MVPA 2012 Alaska Highway Convoy

[CatMan]

2012 Alaska Convoy

On the 2009 convoy across the US several people expressed similar concerns about the slow pace. Keep in mind that the convoy IS THE EVENT. Getting to Fairbanks as fast as you can is not the point.

With the greater distances we'll likely pick up the pace a little, but from experiance, keeping a large convoy together is about a 35 MPH affair. It works we've done it.

It will be a great adventure with good people who have a common interest . It's an alternative to static displays and 6 block long town parades. Come to think of it, that is what I would call a really slow pace.


We are organizing regional convoys from all over the US to run together to reach the start point. If you can't make the whole Alaska trip why not run a few days with a regional convoy thru your surrounding states? We'll post more on that soon.

There are already a wide variety of vehicles signed up. Including WWII GMC's, Korean era Jeeps, 1/2 Ton and 3/4 Ton WWII WC Dodges and Vietnam era M-37's and M35's. There are also at least three M35A3's signed up to go right now. And their max speed is 45 MPH just like the WWII trucks.

My Wife and I have delayed going to Alaska for years and now we have the time. What better way to go that with friends and Military vehicles. Other clubs like the Ford Model T collectors have driven the same road. So why not. The army did it in 1942 with the same trucks and the road is a lot better today.

See you in Dawson Creek BC on the 4st of August 2012.

Cat Man

 

[Stalwart]

35 mph I can handle, I might just be able to get the trans to shift into high gear but with an Allison you can't force it. My wife says BS to 35, she doesn't believe it. A friend of ours did the 2009 trip and he told tales of 20's VERY often. Plonkers with WWII Jeeps running out of fuel numerous times, dispite frequent stops. I wouldn't expect to do 50, but half of that, even with beautiful scenery, goes by too slow. I was on a fishing boat for over 1000 miles of the most beautiful scenery imaginable, from calving glaciers, waterfalls, whales (killer and humpback), seals, walruses, grizzly bears and beautiful coastlines. It was the inside passage in early September and only lasted a week, NEVER AGAIN!

I know the convoy is THE EVENT but there is some madness to going too slow on a paved highway. Having everyone, including RV's passing you constantly makes driving unsafe itself.

 

[m1010plowboy]

Canadian content escort

In all hopes that the M135 will be hiway ready I would be honored to be a Canadian escort through Alberta if the convoy comes this way. Plenty of safe 4 lane hiways through the prairies.
If the M135 doesn't get herself together I will commit an M1010 full of guitars and Canadian beer...I mean tools for support, as an alternative.

In my short 10 months as an MV collector, I have only been a part of 2 convoys and one of them could have been deadly.

If you line up all the vehicles in the world, someone is going to try and pass them.

On a two lane hiway, with a 1/2 mile long convoy of jeeps to bedfords, a loaded tandem tried to clear the max. 50mph convoy. I was the last vehicle and got to watch.

The convoy boys did not leave enough room between them to allow the tandem to get back in our lane when an approaching car came over a hill. It worked out ok but was a close call.

I know nothing about convoy protocol but would certainly like to be a part of one that helps everyone that comes within a hundred miles of it.......get home safe.

What are convoy rules (i'm sure I'll find a thread) how are they taught and enforced in a voluntary organization?

When in a convoy....on a two lane road is it protocol to:

a) Ride the white line (when safe) so those passing can have a clear visual past the convoy?
b) Watch the mirrors so that spacing between units can be increased to allow passing vehicles room to merge back in without risking near misses?
c) Keep right (shoulder if safe) when vehicles are passing?
d) Pull off and stop if a large number of passing vehicles build up behind the convoy or if passing availability is limited?

It makes sense to plan a route that involves as many 4 lane hiways as possible but sooner or later........some crazy Albertan in a Ford GT is going to blow by.....and join us at the next campground.

Ok...school me, sarge.

 

[DDoyle]

I am not involved in the planning or organizing, nor am I participating in this event. But would none the less like to share some thoughts.

It appears to me that the point of this operation is to do this trip as friends - old and new - together. Were someone to take the trip in a M915A4 - how much fun would it be for him to say to his "friends" with M35A2s, or M37s, or MB's "Guys, my military vehicle will run at 70 MPH all day - see ya' later." Not much brotherhood being built there. Or, how much fun would it be to say - "Hey man, your M35A3 (or WC54) will only run 45 - keep your rear at home, I'm more interested in putting on miles than having your company."

And too - how considerate is it to tell one of your 'friends' - "Hey man, I know its gonna be pushing your M37 to the max, and you may throw a rod, or simply wear your truck out - but we're gonna run fifty 'cause I get bored seeing the world go by at 35."

From what I understand, along this route there are not a lot of surplus dealers selling hard parts for this old stuff we love (keep in mind, the newest deuce is gonna be about 20 years old - is your everyday driver 20 years old?). I'd not expect to treat a 20 to 65 year old vehicle the same way I would one made in this decade.

Finally, the team that is organizing this trip is the same group that organized the 2009 transcontinental convoy. Outside of the military, I can think of no one else to have tackled this type of operation. Based on that alone, I'd be disinclined to second guess their strategy. I know that the 2009 operation was modified en route based on the lessons being learned. I am sure that similar adjustments will be made on the ALCAN trip.

I am sure all going will have a great, and memorable time.

Best wishes,
David Doyle

 

[Stalwart]

The 2009 event had a period correct 191x year vehicle. I'm sorry guys but anything slower than a WWII Jeep will kill it for me. As I said 35, is fine but slower is a non starter. I know myself too well that if the road allows it, 45 mph is a better speed. It gives me more beer and BS time after driving for the day.

 

[srodocker]

i would love to make i dont care about speed its just i wont be able to have a month off...thats why im worried about speed

 

[Thunder in NWOR]

The base protocols for orginazition and operations of the MVPA Convoys is FM 4-01.011 (Appendix C), which is the updated version of FM 55-65, Chapter 5 - Convoy Operations. Quite effective for safe mass movement of dissimilar military vehicles.

If the 2012 Alaska Highway Convoy does not tweak your intrerest, you have future opportunities for loonng Convoys. Future plans include: 2015 the Bankhead (coast to coast along the southern route); 2017 the Route 66; 2019 the 100 year of the 1919 coast to coast (repeat of last year's TMC '09).

Someone earlier in this thread made comment to age of convoyers. The demographics of the coast to coast convoy last year was startingly similar to the survey of SS ages done recently on this website, imho. (youngest were diaper babies and oldest were WW2 vets)

 

[Stalwart]

Thanks Thunder, I've downloaded the FM and will read it to answer my questions.

 

[MASIC]

If you’re all worried about breaking down I know a lot of oil patch mechanics and heavy haulers in both Alberta and BC. We can have the vehicle fixed on the spot or towed to my shop in Calgary or Grande Prairie.

If you want to go but do not want to drive your vehicle up? I have room in my truck.

Trust me, you will want to do a speed of 35 to 45 mph. lots to look at and lots will be looking.

 

[Stan Leschert]

For the ones who will be travelling through Vancouver BC, PM me. I will try to make your passage easy. I know a few stopping points, but I can't follow you Way up north. If you have questions about the border, I may be able to bump your query in the right direction.

The only real thing that you have to remember, while transiting Canada, is NO GUNS!

If you wish to carry (wpns) in Alaska, just get it Fed-Exed, to USA territory.

Hunting on the way, well talk to a guide . Permits for weapons, possesion of tasty meat...


If I can help ( on free time) ask, I'll try.


PM if you req.

I may even ride escort( route guide) on a bike for a while.... depending upon timings.

 

[wehring]

Alternate idea

For those with limited time...

I am sure there will be open seats available. Fly into BC and ride to AK then fly home. No one should be left out because it is too much time away from home.

Justin Wehring
979 997 3112

 

[markmontana]

For those who are worried about the 'too slow' convoy syndrome- I think the trip to Alaska may be different than the TransCont trip. There were a lot of folks jumping in/out--- making short hops, and that was good for older/slower vehicles. I'm sure that slowed the pace down in some places to an unbearable level (for some).

I think on this trip, we will not find too many 'short distance' tag alongs, so I think the pace will be at a more reasonable speed. MV's with issues will have a hard time even making it to the starting point, I see some carnage happening long before we ever get to the Dawson Creek start line (knocking on wood).

My point to all this- it should be a different situation on this convoy. And worst case, we can send a few of you ahead to scout out the road, and you can wait for the rest of us at the next camp spot. You could even be assigned to catch some fish and gather berries (be sure you wear your little bells).

So don't bag the idea because of the speed issue. Once we start up all those trucks, it will be a sight to behold and this speed issue will fade.

 

[AMGeneral]

2730.1 miles just to get there for me,that's 4 days,3 hrs and 53 minutes driving 8AM to 6PM every day.

that's roughly 550 gallons of fuel in the 915A1 or $1650,1 way only.

total trip numbers would be 8506 miles round trip,1702 gallons of diesel fuel,or roughly $6000 for fuel alone,based on a average price of $3.50/gal.

I think i'll have to sit this one out.

 

[markmontana]

2730.1 miles just to get there for me,that's 4 days,3 hrs and 53 minutes driving 8AM to 6PM every day.

that's roughly 550 gallons of fuel in the 915A1 or $1650,1 way only.

total trip numbers would be 8506 miles round trip,1702 gallons of diesel fuel,or roughly $6000 for fuel alone,based on a average price of $3.50/gal.

I think i'll have to sit this one out.

Ha- you could have saved a lot of time doing those calculations-- just ask "why would anyone drive a 915 on this trip?" No further issues to discuss.

It makes more sense to take something that serves as your motel (M109, m35A2 w/cover, etc). Maybe your 915 has a sleeper on it or better, I'm just thinking you have better choices for a long trip... (as listed in your sig)

Bottom line- nothing about this trip- or even OD trucks in general- makes sense- so that's a good enough reason for me to do it

 

[hndrsonj]

Looks like a fun trip but there's more coming. Was on the MVPA website looking at their 10 year convoy plan. Another in 2015 DC to San Diego (northern route) then I think it was 2017 Chicago to LA (Route 66) then 2020 the same one as they did last year. (And i'll be retired for the last 3)

 

[paulfarber]

Who is this supposed to appeal to? You can't even consider it unless you have a couple grand and a few weeks free time. Who lives on the ALCAN highway to 'join in' along the way?

Unless there was an LST waiting in AK for the return you have the same slow, grueling drive back.

Drive to AK? Really? That was the 'good' idea? I wonder what the ones that didn't win were? 'Lets drive to HI!'???

 

[hndrsonj]

You could say the same thing about the 09 convoy. How did that turn out?

 

[paulfarber]

Did they release any stats on the other convoy? Like average MPH? Average miles per participant?

Driving from PA to CA (done it 3 times) is not bad.. there is civilization along 2/3rd the route.

Once up past WA there ain't much of nuttin.

 

[markmontana]

I hope this thread doesn't turn into bunch of negative posts- listing ALL the reasons this is a stupid idea, etc etc. You could argue our addiction to OD iron is nuts, too. And why do you need a 50 BMG? And on and on.

 

[AMGeneral]

Ha- you could have saved a lot of time doing those calculations-- just ask "why would anyone drive a 915 on this trip?" No further issues to discuss.

It makes more sense to take something that serves as your motel (M109, m35A2 w/cover, etc). Maybe your 915 has a sleeper on it or better, I'm just thinking you have better choices for a long trip... (as listed in your sig)

Bottom line- nothing about this trip- or even OD trucks in general- makes sense- so that's a good enough reason for me to do it

Well,I was going to tow a M447 or M313 trailer to use as my "motel",but my choice for the 915 was based entierly on driver comfort(as far as MVs go) and parts availability.