Alaska Bound, equipping the hundy

[nodaksn3]

After having had a series of flat tires in Alaska, I'd recommend 6-ply tires or maybe even 8. You might not need them for this trip but you will be glad that you had them when you drive on gravel roads afterwards. And most of the roads are gravel in Alaska. I'd forget the headers.
Are you at Fort Benning?

 

[Devils Paw 80]

And most of the roads are gravel in Alaska. I'd forget the headers.

First sentence is not true. Agree with second. Smaller tires would be better, and agree that AT's would be fine. Nothing special needs to be done with the fluids. It doesn't get real cold in Anchorage, so the block heater isn't an essential.

 

[milkyxj]

I live in the same town as Ft. Benning. Got out of the Air Force in 2007 though.

 

[45Kevin]

Check your coolant and your windshield washer fluid. Regular synthetic oil will be fine. If you will be changing A/T oil, go to synthetic.

If you don't have a block heater, a magnetic oil pan heater and a battery blanket will do the trick. I don't usually bother plugging in until it gets below 0F. But you will get a couple of weeks of that temp at least, depending on what part of AK you end up in.

Enjoy the trip and let me know if you will be traveling through Calgary.

 

[slimbuddha]

2nd spare coil pack or 2, serpantine belt (change and keep the old as a spare), obd2 reader, and for a spare key, consider getting just a solid metal one (without the electronics). I got a few at True Value, and keep one in my wallet. When the regular one breaks, I just tape it together, and put the spare metal on the key ring. This works well, though keep it on a short chain, sometimes it gets a bit loose (not taped well), or hangs to low, the LC will go into limp mode.

 

[stonepa]

First sentence is not true. Agree with second. Smaller tires would be better, and agree that AT's would be fine. Nothing special needs to be done with the fluids. It doesn't get real cold in Anchorage, so the block heater isn't an essential.

Right about the gravel roads. Alaska is in a paving frenzy right now. Even in my hometown of Homer they paved several of the gravel / mud roads and all of the gravel lots. Why I don't know.

 

[G-Cat]

I need to get started ordering stuff and find someone to put the headers on for me here in Columbus (I have no lift or tools right now).

Big T off of Kayne has done me right. I bring in the Cruiser and parts and they install.

 

[marshotel]

What time of year are you planning to drive the Alcan with a trailer and camp along the way?
May to September it will be a beautiful trip with lots to see and amazing camping.
November to April, not so much.

I agree that nothing special needs to be done with the fluids; just make sure your coolant is the proper Toyota stuff mixed to specification.
Check your spare tire and maybe bring a code reader and a spare coil pack.

I live in Anchorage and the 100 series is the perfect vehicle for here; the only thing I recommend is changing over to Nokian studded tires in the winter, stock size.

A block heater would be useful if you go up to interior Alaska (Fairbanks) in the winter, but not a necessity.
My dog chewed the plug off of my block heater 2 years ago and I have not bothered to fix it. (When going to Fairbanks in the winter, I fly).

Let me know if you have any questions about Anchorage- the climate here in ANC is not too extreme, but the roadtrip up from Georgia will be a lot more fun if you do it before it snows. Cheers.

 

[DJWUZJ]

Don't forget your heater hose T's... Another item on the list of what you don't want to fail in the middle of nowhere.

 

[SeattleFJs]

Only advice I have is to try to buy local. Amazon seems great but they royally screw small local shops, and when they're eventually the only game in town do you think those prices will stay low? It might cost you 10% more, but buying local pays HUGE dividends if you can see more than a year ahead.

 

[Junglejack]

Congrats.
Block heater will be huge, but I am sure you will figure that out when you get there.

While CO is dope, you are moving to Alaska so personally I would be thinking more driving through Palm trees and whatnot. You will be lousy with snow, and mountainy views...

 

[GaFJC]

Only advice I have is to try to buy local. Amazon seems great but they royally screw small local shops, and when they're eventually the only game in town do you think those prices will stay low? It might cost you 10% more, but buying local pays HUGE dividends if you can see more than a year ahead.

Next you'll be spewing "living wage" gospel.....

 

[Muddy Bean]

Anchorage isn't an extreme place to go. The Alcan isn't extreme either. People make that drive in all sorts of crummy rvs and vehicles a lot less reliable than your 100. In Michigan, the past two winters have been dramatically colder and snowier than Alaska. My truck started fine in -22F all day every day here this past winter. I even posted a video of it somewhere on here. Block heater is nice for a diesel (even necessary), but not the hundy. Prepare for the trip, but don't forget it isn't an overland off road expedition, it's a road trip...albeit a very cool one. Enjoy it.

 

[stonepa]

I'd still get the block heater and winter tires. Will the truck start at -22? Sure will. Will you like the sounds it makes? Probably not. Will the truck start at -40, such as if you go anywhere away from the coast such as the central Kenai Peninsula or the interior? Absolutely not. Get the block heater when you arrive in Anchorage, as well as the strongest battery you can get.

Get 4 real snow tires. Blizzaks or Hakkas. Don't worry about studs.

The Alcan is now just a big long road, except for frost heaves and areas of heavy construction. Take a solid spare tire. You don't want to pay the prices charged along the highway if you need to buy a new tire. Expect to pick up a rock chip / crater in the windshields and don't freak out if you do. That's normal in Alaska and you won't look like a Cheechako. Take an extra gas can - many of the gas stations in Alaska are closed now that tourist season is winding down.

Sure - people make it to Alaska all the time in ancient RVs and busted up station wagons. Heck, someone I know drove up this summer from Arizona in a $500 Tahoe he bought off a inner city used car dealer. Just depends how much adventure you are looking for.

 

[stonepa]

Get used to this. That's my 4Runner plugged in at my old apartment. -55F that morning. She started right up, although my front hubs made some nasty noises for the first few miles.

 

[99LC Alaska16]

HELL YES! I'm making the same trip this late March, driving from Atlanta, Georgia to Edmonton, AL, then the Alaska Highway to Anchorage. I have a 99LC hundy i'm also preparing it for the ride. Just got a new timing belt and battery. got a wheeless hitch cage for my tires once i get far enough north to switch them out, snow shovel, and spare 5-gallon jerry tank for gas (should i get 2?). Looking to get the block heater installed, using Katz heaters. thinking about a battery blanket, katz also. putting together a emergency supply kit, any must haves (other than gas, shovel, and water)? Looking at a few spare parts just in case, especially ones sensitive to cold weather? thoughts?

 

[D21FJ60]

The revival of this thread has me wondering how OPs trip went if OP is still around?

 

[99LC Alaska16]

So I've compiled a list of all suggestions made from various threads on deep freeze winter trip prep...here it is:

1) check "T's" and other water system joints, replace with optional brass fittings
2) check coolant mixture for -34F at 50/50 mix ratio
3) change to colder temp oil (5w) synthetic
4) check washer fluid for cold temps
5) extra coolant, oil, break and steering fluids
6) extra gas (min. 5-gallon, 10 gal preferred)
7) spare coils (4-pack)
8) spare fuses
9) spare ignition assembly
10) spare serpentine belt
11) starter rebuild kit
12) Block heater preferred install in freeze plug, magnetic oil pan heater works too
13) battery blanket/heater
14) winter tires (Bridgestone blizzak or Nokian studded seem most often referenced)
15) tire repair kit with plugs and air pump
16) spare tire
17) tools

Any other suggestions?

 

[CanadianRockyCruiser]

So I've compiled a list of all suggestions made from various threads on deep freeze winter trip prep...here it is:

1) check "T's" and other water system joints, replace with optional brass fittings
2) check coolant mixture for -34F at 50/50 mix ratio
3) change to colder temp oil (5w) synthetic
4) check washer fluid for cold temps
5) extra coolant, oil, break and steering fluids
6) extra gas (min. 5-gallon, 10 gal preferred)
7) spare coils (4-pack)
8) spare fuses
9) spare ignition assembly
10) spare serpentine belt
11) starter rebuild kit
12) Block heater preferred install in freeze plug, magnetic oil pan heater works too
13) battery blanket/heater
14) winter tires (Bridgestone blizzak or Nokian studded seem most often referenced)
15) tire repair kit with plugs and air pump
16) spare tire
17) tools

Any other suggestions?

You will have way more than you need. Your 100 will make the trip if you buy nothing but gas.

 

[80Greg100]

I was stationed at Eielson (near Fairbanks) for nearly 3 years...drove my first 93 FZJ80 up the Alcan in February, from Dayton OH. Definitely add some recovery equipment, and keep extra winter clothing in each vehicle. I once got REALLY stuck behind and below a massive snowbank (long story), and a local did pull me out - for a price. Would have been nice to take care of it myself, but I was not equipped.