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FAQ2022-03-18T14:41:02-08:00

Here are a few answers to some commonly asked questions. If your question isn’t here, or if you need more info, feel free to get in touch with us! We’re happy to answer any questions you might have!

How old do I have to be to rent?2022-03-21T11:44:40-08:00

The minimum age to rent is 21. However, you must have your own insurance coverage. You must be 25 or older to purchase a primary insurance package. Whatever your age, you must possess a valid driver’s license that doesn’t expire before the end of your trip, and your insurance must be valid through the end of your rental as well.

Can I bring my dog?2022-03-21T11:43:57-08:00

Yes! We now allow pets. We have specially designated some vans in our fleet as the pet-friendly vans, and we can accommodate up to 2 of your furry family members during your reservation. We will provide a seat cover to protect the seats inside the van, but you’re responsible for bringing any food bowls, water dishes, or bedding your pet might need. We also ask that you keep pets out of the tent. There’s a one-time cleaning fee to bring a pet; select the “Pet Friendly Travel Van” when you open up the booking engine and it will be automatically added. Please contact us if you have a very large animal, or if you have more than 3 people on your reservation and also want to bring a pet. We need to make sure all of the people will be safe inside the van. (Please note that pets are not allowed in our Travel SUVs.)

Do you offer after-hours dropoff or pickup?2019-11-05T00:01:52-09:00

We prefer that all pickups and dropoffs happen during our office hours, which are 10am to 6pm daily during the summer. If your flight arrives in the middle of the night (very common), we recommend staying in Anchorage for a night and getting oriented to Alaska. You can pick up your van when we open the next day, and then you’ll have had a night’s sleep and a moment to realize that the sun stays up all the time here!

If you only need a slightly later or earlier pickup or dropoff, i.e. not much more than an hour or so beyond our regular office hours, we may be able to accommodate that. Please contact us and ask. We’re usually pretty accommodating!

We will give you an orientation on how everything in the van works when you pick it up, and this typically lasts about half an hour. Likewise, when you return, we’ll double check that everything is where it’s supposed to be, and we’ll take any feedback you’re willing to give, so plan a little extra time for pickups and dropoffs.

Can you pick us up at the airport?2019-11-04T23:44:21-09:00

At this time, we do not offer shuttle service to or from the airport. Our office is only a few miles from the airport, however, so your ride in won’t take too long or cost too much money. Currently in Anchorage, you can take a taxi, Uber or Lyft to get to our office. There are also several hotels located just a block from our office, so if you arrive late at night, these hotels offer shuttle service from the airport and are within walking distance to our office in the morning.

Crowne Plaza Anchorage Midtown
Hyatt House Anchorage
Fairfield Inn & Suites
Motel 6 Anchorage Midtown

Can I drop off my van in Fairbanks/other city?2019-11-04T23:44:35-09:00

At this time, we only have one office in Anchorage, and all vans must be picked up and dropped off at this location.

Can I drive the Denali Highway?2022-03-21T11:51:58-08:00

Travel SUVs are allowed on the Denali Highway!

The Denali Highway is a beautiful route between Paxson and Cantwell, but the road has a reputation for being very rough. It does get smoothed out occasionally during the summer, but it doesn’t happen very often, and the road gets rough pretty quickly. Because of this, we do not allow our Travel Vans on the Denali Highway, and we may restrict access even in our SUVs if the road conditions are particularly rough.

Vans are also not allowed on the McCarthy Road and the Dalton Highway. These roads are notorious in Alaska for their rough conditions, and even 4x4s get stuck or damaged while traveling them. Please do not take our travel vans on either of these roads, or on any road that requires 4-wheel drive.

Can I take my vehicle into Canada?2022-03-21T11:42:51-08:00

Sure! We’ve had plenty of happy renters who have gone to Whitehorse, Dawson City, Kluane National Park, Tombstone Territorial Park, and more. Don’t forget your passport! (Please note: The border between the U.S. and Canada is now open for recreational travel, but restrictions are still a possibility during the pandemic. You can find updates on the border crossing here.)

Do I need to buy extra insurance?2023-06-13T10:59:09-08:00

Most full-coverage car insurance policies in the US will cover our campervans under rental cars. If your policy doesn’t cover rentals, if you have an international policy that doesn’t cover you in the U.S., or you don’t have car insurance at all, we recommend a primary policy.

Your insurance will be primary when you rent one of our vans, whether that’s your own policy or a policy you purchase with your reservation, up to the Alaska state minimums. We also offer a Supplemental Liability Insurance option, which will cover you after the minimums up to $300,000.

None of these insurance items are required, nor are you required to have your own insurance to rent one of our vans. But be aware that if you do not have a policy, you’ll be responsible to pay out-of-pocket for any liability or damage. For that reason, we highly recommend having insurance while you’re renting.

There’s more info on our Insurance page, including coverage and pricing info.

How many seats/seatbelts are in the vehicle?2022-03-21T11:55:24-08:00

The van has 5 seats with seatbelts. While the van fits 4 adults comfortably, it will carry 5 people safely.

The middle row of seats has been removed in our Dodge Caravans, so the 2 front seats still remain, along with the bench seat in the back. These remaining seats and seatbelts have not been modified.

The storage box converts into a bench seat for sitting at the table, but you cannot sit on this bench while driving, nor can you sleep on the bed while the van is in motion.

The SUVs have 5 seatbelts also, but will only sleep 2 adults. The back seat is intended for luggage and bedding storage, and the trunk space is reserved for all of your camping equipment. No modifications have been made to the interior of the SUVs.

In all of our travel vehicles, everything must be stowed and all of the passengers must be wearing seatbelts while the vehicle is moving.

How big is the bed inside the van?2019-11-05T20:51:43-09:00

The interior convertible bed inside the van is 50 x 72 inches (127 x 183 cm) wide and long – just a couple of inches narrower and shorter than a standard double bed. (A standard double is 54 x 75 inches (137 x 190 cm).)

How much weight can the tent hold? How big is it?2019-11-05T20:51:59-09:00

Two adults will fit comfortably inside the rooftop tent. It will easily hold at least 600 pounds (272 kg) while the van is stationary. The telescoping ladder can hold about 300 pounds (136 kg) at a time. While the van is moving, only the ladder, bedding and other tent items should be stored inside the tent, both for weight and height restrictions.

The tent is 80 inches (203 cm) long and 46 inches (117 cm) wide. For reference, a standard double bed is 75 inches long and 54 inches wide.

We use the Roofnest Sparrow model tents on all of our vans.

Can I use the tent for storage?2019-11-04T23:46:25-09:00

The tent cannot be used to store anything other than the tent ladder and bedding. It’s too narrow when collapsed to fit much else, and if the tent can’t be properly closed, you can’t drive the van. Once you’ve arrived in camp, if you plan on sleeping inside the van and would like to store some of your luggage inside the tent, that’s ok. Just make sure you remove it and completely collapse the tent before leaving camp the next day.

Is there a bathroom and/or a shower?2021-05-05T11:47:22-08:00

There is no bathroom in a travel van, unfortunately. It’s the one thing that’s missing!

The campground list at alaska.org is comprehensive, with information about almost all the campgrounds in the state, and you can filter the list by things like bathrooms, showers, laundry facilities and dump stations.

How big is the water/gray water tank?2022-03-21T12:02:02-08:00

In our Travel Vans, the fresh water and the gray water tanks hold 9 gallons each. That’s plenty of water for several days of cooking and cleaning up afterward. The vans come with a hose attachment you can use to refill the water whenever you need it. It will attach to any standard spigot.

Make sure you empty the gray water before you refill the fresh water! If you’ve used the full 9 gallons of water, you likely have about 9 gallons of gray water. It will back up into the sink if it overfills, so make sure you empty it before that happens!

In our Travel SUVs, the portable fresh water tank holds 7 gallons. It comes with a collapsible sink for doing dishes, but it does not include a gray water tank.

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