An RV Dealer Told Me That Travel Trailers Are Not Sturdy Enough To Go To Alaska

LEARN

OUR STORES

DESTINATIONS

LINKS

LEGAL INFO

Subscribe To This Site

An RV Dealer Told Me That Travel Trailers Are Not Sturdy Enough To Go To Alaska

by Rick Collins
(Illinois)

After Purchasing a 21 ft 2007 Kodiak Travel Trailer to tow behind my 1/2 ton pickup for a trip to Alaska and back; I was told by an R V dealer that was not a good idea. He says that travel trailers are not made sturdy enough to make the trip. I’m now worried, should I be?

ANSWER: Greetings Rick thanks for submitting your question on our Ask An RV Question Page.

So let me get this straight, the dealer is telling you that a Kodiak Travel Trailer that is named after an Alaskan Grizzly Bear and an Alaskan City is not sturdy enough to go to Alaska, he must sell a lot of trailers with that sales pitch.

The Kodiak Travel Trailer is a lightweight travel trailer. The only problems that I can see is if you were planning to live in it during the Alaskan winter as it may not have enough insulation to protect you from 30 below weather. If you are just going up to Alaska for a summer trip you should be fine.

Depending on where you are planning to go to in Alaska you may find some of the roads might be a bit bumpy, etc. but if you drive conservatively you should be fine.

Believe it or not there are people that even tow and camp in Tent Trailers in Alaska, not to mention all of the campers that camp in tents in Alaska.

Leave your RV repair bills to us—Good Sam Extended Service Plan
If I were you I would take some great pictures of your Travel Trailer in Alaska and when you get home take those pictures to the RV Dealer and show him that it is safe to take a Travel Trailer to Alaska.

Now go out there and have some fun on your Alaskan adventure and do not let a little bit of misinformation spoil your trip.

I hope this helps.

Do you have any suggestions or comments on this topic? You can add them to this page by clicking on the "Click Here To Post Comments" link located near the bottom of this page.

Protect your RV and your family while on the road: Join Good Sam RV Emergency Road Service Today and save!
Happy RVing

RVing Al

Don't Forget To Visit The Everything About RVing Stores. If It Has To Do With RVing And The Outdoors The EARV Stores Have What You Are Looking For!

RV Accessories - Sporting Goods - RVing and Travel Books and How To Videos - Kindle Accessories and Books - The RVers Gift Shop - The RVer Mall - Buy or Sell An RV

Comments for
An RV Dealer Told Me That Travel Trailers Are Not Sturdy Enough To Go To Alaska

Average Rating

Click here to add your own comments

Rating

Scamping up the Alaskan
by: Don & Dianne Lattimer

My wife and I made the trip to Alaska in 2001, pulling a 1995 Scamp 5th wheel camper behind a 1995 F150, our only problem was one flat tire.
( tire failure was likely underinflation)The round trip was a bit over 8,000 miles.That was our second trip via the Alaska Highway. If you get to the Sign Post Jungle & look long and hard you will see our sign from our second trip. Yes we still have and use the same camper.

Rating

Expedition Range Camp- The Real Alaska Trailer
by: Pete

Those going to Alaska should have a look at the toughest trailer on the market. It is ideal for Alaska living, and it is Bear Proof
www.expeditionrangecamps.com

Rating

I Did It !
by: Rick Collins

Well I made the 12,000 miles with a couple small problems with my trailor. The shades vibrated of the walls and had to get new brain for water heater but not one mechanical issue. The best advise I got was to take my time and I did exactly that. Was gone 2 months and enjoyed it very much and looking forward to the next trip. Took the Alaska Hwy up and came home the Cassier enjoyed everything about entire trip. Thanks to all for your advise. Rick Collins

Comment From RVing Al: Glad to hear you had a good time and that your Travel Trailer survived your Alaska trip. Hopefully you have let the RV Dealer that told you it would not survive know that it did fine.

Rating

Dalton Highway in AK
by: Anonymous

One of the most important items to take would be spare tires. A freind went up the Dalton highway with a tent trailer and that was the biggest problem. It really depends where you plan to go and what the road conditions are. The first 2 years in our RV we had A LOT of stuff break and we didn't go anywhere special, it's just the nature of the beast. Just keep a fix-it list and get everything repaired while it is still under warrenty.

Rating

Alaska trip
by: Anonymous

My wife and I went last summer.We have a 34', triple slider pulled by a 3500 Dodge, diesel.

Took the Alaska highway both directions because our information re the condition of the Cassiar was negative...Some friends we met along the way took their motor home along that route to return and said it was rough...

Our friends lost a windshield,an awning came loose, broke a pipe, and ruined the paint on their tow car...The trip is a great experience but caution, common sense, and a little luck are the best solutions to a successful trip.... The Kenai Peninsula was our favorite with the salmon fishing and great state parks...We dry camped 27 days or so in the state..Did the loop from TOK to Valdez, Anchorage,Kenai(including Homer and Seward),Fairbanks, and back to Tok...loved it..

I had no damage but took extra tires for the coach and fuel to skip the really high fuel stops...The road around Destruction Bay was lousy; working on it for years, they said...

Take your time and enjoy yourself...We did...Most of the horror stories I heard arose from folks being in a hurry and breaking an axle after hitting one too many holes at high speed...

You can get the ever changing road conditions after you are in state from other travelers..Most folks are very helpful in sharing info about road conditions...

Rating

Alaska Trip
by: Kerry

Well, my wife and I made the trip 2 years ago with our 2002 F150 and our 28 year old tent trailer. We went to Whitehorse, Top of the World, Fairbanks, Denali and the Peninsula. Went up the Stewart Cassiar Route (absolutely awesome) and home the Alaska Hwy (boring, not many gas stations). Put on 10,000 kilometres and consider it the best trip we've taken, absolutely no vehicle/trailer problems. I believe roads north of Fairbanks might be questionable, but our routes were very good...Kerry

Rating

falling apart travel trailers
by: travelfables

I've known many a brand-new trailer, 5th wheel and the like that fell apart on that trip. Some travel trailers like an Airstream will not fall apart so much. Don't expect to not have problems with your RV Bus as well. The manufacturers often spin out junk and push it hard. So it is refreshing to read about a dealer telling the truth. Just budget some dough for repairs, make sure you have good tires (none of that 13inch Carlisle stuff) and go anyway.

Click here to add your own comments

Return to the Everything About RVing Home Page

Copyright 2008-2012 Everything-About-RVing.com.

An RV Dealer Told Me That Travel Trailers Are Not Sturdy Enough To Go To Alaska

Comments for
An RV Dealer Told Me That Travel Trailers Are Not Sturdy Enough To Go To Alaska

The Good Sam Products We Recommend

Share With Other RVers

Subscribe To The Everything About RVing Gazette

An RV Dealer Told Me That Travel Trailers Are Not Sturdy Enough To Go To Alaska

Comments for An RV Dealer Told Me That Travel Trailers Are Not Sturdy Enough To Go To Alaska

The Good Sam Products We Recommend

Share With Other RVers

Subscribe To The Everything About RVing Gazette

Comments for
An RV Dealer Told Me That Travel Trailers Are Not Sturdy Enough To Go To Alaska