I don't want to talk you guys out of your plans, but want to at least offer you another option, and one I consider to be pretty reasonable.
First off, let me say I haven't read this thread word for word, but I had a few things did catch my eye.
One, Anchorage to Fairbanks is 6 hours, Fairbanks to Coldfoot is 5 hours, add another 2 hours until you get to the north side of the Brooks.
From this point on the bou can be anywhere from Aug to Sept. However, you will most likely see the majority of bou around Tulik and Galbriath lakes, Happy Valley, and finally pretty thick from Pump Station #2 (about 60 miles south of Deadhorse) all the way until you get into Deadhorse. Factors to consider are bugs and heat, any of these two and the bou will stay farther north, closer to the Beaufort Sea where it is cooler and less bugs. As the season progresses and you start getting into Oct and Nov, and even Dec the bou start their migration south and can normally be found in abundance at Atigun Pass.
Second thing that caught my eye is the mention of black bear. Once north of Fairbanks clear until you get just south of the Brooks Range there is ALWAYS a good chance to see a blackie. Any of you boys with a bow will likely have a good chance. Lots of cover, and the bears are normally preoccupied with devouring oogles of berries. I wouldn't necessarily say all six or eight (or however many go) get tags, but at least one or two of you should. I can think of very few times I haven't seen black bears around the Arctic Circle Campground (hint-hint).
Third, seen a few things mentioned about regs. A few things to keep in mind. You have to have an IBEP or similar state nationally recognized bow certification to hunt 1/4 mile away from the Dalton clear out to 5 miles. Did I say 1/4 mile away from??? Yelp, thanks to the ABA (Alaska Bowhunters Association) new this year is the restriction to hunt with any weapon 1/4 mile from the road. I won't get into my beefs with the ABA (a good organization, but I sometimes wonder who they are looking after...the bunny hugging tour charters or hunters), but just let it be known you better be 1/4 mile off the road or farther before you go slinging any arrows. Same thing applies if your rifle hunting, make sure you are 5 miles or farther from the road. If you use a GPS I'd wait until I reached 5.5 miles, just to be safe. Another one, marking your arrows. The reg doesn't say where you have to mark them, so be as creative as you want. You'll have to put your IBEP number on the arrow. You can place it on the shaft, under the fletching, on the fletching, as small as you want it or as large as you want it. Alaska is very strict about wanton waste. If you take an animals life, you better take every ounce of meat to include the rib meat, neck meat, shot meat, and liver. Okay, I'm kidding about the shot meat and liver. Seriously, take your time in field dressing and get all of the grub. Last thing to come out of the field is antlers, but with 6 to 8 guys you should be able to get an entire animal out in one trip. I've found 3 guys makes packing an adult bull out pretty comfy. Oh, and you have to keep the proof of sex attached to either of the quarters.
Now a word on terrain. There isn't much for cover along the dalton north of the Brooks range. There are a few "hilly" sections, but for the most part it is flat and very boggy and wet. There are no trees, and not many large bushes, except along the creek & river drainages (hint-hint). What you mostly are limited to for cover is tiny bushes, depressions in the muskeg, undercut creek banks, and the biggy...the pipeline. Many of the good places to use the pipeline as cover are no longer huntable because the pipeline is within the 1/4 corridor at many places, but never fear, there are still some stretches you can find, that is if you can predict the bou to be there. Lastly, if you plan to walk 5 miles in, walk west off of the road, you will never cross all of the rivers on the east side.
Camo, if you can find a pattern with a combination of or all of the following colors, your as good as gold...green, yellow, red, brown, or white. I had a friend that got a hold of some swedish military camo and it blended in perfectly, but looked awfully heavy and miserable once he started to perspire. I have always used Mossy Oak Break-up and have never felt my camo cheated me out of an animal. It normally is movement, or smell that gets yah!
Finally, before this becomes anymore of a book I wanted to offer another option to your plans. First, let me fill you in on some of the disadvantages of renting a truck and camper. I haven't the foggiest what you were quoted for a price, but I'm sure it will be a pretty penny. I'm guessing about $250 a day or more, plus you will be charged for mileage. Plus any damage that occurs to the vehicle will be your responsibility to fix. It is almost a sure thing you will encounter cracked windshields & flat tires, so take an air compressor and a tire kit (it has saved me more than once on the road) and at least one or two spares. Last year, there was a good amount of road construction going on around Mile Post #2 all the way to Happy Valley. They were replacing colverts, and it was told to me construction would continue for this year, and perhaps 03. Remember I said, PS#2 is a prime area for bou. I firmly feel the construction affected the migration pattern of the bou last year (when I was there I seen very little bou) and because of the construction it locked all the road hunters into one small section. Since it sounds like the majority of you all haven't been there, I will tell you there are a lot of inconsiderate bass-turds along the road system. They will attempt stalks on animals you are already after, and they chase animals so hard that you will be hard pressed to find bou that aren't extremely skittish. That isn't to say you won't have a chance at a bou, but it makes things more difficult. Bottom line, we don't need anymore jerkoffs on the road north. Be considerate to others, and look before you go running after game. If you get the truck camper combo, make sure you get some extra gas cans. All of the driving to and from glassing for bou you will be doing will burn it up. It is nice not having to drive clear into Deadhorse every day to get gas. Speaking of Deadhorse, if you get in the mood for a hot cooked meal, there is an excellent buffet style all you can eat cafeteria there that is quite cheap. You will need a credit card for gas there. Thats the only way to pump.
That was the disadvantages, you already know the advantages...world class bou hunting w/o guide fees.
Now, I know of a place (and I have no affiliation with them) that you can go to on the slope for a reasonable rate and rifle hunt or bow hunt right from the front door, get hot meals if you wish, hot showers if you wish, stay in a hut for a moderate fee or in your tent for free (your choice), have access to ATV's, and satelite TV. If you could find one, I would rent a van (or fly) that could fit all of your party, drive up to deadhorse, and take a flight from deadhorse to "this place" for $700 roundtrip. You can cut the cost between three people and be on your way to hunting. No corridors to worry about, no jackasses flinging arrows at your bull, none of that.
Here is what it looks like for you broken down. This is just from Deadhorse to your hunting camp.
$250 per person for a seat on the plane
$150 night for hut (includes 3 meals, shower, and laundry)
$100 for a wheeler per day (priority goes to guests staying in the huts) I would suggest renting one only after downing an animal or two, thus facilitating getting your meat out. If one of you reserve the hut each day, but on different days, you can have priority on the wheelers every day.
So if you figure it up, for a 5 day hunt, with purchasing all of the above for at least one day, it will run about $500 per person, and cheaper if you go w/o the hut. I'd venture to say most of you are from around Idaho, so with roundtrip airfare (I used Boise for the scenario) to Prudhoe tickets would run $1000. If you flew to Fairbanks it would be about $650, plus the van rental for say six guys, seven days, add another $150 to $200 (includes gas) about $850. You will need to obtain a "Known Shipper's" Declaration through Alaska Airlines if you are shipping meat and antlers back. You most likely could shed some weight if you donated some of your meat.
I apologize for the length of the post, but I hope it helps you all out. The slope is really a great place to experience and say you've hunted. Good luck to you all.
Oh and bring your fishing poles, good arctic char and grayling fishing!