Best truck for Alaska

[type2bowhunter]

A question for you Alaskan residents, what's the best full-size truck for Alaska and why?

 

[mostlybirch]

well, for what purpose? there isn't a vast amount of offroading compared to the West, so whatever fits your needs like anywhere else. I like to have a limited slip differential in the rear at least, and studded tires for the winter.

hard to recommend a truck if we don't if you're pulling fifth wheels or commuting back and forth from the valley

 

[logem]

A Tahoe 4x4 for driving around anywhere you want to visit. Better yet, is a built up Jeep Wrangler, although it is not a "full sized truck". Are you driving established difficult roads, or truly wanting to get off-road or onto difficult roads? If you want to tow with a "full sized truck" then pick your choice of RAM, GMC, Ford. heavy duty. All will work as long as the payload/towing capacity are within the specs of the vehicle manufacturer.

 

[mostlybirch]

A Tahoe 4x4 for driving around anywhere you want to visit. Better yet, is a built up Jeep Wrangler, although it is not a "full sized truck". Are you driving established difficult roads, or truly wanting to get off-road or onto difficult roads? If you want to tow with a "full sized truck" then pick your choice of RAM, GMC, Ford. heavy duty. All will work as long as the payload/towing capacity are within the specs of the vehicle manufacturer.

what difficult roads in Alaska would you be talking about? in my experience up here there are roads you can drive in any old truck or its argo-country

 

[MountainTracker]

Imo I’d stay away from a lifted truck, and I own one. Hard to find large studded tire, actually they don’t really exist.

I’d be looking for a truck that can tow without issue, bc at some point you’ll be towing sleds, quads, sxs, trailers……


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[Marbles]

Whatever 4x4 you have with a working heater.

I decided to set my future toy budget by getting a Tacoma, if I can't tow it with that, I don't need it. So, my vote misses your criteria.

 

[william schmaltz]

This is like asking which fly is best to catch a trout with.

The best pickup for me in AK is my crew cab duramax with an 8 foot bed and topper. The best pickup for my brother in AK is his Tacoma.

 

[mostlybirch]

 

[Mojave]

I think it depends on where you live.

If you live on the road system, and are working in Anchorage, Kenai, Fairbanks, Mat-Su whatever then something that will get you where you need to go.

Most people that live on the road system but not in a major metro area drive old beaters with no loans.

While you can get lucky occasionally and kill an animal on a road, the odds are you are going to use the truck to drag boat/atv/snowgo to your put in destination.

I feel a half ton or 3/4 ton or even 1 ton with an 8 foot bed is ideal for most Alaskans. I don't know very many people that live in Alaska in the 4 places I have lived the did not have a pickup topper or shell.

It depends on how many people you are hauling with your stuff. A crew cab 1 ton is handy, 8 foot bed, topper, 4x4 with a good engine. I prefer gas, but you will pay the mileage tax.

 

[chinook907]

Decades ago a full-size extended cab pickup with an 8 foot bed was known as an "Alaskan Cadillac". Nowadays a full-size crew cab pickup with a 6 1/2 foot bed might be the caddy.

 

[AK Troutbum]

I would think that anything you're comfortable/happy with driving in the lesser 48 would work up here just as well, provided it's 4WD.

 

[TaperPin]

Bring a bro-getter. Keep in mind weather is generally more of an issue than most places in the lower 48, so the more interior space in the cab the better. And you can pick up your bros on the way to the marina.

A lockable cap of some kind is very popular. A friend on Kodiak had a big rack up top and carried the kitchen sink up there, but it always looked like a tempting target for a snatch and grab.

 

[HMM]

If you are in the Southeast on an island, any thing already rusted and beat up will do just fine to drive you “out the road”. Don’t take something nice if you want to keep it nice.

 

[Mojave]

If you are in the Southeast on an island, any thing already rusted and beat up will do just fine to drive you “out the road”. Don’t take something nice if you want to keep it nice.

Yes, Southeast is hell on vehicles.

When I lived in Sitka the only nice vehicles were at the airport rental car company.

 

[IdahoElk]

Get a 2019 or earlier Tacoma or Tundra.

 

[akcabin]

One that is paid for. Personally I like the ol iron n drive a 78 F-250 and 79 El Camino. Nice to be able to throw a small camper in the back once in a while. 8' bed is better for canoes, kayaks n such. Big fat tires on a truck in ak will be very dangerous on icy snowy roads. Studded tires save lives. I run a couple on my snogo trailer to keep it straight.
If you want to get out into the bush, the KISS method is best. Again why I'd suggest something you can work on and get back out. Been there done that before. And kinda sucks when you have to look your beautiful wife in the eye n tell her you are going to have to leave her out in the bush while you go get parts/ help. Been there done that several times. It's nice a nice thing but you best be ready

 

[Weldor]

Whatever works. Big or small. or both. I run a Megacab and a JKU seems to fit the bill.

 

[Muledeerfanatic]

F350 dually lifted
Great for commuting from Wasilla to Los Anchorage

 

[mostlybirch]

F350 dually lifted
Great for commuting from Wasilla to Los Anchorage

hey, once a year I put my boat in at Whittier so I require a one-ton for my 2 hours RT commute

 

[akmerle]

From a reliability standpoint, it’s impossible to beat any 2nd Gen Tundra 07-21. Crew Max has a cavernous interior that works really well for covered / secured / climate controlled storage as well. Just be aware their 4x4 is not great, their limited slip and traction control does not perform particularly well on snow / ice, and no rear locker. So just be ready to use 4x4 a lot in the winter with good studded snow tires.

With my work I get new work trucks from the Big 3 every couple years, and over the last 25 years have had them all. The auto 4x4 systems on every other truck manufacturer sure are nice for not having to switch in/out of 4x4 given our varied road conditions up here. I find it much easier to run 3 Peak AT tires year round (with going full 4x4 when needed, and many have actual locking diff options) on those trucks than on my personal Tundras, and they perform better. But they have not been as reliable.

Unless 100% need a truck bed, don’t sleep on 2nd Gen Sequoias. Incredible drivetrain, fully fold flat cargo, and same reliability as the 2nd Gen Tundras. If they put that drive system in the 2nd Gen Tundras, they would be the ultimate AK truck. Its also criminal they took those capabilities out for the 3rd Gen Sequoia and stuck it with the Tundras basic part time 4x4, as well as removed the fold flat cargo area and roll down rear window.

Sincerely,
Lifelong Southcentral Alaskan who currently drives a 2018 Platinum-Pro Tundra owner who previously owned 2010 Tundra, 01 Tundra, 01 Tacoma, and 97 Tacoma. Wife drives 24 GX550 Overtrail who previously drove 20 Pro 4Runner, and 15 Camry. Then my sons have almost 200K miles on a 12 Prius.