Running produce to Alaska

vikingswen · May 12, 2014

Taildragon said: ↑

This is what is commonly called being a "Craftsman" at your profession rather than being just another employee... Keep up the good work, don't let it get you down, this won't be the last time that you have a round like this, hang right in there...GOOD JOB
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Thanks for the compliment. I wouldn't mind the occasional break down, but the last month and a half it has been every trailer. I either had to fix the trailer before I left or I ended up fixing it on the side of the road. I just bought a 4' truck toolbox to add to the cat walk to add more tools and supplies.

rockyroad74 · May 12, 2014

Lucar said: ↑

how about for some one that's been arrested several times but has got dismissal on each of the cases?
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Last time MB checked mine, last year. I told every arrest and outcome. They came back and said it shows nothing, as they were both dismissed misdemeanors. So, I guess your ok unless you have a conviction. In that case, for misdemeanors, it has to be 5 years counting from the date you were released from probation or parole with all court demands fulfilled. Then you can apply with the Canadian Ministry of "?" to gain entry. I hear this is costly and you may need a Canadian attorney. There are no promises you get permission even after the expense.

Wymon · May 12, 2014

vikingswen-Brings back memories-running Fort Nelson to Ak. in the 70's, spit out a thrust washer-limped into Beaver Creek-hitched to Whitehorse for parts-borrowed a torque wrench and back in business(needed an oil change anyway)! Great folks at Beaver Creek. My experiences at Watson Lake were about like yours. Safe travels.

rockyroad74 · May 12, 2014

vikingswen said: ↑

I got back from my latest trip that was probably the worst trip I have ever had. It started out with paperwork issues that really turned into a pain when my phone and computer decided not to get along anymore. No internet access and no way to get to my e-fax service. After resubmitting everything and hours of delay I get across the border. I always hate to start out and being behind. I made it to my first stop to spent what was left of the night and went after it hard on the second day. I got caught up and started to feel better until the wheels came off. In a figural and literal way. I came of Steamboat in Northern BC and had a set of duals come loose on the trailer. Everything had looked good at the brake check and 20 min later all went down hill. When I saw the loose wheels in the mirror I stopped and found only four of ten studs were left. Unfortunately I was stuck in the worst possible place. I limped it down the road for a couple miles to a pullout. I did ruin two rims, the hub, brake shoes and the s-cam in the process, but still better than being rear ended on a windy stretch of road due to sitting in a bad place.

Obviously, there is no cell phone service and the next pay phone is about 50 miles down the road. It is time to put my mechanics hat on and get stuff figured out. I dumped the suspension and wrapped my chain around the axle and frame and chained the right rear corner up. I cut up a fallen aspen tree to get to 5' length of tree trunk to pull the trailer onto and lift the rear wheels of the ground. I do carry a grinder and cutting wheels which I was able to use to cut the last for studs or lug nuts. After sliding the fifth wheel all the way back I could load all the extra pieces on the cat walk on the truck. Now I am good to go for about 250mls to get to Watson Lake, YT where the first shop is.

I limped in to Watson Lake and was greeted by Kevin who came running out of the scale house. He would not let me go to the shop 1/2 mile down the road and would not sell me my permits for the Yukon until the trailer was fixed. I would have not tried to get across any other scale like that for sure. I pulled the hub in the morning and took all parts to the shop to be matched up. $1500.00 later the trailer was fixed and I was able to continue to their shop since they did not index the wheels and they had to remove the outside wheel again and turn it so I could actually check the air pressure on the inside dual. That is actually an out off service violation.

After getting that fixed I had no confidence in dumb and dumbers repair job. After pointing out installing wheel bearings without pre lube I had been told to sit in my Effing truck. I made it up the road for about ten miles and was trailing a cloud of smoke. Wheel seal is leaking and the new brake shoes are ruined. After a couple more hours on the side of the road they fixed it again and I was off. I stopped about 30mls down the road to check and found oil running out of the brake drum once again. I gave up on them and backed the brakes off and went to Whitehorse to get it fixed there. I stopped every 30min to fill up the hub with oil. After pulling into the shop in Whitehorse I found another set of wheels that were coming loose due to broken studs.

We ended up cross docking the load in Whitehorse on one of our other trucks to get the load to Alaska. With no parts available to fix the trailer right I ended up bob tailing to Anchorage to get parts and another load South.

My South bound load was dropped by one of my lovely co-workers with two bald trailer tires, mud flap missing and bent bracket and a light out. I had to take care of that first before I could head South. I straightened out the bracket and headed to tire shop to get tires replaced and buy a mud flap and light two doors down to fix that while they were fixing the tires. Now I am so far behind that I have to spent the night in Whitehorse to drop parts off the next morning for my other trailer.

It was brake inspection day in the Yukon and I got a level 4 inspection which I passed, but put me even further behind. Now it is hurry up and go to Burnaby to get rid off the fish load. By the time I get to Watson Lake I get a text that my delivery time has been moved up 12 hrs and it really makes it a tough run now. At this point what else could go wrong and I was hoping I got rid of Murphy, but no such luck. While running through Frazer canyon I hear a rattle behind the cab and I pull into the first pullout to investigate. I found my catwalk had come loose and slipped inside the frame rails and resting on the airlines and valves. To put the icing on the cake I ended up bending it when I pulled into the pullout since the trailer caught it. After taking that off and leaving it by the trash cans I made it South to Burnaby about 20 mins late.

I am glad to be home and to have a couple days off. I did buy myself a 3/4" drive torque wrench and I will be checking lug nuts since I had three different sets of wheels come loose in the last six month. I have a list of tools to add to my truck so I wont be needing any shops along the road to fix stuff for me. I will be buying parts and doing it myself.

When I was in Anchorage I got to feel the 4.7 magnitude earthquake they had last Sunday as well. Does anybody have any Murphy repellant since the Off spray does not work on him.
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Stop it! You'll give me nightmares.

And if that nucklehead mechanic told me to go sit in my truck; I wouldn't be able to go to Canada anymore after I drug him up in the bushes.

rockyroad74 · May 12, 2014

vikingswen said: ↑

This sounds about right. They have run my background twice and each time I sat there for about 30min. Within that time frame I believe they can find all kinds of things. I assume my trip to Central America in January triggered the scrutiny on the next border crossing. I thought it was funny since I went to Belize which is part of the British Common Wealth like Canada, but maybe it was the day trip to Guatemala or it is just my luck in general . Custom and immigration officials like to pick on me.
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If you travel overseas alone (they'll ask) and it wasn't a business trip ( they ask), this apparently raises a red flag to pull you in for more questions, and to scan your laptop and/or other electronic devices you carry. I was told by the officer they are trained to find people involved with drugs, organized crime, hate crimes, gangs, and child porn.

So, tell them you were on business or a family vacation, I guess.

Other countries are the same. A Thai tour guide was convinced I was CIA or plain clothes military when I was on a tour of the Golden Triangle area(Laos, Myanmar, Thailand). I asked why. He says the way you carry yourself and don't seem surprised by anything. Maybe I missed my true calling as a mercenery! LOL

Just know the government and their informants are watching you.

Tenn I See Trucker · May 13, 2014

very good read, I have run up there a few times to Anchorage, It is not for the faint of heart, and if you watch Ice Road truckers and they make it look easy then you have another think coming,its not like the TV Show

vikingswen · Jun 8, 2014

I just have been going back and forth to Alaska. Seems like the tourists with campers have shown up the same time as the mosquitos and needless to say both are a nuisance to the people trying to make a living on the Alcan. Seems like every trip there has been a fatality accident lately.
The road crews are out in full swing as well and trying to put the highway back together. Those gals and guys are doing an awesome job with either patching the road, replacing entire sections or just clearing falling rocks. A big thanks to all the road crews and hopefully nobody will get hurt during the busy construction season.
I continue to enjoy the wildlife along side the road, but had had several close calls lately with the critters in the road.

I had the truck washed yesterday and spent the rest of the day with spring cleaning the inside and out side. It looks better, but the Alcan has taken a big toll on the truck already. The wheels and tanks look like they have been sandblasted the chrome is pretty much stained by the harsh road chemicals and the paint keeps falling off the frame.

Lady K · Jun 8, 2014

We just did a quick visit into Canada... On the Ontario side... It is beautiful up there!! Of course we were seeing in from a car, and during late spring when there was no snow and flowers all over Reason why we got to do that is we met Bambi up close and personal! I think we leave the wild animal sightings to you... You have the bumper for it LOL!! The ironic thing is, so do we... We just haven't taken the time to put it on... We will now though!

vikingswen · Jun 8, 2014

Lady K said: ↑

We just did a quick visit into Canada... On the Ontario side... It is beautiful up there!! Of course we were seeing in from a car, and during late spring when there was no snow and flowers all over Reason why we got to do that is we met Bambi up close and personal! I think we leave the wild animal sightings to you... You have the bumper for it LOL!! The ironic thing is, so do we... We just haven't taken the time to put it on... We will now though!
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That seems to be the way to do. My old truck had hit a moose before they put the moose bumper on as well. When they bought the new 389s they found used ones at a wrecking yard and put them on right away. Another guy hit a moose with his Volvo and he found a used bumper after the fact as well.

vikingswen · Jun 10, 2014

Here is a movie clip of a black bear along the Alcan.

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