Protecting trailer on Alaska trip

[skiman]

Am contemplating a 8 week trip to Alaska. Have a 2014 21' pulled by a 2014 short bed crew cab Silverado. I have factory mud flaps on the tow that protect from mud and gravel somewhat.

What additional protection for the trailer have you used. Some use brush type protectors on the back of the tow but I have also heard it ruins fuel economy. Vinyl film on the trailer? Tape the front edges of water heater cover? Maybe big mud flaps bolted to the back side of the storage box?\

My trailer is still in nice shape, so I don't want to add a whole bunch of stone chips, etc. Looking for others experience. Thanks.

[Oldtimer]

https://www.etrailer.com/Mud-Flaps/R.../ERT00108.html

These work well in stopping rocks n debris

David

[dstreight]

After recently watching friends install vinyl film for nearly 100% coverage on their brand new Chevy Colorado Bison...that's now my plan for protecting the front of our 15A. When/if a change is needed/wanted, it comes off relatively easily. The vinyl they used seems to be thick enough to absorb small stone hits...

We do a ton of off-highway travel...

[Jim Bennett]

Originally Posted by dstreight

After recently watching friends install vinyl film for nearly 100% coverage on their brand new Chevy Colorado Bison...that's now my plan for protecting the front of our 15A. When/if a change is needed/wanted, it comes off relatively easily. The vinyl they used seems to be thick enough to absorb small stone hits...

We do a ton of off-highway travel...

On my 5.0TA I used the 3M Protectant on the outside of the frame members as that is where the tire debris slinging happens. I took it under a bit and a couple feet up. It has done great for me since 2017.

[Ron in BC]

That's what I've found traveling on a lot of gravel roads. The frame cross members and fronts of the axles get the most abrasion from flying gravel.

I didn't find most of the roads in Alaska much different that roads anywhere else. Lot's of good sections, some OK places and some construction like situations that are really rough. But if you're planning on doing the Dempster Hwy. then, yes, extra mud flaps etc. could be a good idea.

I have to say, after a while in Alaska, the front of the trailer had more bug splats than I've ever had. It was a lot of work getting them off. If I was doing it again I'd consider installing vinyl film.

Ron

[Ops]

Originally Posted by Ron in BC

...I didn't find most of the roads in Alaska much different that roads anywhere else. Lot's of good sections, some OK places and some construction like situations that are really rough. But if you're planning on doing the Dempster Hwy. then, yes, extra mud flaps etc. could be a good idea.

Ron

If you're considering driving the Dempster up to Inuvik, consider having 2 spare tires for each vehicle, the truck and the trailer. Travel on the Dempster includes an increased chance of losing windshields as well, since the big rigs don't slow down when passing you.

South of Fort McPherson there's shale as your road bed, which has a tendency of taking out tires. Pretty hard to get glass coverage in the NWT if the insurance company knows you're a resident from my recollection.

Met a Californian who'd ridden his BMV motorcycle to Inuvik with his rear tire cut by shale. How he made it to Inuvik...? But he did. Patched it and went south the next day as I recall...didn't want to wait for a new tire to be shipped up by air.

[cpaharley2008]

and if you have a Dodge Ram 1500 check your spare. Mine is a temporary, unsuitable for towing. Thus the purchase of another wheel and tire was necessitated.....

[Brian B-P]

Originally Posted by Ron in BC

I have to say, after a while in Alaska, the front of the trailer had more bug splats than I've ever had. It was a lot of work getting them off. If I was doing it again I'd consider installing vinyl film.

Based on my experience with vinyl film on the front of a motorhome, the film makes cleaning those bug splats much more difficult. Even after substantial cleaning effort, it has permanent stains from "bug juice", which have penetrated right into the vinyl. It also has dark spots which appear to be from moisture getting under the edges of the film.

I would consider vinyl film for stone chip protection (it has worked for that on the painted moulded fiberglass front of our motorhome), but I don't want it for bugs, or for appearance in general.

[Ron in BC]

Hmm, sounds like out of the frying pan into the fire with the vinyl. Guess I won't bother. Just have to be more disciplined and clean them off bug splats more frequently.

Ron

[cpaharley2008]

Originally Posted by Ron in BC

Hmm, sounds like out of the frying pan into the fire with the vinyl. Guess I won't bother. Just have to be more disciplined and clean them off bug splats more frequently.

Ron

Don't you just hate seeing dirt on your Escape.....I know I do.......

[kavm]

Originally Posted by Ops

If you're considering driving the Dempster up to Inuvik, consider having 2 spare tires for each vehicle, the truck and the trailer. Travel on the Dempster includes an increased chance of losing windshields as well, since the big rigs don't slow down when passing you.

South of Fort McPherson there's shale as your road bed, which has a tendency of taking out tires. Pretty hard to get glass coverage in the NWT if the insurance company knows you're a resident from my recollection.

Met a Californian who'd ridden his BMV motorcycle to Inuvik with his rear tire cut by shale. How he made it to Inuvik...? But he did. Patched it and went south the next day as I recall...didn't want to wait for a new tire to be shipped up by air.

This is a very good advice! We weren't towing but were in a Ford Expedition going up the Dalton Highway hoping to go to Deadhorse. Had a flat about 100 miles before Coldfoot. With no spare and 100 miles to go on a sketchy road - we were quite nervous. Promised myself never to venture that way without double spare...

[HABBERDABBER]

NASA employed TRIPLE redundancy when something absolutely, positively had to get done. 3 of everything... but only things of "mission critical" importance.

That's not my advice, but a notion for you to ponder. And you get to cipher & decide what is important....given available space, weight, cost, probability of problem, severity of problem, etc.

[skiman]

Thinking now about Rock Tamers that I would keep in the back of the pickup and put on when we start to encounter gravel.

Vinyl sounds like it might be worth considering, wax it up good to make it easy to keep bugs off and remove it when we get home.

I have a spare Carlisle tire that has never been on the ground and a spare for the truck as well. Put those on steel wheels and take for 2nd spares.

[Donna D.]

How about slathering the front of the trailer with Plasti-Dip.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G7for7PD5bw

[Ron in BC]

Originally Posted by skiman

I have a spare Carlisle tire that has never been on the ground and a spare for the truck as well. Put those on steel wheels and take for 2nd spares.

Originally Posted by Donna D.

How about slathering the front of the trailer with Plasti-Dip.

Can't go wrong with a spare spare for some areas. I have seen folks that destroyed their spare and did have another spare. Saved their day.

That Plastic Dip looks pretty good in the video. Wonder how long it'd stay in place and still look good. I think if I was doing it I'd do the front lower corners if I didn't have vinyl guards, the wheel wells and the fronts of the steps and front of the rear bumper. Don't know how many times I've gravel blasted the steps and bumper and had to wire brush and repaint them.

Ron

[Donna D.]

Originally Posted by Ron in BC

That Plastic Dip looks pretty good in the video. Wonder how long it'd stay in place and still look good. I think if I was doing it I'd do the front lower corners if I didn't have vinyl guards, the wheel wells and the fronts of the steps and front of the rear bumper. Don't know how many times I've gravel blasted the steps and bumper and had to wire brush and repaint them.

Ron

IF it lasted for one Alaska trip it may be worth it. Seems like years ago, I read on the Casita Club someone who used it over the front of their Casita on an Alaska trip. Came home, peeled it off and was very happy with the results.

[akmacs]

I bought the towtector rock/spray guard a couple summers ago and so far so good. I prefer the bristles over the flap style rock guards.
Trailer exterior is free of road rash aside from the bumper paint on each facing side about 4" in. Only way to protect that area is some type of material that can be wrapped around as a cover. Thinking of trying an old bicycle tube.

[skiman]

Originally Posted by akmacs

I bought the towtector rock/spray guard a couple summers ago and so far so good. I prefer the bristles over the flap style rock guards.
Trailer exterior is free of road rash aside from the bumper paint on each facing side about 4" in. Only way to protect that area is some type of material that can be wrapped around as a cover. Thinking of trying an old bicycle tube.

Did you notice difference in mileage with the Towtector? They like they would be better than flaps.

[akmacs]

Originally Posted by skiman

Did you notice difference in mileage with the Towtector? They like they would be better than flaps.

I haven't done a check with/without, my mileage is not good to begin with but I can say if there is a difference it isn't enough that I have noticed.

[Upfisk]

I last drove the Alcan in 1986. At that time every mile of it was paved, and that now includes the Cassiar. Are you considering the Steese Hwy to Circle City, or the top of the world Hwy to Eagle? For a plain vanilla trip to Alaska the roads have potholes and frost heaves but are mostly paved.