As a rule, we strive for consensus on our staff when it comes to things like vehicle tests and project buildups. When discussing a truck's attributes, or the worthiness of various add-ons for a project rig, we typically weigh the trade-offs involved in a given design or modification, discuss alternative setups, and reach a conclusion based on our combined observations. Kinda like the old story about the six blind men and the elephant. Only we're not blind. And we don't test elephants.
But this month, we throw bipartisan consensus out the window and debate our personal prejudices and preferences, just like everyone else does around the campfire or at the shop.
Many of these Great Debates-gas versus diesel, carb versus EFI, solid axles versus IFS-have been around forever, but with changes and advancements in vehicle tech, or to the aftermarket, or to developments such as fuel prices, these old arguments become fresh again, and since it has been a while since we engaged in some friendly debating around here, we thought it high time to revisit some of the most popular bones of contention amongst wheelers-and flame each other while we're at it. You can read our haggles starting on page 34.
Also this month, in case our Great Debates don't inspire an argument or two from you, our annual "10 Best Buys in Four-Wheel Drive" hopefully will. As we do at the end of each year, we compile all the data we can find on every new production 4x4 that's available out there, and weigh in with our picks of The Best Trucks for The Buck, from compacts to 1-tons. Don't agree with our picks? Drop us a line at fourwheeler.com and tell us why. We're all ears.
For those of you looking for high-mileage wheeling alternatives this summer (and who isn't?), we're continuing our Yamaha Rhino project buildup this month with a trick long-travel suspension. We continue to be amazed by the exploding popularity of these little side-by-sides-but when you realize that there are already a slew of performance parts for them, and that you don't need to refinance your house to buy or build one, we guess it's no surprise why they're such a hot ticket at present.
Finally, our intrepid senior editor Ken Brubaker had the chance recently to visit a new ORV Park in South Carolina, called the Gulches. According to Ken, it's a labor of love borne out of the efforts of hundreds of local volunteers, with trails ranging from stock-simple to ultra-hard-core. If you happen to live in the Carolinas, you've now got a terrific place to four-wheel, and you can find out all about it in Ken's report on page 20.
Which reminds us: Got a favorite wheeling spot you wanna share with our readers? Know of any new ORV parks opening up in your area? Any land-use issues or trail restrictions you think we should know about? Be sure to keep us-and your fellow wheelers-up to date by logging onto fourwheeler.com and signing into our forums. Great Debates and four-wheel smacktalk are always fun, but the most important thing we all can do is to stay informed.
-Douglas McColloch