A portion of this video is sponsored by RV Mattress from Brooklyn Bedding. A special thank you goes out to them for their support! Save 25% with our code: hanks rvmattress.pxf.io/5g7Z23 Win a FREE Mattress by Brooklyn Bedding! www.happilyeverhanks.com/rvmattressgiveaway
@HappilyEverHanks Howdy Carl and Ney Ney.. 🥰🥰. Couple of questions… 1) when you sign up for the Mattress Giveaway are you to receive confirmation? I signed up and haven’t received confirmation. 2) what time will you be going live on the 27th? Thanks Hanks! 🥰🥰😘😘🇺🇸🙏🏻
Hi Hank's, We love your show and look forward to Thursday every week. I do have a problem with RUclips because we watch you guys on our home TV and there's no thumbs up option. Maybe in the future they will add that feature. For now I'll try to find you on the phone. Love you guys, Dave and Sandy
A few questions. You talked about your memory foam mattress being hard as a rock when it gets cold so how is your new Brooklyn mattress holding up to the colder weather in Alaska? Question 2. This one has been eating at me for some time. How many miles does Dee have on her and how many miles do you put on her in a year? Maybe a good video that breaks down the maintenance some one should do as a full time RVer.
I feel like we’re not seeing much of Alaska, wish y’all could put out videos more frequently. You were the absolute best RV RUclipsrs out there we just need more of you.
Ok Guys so here’s the sitch….. I’ve been traveling for work for the past 20 yrs. A while back I started to contemplate changing things up a bit. ( In come the “HANKS”) You guys have been a big part of my research in the RV life (with heaps of humor) you crazy kids 😂. Well guess what? I did it 😊. Bought my first ever 5th wheel RV (actually first RV period) as well as an F450 Diesel Dually, and I pick it up 3 days before your next live show……wahoooooooo thanks for all the advise and humor. Oh ya and thanks for convincing me to spend 200k (I think lol) Live the dream and here’s to the next chapter of adventure. Hope to catch up on the road one day. Cheers guys. PS I am a solo RVer so I guess have a few extra challenges ahead of me. 🎉 Let’s Do This
One thing I know for sure - it would be VERY difficult to keep your eyes on the road with all that jaw-droppingly beautiful scenery all around you while driving to Alaska. So glad that road emergency wasn't any more serious than it was, but watching how people drive on that highway gave me the willies.
look dude and duddett, I am a weekend warrior pulling a small camper just and hand full of time during the year, and mostly to my deer lease that's only 1.5hrs away from my home, but I follow you guys to learn! Thank you, you two are truly inspirations to thousands of people trying to figure this RV world out! Keep it up!
I NEVER HAVE HAD THE HANKERING TO TRAVEL OUTSIDE OF THE UNITED STATES, UNLESS FLYING TO HAWAII ! I CONTINUE TO PRAY FOR YOU GUYS, THAT GOD WILL PROTECT YOU ON YOUR JOURNEY !
Thank goodness Dexter directed Mom when she was giving tips. I think there would have been a lot of bloopers if not. 😅 You guys make my Thursdays. #ThanksHanks
FYI...We have a package of the link blocks for leveling (but I use them for the stabilizers since I have the anderson leveling wedges). I found that 6 of those under the good axle will get the flat tire off the ground enough to change a tire without using a jack. Put down 2, then 4, then 6 to do a ramp up to the 6 of them. Much quicker and also don't run the risk of messing up the axle alignment.
I have traveled in Northern Europe, Alaska, and Canada. Eye mask always works for me. I always get a good night's sleep. Also make sure you have a good tool kit with spares. use quality tires on your trailer.
I just love watching your adventures, no matter what you encounter you make it seem like fun. Oh to be young again. I'm a solo traveling grandma, not full time but some time. Can be on the road anywhere from a week to 6 weeks at a time. Been following for several years now and always a hoot!
I lived in Alaska for 4 years. The sunlight is terrible in the summer. The thing I found out was you had to wear a watch ALL the time. I'm really enjoying your Alaska trip. Safe travels.
Long time viewer first time posting. Love how you describe the weather, we Alaskans when asked about the weather, we just say, wait 30 minutes and see what you get. Yeah the weather is something you just wake up to and see what you get for the day. Love your videos and how you guys make it so fun.
My husband and I totally understand some of your emotions. We drove to Alaska in a car on our honeymoon, no RV. Jeff was active duty military and Anchorage was our destination. It was a beautiful drive, civilization was few and far between, snow in the mountains in September and the days were long. It was a spectacular adventure and we have memories for miles. 27 years have gone by. Would do it all over again but only in an RV 😂
I keep a Dewalt cordless impact and sockets in my 5th wheel. No more fighting a traditional lug wrench for me. Our new RV is our first one with TPMS. On our last trip it threw a fit as we were getting ready to leave our house. I was able to use my garage compressor to fill the tires. All 4 were just under the limit. I would have not known that without that system. I am sold on it.
Glad everything worked out for y’all! In our last camper, we had a blowout that caused a huge hole under our camper!! We really need to get the TPS on our camper so that won’t happen again! Could have been bad!! Happy Camping and Safe Travels!! ❤️❤️❤️
Consider the opposite. I spent 3 weeks in Fairbanks in the winter for work. I think there was maybe 3 hours of sunlight and at that the sun only peaks above and runs horizontal with the horizon, so more like 3 hours of dusk. It was very depressing having so little sun, being secluded in a hotel, and wondering if you forgot to plug your engine block heater in before going inside or would the engine be frozen. We also started the car a half hour before we planned on leaving hoping it would warm up a little.
Looking forward to seeing the Northern Lights in Fairbanks in the future. It will be interesting with all the darkness. We bought some folding cones from Harbor Freight. We have broken down on the side of the road too many times.
I took an Alaskan cruise a few months back. We left Seattle at about 5pm. We had the shades closed in our cabin when we went to bed. I remember looking out the window at about 4am the next morning. We had been on the water for about 12 hours. It was already daylight. The evenings were dusky but not completely dark. I just remember the sky being strangely brighter than in lower latitudes. It was beautiful but just weird to look at. Alaska is truly a beautiful place. I want to go back and spend more time.
Gosh, Carl! Way to whip out the Viair and start the husband back on his "1001 reasons we need to upgrade the compressor"🙄 Sheesh! Anyway, great episode- glad you all got safely back on the road!
Lol, you need an alarm to wake up, to eat lunch, to eat dinner and when to go to bed. The winter months are just the opposite and it's really cold too.
Love you guys. However, you might have done a better job of protecting your travel partner. If you allow them to pull off ahead of you and you set out your orange cones (did you have any?) that gives on coming traffic more time to get over which protects the roadside trie change. Also, I would recommend you always use a torque wrench to do a final tightening of the wheel lugs to spec. And finally, the bottle jack can be a life saver for getting additional support under that axle or as a primary jack in tight spots with uneven terrain. Keep up all the great content and be safe so we can continue to join you on your awesome travels!
We lived in Anchorage for 3 years and Soldotna for 12 years. We had our three kids up there as well. We had a lot of adventures there and the long days of summer was just something you learned to deal with. There were times when I went out to mow the lawn and realized it was 10:00pm! The long days are great for fishing, and Alaska is the place for that! Hopefully when you were camping at Palmer, you had a little time to explore because Independence gold mine is up in the mountains from were you are (or were) at. Fish Hook Road takes up thru Hatcher Pass you'll get to check out Independence gold mine and come out at Willow on the other side. Well that's all for now, I'm glad your having fun! Wally Williams PS Don't take your trailer up through Hatcher pass, this is a day trip in the pickup truck!
There are many things I miss about Alaska. When you live in a small community a long a we did, you get to know a lot of people. So I do miss the good people of Kenai Peninsula. My wife and I've up there from 1982 to 1997. We moved to Damascus, Oregon. We were raised in Southern Oregon, our families lived here in Oregon, we moved back here to be closer to family. Long summer days in Anchorage and Soldotna take some getting used to (the Hanks covered that topic pretty well). But during winter the days are short with only 6 hours or so of daylight. The further North you go the longer the days are in summer, and the shorter the days are in the winter. The lack of light in the winter can cause cabin fever, so having a bright interior in your home with good lighting will help prevent that. Attending sports at the local school with the bright lights will also help, and you'll enjoy meeting people and watching the kids play sports. I had lots of fishing, spruce hen hunting, deer hunting (Kodiak Island), and moose hunting adventures. I was a Scout Master with the Boys Scouts of America. I worked for trucking companies hauling freight and household goods, worked in the oil fields, and worked as a custodian at Kenai Central, and I was the Head Custodian at Sterling Elementary. While working for the school district I had summers off and I drove tractor trailer hauling fish in the summer. I don't know if you plan on working or if your retired. Anchorage is a good size city, and there's usually work for people there, depending on what your profession or vocation is. But one thing for sure, the cost of living is pretty high. There's work in the Kenai Peninsula towns in the summer, but during winter work is scarce. There's and old Alaska saying, "Alaska is the land of feast and famine ". This is a true fact of life in Alaska. Alaska's economy is based on oil, mining, the military, and tourism. The biggest source of revenue by far is oil. If the price of oil bottoms out, people will move away in droves. You see, in Alaska most everyone is from somewhere else. When times get hard, people will move back where they came from and things like homes that people paid a high price for will quickly bottom out, and work quickly becomes scarce. Alaska is a far away place. It costs a lot to move up or to move back. If you have to work your option is flying out to your destination on vacation, because its too far to drive. Sometimes nature has a different idea for flying out because there are three neighboring volcanoes that can erupt at anytime. In our 15 years of living in Alaska we seen Mt. Augustine (SE of Homer), Mt. Redoubt (twice), and Mt. Spurr erupted. Earthquakes occur on an constant basis. Most we've felt are light, but we did experience a quake over 4.0 when we first moved to Alaska. That was a little unnerving for us. A trip to earthquake park in Anchorage will display what a major quake will do, and Alaska is overdue for the 'big one'. Wintertime's big hazard and avalanches are reality to be aware of at all times. To watch one is a wakeup call as to just how dangerous they are, and how fast they move. We lost one our Sterling school parents to an avalanche. Fishing on the big lakes (and rivers) like Lake Tustamina or Skilak Lake one has to be prepared to camp out because the weather can change in a heartbeat. We lost a Sterling teacher in Skilak Lake, his canoe was found but he was never was. There's many hazards in the bush, but there's hazards in town as well. Moose, blackbears, and brown bears can be a threat at any given time. More people are injured or killed by moose, than bears. Hard winters will drive the moose into town. There very hard to see at night, and their eyes don't reflect like a deer. In the springtime young moose calves are a favorite meal for the hungary bears coming out of hibernation. It's really a good idea to pack a 44 Magnum, bear repellent or high caliber rifle when your out and about in the bush. Be aware of you surroundings at all times! I've chased moose out of our school yard with my car, and have had phone calls from neighbors of bear sightings close to the Sterling school. Before I sign off. there's another hazzard I must share with you and that's the mosquitoes and whitesocks. Personally I'd rather deal with the mosquitoes. Whitesocks are nasty, their bites are welts the size of nickles, and they are unhindered from bugdope. As with other large town or cities, the homeless are a big problem in Anchorage, in not sure about the Kenai Peninsula. Well, I hope that gives you some idea of what is like living in Alaska. There's a lot more I can tell you about Alaska but I have to leave some things for you to experience. Right? Good luck and take care, Wally and Susanne Williams
We use an Andersen Rapid Jack for the camper instead of a bottle jack. It is fast and easy. Saved us this past February when we had a blowout. Highly recommended!! Great video 😃
My husband and I love watching your videos. You guys are hilarious! You make us laugh all the time. We look forward to every Thursday when you drop your weekly video......especially right now while we follow your Alaskan adventures. We just can't wait to see what you guys get into next. Thank God your friends had a TPMS, a good spare, a bottle jack, & you had air available to handle the blown tire situation. Safe & happy travels, Hanks! Let er rip, gang!
Today we changed to our spare on the trailer, the rim cracked. That's a 1st for me. Fortunately we noticed it at a campground. The Alaska Hwy is hard on equipment. Stay safe . We are headed home after 2 months in Alaska.
Thanks for the awesome content and the laughs. Love watching your videos. Cannot wait to book it up to Alaska and NWT with my 15’ travel trailer and 3 x 65lb dogs!! From Ontario, Canada.
TPMS saves the day again. I hope everyone uses a system, likely the most valuable thing you can have on an RV and truck. I have a dually, pulling a 5th wheel, and have sensors on every wheel. Helped me pick up a dragging brake before we had big issues. You need to get a saddle for that bottle jack and jack further outboard by the spring if possible. Love all your videos and this series has been great!
Just a FYI, when jacking up your RV. PLEASE TAKE CARE ON JACK PLACEMENT of the bottle Jack. They can bend the axle. IF YOU CAN put it on the frame. Nice journey, you forgot to take me. I have a GD 2930 also.
That Milwaukee tool is great, I have the same one, but over tightening the lug nuts is dangerous. You need to have torque sticks or a torque wrench when changing tires.
Yes please! More of the Hanks!! And the only cat we like “Dexter!” Enjoying your adventures! Looking for our 2cd fifth wheel, can we say “upgrade?!!” ❤
We always carry a ramp for changing a spare tire on a tandem axle. You pull up with the good tire and the flat tire can get changed without a jack. We think it is much safer than a jack because a strong side wind can cause the rig to shift and the jack slip out.
Well, shucks, and here I thought the UNSEEN DANGER was going to be polar bears roaming the RV park snatching up fifi dogs! ...K, just kidding; I've been to various parts of Alaska several times and know better. I've never been there in the summer, so your observations were certainly instructive. Lovin' riding along on this trip; thanks for the invite 😁
Glad you fixed the trailer connection. Last trip mine did it more and finally all the time. Turned out to be a short in one of the brake drums. Then on the way home TPMS went off twice! I had blown a valve stem and later blew another. Good thing I had two spares. One tip for everyone, if you have the screw on TPMS sensors, make sure you have metal valve stems. My TPMS instructions said rubber was fine but my trip just proved rubber ones and 95+ degree days don't go together. I have a bottle jack too, but use the Trailer Aid ramp for changing tires. I also have a cordless impact gun. I'm not NASCAR fast, but getting faster! Get you an orange safety vest too! Thanks for what you do!
We are on the return leg of our first crosscountry trip so far we have changed both front tires on the truck (un even ware )and all 4 on the fifth wheel( oem tires road punctures and a bearing problem). We have had 2 of the dual tires patched. We have never been stuck along side the road. We just kept adding air until we got to a campground. I think far safer then changing along side the road. Love you guys.
Every Thursday morning, my husband reminds me “don’t forget the Hanks today” and after supper we watch you❤️❤️. We have learned so much from watching you two! We have a fifth wheel and camp every other week.
I have the same Milwaukee impact wrench. I also carry a Milwaukee air compressor along with a variety of other tools that run off the same 18V system. I carry 2-6T bottle jacks as well. Ironically I've used them more on other peoples rigs than my own though. When in the Desert, Boondocking or if I see someone struggling along side the road I can make pretty quick work with these and save a potential accident. Glad to see she bought you top shelf product.
Instead of the bottle jack you could have just raised the other wheel on the same side with the wood blocks to get the flat wheel off the ground. I do that when greasing the axles. I do also carry a bottle jack if needed.😄
Oh cool! You stayed at Paradise RV Park in Palmer! The mountain views are spectacular there, aren’t they? The hay fields directly across the road from the RV park is where we used to buy hay for our herd of Pygmy goats years ago. Very nice farm - and the owners of the RV Park. 👍
The same material used for scuba suits can be purchased. I used this to make window shades. Trace the window for a pattern and cut your black rubber material for a perfect insulated blacked out window. Highly recommended for Alaska for summer travel!🤣👍🏼💯
Sleep is over rated this time of year in Alaska. Our family joke in the summer up here is...We can sleep in October. So much to do. So little time to do it all. The way Becky and I roll after 18 years up here...we sleep well because we are exhausted even when it is light out. Rain in Valdez is just liquid sunshine. This is a fun video because I can tell exactly where you guys pull off the road because we have traveled these roads so much.
We just finished a 3 week road trip from MO to AK in our half ton pickup and 21 ft camper. The reflectix was a god send! I need total darkness to go to sleep, and it was perfect. We were fortunate, we had perfect weather. We usually use the "Hanks Method" and fly by the seat of our pants and just "let it rip." We had no reservations and were able to go on glacier cruises in both Valdez and Seward. Since we had our fur-baby along, we used campgrounds when she couldnt go with us, otherwise we boondocked in the roadside pullouts. Distruction Bay to Tok was the worst paved road. We came home on the Cassier and loved it! It was so worth the trip and no, we didnt take along all the "extras" and we didn't have any problems. We even drove the Dalton up to the Arctic Circle, without the camper and the Denali highway, with the camper, without getting any flats. Glad you had a good trip.
I didn't read through the hundreds of comments so I don't know this has been asked/answered, but I didn't see you guys using a torque wrench to snug up those lug nuts. That is a must on any tire and must be checked again after a couple hundred miles.
You are absolutely correct. We did not use a torque wrench because we were heading directly to a tire shop just down the road. We definitely couldn't agree more on how important it is to stay up on the torque of each lug nut. Thank you for your support in watching every week 😊 - Kyle and Renee
I and my husband love your youtube channel. We watch it all the time. I am so grateful about all the infro you guys explain too us getting us ready for us long trip in the future. thank you again and please say a hi out there for the cat his the greatest. christy and walter
I hate bottle jacks. Suggest you get a floor jack and a jack stand instead. May take up a small amount of extra room but you will see that its much safer and easier to use in case of an emergency.
Look at the Anderson rapid jack. It is a lot faster to change a tire, and when added with your battery impact, you can get one changed in about 10 min and back on your way.
You should be checking the sticker on the trailer for proper tire pressure, it should be compared to the tire incase the tire is marked LOWER than the sticker.
I'm just now finding you guys and love your content! I'm watching all your videos and get confused about what year it is when you say the date, so maybe adding that all the time would be helpful to us newbies 😊
Great video. 3 tips from some1 who has had all your problems. 1 torq sticks for ur impact so you dont over/under torque, anderson jack as mentioned by another person, and from a 3rd shifter the humble sleep mask.
I am an ER nurse and I absolutely love you guys!! Kyle makes me laugh and Inlicw Renee’s energy. I am currently out of work due to having a lumbar fusion. The brooklyn bedding mattress would be awesome for my back! I plan on binge watching you while i am out of work. I have seen every episode, but maybe will start from the beginning. Enjoy Canada
So glad you are telling it like it really is. Hubs is going to Alaska on his motorcycle next summer. THEN, I want to go up to Alaska in our RV. Thanks for all the shadda, coulda, woulda, stuff! I want to be as prepared as possible when we go in the RV.
Really enjoy your video’s. I started going through the comments to see if somebody else commented on what I want to say but truthfully I really didn’t want to read all of them. This really is more of an observation but my comment is on the Milwaukee impact. The one you have is REALLY nice but you need to be aware of the torque it has. If you have done that then quit reading. Those impacts are for the heavy duty truck market like semi’s. You can over torque the wheel studs very easy with that. When that happens you essential stretch the studs and could break them. If this could have happened you should check them with a torque wrench. Any repair shop can do this. If they where over torqued a lot you should just have them replaced. This will be much cheaper than breaking them going down the road. Keep up with the great content.
This is so true !!! When we moved to Alaska from the mid-USA we found the daylight hours a constant struggle. Summer is long and suuupppper long with full daylight at 11 pm and the job in the morning. Winter is short....like 2 hours of 'daylight' short and you crave seeing the sun. The rest of the year is day light length changes of 7 min a day so sunrise at 8 am is suddenly 7:15 a week later and 6:30 another week later. Until it never rally gets pitch black. And repeat in reverse to winter. PS we were not too proud to tape aluminum foil to our bedroom and bathroom windows during the summer to seal out all the light. During the fall we pulled it off and in the spring put it back.
Notice his Bottle Jack is rated for 12 Tons. Your truck jack want lift your 5th Wheel. The lug nuts are a different size as well so have a T bar like he was using at first.
We have a Brooklyn Bedding mattress too in our RV. We found that it took a few months for the mattress to expand fully. Initially it was somewhat comfortable but became so much better in time. As the mattresses are coiled with air removed for shipping, it took time for the mattress to fully expand. We are happy with the mattress.
We spent the summer solstice in Seward the year we were traveling up there. They had a midnight run to the top of the mountain there in Seward because it was so light and they could!
Simple solution for filtering out sunlight and other lights is a sleep mask. 2 pack of silk lined masks 20 bucks. You can wear these with the blinds up.
Before you leave Alaska, hike the Matanuska Glacier, stay at Grand View Cafe & RV Park and drive truck over to glacier access area. It was the best thing we did in Alaska. Our video drops this Sunday. Have safe trip back.
I have been wish shopping for an rv for a while. All of the reviews are helpful, but you are the first folks I’ve felt comfortable to ask a question nobody addresses. Where do you keep the cat pan? I’d be interested to know. Thanks.
One big error is that bottle jack on the axle. Dexter axles say never jack on the axle as that tube is hollow and you can easily bend the axle. Always jack on the frame instead. I carry a couple of 6x6 blocks in my truck so I can use my bottle jack on the frame.
Another awesome video! TPMS for the win! You didn't say where in Palmer you stayed, I'm sure I can figure it out though. We could definitely use a mattress upgrade and get off the foam topper. We are enjoying watching your journey across this great state!
Your videos is our research for next year when I retire and we go full time. We really appreciate your honesty and being Frank !! Your videos are fun and informative. However I can't understand how anyone could throw spare tires into a river especially in such a beautiful area. If you pack it in pack it out, even if it's ruined you can dispose of it properly !!
I have Reflectix covers for all my windows, including the bathroom skylight, anyway, because I live in the southwest. My travel trailer would be a toaster oven without them.
Forget the bottle jack it could bend your axle especially if not put close to where the U-bolts are. I got myself an Andersen Rapid Jack (big red plastic wedge). You just drive up on it with the good tire and the flat tire comes right off the ground.
![BLACK BAG - Official Trailer [HD] - Only in Theaters March 14](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/Du0Xp8WX_7I/mqdefault.jpg)
A portion of this video is sponsored by RV Mattress from Brooklyn Bedding. A special thank you goes out to them for their support!
Save 25% with our code: hanks rvmattress.pxf.io/5g7Z23
Win a FREE Mattress by Brooklyn Bedding! www.happilyeverhanks.com/rvmattressgiveaway
What time is your broadcast sunday
@HappilyEverHanks Howdy Carl and Ney Ney.. 🥰🥰. Couple of questions… 1) when you sign up for the Mattress Giveaway are you to receive confirmation? I signed up and haven’t received confirmation. 2) what time will you be going live on the 27th? Thanks Hanks! 🥰🥰😘😘🇺🇸🙏🏻
Hi Hank's, We love your show and look forward to Thursday every week. I do have a problem with RUclips because we watch you guys on our home TV and there's no thumbs up option. Maybe in the future they will add that feature. For now I'll try to find you on the phone.
Love you guys, Dave and Sandy
A few questions. You talked about your memory foam mattress being hard as a rock when it gets cold so how is your new Brooklyn mattress holding up to the colder weather in Alaska? Question 2. This one has been eating at me for some time. How many miles does Dee have on her and how many miles do you put on her in a year? Maybe a good video that breaks down the maintenance some one should do as a full time RVer.
What time on Sunday? And what time zone? Dexter, help them with the math…how many hours +- …
Woot woot! We were that solitude with the white truck! Nice meeting you Carl!
Great to meet you!!
I turned 50 today, thanks for all the entertainment you have giving me every week. You guys are funny as heck. Thanks Hanks.
HAPPY BELATED BDAY!!!!!🎉
I remember my 50th. Not happy. HOPE YOURS WAS AWESOME!!!!!!!🎉🎉🎉
Happy birthday 🥳🥳🥳🎂🎁🎁🎁🎁🎁🎁🎁🎁🎈🎈🎈🎈🎈🎈🎈🎈
Happy birthday!
I feel like we’re not seeing much of Alaska, wish y’all could put out videos more frequently. You were the absolute best RV RUclipsrs out there we just need more of you.
look for big truck big travels - fantastic vlogs on Alaska
Ok Guys so here’s the sitch….. I’ve been traveling for work for the past 20 yrs. A while back I started to contemplate changing things up a bit. ( In come the “HANKS”) You guys have been a big part of my research in the RV life (with heaps of humor) you crazy kids 😂. Well guess what? I did it 😊. Bought my first ever 5th wheel RV (actually first RV period) as well as an F450 Diesel Dually, and I pick it up 3 days before your next live show……wahoooooooo thanks for all the advise and humor. Oh ya and thanks for convincing me to spend 200k (I think lol) Live the dream and here’s to the next chapter of adventure. Hope to catch up on the road one day. Cheers guys. PS I am a solo RVer so I guess have a few extra challenges ahead of me. 🎉 Let’s Do This
One thing I know for sure - it would be VERY difficult to keep your eyes on the road with all that jaw-droppingly beautiful scenery all around you while driving to Alaska. So glad that road emergency wasn't any more serious than it was, but watching how people drive on that highway gave me the willies.
Black out sleep masks are a big help when trying to sleep when it’s light out.
look dude and duddett, I am a weekend warrior pulling a small camper just and hand full of time during the year, and mostly to my deer lease that's only 1.5hrs away from my home, but I follow you guys to learn! Thank you, you two are truly inspirations to thousands of people trying to figure this RV world out! Keep it up!
Lol. “For you guys out there with very bizarre dimensions in the bedroom”. Too funny.
I NEVER HAVE HAD THE HANKERING TO TRAVEL OUTSIDE OF THE UNITED STATES, UNLESS FLYING TO HAWAII ! I CONTINUE TO PRAY FOR YOU GUYS, THAT GOD WILL PROTECT YOU ON YOUR JOURNEY !
Don’t be so hard on yourself, outside of distance and direction, it looks like your golf game is perfect 👍🏼
Thank goodness Dexter directed Mom when she was giving tips. I think there would have been a lot of bloopers if not. 😅 You guys make my Thursdays. #ThanksHanks
FYI...We have a package of the link blocks for leveling (but I use them for the stabilizers since I have the anderson leveling wedges). I found that 6 of those under the good axle will get the flat tire off the ground enough to change a tire without using a jack. Put down 2, then 4, then 6 to do a ramp up to the 6 of them. Much quicker and also don't run the risk of messing up the axle alignment.
I have traveled in Northern Europe, Alaska, and Canada. Eye mask always works for me. I always get a good night's sleep. Also make sure you have a good tool kit with spares. use quality tires on your trailer.
Agreed - eye masks are a terrific travel companion.
You two just make my heart happy. Thank you for just being you and sharing each other with the world.
Thank you so much!
I just love watching your adventures, no matter what you encounter you make it seem like fun. Oh to be young again. I'm a solo traveling grandma, not full time but some time. Can be on the road anywhere from a week to 6 weeks at a time. Been following for several years now and always a hoot!
Thank you so much!
I lived in Alaska for 4 years. The sunlight is terrible in the summer. The thing I found out was you had to wear a watch ALL the time. I'm really enjoying your Alaska trip.
Safe travels.
Long time viewer first time posting. Love how you describe the weather, we Alaskans when asked about the weather, we just say, wait 30 minutes and see what you get. Yeah the weather is something you just wake up to and see what you get for the day.
Love your videos and how you guys make it so fun.
My husband and I totally understand some of your emotions. We drove to Alaska in a car on our honeymoon, no RV. Jeff was active duty military and Anchorage was our destination. It was a beautiful drive, civilization was few and far between, snow in the mountains in September and the days were long. It was a spectacular adventure and we have memories for miles. 27 years have gone by. Would do it all over again but only in an RV 😂
How about a blackout mask over your eyes?
When we traveled to AK actually several times, we bought black sheets and pinned them over the windows. Perfect.
I was so excited when I realized it was Thursday!!! Hanks put out on Thursdays!!!!🎉🎉🎉 YAY!!!!
I keep a Dewalt cordless impact and sockets in my 5th wheel. No more fighting a traditional lug wrench for me. Our new RV is our first one with TPMS. On our last trip it threw a fit as we were getting ready to leave our house. I was able to use my garage compressor to fill the tires. All 4 were just under the limit. I would have not known that without that system. I am sold on it.
The Dewalt isn’t made for torquing vehicle wheels. You need the heavy duty Milwaukee!
Glad everything worked out for y’all! In our last camper, we had a blowout that caused a huge hole under our camper!! We really need to get the TPS on our camper so that won’t happen again! Could have been bad!! Happy Camping and Safe Travels!! ❤️❤️❤️
What t is TPS
TPMS TIRE PREASURE MEASUREMENT SYSTEM
😮
Consider the opposite. I spent 3 weeks in Fairbanks in the winter for work. I think there was maybe 3 hours of sunlight and at that the sun only peaks above and runs horizontal with the horizon, so more like 3 hours of dusk. It was very depressing having so little sun, being secluded in a hotel, and wondering if you forgot to plug your engine block heater in before going inside or would the engine be frozen. We also started the car a half hour before we planned on leaving hoping it would warm up a little.
Looking forward to seeing the Northern Lights in Fairbanks in the future. It will be interesting with all the darkness.
We bought some folding cones from Harbor Freight. We have broken down on the side of the road too many times.
I took an Alaskan cruise a few months back. We left Seattle at about 5pm. We had the shades closed in our cabin when we went to bed. I remember looking out the window at about 4am the next morning. We had been on the water for about 12 hours. It was already daylight. The evenings were dusky but not completely dark. I just remember the sky being strangely brighter than in lower latitudes. It was beautiful but just weird to look at. Alaska is truly a beautiful place. I want to go back and spend more time.
Love watching your videos! Thanks for taking us on your Alaskan adventures!! Be safe out there!!❤❤❤
Gosh, Carl! Way to whip out the Viair and start the husband back on his "1001 reasons we need to upgrade the compressor"🙄 Sheesh!
Anyway, great episode- glad you all got safely back on the road!
Lol, you need an alarm to wake up, to eat lunch, to eat dinner and when to go to bed. The winter months are just the opposite and it's really cold too.
We can't imagine, John! That must be hard to get used to. Thank you for watching and providing your support - Kyle and Renee
Nice to see a video that shows the placement of a bottle jack when changing a tire!
Y'all are cute as a pigs ear. When I woke up this morning I asked my hubby what day it was...he said it's Hanksday 😂. Be safe and know you are loved.
Thank you so much!
Love you guys. However, you might have done a better job of protecting your travel partner. If you allow them to pull off ahead of you and you set out your orange cones (did you have any?) that gives on coming traffic more time to get over which protects the roadside trie change.
Also, I would recommend you always use a torque wrench to do a final tightening of the wheel lugs to spec.
And finally, the bottle jack can be a life saver for getting additional support under that axle or as a primary jack in tight spots with uneven terrain.
Keep up all the great content and be safe so we can continue to join you on your awesome travels!
We lived in Anchorage for 3 years and Soldotna for 12 years. We had our three kids up there as well. We had a lot of adventures there and the long days of summer was just something you learned to deal with. There were times when I went out to mow the lawn and realized it was 10:00pm! The long days are great for fishing, and Alaska is the place for that! Hopefully when you were camping at Palmer, you had a little time to explore because Independence gold mine is up in the mountains from were you are (or were) at. Fish Hook Road takes up thru Hatcher Pass you'll get to check out Independence gold mine and come out at Willow on the other side. Well that's all for now, I'm glad your having fun!
Wally Williams
PS Don't take your trailer up through Hatcher pass, this is a day trip in the pickup truck!
I read your message, but I've had a busy weekend. I will write back soon and share with you our Alaska experience....
Wally
There are many things I miss about Alaska. When you live in a small community a long a we did, you get to know a lot of people. So I do miss the good people of Kenai Peninsula. My wife and I've up there from 1982 to 1997. We moved to Damascus, Oregon. We were raised in Southern Oregon, our families lived here in Oregon, we moved back here to be closer to family.
Long summer days in Anchorage and Soldotna take some getting used to (the Hanks covered that topic pretty well). But during winter the days are short with only 6 hours or so of daylight. The further North you go the longer the days are in summer, and the shorter the days are in the winter. The lack of light in the winter can cause cabin fever, so having a bright interior in your home with good lighting will help prevent that. Attending sports at the local school with the bright lights will also help, and you'll enjoy meeting people and watching the kids play sports.
I had lots of fishing, spruce hen hunting, deer hunting (Kodiak Island), and moose hunting adventures. I was a Scout Master with the Boys Scouts of America. I worked for trucking companies hauling freight and household goods, worked in the oil fields, and worked as a custodian at Kenai Central, and I was the Head Custodian at Sterling Elementary. While working for the school district I had summers off and I drove tractor trailer hauling fish in the summer.
I don't know if you plan on working or if your retired. Anchorage is a good size city, and there's usually work for people there, depending on what your profession or vocation is. But one thing for sure, the cost of living is pretty high. There's work in the Kenai Peninsula towns in the summer, but during winter work is scarce.
There's and old Alaska saying, "Alaska is the land of feast and famine ". This is a true fact of life in Alaska. Alaska's economy is based on oil, mining, the military, and tourism. The biggest source of revenue by far is oil. If the price of oil bottoms out, people will move away in droves. You see, in Alaska most everyone is from somewhere else. When times get hard, people will move back where they came from and things like homes that people paid a high price for will quickly bottom out, and work quickly becomes scarce.
Alaska is a far away place. It costs a lot to move up or to move back. If you have to work your option is flying out to your destination on vacation, because its too far to drive. Sometimes nature has a different idea for flying out because there are three neighboring volcanoes that can erupt at anytime. In our 15 years of living in Alaska we seen Mt. Augustine (SE of Homer), Mt. Redoubt (twice), and Mt. Spurr erupted.
Earthquakes occur on an constant basis. Most we've felt are light, but we did experience a quake over 4.0 when we first moved to Alaska. That was a little unnerving for us. A trip to earthquake park in Anchorage will display what a major quake will do, and Alaska is overdue for the 'big one'.
Wintertime's big hazard and avalanches are reality to be aware of at all times. To watch one is a wakeup call as to just how dangerous they are, and how fast they move. We lost one our Sterling school parents to an avalanche.
Fishing on the big lakes (and rivers) like Lake Tustamina or Skilak Lake one has to be prepared to camp out because the weather can change in a heartbeat. We lost a Sterling teacher in Skilak Lake, his canoe was found but he was never was.
There's many hazards in the bush, but there's hazards in town as well. Moose, blackbears, and brown bears can be a threat at any given time. More people are injured or killed by moose, than bears. Hard winters will drive the moose into town. There very hard to see at night, and their eyes don't reflect like a deer. In the springtime young moose calves are a favorite meal for the hungary bears coming out of hibernation. It's really a good idea to pack a 44 Magnum, bear repellent or high caliber rifle when your out and about in the bush. Be aware of you surroundings at all times! I've chased moose out of our school yard with my car, and have had phone calls from neighbors of bear sightings close to the Sterling school.
Before I sign off. there's another hazzard I must share with you and that's the mosquitoes and whitesocks. Personally I'd rather deal with the mosquitoes. Whitesocks are nasty, their bites are welts the size of nickles, and they are unhindered from bugdope.
As with other large town or cities, the homeless are a big problem in Anchorage, in not sure about the Kenai Peninsula. Well, I hope that gives you some idea of what is like living in Alaska. There's a lot more I can tell you about Alaska but I have to leave some things for you to experience. Right?
Good luck and take care,
Wally and Susanne Williams
Look at a trailer aid instead of bottle Jack. So easy and so quick to change an rv tire
Thanks!
Great video. Tpms is a must. If u r jacking up the axle proper placement is directly under the springs
We use an Andersen Rapid Jack for the camper instead of a bottle jack. It is fast and easy. Saved us this past February when we had a blowout. Highly recommended!!
Great video 😃
Great tip!
My husband and I love watching your videos. You guys are hilarious! You make us laugh all the time. We look forward to every Thursday when you drop your weekly video......especially right now while we follow your Alaskan adventures. We just can't wait to see what you guys get into next. Thank God your friends had a TPMS, a good spare, a bottle jack, & you had air available to handle the blown tire situation. Safe & happy travels, Hanks! Let er rip, gang!
Today we changed to our spare on the trailer, the rim cracked. That's a 1st for me. Fortunately we noticed it at a campground. The Alaska Hwy is hard on equipment. Stay safe . We are headed home after 2 months in Alaska.
Thanks for the awesome content and the laughs. Love watching your videos.
Cannot wait to book it up to Alaska and NWT with my 15’ travel trailer and 3 x 65lb dogs!!
From Ontario, Canada.
TPMS saves the day again. I hope everyone uses a system, likely the most valuable thing you can have on an RV and truck. I have a dually, pulling a 5th wheel, and have sensors on every wheel. Helped me pick up a dragging brake before we had big issues. You need to get a saddle for that bottle jack and jack further outboard by the spring if possible. Love all your videos and this series has been great!
Another good thing to have in your arsenal of road side breakdown items when full timing is triangles(come in set of 3)…Not just for truckers.
Just a FYI, when jacking up your RV. PLEASE TAKE CARE ON JACK PLACEMENT of the bottle Jack. They can bend the axle. IF YOU CAN put it on the frame. Nice journey, you forgot to take me. I have a GD 2930 also.
That Milwaukee tool is great, I have the same one, but over tightening the lug nuts is dangerous. You need to have torque sticks or a torque wrench when changing tires.
We love you guys, and please tell all to purchase a TPMS before you buy coffee or beer for the RV/5th wheel/ trailer !!!!!
Brendan & Lena
You guys are a cute couple. Never a dull moment when we watch your videos. Really enjoy them. Thanks, Hanks!
Yes please! More of the Hanks!! And the only cat we like “Dexter!” Enjoying your adventures! Looking for our 2cd fifth wheel, can we say “upgrade?!!” ❤
We always carry a ramp for changing a spare tire on a tandem axle. You pull up with the good tire and the flat tire can get changed without a jack. We think it is much safer than a jack because a strong side wind can cause the rig to shift and the jack slip out.
Well, shucks, and here I thought the UNSEEN DANGER was going to be polar bears roaming the RV park snatching up fifi dogs!
...K, just kidding; I've been to various parts of Alaska several times and know better. I've never been there in the summer, so your observations were certainly instructive. Lovin' riding along on this trip; thanks for the invite 😁
Glad you fixed the trailer connection. Last trip mine did it more and finally all the time. Turned out to be a short in one of the brake drums. Then on the way home TPMS went off twice! I had blown a valve stem and later blew another. Good thing I had two spares. One tip for everyone, if you have the screw on TPMS sensors, make sure you have metal valve stems. My TPMS instructions said rubber was fine but my trip just proved rubber ones and 95+ degree days don't go together. I have a bottle jack too, but use the Trailer Aid ramp for changing tires. I also have a cordless impact gun. I'm not NASCAR fast, but getting faster! Get you an orange safety vest too! Thanks for what you do!
We are on the return leg of our first crosscountry trip so far we have changed both front tires on the truck (un even ware )and all 4 on the fifth wheel( oem tires road punctures and a bearing problem). We have had 2 of the dual tires patched. We have never been stuck along side the road. We just kept adding air until we got to a campground. I think far safer then changing along side the road. Love you guys.
Every Thursday morning, my husband reminds me “don’t forget the Hanks today” and after supper we watch you❤️❤️. We have learned so much from watching you two! We have a fifth wheel and camp every other week.
Pretty much funny, but don't do what they do. Have the necessary equipment, especially safety items before a long road in the backcountry.
Thank you so much!
I have the same Milwaukee impact wrench. I also carry a Milwaukee air compressor along with a variety of other tools that run off the same 18V system. I carry 2-6T bottle jacks as well. Ironically I've used them more on other peoples rigs than my own though. When in the Desert, Boondocking or if I see someone struggling along side the road I can make pretty quick work with these and save a potential accident. Glad to see she bought you top shelf product.
if you don't have a jack, you can always drive up on leveling boards/plates with the remaining good tire and it'll lift up your flat tire.
Instead of the bottle jack you could have just raised the other wheel on the same side with the wood blocks to get the flat wheel off the ground. I do that when greasing the axles. I do also carry a bottle jack if needed.😄
Oh cool! You stayed at Paradise RV Park in Palmer! The mountain views are spectacular there, aren’t they?
The hay fields directly across the road from the RV park is where we used to buy hay for our herd of Pygmy goats years ago. Very nice farm - and the owners of the RV Park. 👍
The same material used for scuba suits can be purchased. I used this to make window shades. Trace the window for a pattern and cut your black rubber material for a perfect insulated blacked out window. Highly recommended for Alaska for summer travel!🤣👍🏼💯
Sleep is over rated this time of year in Alaska. Our family joke in the summer up here is...We can sleep in October. So much to do. So little time to do it all. The way Becky and I roll after 18 years up here...we sleep well because we are exhausted even when it is light out.
Rain in Valdez is just liquid sunshine.
This is a fun video because I can tell exactly where you guys pull off the road because we have traveled these roads so much.
Love this video! We have been to Alaska and the sunlight can really get to you after a while. I like it dark too when I sleep….Lisa
We just finished a 3 week road trip from MO to AK in our half ton pickup and 21 ft camper. The reflectix was a god send! I need total darkness to go to sleep, and it was perfect. We were fortunate, we had perfect weather. We usually use the "Hanks Method" and fly by the seat of our pants and just "let it rip." We had no reservations and were able to go on glacier cruises in both Valdez and Seward. Since we had our fur-baby along, we used campgrounds when she couldnt go with us, otherwise we boondocked in the roadside pullouts. Distruction Bay to Tok was the worst paved road. We came home on the Cassier and loved it! It was so worth the trip and no, we didnt take along all the "extras" and we didn't have any problems. We even drove the Dalton up to the Arctic Circle, without the camper and the Denali highway, with the camper, without getting any flats. Glad you had a good trip.
I didn't read through the hundreds of comments so I don't know this has been asked/answered, but I didn't see you guys using a torque wrench to snug up those lug nuts. That is a must on any tire and must be checked again after a couple hundred miles.
You are absolutely correct. We did not use a torque wrench because we were heading directly to a tire shop just down the road. We definitely couldn't agree more on how important it is to stay up on the torque of each lug nut. Thank you for your support in watching every week 😊 - Kyle and Renee
I and my husband love your youtube channel. We watch it all the time. I am so grateful about all the infro you guys explain too us getting us ready for us long trip in the future. thank you again and please say a hi out there for the cat his the greatest. christy and walter
I hate bottle jacks. Suggest you get a floor jack and a jack stand instead. May take up a small amount of extra room but you will see that its much safer and easier to use in case of an emergency.
After a while you do get used the light. We also enjoy it for as long as we can, cause we get the darkness in winter.
Look at the Anderson rapid jack. It is a lot faster to change a tire, and when added with your battery impact, you can get one changed in about 10 min and back on your way.
You should be checking the sticker on the trailer for proper tire pressure, it should be compared to the tire incase the tire is marked LOWER than the sticker.
I'm just now finding you guys and love your content! I'm watching all your videos and get confused about what year it is when you say the date, so maybe adding that all the time would be helpful to us newbies 😊
Love you two!
Thank you for breaking down the costs and showing some of what we would see!
Absolutely! We are so glad that this could be of some help 😊
Love watching you both & Dexter. We moved our family into a RV and are loving our lives to the fullest!! Thanks for the inspiration!!
Great video. 3 tips from some1 who has had all your problems. 1 torq sticks for ur impact so you dont over/under torque, anderson jack as mentioned by another person, and from a 3rd shifter the humble sleep mask.
YeahI do!!!! Watching you guys is like watching a good movie. Drama, fun, adventure and everything in between!❤
Old Milwaukee! 😂 My Daddy liked that one for a while in the 80s. Thanks for the memories. 😊
We totally sympathize…we blew a tire valve stem on the Stewart Cassiar highway last month. It was very scary!
I lost it when nana jumped when the radio went off! 🤣😂I do that all the time!
I am an ER nurse and I absolutely love you guys!! Kyle makes me laugh and Inlicw Renee’s energy. I am currently out of work due to having a lumbar fusion. The brooklyn bedding mattress would be awesome for my back! I plan on binge watching you while i am out of work. I have seen every episode, but maybe will start from the beginning. Enjoy Canada
So glad you are telling it like it really is. Hubs is going to Alaska on his motorcycle next summer. THEN, I want to go up to Alaska in our RV. Thanks for all the shadda, coulda, woulda, stuff! I want to be as prepared as possible when we go in the RV.
I lived in Fairbanks for 2 years so I know how you feel about nighttime sleeping, it just takes time to get adjusted .....Good video.
Really enjoy your video’s. I started going through the comments to see if somebody else commented on what I want to say but truthfully I really didn’t want to read all of them.
This really is more of an observation but my comment is on the Milwaukee impact. The one you have is REALLY nice but you need to be aware of the torque it has. If you have done that then quit reading. Those impacts are for the heavy duty truck market like semi’s. You can over torque the wheel studs very easy with that. When that happens you essential stretch the studs and could break them. If this could have happened you should check them with a torque wrench. Any repair shop can do this. If they where over torqued a lot you should just have them replaced. This will be much cheaper than breaking them going down the road.
Keep up with the great content.
This is so true !!!
When we moved to Alaska from the mid-USA we found the daylight hours a constant struggle. Summer is long and suuupppper long with full daylight at 11 pm and the job in the morning. Winter is short....like 2 hours of 'daylight' short and you crave seeing the sun. The rest of the year is day light length changes of 7 min a day so sunrise at 8 am is suddenly 7:15 a week later and 6:30 another week later. Until it never rally gets pitch black. And repeat in reverse to winter.
PS we were not too proud to tape aluminum foil to our bedroom and bathroom windows during the summer to seal out all the light. During the fall we pulled it off and in the spring put it back.
Notice his Bottle Jack is rated for 12 Tons. Your truck jack want lift your 5th Wheel. The lug nuts are a different size as well so have a T bar like he was using at first.
We have a Brooklyn Bedding mattress too in our RV. We found that it took a few months for the mattress to expand fully. Initially it was somewhat comfortable but became so much better in time. As the mattresses are coiled with air removed for shipping, it took time for the mattress to fully expand. We are happy with the mattress.
I need that Brooklyn Bedding in my life!! Do we tune in on Sunday to find out the winner?
You guys look great! I’m loving the Alaska series :)
We spent the summer solstice in Seward the year we were traveling up there. They had a midnight run to the top of the mountain there in Seward because it was so light and they could!
Simple solution for filtering out sunlight and other lights is a sleep mask. 2 pack of silk lined masks 20 bucks. You can wear these with the blinds up.
Lived in Iceland for a year and a half, days and nights were interesting in the summer and winter months. Fun stuff.
I like to put the air in the tire when it's mounted this way the weight of the trailer the pressure doesn't increase the PSI
We used to live in Palmer Alaska. Right now we are up here in Alaska and will be going to the state fair in Palmer.
I've got a tpms on my wish list now. Experienced a blowout last year, but after seeing this video, Santa just might get me one lol
Thanks Hanks, I cut up my trucks windshield reflector to cover the skylights in my trailer. Aluminum Foil, priceless.
That is awesome!
You guys were meant to do this channel......its FANTASTIC!!
Before you leave Alaska, hike the Matanuska Glacier, stay at Grand View Cafe & RV Park and drive truck over to glacier access area. It was the best thing we did in Alaska. Our video drops this Sunday. Have safe trip back.
I have been wish shopping for an rv for a while. All of the reviews are helpful, but you are the first folks I’ve felt comfortable to ask a question nobody addresses. Where do you keep the cat pan? I’d be interested to know. Thanks.
One big error is that bottle jack on the axle. Dexter axles say never jack on the axle as that tube is hollow and you can easily bend the axle. Always jack on the frame instead. I carry a couple of 6x6 blocks in my truck so I can use my bottle jack on the frame.
We were just in the Palmer/Wasilla area, too. The rain sure did put a damper on things.
Another great video guys! My husband just signed up for TSD Open roads using your link. BTW, we need that mattress. 😘
Another awesome video! TPMS for the win! You didn't say where in Palmer you stayed, I'm sure I can figure it out though. We could definitely use a mattress upgrade and get off the foam topper. We are enjoying watching your journey across this great state!
😂😂 Everytime we park its pull up and back up at least 5 or 6 times. You guys are fantastic and fun till next time be safe and be happy. 👍👍👍🤪🤪🤪🍻🍻🍻
Your videos is our research for next year when I retire and we go full time. We really appreciate your honesty and being Frank !! Your videos are fun and informative. However I can't understand how anyone could throw spare tires into a river especially in such a beautiful area. If you pack it in pack it out, even if it's ruined you can dispose of it properly !!
Glad it was only a tire change, scenery is beautiful there.....Safe travels Hanks.
I have Reflectix covers for all my windows, including the bathroom skylight, anyway, because I live in the southwest. My travel trailer would be a toaster oven without them.
Forget the bottle jack it could bend your axle especially if not put close to where the U-bolts are. I got myself an Andersen Rapid Jack (big red plastic wedge). You just drive up on it with the good tire and the flat tire comes right off the ground.