Reflectix insulation in cabover area
Jim Cathey and his brother have purposefully planned a truck camping trip from Idaho to Prudhoe Bay, Alaska in a Northern Lite 8-11 EX LE. Get ready to follow one of the coldest and most dangerous trips in truck camping history—starting today, February 2, 2026!
Within a minute of our phone call with Jim Cathey, we bluntly asked whether he was of sound mind and had informed his next of kin about his plan. We’ve talked to a lot of people about a lot of crazy ideas over the years, but never have we been more concerned about a truck camping itinerary than the one Jim has in mind: a trip from Idaho to Prudhoe Bay, Alaska—in February?!
Jim laughed, said his family was on board, and added that he was not just ready, but excited about his trek into the brutal, mid-winter clutches of the Dalton Highway. Oh, and as far as having his family on board, he meant that literally. His own brother is going with him, and his son and wife are meeting up on this slightly ill-advised, frosty quest. Evidently, all four are equally eager in their pursuit of frigid glory.
We should probably state up front that the founders of the electron publication before you are (a) Florida snowbirds and (b) essentially warm weather campers. We have truck camped in the teens and twenties, but we strongly prefer not to. We have driven our rig in the ice and snow, but not by choice. We like to be able to see the road, feel our face, and not have our eyelids freeze together. Different strokes.
That stated, Jim’s enthusiasm is contagious. We have below zero interest in joining his arctic adventure, but we are all-in to follow it. And that’s exactly what we’re all about to do.
What follows are Jim’s plans: what he’s doing, how he plans to do it, and why. Next, we’ll follow-up with Jim live—yes, live—via live streaming on February 18, 2026 while he and his brother are traveling the Dalton Highway. Who knows how that will go? There’s only one way to find out. Put on your parkas, snow pants, and ski goggles now. This one’s going to be epic!
Watch the Great Broventure Teaser on YouTube.
What inspired you to take on this 6,000-mile winter journey to Deadhorse, Alaska? And is your family aware you’re doing this?
I love a challenge. I always have. The 6,000 mile journey through Canada and Alaska to the Arctic Ocean in February, with temperatures as low as -50 Fahrenheit and limited daylight, is the allure of the extreme, coupled with a stunning landscape and amazing wildlife.
“The 6,000 mile journey through Canada and Alaska to the Arctic Ocean in February, with temperatures as low as -50 Fahrenheit and limited daylight, is the allure of the extreme, coupled with a stunning landscape and amazing wildlife.”
Jim Cathey sitting in his Ford F-350 with Northern Lite 8-11EX
As decidedly warm weather campers, all we can say is, “Brrrr!” Since you’re determined to do this, what’s your planned route?
It’s definitely a work in progress. The general plan is to drive to Calgary either by going east through Idaho and north across Montana, or—weather permitting—by heading straight north through Idaho into Canada, driving through part of the Rocky Mountains, and then dropping down into Calgary.
Calgary and Dawson City are key locations to have the tires swapped out, grab snow chains and have all fluids checked, swapped, and/or treated before heading to Fairbanks and then the Dalton. The weather will determine which city we make these changes.
The further north we can go before the tire swap, the fresher the Nokian Hakkapeliitta studded tires will be on the Dalton.
Nokian Hakkapeliitta tires are said to be miracle workers in winter conditions. Is there anything that concerns you about this icy adventure?
Keeping my Northern Lite 8-11 functioning in all areas including the black, grey and fresh tanks for the entire trip is the biggest challenge.
The route is flexible, but predicting last minute weather changes while en route on a path that has no alternates could be the real challenge. We need to be ready to face whiteouts, blizzards, surprise snow drifts, and severe ice patches.
Jim Cathey’s 2011 Ford F-350 and 2024 Northern Lite 8-11 LE truck camper
Just another casual truck camping adventure. You retired as Chief Commercial Officer of Qualcomm about a year ago. How does your background in technology and leadership prepare you for this trip?
Understanding the electronics and communication options provides a foundation. Working with and motivating teams to create and install the solutions is a requirement. Understanding the data and decision-making is like oxygen. Perseverance is expected.
Perseverance indeed. How did you talk your brother into this trip? You didn’t maybe tell him you were actually going to Key West, did you?
Truthfully, I just had to tell him I was going and the passenger’s seat was available. He was in before I finished my statement. He would have never said no. Dave is a chemical engineer by education, so he’s very intelligent and his engineering thinking tests all the plans. He’s a great brother.
Dave Cathey and Jim Cathey
Other than surviving the experience, is there anything you’re hoping to do on this northbound journey?
We’re looking to see wildlife, great views, the northern lights, look at available land, visit some hot springs, historical sites, and talk to the locals. Maybe we’ll take a short trip to Utqiagvik, Alaska—formerly Borrow.
Why did you choose a Ford F-350 diesel and Northern Lite 8-11EX Limited Edition?
The F-350 is a short bed truck and will have better handling than a long bed or duallies in the snow and ice. The 6.7L engine has a good and well-known performance history. The truck has a good turning radius, a locking rear differential, low miles, and I have a good history with it since 2011.
The Northern Lite 8-11 LE is a clamshell fiberglass truck camper. The design of the interior compartments, living area, and basement provides the best opportunity to manage through extreme cold environments. This design also has no slide-outs, which will not work in the Arctic because of significant cold air leaks and the likelihood of getting stuck. The 8-11 also has a superior build quality and weight distribution.
How have you modified your rig to prepare for extreme cold?
On the truck, I have oil pan and engine block heaters, a Webasto engine coolant heater, and 950 CCA AGM batteries. I have refreshed all fluids. I have an Edge CTS3 for critical performance data monitoring and the enabling of manual DPF regeneration as a result of potential long idling periods.
For the camper, I have an integrated diesel furnace, en-route basement heating, heating pads for liquid tanks, propane tanks, floor, and mattress. There has been extensive use of XPS and Reflectix insulation inside and outside the camper.
Reflectix insulation in cabover area Foam insulation in cabover area Temperature monitor and Reflectix in cabover wardrobe
Rear window insulation Front window insulation Exterior compartment insulation
I removed the outdoor shower and insulated that area. I have also insulated the heater exhaust vent and disconnected the city water hose. I have insulated the air conditioner and all ceiling vents. I added active and passive moisture control, and installed an 840Ah battery bank with three sources of heat.
I have additional passive and active passthrough vents. I have installed emergency power posts that bypass the battery bay and feed the furnaces directly.
Emergency Battery Posts Close-up of Integrated Battery Posts Ventilation duct with fan to fresh water tank Vents from the furnace area under the dinette seating
Obviously, staying warm—or at least not freezing—is mission-critical. How are you managing the heat inside the camper?
The Northern Lite 8‑11’s primary heat is a 14.4K output BTU propane furnace, supported by tank heaters, insulation, and wind protection to ensure vaporization at -40 degrees Fahrenheit. If the propane struggles, the integrated 13,500 BTU diesel heater can supplement or take over, with a backup diesel unit and electric heaters as additional layers.
Integrated 13,500 BTU Diesel Heater Tray For Integrated Diesel Heater Fuel Tank Tray For Integrated Diesel Heater Fuel Tank Partially Out
A 200‑amp DC-to-DC charger, 840Ah battery bank, and 3,000-watt inverter provide ample power for comfort heating and basement protection. While driving, dual alternators support three 400-watt basement heaters. If they fall short, the diesel heater will assist. With this multi‑fuel, multi‑layer system, we can sustain heat for up to ten days if the Coldfoot–Deadhorse road closes.
How confident are you that the truck and camper will handle extreme cold (–50°F) conditions?
I have a lot of confidence in the truck and its ability to perform. There’s ample data for a trip like this from petroleum companies, commercial truckers, DOT teams, and residents who work the haul road every winter. The truck and camper will perform. It’s just a question of how functional the systems will be and how comfortable they will be.
Interior of Northern Lite 8-11 LE with additional insulation
How about fuel and propane—and finding fuel and propane—for your truck and camper?
My truck has a 56 gallon tank. The diesel furnace has a 7 gallon tank and a 10 gallon reserve tank. The back up external diesel heater has a two gallon tank. I will have four 20 pound propane tanks.
Truck tray for extra fuel and propane
Truck tray for extra fuel and propane
The strategy for the truck tank, furnace tanks, and reserve is to fill up at each major stop. I want to keep them full. The propane tanks, when empty, get filled at the next opportunity. In Anchorage, we may buy more tanks pending the performance of both furnaces on the way up. It is possible we may have six propane tanks on board while on the Dalton Highway.
How are you staying in touch during remote stretches of the trip? What if you have an emergency and need to get help?
I will be using a CB radio for road communications, followed by Starlink and a few back-ups like a Garmin Inreach and a satellite phone. Starlink will provide access to the internet and enable the cell phones to work, and provide a WIFI network for the truck and camper systems. We will use YoloLiv for live-streaming. And we have the United States Postal Service from Deadhorse for postcards.
CB radio Starlink Mounted on Front Sylight Interior
That’s funny. And a bit nuts. How are you preparing for potential storms, avalanches or other possible events?
Any event like that will require the ability to wait it out. We will top off fuel at most locations including Coldfoot. The longest stretch is the 240 miles between Coldfoot and Deadhorse.
If there is a shutdown of the Dalton, we could easily hunker down for ten days and potentially more with heat and electricity before continuing to the destination. Most shutdowns are from avalanches or drifting snow. DOT crews get things moving again within twelve to forty-eight hours. Commercial truckers are typically prepared for a three day wait.
That doesn’t exactly sound like a relaxed vacation. What do you hope fellow truck campers will learn from your excursion?
Extreme cold weather camping is unique and often not pursued. With a truck camper, it’s more than doable with modest modifications.
I am hoping to provide modification ideas, including quantitative support. I also want to encourage RV manufacturers to consider advanced cold weather modification packages supporting full function RVing at -20F. With the advent of low cost diesel heaters and the dropping costs of lithium batteries, it’s achievable.
“We will provide updates for the next couple of weeks during our trip, including locations, photos, videos and commentary to Truck Camper Magazine as well as YouTube.”
How can people follow your trip up and back?
We will provide updates for the next couple of weeks during our trip, including locations, photos, videos and commentary to Truck Camper Magazine as well as YouTube. You can check out our Broventure YouTube Channel at Youtube.com/@broventure208.
While on the Dalton Highway, we will co-host a live streaming event with Truck Camper Magazine where you can watch the interview, see what we see, and ask questions live in the chat. Look for the details to follow.
Remember, you have to be alive for live streaming. Have you conducted any trial runs or testing with the truck and camper?
Yes. We went on two test runs and made final adjustments. The truck and camper modifications are complete. We’re ready.
Interior and exterior temperature reading from Jim’s testing in Idaho.
It’s a blast to be working on this project and embracing the challenge. Every so often, the reality of how dangerous this 6,000‑mile journey will be comes into focus. Yet, the best rewards are fought for, not given. We have a good team, a good plan, and will have a great time.
Thermal imager for IOS Thermal image of Ford truck engine Thermal image of Northern Lite and Ford Thermal image of Northern Lite and Ford
Thermal imaging test of his truck and camper.
The Thermal Camera for iPhone/Android/Tablet that Jim used for his testing can be found here.
What are you most looking forward to on the Dalton Highway?
To be there.
We will be warmly cheering you on from TCM HQ in Florida. Is there anything else you want people to know about you, your mission, and what you hope to discover?
It takes a great team to put this together and I am fortunate to have 208 Diesel Performance, Bobby Combs RV, and SoundHound, all in Caldwell, Idaho. And a shout out to Timmy from Truck House Life who also provided advice.
Jim and the Bobby Combs RV Center team 208 Diesel Performance team
Broventure Rig:
Truck: 2011 F-350 6.7l diesel crew cab short bed 74k miles
Camper: 2024 Northern Lite 8-11 LE Wet Bath
Suspension: Torklift Stableload Upper Overload Springs, Hellwig Big Wig sway bar, Air Lift airbags with compressor/tank, Bilstein 5160 shocks front and rear, Icon dual rate coil springs front suspension, and a tie rod with stabilizer and track ball joint.
