Alaskan converted into a travel trailer!

[myfootstepsfirm]

I started a similar thread about a year ago but have a bunch of new photos to share…so decided to do a fresh thread.

I love the bulletproof quality and the vintage aesthetic of Alaskan truck campers but I’m a travel trailer guy…so I decided to buy a 1960’s Alaskan and convert it into a travel trailer.

I bought a 6’x8’ utility trailer at Tractor Supply and mount my 8ft NCO onto it. I boxed the bottom in with 3/4” square stock and skinned it in white aluminum. To finish the job, I mounted small cargo doors and vents that I scavenged at a local RV salvage yard.

I’ve had it out camping all last summer and it’s been awesome. It’s a bit of a curiosity so I get lots of questions and comments when I roll into a campground.

Enjoy the pics and please feel free to ask questions!

 

[myfootstepsfirm]

More pics:

 

[DavidGraves]

Nicely done.

A trailer based camper has advantages for sure particularly for staying a few days in one location.

David Graves

 

[myfootstepsfirm]

David,

I'm mostly on the vintage scooters at camp...but the truck does come in handy for a larger grocery run or other errands. Having the truck freed up is an added convenience!

 

[Optimistic Paranoid]

I very much like the concept. But I do question the use of a light utility trailer. The Tractor Supply site says the capacity of that 6x8 trailer is 1675 lbs. That's right around the advertised wet weight for the new 8 ft NCO Alaskans. Empty weight of the trailer is listed as 725 lbs. Axle is listed for 2400 lbs., and each tire is listed as good for 1100 lbs. Put your food, clothing, bedding, etc. in the trailer and you are definitely overweight. I do wonder how the tires and axle are gonna hold up to that. Wouldn't surprise me if you started having blow outs as you go down the road.

Sorry for being such a downer.

 

[DavidGraves]

David,

I'm mostly on the vintage scooters at camp...but the truck does come in handy for a larger grocery run or other errands. Having the truck freed up is an added convenience!

I am a certified Vespa mechanic from days of yore......worked for a large dealer in Washington DC.....meanwhile had lots of all other brands of touring M/Cs.....Vespas were an excellent design for their time.

David Graves

 

[huskyrunnr]

I have an 8 ft. NCO sometimes on an M101-A1. Honestly, I like OP’s setup better. Looks made for it. I do agree with the other poster. I’d put a heavier axle on if I go this route. Either that or downsize the axle and tires on the M101. Lol, that thing is a monster!

Well done!

 

[myfootstepsfirm]

John,

I'm foggy on this bc it was over a year ago...so bear with me.

I was also concerned about the weight of the Alaskan...and did not want to overload the utility trailer. I searched high and low on the Internet to nail down the exact weight of the Alaskan. The data was all over the board...I was seeing 800 lbs on the low side to 1,500 on the high side for a dry weight.

I can't remember if it was on wanderthewest or expedition portal...but I found a post from a couple that had a late '60's 8ft NCO just like mine. They were worried about overloading their truck and they too could not pin down the exact weight. They went to a weigh station with the empty truck and had it weighed...then drove home, picked up the Alaskan and returned to the weigh station. Long story short, (as I vaguely remember) the Alaskan was 900-ish pounds.

In addition, I removed the cheap Chinese tires and replaced them with the most expensive Maxxis trailer tires I could buy.

I’ve had the trailer out on two dozen or so excursions with no problems…including a 6 hour round trip weekend to Arivaca AZ. The road to the Arivaca campground was *literally* 10 miles of unpaved moon craters…worst road I’ve ever been on in my entire life and the travel trailer didi just fine.

So, I hear the concern as I had the same thought myself…but so far, so good.

 

[myfootstepsfirm]

Huskyrunnr,

I think I've seen pics of your rig...mine looks more "polished" but your definitely looks more badass!

 

[myfootstepsfirm]

David,

The only thing I obsess about more than vintage travel trailers is vintages Vespas. My 1962 VBB is the PERFECT camping bike!

All the planets line up when I am camping in the Alaskan and riding the VBB...lol...

 

[myfootstepsfirm]

Found the post on wander the west:

"so, after being more than a bit worried reading all the thoughts on the weight of our camper, we took it to our local weigh scales.
first we went with just the truck and returned later with the camper. turns out an unloaded (dry weight) 1968, NCO alaskan camper only weighs 750 pounds. phew...we can keep on camping!!
thanks for the replies, hope this helps someone else later on down the road."

So I was wrong with my 900lbs-ish comment...the dry weight is a mere 750lbs.

I bought the Alaskan from an RV salvage dealer and found tons of marked up paper maps, campground guides, camping articles and such in the kitchen drawers...the dates all start in 1968 and based on the aesthetics of my Alaskan I'd say it's a late '60's.

If this data is correct, the Tractor Supply 6'x8' trailer should haul it just fine...again...knock on wood...I've not had any issues in more than a year.

 

[DavidGraves]

Perhaps we digress from your initial post.....I owned several BMW's, including antiques, sidecars, etc etc and a Harley and British bikes...all in my young adult years......but still would take the Vespa P200 E down the length of the Blue Ridge parkway each year on a camping trip....about 450 miles round trip from DC.

When I took the factory training at the importer in NJ they had an Ape, (50 cc utility three wheeler) in the building they used for erands.....I tried my damnest to buy it from the Tech trainer person but no dice...not cetified for US rules.

Of well...another little bit of interest was that the Wash Metro Police used Vespa Rally 180s for S O P. Another mechanic at the shop I worked in was moonlighting from the Police department.....They would use Vespas for traffice control while the Harleys were used for parade escort etc.


The National Capitol Park Police used Honda Trail 110s for patrol....ordered a large lot (200) in Blue. I still have one of those.

Ah youth.

Apologize to other readers for moto mania.

David Graves

 

[myfootstepsfirm]

David,

You're my new best friend. I live, eat, sleep, breath, walk and talk vintage scooters. I piss people off I talk about them so much

 

[ETAV8R]

What a great looking rig, inside and out.

 

[Optimistic Paranoid]

I can't remember if it was on wanderthewest or expedition portal...but I found a post from a couple that had a late '60's 8ft NCO just like mine. They were worried about overloading their truck and they too could not pin down the exact weight. They went to a weigh station with the empty truck and had it weighed...then drove home, picked up the Alaskan and returned to the weigh station. Long story short, (as I vaguely remember) the Alaskan was 900-ish pounds.


I used the current weights as posted on Alaskan's website - 1380 lbs dry, 1636 lbs wet. I gotta say I'm surprised the earlier ones were so much less. Anyway, Good Luck with it!

 

[huskyrunnr]

My '66 8' NCO with the fridge and wardrobe gutted is 1233 lbs. But I have gotten some weird numbers on these scales before. I don't know if they didn't tare properly or what.

 

[PackRat]

Here is some Alaskan Documentation:

 

[PackRat]

Maybe ask the trailer mfger what the weight of the trailer EMPTY is and what it can safely carry. Then just go back to the scales, unhitch the trailer/Alaskan on the scales and get the GCVW (gross combined vehicle weight). Compare that to what the trailer mfgr says it can carry and you will know where you stand.

It would seem you are very close to the limit of that trailer, but better to know for sure than to guess about that stuff.

 

[myfootstepsfirm]

I just took the trailer over to a certified weigh station and here's the data:

TOTAL Gross Weight of trailer with all gear loaded (everything except food): 2,100 lbs (GVWR 2,400 lbs)

Tongue weight: 220 lbs (spec is 360 lbs max)

Drive axle weight: 1880 lbs (spec is 2200 lbs max)

Each Maxxis M8008 tire is capable of a maximum weight of 1480 lbs each (2,960 combined)

So here is my take...

The Tractor Supply 6 x 8 trailer weights 725 lbs

The remaining weight is 1375 lbs....so figure 100lbs for gear (there isn't much) so the Alaskan weighs ~1275 lbs

IMPORTANT: There's bad intel on the WTW post from the couple who took their '68 NCO to a weigh station and claimed a total weight of 750 lbs. There is no way possible that a '68 NCO weighs 750lbs. The scale was off by 500 lbs?!?!? The scale was defective or something...

Here's the link to the thread that says a 1968 8ft NCO weigh station weight is 750lbs

http://www.wanderthewest.com/forum/topic/7457-alaskan-8-ft-1968-weight/

I based my entire project off of that 750 lb weigh station weight! YIKES!

I think the "ok" news is that I am close to the limits of the trailer but not over.

Trailer data from Tractor supply:

Specification Description Brand: Carry-On Trailer Application: Utility Payload Capacity: 1,675 lb. Tire Weight Rating (ea.): 1,100 lb. Coupler Type: A-Frame Number of Axles: 1 Gross Vehicle Weight Rating: 2,400 lb. Product Type: Wood Floor Trailer Coupler Size: 2 in. Tire Diameter: 13 in. Empty Weight: 725 lb. Manufacturer Part Number 6X8GW2KP


The GVWR is 2,400 lbs The tongue weight allowance is 200 to 360 lbs. We use this tongue weight as part of our max gross rating. The axle is rated 2200lbs.

 

[PackRat]

No offense meant, but to others who read this thread trying to decide if trailering an Alaskan like this is "OK" or not....this rig has virtually NO extra weight capacity to it. I also may have missed it, but does it have trailer brakes?

While the idea is sound, I would suggest that an interested party buy a two-axle trailer with brakes on at least one axle. With the weight of a loaded Alaskan and extras on the trailer bed, one rated to carry maybe 3,000 lbs with two axles and brakes would be a better choice in my book.

I would hate to have over 2,200 lbs back there when driving down the highway and experiencing a blowout with only two tires on the trailer.

Just sayin'