Alaska trip in 2022 Tab 320 Boondock

homerd
homerd Member Posts: 37
edited July 2022 in Battery/Electrical & Solar
We made it to Alaska! Tab has worked well as we did not have any issues finding places to stay! We camped in Harvest hosts, provincial and Government areas. We stayed in a Canada Supermarket 2 days in Whitehorse, Yk. Problems with tab are, cushions compressed really bad by the 12th day! Very disappointing. The gray tank valve stuck after 1st use making it very interesting when emptying. The fire extinguisher fell off the door day 12. It has followed my Toyota 4Runner beautifully without sway bars! The 100ah Battleborns are having no problem keeping us powered. I do have 100 suitcase I have used sporadically. Overall happy with tab but disappointed withe the issues. 
2022 Tab 320S Boodock
2012 Toyota 4Runner SR5
2013 KZ Durango 336RE
2013 Chevrolet 2500HD LTZ Duramax
Akron, Ohio Summer/Fall and out camping
Largo, Florida Winter


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  • elbolillo
    elbolillo Member Posts: 549
    homerd said:
    We made it to Alaska! Tab has worked well as we did not have any issues finding places to stay! We camped in Harvest hosts, provincial and Government areas. We stayed in a Canada Supermarket 2 days in Whitehorse, Yk. Problems with tab are, cushions compressed really bad by the 12th day! Very disappointing. The gray tank valve stuck after 1st use making it very interesting when emptying. The fire extinguisher fell off the door day 12. It has followed my Toyota 4Runner beautifully without sway bars! The 100ah Battleborns are having no problem keeping us powered. I do have 100 suitcase I have used sporadically. Overall happy with tab but disappointed withe the issues. 
    Cushions are a major disappointment for sure. Very low quality foam used. Definitely not the type of quality one would expect for the price. 
    _____________________________________________________
    Ken / 2023 Tab 400 “La Bolita” (31,000+ miles) / 2024 Toyota Sequoia
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  • homerd
    homerd Member Posts: 37
    I agree, at this price point of camper it should be better
    2022 Tab 320S Boodock
    2012 Toyota 4Runner SR5
    2013 KZ Durango 336RE
    2013 Chevrolet 2500HD LTZ Duramax
    Akron, Ohio Summer/Fall and out camping
    Largo, Florida Winter


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  • Denny16
    Denny16 Member Posts: 5,431
    edited July 2022
    The fire extinguisher is too heavy for the weak mounting in the door, with added stress from opening and closing the door.  We mounted ours on the end of the dinette bench next to the door.  Much better spot.  We are going to get the new road flare size fire extinguisher tubes thst might stay put on the door panel cubby.
    Cheers 
    2018 TaB400 Custom Boondock,  Jeep Gladiator truck, Northern California Coast.
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  • AnOldUR
    AnOldUR Member Posts: 1,728
    edited July 2022
    Hey @homerd, we’re right behind you in our 2020 320S. Starting from NJ, we crossed the Washington State border into Canada yesterday morning and spent the night at a roadside pull off on Rt 1. Road noise, but a great view. Tonight we’re at a small, cozy campground just north of Stoner on Rt 97. We had planned to stay at a Provincial campground, but got there and found they had a water contamination problem. All for the best. We got a nice waterfront site. Might spend two nights here before continuing our journey to Alaska. Where are you or will you be in Alaska?

    View from our first night.



    Tonight’s looking out the window.

    Stockton, New Jersey
    2020 nuCamp T@B 320S * Jeep Wrangler
    60,865 camping miles through the end of 2025

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  • Sharon_is_SAM
    Sharon_is_SAM Member Posts: 10,061
    @AnOldUR - glad to see you two are continuing to have fun!
    Sharon / 2017 T@B CSS / 2015 Toyota Sienna Minivan / Westlake, Ohio
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  • homerd
    homerd Member Posts: 37
    Where currently in Eureka Mts north of Valdez. Heading to Fairbanks today to my daughters. Enjoy your trip, you’re going to love it. Provincial Parks water is not potable at any we visited. If you have the IOverlander app you’ll find good water. We preferred these parks and free firewood and large spacious sites!
    2022 Tab 320S Boodock
    2012 Toyota 4Runner SR5
    2013 KZ Durango 336RE
    2013 Chevrolet 2500HD LTZ Duramax
    Akron, Ohio Summer/Fall and out camping
    Largo, Florida Winter


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  • AnOldUR
    AnOldUR Member Posts: 1,728
    @homerd we had a little trouble crossing into Canada. The arrivecan app asked for a destination in Canada where we could be contacted. We didn’t have one and the app wouldn’t let us go further without it. The crossing agent gave us a onetime pass since we had all our paperwork, but said next time we’d have to use the app. He said we could use any address in Canada. In other words, lie. Any tips on how to handle this?
    Stockton, New Jersey
    2020 nuCamp T@B 320S * Jeep Wrangler
    60,865 camping miles through the end of 2025

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  • Denny16
    Denny16 Member Posts: 5,431
    edited July 2022
    I have a mate in Victoria, and would use his address.  Find a fellow TaBer here that lives in Canada, and see if your can use his address.  Isn’t there a separate application for just going through Canada to get to Alaska?
     Cheers 
    2018 TaB400 Custom Boondock,  Jeep Gladiator truck, Northern California Coast.
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  • AnOldUR
    AnOldUR Member Posts: 1,728
    edited July 2022
    @Denny16 the agent even suggested using a campground address. I’m just not liking the idea of not being truthful, especially when it comes to border crossing. We didn’t see a separate app for just passing through Canada and the agent didn’t mention it when we told him that Alaska was our destination, but we’ll look into it.
     We’re just thinking about how to handle crossing back into Canada after leaving Alaska. Although we are considering a ferry ride as a return option. Not having a lot of luck researching it. Any information would be helpful.
    Stockton, New Jersey
    2020 nuCamp T@B 320S * Jeep Wrangler
    60,865 camping miles through the end of 2025

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  • VictoriaP
    VictoriaP Member Posts: 1,496
    @AnOldUR Are you looking to ferry from Alaska back to WA, or something else? The AK to WA ferry is this one: https://alaskaferry.com/FerrySchedules/AlaskaFerryInformation From what I can find, the furthest south stop in AK is Ketchikan, and the ferry ride would end back in Bellingham. There’s a fare calculator on the site that you can use to figure out your cost.
    2019 320s BD Lite, white with blue (“Haven”)
    2015 Subaru Outback 3.6r (unsafe 200lb tongue weight limit until 2020 models)
    2020 Subaru Outback XT
    Pacific NW
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  • AnOldUR
    AnOldUR Member Posts: 1,728
    Thanks @VictoriaP. That was a reality check. We thought that with high gas prices the ferry might be a reasonable option, but at a rough estimate of over $6K that’s not even close to our budget. Unless I did something wrong, we’re back to plan A. Too bad. It would have been fun.
    Stockton, New Jersey
    2020 nuCamp T@B 320S * Jeep Wrangler
    60,865 camping miles through the end of 2025

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  • Denny16
    Denny16 Member Posts: 5,431
    I think you did something wrong, I ran 2 adult sr., 1@ 2 berth roomette, 1 vehicle 14’ and 1 vehicle 18’ and got 2950.00 from KTN to BEL.  Sounds like you punched something wrong in.  Even with a inside 2 berth stateroom it would be $3200, not $6K.
     Cheers 
    2018 TaB400 Custom Boondock,  Jeep Gladiator truck, Northern California Coast.
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  • AnOldUR
    AnOldUR Member Posts: 1,728
    Good to know @Denny16. We could probably swing that. Figuring the gas for the return trip will be in the $1K area anyway and the great experience it would be. I’ll check in person when we get to Skagway.
    Stockton, New Jersey
    2020 nuCamp T@B 320S * Jeep Wrangler
    60,865 camping miles through the end of 2025

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  • pthomas745
    pthomas745 Administrator, Moderator Posts: 4,528
    There is some info today about serious Alcan Highway damage up toward the Yukon near Liard.  Not sure on detours, but it happened a couple of days ago.

    2017 Outback
    Towed by 2014 Touareg TDi
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  • AnOldUR
    AnOldUR Member Posts: 1,728
    Yes @pthomas745, we saw that and it had us worried. Turns out that the route we’re taking hits the Alaska highway above the damaged section. Thanks for the heads-up. We could have very easily missed it.
    Stockton, New Jersey
    2020 nuCamp T@B 320S * Jeep Wrangler
    60,865 camping miles through the end of 2025

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  • Jake_Elwood_and_us
    Jake_Elwood_and_us Member Posts: 65
    VictoriaP said:
    @AnOldUR Are you looking to ferry from Alaska back to WA, or something else? The AK to WA ferry is this one: https://alaskaferry.com/FerrySchedules/AlaskaFerryInformation From what I can find, the furthest south stop in AK is Ketchikan, and the ferry ride would end back in Bellingham. There’s a fare calculator on the site that you can use to figure out your cost.

    From what I know of Alaska, Ketchikan has no roads to anywhere out so that's not an option.
    2021 T@B400 BD  2000 4x4 Tundra 2021 Ford 150 STX 2.7 ecoboost, Calif. coastal-sand & redwoods
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  • AnOldUR
    AnOldUR Member Posts: 1,728
    @Jake_Elwood_and_us. It looks to me like the route would be Skagway to Haines to Juneau to Bellingham with Haines being a stopover then picking up a second ferry in Juneau. 
    Stockton, New Jersey
    2020 nuCamp T@B 320S * Jeep Wrangler
    60,865 camping miles through the end of 2025

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  • VictoriaP
    VictoriaP Member Posts: 1,496
    @Jake_Elwood_and_us Ah, good to know. The ferry makes multiple stops, so I’m sure they can catch it somewhere along the line.
    2019 320s BD Lite, white with blue (“Haven”)
    2015 Subaru Outback 3.6r (unsafe 200lb tongue weight limit until 2020 models)
    2020 Subaru Outback XT
    Pacific NW
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  • Denny16
    Denny16 Member Posts: 5,431
    edited July 2022
    Catching the ferry further north, will probably add to the cost as well.  Good idea to double check it from the port of departure.  Have fun and stay safe.
     Cheers 
    2018 TaB400 Custom Boondock,  Jeep Gladiator truck, Northern California Coast.
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  • AnOldUR
    AnOldUR Member Posts: 1,728
    Denny16 said:
    Have fund and stay safe.
    Laughed at this typo since funding this adventure is what has me worried.  :D
    Stockton, New Jersey
    2020 nuCamp T@B 320S * Jeep Wrangler
    60,865 camping miles through the end of 2025

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  • pthomas745
    pthomas745 Administrator, Moderator Posts: 4,528
    edited July 2022
    I drove to AK from California in 2016, (not towing yet) and it was quite a fun trip.  I had heard about the Alaska Marine Highway System by some campers in Glacier Bay, and decided to take the ferry back.  The route was from Haines to Bellingham, WA.  Took about 4 days, and it was pretty spectacular. (The drive is probably "more spectacular, however.) But, the Ferry was a lot of fun, and nice to see some "real" Alaska along the inside passage.  I had a small stateroom with a bath, the ferry had a restaurant and a "snack bar" sort of setup where there were microwaves, etc if you had your own food along.  There seemed to be many coolers brought onboard.   The price then for my vehicle and the small stateroom was $2200.  I just went through quickly this afternoon, and the same route with the same vehicle was anywhere from 2300 to 2700.  I did not include the trailer in my search, by the way, so this estimate is probably at least 1/3rd too low.
     I know the Alaska Ferry System has experienced some ups and downs the last few years, and it seems there aren't as many "sailings".  But, it was a perfectly fun thing to do, and was the topper of my trip.


    2017 Outback
    Towed by 2014 Touareg TDi
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  • Denny16
    Denny16 Member Posts: 5,431
    The inside passage is grand, and a fun trip.  We went from Vancouver Island up the inside passage in a converted Sea Going tug, twas a grand trip.  We flew back to Washington afterwards.  
    Cheers 
    2018 TaB400 Custom Boondock,  Jeep Gladiator truck, Northern California Coast.
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  • AnOldUR
    AnOldUR Member Posts: 1,728
    Have to ask. When on the ferry, do you have access to your car/trailer for food or a place to rest?
    Stockton, New Jersey
    2020 nuCamp T@B 320S * Jeep Wrangler
    60,865 camping miles through the end of 2025

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  • Jake_Elwood_and_us
    Jake_Elwood_and_us Member Posts: 65
    edited July 2022
    AnOldUR said:
    Have to ask. When on the ferry, do you have access to your car/trailer for food or a place to rest?

    Nope. We were considering a return trip on the ferry but we have two dogs and I could never agree to the rules as stated below.
    • You will not have random access to your pet since there is no access to the car deck while the ship is underway and all animals remain on the car deck. This rule applies whether they are in a car or not.
    • During longer sailings where there is no port of call, the purser will announce over the loud speaker that the car deck is unlocked for 15 minutes. At this time you can walk or feed your pet or retrieve something out of your car.
    • There is no designated pet area on the car deck for walking and your pet will be going on concrete and it is up to you to bring cleanup supplies.
    Well, I guess you could go grab some food during the unlocked period but no resting.
    2021 T@B400 BD  2000 4x4 Tundra 2021 Ford 150 STX 2.7 ecoboost, Calif. coastal-sand & redwoods
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  • AnOldUR
    AnOldUR Member Posts: 1,728
    @Jake_Elwood_and_us thanks for that information. We have a dog also and can’t see these restrictions working for us either. 
    Stockton, New Jersey
    2020 nuCamp T@B 320S * Jeep Wrangler
    60,865 camping miles through the end of 2025

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