moving to AK

hey guys i am moving to fairbanks area 1st of feb and am wondering what coolant i should put in my car. installing block,batt and oil pan heater today and want to change coolant while im doing all that. any input is appreciated!

 

Roughly 70/30 coolant to water is whats in mine. I wouldn't go with any higher concentration than that though, but that's what is typical up here. I suggest a hard mounted battery trickle charger over a battery heater. A charged / well maintained battery will do you much better than a every so slightly warmed battery.

 

i will look into those akcd.. already bought a little battery pad... might have to do for now. next season i can make the switch. how are the roads from Fairbanks to anchorage? my 4runner will be shipped to the air force base but my wifes car is going to be shipped to anchorage... will i be able to get it or will i have to wait a little while for the weather? her car wont be there until around the second week in feb.

 

No telling what the roads will be like a month from now, but snow and ice are a safe bet, and services are few and far between. Cell phone coverage can be spotty at times depending on your provider. Roads right now are fine, happened to have talked with someone that made the drive yesterday. If you don't have much experience with winter driving I'd avoid doing it during any kind of real storm though, I've been in a whiteout through the Cantwell pass area many times. I'd also suggest taking the Parks Hwy over the Richardson/Glen, shorter route and more people traveling it incase something happens.

 

Just got my heaters installed. Yeah I'll probably fly to Anchorage and drive north. If it's really bad I'll pay Alaska car transport to move it. But that's about 500 so I'd like to do it myself and put that money towards snow tires for her car. And yeah zero snow experience.

 

Just pick a time where the weather looks good and take your time driving. And check the forecast in Anchorage, Fairbanks, and along the route as well. Its not unusual to be completely different. If you need snow tires and can find a place that sells them where you're at, it would be wise to get them before moving, they're not cheap here.

 

Hmm good call. Was going to order a set of blizzaks for my wife's car. I have new bfg at's and from what I've read they can be used year round.

 

what battery do you run? its time for a new battery for me and dont want to buy one thats going to crap out on me in the cold.

 

I have a giant diehard platinum, but i think i remember seeing they're not made by odyssey anymore. Dont know on that one. Anything should really be fine, assuming its the right size for your rig.The key is keeping it charged, cold doesn't really kill batteries if they're charged its heat that does. Just get one from a place that we have here so if it dies you can exchange it. We've got Sams club, walmart, sears, Napa, Orileys, Advanced/Carquest, autozone, probably forgetting something. If you have a Sams membership, thats where I'd get one unless you feel the need for an expensive one like the diehard platinum or similar but after having one I really don't feel they're anything special or that the cost is justified.

 

went and got a new battery. went with the "extreme" line at my local o'reillys autoparts.

the wife gave me the okay to buy a RTT when we get there. any shops in fairbanks that sell them? was looking into the CVT's and the tepui tents. and we have a costco membership here in AZ going to have to switch to sam's club when we get there.