Driving in Alaska

Hi everyone!

We are moving form Oklahoma City to Anchorage. We are really worry if we need to do something with our 4Runner TRD Off Road. We have a couple of questions:

1. Do we have to change the fluids of the motor, such as: oil, transmission, motor, etc.
2. Do we have to install the Engine Block Heater?

We really appreciate any advice that you can share to us.

Stay safe

 

Welcome.

 

driving ? for those ~3600 miles, hell yes, especially the vehicle will probably be loaded
how many miles? probably not the tranny, but the engine for sure. where you are going at this time of year, it's not exactly warm.
yes on the engine block heater, it's cheap and it will save a lot of wear and tear if you use it. the most of damage on an engine happens on cold starts, as the oil is not as viscous and it will take longer to reach the upper components
happy motoring

 

welcome to the last american frontier...happy motoring

 

Thank you for the recommendation. Actually, we´ll not be driving from OKC to Alaska. The car is gonna be transported by a truck company. Well, is kind of cold but my company just transferred me to there.

 

Thanks for answering. Great! I´ll check it up.

 

Hi! we are so excited to be there and experience the last frontier.

 

Myself I would call a service tech at a Toyota dealer near where you are moving to (hopefully there is one). Or better yet call a few in Alaska and see if their recommendations are consistent.

 

Thanks! definitely I´ll do it.

 

Buy some thermal underwear!

 

Good luck driving with those on though. Gas brake - just hit em both at the same time.

 

acadavid86,

I'd invest in a set of tire chains if I were you. Then practice putting them on and taking them off.
Note they are for low speed use but will get you out of trouble.

 

Thanks! We made some shopping on Black Friday. HOpe the gear we bought will be enough for the extreme cold.

 

Oh, man! this is insane. I´ll look it up. Thanks.

 

I love this one. We were today at the dealer asking for some tires. But they have no idea which ones are the best for Alaska. So, we decided to be there and buy it there.

 

We have read some forums and this item is a must. Thanks, we´ll buy it in Anchorage

 

You might want them along on your drive through Canada.

 

Welcome from Wisconsin! Have a great ride on your way to Alaska, I would probably do oil change, I'm sure the owners manual might have that info, as far as the temp. being "frigid".... don't worry! We live in Central Wisconsin, and sometimes wish it were as warm as Anchorage, there are sometimes in the winter we are having -30F, and would ya look at that... Anchorage 0F! It's that time on the calendar to get cold, you'll be fine, have a great trip, enjoy Ak., and be safe out there!

 

Welcome, lifelong Alaskan here, coming up on 3 decades of driving (damn in getting old).

Couple tips:
1. Remote start is mandatory. Even if you can park in your garage, coming out to a cold rig sucks when leaving work or anywhere else. Having a garage is also wildly nice in the winter.

2. Emergency kit inside vehicle. I have extra hat / gloves / flares / socks / coat / snow pants / collapsible shovel / first aid / etc in mine.

3. Swap that windshield washer fluid out for something that can survive -20F. I live just outside Anchorage and every year there will be cold snaps for a week or two where it’s consistently that cold.

4. I wouldn’t worry about tire chains. I literally know NO ONE that has them, or have even heard or anyone having them.

5. Good tires are a must. If you don’t have much winter driving experience on snow / ice, then you may want to get a set of winter tires for the 6 months of the year where there will be snow / ice.

I personally don’t run winter tires, but many do and love them and there is no doubt they outperform non-winter tires. I used to run them, but have found that good AT tires and 4x4 when needed has done me just fine. Modern traction control and AT tire technology are great! My tundra is on Cooper AT3 XLT’s, and my 4R is on the stock Nitto Terra Grapplers. Both have done fine IMHO.

6. Buy quality winter gear (and outdoor gear in general). Getting cold / wet can be a death sentence. Doesn’t have to be crazy expensive, but look for last season sale gear before ever buying cheap gear from a big box store.

7. Finding an outdoor hobby for the winter time helps immensely with the cold / dark.

Am sure there are a ton of things I’m missing, but just a couple observations and opinions to make your transition a bit more bearable. Cheers and welcome again.

 

Omg! Thanks a ton. These tips are really helpful, I have not thought about the kit with clothes. About the tires, we will change it when we´ll be there. Just a small question, Have you installed the Engine Block Heater? Have a great day

 

Thanks for your comment. We are really scared about the weather, we have never lived in this kind of extreme cold. I will look it up in my owner´s manual and change the oil. Just a question, Have you installed the Engine Block Heater? Thanks

 

You’re welcome!

Most every vehicle up here has a block heater.

I myself almost exclusively park in a garage, so I haven’t needed to plug a rig in much.

Also will totally admit that I am lazy enough that I never used a block heater when I’ve had to park outside. I just hit the remote start and let it warm up. Modern light weight synthetic oils / engine design and letting the rig warm up do just fine imho.

it’s not a bad idea tho. So if you do, they have time attachments you can buy so it’s not running the block heater the entire time you are plugged in.

 

Anchorage is actually a pretty temperate climate... for Alaska

 

Thanks! I´m gonna check what oil the car has right now. If it is needed, I´ll change it before we leave.

 

Thanks! for us is the first time that we are gonna experience this weather. The lowest that we have lived was 10F, we almost die LOL.

 

Add windshield coverage to your insurance. You'll thank me later.

 

This is great advice for anyone who drives in snow, even if you live in a warmer climate like in CA. When I lived in snow country I followed this advice except for the remote start and tire chains. And I kept a sleeping bag and energy bars in the trunk in case I got stranded.

 

If you live in a climate where winter makes it necessary to fit snow chains 6 months out of the year, just get snow tires. Chains suck for extended use, they rust, you can't go above 30 mph when you use them, when they break they can cause damage, they rattle, and they worsen the ride.

Chains are also very expensive if its a one off use thing too. To save money I bought used acco tire chains that were already 35 years old, and I still felt like it was too much money for something I haven't used. Just get a set of winter wheels and put good snow tires on, its less hassle.

 

Yup.

Like I was saying. In my over 40 years up here I know no one, nor have known or heard of anyone having chains for their personal vehicles.

Of all the folks in my social circle and informal casual observation of those with RWD trucks and SUV’s, large majority just run AT’s year round with using 4x4 as needed.

See much more folks with winter tires on FWD bias cars / CUV / SUV.

 

Done!