SeaDawg

I'm curious. Aren't the sensors in the outside of the tanks? Most of the new Marine tank sensors are... Sherry

I remember the swamp cooler idea discussed a decade ago on here, but I could only find this short thread. http://olivertraveltrailers.com/topic/12-volt-cooling/ I don't know if anyone actually tried it. We had one in a home in Kansas in the 60s. It worked well. I wonder if you'd have space above the main salon vent? It would be a shorter plumbing run for water line... Edit: Amazon reviews on the turbokool unit that replaces a rooftop ac are pretty good... https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/cr/B007HRN2LS/ref=mw_dp_cr Sherry

Randy, I looked at the log. Our longest run between gas stations was 331 km, or roughly 200 miles, between Meziadin junction (turnoff to Hyder and Stewart) and Dease lake. We were able to skip the gas station at Bell II lodge, so it didn't have to be that long.. this was on 37/Cassiar hey. Dease lake and Meziadin junction were both pricey. But hey, their cost for delivery is probably pretty steep, too. I think Dease was about 1.62 per liter. There's often a line at the pumps. Sherry

Faro town campground is a real surprise in a little village of 400 people. Nice big sites with picnic tables, fire rings, and fairly level. Plenty of shade, but open clean sites. No real views, but it backs up to a nice trail. Self-register in the very clean laundry room. $22 full hookups, 17 for primitive site, CAD. Laundry is small, two of each machine, but only $2 wash and $1 for the small dryer, $1.50 for the larger one. Faro has a small general store... Hardware and groceries, and a 24 hour cardlock gas station, attended during the day, with reasonable prices for the distance from Whitehorse. $1.52 CAD per liter at our visit. Faro is an old mining town, but the mine is currently closed. Still, nice paved road coming into town. ( Really nice if you've been driving the dirt John Campbell. .) You don't have to drive the John Campbell to get there, as we did. You can drive on paved road from carmacks and Whitehorse, on your way to Dawson. We didn't go there, but our camping friends said the Johnson lake ytg cg outside town is not as well maintained as most. It's not used much. Sherry

Randy, I think the longest mileage between fuel stops was around 175 miles. We stop before we are half empty, because you can't count on the next station being open or having fuel. This trip, every listed station in 37 appeared to have gas, except one in Iskut, I think. The road surface on 37 is a rougher type if pebbly aslhalt, for the most part. It's a little noisy, but this year it was in excellent condition with few potholes, frost heaves or other breaks. It's now entirely paved. Last time we drove it, there was a thirty to forty mile stretch that was gravel. (This is the Cassiar highway.) The rougher asphalt probably would affect mileage more if you drove at US highway speeds, but you won't. We got the usual 8 to 10 mpg with the Ford Triton v10. The Alcan was much rougher,with more potholes and wallows and frostheaves, but we were only on that from Whitehorse on. We really like this route. It's not heavily traveled, and very sparsely populated. It's also really beautiful. There are a number of moderate elevation changes, and a lot of stretches without much of a shoulder. I wouldn't want to drive it in winter, as our Whitehorse friends say it's often only one lane plowed, but in spring and summer, it's great. Driving up through eastern BC and Alberta , through Jasper, we see more wildlife. Bison and bear on the roads, etc. In great numbers. We also see more traffic and more competition for campgrounds. If we ever drive round trip, we'd probably go one way up and one way back, depending on fires and floods. You'd see a lot more taking different routes up and back. Sherry

Loved our route this year up 97 /16/37. Just not sure about vehicles with smaller tanks. Fuel is far between. Great road.... We carried 50 gallons of fuel. .. didn't have to worry. . just saying Sherry

On my phone, I had to sift through a number of choices. .. Love my little 11 year old Oliver Take a minute and look.... Sherry

Along the John Campbell Highway. I should put " highway" in quotes 50 km out of Watson lake, before Simpson lake campground, the highway turns to dirt. And, this year, 12 km of reconstruction. Taking the old road bed and moving it to the new. Rough, muddy, and that was a good day following the pilot vehicle through deep ruts and mud, without rain. We didn't stop at Simpson lake, as the access was closed. Our Juneau friends tell us it's beautiful. 30 or 40 miles up the dirt road is Frances lake cg.in late May, the sign still said closed, but the gates were open, as were the outhouses. For an hour and a half, we were the only people in the campground. On a beautiful rock and sand beach, with amazing hill and mountain view. Five more campers hardly made a difference. Except for the German truck campers we met and camped with a few more nights. We shared campfires a few nights. Our new young Whitehorse friends told us this would be our new favorite canpground. It's beautiful. But I still like Boya lake in bc (where we met them) better Sherry

I'll keep working on this, but with the time changes, I'm a little tired and out of sorts. One very important thing to do, when you come into the Yukon, is to pick up the map of the government sites. Back in the day, it was a mineo sheet with mp markers. Today, it's a beautiful map, by region, with a chart of amenities. It'ss a great planning tool. Most folks, coming in from the Alcan or 37, will stop at Watson lake for the "sign Forest" and gas. The visitors center there is great. Lots of maps and forecast info, as well as printed highway info. ( And reminders to keep your dog, bait for wildlife, on a leash and close to you. That's important, too.) Watson lake has reasonable gas prices, some limited shopping, an observatory, and the not remarkable ygt campground outside town. The visitors center has good, free fresh water ( just ask). The free dump station is in the city park.. a half mile from the center. I'll rant a little here. Bring your sign to the forest, but omg, take your dog poop and trash home . Every year, the walk through the "forest" gets worse and worse. Bottles, cans, trash, dog poop.... Walk carefully. I guess that's my rant for this trip. I'm really tired of picking up trash from campsites and fire pits along the way. I won't quit, but geez. Several times I filled an entire 30 gallon bag. It's getting ridiculous. Maybe that's why I like camping in the Yukon. Almost never do I find junk in the fire or site. Sherry

Whitehorse itself is one of my favorite places in north America. It has everything you need. The real Canadian Superstore is a great place for groceries and souvenirs. Canadian tire has odd bits and tools and equipment, well beyond tires. The Riverwalk is very pretty, and used to have one of our favorite food trucks. We were here too early, I think, this year. Community theater. Clinic and hospital. Beautiful visitors center. Good gas prices. Spend a little time. It's the beating heart of the Yukon, and the people are warm and welcoming.its my city break, of sorts, til we get to Fairbanks. everything is clean, available, and fairly priced for its remote location. Yes, it has a Walmart, with free overnights, but that's a zoo. Way too many people, and, why? When the camp just outside town is wild and cheap? Not to mention, Walmart is not as nice as the Canadian Superstore... No variety at all... There is a gas station next to the Walmart with free dump, and fresh water, with a gas fill. Same price as anyone in town, but the amenities you and the Walmart "campers" need.

Lake Le Barge ygt. We've camped here before. Only 40 miles or so north of Whitehorse,it gets really crowded on weekends. weekdays, you can possibly snag one of 4 to 5 lakeside sites, all of which are amazing. The one we used is tricky. It's a pull thru, between two fir trees. Not easy, but we'll worth it. We've spent three or four days there at a time... But the Lowe sites are buggy and uninviting. There's another busy campground north of lake Le Barge. Can't remember the name, but same caveat. Weekends are tough. Everything in the Yukon is first come, first serve, no reservations. BUT, Yukon seniors get a camping pass for free, and Yukon residents get an annual pass for $50. Recent changes eliminate the old deal of coming out on Monday and pitching an unattended tent for the following weekend.... But.m Still and all, the Yukon has something like 50000 residents, and half live in Whitehorse. Just something to think about if you are close, on a Thursday or Friday.

Fox Lake is a poorer cousin to twin lakes. Easy access. Level campsites. More fisherman and boats. Most pretty lakeside sites are very exposed to the wind off the lake, so if you are here on an earlier season weekday, almost better off to take one of the off lake sites with a view. Not that many people, off season. Not as scenic as twin lakes, but a close second, and closer to Whitehorse

So, first of several links to new threads. Camping in the Yukon. http://olivertraveltrailers.com/topic/camping-in-the-yukon-territory/

So, this trip, we visited a number of new Yukon Territory campgrounds. my new favorite, Twin Lakes. Frances Lake. Pine Lake. Snag Junction. Drury Creek (very pretty, and easy entry). Little salmon river (don't go there with a camper in tow and rainy day. Narrow one lane road, lots of pit holes, steep, uninviting) I'll look at the book for the others. Twin Lakes was a recommendation of new camping friends from Juneau. Twin Lakes has nice sites, many on the lake, and amazing views of the lakes and it's many little pine covered islands. The Loons can be heard all morning and evening. We met our new friends here leaving Faro city cg, which I will describe later Twin Lakes isn't really on the vroute to most places... Faro or Dawson, depending on your whim... But so beautiful. If you can, go. About 20 km south is a legendary bakery , with cinnamon rolls the size of dinner plates, at Braeburn lodge. We dawdled leaving twin Lakes, mulling staying another night. So, we met our new German camping friend Gunther, bicycling from Anchorage to San Francisco, and shared a giant roll and fun conversation at Braeburn . Then, headed to Fox Lake.

The Yukon Territory parks are beautiful in their simplicity and consistency. $12 CAD, roughly $10 US, so almost free. Free firewood. Clean, usually big sites, often on a river, Creek, or lake. Amenities, beyond a lovely campsite, include long drop/ outhouse toilet(s), a log kitchen shelter with a wodburner stove, free firewood, and a campfire ring inscribed with a welded bead of ytg. That's it. And, often, a fresh water pump for a bucket, not RV fill, often with a boil water notice. People are nice, and usually great campers. We often find that someone has left behind extra split wood. Especially nice if you are carrying only a hatchet.. We've camped in about half of the 45 government campgrounds. Guess it means we have to keep going back. I'll try to describe some of our favorites. Sherry

We got back last night from our latest Alaska adventure. I'm thinking about starting threads for bc campsites, Yukon campsites, Alaska state parks, etc. Would that be ok? With a link to this thread. By the end of the summer, there will be a lot of information, I'm sure. Sherry

Well, guess we'll have choices for Christmas, Hannuka, and mom's and dad's day 2019. Looking forward to it. Sherry

Thank you for the photos. BLM and forest service campgrounds are our favorites. Not always glam, but. Privacy, location....

Alison, maybe our early arrival gave us better views? We still had snow in places, so not much for brush growth. We were in a recently opened loop. Not pikes view, but just above it. Happy for a scenic spot after a long drive from Kansas City. Early May.

One more recommendation outside Colorado springs. Mueller state park. About 10500 elevation. beautiful sites and views.

We spent some time this month in Ouray, Silverton, and Durango. Ridgeway state park was highly recommended by another traveler we met, but the construction between the park and Ouray led us to give it a pass. Beautiful place. In ouray, we stayed at 4j + 1+1, a (gasp) RV park in town. Nice people, great location. walk to town, the hot springs, easy access to the perimeter trail. (Not as easy as it looks on the paper map) Silverton is a cute town. Avalanche brewery has both great food, and great beer. Bring your growler Highly recommend molas lake campground just south of Silverton by 5 miles, in season. Amazing views, beautiful lake. In Durango, we caught up with old friends, enjoyed the breweries and food. Pretty town, with every convenience. Amoitheater was closed.bstayed at United campground, an RV park, near a $1 trolley stop to old Town. Backtracking, near Gunnison, highly recommend elk Creek and Stevens Creek. relatively close to town, no service, on beautiful blue mesa reservoir.

I, too, miss the little bell. I have email notifications turned off. But the little bell used to alert me when I signed in. I just responded to pms that were three weeks old. I don't remember to check my profile at sign-in for PM's. So sorry. Sherry

As far as sealing the now superfluous exterior vents, we've just closed them in with some plastic. We'll figure out something better later....

John, We're not home right now, but I'll add a link to the discussion on replacing our dometic with an isotherm truck fridge. Our oliver hasn't been out of the storage slot, as we're once again delivering a stick built RV to Alaska, but I have extensively tested it in our side yard, in the shade, and I'm really happy with the results. We've used the compressor fridges in rentals in Australia and New Zealand, and were very happy with the results, even with no solar, but smaller fridges. I'll be able to give you real world camping results later in the year, but I'm confident in our new danfoss/secop type fridge from at home testing. I not only got a slightly bigger capacity fridge that should run on solar (if we have sun), but I got a drawer beneath it, too. Ah, the luxury. Lots of photos. http://olivertraveltrailers.com/topic/legacy-elite-ii-dometic-rm2454-refer/

This year, some of the campgrounds have opened early. Call, and don't trust the website. Teddy Roosevelt is an awesome park. Don't know where you are coming from, but Mitchell, SD, has a wonderful city cg on the lake that is likely open by now. And, bonus, you can see the historic Corn Palace just a few miles in, and go to the Shopko... Custer state park has a beautiful cg. The nature drive at dusk yielded a dozen types of wildlife viewing last may trip. I don't have our books with me, but beyond Teddy Roosevelt, look for the coe and nfs sites. Banff is a nonstarter for us, but the ice field parkway visitor center parking lot cg is great, as is Jasper national cg. Elk everywhere in may. Be careful. Mama elk are of course, oh so protective. They wandered our campsite, as bison do in Teddy r park. Sherry