[hbens]

Thanks for the update and Driver's Notes.
I think I would consider the rental RV as an option. My sister Ginny took an inside passage cruise and flew back to the states a few years ago.
Still I would want to do the drive for the first trip up there. Whether I do or not will be decided when we actually plan on the trip to Alaska.

[Jack Houpe]

Great write up, I agree the drive there is long and I'm glad you did it first so now I know not to go that way. I have heard of a ship that leaves out of Washington that will take you to Alaska with your rig. Don't know the cost but that might be an option for some. I think your idea of renting a class C in doing the coast is a perfect idea. I'm still intimidated by the size of the beast we bought and can't imagine getting stuck someplace in Alaska.

Thanks for sharing all that!

[TJ Clark]

Your descriptions of the weather is spot on.
The more anchorage embraces the ideas and practices of Los Angeles and San Francisco the more grit to deal with.

1990 Anchorage was more like any small town in Minnesota or Wisconsin. Full of friendly kind folks that looked after each other. Now it's California North.

[folivier]

Cindy and I have talked about another Alaska trip and we both agreed that we don't want to drive 5000 miles just to get to Alaska. A couple ideas I came up with are to buy a cheap class C with another couple. One of us drive it up and spend half the summer then the other couple fly up to spend their time and drive it back. Or sell it up there.
Or try to find a cheap van for sale, fly up, buy a mattress, campstove, potty, etc. and drive around then sell it up there.
Some of the areas we didn't get to are the Arctic sea, Juneau, Kodiak Island and other islands. The ferry went on strike when we were there.
If driving to and from Alaska you're limited to an early leave due to possibility of snow and ice through Canada. But buying/selling an RV in Alaska then flying home you're able to stay much later in the season. That gives you a greater possibility of seeing the northern lights. Also we wanted to do a trip to Tuktoyaktuk to see the polar bears.

[Jack Houpe]

Forest that is genius idea.

TJ, that sucks.

[hypoxia]

You had a great trip, quite the experience!

We fly there and rent a Class C out of Fairbanks or Anchorage. I drove Florida-Fairbanks when I moved there and when I lived in Anchorage I drove to Prudhoe in the winter before the highway was open to the public. I don't plan to do the Alcan again. Renting a 26' has worked well. I saw most of Alaska through the windscreen of many airplanes. If there was a product in a village we flew it there. Polar Bears on the ice, Musk Ox forming a defensive circle, Wolf attacking a Moose etc., I had a great time.

[[email protected]]

This sounds like it was an amazing trip. Alaska has always been on my bucket list. I had the concerns of driving up there and things falling apart. Maybe you are right to stick to the more scenic areas and make the trip up to the north in a rental rig. I had a plan with some friends to fly up there and do the rental thing but something came up and we had to cancel.

That is some planning, not sure we could be as disciplined to plan the trip out like that. 
I noticed the stop at Twin Oaks, that used to be the rally location for the Wanderlodge group. We stayed there one time when we bugged out for a hurricane. I now usually stop at Fair Harbor RV park up in Perry, it has more long sites that will accommodate up to 75', so we can pull in with the bus and trailer and not have to unhitch. Oh and there is an 80's era Newell that looks like it has not moved from the park in some time. 

Anyways, thanks for the tips and recommendations. I was just watching that Big RV travel channel and they made a trip up there to Alaska and they showed the roads and the bad section to destruction bay. It was a bit eye opening.

[TJ Clark]

Cindy and I have talked about another Alaska trip and we both agreed that we don't want to drive 5000 miles just to get to Alaska. A couple ideas I came up with are to buy a cheap class C with another couple. One of us drive it up and spend half the summer then the other couple fly up to spend their time and drive it back. Or sell it up there.
Or try to find a cheap van for sale, fly up, buy a mattress, campstove, potty, etc. and drive around then sell it up there.
Some of the areas we didn't get to are the Arctic sea, Juneau, Kodiak Island and other islands. The ferry went on strike when we were there.
If driving to and from Alaska you're limited to an early leave due to possibility of snow and ice through Canada. But buying/selling an RV in Alaska then flying home you're able to stay much later in the season. That gives you a greater possibility of seeing the northern lights. Also we wanted to do a trip to Tuktoyaktuk to see the polar bears.

If one were to drive a desirable RV to Alaska it could be sold there with ease and they one could fly back to the little states. I have first hand knowledge of this.