Larry,
I ferried my SOB (an Airstream) to Alaska this past May for use during
summers there. I am a former long time resident of Alaska. We relocated to
Texas in '97 after retiring from our professional careers. In May, there was
about 100 miles of gravel and mud between Dawson Creek and Anchorage. And
that will likely be the case for many years to come as the original highway
is being continually upgraded. And the reconstructed road often has to be
repaired because of winter damage. There are no paved bypasses around the new
construction and repair work as there is here in the L 48.
While I would not drive my GMCMh on the Alaska highway again (I drove it to
Texas in
Oct.'97), the trip IS very doable in a GMC. It will get very muddy
and you have to be very careful on frost heaved roads to avoid undercarriage
damage. The paint will be extensively chipped from gravel spray behind the
rear wheels and the lower part of the back wall. You also have to be careful
where you stop on unpaved surfaces as traction can be a big problem on steep
grades. The Airstream is built on a GM truck chassis (and it drives like a
truck too) but it has three times the ground clearance of a GMCMh and dual
rear wheels!! Another issue is service for the GMCMh on the Alaska Highway
and in Alaska. There are no service/repair facilities for these unique
vehicles. I prepared my GMC for the trip in summer '97 as though I was
preparing an aircraft. It was a mechanically uneventful trip.
'Hope this helps.
Fred Hudspeth
'78 Royale/Tyler, TX