Alabama to Alaska: Shops, Trails, Trips, Groups

Hey everyone. Just finished an amazing trip from Southern Alabama to my new home of Fairbanks Alaska. Plenty of sick experiences and photos along the way to share.

With the challenge of being new anywhere, I was looking to find some much needed advice, recommendations, and resources.

• Where are some good reliable shops around Alaska for parts? I’m planning to install some great pieces like lifts, bumpers, and armor but I wanted to know if there’s any go-to locations.
• Any good wheeling/overlanding groups? Keep in mind that although I drive my 4Runner hard, it’s also my still daily.
• Recommended trails or adventures? I’ve seen a few good ones on OnX, and of course I plan to eventually travel the great Dalton Highway eventually.
• Anything else you’d like to mention.

Here’s a few pics of my adventure.
If you have any questions about the trip, build, or lessons learned on the trip, feel free to ask. Thanks.

 

Driving to Alaska with my 4R is one of my dream drives after watching the documentary Dalton highway. My plan is to send my family to the country we were born and me and my dog do the drive to Alaska.

 

Great pictures. I would love to make that trip, but crossing Canada doesn't appeal to me.

 

Wow. Thats quite the change of scenery. How long did the trip take?

 

Frankly, Canada was the least enjoyable park of the trip people-wise. Shockingly lots of unfriendly interactions. The sights were stunning and the AlCan Highway was awesome. It was very desolate and very adventurous feeling.

 

We took about 23 days. Most of it spent bouncing through about 17 states, 10 National Parks, and plenty of National Forests. Covered approximately 8,400 miles. Lots of scenic byways, historic highways, and trails. Shockingly only two minor breaks, one being of my own decision to follow the advice of a forum post that failed in dramatic fashion about 2,500mi deep into the trip while in South Dakota just short of Wall.

Had the misfortune of having a Valvoline location change my oil in Oregon at about 5,300mi into the trip. Hated every minute of other people touching my prized possession. I pulled into a Target parking lot and re-spec’d nearly every bolt they touched. It was a trip trying to explain to them my catch-can as well.

.

 

Amazing pictures, beautiful drive that would be a dream trip. Not surprised by the unfriendly Canadians there seems to be a major malfunction going on up there. I hope you continue to post picture of Alaska and the dalton.

 

Amazing pictures and road trip. Thanks for sharing.

 

I'm so envious of the adventure you're about to be on. Alaska is an incredible place! I assume you're stationed at Fort Wainwright? I was born there while my Dad was in the military.

 

I am making the move from GA to Anchorage in a few months. I have to make the trip in a much shorter time (planning 7 days). Would love to hear any tips or advice you learned along the way!

 

Guilty. Caught me. Aha

1. Think out your packing appropriately and consider your drive. More stuff outside on the roof rack is cool but driving through the plains of the Midwest, that wind will give you absolute hell.
2. Check everything maintenance wise. Really take the time to do this. On that roadtrip is not when you want to find something that could’ve been done beforehand and now it has you delayed.
3. Recovery equipment. You think you won’t need it…but then you need it. Cheap recovery boards, a tow strap, and a kinetic rope will take you far if you ever need em’.
4. Fuel is a huge constraint in some locations. Have a plan. I took 10gal in extra fuel in NATO Jerry Cans in my Backwoods Jerry Can Carrier. (I don’t have crazy cash for a heavy duty bumper so I put the carrier on my Prinsu rack)
5. Have fun. When else are you going to be paid to cross a continent? Not just country. CONTINENT. Remember to stop and smell the roses.

 

In re: crossing Canada, and some other people in the thread commenting on "unfriendly Canadians" - that was certainly not my experience. Everyone I encountered in 4 trips to and from was nice. BC and Yukon Terr are stunningly beautiful, and honestly I enjoyed my time in Yukon Terr more than my time in Alaska. On my first trip I thought Canada was just something to drive through to get to Alaska, but I realized pretty quickly that it was a destination unto itself. The Alcan and associated routes (37, Sea to Sky, Icefields, Canol, Top of the World CA side, etc) are awesome. Yukon has free camping in territorial parks. Whitehorse and Dawson City were incredible. Etc etc etc...

 

I was thinking more about the toys I would be taking with me. I don't think my Illinois or Arizona conceal carry would be recognized in Canada.

 

Indeed.

You can however take a shotgun or rifle under the guise of transporting it through to Alaska.

There's a form you do in advance then you declare said weapon and pay a one time $25 fee at the border. Mine wasn't even cased it was just hung on the ceiling rack and locked with a cheap cable and padlock and they were good with it

Form link was good as of 2019 but appears to now redirect to the RCMP home page, look around and you can probably find the form:

http://www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/wam/media/2347/original/d369a605ac3363b569af5ea5dc40c88d.pdf

I would add, without wanting to get political, I carry a gun pretty much everywhere I go whether that be on duty for work or off duty. There's literally a J frame in my pocket as I sit at the kitchen table typing this. That said...if I want to go somewhere and they won't let me carry a gun... I don't carry the gun! I'm not going to restrict my enjoyment and exploration of the world because I insist on being Johnny CCW...

 

Very cool post. Thanks for your service.

That would be a super cool drive especially taking your time like you did.

I’ve always had nothing but good experiences with Canadians but that was pre Covid, so maybe things have changed. We have a few good Canucks here in the forums as well.

Hope you endure the winter up there ok. I can’t imagine what that would be like.

 

Awesome stuff! I wish I could’ve experienced the same but honestly, could’ve just been a bad string of events/people. Luck wasn’t in my favor for overall positive run-ins, but such is life.

I had met a memorable and kind guy from the Ontario area running an Inn in the Yukon that was great to talk to. I mention that only to say that it wasn’t everyone.

Adventure wise, I plan to go back into the Yukon with spare time and hopefully some friends to go camp and wheeling. Lots of beauty to be seen beyond the road, even if it’s the already hardly traveled Alcan.

The Winter so far has been pretty nice on us. My GX460 drives a slight bit nicer on the iced over roads probably because of its extra weight. Despite this, I’ve been wheeling a few times already in controlled settings and NickiThe4Runner eats the snow no problem in large part thanks to Falken WildPeak A/T4W tires.



The Dalton will probably happen within about 6-12 months. I’d like better lighting, a winch, and some further improvements to my Comms setup beforehand.