Moving to Mat-Su Valley (Lakes, Haines: rent, car insurance, roughest) - Alaska (AK) - City-Data Forum

malagagirl · 10-06-2009, 01:19 AM

Greetings; I have a job interview scheduled in a couple weeks and if I get hired I will be moving to the Mat-Su Valley from Oregon. I'm wondering if anyone can give me input on best ways to transport my household up there. I'm working at downsizing my belonging as much as I can, but I don't want to leave my nice furnature behind. My husband and I also own three vehicles, all paid for, all in very good running order so we planned to ferry them over (one Chevy Silverado pick up, one Ford Freestyle and one Toyota Corolla.) None of our stuff or any of these vehicles are new or fancy but they are all worth more to us than we could get selling them here. Am I nuts? Would it be better to take a loss and get something different up there?

Barkingowl · 10-06-2009, 09:06 AM

Nope. I would ferry them all up and your belongings as well. Or you could rent a truck and drive your belongings up on the Alcan.

Metlakatla · 10-06-2009, 11:49 AM

You may have trouble ferrying them up this time of year; check the Alaska Marine Highway schedule. I'm not sure that they go any farther north than Skagway after the first of October. You might look into some of the barge companies; I can't recall any off the top of my head just now.

Crossfire600 · 10-06-2009, 12:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Metlakatla

You may have trouble ferrying them up this time of year; check the Alaska Marine Highway schedule. I'm not sure that they go any farther north than Skagway after the first of October. You might look into some of the barge companies; I can't recall any off the top of my head just now.

Met is correct, we came up in October and had to take the ferry to Haines then drive. I have to say it was a beautiful trip and interesting to say the least. We had Lynden Transport ship our vehicles out of Bellingham which is were we caught the ferry. I believe they still make a run to Whittier once a month but check. I heard the Whittier run is not a lot of fun in the winter. Nephler shouhd be able to fill you in on that one

Marty Van Diest · 10-06-2009, 02:54 PM

Malagagirl...my brother-in-law is from Malaga...are you?

If I were you I would ship the Toyota and drive the other two up the highway.

stiffnecked · 10-06-2009, 04:39 PM

2nd's on shipping the Toyota and driving the other 2.

akvarmit · 10-06-2009, 05:26 PM

The only other problem I can think of is if you want to take 3 vehicles, then you have to have 3 drivers, obviously......but wasn't sure how many folks were traveling with you. Car insurance is also way more expensive up here, so if one vehicle is an "extra" and not needed, I would sell. Just bring what you need.

When you start to look at the cost of shipping your furniture and vehicles, you might feel differently about them

The only furniture we brought was the bedroom set...and a few side tables and such.

I can't remember our numbers exactly.......but to ship 1 car, 1 trailer with 2 snowmachines, and enough household goods to less than fill a 1 car garage.......I want to say was about $`16,000.

tigre79 · 10-06-2009, 05:35 PM

Can you haul the Corolla behind the Silverado?

Nephler · 10-06-2009, 05:48 PM

Crossfire is right, the crossing through the Golf of Alaska can be a rough one. We crossed in September and the crew said it was one of the roughest crossing they have had. I saw waterspouts out there, guess they are sort of rare there, though I have seen many in the Great Lakes. If you are prone to sea sickness you might want to think twice.

On another note, the ferry trip up really is wonderful.

malagagirl · 10-06-2009, 06:33 PM

Wow, THANK YOU everybody.

I lived in Malaga, WA for five years. Now I'm in Oregon...HOPEFULLY bound for Mat-Su Valley.

When I called re: shipping on the ferry they told me ferries leave Bainbridge every Friday all through the winter. It's about $1,200 to send the car, but driver goes for free.

I don't have the time and my husband does not have the nerve to drive the Al Can in winter. If it were summer IN A HEART BEAT, but just don't know about doing it in January.

I'm very torn on whether or not to take all 3 cars. The truck is a DEFINITE. Can't see us being up there where my husband will be hunting/fishing in the backwoods without a truck. The Freestyle is also a definite since I will want all wheel drive in the winter. The question is whether to ship the Toyota up or sell it here. It's a GREAT little car, paid for and gets 35 mpg which I could see being my primary vehicle anytime there's not snow on the ground in light of the fact that gas is so stinking expensive up there. But if insurance is really that much higher that needs to be factored in....

I've been getting rid of as much of our stuff as I can, but we will be bringing some nicer furnature and years of accumulated STUFF. If I were 20-30 yrs old I'd probably just say "Start Over!" but I'm in my 50's and have things I've had for 30 yrs that I just don't want to part with.

I'm VERY EXCITED about the prospect of moving, just want to be as realistic as possible about what this will involve. We will clearly have way less discretionery dollars up north, but I choose to believe we will be rich in many other ways. Can't Wait!