I just moved from Alaska a few months ago after living there for 24 years in Ketchikan, Juneau, Kodiak and Wasilla. I'll throw my .02 cents out there....
Much depends on where you are going in AK. The east coast of the lower 48 has worse winter weather than some parts of AK. If you're moving to the Anchorage bowl area, then it gets uncomfortably cold, but they keep the roads pretty clear of snow, lots of street lights and overall it's pretty easy driving. If you're moving to Southeast or Southwest, it gets more rain and less snow/ice, however the issue there is the temp hovers around freezing it'll snow at night, warm up, rain and melt the snow during the day, then cool back down and refreeze the water at night and turn into black ice. That's where you have to watch yourself. Roads are tighter and so driving slower is the ticket.
If you're moving North of Anchorage, then that's a whole different kind of cold. The kind of cold that puts flat spots on your tires for the first 5-10 miles of your drive in the morning. The kind that makes engine oil so thick your starter burns up trying to turn the engine over without a block heater. The kind of cold that will kill you if your car dies out on a lonely road. You'll want to keep a survival kit in the truck with blankets/food/propane heater/ropes/straps/etc no matter what you drive.
Probably the most important options to us were certainly 4x4, a good set of aggressive AT/MT tires, a block heater and a remote start. You'll want to start your car and let it warm up and start clearing ice off the windshield before you drive it in the winter unless you park inside. That being said, if your truck sits out in the parking lot of your workplace all day, a remote start will be your friend.
Anything else is pretty much a luxury, but you will not go wrong with heated seats/steering wheel. Southeast/Southwest are coastal and fairly temperate, and we didn't see much below 20f in those cities as a general rule but Wasilla got pretty cold (-30f) and a non-heated steering wheel will be so damn cold that it'll freeze your skin right to it....like sticking your tongue on a light pole? Leather seats help with durability but unless they are heated, they are rough to sit on in winter.
As far as bumpers and bull bars, I had a bull bar on a couple of my rigs, but in 24 years, never hit a moose/deer/ram/sheep/human. I did hit a black bear once but they're soft and cushy so just dented my bumper and door a little. Moose are big and tall and generally come over the hood and through the windshield. Usually a show stopper. Bull bars are good for extra lighting though, and if you live somewhat remote, a bunch of big LED lights on the front of the truck will help you see the moose quicker.
1500 or 2500 won't matter. I drove both up there and either were fine. Some folks switch religiously to studded tires every winter, but in my years up there I only used studded tires once and probably got stuck more with them. Diesel trucks have their own set of issues operating in such cold weather. I never owned while in AK so can't speak for them.
All that being said, I have seen tons of people that live and work in Alaska getting around with nothing more than a fwd sedan their whole lives. It takes a bit more finesse and occasionally chaining up, but lots of people make do. I personally tried it and I went right back to my truck, but they do a pretty good job of keeping the snow cleared in town and it's certainly doable with most anything you bring up here.
Sorry, I ramble sometimes....Good luck!
