AK and can't wait to see it we know it is a small area only 2500 people there.

Scottieone12 said:

Thank you guys for the info, looks like we will stay in the states for as long as we can and down size our trailer size. We will have to go into Washington and leave from Bellingham,wa on the ferry.

Click to expand...

For what it’s worth....
I have a 2012 Ram 1500 4x4 quad cab with the 5.7 and 3.92 gears. My trailer is a 28’ toy hauler, so it has a heavy tongue weight (1,000lbs) and weighs almost 7,000lbs dry. I run E rated tires on the Ram to help with the load and towing. I also have Firestone ride-rite airbags and Fox shocks. With my weight distributing hitch, blue ox, my truck sits level. And it’ll sit level with only 5psi in the air bags.

Proper set-up is crucial for towing! I’ve never experienced any sway while towing. And the overall handling of the truck while towing is good! I’d even go as far to say I like my ride better than my friends 2016 duramax 2500 when he’s pulling his 12k trailer.

The motor handles the trailer pretty good. I do need to keep an eye on my temps while towing in the spring and summer months. But I don’t think that’ll be a problem with you towing in the winter.
I would think you might struggle a little when you get into the states where you’re driving at 4-5000’ and then have to drive up steep inclines. But then again maybe not if you have the 8 speed trans? I hear that trans helps.

I do not have any experience pulling this setup in the snow or icy conditions. And I’d really prefer not to. And definitely do not want to if I had a 2wd truck. There’s times when I’ve needed 4wd just getting around a campground while pulling my trailer in the dirt!! Add in wet, slippery, muddy, icy, snowy ground and I’d bet you’re going to have problems.
My previous truck was a 2wd Silverado. I worked a few months in Wyoming and Colorado during the winter and I struggled not having a 4x4.

If I was going to make this drive and stay in Alaska for a extended period, I’d look into a 4x4.

Another couple of thoughts on towing to Alaska. Bug deflector and grill guard are great investments. If you need a new windshield don't buy one before the trip. If your going to be living far from an FCA dealer buy touch up paint before you leave.