If you're nervous about driving the AlCan hwy, take the ferry from Seattle, or drive up to Vancouver and hop on there. The price difference is negligible after hotels and gas if I remember correctly.

 

After talking with the shipping company I called the ferry/barge company that is based out of Seattle and they quoted me $2,500 just to transport my truck from Seattle to Anchorage... unless you are talking about a different ferry service? I cant remember the name of the one I called. In any event I would not mind the scenic route through Canada, the only concern is getting stranded in another country and running out of gas. I will upgrade my straight talk service to international though in case I need it and I will be sure to bring a large gas can.

I have to figure out exactly which route I will take. Mapquest offers 2 routes, my tom tom offers a different route altogether and I have never needed to use an old school map before so i need to do some more research.

Regarding the build of my truck, should I just make a separate thread or ask my questions here? If I take this route I will have the head gaskets and valve cover gaskets replaced and new arp studs added. By then most of my power steering system will be brand new and I will also be sure to replace the radiator, all cooling hoses, coolant temperature sensor, MAF sensor and the proper cooling fluid. I already have the ultra gauge and the 180 thermostat. Should I invest in a second 180 stat? or do they last long enough that I will be fine on such a long drive? Most of the brake system is brand new and I just had retreads mounted/balanced. Front driveshaft is new and I already rebuilt the rear shaft. Trans fluid, filter and gasket are new and my diffs have been drained and refilled twice in the last year. I will be replacing the axle seals and the exhaust manifold gaskets to. Crankshaft position sensor was also already replaced. Will my truck be suitable with everything mentioned above complete or am I missing something?


Can anybody recommend a good but affordable camera for this trek? Im thinking about the goPro black edition. Les Stroud of Survivorman uses it so id like to consider it. I want to at some points mount it on the exterior of my truck of on the interior of my front windshield just below my rear view mirror so i can capture the beauty I will be experiencing.

Thanks guys.

 

I'd pressure test your cooling system to check your head gaskets. If they are good, just replace the main parts of the cooling system. Your waterpump, radiator, fan clutch if it's old, etc. An extra 180 degree thermostat is a good idea but Im pretty sure yours is still pretty new.

If you haven't already purchased the AB head gasket kit you might want to for the future. It has pretty much every other gasket you need as well and it could come in handy. Personally I wouldn't use ARP studs, seems like a lot of people have had problems with those lately.

The good thing is your brakes are like new, your tranny has fresh fluid.

At some point you have to not fear your truck. I've had the same problem where I don't want to take it for long drives. But given all the repairs I've made thus far it has given me confidence to do so. So, have some gaskets with you and a tool set. Then drive the ****er. Drive. Drive. Drive.

 

I say skip the head gaskets. I just saw a post where rovermastertech talks about how the 03/04s don't have an oil cooler.

Buy the oil cooler lines from an earlier D2 and the trans cooler(it's bigger than the oil cooler) and install that. Then add an oil pressure gauge.

Get an AB coolant hose kit, spare serp belt, and ultragauge/tools and shove off!

As 007 says, don't fear your truck. You could spend a year and 20k trying to eliminate all the variables.