Uhaul in the winter (Haines: store, moving, trailer)

[groovya]

I moved to Anchorage in December 2007. I was lucky though because my moving expenses were paid by my new employer. Winter also started a bit late from what I heard as well. There wasn't much snow when we got here. Anyway, we got one-way plane tickets and had our cars and stuff shipped up here. It took six weeks to get our stuff and vehicles. This cost approx $13,000. The cars were $3,000 each. We didn't have that much furniture either. I have a Grand Prix and did NOT buy snow tires for it. I made it just fine. I only rolled through one red light and got tapped by a driver behind me once. I have found that the drivers in Anchorage love to get as close as possible to you even in the snow! But they do watch out for you too. They do keep the roads well maintained but I don't think they got as much snow last year as usual. My husband was even able to drive his rear-wheeled (not a 4X4) pickup around with his old tires. When he had to. I don't know if I will buy tires this winter or not. It sounds like you are a good driver so you and your mustang should be ok.

[propcircles]

Thanks all for the tips!! I will probably be back in a few months for some more questions!!

[propcircles]

Okay, so one more question-- when would you say the Alcan becomes safe to drive again? roughly March? April? July??

Thanks!

[alaskangirlforever]

My hubby and I drove the AlCan in the winter, back in '01... We were in a Chevy Cavalier...drove in October. Got caught in a BAD snowstorm (we were both born and raised up here for frame of reference of "bad"). We had all weather tires on and had to drive about 25mph for about 3 hours... NOT a pleasant experience.

Keep in mind how very many stores, etc. are *closed* between about Sept 15-May 15. There were a couple 50 mile stretches with nothing open.

We've driven it twice in the summer/fall...beautiful trips!! The drive itself is highly recommended!

[MtMike]

[quote=propcircles;4317522]I've got so many questions, but let's just start with this one:

How safe is it to drive a uhaul (also pulling a vehicle) from FL to AK in the dead of winter?

I drove up to Alaska and back this past January (and again in May of this year). - 50 in parts of Canada, not good to break down, one can die, not much traffic, not much open, road fine, truckers drive too fast and are a danger to all, kept my Dodge (1500 -gas) truck in 4 wheel all the time, (once the rear end came around (slipped) when I hit some ice early on), did not shut truck down at nite (better to have a running warm truck in morning than a frozen truck) until I got to warmer climate, like +20.

Make certain car is properly winterized (cardboard across radiator with vent hole) I did see some people towing, I would not want to do it.

DRIVE SLOW! Speed and the inability to stop is not good.

Alaska is a adventure, driving the AlCan in winter IS a adventure in itself, towing ???????

[arctichomesteader]

Uhaul trucks are notorious for being in bad condition (there's not much incentive for each rental place to keep them in good order as they'll likely be elsewhere soon). I've dealt with them twice (both times I was helping others move). The first one, had no markings to show what gear it was in, the brakes were terrible and just barely working, ramp didn't work right at all and the door to the truck's cargo area opened itself a bit while driving at one point (latch didn't work really well...). Second time, there were gear markings, but the ramp didn't work, brakes also bad, and worse of all the engine just barely worked. Went through 1/5 a tank of diesel trying to start it the last trip with it. Just didn't want to get going (and it was summer, nice and warm). Not fun at all and that thing was really smoking trying to get it going (neighbors got mad about it going into their windows and yard, looked like an old coal burning steam locomotive for a while).

I guess "adventure" would describe trying to drive one of those uhauls on the ALCAN...I got an estimate for VT to AK and it was over $5,000. A lot to pay for renting a piece of junk that might kill you.

[adriancombe]

[quote=MtMike;4457071]

Originally Posted by propcircles

I've got so many questions, but let's just start with this one:

How safe is it to drive a uhaul (also pulling a vehicle) from FL to AK in the dead of winter?

I drove up to Alaska and back this past January (and again in May of this year). - 50 in parts of Canada, not good to break down, one can die, not much traffic, not much open, road fine, truckers drive too fast and are a danger to all, kept my Dodge (1500 -gas) truck in 4 wheel all the time, (once the rear end came around (slipped) when I hit some ice early on), did not shut truck down at nite (better to have a running warm truck in morning than a frozen truck) until I got to warmer climate, like +20.

Make certain car is properly winterized (cardboard across radiator with vent hole) I did see some people towing, I would not want to do it.

DRIVE SLOW! Speed and the inability to stop is not good.

Alaska is a adventure, driving the AlCan in winter IS a adventure in itself, towing ???????

I am considering doing something similar, but in the second half of August. Any thoughts? I will be pulling my car with a 26 foot truck.

[Alaskan Mutt]

[quote=adriancombe;9407483]

Originally Posted by MtMike

I am considering doing something similar, but in the second half of August. Any thoughts? I will be pulling my car with a 26 foot truck.

The second half of August is way better than in the winter. The road will be in good shape. There are a lot of people who think the speed limit is 80mph so be ready to have someone always wanting to pass. Usually by this time most of the motorhomes are heading south. Get some plywood to protect the front end and windshield of the car being towed. You will cry everytime you buy gas.

[Alaskan Mutt]

A little insight on driving a rear wheel car with summer tires in the winter time in Anchorage. It can be done. A lot of people do it. However...Be prepared for lots of headaches. The turn lanes usually get very icy. Many many times I have seen people have to get out and help push the car in front of them to get it going. Anchorage is not as flat as it looks. Many of the side streets either go uphill or down hill to the main roads. If you get stuck and need a tow truck you may have to wait many hours. Anchorage has a poor mass transit system. So using them as a backup if the weather is bad has little chance of working.

[adriancombe]

[quote=Alaskan Mutt;9430802]

Originally Posted by adriancombe

The second half of August is way better than in the winter. The road will be in good shape. There are a lot of people who think the speed limit is 80mph so be ready to have someone always wanting to pass. Usually by this time most of the motorhomes are heading south. Get some plywood to protect the front end and windshield of the car being towed. You will cry everytime you buy gas.

Thank you for the advice. I had planned on acquiring a full height bugflector but obviously that would be 'underkill'.I usually have an instinctive grasp for engineering but I'm having a hard time visualizing the angle and position of the proposed plywood. Do you recommend a vertical sheet fastened to the bumper somehow or leaning against the front of the car at angle with holes and ubolts/tiedowns attaching it to the trailer and roofrack with padding underneath?