I suspect you are correct on the dealers jacking up the prices. In the past anyways, it was so easy for a military or other government employee to get a loan, all they wanted was a new unit. The dealers know this and put a big sticker price on the rig and it still sells off the show room floor. But when the time comes to sell it, the used price is still whatever the market will bare.
Motorcycles and boats are also often a good deal off the military used vehicle lots. The items purchased by the newly arrived troops, most often in their early 20s, and take out long term loans, that their payments barely keep up with the interest owed.
Every so often I still get on Craigs List or one of the other free ad sites to just keep watch, as I still do some consulting work in Alaska with some of my older clients and need to keep a feel for the financial trends of the state, as best I can.
Personally, before I would pay a big price for a unit, just because it was in Anchorage, I would check the prices of what is available to buy in Washington, from dealers, Craigs List, etc. Then it couple be worth it to fly down and examine the rig and if you buy, take it to the barge company and ship it north, if you don't have time to drive it back yourself.
A buddy of mine, needed a dump truck so found one in Washington, flew down and purchased it, stopped by one of the wholesale lumber yards and filled the truck with new plywood, which he then shipped back to Alaska by rail-barge. Then he sold the plywood, in Alaska, for enough extra to pay for most of his freight bill.
If a buyer takes his time, checks out the items wanted, such as a TC, and is patient, good buys are out there, even in Alaska. Or a person can get in a hurry, pay too much and/or buy a unit with problems, and later kick themselves when they take a beating trying to get rid of it. I have done both, in my past.
Remember, if it flys, floats, has wheels or you can marry it, it is always cheaper to rent.
