My kid just drove his 1982 VW Cabriolet to Anchorage for college. My oldest son has a soccer game in Georgia in October. It just makes so much sense to catch the game on my way back from visiting my son in Anchorage. It is just the sort of foolish idea I can never shake. Anyone done the wilderness part of this journey? Am I going to have to get some cast iron rims with 185/70 14s.

I just can't stop thinking about doing this.:impatient

 

I drove the Alcan once, on my way back from Denver, after picking up my MC last year no problems at all. This year I drove it both ways only problem was getting a new windscreen after a Semi tuck blew past me.
Overall the road is pretty decent. The further north you go the less maintaned it seems, more spots with just gravel.

 

It's been a while (15 years ), but I was on the section between Ft. St John and Whitehorse, before heading to Skagway. Given the amount of time that has passed I wouldn't want to comment on road conditions.

I would feel comfortable with doing it as long as I had a spare tire. Run-flats alone would not cut it for me.

 

We have traveled extensively across the states many times and were planning an Alcan trip (in another car). I think one important thing I remembered was that you take TWO (2) REAL spare tires ,,, strap one to the roof.

People have gotten flats in the middle of nowhere and then the spare gets a flat. Just to be safe

Have a great trip .... I wish I could do it

 

My father had run the Alcan 5000 rally a few times. He did it in both a 86 or 87 vw gti and then in the 90's a few times in a factory prepped eagle talon tsi in full rally gear. His cars were well dressed for the event carrying 2 spares full roll cages, bird catchers on the front of the car's.

I did it with him as his navigator the last year. It is a tsd rally with only 4 special stages if I remember correctly but the conditions were amazing in the winter when we did, Obviously. Overall it was an amazing drive but it taught me a ton about having a car in -30 degree temps.

gl and have fun
p.s. Get some studded tires :P

 

I had planned to do it in my Land Rover Defender 90 in the late 90's. At that time, i was planning on installing a metal mesh over the exterior roll cage that protects the windshield.

Definitely a trip to carry essential spare parts. . . . .

One part I would definitely suggest would be an extra sway bar end link.

 

And a MINI mechanic to fix it for you when it breaks

 

I did the Alcan once, 27 yrs ago , that was before it was paved. I was a teenager and my family was relocating from Kodiak Island to B'ham, AL. Talk about culture shock .
I would recommend taking lots of windex to clean your windshield with .