Coast Resorts Open Roads Forum: 2 wd vs 4 wd to Alaska?

Print | Close

Topic: 2 wd vs 4 wd to Alaska?

Posted By: billy1davis on 03/28/17 08:09pm

We have just bought a new to us Lance camper 2013 9 ft 2 slides and have Dodge 2wd dually Diesel 2001. We are traveling to AK from Ut in August. Will we need 4wd?

Posted By: PA12DRVR on 03/28/17 08:28pm

billy1davis wrote:

We have just bought a new to us Lance camper 2013 9 ft 2 slides and have Dodge 2wd dually Diesel 2001. We are traveling to AK from Ut in August. Will we need 4wd?

"Need".....nope.

Will you be dropping the camper and doing some driving in just the truck? It might be worth having a 4WD in that case IF you already had a 4WD to bring. Certainly wouldn't be worth a purchase just for this trip.

Now if you want an excuse to get one... [emoticon]

.....then Alaska is full of raging rivers, icy roads, and mud bogs that can only be accessed via 4WD.

In all seriousness, you won't need one for an RV trip up to AK. Equally seriously, I won't buy a vehicle in AK unless it's a minimum of AWD but that's for year-round living, not for a summer trip.

CRL
My RV is a 1946 PA-12
Back in the GWN

Posted By: billy1davis on 03/28/17 08:30pm

We will be leaving the camper on all the time.

Posted By: BillandCarole on 03/28/17 08:45pm

We spent 3 months there and really only needed 4X only once. It was a steep, twisty mountain grade where the gravel was very loose. We could have skipped it.

In our opinion buying a 4X truck just for the trip is unnecessary.

In the longer term, it mostly depends on your camping style. We pull with a 4X knowing we have an extra level of traction. We don't use it often, but it's there when we need it.
Regards
Bill and Carole

2K8 Chevy LTZ Turbo Diesel 4x4
Cats Vino, and "Stubby"
Transfer Flow Tank
2017 Fox Mountain 235RLS
Reese 16K Slider
Honda EU2000's to power the toys
Garmin GPS's/Android Pixel 2XL -WAZE
"And were still wandering..."

Posted By: Marine By Choice on 03/28/17 09:00pm

No need for 4WD. Have a safe trip!

Posted By: Tom/Barb on 03/28/17 09:09pm

billy1davis wrote:

We have just bought a new to us Lance camper 2013 9 ft 2 slides and have Dodge 2wd dually Diesel 2001. We are traveling to AK from Ut in August. Will we need 4wd?

No ! the highways you'll normally be allowed on are paved. with two big exceptions, the Haul road north of Fairbanks, ( but they run 18 wheelers over it) and the Denali park roads.

Off roading is pretty limited unless you have friends that live remote.

2000 Newmar mountain aire 4081 DP, ISC/350 Allison 6 speed, Wrangler JL toad.

Posted By: sue.t on 03/28/17 09:11pm

If you stay on the main roads, 4x4 shouldn't be necessary. Most of the main roads are paved. If you want to get into exploring the backcountry, then ask the locals if they recommend 4x4 before you head out.

sue t.
Pictures from our many RV Adventures to Yukon & Alaska from Vancouver Island. Now we live in Yukon!

Posted By: Trackrig on 03/28/17 09:41pm

Must you have for wheel drive - no, but life is much nicer and more secure with it. Haven't owned a truck or SUV without four wheel drive since my 1975 Trans Am...........

Bill

Nodwell RN110 out moose hunting. 4-53 Detroit, Clark 5 spd, 40" wide tracks, 10:00x20 tires, 16,000# capacity, 22,000# weight. You know the mud is getting deep when it's coming in the doors.

Posted By: fanrgs on 03/28/17 10:23pm

I have had pickups since 1975, but haven't had a 2WD one since 1982. In Colorado, a 4WD truck, a Subaru (the "Colorado state vehicle"), or an AWD SUV is considered a necessity, especially if you live in the mountains or ski.

Of course, if the winters keep warming up the way they have the last few years, I may be able to go back to 2WD trucks soon. March is supposed to be our snowiest month and all we've had is a little rain.

"Retirement is the best job I ever had!"
2015 RAM 2500 4x4 crewcab 6.7L CTD; 2016 Rockwood Signature UltraLite 5th wheel

Posted By: MitchF150 on 03/28/17 10:46pm

Do I "need" 4wd? No.. Do I "want" it? Yes.. Have I used it? Yes... Good enough for me.. [emoticon]

Mitch

2013 F150 XLT 4x4 SuperCab Max Tow Egoboost 3.73 gears #7700 GVWR #1920 payload. 2019 Rockwood Mini Lite 2511S.

Posted By: 2gypsies on 03/28/17 11:15pm

There are many big motorhomes doing the drive and none have 4x4! [emoticon]

You'll be just fine.

Full-Timed for 16 Years
.... Back in S&B Again
Traveled 8 yr in a 40' 2004 Newmar Dutch Star Motorhome
& 8 yr in a 33' Travel Supreme 5th Wheel

Posted By: AKsilvereagle on 03/29/17 03:28am

I lived in Alaska going on 35 years now in the interior, as I have yet to own a 4wd rig to this day.

There were a few times during the winter I wished I had 4wd with the bad weather days, however if I were living in other parts of Alaska besides the Fairbanks area during the winter months - I would only commute in 4wd as there is generally more rain, slicker surfaced conditions and wetter snowfall with warmer freezing temps in comparison to subzero colder temps here.

Another note is if I resided in the nearby foothills rather than living on the flat valley floor here, I would definitely have 4wd during the winter months.

I have driven to Anchorage during the winter in 2wd rigs of mine on six occasions and yes at times it was nerve racking but always made it back safely.

As far as summer season goes, I been on practically every Alaska road there is on the linking road system for that matter and had no problem anywhere with 2wd rigs, even took my camper rig on the Dalton Hwy (haul road), up and over Atigun Pass with a 10 and 12 percent grade, and beyond pump station 4 in the north slope sector before turning around in August 2006.

If my 2wd 1970 Ford Truck that I strictly used as a camper rig for 20 consecutive years can putt around all over the far north country of Alaska and Western Canada that has logged over 46,000 miles of travel, in which at least over 3000 miles of that were unpaved roads and who knows how many frost heave surfaces and other construction zones in between, practically any 2wd rig can also bear the commute to Alaska while exercising the current road conditions with care meaning slow down in frost heave and other bumpy areas.

1975 Ford F250 2WD Ranger XLT (Owned June 2013)
460 V8- C6 Trans- 3.73:1 (196K Total Mi)
2000 Fleetwood Angler 8ft Cabover
Air Lift 1000 (Front)
Hellwig 3500 lb Helper Springs (rear)
Hellwig Front and Rear Sway Bars
Goodyear G971 LT Series (siped)

Posted By: cbshoestring on 03/29/17 06:50am

MitchF150 wrote:

Do I "need" 4wd? No.. Do I "want" it? Yes.. Have I used it? Yes... Good enough for me.. [emoticon]

Mitch

At least you are honest. Many of my friends question me over my 2 wheel drive truck...they would NEVER, EVER own anything but a 4X4.

How often do you use 4x4? two, maybe three times a year.

How many of those three could you have made it in 2wd, but used 4x4 because you had it? ah....probably all of them.

So...is that price difference for 4x4, plus additional maintenance cost worth it? ABSOLUTELY...You can't live in western PA with a 2wd truck!

The average driver, staying on asphalt, does not need it, they WANT it. Of course, there has been a few times I wish I had it [emoticon]

Posted By: romore on 03/29/17 10:17am

Our tv is 2wd, DW is partially disabled and cannot get in and out of a full sized 4wd without considerable effort and assistance. The only problem we have is climbing our own driveway in the winter if I don't keep it plowed and sanded. Travel insurance costs keep us in the Great White North.

Posted By: Mark Heisler on 03/29/17 10:32am

The biggest thing with a 2wd is have good tires on it.Plus remember your not pulling any thing you are hauling a camper so all your weight is over the axels.
You will be fine enjoy yourself

2003 dodge 2wheel drive diesel 375hp 750torque
2007 citation fifth wheel model 29bhs
to see pictures of my truck and fifth-wheel click on view profile

Posted By: ford-willy on 03/29/17 06:30pm

It's simple. Forget about just thinking about Alaska. Your truck and new camper are going to take you on many adventures. Get the 4X4 now and be totally ready for anything you may do in the future. Snow, ice, mud, stuck in soft shoulder, or simply being able to pull someone else out that's stuck. The confidence it gives you is well worth the extra money now. Remember that in most marginal snow conditions (I live in a ski resort)R2 conditions require 4X4 or you must install chains. The 4X4 is a no brainer for a truck anytime, especially with a camper. I would never buy a truck without 4X4. --- Oh, and buy the way, make sure you get a limited slip differential on it. Without limited slip only one rear wheel will drive.

2009 Grand Junction 335TRL--2011 F350 Lariat 4X4 Dually Crew Cab, 6.7 Diesel, 6 Speed Auto, 3:73 Gears--One Great Towing Machine.---------
2016 Forest River Salem T21RBS

Posted By: jnharley on 03/30/17 08:18am

No need for 4 wheel drive. We traveled to Alaska in 2014 and had zero issues maneuvering the roads anywhere on our journey.

2015 Dodge Dually
2012 NuWa Discover America 355CK

Posted By: billy1davis on 03/30/17 01:03pm

Thanks to everyone that responded.
I had an expereince once with my 2wd dually with limited slip on the rear wheels and a camper. We were in flagstaff Az. Woke up to 4 deg and everything frozen solid. Went from the campground across the road and "down"into a gas station. As I pulled out onto the side road which was very steep and immediately came to a stop for the traffic light. I told my wife that when the light turns green we are going to slip down the road we were on because it was frozen snow. Well guess what...yep we kept going when it turned green we did not slip one bit!!!
The fella behind me was in a 4wd truck apparently without limited slip and he did slip all the way down to the bottom of the road. 3500 lbs on the rear axle with limited slip seems to do the job.

Posted By: sue.t on 03/30/17 09:33pm

My little front wheel drive does the job just fine, year-round. I commute 130km (65 km one way) Mon-Fri on the Alaska Highway. Biggest problem is in the summer when the RVers are swerving to avoid frost heaves while I'm trying to pass them [emoticon]

Posted By: EEWally on 04/01/17 10:24am

We also have a Lance camper on a Dodge/diesel. It's 2WD and served us nicely.

My buddy once said "4-Wheel drive gets you 30 feet further than you should have gone." I think he was speaking from experience.

1997 Lance Squire 5000, 10-foot camper
2001 Dodge Ram, Cummins, Ext. Cab, 2WD
Our Trip Journal

Posted By: billy1davis on 04/01/17 12:05pm

very interesting, I looked at your travel log and noticed that you did what we are setting out to do this August and that is travel to Alaska with our truck camper which is very similar to your set up to celebrate our 50th anniversary!
Would sure love to tall to you about your trip and any advice you have!

Posted By: 2gypsies on 04/01/17 05:08pm

Is there a particular reason you're first leaving Utah in August? It's a long trip and having more time will make it more enjoyable.

Posted By: billy1davis on 04/01/17 06:53pm

I am a licensed mental health counselor and can't leave my practice for longer than a month.
In some ways that is a little confining. But I enjoy helping.

Print | Close