Moving to Alaska

[z987k]

Link for those interested, very good program if you ask me.

Shipping to Alaska with Carlile MyConnect: AK Shipping Services

Looking to ship to Alaska? If you need a package shipped to Alaska from your favorite retailer, Carlile MyConnect can help! Sign-up and start shipping to AK!

www.carlile.biz

And a link to AK Terminals...

MyConnect Package Pick-Up Locations | Carlile Transportation

MyConnect is Carlile's solution for retail package forwarding to Alaska! Read on for pick-up hours and locations and ship your retail today!

www.carlile.biz

Yup. They take hazmat to.

 

[z987k]

What’s your opinion on Blizzaks? I’ve read mixed reviews on studded tires. I planned on getting the blizzaks for the drive up.

I really like the blizzaks. I no longer run studs. When you look at the studies they are only better on extremely hard packed snow and ice. And then it's not so much better that it's worth the downsides IMO. The modern winter tires will out brake them on most snowy roads and hold lateral G's (going around a corner) better.

 

[Rainierrifleco]

I hav driven the alaska
Hwy 6 times. First by motorcycle several for work once drove from dead horse to Valdez
A year and a half ago my son moved to North Pole. I drove a U-Haul pulling a
Car on a trailer
So from Colorado cross in North Dakota
Go as far
North in the planes you can. The road is pretty darn good for the most part but watch out west of Whitehorse for frost heaves.

 

[adventure907]

In regards to driving the ALCAN in winter. I've made the drive somewhere around 20 times, in all different seasons. In my opinion, the most important thing to prepare your vehicle for a winter drive is to make sure you have properly rated antifreeze. A piece of cardboard or "blanket" to cover the radiator opening is a good idea as well.

I once made the drive in January. It was roughly -50 to -60 below zero from Fort St. John to Tok, somewhere around 1000 miles. If your radiator freezes up and leaves you stranded in the middle of nowhere, you will freeze to death unless you have extreme cold survival gear. Ask me how I know. I got lucky.

If you find yourself stopped somewhere over night and don't have at minimum an engine block heater, don't shut your rig off. It will not start the next morning and you'll be paying someone to put it in a shop to thaw it out.

I've seen more moose and other animals on the road during my winter drives than I have during any other seasons. A light bar or auxiliary lighting isn't a bad idea for night driving.

I've lived in Alaska my entire life, and have never needed nor used studded tires, but I apparently I only have half a brain. I can see where they would be beneficial, especially for certain vehicles, but they certainly aren't necessary.

If traveling in the winter, I'd recommend not taking the Cassiar. The last winter drive I made was in 2021. I had a nice weather break, so I took the Cassiar. I passed multiple tractor-trailers in the ditch. One of them had been waiting almost 48 hours for a tow truck to arrive to pull it out. If you happen to go ditch diving, you'll be there awhile. It is very remote, even more so in winter.

Good luck and enjoy the drive. It is beautiful, relish it.

Josh

 

[Yukon Cornelius]

For a winter alcan trip with a trailer here is my list (what I’ve actually used and/or needed on the trip)

A cell phone plan that allows unlimited talk and text in Canada (rogers wireless)

Spare tires: one for the truck and one for the trailer. If you are on a budget and don’t own a spare trailer tire, buy one at Walmart that is mounted and ready to go. If you don’t need it on your trip, return it at the Walmart nearest your destination. (Kenai)

Spare serpentine belt for your vehicle (and know how to change it w/o a YouTube video bc Murphy says you probably won’t have cell service when you need to change it)

Shovel: a collapsible snow shovel or two for if you go decide to go ditch diving…

Basic truck repair tools: fuses (large and small for both fuse panels) sockets, wrenches, pliers, tire jack, sockets that fit your trailer lug nuts, basic electrical connections (for trailer lights), rtf silicone, electrical tape, Allen keys, etc.

Tow strap: if you are on a budget, buy 35’ of Amsteel blue stiff lay line and splice an eye in each end = ($10 tow strap that is rated at 15k instead of the standard 10k)

Tire chains: v bar, standard or my personal favorite for Hwy use - cable chains!

Pet health certificates for the boarder crossing if you are bringing pets

Do Not Bring: guns, ammo, reloading components, etc. ship these to AK using Carlisle Connect (google it) and pick it up at the depot on bridge access rd. In Kenai.

No beer or booze: it’ll be a headache at the boarder

Buy in Canada: gas cans! (at Canadian tire, if you know, you know, if you don’t, you will!) Canadian gas cans don’t have the ******* nozzles mandated by CA… **fill the gas cans so you have a bit of extra fuel, the shot between ft Nelson and Watson lake is long if toad river gas station is closed or out of fuel**

Road-trip stops: Tim Horton’s for breakfast and laird hot springs.

If you make it to Alaska with a wife and a pickup truck that both work… then you are living the Alaskan man’s dream!

You can bring booze. You can bring guns and ammo. Just do the research on what is needed.

I crossed with 3 cases of beer. I told him I had it. Matanuska brewery flavors and I wanted to drink them over the course of the month I was in Juneau.

I crossed back through Canada with 3 bottles of bourbon that wasn’t an issue.

 

[Snowwolfe]

Almost forgot to mention this. Remember to fill up with the lowest temperature rated washer fluid you can find. Flush your system if it does not already contain good fluid. Carry an extra gallon with you.
If you hit melting snow your windshield will be an absolute mess when you hit traffic.

 

[Dkerwin78]

Wife and I landed jobs on the Kenai Peninsula. I’ve done a lot of research into the drive etc. However a big question I have is, are there any things I should buy down here to take with us before moving up? What are some things you wish you brought with you or purchased in the lower 48 before moving? Gear wise etc?

I’ve got most of everything I can think of but this can apply to non hunting items as well. I’ll be pulling an 8x12 trailer so will have a decent amount of room to bring stuff up with.

Ammo is expensive to buy there if it’s on the self and it’s more expensive to order it in, if you think you have enough of get some more just to be safe

 

[wyosam]

Ammo, primers, powder. Don't put it in your trailer though if driving through Canada rather than taking the ferry, it will have to be shipped.

Lithium batters for your tools if you can find a good deal, they are not supposed to be air cargo, so pretty much stuck paying local prices.

Really though, the Kenai is well populated so you can find a lot without even going to Anchorage. Basically hazmat that is not common as it is hard to ship, if you have to order it in the lower 48, it will probably not be reasonably available in AK.

You can haul primers and powder through Canada. There are limits (think powder was 16 or 20 pounds or something. 5 or 8k primers maybe? Nobody asked, nobody cared and they saw them 2 out of my 3 trips (they were convinced I was hauling guns and searched, even though I showed all the paperwork from when they went up on the moving truck). They were more concerned about a rifle barrel (still in the shipping box) and if it needed to be declared. They did ask if there were supplies to reload pistol cartridges, which there were not- brass and bullets went up on the moving truck. The pistol powders I use could arguably be used in reduced cast bullet rifle loads, so I didn’t worry about them. I moved up when powder and primers were still impossible to find. That’s half the reason I drove all 3 cars up instead of shipping. Technically you can’t carry hazmat in private vehicle on the ferry.


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[medvedyt]

i will be on your road alonside and wish you the best.

if not studded you never good winter tires and having a front cover for your truck and oil plan and i will say a battery blanket.

now for the ammo yes you can bring them in our lovely country but if you are hauling ammo for handguns or restricted firearms it is almost a guarantee than at our border they will question and may trigger to unpack a whole. do not give them more than needed but do not try to hide anything ...

one thing you will be almost at the darkest of the year and 6 hours only of daylight for driving so be safe and as well let go the long haul trucks if they drive faster than you for them single lane with no overtake is not a problem ...

take care and enjoy the drive.

 

[Snowwolfe]

Best of luck on your travels to our beautiful state. May you journey be a safe one.