It looks like we might be moving to Ft Greely AK. I want to trade in my 2004 dodge 2500 diesel shortbox for a longbox truck.

Will diesel be an issue up there in the cold. would it be wise to switch to a gasser?

 

Won't be an issue.

Synthetic fluids and keep it plugged in and you'll be fine.

 

yeah, you are good to go. AKtallpaul will chime in, he has a great sig full of things you can do for your rig.

 

I was living in Fairbanks in '99 when I made the switch to diesel and I've never looked back. Interior Alaska gets cold enough to require a good anti-gel, but I ran Power Service and never had an issue. Ensure you've got the block heater cord, and you'll want to add a power junction box so you can run an oil pan heater and battery blankets. I've seen trucks with a transmission pan heater as well, but it's really only a benefit on an automatic; just row the gears of a manual a bit slower and you won't have any problems. Make sure you've got a heavy-duty, high-load rated extension cord at least 50' long and you'll never be without a spot to plug in.

If you enjoy the Colorado outdoors, you'll like Alaska as well. I got back up here in December from CO Springs myself You're arriving at a decent time, and shouldn't have much problem adjusting to the climate. If you're brining a family and would like to know what they can expect, drop me a PM and I'll answer any questions I can.

-Adam

 

There isn't much work at Fort Greely. What they going to have for you to work on.
AKpaul lives there in Delta Junction.

 

Yep, Ft. Greely is remote. Flew in their a couple times when I was up there. Had a great story about a couple guys hunting a huge grizzly up there, thought they had killed it but when they got close it attacked them. One was in it jaws when the other guy got the shot off hey killed the bear, guy in the bear's mouth lost his leg, not from the bear but from the bullet that shattered his leg on the way through the bears skull.

And, for the truck, you will face some extreme cold. Synthetic oil is almost a must as you will see temps for weeks that can be -40. Everything else you have read here are great advice. If you can get it, a heated garage is nice. Had a heated garage in Chugiak when I was in Alaska, and though the temps were much warmer in Anchorage, I could actually work on the truck in the winter.

I had a great time in Alaska, the country was beautiful. I had the oppurtunity to visit most of Alaska, when you get up there get out and enjoy it...

 

You got most of the story correct except he did not lose his leg after getting shot by his buddy but it did mess up his ankle. He was the airfield manager at Ft. Greely for many years and the bear is in the flight ops building. While recovering from his injuries in the hospital at Anchorage he met the then Miss Alaska and eventually married her.

Tom

 

Yep, never met him... And the Bear was not in the flight ops building when I was there in 2006/07, looked everywhere. They said when the bear was in there they had the remove the ceiling tiles to get the thing to fit. I am pretty sure the story is in the bear tales book, just an amazing story... Lost leg, blew his ankle apart, well after hearing the story from what I am sure is the 29th person that had been told to, probably no wonder the story changed a little. Also, heard it took 3 shots to finally kill the bear...

 

I was at Ft. Greely the same time he was. and knew him. Trust me he had his original leg. I actually worked for the Public Works on Ft. Greely and we did have to modify the ceiling for the bear to fit in the room. Don't know how many shots it took but I do now that they thought they had killed the bear and when looking for it the bear attacked. His gun jammed (a weatherby) and the bear got him. I think we are probably a bit off topic.

Tom