Buying a 4 runner and driving south (for sale, trip , home)

[irishoffroad]

Hi All, Well myself and my girlfriend are going to arrive in Alaska around mid July, My plan is to buy a 4 runner or pickup with shell and drive around for a month and then start heading down to the lower 48 over the next 2-3 weeks. Am I going to be able to find a car with $3000-$3500 that will make the trip? We are bringing are camping gear but need to be able to sleep in the back of the truck too. I was looking around the US for cars and can get a fairly good car for that money around CA but I would like to just drive FROM AK and not up and down. Are all the cars going to be falling apart from rust?
Also are there ever people that need a car taken down to the lower 48 that we could drive down and drop off somewhere.
Any input would be great. Thanks

[Rance]

The worst of the rust buckets seem to be in the coastal towns. The salty air and/or driving through wind blown surf does alot of damage. And you've got your run of the mill 4x guys driving on the beaches just to 4x, or launch boats or go clamming etc.
They use sand in my area and add KCL/salt enough to keep the stock pile from freezing solid. So there really is no rust problem.
You check the Anch paper, craigslist/Alaska, bank websites etc and you can find fair deals on a daily basis. Of course as with any purchase check under the hood, run it, drive it, check fluid levels etc, and decide for yourself if it's worth the money.

[irishoffroad]

Im fairly good with cars and have owned a few toyotas in the past. Ill Have a look on line but cant seem to find anything in the right price range, are they more expensive up there?

[RayinAK]

I doubt that you will find a Toyota 4-Runner for around $3,000, unless it's an old one without a motor. But you may be able to find some old truck with a topper in that price range. That only problem I can see is driving an old truck through Canada, although not a problem if you are a mechanic and have the cash to buy the parts you may need.

[Rance]

I drove a 700 dollar 1951 chevy pickup from Arkansas to Alaska once. Had to buy a used rocker arm assembly in Moose Jaw, Canada but I found one in a junk yard in under 30 minutes for 20 bucks. The Midas Muffler Shop even pulled my truck into their shop and let me use tools. They were just impressed I was making the trip with that old truck. At the North Dakota/Canada Border station one of the gaurds was hesitant to let me pass. I told him heck I'm already half way home, so he let me go. Other than the raging blizzard at Muncho Lake and vaccume wipers it was a great trip.
If you buy a used vehicle up here and drive it a week or two...you'll know whether it will make the trip or not.

[irishoffroad]

Thanks for the info. I dont need a new truck (toyota as I know them really well), I was thinking of a 1993 or so. If anyone has one for sale can you let me know.Thanks
Do they do driveaways up there?

[cobolt]

Originally Posted by irishoffroad

Thanks for the info. I dont need a new truck (toyota as I know them really well), I was thinking of a 1993 or so. If anyone has one for sale can you let me know.Thanks
Do they do driveaways up there?

Have you thought about maybe looking for one in one WA state, taking the ferry up to AK and then driving back down? You may be able to find a 4 Runner here cheaper than AK. I know the ferry isn't exactly cheap, but it is an option...unless you already have plane tickets purchased.

[Rance]

What do you mean drive aways? You hand them cash and drive it away.
If your talking people wanting to test drive and then never returning the vehicle...I have yet to hear of that one.

[RayinAK]

Originally Posted by Rance

I drove a 700 dollar 1951 chevy pickup from Arkansas to Alaska once. Had to buy a used rocker arm assembly in Moose Jaw, Canada but I found one in a junk yard in under 30 minutes for 20 bucks. The Midas Muffler Shop even pulled my truck into their shop and let me use tools. They were just impressed I was making the trip with that old truck. At the North Dakota/Canada Border station one of the gaurds was hesitant to let me pass. I told him heck I'm already half way home, so he let me go. Other than the raging blizzard at Muncho Lake and vaccume wipers it was a great trip.
If you buy a used vehicle up here and drive it a week or two...you'll know whether it will make the trip or not.

LOL So you already know what I mentioned above. It was good you were mechanically inclined.

[irishoffroad]

Originally Posted by Rance

What do you mean drive aways? You hand them cash and drive it away.
If your talking people wanting to test drive and then never returning the vehicle...I have yet to hear of that one.

Its when someone needs a car moved somewhere but dosnt want to or cant drive so they get a third party to drive the car. maybe a family are moving from alaska and need someone to move their car south. Its common in the lower 48.

I thought about ferries but really expensive with a car. I think id rather drive up and down.