Man tries to drive mini truck bought sight unseen online over 1,000 miles to most northern point in Alaska, one of the remote places in America
- This YouTuber wanted to embark on a road trip around Alaska
- He did so in a mini-truck that he bought sight unseen from Facebook
- The trip would prove to be as difficult as you might expect
Published on Mar 21, 2025 at 5:34 PM (UTC+4)
by Ben Thompson
Last updated on Mar 21, 2025 at 9:56 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Kate Bain
This man attempted to drive a mini truck bought sight unseen over 1,000 miles to one of the most remote places in America – the northern point of Alaska.
Westen Champlin was looking to drive a 1992 Suzuki Carry up through Alaska, having bought it from Facebook.
It would be a 1,002 mile trip in total, spanning from the town of Anchorage up into the Arctic Circle.
If there’s one thing Alaska is known for, it’s the cold and rugged landscape – how would this truck do in such conditions?
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Driving up through Alaska to the northern most point – not the faint of heart
We can’t quite put our finger on it, but there’s something about road trips that feels so American.
Maybe it’s the widespread love of cars, or the vast landscapes, but it embodies the US as nicely as apple pie.
We’ve seen Americans take on long haul journeys before, whether it be a round trip starting in New Jersey, or an off-road adventure over in Utah.
And whilst we’re sure those trips came with their own difficulties and challenges, they don’t scare us quite like the landscape of Alaska does.
In case you hadn’t heard, it’s really really cold up there.
If a Jeep Grand Cherokee had to be airlifted off a glacier there, what hope do other vehicles have?
At any rate, Westen and his buddies were off an adventure to the northern most point of the US – Prudhoe Bay.
They were taking the Dalton Highway, which is one of the most challenging in the world.
Westen explained: “There’s no cell service, gas stations, or support of any kind for hundreds of miles.
“In fact, it’s one of the most remote places in North America.
“So if our car breaks down, we won’t be leaving anytime soon.”
Gulp.
How did the 1992 Suzuki truck get on?
After building a cabin on the back of the Suzuki, for camping purposes, the team hit the road.
Along the way, they made a few stops.
In one store, they spoke to the cashier about the driving experience ahead of them.
The cashier gave a frank assessment: “With your rig? Not easy.
“You’re gonna be along a mountainside that’s potentially got rockslides.
“You could definitely make it, but it’s gonna be a little bit sketchy.”
Ah well.
There was plenty of beautiful scenery to admire along the way.
At one point in the drive, Westen noticed the smell of gas – and discovered there was a fuel leak.
Nothing that a bit of plywood couldn’t fix.
Ultimately, the Suzuki broke down just before the final hurdle.
But with the cabin on the back, they were determined to get it to the end.
When they reached their destination, they got the authentic camping experience – even spotting a bear across the river.
All in all, a moderately successful road trip.
To see Westen’s Alaskan adventure for yourself, head over to his YouTube channel.
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