Relocating from Chicago to Alaska....Help me Outfit my Truck!!!

[07V8]

Well I applied for, interviewed, and got the internal job posting for a job in Alaska! I'm officially relocating from the city of Chicago to the Anchorage/Eagle River in the next 8-10 weeks. I'm in the oil industry so I'll be traveling to the North Slope 1-2x/month in addition to working in Anchorage.

My wife and I are beyond ecstatic because we're simply over Chicago. Too many people, expensive, little to do outside the food/bar scene. We plan on taking 8-10 days to make the drive from Chicago and the chariot of choice will be my 2007 V8 4Runner with 170k miles.

I'm OCD about maintenance so it's pretty much good to go in that respect. New fluids in everything within the last 15k miles, new brakes, Bilstein 6112's, 18 month old KO2s, etc etc. Mechanically, the truck is as sound as it was when new.

I would like to consider adding the following modifications seeing as this will be used for the road trip and likely multiple off the grid trips once in Alaska.

BEFORE the Trip Modifications.

- ARB Bumper: I like the price, its airbag compliance, and the fact that its designed to protect against animal blows. While I like the Shrockworks, I don't like their wait time.

- LED Light Bar: 20-30" should suffice on the ARB for now. Don't need stupid amount of light - just some supplemental output on long winding roads in the dark etc. etc.

- Satellite Radio: for obvious reasons.

- RAM Mount for my Nexus 7 and offline Maps usage.

- Second and or new battery: can't decide. Toyota battery is 40 months old. Would like the redundancy of a second battery/isolator setup. Electricity is like a foreign language to me so I'll have to read up on how to wire.

- Yakima Load Warrior: Plan on putting 10 gallons of gas and minimal belongings up there. Was going to get typical consumer gas cans. Thoughts?

Recovery Kit: I'm a city slicker so I currently have nothing in my car.

- Fire extinguisher

- 2 Glass Hammers Mounted on DS/PS A-Pillars

- Blankets/Food/First Aid Kit/5 Gallons of Water

- My 200 piece tool set, floor jack, bottle jack, cordless impact gun, spare tire is an obvious

- Recovery Straps

- Flares

- Reflectors

- Gloves: warm and Mechanix

- Tire puncture repair kits x 2

- Jumper cables

- Leatherman

- Flashlights

Anything Else?

I've picked up the Milepost and am watching numerous videos on the Al-Can Highway. We're going to plan our stops accordingly. It's unlikely we are going to camp on the road trip up there. We don't have the gear and are going to appreciate a bed every night.

As it stands, we're tentatively leaving in mid-April so I really only have a few weekends to get everything in order.

I would really appreciate any info/advice/packing/equipment ideas!

Thanks,
Will

Here's the chariot....itching to spread its legs after 170k miles of city/town/highway driving.

 

[baowow]

Congrats on the job! Fellow Chicagoan here on the northwest side. If you are doing the work yourself and need an extra hand wrenching let me know. If I'm free, I don't mind helping.

 

[KENAIKING]

Congrats on moving to AK. It is an awesome place to live.

In April you may want to plan for snow in the Yukon. I would add a sleeping bag and some extra food and water. If you have room my ARB fridge was a really nice luxury last time I drove it.

That time of year I would also plan for just staying on the Alcan. The Cassiar is a great trip but road conditions will suck big time.

The LED light bar is a great idea and will be very helpful in the longer stretches especially through the Yukon. Make sure you have a good spare tire as there is long stretches with no services. Also don't pass up gas stations because that time of year the next station may be closed. On that same note I would have 5gal of extra gas as well.

If you can plan for it try to go through Calgary and Edmonton either late at night or really early in the morning. Traffic sucks big time during rush hour.

As for SAT radio. Super nice to have but as soon as hit about Burwash is cuts in and out and once in AK it doesn't work. So don't but a special set up or contract for that. If you have a HAM radio it is also helpful as there are lots of link repeaters through out the trip.

Feel free to shoot me a PM if you have questions or need suggestions about places in AK. I have driven the road 3 times and would be happy to share the experiences.

 

[VT245]

With regards to your first aid kit specifically, I'm not sure if you have something like this already, but having something like QuikClot in there can be a potential life saver if you're far away from services. I always have some with me, and have seen it used before and it is simply amazing how much bleeding it can stop. I like these ready-made first aid packs to keep with me for various activities:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B003BS2PW4?psc=1

But in my actual first aid kit I usually have one or two of each of the 50g sponges as well as the gauze rolls:

https://www.amazon.com/Quikclot-Advanced-Clotting-Bleeding-Package/dp/B001BCNTHC

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00HJTH5L2?psc=1

Its definitely not the cheapest product to keep on hand, but it can quite literally be a life saver if you find yourself in dire straights in the middle of nowhere...

 

[LOSTR4]

I grew up in AK and moved down to the lower 48 after HS...I've made the trip back and forth 14 times and there's nothing major you NEED to do this safely...there will be a lot of animals on the road so armor is always a plus...there are stretches between Edmonton and Fort St. Johns where you will have fuel every 200 miles or so...fuel is expensive on the trip so perhaps bring a can if you have any doubts...lifts, tires, and armor change the way your truck will drive efficiently...you will gain elevation through NW Territories and it's a gorgeous drive...I'd imagine you're going through Haines and/or Tok so you'll have vastness to stare at while you're cruising...other people on the road are by far the biggest risks in your enjoyment of the trip...I always chose to drive at night to mitigate my want to run them off the roads...If you plan on making this a scenic, fun, touristy trip...do it. Calgary, Edmonton, Banff, Fort Saint Johns, Whitehorse, Tok, Valdez, Haines....all AWESOME places to venture through and you'll have no trouble doing it in the 4runner...keep good tire pressure, and be alert to animals and the frost-heaves the Al-Can is known for...you will 100% get air on some of the roadways if you're going faster than the Canadians suggest on the road...heed their advice if you're not a very outside-minded driver...Nonetheless, you're in for a treat! Don't let the sideways traffic lights in Canada mess with you...they're only there to make you laugh...eat lots of gravey/fries (poutine) and eggs...seems to be the most abundant food on the trip...if you plan on driving at night to avoid clusters ont eh roads following slow as f$&k campers, invest in a good light-bar as they help tremendously...other than that, you have nothing to fear. Good luck and congrats! By far one of the best places to grow up and grow old in...do everything you can afford there! With you working on the slope, you shouldn't have any issues exploring things you never knew existed!

 

[sportsbriefcase]

Great pics. Congrats. on the exciting new chapter. Here's info. on a small emergency kit I pieced together myself.

 

[Bumbo]

Congrats on the new job and opertunity. That move is going to be a big change.

I have the 6112 shock and love it. My truck was in a very similar state yours is in now when I installed my suspension.

But here is a word of caution... adding some front end weight is going to really change how the truck drives. You MAY need OR end up wanting a spring rate change to the fronts.

All I did was add a roof rack, and even without gear I instantly felt the effects of that weight up top. It's not like it weights that much, but its in the worst spot to add weight too.

The 6112 came with 600 lb coils with options for 650 and 700 lb.

I went with stiffer OME coils in the rear and while I love the load carrying ability off-road, and on-road performance, the downside is when I am unloaded and I want to go drive in a spirited manner off-road the rear can buck a bit.

Just know you might have to re-visit suspension so make sure you budget that in.

Personally I think the truck drives that much better without a bunch of crap strapped to it, but I need the space.

The only other thing I would love to see in that kit is a ham radio (amature radio) and a licence. Considering where you are going its probably a pretty good thing to have, and learn how to use. I guarantee you won't be the only ham in Alaska...

 

[SunPilot]

Satellite radio, I've heard, is sketchy at best in upper areas of Alaska. You might want to check before you commit to a long term contract. Last time I was there I didn't have XM, so I'm just relaying what I've been told.

 

[4rcybr]

If you are concerned about self-reliability, your first thing should be a full size shovel, recovery boards (I've got FrontRunner Sandladders and TRED PRO) and an axe or heavy machete (I carry both) and on-board air (look into the PUMA or Viair unless you've got money to burn on the ARB kit).

 

[AuSeeker]

I second the onboard air compressor or at least a good quailty 12 volt portable unit, I won't go out into the local woods without mine so going through vast stretches of wilderness goes without saying!

I would also have a couple of 2" X 8" X 8" blocks of lumber to put under your jack in case you have to change a tire in soft soil/mud, for a floor jack a 3/4" X 12" X 3' plywood would be useful under the jack.

 

[Bumbo]

Totally forgot about air... huge +1 there.

If you dont want to have the complexity of an OBA setup, or dont have space or no intention of going with a tank then I also find a lot of value in a portable.

You can get the same Viair stuff setup in a easy to move around kit...

I have the 400P that I move between trucks and my car when we take that on longer trips. My Silverado has OBA with a tank as I have a lot more available space there but the portable has already paid for itself from a versatility standpoint. I would be happy to start there vs no air at all.
https://www.amazon.com/Viair-40043-VIAIR-Portable-Compressor/dp/B000X9AXR8

Its not a 100% duty cycle but its almost twice as fast as the 450P. I can fill 4 tires from 15-30 in well before 1 duty cycle so its a great emergency pump and for the occasional wheeling weekend warrior.

 

[Greenwing7]

I drove to AK in feb 14, yes satellite radio didn't work when we got there but as the earth rotated at the end of the summer it started to work sometimes. Get the Mile Post book. its the best thing to prepare for the drive. Always stop for fuel, mind the little cones and flags along the road, those pot holes are ramps even at low speeds. An engine block heater is necessary and maybe even a radiator heater so that your fluid doesn't freeze. Get studded tires for winter driving, they drive on the ice and just add sand/gravel. NO SALT! Batteries last forever in the cold up there, but I would go ahead and get a new one. Liard Hot springs is a great place to stop for a soak. My Garmin GPS was a little off, but the one in the car was on, strange huh? for piece of mind you may want to consider getting an EPRB if you're worried about the remoteness of AK. You will more than likely have a broken windshield very soon up there, part of having gravel on the roads all winter I guess. If you've ever had a DUI, dont expect the canadians to let you in, and no radar detectors in the Youkon Territories. Good luck getting used to the darkness! those are some of the high points for the drive. Its an amazing drive, did it in 5 or 6 days from San Antonio, crossed into canada in MT.

 

[Rodtheviking]

Block heater.

 

[Bumbo]

Remote Start

 

[RobD]

Battery blanket and oil pan heater, in addition to the block heater. If you are coming through Calgary and need a place to work on the 4Runner, let me know.

 

[Stuck CAPS]

don't forget about sliders, I feel like you may high center once or twice in alaska

 

[07V8]

ARB is ordered and will be here next week. I'm also going to pick up 700# Eibach coils for the front.