Rather than specifying difficulty ratings for individual trails and specifying vehicle requirements for these different trails, we are taking a different approach. We are specifying minimal vehicle equipment and capability requirements which every participating vehicle must meet. Our trails are not particularly tough, but the level of challenge may be found many places over the miles we will travel. We may not always be in a position to offer secondary routes to reach our destination. And there are no bypasses around our obstacles - otherwise they wouldn't be considered obstacles. ACT2003 will be a long distance expedition type outing. It is important that your rig be DEPENDABLE!. We will be far from any source of parts or service that we can not carry with us and perform in the field. Hopefully we will not spend any significant amout of time campbound or stuck on the trail while mechanical failurs are addressed. But it will probably happen. We expect it and consider it part of the game. But don't invite such occurances by bringing a vehilce with known shortcomings.
Additionally, your rig has to get you to and back from Alaska. It is a long trip for some folks, and the Yukon is not known for its commercial development...As in 2001 and 2002, the vehicles particpating in ACT 2003 will also need to be fairly capable to ensure problem free passage over these trails. You do not need to have an all out hardcore trail rig for this trip. But a purely street equipped wagon, or a stone stock early model '40 will be out of its league when the trails do get tough. Therefore we have set these minimum mechanical requirements for all vehicles.
Vehicle requirements:
- 33x12.5 inch tires (nominal sizing) will be the smallest tires allowed. All tires must have a mud type tread. All terrain tires are pretty much considered "street terrain" tires up here.
- All vehicles will have at least one locking axle differential.
- All vehicles will have an onboard fuel carrying capacity of at least 36.6 gallons. This can be achieved high capacity fuel tanks, auxillary tanks, jerry cans or any combination.
- All vehicles will have a properly functioning CB rdio with a correctly tuned antenna. (Note: we don't have any height limitations, so if you want a 96 inch whip go right ahead.)
- All vehicles will have at least one recovery point (tow hook, shackle or pintle hook for example) at each end. A trailer ball hitch does not qualify.
- All vehicles will be waterproofed so as to cross standing water of at least 3 feet in depth with no concerns. This is a minimum. We will almost ceratinly encounter deeper water on this trip.
- All vehicle batteries will be secured.
- All soft top vehicles will have a roll bar.
- All vehicles will have a full size spare tire.
- No vehicle will have excessive fluid leaks.
- All service and parking brakes must be in correct working condition.
- A vehicles must have correctly functioning brake lights.
- All vehicles must be equipped with seatbelts for all passengers.
In addition to requirements for the vehicles, we have requirements pertaining to vehicle related gear that must be on hand and for personnel gear that must be carried.
Required vehicle gear:
- A highlift type jack (60 inch version reccommended).
- Vehicle service jack (for lifting the rig from underneath for tire change or repairs).
- 30 foot long, 20000 pound strength rating snatch strap.
- Round nose shovel.
- Flashlight.
- Sufficient oil for complete engine oil change.
- Sealable container for drained oil.
- Sealed container of brake fluid.
- Spare oil filter.
- Sealed container of "Heet" or other fuel system drying agent.
- Comprehensive tool kit (this selection is of course up to the indiviual particpants, but consider the potential need for fairly
- significant repairs such as birfield replacement as well as field expedient operations like radiator patching, clamping of torn brke lines, spring center pin replacement and so on).
- Securly mounted and readily available fire extinguisher
Required personnel gear:
- Complete change of clothing (to include coat or jacket, underclothing and foot wear) for every vehicle passenger, packed in a waterproof container/containers.
- Rain coat for each passenger. This doesn't need to be expensive or high quality... (a two piece rain suit is also recommended)
- Warm over clothing (to include jacket/coat, gloves and hat) for each passenger. It may be summer but it get's very chilly standing beside or on a glacier...
- Bug repellent (high concentration DEET formultions are best... Avon Skin So Soft is NOT bug repellent).
- Head nets (anti-bug)for each passenger.
- Leather work gloves for each passenger.
- Emergency food stuff sufficient for three days for every passenger. Separate from and above and beyond whatever normal supplies you chose to carry.
- Comprehensive first aid kit in each vehicle. (This selection will again be based on you own judgement and you abilities to put your supplies to use.)
These are a few suggestions for you to consider. Good ideas, but not requirements...
Suggested vehicle upgrade considerations:
- A winch is NEVER a bad idea to have. (We should have no shortage of winch equipped rigs in our groups however.)
- One or more snatch blocks for use with winch. Heavy gauge "choke" chains for use with winch.
- Shackles for winch and tow strap attachment. Manually operated "com-along" in lieu of winch.
- Lockers in each axle.
- Larger and more aggresive tires.
- Tire chains for the muddiest stretches (IF you have the clearance to run them).
- Additional fuel capacity.
- More extensive waterproofing.
Suggested additional vehicle gear considerations:
- Spare birfield(s)
- Extra oil, grease, lubricants and fluids.
- Assorted nuts and bolts (lug nuts, wheel studs, driveshaft bolts, spring centerpins carb nuts and???)
- Electrical wire, connections and fuses.
- Duct tape, safty wire, silicon sealant, epoxy glues, chain, zip ties, hose clamps, C clamps and the like.
- Tire repair kit, air pump, tire innertube(s).
- Saw or axe.
- Rope/twine
Suggested additional personnel gear considerations:
- Waterproof containers for all clothng, sleeping bags and other gear that woud be adversely affected by moisture.
- More than one pair of sturdy foot wear.
- Comfortable footwear for hiking/walking.
- Extra waders for use by passengers.
- Hip waders for the vehicle operator. (reccommended for each passenger)
- Tarp(s) to cover tent/gear in the event of extended rains.
As we have tried to stress, the Alaska Cruiser Trek is not about ultimate challenge or proving that you/your rig are tougher than anyone else's. It is about some fairly remote and moderately taxing travel to simply go where few have ever gone before. That said, we do have a bit of breakage during our days on the trail. It is not sought, and it is not hoped for, but it always seems to happen to one degree or another.
To help keep things in perspective, this is a cumulative and fairly complete list of the mishaps that we have experienced during ACT2001 and ACT2002. We had roughly a dozen rigs each year:
Five broken birfields
Two snapped (semi floating rear axles)
One destroyed full floating axle flange/hub
Three rigs laid on their sides (all due to momentary inattention)
Two rigs drowned needing to be dried and drained before continuing
One destroyed rear differential
One failed tranny adapter, clutch assembly, throwout bearing and transmission bearing retainer
One shattered transfer case
A couple of torn brake lines
Three or four tires slashed on sharp rocks
A couple of broken winch cables (major muck)
Three or four broken center pins
A lost tire (on the road no less) due to sheared studs
A lost caliper due to loosened mouting bolts
A couple of broken springs
Probably some other minor stuff that has been forgotten as well....
You can see that there is definitely potential for failure and breakage on ths trip. It is not as bad as it might sound like. A very large percentage of this list, and especially the more serious problems were inncured by a small handful of the more modified and much more heavily stressed and hard used rigs.Regardless, everyone made it to the trailhead and everyone (and their rigs) made it home on schedule.
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