Has anyone moved from lower 48 up to Alaska, if so how?
I want to know what options are for transporting my "precious stuff" (junk)
couple of vehicles, a/c in pieces, small amount of shop stuff.
Comming from the midwest. Thought about container shipping? Uhaul etc
Advice????
Thanks,
CV
narov,
I'm NOT trying to be a smart alec, but SELL EVERYTHING and buy a plane ticket. Everything is available in Alaska to set up life and it gives you a chance at a clean start. (I know after dragging junk around the U.S. and Asia)
John Scott
While I respect the folks that use Cubs to make a living, my uses are for recreation and leisure - AND I'M NOT ASHAMED!!!
Yeah, toying with that idea also. Problem is I have collection of tools and other stuff that I can't get out of what it would cost to replace. Still by far the simpler solution though.
CV
Tools???
You can fright ship all the heavy stuff. Believe it or not the cheapest mail service sometimes works. I hope you have a job lined up. Our economy is not doing so great. Our AI has his buddy who just moved up here living in a van down by the highway. He can't find a job to save his %$#.
xx
Yeah, well, we're desperately looking for qualified pilots and mechanics here in Talkeetna.
Randy Kilbourn
K2 Aviation
For the summer? Or all year?
Is Narov a A&P or a AI? I did not know...
My youngest son is an Blackhawk chopper avionics tech. He is looking to convert over to the civilian world and he is already an Alaskan. With his luck the Army Guard will send him back over to someplace hot as soon as he finds a decent job.
My oldest daughter just came back form 14 months over there as a combat engineer and she does not want to move back to Fairbanks,, so she is also out looking.
Most freight comes to Alaska via ocean containers. It takes 3 days for a container ship to get here from Seattle, and several make the voyage every week. The tarriffs are a bit high on household goods, so you need to talk to a freight agent to manipulate the tarriffs in your favor. If you can fill a 40 footer, and load it yourself, you'll benefit in dollars saved.
Call Lynden Transport. They own their own barges, and if you're not in a hurry, can give you better rates. It would probably be to your advantage to let one carrier take your stuff all the way. Probably rail to Seattle, barge to Anchorage is the best value. Let's face it, if they don't make SOME profit, they have no reason to do it. PM me if you want a contact name.
SB
I've driven the highway a couple of times with trailers and it's very easy. My wife and I moved up from North Carolina about 13 years ago and it cost us about $2,000 dollars spread out over ten days including fuel for two vehicles, hotels and food. You can do it a lot faster, at the time I was in the Air Force and that was how much time they gave us, so we took it easy. I was pulling a 16' foot trailer and my wife was pulling a 12'. Yes I know, a lot of junk. It's a nasty pack rat habit of mine. Besides the AF actually paid you to move by the pound based on a percentage of what they would have paid a commercial operation, win/win for both.
The highways are a lot better shape now than the used to be. However, I still would put something on the lower front of the trailer to protect it from the occasional couple hundred miles of loose gravel. Otherwise, it will look like a couple hundred kids assaulted it with tack hammers. Ironically, the gravel is normally smoother and better shape than the paved sections. Buy a book called the Milepost, a must have to plan fuel stops, food and places to stay.
Last August (2004) I bought two trucks in Seattle, I bought a new trailer and put one on it and drove the AlCan via the Cassiar Highway in a marathon run of 51 hours for a fuel cost of approximately $350 and about $200 misc food and such. I just sold the trailer a couple of weeks ago for $400 more than I paid. The reason is, the dealer where I bought it charges $1,200 to ship the same trailer up to Alaska. So the new owner and I both won in the exchange. I like it when everybody wins.
My recommendation would be to find a good used enclosed trailer for a reasonable price and you should have no real trouble getting your money back out of it when you get here. Your stuff arrives when you do, and it acts as a storage facility until you can find a permanent residence.
If you where to buy a good enclosed 4 place snowmachine/ATV trailer with a V nose and front ramp for around $5,000, you may even have your move completely paid for. I've been watching for a deal and the cheapest I've seen them go for is about $6,500. Any nice enclosed regular trailer of 16' or better is worth at least $4,000 on the used market up here. They appeal to military folks doing the same as we did, only instead moving to the lower 48 after their tours are up, at least the ones that leave the state.
If you got a pool of cash, and need a truck to pull this stuff up. Good used full size Dodge diesels bring a premium, that is why I went to Seattle. I saved about $4,000, and about the same on my wifes diesel Suburban a couple years ago. That vehicle we shipped up from Tacoma with Tote for approximately $1,400. A regular car is about $1,200 dollars to ship. Dropped it off on Thursday morning and it was here Monday morning.
By the way, the Canadian customs folks don't want to hear that you'll only be in the country for two or three days. They frown on people driving straight through, I think it's a combination of fatigue/safety and tourism dollars. They are very happy with a six or seven day response. Absolutely no handguns, and long guns are now a pain. My recommendation would be to check them on a commercial flight later or have them shipped up separately.
Lot's of options.
My "short" but humble opinion only,
Tim D.
Get the Firmin pod, it'll fit all that junk. That's what Crash would say....Originally Posted by narov
I won't come up unless a job is certain (I've got rugrats to think about)
The truck/trailer option I have thought about a little. I figured like Stocky said, with the right set up you could almost move for free with resale of the truck/trailer.
SB -I like the rail/barge method, load a container and just fly up. Check your PM.
Christina - I like the firman pod option, don't think I could sell that idea. The rugrats would probably fit just fine.jk
Thanks to all
CV
Posting Permissions
Reply With Quote
Bookmarks