Some Serious AlCan Cheap Car Callenge Planning Was Done

"Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo" (akioohtori)
03/27/2019 at 11:16 • Filed to: TQ3, TQ Adventures

Our road trip buddy, Taylor, was in town this weekend, which meant we got some serious drinking road trip planning done. Also drinking. We made some pretty critical decisions though!

Initially we were torn between doing the “AlCan” proper vs the Cassiar Highway. After some experiences, doing some preliminary lodging searching, and going with our guts, we’ve decided to do the Cassiar.

Additionally, we’ve decided to end the trip in Anchorage, but go ahead and run through Fairbanks. This is because we’ve also decided against driving to Tuktoyaktuk (+1,500 miles) or Prudhoe Bay (+1000 miles) and instead are doing Denali.

I’d probably still be advocating for Prudhoe Bay, but apparently you can’t drive up to the Arctic Ocean in your own car. This is a deal breaker for us as these trips are as much about the cars as they are about the drive, so them being there for the first 3,000 miles but not the last 1 mile would be... sad. I am legit getting sad just thinking about it. Is that weird?

I really want to do Tuktoyaktuk, but acknowledge that the added 1,500+ miles is a non-starter. If we could add a week to the trip, it wouldn’t be a question. I’ll add it to the list of things to do one day.

So yeah. Denali.

Also, we’ve floated trying to head over to Port Angeles and take the ferry to Victoria as a kick-off drive. I have mixed feelings about this. It is a lot of added time, cost, and mileage buuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuut Port Angeles is where we ended the last road trip (Hurricane Ridge) so it’d be cool to put a bow on that and pay homage to the old cars and trip.

!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!

We’re also on the fence about taking the Port Hardy to Prince Rupert ferry. It would shave about 300 miles off the trip overall, but introduces the scheduling complication of a ferry that only runs once every two days, plus an estimated $450 per person. And this is a road trip, not a boat trip. George is pretty sold on the idea, Taylor is tentative, and I’m mildly against.

Anyway, very little of this is set in stone and we’ll be doing a lot of work over the coming months to firm up details before we start bookings.

Getting Rid of the Cars

Still a lot TBD on this. For this road trip we’ve dropped the “sell the cars at the end” requirement because I am, apparently, completely incapable of following it. Unfortunately, for this trip transport costs from Anchorage to Tulsa start at $2,600 and go from there. I am all about going above and beyond for my mechanical companions, but there are limits... and that is one of them.

So yeah... getting rid of the cars. Plan A, in my mind, is donating them to the local NPR station and being done with it. I have, however, entertained the idea of selling it ultra cheap to a fellow Oppo. Say... $500? Free? Also I’ve considered trying to get a sale ultra cheap in Anchorage.

I want to make sure our shitboxes go to a good home one way or the other. I think we are all a little traumatized by the fate of the Jeep from the last trip...

Anyway, as always, suggestions are welcome!

DISCUSSION (9)

Duck Duck Grey Duck FTMFW! > Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo
03/27/2019 at 11:34

Crazy idea but, could you put up an ad on Anchorage Craiglist saying you would pay gas and lodging for someone to drive your vehicle back to the States? Of course this is barring you buying something reliable.

nerd_racing > Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo
03/27/2019 at 12:00

This looks like an awesome trip. If it were me, I would consider driving as much of it as possible, without ferrying the cars. But that’s just me. I know it’s not too comparable, but driving my Autozam across country last year (2500 miles) in a week was a pretty cool experience for me.

Future Heap Owner > Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo
03/27/2019 at 12:54

What sort of cars are you looking to buy for this?

... my friend wants to know.

Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo > Future Heap Owner
03/27/2019 at 14:37

Haha no rules at present other than they must be highway capable. My list is pretty varied, with the only requirement being manual, though I would consider going auto for a old Merc or a land yacht... maybe. Right now if I could swing a Brat I would, otherwise a wagon or hatch would be awesome. Seems like I have been gravitating towards VWs and Volvos, which is weird because I don’t like VWs in general... Here is my round up from my first POC shopping trip. https://oppositelock.kinja.com/next-road-trip-car-shopping-1832869758

Future Heap Owner > Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo
03/27/2019 at 14:51

Oh man, if you got a Brat I my friend would probably be interested in shipping it back down to Seattle/Portland if it wasn’t too much.

Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo > nerd_racing
03/27/2019 at 14:55

I like the way you think! The first trip was around 2200 miles with about 7 drive days. Trip two was 1700 or so miles in 11 days, though about 50% of that was offroad. I think 2500 miles in 11 days is prety do-able, but we like to stop and hike/ sight see/ dick around.

nerd_racing > Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo
03/27/2019 at 15:28

The only stop like that I made was in salt lake city, I spun out on snow/ice and waited for studded mud and snows to arrive at discount tire. After that I only stopped to sleep/refuel.

Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo > nerd_racing
03/27/2019 at 15:55

That sounds about right haha. I did Louisiana to Seattle when I was 16 in 5 days, averaging 500 miles per day . It was fine, but not what I’d call fun.

MM54 > Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo
03/28/2019 at 19:07

This (still) sounds like an awesome trip! Looking forward to hearing all about it.