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12-07-2020, 11:08 AM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Santa Rosa County, Florida
Trailer: 2014 Escape 21 Tow: 2024 Toyota Tundra
Posts: 3,097
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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
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12-07-2020, 11:17 AM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2020
Location: East of Austin, Texas
Trailer: 2021 Escape 5.0 / 2022 F150 SuperCab
Posts: 2,866
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12-07-2020, 11:32 AM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Oswego, New York
Trailer: 2017 Escape 21C, 2018 Ford F150
Posts: 5,363
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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.
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12-07-2020, 12:49 PM
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#4
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Member
Join Date: Jul 2019
Location: Colusa, California
Trailer: 2019 escape 19' with 2012 Chevy 1500
Posts: 62
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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.
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12-07-2020, 01:06 PM
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#5
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Junior Member
Join Date: Jul 2020
Location: Anchorage, AK, Alaska
Trailer: Escape 21C 2020
Posts: 19
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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.
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12-07-2020, 01:39 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2020
Location: South Lake Tahoe, California
Trailer: 2017 5.0
Posts: 523
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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
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12-07-2020, 01:55 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Edmonton, Alberta
Trailer: 1979 Boler B1700
Posts: 14,935
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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.
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12-07-2020, 02:30 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Santa Rosa County, Florida
Trailer: 2014 Escape 21 Tow: 2024 Toyota Tundra
Posts: 3,097
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Centex
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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
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12-07-2020, 03:08 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2020
Location: East of Austin, Texas
Trailer: 2021 Escape 5.0 / 2022 F150 SuperCab
Posts: 2,866
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Mike Lewis
..... 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.
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Yep, The Milepost is great, good luck and Have Fun with a 2021 venture!
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12-07-2020, 03:22 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Juneau, Alaska
Trailer: 2015 17A - Ready for more Maiden Voyages ....
Posts: 881
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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
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12-07-2020, 05:08 PM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Santa Rosa County, Florida
Trailer: 2014 Escape 21 Tow: 2024 Toyota Tundra
Posts: 3,097
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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
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12-07-2020, 05:19 PM
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#12
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Site Team
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Portland, Oregon
Trailer: 2014 Escape 5.0 TA
Posts: 11,023
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Mike Lewis
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.
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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
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12-07-2020, 08:57 PM
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#13
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Juneau, Alaska
Trailer: 2015 17A - Ready for more Maiden Voyages ....
Posts: 881
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Mike Lewis
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.
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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
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12-08-2020, 01:39 AM
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#14
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: London, Ontario
Trailer: 2020 Escape 19
Posts: 1,117
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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
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12-08-2020, 07:08 AM
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#15
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2020
Location: Kenedy County, Texas
Trailer: 2019 Escape 21
Posts: 521
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Brian B-P
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.
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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
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12-08-2020, 09:10 PM
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#16
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2016
Location: Anchorage, Alaska
Trailer: 2018 5.0 T/A "Escaper"
Posts: 209
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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.
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12-08-2020, 10:08 PM
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#17
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Santa Rosa County, Florida
Trailer: 2014 Escape 21 Tow: 2024 Toyota Tundra
Posts: 3,097
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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
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12-09-2020, 09:27 AM
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#18
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Member
Join Date: Jul 2020
Location: Reno, Nevada
Trailer: 2021 21c
Posts: 45
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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.
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12-09-2020, 10:00 AM
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#19
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2018
Location: Boulder, Colorado
Trailer: 2018 Escape 19'er + 2018 Highlander
Posts: 300
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Here's one long stretch.
__________________
... Greg
2018 Escape 19'er & 2018 Highlander
Not all who wander are lost
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12-09-2020, 10:19 AM
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#20
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2020
Location: Venice, Florida
Trailer: 2020 Escape 19
Posts: 1,265
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Mike Lewis
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?
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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.
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