Tires and the Alcan (Fairbanks, Homer: RV parks, where to stay, hotel)

[picklebooty]

I am moving from the southeastern US to Fairbanks for work in about a month. I might just be the most anal retentive and obsessive traveler that ever existed, and I've been doing research furiously for a few months now (I dream almost nightly about crossing the Canadian border.) I've got the Milepost, road maps, emergency and repair supplies, etc. I haven't found an answer to this question yet, though.

I'm driving my Honda Fit up the first week of May and today I took the car in for a tune up and trip check. It was suggested that I buy new front tires (I guess I haven't been as good about rotating/balancing as I thought). The tires are not bald or anything, I've had them a little less than two years (a 3 hour RT daily commute will do that) but they're definitely not new. Maybe about 40% tread left. Should I replace them now and risk getting an irreparable flat in a brand new tire on the Alcan? Or should I take the trip with the old tires (I will be carrying a brand new full size tire for backup) and replace them after I'm settled? They're not near worn enough to be dangerous in rainy conditions (never skidded/hydroplaned). The total drive for me will be around 4300 miles.

One more question, how common is it to camp off the side of the Alcan? I'm driving up with two friends and camping is definitely more practical for us (3 fully able drivers means we will probably only need to stop and sleep for 3-4 hours at a time when all our sleep schedules overlap.) I recognize that this may be a solidly idiotic question, and I will take whatever ridicule and harassment you deem appropriate to forgive me.

Thanks ahead of time for any tips and advice you might have, I'm really looking forward to the move.

[mitgreb]

3 drivers! No reason to stop in Canada.

[RayinAK]

Replace the four tires with new ones, get rid of the emergency "donut" tire, and keep the best old tire as spare.

[warptman]

What Ray said.

[warptman]

KARO Alaska Highway campgrounds and RV parks

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[Dakster]

I damaged the sidewall on relatively new tires on the Alcan and they are truck tires... Which are thicker and stronger than the ones on your fit. If you get new tires, buy road hazard with them and make sure you can get warranty service in AK. Hundreds of miles of chip seal and hundreds of miles of no pavement took their toll. Depending on how bad your tires are I would consider running them and buying new tires upon arrival to AK. Let your older tires take the beating. I saw plenty of small passenger cars running up and down the Alcan. If this was a winter drive, I would be planning on buying snow tires just before crossing into Canada.

I like to drive and can drive for hours on end straight. If I have someone else to spell me, we don't need to stop overnight, even though at times we do. With 3 you should be able to split the driving up enough to not have to stop for fatigue reasons, although if all three of you are tired, I don't recommend you push it. You might want one stop at a hotel for a real bed too! Try to time the fort Nelson to lake Watson route for day travel - as I am sure you already read why. (animals) In the summer it is easier to do as there is more daylight then night.

Enjoy the awesome drive!

[Rubi3]

A friend and a buddy rode Harleys from Eastern Oklahoma to Homer, Alaska. Not sure where they changed tires, but, it had been prearranged that tires would be there.

[heathen]

If the tires have a significant bit of tread to the wear bar, then I'd keep them on for the drive, though I'm more cheap and less paranoid than most..

Camping off the side of the road (without facilities or fees) is generally frowned upon, though I certainly do it. Don't think I've ever paid for a campsite in Alaska or northern Canada. You kinda need a vehicle with a little clearance to do this though, since you're looking for old gravel pits, fire breaks, etc, in order to get out of sight of the highway. You really shouldn't just set up a tent in the established rest areas.. There are established campgrounds all along the route, though they're not exactly frequent, so you'll want to plan out where to stay. The ones in the Northern Canadian Rockies are especially recommendable - Summit Lake, Muncho Lake, and Liard Hot Springs.

Also, coming up the eastern access route, driving the Icefields Parkway between Banff and Jasper is MANDATORY even though there's a national park fee. One of the most beautiful drives in the world.

[picklebooty]

Thanks for the advice both ways. Hmm... still not sure what to do about the tires.

[retiredinhomer]

Put new tires on the front. You can always stop off at Canadian tire and buy the other two later.

Even in May the mountains can suprise you with ice and snow. I personally would bite it and get new tires.