Pickup Trucks in Alaska?

[45/70]

My wife and I are looking for a new truck for our family of 6. Our long term goal is to move to the Ketchican area but if work doesn't pan out in that area, I'm pretty sure about getting something in the Mat-Su or Anchorage areas...

We're wondering if there are good dealers and service available and for what brands of Vehicles. Were we are now, we can get anything worked on...my concern is that If we bought a Dodge, would we have to sell it for lack of parts & service? Also, is diesel a poor choice up there? I've had plenty of guys around here that won't own a diesel for all the cold start issues that are associated with it all.

We're not partial to any particular make of truck, we just want to get it right the first time. Our only contention at this point is that it has 4 doors, is 3/4 ton and 4x4...other than that its an anything goes affair.

I'd like to do a survey, but don't know how...

Thanks a million,
45/70

[Matt in AK]

I can't speak for Ketchikan, but Anchorage has all the standard dealers and associated service.  I've got a Dodge and am quite comfortable with it up here...

[Daveinthebush]

4X4
Extended cab
Diesel
3/4 ton

Manufactures don't really matter but Ford and Chevy are fairly popular.  Dodges are usually brought up by the military Just kidding Matt.

The farther you get away from Anchorage or Fairbanks, the harder to get service it will be.  Not to sure about the Keani though.  Even in Valdez the servie stations can have a part usually next day and make authorized dealer repairs.

I have a gas 1/2 ton Chevy, here where it is warm and there are no problems starting in the winter. Never had a problem back in NY at 49 below either.  I put on air springs when I bought my camper.  Now I have a 2 1/2 ton truck. :grin:

Diesels you will want to have a plug-in winter package.  Even in Fairbanks diesels are popular but everyone plugs them in. It gets a lot colder there than Valdez.  Here and the Keani you might not need one but better to be safe.

Diesel is slightly cheaper than gas up here and I will probably get a diesel next. Best bet is to run the diesel on home fuel oil which is cheaper.

[muskeg]

There is no Dodge dealer her in Ktown. There is a Chevy and  Ford dealers and mecs. There is a good shop in town though that works on all things.

Actually we don't see many Dodges around here.

[Yukon Jack]

I hope I don't offend anyone, but I have a Dodge also and can tell you first hand that neither the Dodge dealer "downtown" or the one on Old Seward in Anchorage have a very good service department for the 4x's.  At least they didn't a couple of years ago.  There's 5 of us at work that own Dodges, and we have yet to find a good mechanic.

I do like the Dodge pickup, don't get me wrong, and would recommend going with the Cummins diesel as there is a good Cummins mechanic in Anchorage.

Just my .02.

[akpls]

Diesels you will want to have a plug-in winter package.  Even in Fairbanks diesels are popular but everyone plugs them in. It gets a lot colder there than Valdez.  Here and the Keani you might not need one but better to be safe.

Diesel is slightly cheaper than gas up here and I will probably get a diesel next. Best bet is to run the diesel on home fuel oil which is cheaper.

In Fairbanks everyone plugs EVERYTHING in!  I knew a guy that had an Audi diesel without a plug-in.  He started it in November and turned it off sometime in March.  And yes, using home heating fuel would be cheaper, except last I heard it was illegal to avoid paying the motor fuel taxes by doing so.

[Daveinthebush]

never suggest that we not pay Uncle Sam his fair share of taxes on fuel.   :roll: We even pay transportation taxes on the boat fuel over here!   $1.93 for gas for a boat and truck is too much.

The problem with finding qualified mechanics is not a Dodge issue alone.  I just attended a 2 week class put on by the construction industry. They need about 23% of all high school graduates alone, just to maintain there numbers, health care needs 25%+ so where are the mechanics comming from.  The vehicles today are so complicated that most mechanices are nothing more than parts changers. (Hoping not to offend anyone)

[Paul H]

Dodge's are real popular in the Anchorage/Mat-Su area.  I'm sure there is also a dealership in Kenai or Soldatna.

The vast majority of the trucks used on the North Slope, and along the pipeline are Diesel Fords.  They work fine in the cold, but they are also plugged in overnight, and when it's cold, ie less then -30F, you simply idle the vehicles.

If you're planning on hauling boats or other heavy loads, a diesel is the only way to go.

I'm still driving a toy truck, a bit cramped even with the extra cab, but they run quite well, and for a gas truck, can't complain with the 17-20 mpg.

[BW]

There are no dealerships of any kind in Sitka.  I've got a '97 Expedition which just had the 'check engine' light come on (I opened the hood, and the engine is still there, but the light didn't go out ) and I'm afraid of the amount of money I'm going to have to pay the local shop just to plug in the diagnostic tool to tell me what's wrong.

I'm thinking my next vehicle will be an older (70'e era) truck which has been restored.  I'll pay the big bucks for an older truck, but at least I'll be able to fix it.

We're actually planning a trip to Juneau on the ferry next month, to do some shopping, but also to take the truck to the Ford dealer.

BTW, I'm an aircraft mechanic, and fairly handy bending a wrench, but when you don't know where to start...

[Daveinthebush]

One thing I did when it was time for new tires was to change the load range.  The originals were "C" and since I have a camper and 21' boat I switched to load range "E".  A much stronger tire.

Have never had a flat. :roll: I know I should not have said that!

[Paul H]

Beedub, you can purchase engine diagnostic doohickies, I think some of them are reasonably priced.  If you could get one for around a C-note, it would certainly be big savings over having a mechanic look at it.

[Dand]

I'd check listings for service and dealerships in Ketchikan AND especially take the advice of local residents there.  Cold isn't an issue down there - probably as warm as Wash.  But WET and rust are issues. Those small island towns often have short narrow roads and small parking areas. Haven't been to Ketch. but Sitka and Juneau - I wouldn't want a full size truck in most cases - its a pain to get around in.  Consider the full size Toyotas - people I know LOVE them.  But most especially, find out which brand has the best service.  I have a Ford 150 2wd. Here in Dillingham I think over half the trucks are Fords with the remainder all other brands.  There are several new Dodges and people are happy with them. We usually get at least of week of cold below -20.

[Winter Hawk]

Being from K-town I second what Muskeg said.  My suggestion is to get a pre-1973 Ford F250, have a good shop go through it with a small tooth comb and fix everything possible, get it painted and undercoated, then do your own mechanic work.  It sems like every time I have a rig worked on I end up redoing it right.  And the older fords are easier to work on than the new ones!

My $.02 worth.

-Kees-