Tow vehicle range needed for trip to Alaska - Escape Trailer Owners Community
Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×

Go Back   Escape Trailer Owners Community > Camping | Places, Gear and Planning > Trips and Travel Planning
Click Here to Login
Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
 
Old 12-07-2020, 11:08 AM   #1
Senior Member
 
Mike Lewis's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Santa Rosa County, Florida
Trailer: 2014 Escape 21 Tow: 2024 Toyota Tundra
Posts: 3,097
Tow vehicle range needed for trip to Alaska

I am considering making another attempt to go to Alaska in 2021. When pulling my trailer, my Tacoma has a range of about 220 miles between fill-ups, which is nothing to write home about. Would this be sufficient for driving to and about Alaska, or should I wait until I have another tow vehicle with greater range?
__________________
Mike Lewis
She don't lie, she don't lie, she don't lie-- propane
Photos and travelogues here: mikelewisimages.com
Mike Lewis is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-07-2020, 11:17 AM   #2
Senior Member
 
Centex's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2020
Location: East of Austin, Texas
Trailer: 2021 Escape 5.0 / 2022 F150 SuperCab
Posts: 2,866
Just FYI, maybe of interest ...

Alaska Highway Camping and Gas Stations Guide Download
__________________
Alan E.
2021 Escape 5.0 / 2022 F150 Lariat SuperCab 6.5' box / Centex's 2021 5.0 Modifications
Centex is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-07-2020, 11:32 AM   #3
Senior Member
 
Vermilye's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Oswego, New York
Trailer: 2017 Escape 21C, 2018 Ford F150
Posts: 5,363
In 2015 I had only one difficulty pulling my 17 with a RAV4 that got less than 200 miles on a tank, and that was because a station in the Yukon had a busted generator & couldn't pump gas. Made it to the next station on fumes. (I did have a 2.5 gallon spare gas can, but never needed it)

The most up to date fuel & campground list I found was a handout at the visitor center in Dawson Creek.
__________________
Jon Vermilye My Travel Blog
Travel and Photo Web Page ... My Collection of RV Blogs 2018 F150 3.5EB, 2017 21
Vermilye is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-07-2020, 12:49 PM   #4
Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2019
Location: Colusa, California
Trailer: 2019 escape 19' with 2012 Chevy 1500
Posts: 62
Mike, I drove to Alaska last year and at first was always worrying about gas stations but never found a situation where they were more than 100 miles apart. On the way back I didn't worry about it as much but I did try to fill up at the little stations out in the middle of nowhere. They need the business and it is so nice to have them there. Sometimes we saw airplanes land on the highway and fill up at the gas stations also.
j3cub is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-07-2020, 01:06 PM   #5
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2020
Location: Anchorage, AK, Alaska
Trailer: Escape 21C 2020
Posts: 19
If it were me I’d carry two 5 gallon gas cans in the bed of the truck and fill for more remote trips, particularly if you want to unhitch and explore with the TV.
AKRogers is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-07-2020, 01:39 PM   #6
Senior Member
 
TahoeJoe's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2020
Location: South Lake Tahoe, California
Trailer: 2017 5.0
Posts: 523
I agree with AKRogers, I always carry 10 gallons when towing...but only if you have the room in your truck bed of course. I would add: having a nice siphon is a good idea too, makes fill-ups from the cans much easier and cleaner.
__________________
“We are here to help each other get through this thing, whatever it is.”
- Kurt Vonnegut
TahoeJoe is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-07-2020, 01:55 PM   #7
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Edmonton, Alberta
Trailer: 1979 Boler B1700
Posts: 14,935
While the 220 mile range may be adequate, it would concern me... if only because we tend to travel at odd hours and might find gas stations closed, and because I dislike being forced to buy gas at excessively high prices due to remote locations. Our Sienna does about 800 km (500 miles) on a tank by itself, but only just under 500 km (300 miles) with the trailer, and that's about as short as I would like to go. It has about the same size of fuel tank as the Tacoma.

A solution which is less extreme than replacing the tow vehicle and both safer and more effective than carrying portable fuel containers might be to add an auxiliary tank to the truck, or to replace the stock tank with a larger one. The tank capacity could be increased by 50%, unfortunately, neither is cheap, and this is the sort of thing that is more commonly used in other parts of the world than here - you might need to get it from Australia.

There is a slick in-bed tank from Titan, shaped to fit at the side extending over the wheel well (a style of box or tank called a "pork chop"); dimensions are in the listing, but it is intended for a full-size truck and might be too big for a Tacoma.
Brian B-P is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-07-2020, 02:30 PM   #8
Senior Member
 
Mike Lewis's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Santa Rosa County, Florida
Trailer: 2014 Escape 21 Tow: 2024 Toyota Tundra
Posts: 3,097
Quote:
Originally Posted by Centex View Post

Thanks! The link is a reminder that I also have a copy of The Milepost that I bought last year, as I thought I'd go to Alaska in 2020 before curtailing my trip. It should help with planning as well.
__________________
Mike Lewis
She don't lie, she don't lie, she don't lie-- propane
Photos and travelogues here: mikelewisimages.com
Mike Lewis is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-07-2020, 03:08 PM   #9
Senior Member
 
Centex's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2020
Location: East of Austin, Texas
Trailer: 2021 Escape 5.0 / 2022 F150 SuperCab
Posts: 2,866
Thumbs up

Quote:
Originally Posted by Mike Lewis View Post
..... I also have a copy of The Milepost that I bought last year, as I thought I'd go to Alaska in 2020 before curtailing my trip. It should help with planning as well.
Yep, The Milepost is great, good luck and Have Fun with a 2021 venture!
__________________
Alan E.
2021 Escape 5.0 / 2022 F150 Lariat SuperCab 6.5' box / Centex's 2021 5.0 Modifications
Centex is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-07-2020, 03:22 PM   #10
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Juneau, Alaska
Trailer: 2015 17A - Ready for more Maiden Voyages ....
Posts: 881
Mike, Hopefully the border will be open. With the predicted jump in Holiday travel infections its my guess that the border will remain closed. However, with vaccinations on the horizon, perhaps the closure will soften (well ... what do I know?).

Good luck,

Tom
__________________
Consciousness: That confusing time between naps
StarvingHyena is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-07-2020, 05:08 PM   #11
Senior Member
 
Mike Lewis's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Santa Rosa County, Florida
Trailer: 2014 Escape 21 Tow: 2024 Toyota Tundra
Posts: 3,097
I set a target date of May 1 to have my trailer ready to leave on a trip, with details of the trip TBD. I'm hoping the vaccine for Covid will be widely available by then and that the border with Canada will be open. If not, then I'll adjust.
__________________
Mike Lewis
She don't lie, she don't lie, she don't lie-- propane
Photos and travelogues here: mikelewisimages.com
Mike Lewis is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-07-2020, 05:19 PM   #12
Site Team
 
Donna D.'s Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Portland, Oregon
Trailer: 2014 Escape 5.0 TA
Posts: 11,023
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mike Lewis View Post
I set a target date of May 1 to have my trailer ready to leave on a trip, with details of the trip TBD. I'm hoping the vaccine for Covid will be widely available by then and that the border with Canada will be open. If not, then I'll adjust.
Sounds great Mike and I hope everything works out perfectly. It's nice to have a countdown goal
__________________
Donna D.
Ten Forward
2014 Escape 5.0TA
Donna D. is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-07-2020, 08:57 PM   #13
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Juneau, Alaska
Trailer: 2015 17A - Ready for more Maiden Voyages ....
Posts: 881
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mike Lewis View Post
I set a target date of May 1 to have my trailer ready to leave on a trip, with details of the trip TBD. I'm hoping the vaccine for Covid will be widely available by then and that the border with Canada will be open. If not, then I'll adjust.
That sounds great Mike. Should you find yourself in Juneau, give me a shout. I'd enjoy meeting you.
__________________
Consciousness: That confusing time between naps
StarvingHyena is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-08-2020, 01:39 AM   #14
Senior Member
 
Doug2000's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: London, Ontario
Trailer: 2020 Escape 19
Posts: 1,117
Any epic trip like this deserves a writeup in the trips section. Lots of pictures please.
__________________
Had 2 Escapes, 17b, 19, went back to a pop up that fit in the garage. 2018 Coachman Clipper RBST HW AFrame
Doug2000 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-08-2020, 07:08 AM   #15
Senior Member
 
RangerMan's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2020
Location: Kenedy County, Texas
Trailer: 2019 Escape 21
Posts: 521
Quote:
Originally Posted by Brian B-P View Post
While the 220 mile range may be adequate, it would concern me... if only because we tend to travel at odd hours and might find gas stations closed, and because I dislike being forced to buy gas at excessively high prices due to remote locations. Our Sienna does about 800 km (500 miles) on a tank by itself, but only just under 500 km (300 miles) with the trailer, and that's about as short as I would like to go. It has about the same size of fuel tank as the Tacoma.

A solution which is less extreme than replacing the tow vehicle and both safer and more effective than carrying portable fuel containers might be to add an auxiliary tank to the truck, or to replace the stock tank with a larger one. The tank capacity could be increased by 50%, unfortunately, neither is cheap, and this is the sort of thing that is more commonly used in other parts of the world than here - you might need to get it from Australia.

There is a slick in-bed tank from Titan, shaped to fit at the side extending over the wheel well (a style of box or tank called a "pork chop"); dimensions are in the listing, but it is intended for a full-size truck and might be too big for a Tacoma.
Have a look at the TransferFlow tanks. I have the 75 aux tank and it's great. Auto pumps to the main tank when stock tank gauge reads about 1/2.

transferflow.com
RangerMan is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-08-2020, 09:10 PM   #16
Senior Member
 
akmacs's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2016
Location: Anchorage, Alaska
Trailer: 2018 5.0 T/A "Escaper"
Posts: 209
We have quite a bit of range in our tv but top off somewhat frequently in case unexpected detours such as wildfire/washouts and just for a good safety net. Be careful relying on a single gas station and no backup. We have found a closed down gas station where an open one was supposed to be on several occasions. Also, some seasonal locations may not be open in early May.
akmacs is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-08-2020, 10:08 PM   #17
Senior Member
 
Mike Lewis's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Santa Rosa County, Florida
Trailer: 2014 Escape 21 Tow: 2024 Toyota Tundra
Posts: 3,097
My plan is to go into Canada for the Escape Trailer Rally in late May, assuming it is held in 2021. From there I'd make my way to Alaska, taking a couple of weeks so I'd be there in June.

This is similar to the plan for my aborted trip early this year, except I'll leave home later and take a more direct route to Osoyoos, leaving California unmolested this time. Too early and too many variables now to make a good plan, but I have to start thinking about it.
__________________
Mike Lewis
She don't lie, she don't lie, she don't lie-- propane
Photos and travelogues here: mikelewisimages.com
Mike Lewis is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-09-2020, 09:27 AM   #18
Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2020
Location: Reno, Nevada
Trailer: 2021 21c
Posts: 45
Gas enroute to ak

Drove up last summer hauling a 25’ stick built. Only got 180 miles to a tank. Half the stations were closed so couldn’t depend on the milepost for gas locations. Had to use my 2 extra 5 gals twice on the trip. Hopefully the border will be wide open next summer-not sure how many small lodges and gas stops have survived the loss of business, so be prepared.
Akfishman is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-09-2020, 10:00 AM   #19
Senior Member
 
EscapeBoulder's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2018
Location: Boulder, Colorado
Trailer: 2018 Escape 19'er + 2018 Highlander
Posts: 300
Here's one long stretch.
Attached Thumbnails
DSCN3735.jpeg  
__________________
... Greg
2018 Escape 19'er & 2018 Highlander
Not all who wander are lost
EscapeBoulder is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-09-2020, 10:19 AM   #20
Senior Member
 
TTMartin's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2020
Location: Venice, Florida
Trailer: 2020 Escape 19
Posts: 1,265
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mike Lewis View Post
I am considering making another attempt to go to Alaska in 2021. When pulling my trailer, my Tacoma has a range of about 220 miles between fill-ups, which is nothing to write home about. Would this be sufficient for driving to and about Alaska, or should I wait until I have another tow vehicle with greater range?
You could always get a hitchrack for the rear of the trailer like this one from Harbor Freight.



It weighs 31 lbs, figure around 35 lbs for each 5 gallon plastic can of gas.
TTMartin is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off




» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Disclaimer:

This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by Escape Trailer Industries or any of its affiliates. This is an independent, unofficial site.


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 07:53 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 4
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Copyright 2023 Social Knowledge, LLC All Rights Reserved.