Uhaul in the winter (Anchorage, Fairbanks: fit in, apartment, to rent)

[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?

thanks

[Moose Whisperer]

How much winter driving experience do you have? With little or no experience, it would be unadvisable. Even with extensive experience, something like that would not be high on my list of things to do before I die. Driving the Alcan in one’s own vehicle under normal conditions is demanding enough. Driving an unfamiliar rig while hauling a load over hundreds of miles of isolated, icy roads in sub-zero conditions would be rolling the dice IMO. Too many things could go wrong. Could you postpone it for later?

[propcircles]

Originally Posted by AK_Photographer

How much winter driving experience do you have? With little or no experience, it would be unadvisable. Even with extensive experience, something like that would not be high on my list of things to do before I die. Driving the Alcan in one’s own vehicle under normal conditions is demanding enough. Driving an unfamiliar rig while hauling a load over hundreds of miles of isolated, icy roads in sub-zero conditions would be rolling the dice IMO. Too many things could go wrong. Could you postpone it for later?

My winter driving is good (S.dakota and Ind., FL only recently) but basically like you put it, "not high on my to-do list". I won't get into the specifics of the job, but the timeline for moving is looking like somewhere from Dec-Feb. I *am* trying to postpone it if possible, but it's unlikely I'll be able to and I'm trying to prepare for a winter move.

I feel good about driving there in the summer, but the winter complicates things. I keep thinking, "well truckers drive the route all the time, how bad could it be?"

Anyway, if the risks are too high, I will probably have to find another way. Just would like to get some opinions from folks familiar with the route.

I also have a 98 mustang I really would like to keep although it's nearly worthless in the snow... how much do "winter" tires help a car like that? I drove it thru 4 indiana winters with normal (crappy-on-snow) tires and although I got thru it without any incidents, it wasn't pretty.

[Moose Whisperer]

That’s good, since you are familiar with winter driving you are definitely in a better position to make an informed decision, as opposed to someone who’s never been off dry pavement. In my job, I actually make the drive up the Dalton Hwy from Fairbanks to Prudhoe Bay once a month during all seasons of the year, and I’ve driven the Alcan a couple times as well (though not in winter). When I drive the Haul Road in winter (last January a few stretches were at minus 45F with minus 65 wind-chill), I feel reasonably safe because I’m:

1. Driving a well maintained company 4X4 with snow tires
2. Fully equipped with necessary emergency equipment and plenty of fuel
3. Carrying a full set of Arctic Survival Gear (company policy from Oct 1 to May 1)
4. And probably most important, always in communication with backup in case of emergency via CB and a dedicated shortwave radio system.

As you mentioned, the truckers make the trip all the time too, but they are similarly outfitted as well, and probably carry a satellite phone in addition to the CB for comms.

My concern in what you are planning would be to climb into a untested (and probably not properly winterized) rig with questionable tires that was likely last worked on by some kid just out of high-school, and try to make the trip pulling a trailer. In my mind I can just picture going around some glare-ice, negative-camber curve and watching the trailer go squirrely in the rear view mirror and next thing finding myself sucked into a snow drift two hundred miles from nowhere at -40F! I'm sure you see where I'm coming from.

As for your car, once you get it here, as long as if you are staying on the maintained road system, you can get by fine with a set of studded tires. In Anchorage itself, road maintenance is quite good, and there are really only a few days during the winter where things get really dicey. Of course, on those few days, a 4X4 is, to borrow the phrase, priceless. Now, if you’re planning to live off on a private road or up in the higher elevations of the city, a four-by with studs is pretty much standard equipment.

[warptman]

Here you go...

How to Drive to Alaska in the Winter - ExploreNorth

[travelmate38]

That would be tough. Rear wheel drive only, no studs, no winter tires on those uhauls. I can see you getting half way up an incline and sliding back down, side to side and tipping over. If you hit minimal weather and plan on waiting severe weather out on the trip, you might do okay.

[propcircles]

My concern in what you are planning would be to climb into a untested (and probably not properly winterized) rig with questionable tires that was likely last worked on by some kid just out of high-school, and try to make the trip pulling a trailer. In my mind I can just picture going around some glare-ice, negative-camber curve and watching the trailer go squirrely in the rear view mirror and next thing finding myself sucked into a snow drift two hundred miles from nowhere at -40F! I'm sure you see where I'm coming from.

Originally Posted by travelmate38

That would be tough. Rear wheel drive only, no studs, no winter tires on those uhauls. I can see you getting half way up an incline and sliding back down, side to side and tipping over. If you hit minimal weather and plan on waiting severe weather out on the trip, you might do okay.

Okay, you sold me, no uhaul in the winter... how about just the car doing the Alcan in the winter by itself? back-wheel, regular tires, not so hot in the snow (but about half of the 120K miles on it were in the snow... it's got a good driver)

Also I was wondering about the winter tires-- do you just keep a set of 4 laying around all the time? See, I just paid $600 for a new set of non-winter tires in January, (this AK move was unexpected) and I'm all for putting on winter tires, but then what do I do with these new ones? I can't exactly throw them in the back seat and drive to AK with them. There's gotta be a better way that i'm just missing. . .

Honestly, I really just can't figure out how to do this move in the winter. We dont have much, but my wife does have an antique sentimental piano and a few other items, which, unfortunately do not fit in the back of a ford mustang!

And here's another wrinkle, prior to the move, we also are moving to Okla.city for 4 months, after which we have 1 week to get to Anchorage.

We don't have much, but we do have just enough to be annoying. Also, there is no semi access to our Apartment, which makes the "U-pack" movers more difficult.

We also are not being reimbursed for the expenses, so trying hard to keep it cheap.

All ideas welcome!

[akck]

My son had a Mustang and hated driving it in the winter. Problem was that it had too much power and would spin and slide on corners. It was drivable, but he really wanted another car for winter driving.

If you just have to drive in the winter, my call would be to try for early December. You might get lucky and have a mild or late winter, missing any heavy snowfalls. One option would be to take the ferry from Bellingham to Haines and drive from there. Your other option is to store all your belongings and fly up for now and then move your stuff up this spring or summer.

[Moose Whisperer]

Yes, check on the ferry schedule from Bellingham WA to Whittier, Valdez, or Seward. With the price of gas these days, the cost of the ferry would likely be the same as the fuel and lodging you’ll spend on the Alcan. Time would probably be the same, or even faster considering winter driving conditions. When I moved some stuff up from the lower 48 a while back, I was able to rent a 20’ Uhaul trailer one way for about $800. I don’t think pulling a trailer adds all that much to the fare on the ferry.

Tires – yes, I (and many others) keep two full sets. I have my regular tires on the Aluminum rims that came with the vehicle and a set of studded tires on steel rims. Makes it easier to swap myself that way, though some folks don’t buy extra rims and have them remounted every spring and fall. Tire stores are used to that up here.

Is keeping two sets of tires more expensive? You bet. You’ll find allot of things are that way up here. That’s just the price you pay for living in the “Great Land”.

[Moose Whisperer]

Originally Posted by propcircles

....And here's another wrinkle, prior to the move, we also are moving to Okla.city for 4 months, after which we have 1 week to get to Anchorage.

Sorry, didn't see that part before. Sorry to say but in that case, barring some kind of super-human effort. it aint gonna happen either way (ferry or driving). Best thing IMO would be to put your stuff in storage and move it up later when you've settled in and have more time. No need to add that much extra hassle and unrealistic time pressure to an already stressful move.