Extreme cold weather car prep.
Thread Starter
Registered User
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 966
From: Subabrew Crew
Car Info: 2011 WRX Hatchie
I have driven to Tuk, I'd suggest bringing 2 full sized spares, (finding the right size in Inuvik is only a maybe and whatever you do find will be expensive) and while "studless" snow tires are all well and good for most anything you'll encounter in the lower 48, I would strongly advise getting a set of at least 6 fully studded tires for that trip.
And you really should have another vehicle going along with you, it can be VERY cold up there and getting stranded on the frozen ocean 60 miles from anywhere is not a situation you want to find yourself in.
Figure on about 2 weeks for the whole trip, the most direct route from SF is still over 3000 miles each way, and in winter conditions- up there especially, averaging 500 miles per day is a pretty aggressive schedule.
You might consider entering something like this;
www.alcan5000.com
yeah you pony up some money for entry, but rooms are booked, schedule is fixed, and you have sweep and support crews along for the whole trip.
I just checked the entry list for next year, you will probably be disappointed if you think you'll win, as there are some very experienced Alcan teams that are sure to score very well, but the adventure alone is well worth it.
And you really should have another vehicle going along with you, it can be VERY cold up there and getting stranded on the frozen ocean 60 miles from anywhere is not a situation you want to find yourself in.
Figure on about 2 weeks for the whole trip, the most direct route from SF is still over 3000 miles each way, and in winter conditions- up there especially, averaging 500 miles per day is a pretty aggressive schedule.
You might consider entering something like this;
www.alcan5000.com
yeah you pony up some money for entry, but rooms are booked, schedule is fixed, and you have sweep and support crews along for the whole trip.
I just checked the entry list for next year, you will probably be disappointed if you think you'll win, as there are some very experienced Alcan teams that are sure to score very well, but the adventure alone is well worth it.
As for tires studless tires like Bridgestone Blizzak WS70s aren;t good enough? Was planning on bringing 2 spares too. What other mods should be done to the car? I ordered a light bar from rally innovations, some PIAA offroad lamps, an Optima Redtop battery, and looking for some beater 17' wheels on CL for spares.
And I might rope another car into the trip with me if I can get a friend to get his Audi fixed, but I will definitely have a 2nd driver along.
250,000-mile Club President
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 4,770
From: Bizerkeley
Car Info: MBP 02 WRX wagon
Oh the Blizzaks will probably get you there and back in one piece, but driving extended distances at even moderate rates of speed on frozen rivers is where studs still reign superior.
If I were you and looking to do this for the first time, (even if I were me, had a hankering and the budget to go myself again for what would be my 4th Alcan-) I would seriously consider signing up for the rally.
Like I said, they have support rigs, they book your hotels along the way, give you a manageable itinerary including some really awesome twisty backroads you'd probably never find on your own, and having a bunch of wacky racers along for the ride makes the whole trip so much more enjoyable- oh, and they know the people to call about permission to get on the ice (it isn't always open to civilian vehicles because of weather and ice conditions) and other kinds of things that you might be challenged to learn about on your own.
Two people stranded on the ice in the middle of the Beaufort sea are still stranded, and the weather can turn from sunny to total white-out in minutes, but going as even a very spread-out caravan is going to make sure everybody makes it back.
and for every mile of road... there are 2 miles of ditch!
If I were you and looking to do this for the first time, (even if I were me, had a hankering and the budget to go myself again for what would be my 4th Alcan-) I would seriously consider signing up for the rally.
Like I said, they have support rigs, they book your hotels along the way, give you a manageable itinerary including some really awesome twisty backroads you'd probably never find on your own, and having a bunch of wacky racers along for the ride makes the whole trip so much more enjoyable- oh, and they know the people to call about permission to get on the ice (it isn't always open to civilian vehicles because of weather and ice conditions) and other kinds of things that you might be challenged to learn about on your own.
Two people stranded on the ice in the middle of the Beaufort sea are still stranded, and the weather can turn from sunny to total white-out in minutes, but going as even a very spread-out caravan is going to make sure everybody makes it back.
and for every mile of road... there are 2 miles of ditch!
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