I once looked at flying up to Anchorage and renting an RV there. The Web site of an RV place showed the highways the renters could travel on. For the Dempster, there was an admonition: "Don't even think about it!".
One cannot drive up to the Arctic Ocean. The last 20 or 30 miles from Inuvik had no road probably due to swampy land. One must take a short flight to go up to the Arctic Ocean to say he/she has been there.
I am afraid I will not be driving my RV on the Dempster either, when I make the trip. My wife would have a fit if I make an attempt. So, to compensate for that, I spent a bit of time on Google Street View to see the scenery along this road. See the link below for the turn-around at the end of the road going north from Inuvik. http://
Hers was a nice diesel Mercedes Sprinter-chassis based class C, not a VW.
I also looked a the Sprinter-based RVs and was shocked at the lack of payload capacity. Once they get the RV 'stuff' loaded on that chassis there isn't much you can add before you're reached the GVWR. I saw a Winnebago model that was maxed out at 900 lbs.When I was shopping for a used class C, did give serious consideration to a Sprinter-based motorhome.
I also looked a the Sprinter-based RVs and was shocked at the lack of payload capacity. Once they get the RV 'stuff' loaded on that chassis there isn't much you can add before you're reached the GVWR. I saw a Winnebago model that was maxed out at 900 lbs.
When we replaced our house batteries we stuck with exactly the same size. Too many folks had fires in their battery compartment after "upgrading". We didn't dare change/re-route the wiring at all!It is amazing how far they have come with converter technology. The WFCO in my Aliner includes a 25A three stage charger which does a great job on everything from float to rapid charge. I was able to get 4 years out of the original cheapo deep cycle battery thanks to proper charging
This hit me in spades. After four seasons, I wanted to get a new battery and figured I might as well put in a size 27 in place of the size 24. I already had a size 27 battery box in the garage I used to use for the trolling motor on the boat. But wait....... ! When I tried to mount the size 27 box where the size 24 box had been, it interfered with the two propane tanks. Now I'm figuring out how to jury rig a way to mount it without having to do any cutting and welding of the L brackets that hold the battery box. There's always something........
Ding ding ding, winner. RVs are cheaply made so they can be affordable. If you don't want cheap, go with something like an earthmover.
A good plan.Few people realize what they are getting into when they purchase an RV. Our plan is to buy a 5 year old class A motor home for half the new price, drive it around for a few years exploring this great country of ours, then sell it for what we can get out of it and buy or build in our new-found retirement locale.
We have expectations of having to replace roof material, appliances, flooring, plumbing fixtures, and a whole host of other failed parts during the journey. We also have expectations of having phenomenal views out the front window when we wake up every morning. Lakes, mountains, prairies, glacier valleys, and rivers among them. All without living out of a suitcase and dealing with airport security and baggage lines.
... Sleeping in your own bed wherever you go cannot be overrated.
DW and I stumbled into the RV lifestyle when we purchased an Airstream from my aging parents. Now that we've FIREd the RV allows us to spend significant amount of time traveling. We're not full-timing we are any-timing! And bringing your bed (and kitchen and bathroom) are a major benefit.
Left! No Right! I mean STOP!.......... There is nothing quite like backing one's trailer up to a secluded lake
Until the neighbors from hell show up , generator and boom box running.and watching the sun set with a campfire glowing and a nice glass of wine.
Never had a problem backing the trailer just using the side view mirrors.Left! No Right! I mean STOP!
Until the neighbors from hell show up , generator and boom box running.
Just kidding.
Never had a problem backing the trailer just using the side view mirrors.
Solved the neighbors from hell problem. Sold my Argosy, bought 14 acres in the wilderness, nearest neighbor several miles away.
Reminds me of a story by spoken word artist Henry Rollins. He was talking about a time some years ago when he decided he badly needed a break, so booked a place on an African safari-type vacation. By day, the group would be taken on safari and by night, they would live in tents in an area set up for them. Henry described his excitement at the thought of getting out into the middle of this wild and rugged country - just him, a few other people in the group, a book or two that he had brought with him to read at night, and the wild animals. Then the folk in a tent near him turned their boombox up loud so that all night, he heard loud Madonna songs blaring across the African landscape.Until the neighbors from hell show up , generator and boom box running.
No doubt on the mirrors. Using sig. other for backing help is a recipe for disaster.
Neighbors from hell? We have joined them before and packed up and left some other times. I don;t let things like that ruin my trips.
Never had a problem backing the trailer just using the side view mirrors.
It was quite comic to hear him rail on about his perceived idiocy of these people who had spent a good sum of money to get out into this beautiful and remote countryside, only to play loud pop music
I see this at the movies and at concerts all the time, i.e. people blabbing the entire time. Why pay good money for a ticket when you have no plans to watch the show?
One of my favorite songwriters, anytime he plays acoustic, begins the show with a warning that if you talk during his songs, he's going to stop singing and embarrass you in front of your girlfriend. Fair warning, and people STFU at his shows.
Now when he's out with the full band, there's a big dance floor, it is a whole 'nother story.
Left! No Right! I mean STOP!
Until the neighbors from hell show up , generator and boom box running.
Just kidding.