Road trip Chicago to Anchorage.

Remote start doesn't work for me because my car's in an enclosed (but unheated) garage. I installed the block heater and I also picked up a cabin heater - I plug both of them in about 30-60 minutes before I plan to leave and the cabin and all its surfaces (like the seat and the steering wheel) are nice and warm and the engine is warm enough that it starts putting out cabin heat almost right away. And a bonus is that I save a little gas because the engine doesn't have to run as long or as often to get up to the temperature required to heat the cabin.

I'm not driving to Alaska and the temperatures here in Vancouver BC really don't get all that cold - but it sure is addictive to have a nice warm car waiting for you.

 

I've driven from Southern California to Colorado Springs during winter a couple years back. Snow is weird, I don't know how you guys deal with it.

 

It helps to have grown up with it as a normal part of life for several months every winter.

 

We couldn't afford a big one, nor could one of the creek bridges to the house support the weight:


A regular residential blower isn't meant to clear 7000 feet of road in a useful timeframe.

A full cross country ski outfit for everyone would have been a lot cheaper than a big blower, and vastly faster than an affordable blower.

 

snow is pretty fun when you want to easily experience your car going sideways =D

other than that, I'm from CA and don't get how all the idiots in WI drive in the snow...they would all slow down really bad, but instead of opening up the gap between their car in the one ahead, they would close the gap

 

Spiderman is a PriusChat member in Anchorage but less active of late...

 

That is something I particularly noticed when surprise serious snow hit on a work day that a non-snow-driver was driving the carpool. With highway speeds dropping to 15-ish in the slow lane, the nervous white knuckle driver shrunk the following distance to a half second, instead of expanding it to 4+ seconds that traffic would have allowed.

 

I have no experience driving from your area or to Alaska but snow and ice will be, along with ubiquitious Cold temperatures, as you know, be the second issue. For a Prius C you have considerations concerning topography. Our 99 horses do not like upward changes of altitudes. They do not like elobgated climbs, steep climbs, or gradual climbs. I drove mine once up to the high desert of California and it was the opposite you would face in temperature and it was a hilly hazard otherwise. Maybe you could push yours to the floor to keep it going but gas will be used, and for that, do not expect more than 25mpg.

Check where and how high and how far the hills go up. Down is only a problem if you are on ice.

Chicago is flat. I agree All-Seasons are fine for city and suburbs. I would not gamble without snows and chains on hand for any hillside driving. Mountain ranges are the trouble spots. Take them only in peak daylight.

You may use your a/s tires in the city but the trip is going to be a challenge with them. We are in winter. There is nothing all- season about it.

Driving Distance from Chicago, IL to Anchorage, AK

Nearly 4000 Miles, and you need to know the length of climbs. Go to AAA and let them help you plan your driving and stays. Truck stops sell cheap overnight lodgings not just to truckers. No frills. Call the service manager at the Anchorage dealer to get his/her advice.

Now here is a thought. Pay the thousand bucks to load it up on a truck to ship, and take a plane.

Good luck on the job.

 

Any car with an ICE can make the trip. They did them with model Ts back in the day. The best advice would be to plan your route.
1. Make sure that you stop and get fuel before hitting long gaps without fuel stops
2. Keep your driving times manageable, meaning dont shoot for 16 hour days
3. If you have the time look for interesting places to stop along the way, planning ahead helps
4. get a decent set of tire chains, in an emergency they are helpful but local laws will dictate use and they could damage tires
5. keep an eye on the weather while driving, you dont want to be left exposed in a bad storm
6. recruit a road trip buddy, a return plane ticket may be expensive but both of you will have the memories
7. Have fun, stop and take pictures along the way, eat at local spots and remember its not the destination its the journey
8. Fill your iPod with music, you can always put games and what not back on once you arrive.
You have 3600+ mile of new places to see. It will take you some time just to make the drive, it doesnt have to be a mundane job make it an adventure.