Sitting in our Seneca at the Fairbanks Walmart as I write this having just spent 1 month driving from Austin TX, towing a 2011 JK Unlimited Rubicon. We came up from Seattle through BC. A few thoughts (please excuse the rambling nature of what follows).
Don’t forget your passports, you won’t get far without them.
Read the what not to bring into Canada websites and plan accordingly. We have had no issues with customs.
When you cross from Yukon to AK, don’t take the RV lane as clearance is only 12’ 8”. Take the commercial/bus lane even though it is not marked for RVs.
Get the Milepost book, and get your navigator comfortable with it’s layout.
Make sure at least two people in the rig can connect/disconnect the JK by themselves, just in case. We flat tow with a Roadmaster All Terrain town bar.
If you don’t have a brake system in your JK, check out the system by M&G engineering.
https://m-gengineering.com/ It uses the Seneca air brakes to activate the Jeep brakes. I have the same system in my JK & F150. It is very simple to use (hookup air hose & break away line and go), and they will install it at their Athens TX shop in an hour or two, or send it to you or your mechanic. I had my mechanic do the Jeep, and M&G do the F150. My Jeep is built, and weighs in at 5400 lbs but I never felt the Seneca struggle with it, but to be legal, you need something if your toad is over 3500 lbs. I have seen others struggle with other systems such as the brake buddy, and love how elegant the M&G system is.
While roads are paved, odds are you will get some rock damage. Had a windshield chip glued for $10 CAD in Williams Lake, and discovered a welt in the forward fiberglass behind the passenger door today from another rock hit. Google is your friend for finding services. The rock chip cost varied from $53 to $10, so it pays to call around.
When you see orange flags on the side of the roads, slow down. Not doing so could launch your wife if she happens to be resting in the back bed. Just sayin
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Diesel costs run in the $4 - $4.50/gal USD in BC, heard others talking about $5 in Eastern BC on the Al-Can.
Use the Gas-Buddy app to track fuel costs. It is crowd sourced, meaning you can report prices as you find them. The more that do it, the better off you are.
I did not see one place in BC that had satellite pumps, so get ready to fill one side, then loop around to fill the other. CostCo in Prince George has good fuel prices.
DEF at the pumps does not seem to exist, but you can buy the 2.5 gal boxes for around $20 CAD. Get a 5 gal diesel can, label it DEF, and fill it when ever you find a place that has bulk DEF and fill from that when you get low. The only place with bulk DEF I saw in BC was the Pilot in William’s Lake (I think).
Don’t make the mistake of thinking BC is just a place to pass through. We spent 10 days driving South to North, absolutely incredible scenery. Hoping to hit Jasper & Baniff on way back.
I am not carrying a spare for the Seneca. So far so good, but I am on the fence that decision.
Private parks with hookups tend to be in the $35 CAD range, no issues getting in without reservations. Denali is the one place I would recommend reservations so far. Wal-Marts & Safeway tend to allow free overnight camping.
I have been told that “Canadian Tire” stores often have dump stations you can use, but I have not used them yet. $5 dump fees are common for those passing though many towns.
If you go through Dease Lake on 37 in BC, get your tanks in the proper position ahead of time and stop at “The Waters Edge” campground. Tell chuck you want site 7, and let him know the other Seneca guy from TX said to say hi. Also ask him to borrow his “Life on the vertical” DVD. There is no water, dump or electric there, but that was our absolute favorite campsite so far.
Bring extra pillows to block the light in your bedroom windows, the MDC shades are not enough. The sun sets tonight at 12:40am, and it is light by 4am, so making the bedroom dark is really a good idea.
Check the screws that hold the fenders over the rear tires a couple of times during the trip. Same for tail lights and steps over gas tank. I had on screw on the passenger step back out 1 inch! Added some lok-tite and it seems to be good. You can actually get at some of those screws from underneath with vice grips as opposed to pealing back the non-skid surface.
Just crossed into Alaska today, so not a bunch to report yet except fuel prices are down in the $3.50 USD range so far, and the Al-Can is very rough for 100 miles either side of the border. Mountain ranges are incredible.
I think nothing of pushing down US highways 500-1000 Miles at a time, but 200-300 miles in BC and AK will kick your butt. Take your time, stop when you get the urge, and enjoy the ride!
Hope my ramblings are helpful! We wing it day by day
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