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What is oversteer?
How will oversteer affect you in Alaska?
Tips for dealing with oversteer
Final Word
 

What is oversteer?

Oversteer is a specific type of loss of control while you are turning when you are driving. It is when your back tires lose their grip on the road as you turn, and then the rear of the car starts sliding sideways as a result. You might be able to correct this mid-turn, but you need to have more advanced driving skills in order to accomplish that. Plus, there is no guarantee that you can rely on being able to correct it. Your best option is to do whatever you can to avoid oversteering in the first place.
 

How will oversteer affect you in Alaska?

You are at a particularly high risk of this occurring in Alaska over the winter due to the snow and the ice making it much more slippery and easier to slide out of a turn. Your tires will have a much harder time maintaining their grip in these conditions.

When you oversteer, especially on the snow and ice, you immediately become an extremely high risk for going off the road, rolling over or getting into an accident. If you do get into an accident and you are in a more remote area of Alaska, you could be stranded for hours before help arrives. That is exactly why you want to avoid oversteering while you are on the road in Alaska.
 

Tips for dealing with oversteer

You should always do whatever you can to avoid oversteering. However, it is particularly dangerous on snowy and icy roads. You should use the following tips to avoid the danger of oversteering in Alaska:

• Take those turns nice and slow – Turning at too high of a rate of speed is the most common cause for oversteering. Always take a turn slow and safely, especially in inclement winter weather in Alaska.
• Get winter tires or winterize your current tires – The true underlying cause of oversteering is the loss of the tires grip on the road. If you have winter tires or tire chains on, this will be much less likely to occur.
• If worse comes to worse, turn into the skid – When you start sliding, be sure you turn into the direction the slide is occurring while simultaneously taking your foot off of the acceleration.

Final Word

Oversteering in your car is an ever-present danger in Alaska, especially during the winter when roads are full of snow and ice. If you oversteer, you are at a high risk of getting into an accident which is especially dangerous in the remote areas of Alaska where help potentially could take hours to arrive.

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The problems with renting a car in Alaska
Choices for having your own car in Alaska
Other options for getting from place to place
Final Word
 

 

The problems with renting a car in Alaska

Renting a car in Alaska is a viable option for a few days. After that, it is costly, but it is also quite restrictive as well. If you are going to be living in Alaska or staying there for more than two weeks, it really does not make much sense to rent a car unless you have no other options. In 2020 and beyond, you will always have other options such as ride-share apps, taxis, public transportation and more.

The actual cost of renting a car in Alaska is at least $20 per day. After one month, that is $600. After two months, it will be $1200. On top of this cost, you will also need to pay for the car rental insurance as well.

Even with the insurance, you will be limited in what you are able to do with the car. Technically, you can do whatever you want once you have the car, but the rental agreement will stipulate that you are not allowed to do several things with the car. If you do these things and the car incurs damage in the process will not be covered by the insurance which means you will need to pay for all of it.

Off-roading is a prime example of this. All car rental agreements will stipulate that you are not allowed to take the car off-road under any circumstance. If you do and the vehicle is damaged, you will need to pay for all of it regardless of whether or not you had the insurance.
 

Choices for having your own car in Alaska

The best two options you have for having your own vehicle in Alaska are buying a car, so long as you can afford it, or shipping a car you already own there. Buying a new car will always cost you the most money. It will, however, offer much more freedom than renting, ride share apps or public transportation.

Shipping your car to Alaska is your very best option when you are going to Alaska for any sort of extended stay past a week or two. First, it is quite inexpensive in comparison to buying a new car. It is also quite affordable in comparison to driving all the way there or renting a car for several weeks or months. Finally, it is the most convenient option you have by far.
 

Other options for getting from place to place

If you do not own a car, are not interested in buying a new one and do not want to undergo the expense of renting one you do have these other transportation options available to you in Alaska:

• The ferry – Alaska has a ferry system which can help supplement your travel needs, especially when you need to get to a landlocked area of Alaska of which there are several. Of course, this option is much less convenient than driving.
• Busses – There are busses that travel locally within an area such as Anchorage. There are also busses that travel between different cities and areas such as from Anchorage to Fairbanks.
• Taxis – There are taxis in many of the major areas of Alaska such as Anchorage and Juneau.

Final Word

Renting a car in Alaska should be a very temporary option or a last resort. It can be both expensive and very restrictive. Either way, you need to be aware that you always have so many other options available to you such as ride share apps, busses, ferries and car shipping. Having your own car in Alaska will always be your very best option.

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Alaska’s winter weather and four-wheel drive
Advice for driving a car or truck with all-wheel drive
Conclusion
 

Alaska’s winter weather and all-wheel drive

Having all-wheel drive in Alaska can make life much easier as well as safer. The fact is that there is potential for snow in many parts of Alaska from October through March. This obviously includes the potential for heavy snowfall as well.

When you consider the many miles of road and the lower population per capita in Alaska, it is safe to assume that roads do not get cleared nearly as quickly as they do in many major cities. Yes, in places like Anchorage the roads get cleared relatively quickly. In general, when you consider the higher amount of snowfall in conjunction with the lower general population, you can see how roads can get snowy and icy and stay that way for a bit.

Therefore, having a car with all-wheel drive can make a massive difference in Alaska. All-wheel drive sends extra power to your wheels that increases traction which is a huge necessity in terms of driving in the snow. This will increase your ability to handle and maneuver the vehicle in the snow. Many cars that have all-wheel drive also have extra ground clearance which also goes a long way on snow-filled roads.
 

Advice for driving a car or truck with all-wheel drive

All-wheel drive is your best option for driving in the snow. However, you should know the following before you take your first ride with all-wheel drive:

• Get your fluids right – Be sure that you follow the manufacturer recommended fluid recommendations for your particular all-wheel drive vehicle. The fluids in the car are critical to the performance of the all-wheel drive system and each car will have different recommendations. You can always talk to your mechanic and have him take care of this if it is too much for you to handle.
• You need the correct tires – Make sure that you have winter tires for driving in the snow with your all-wheel drive vehicle. If you do not, the extra power you get with all-wheel drive will be wasted.
• Prepare for your stop – All-wheel drive makes for great improvements with traction and handling of your vehicle. It does not however help with your ability to stop. So, you will still need to drive with caution and stop slowly and further in advanced when you are driving in the snow.
• Make sure that the tires are the right size – it will be difficult to tell if your tires are the optimal size to get the most out of your all-wheel drive. Find you factory recommendations and take them to a tire shop or a mechanic and have them check that the tires are in fact the correct size.

Conclusion

All-wheel drive will make your winters driving in much easier and safer. Your ability to handle your car will be noticeably better. Remember, to maximize the performance of your all-wheel drive system, you need to use the right fluids and tires. Finally, you still need to drive at low speeds and with extreme caution when you are out driving in the snow in Alaska even if you have all-wheel drive.

Jump to section:
The importance of your tires and traction
Alaska’s roads during winter months
Alaska’s roads during warmer months
Tips to maintain the best traction for your car
 

The importance of your tires and traction

Tire traction is highly critical to the handling of your car as well as to the safety. The traction you have will dictate how quickly and easily you can stop your car. It will also allow you to maneuver turns with more precision. The less traction you have while driving, the more likely you are to mishandle the vehicle and get into some sort of accident.

Traction is particularly important in inclement weather like rain and snow as well as with roads that are older or in disrepair. Based on all of this, traction is a top priority when you are on the roads in Alaska.
 

Alaska’s roads during winter months

As you likely already know, Alaska’s roads are often quite snowy and icy during the winter. Traction can be the difference between life and death in Alaska over the winter. That is why getting the treads on your tires checked before the winter season starts is a priority in Alaska.

Winter weather can start as early as October in parts of Alaska, so be sure you get your tire treads checked by September at the latest. You will be best off if you get some tires specifically for winter driving.
 

Alaska’s roads during warmer months

The roads will be easier to drive on in Alaska during the spring, summer and fall months. However, traction is still very important. In the spring there will still be some residual ice and snow. Throughout the year there will be older roads with cracks and potholes from all the moisture during the year. It is important to have optimal traction in order to be able to maneuver around these.
 

Tips to maintain the best traction for your car

• Try not to stop short – If you stop short too often when the streets are clear, you can wear down your tires and their treads very quickly which will considerably lessen the amount of traction that you have.
• Consider four-wheel drive – Having four-wheel drive will increase the amount of traction you have by employing both sets of wheels rather than just one.
• Drive in other car tracks when driving in the snow – When you are driving in the snow, if there are other tire tracks already there, try to drive in those. The snow has already been compacted and grooved by other cars thus you will have an easier time establishing traction.
• Consider tire chains – In snowy weather, tire chains are possibly the best option for maximizing traction. They do this by cutting into the snow thus giving your car more of a grip.

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Your car’s air conditioning in Alaska
Your Car’s heat in Alaska
Final Word
 

Your car’s air conditioning in Alaska

Just like most places, Alaska can get pretty warm in the summer. In Alaska, the average summer temperatures range from sixty to eighty degrees depending on where you are exactly. So, you might not use your air conditioning in your car as often as you would somewhere else, but you can bet you will need it for at least a few weeks each year.

So, you should be sure that you get your air conditioning serviced and checked for leaks each year before the weather gets too warm. If you do not you might have to end up spending some warm days in your car with only the windows open. Although, there are several things that you can do throughout the year to ensure that your vehicle’s A/C keeps running well.

The first is that you should run the air conditioning in your car each week for at least ten minutes and that does include during the winter. Doing this will help keep the compressors working and running correctly. Next, you should run the defrost mode for a few minutes each week in order to get rid of any excess moisture which can lead to mildew.
 

Your Car’s heat in Alaska

The heat in your car In Alaska bears much more of an importance than your air conditioning does because of the potential for extremely cold temperatures during the winter. This is the exact reason why you need to make absolute certain that your heat is running well before the cold Alaskan winter hits.

The first thing you will need to do is make sure that there is enough coolant in the engine. The coolant will all the heater’s core to function correctly, so check frequently and make sure that there is enough of it. Next, you might have leaks. You can check this yourself if you know what you are doing. Finally, you should always keep your eye on the heater’s thermostat. If you happen to notice that the thermostat’s temperature never changes, even when you know the temperature of the engine has, you might need to replace it.

Of course, all of the above can easily be checked by a mechanic. If you do use a mechanic, be sure you get these things checked at least once each year.
 

Final Word

The air conditioning and heat in your car are essential to your comfort and, sometimes, to your safety. You cannot just glide by assuming that your heat and A/C will function great forever. There are several small tasks that you can complete or have a mechanic complete that will greatly extend the proper performance of both.

If you need your car shipped to or from Alaska you can always get a free shipping quote and learn more right here.

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Juneau 101
How to get your car to Juneau
Juneau’s best sights
Final word
 

Juneau 101

Juneau is the second most populated city in Alaska and it is located on the southern most portion of Alaska on the Alaskan panhandle. It is also the capital city of Alaska. The city is not connected to the rest of Alaska by road. So, any supplies, goods or people can only come to the city via boat or plane.

Juneau has a population of just over 31,000 people each year. The people of Juneau primarily work in government, tourism and fishing primarily. Juneau is over 3,000 square miles in terms of area which makes it one of the largest boroughs in the entire country.
 

How to get your car to Juneau

As we mentioned, Juneau is not accessible by road. So, driving there is not an option. You only have one option in terms of getting your car there, shipping it. Thankfully, shipping a car to Juneau is simple.

If you need your car shipped to Juneau, you should start by contacting your car shipping company for a quote which will let you know the estimated price and shipping duration. After that you will need to get in touch with the shipping company and schedule your shipment. In order to get your preferred dates of pickup and delivery you should do all of this at least a month in advanced.

Once you have your shipment booked and scheduled, all you will need to do at that point is prepare for your upcoming shipment. You can do all of the preparation in the days before your shipment. First, you will need to get the outside of the car completely cleaned so that your driver can quickly and efficiently perform their inspection for preexisting damage. Next, you should make sure that you do not have any personal items in the car. If they are damaged or lost during shipping your personal effects will not be covered by the car shipping insurance. Finally, make sure the car is running and functioning correctly, otherwise it will not be able to be shipped.
 

Juneau’s best sights

Juneau has many wonderful sights that you can take your car at least part of the way to see. Here are a few:

• Alaska State Museum –
• Mendenhall Glacier –
• Eagle Beach –

Final word

Juneau is Alaska’s capital city and it should be high on your list of places to visit when you are in Alaska. It is unfortunately inaccessible by road so you will need to take a plane or boat there. If you want your own car there and want to skip the expense of renting a car, you will need to ship your car to Juneau. Once you have your car there, you will much more easily be able to access the great sights of the wonderful city.

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The kinds of cars you will find at the museum
Tours, pricing, hours and parking
Conclusion
 

The kinds of cars you will find at the museum

If you are ever in the Fairbanks area in Alaska, you need to take some time out of your schedule to check out the Fountainhead Antique Auto Museum. It is full of vintage cars from the very first cars on the road through the art-deco era of cars. There is something for everyone at this musuem.

The museum includes some of Alaska’s very first cars. Other cars that are featured in the collection include the Cadillac Model A, Rambler Model L, Ford Model T, Sheldon Runabout, Oakland Model 212 All-American Landau Sedan, Ford V-8 4-door Phaeton and much more.

Arguably, the best part of the museum could be considered the fact that the vast majority of the cars in the collection still run and are driven around the vast grounds of the museum when the weather permits.
 

Tours, pricing, hours and parking

Before you visit the Fountainhead Antique Auto Museum you should familiarize yourself with the ins and outs of the museum. This includes the tours, pricing, hours and parking.

As far as tours, the museum offers three main types of tours: school/youth group tours, two hour guided tours and one hour guided tours. You will need to contact the museum to book a tour. The museum requires that you book any school or youth group tours at least two weeks in advanced. However, we recommend you reserve a tour in advanced regardless of the type of tour. You can book a tour using this form.

The prices for a visit to the museum vary by age. For ages 13 and up the price of admission is twelve dollars, for 6 to 12 years old is six dollars and it is free for five and under. The museum hours vary by season. In the summer the hours are Wednesdays and Sundays 12PM until 4PM. In the winter the hours are 12PM until 6PM. Summer hours run from June 3rd until September. The winter hours run from September 22nd on. Parking is free for all visitors and dropping off and picking up guests is allowed as well.

There is also a gift shop on the premises. There are shirts, sweatshirts, books, jewelry, collectibles and more to choose from.
 

Conclusion

The Fountainhead Antique Auto Museum one of the better car museums in the entire country. If you are in Alaska and anywhere near Fairbanks, you should make a point to visit it. It has some of the first cars ever driven in Alaska including the very first one. It also has incredible collection of other antique and operational vehicles. The shop has limited hours but tickets are cheap and parking is free.