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College dak
Dodge Dakota
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9/25/2006
21:50:59
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 Subject: Moving to Alaska
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I was wondering what I would have to do to make my dak survive in the Alaskan winter. I have some ideas but i was really wondering what you guys and gals think would be the appropriate equipment I would need. There is a three thousand dollar limit. My truck is a 99 CC 4X4 with no lift or aggresive tires. Any comments would be great. Thanks!
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.boB
Dodge Dakota
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9/25/2006
22:43:45
| RE: Moving to Alaska
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Really nothing special. You just want it to survive start up on very cold days. It's pretty much the same as living on other parts of the US where AM temps will be -15-20*F - Upstate NY, ND, Minnesnowda, etc. You just have more of thoise days than anyone else.
Replace all your fluids and greases with synthetic: Wheel bearings, oil, rear end. Do any routine maint the truck might need (like trans fluid) now because it will be cheaper. Make sure to use an oil for the expected temps - see your owner's manual.
Many of the mods people do for increased performance are not compatable with extremly cold weather. Like open element air cleaners, low temp thermostats, etc.
If you've plumbed in an aftermarket trans cooler, take a close look at the plumbing. It should go to the cooler, then the radiator, and then back to the trans.
Have some way to block off 1/2 the radiator opening.
Get a block heater. The biggest one you can find. If you live in a warm climate, you might want to wait on this. Nobody will be able to obtain or install one in Phoenix. In Alaska, it's a standard procedure.
That about covers it for changes/maint. How you drive the truck in cold weather makes a big differance, too. Give it a little extra time to warm up. Not just the water temp, but oil and trans fluid. Your first few miles on cold days should always be slow, like <10mph. That gives time to warm up the axle grease, diff oil, tires, etc.
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little jer
Dodge Dakota
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9/26/2006
00:24:27
| RE: Moving to Alaska
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how about a battery heater? An extremely cold battery will lose most of it's cranking power won't it?
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shatto
Dodge Dakota
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9/26/2006
01:18:48
| RE: Moving to Alaska
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You would be wise to consult with Steve.
Amsoil makes the products .boB is talking about.
Enjoy the scenery!
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Old Dak
Dodge Dakota
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9/26/2006
06:19:06
| RE: Moving to Alaska
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The block heater is a must have. The bigger the better. The battery heater is a good idea but you may want to see what the locales are using in that area. You will need a true snow tire. For both the snow and the mud (lots of mud). Wonderful state but too little sunlite in the winter for me.
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SR
Dodge Dakota
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9/26/2006
15:03:21
| RE: Moving to Alaska
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I live in Anchorage. Where in Alaska will you be moving to? When you get up here, will you be parking our vehicle outdoors overnight, or will you have garage space? Finally, if you are not already up here, how/when will you be driving up? (On a realated topic, many people just ship their vehicles up here and fly instead of making the drive.)
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mikesz
*GenIII*
9/26/2006
15:17:12
| RE: Moving to Alaska
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If Your tranny is automatic,install remote engine start unit.I used to dream about it this winter,scraping the windshield from ice and snow.
Buy winter tires.They help a lot.
NEVER mix windshield wiper fluid with water.Producers claim they have a concentrates -40 Celsius .It is a bulls..it,believe me.
Last advice-heated mirrors.About 50 USD each.Great help.
One thing more:use silcone grease for door rubber seals.S..it happens and one day You will not be able to open the door in the morning.
Do You smoke in the truck?If so,use the same grease on top of windows...Awfull feeling.Your first cigarette and You may not open the window...
Believe me.This Year here in Poland we have had 4 months of real Alaskan winter.
mikesz
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OBIO3
Dodge Dakota
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9/26/2006
15:29:59
| RE: Moving to Alaska
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With out question, I would put one of those pan heaters on. One size bigger then normally needed. I live in montana and I have them on both my autos. There the best heater money can buy. They heat the oil nicely and the heat transfers up into the rest of the engine. They heat the motor uniformly and that's exactly what you want. No cold spots. Tank heaters do not heat your oil plus they only heat the side of the engine with the heater hoses. Myself, I wouldn't install any super thin fluids till I got there
So many problems .... So little time
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College dak
Dodge Dakota
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9/27/2006
18:32:01
| RE: Moving to Alaska
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Thanks a lot. These have helped out a lot. In response to SR, I plan to move up in a year to a year and a half. I am doing to fact finding and seeing how much money I need to save up. I will probably drive up so that I might be able to keep down the moving costs, a little. Since I don't know where I am going to live I am preparing for the worst. Thanks again for all the help.
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shatto
Dodge Dakota
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9/27/2006
19:39:34
| RE: Moving to Alaska
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College dak,
Do you have employment awaiting you in Alaska?
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College dak
Dodge Dakota
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9/28/2006
07:56:56
| RE: Moving to Alaska
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I am in school now to become a teacher. I have some feelers out there and I am planning to go to a job fair in the spring. I really don't know for sure, but by talking to people who live there it seems fairly easy to get teaching jobs. Although they are not necessarily in the city.
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shatto
Dodge Dakota
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9/28/2006
11:42:30
| RE: Moving to Alaska
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College dak,
Planning.........Good!
You are thinking things through, and that is impressive.
My uncle, who was a building contractor, took off a couple months to look into relocating in Alaska. Builder? Job? No problem.
The only thing he could find was lugging concrete blocks around a job site. Nearly killed him.
Don't forget to look into jobs around the oil industry. They have families too. They pay almost as well as the fishing industry.
What is your teaching specialty?
Personal; please do not use your position to "change the world." Just teach the basic stuff they refuse to teach today, and leave the propagandizing to someone else.
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SR
Dodge Dakota
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9/28/2006
12:50:53
| RE: Moving to Alaska
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"... Although they are not necessarily in the city."
Let me help translate that for you. We aren't big into suburban sprawl and small farming communities up here. "Not in the city" pretty much means "in the Bush." Most of these "easy to get" teaching jobs are in remote Eskimo villages...far off the road system. Your daily driver will be an ATV or snowmobile, not your trusty Dak.
Seriously, many new teachers who come up here teach a year or two in the Bush to gain experience before landing one of the more coveted city/on the road system teaching jobs.
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