Moving to Alaska

[Marbles]

Yeah, Kenai and Soldotna are practically one and between the two there is most everything you will find in towns in the lower 48. It is actually easier to find reloading supplies and ammo there than in Anchorage.

When I moved up I disposed of anything that would not fit in my vehicles or trailer and did not regret it, and I spent my first 2 years on an island in Ketchikan.

I recommend barging your trailer up to Whittier, put all guns and ammo in it. For the most part US customs has given me more trouble than Canadian, but spending hours sitting around while a vehicle gets searched is pretty obnoxious.

If you number your boxes and list contents, then have receipts to prove you shipped any guns that are not allowed, it can make your life easier.

They will ask if you own guns, they might ask the types, and they will ask what you did with them. Answer with confidence and smoothly and life is easier, answer otherwise and you can expect to be repacking your stuff. That said, were you cross matter, Alberta boarder checks are laxer than Vancouver area in my experience.

The drive is fine, even in the winter, so long as you have good tires. Plenty of places to get gas, even in the winter, but plan ahead if driving at night as they may not be open.

 

[Yukon Cornelius]

Same facility

There are not many options. lol

 

[Marty]

More truth there than most know. Lol. Include a couple spare tires too.

I blew two trailer tires on my first trip up.

Solid advice, carry spares.

 

[Snowwolfe]

Wife and I just moved back up the end of June. Anything you need other than some powders and most primers can be bought locally. I did a fly up before moving and checked in 27 handguns on Alaska Airlines, no issues. The moving company moved the rifles.
Do not hire a moving company if you can help it. You will be much better off selling all your household goods and rebuying them up here instead of paying moving fees.
Items are not as expensive as they used to be compared to lower 48 prices. Lowes charges the same. Sometimes it ends up cheaper as Alaska does not have a state sales tax.
The drive up was uneventful. Wife drove her Expedition and I lead in the Super Duty pulling a utility trailer weighing about 7,000 pounds. No cracked windshields or flats
The road from Haines Jct to Tok is absolutely in terrible condition. Took us 8 hours to drive a little over 200 miles.
Book your hotels a day in advance. If you don't you risk not being able to find a room and will have to sleep in the vehicles so be prepared for that.
Once on the Alcan gas up when you hit 1/2 a tank.
Border crossing was painless. Just pull up, hand them your passports and answer any questions. Don't offer any info.
Good luck, PM me if you have any questions.
Expect to pay a lot more for auto insurance, property tax, fuel, and utilities once you get settled.

Make sure you have the proper Alaska credentials for your medical specialities before moving up. It took my son over 2 months to get his Alaska RN license after he was hired.

If you are serious about the move, then make sure you land in Alaska prior to 31 December. You will be glad you did as far as the PFD is concerned.

 

[Dexter Grayson]

There are not many options. lol

As far as hospital settings there are only about 3 on the peninsula. Quite a few of primary care facilities though.

 

[Mojave]

Biggest thing you can do is slow the F down between Whitehorse and Glennallen.

This will save your trailer and keep you from having a wreck.

 

[Dexter Grayson]

Biggest thing you can do is slow the F down between Whitehorse and Glennallen.

This will save your trailer and keep you from having a wreck.

The frost heaves will sneak up on you!

 

[chasewild]

Moved up from CO in 2021. If I could do it over I would:

1. Buy a truck, and sell it up here.
2. Sell all the small household crab and buy it again up here, and don't use a moving company.
3. Rent for 6 months to a year and search for a place you like.
4. Burn all your preference points in other states.

Probably some other smaller things I would do as well, but those are top of the mind.

 

[AKBC]

Safety minute: You can see some severe low temps coming up in the winter and most hotels in the coldest towns will have electrical plugins for your vehicles block heaters. I would suggest installing them if not already equipped; you will want them in AK anyway. You dont need battery heaters, transmission heaters, and cab heaters like in Fairbanks but block heaters are a must in my opinion.

I also suggest having survival gear in your vehicles in case you break down or slide off the road and have to spend several hours/overnight in your car. Snow pants, parkas, sleeping bags, mittens and hats, and maybe even a small stove/jet boil should be handy and not buried under a ton of boxes/big screen TV.

 

[Cameron.25]

Make sure If you have any suppressors to not try bringing them through canada

 

[trapperJ]

Bring a positive attitude and open mind! Leave any down south bro dude attitude you may or may not have please.

The suggestion of a v nose toy hauler is a good one. That'll either save or make you some money down the road.

Other than that you'll be in a city down the road from a giant city so you can get what you need here. It'll take a bit to figure out exactly what you want/need anyway. The list usually gets long and expensive!

 

[Snowwolfe]

Anchorage has three Costcos, three Lowes, and a couple of Home Depots and Wal Marts. If that doesn't work try Amazon prime.

 

[Cleriger]

Jealous! Good luck

 

[Beef]

Yeah, Kenai and Soldotna are practically one and between the two there is most everything you will find in towns in the lower 48. It is actually easier to find reloading supplies and ammo there than in Anchorage.

When I moved up I disposed of anything that would not fit in my vehicles or trailer and did not regret it, and I spent my first 2 years on an island in Ketchikan.

I recommend barging your trailer up to Whittier, put all guns and ammo in it. For the most part US customs has given me more trouble than Canadian, but spending hours sitting around while a vehicle gets searched is pretty obnoxious.

If you number your boxes and list contents, then have receipts to prove you shipped any guns that are not allowed, it can make your life easier.

They will ask if you own guns, they might ask the types, and they will ask what you did with them. Answer with confidence and smoothly and life is easier, answer otherwise and you can expect to be repacking your stuff. That said, were you cross matter, Alberta boarder checks are laxer than Vancouver area in my experience.

The drive is fine, even in the winter, so long as you have good tires. Plenty of places to get gas, even in the winter, but plan ahead if driving at night as they may not be open.

I appreciate it. I think I’m going to ship and sell some of my guns and only bring up ammo to make it easier. I’ll be going across in Montana not sure if it makes a difference which point I cross in Montana though.

Jealous! Good luck

Thanks! It’ll be an adventure for sure. Worst case we move back to Wyoming after a year or two but I’m almost positive we’re going to stay long term.

 

[Beef]

Thanks for the responses everyone it’s appreciated.

 

[Beef]

Moved up from CO in 2021. If I could do it over I would:

1. Buy a truck, and sell it up here.
2. Sell all the small household crab and buy it again up here, and don't use a moving company.
3. Rent for 6 months to a year and search for a place you like.
4. Burn all your preference points in other states.

Probably some other smaller things I would do as well, but those are top of the mind.

Buy a truck and sell to make a profit? I already have a truck so not sure if that’s what you meant.

 

[z987k]

Swap that trailer out for a v-nose enclosed 20' with tandem 3500lbs axles and a drop down drive through door in the front. That sucker will hold it's value up here like you wouldn't believe, but you'll quickly find you don't want to sell it because you'll want it to haul sleds etc. Way cheaper to buy trailers down in the L48 than up here.

Cannot recommend this advise enough.

 

[z987k]

Buy a truck and sell to make a profit? I already have a truck so not sure if that’s what you meant.

Buy another one and have your wife drive it. Also buy the 20' toyhauler and tow that with the 2nd truck.

Sell 1 truck and 1 trailer when you get here and I bet you come out money ahead on the whole move.

 

[WRO]

I’d bring some low mileage snowmobiles.


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[fatbacks]

If you plan on having any ATV's, SXS or snow machines perhaps wee if you can get a gfood deal down in the lower 48? Not sure if they are cheaper down there but may be worth a look.