Alaska 4runners

[3bears]

So while I had not planned to retire until 2021, I might retire this spring. My son and family live in Fairbanks on acreage that I could build a cabin on.
If I make the move it would be this spring. I work in the high cascades now and work in the snow most of the winter keeping the park open. I know Fairbanks is a lot colder in winter.

Whats it like getting parts up there ? Shops that can work on 4 runners for the things I cant do.
Since I am just over 200k and on original rear axle bearings would I be better off getting them done preventative down here. Is a transmission cooler overkill up there would it be best for me to remove it.
what kind of block heaters are you using ?

I am going up the end of January into the first week of feb to check out winter and see a dog sled race start.

just brainstorming, but leaning toward the move in april

thanks

 

[gamefreakgc]

I can tell you right now, if you don't have your trans cooler in series with the radiator you'll want to remove it. It will keep the transmission fluid from ever warming up to temp.

 

[Jungoes]

I don't live there, but had similar temps in my area -45 deg C.
Here's what helped me winterize and be prepared.

Here's a list you can start on

1. AGM Battery - A MUST, ( much better low temp operation and freeze damage resistance to acid disassociation)
2. Rubberized or Asphalt sprayed inner wheel wells and under body splash zones.
3. Get rid of Wheel locks- those are fun in winter if you ever get a flat ( ask me how)
4. Transmission cooler - I got it only because I wanted to eliminate the milkshake.
5. Really good windshield wipers!.
6. Remote Starter - i do not have block heater, but my coolant mix is adjusted for this.

 

[JZiggy]

Those stick-on oil pan heaters are pretty cool. Oil takes a lot longer to heat up than the coolant so if you plug it in for a few hours it gives the engine a head start in heating up.

Lower viscosity, synthetic oil would be good too.

 

[alumarine]

It's not that cold in Fairbanks.
A block heater, any type of good battery and as others have said, the trans cooler in series. Synthetic oils will help as well.

A remote start and heated seats or a plug in heated seat cushion to take the edge off.

 

[Hopeless Diamond]

A buddy of mine's brother lives there (for now), there's a pretty thriving hot-rod community there. Should be able to find mechanically inclined help pretty easy.

Also, think it's awesome that you're retiring to AK, always been my dream. (just signed up and on the waiting list for the Alcan 5000 Winter Rally - Seattle-Tuktoyaktuk-Fairbanks-Anchorage, maybe I'll see you on the way through )

 

[3bears]

I can tell you right now, if you don't have your trans cooler in series with the radiator you'll want to remove it. It will keep the transmission fluid from ever warming up to temp.

it is in series

 

[3bears]

I don't live there, but had similar temps in my area -45 deg C.
Here's what helped me winterize and be prepared.

Here's a list you can start on

1. AGM Battery - A MUST, ( much better low temp operation and freeze damage resistance to acid disassociation)
2. Rubberized or Asphalt sprayed inner wheel wells and under body splash zones.
6. Remote Starter - i do not have block heater, but my coolant mix is adjusted for this.

#1 on my list already , just need to research which one I want
yuck on #2 did not think about that, they prob salt the roads
what remote starter are you using

 

[3bears]

It's not that cold in Fairbanks.
A block heater, any type of good battery and as others have said, the trans cooler in series. Synthetic oils will help as well.

A remote start and heated seats or a plug in heated seat cushion to take the edge off.

thanks,
I am all synthetic now, what remote start are you using, will look into heated seat cushion

will prob go with a toco whip antenna as mine does not like going up and down in real cold weather

 

[alumarine]

thanks,
I am all synthetic now, what remote start are you using, will look into heated seat cushion

will prob go with a toco whip antenna as mine does not like going up and down in real cold weather

I have a Prostart which is a canadian division of DEI and a Viper (also DEI).
Both are 2 way and work well.

 

[afulp99]

It's not that cold in Fairbanks.
A block heater, any type of good battery and as others have said, the trans cooler in series. Synthetic oils will help as well.

A remote start and heated seats or a plug in heated seat cushion to take the edge off.

Not that cold in Fairbanks?! My wife lived up there for training for several months. Last temp I saw as we drove back to Anchorage was -49, and it had been that way for a week. While that was certainly a cold spell, it's not terribly unusual for up there either. The average low in January is -17F. What's your idea of "not that cold"?

 

[Kanoe]

We have a good Toyota dealership here in Whitehorse if you need anything on the way through.

In general very little salt is used in the Yukon (not sure about Alaska) as it is too cold for it to melt anything. Generally just sand/gravel. In the town of Whitehorse being one salty location. Sand can be procured locally, salt needs to be trucked in from the south.

We haven't had any really cold winters lately but some days we do have to go to work at -40 to -45. I use the factory in the block heater, a battery blanket, oil pan heater and on any automatics a tranny pan heater. I set it on a timer and even on the coldest days 4 hours warm up is enough. It's a cheap treat for your vehicle.

Best thing you can do for your 4runner is leave it parked and buy a cheap winter beater! We drive the Corolla all winter and the 4runner lives in storage. You'll appreciate the fuel savings as winter fuel economies are horrible.

 

[D'arce]

X2 I lived in Anchorage for 9 years. Fairbanks is the COLDEST. You will want a block heater, oil pan and tranny heaters. Block coolant heater is NOT enough. It will take ages to heat the motor. You will hear some nasty sounds also as your engine will fire but the oil down below is still too cold to flow properly.

You will also want a way to lock your truck while it's running. It's not uncommon to head into the mall or grocery store and your parking in a sea of empty running rigs. If you can't plug in you don't turn it off. That said there are plug ins all over but not everywhere. Air quality is not the greatest. There is a fog of exhaust and wood smoke that sits in the "bowl" when it gets that cold.

There is so much more to say but you'll get a lot of help from people there. One thing I miss about Alaska is yes you need to be self sufficient but everybody helps anybody in need. People look out for each other there.

I second the idea of a beater car. Alaska is hard on vehicles and every vehicle I had ended up with body damage at some point.

Not that cold in Fairbanks?! My wife lived up there for training for several months. Last temp I saw as we drove back to Anchorage was -49, and it had been that way for a week. While that was certainly a cold spell, it's not terribly unusual for up there either. The average low in January is -17F. What's your idea of "not that cold"?

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G870A using Tapatalk

 

[3bears]

X2 I lived in Anchorage for 9 years. Fairbanks is the COLDEST. You will want a block heater, oil pan and tranny heaters. Block coolant heater is NOT enough. It will take ages to heat the motor. You will hear some nasty sounds also as your engine will fire but the oil down below is still too cold to flow properly.

You will also want a way to lock your truck while it's running. It's not uncommon to head into the mall or grocery store and your parking in a sea of empty running rigs. If you can't plug in you don't turn it off. That said there are plug ins all over but not everywhere. Air quality is not the greatest. There is a fog of exhaust and wood smoke that sits in the "bowl" when it gets that cold.

There is so much more to say but you'll get a lot of help from people there. One thing I miss about Alaska is yes you need to be self sufficient but everybody helps anybody in need. People look out for each other there.

I second the idea of a beater car. Alaska is hard on vehicles and every vehicle I had ended up with body damage at some point.


Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G870A using Tapatalk

thanks for all the advice
fortunately I will not be in the punch bowl of Fairbanks. My sons property is up on a hill and he said he is above the pollution

but I will find out first hand, I am taking time off next month and going up to see him for 10 days. Figured I better see it in winter before making a final decision

 

[D'arce]

Yeah its an amazing place. Lots of good food. Main reason we left is spring and summer are only like 6 weeks long and the termination snow is back on the mountains. I missed my summers lol. I regret never doing the Hawaii thing. That would have helped a lot.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G870A using Tapatalk

 

[BrianSD_42]

-50F is definitely cold.
.

 

[Hopeless Diamond]

a might chilly...

 

[jkeith.w]

this thread is giving me nightmares. brrr.

 

[pauldub]

Retiring in Fairbanks just seem wrong, way too cold and way too dark in the winter. Arizona is sunny and warm in the winter so a lot of us retired people go there, but only in the winter.

 

[3bears]

Retiring in Fairbanks just seem wrong, way too cold and way too dark in the winter. Arizona is sunny and warm in the winter so a lot of us retired people go there, but only in the winter.

true some think IM crazy, but that's where my son and grandkids are