The Rover-Landers of BC

How much serious off road will you be doing ?
Andrew

Good Day

Sounds like a great trip you have planned! I've known quite a few people who have done that trip (sticking to the paved and graded gravel roads) with motorshomes, vans, VW's. Other than being dusty and offering a lot of stone chips the trek is not too challenging (unless you are thinking of going off-road).

If you plan is to stick to the beaten path then my "up-north" list would include:

Bug repellant ( the deep woods stuff, none of that wussie floral scented oil)
Sun Screen ( the days are very long at that time of the year )
Duct tape and all the usual "going on a trip" tools (jack, wrenches, hammer, wire, fuses, etc).
More bug repellant
I'd also consider:
Some of that do-it-yourself windshield repair liquid... might reduce the cracking that can occur after a nasty stone chip.
Clear rock chip protective film/coating for the headlights and front signals (also might want it on the paint if your concerned about stone chips on the hood)
A spray can of PAM ( spray it on the front of the rover before the trip, helps reduce the work to wash-off the dead bugs from the paint and such )
Trust me, there are going to be a lot of bugs at that time of the year!

There are adequate aervice stations (fuel, oil, minor repairs) but it isn't likely that they'll stock any rover parts. I suggest chatting with the range rover guys to get an idea of what "spares" you might want to bring with you. Speaking of spares... a couple of extra tires should be enough for the trip but I'd consider packing a spare radial inner tube (in case one of the tubeless tires is damaged to the point that you need a tube... saves waiting for one to get shipped in... probably cheaper than buying one up there as well).

If you get the chance, I'd suggest you drive the MacKenzie Highway that will lead you past Hay River NWT and a series of impressive waterfalls!

It's beautiful country up there... hope you enjoy it!

Rob

PS: Did I mention the bug repellant?
:wink:

Bug season and wet season are quite similar anywhere north of Prince George -- July.

You might be better off waiting until later in the summer as the bugs have died off to about half strength, but its not unheard of to have snow in mid-August either. (or July for that matter)

If it were me I'd leave from down there so that you're timing entry into the Yukon by around August 1, and then you have about 6 weeks before it starts really cooling off.

Maybe we need to plan a club trip up there with you for next summer...

Dave

Don't get caught up in all the hype. For your sort of trip, winches and underbody protection will only add unnecessarily to vehicle weight. Just make sure you are in good mechanical condition and you should do fine. Carry extra air filters. Check cooling system (rad, water pump, viscous unit), ignition system, and fuel delivery system as these can be common modes of failure.

Have Fun!
John

Hi again

Here are some websites to check out for the Mackenzie Highway

http://www.wrigleyhotel.com/mackenzie-highway.htm
http://www.telusplanet.net/public/grims ... ziehw.html
http://www.nwttravel.nt.ca/
http://peaceriver.govoffice.com/
http://www.town.highlevel.ab.ca/siteeng ... asp?bhcp=1

I hear what you say about your series rover... could do the trip but would get passed by everyone... there are long stretches of road where people do wind'er up abit (I used to drive my series 1 107 up there and getting passed by a B-train semi doing 130kph was pretty unnerving!)

Hope you have a great trip!

Rob

G90's are bias ply aren't they. For a more comfortable ride and less shock damage, you might be better off with a radial tire. By "shock" damage, I don't nessesarily mean shock absorbers but damage to the whole vehicle and passengers as well. More air cushion between you and the road, the less vibration damage you and the vehicle will suffer. The reason it is fashionable for Toyota trucks etc. to have wide, fat tires on them is for the cushy ride they give. Radial tires, even narrow ones have a more flexible side wall and will give a smoother ride than the bias. Run somewhat lower air pressure on the gravel roads.

Greg S, A die-hard bias believer but there is a place for everything.

Last time I checked the G90's were not available in North America. I was looking for some. British sites don't give a good report on them. Mostly complaints of high wear and poor road handling it seems to me as well as not outstanding off-road ability.

Do you have a route planned? Is your intent to get to Alaska as fast as you can from home then slow down and look or are you planning on enjoying the view and different roads the whole way? You are talking about one heck of a LONG way. If British Columbia is part of your intended route I can suggest some back highways that would be entirely enjoyable but a bit slower than the main route. Is the whole trip to be completed in July or have you a bit more time than that? Are you staying in the tent top or mixing it with Hotels? How many days to transit B.C.?

I read a story in a magazine once about a guy in his Range Rover that left New York city for Alaska with his wife. I think it was something like 10,000 miles in twenty days including a couple days to get new air suspension installed in Alaska. They "team drove" from the east coast to Alaska stopping only a couple nights. On the way home they drove straight from Alaska home without stopping overnight anywhere. They took turns sleeping and driving till they got home. Not what I would recommend to anybody.

Greg S

Looks like a great route to me. Wish I could do something similar!

By taking the ferry north you miss all the area I could advise on. The route up north and headed south again looks like you will enjoy it.

Great map. Where can I get one and mark a route on it like that?

Greg S

Do the dempster hwy to Inuvik from Dawson :D