Ted And Sand
Reader: I just read "I Can't Stand Sand," Ted Reese's latest rant (Low Rage, Jan. '02). Ted, you make 'wheeling in sand sound like a job, rather than an outrageous adventure. You haven't lived until you've been on the Glamis Dunes in California on Thanksgiving Day.
Jack Nottingham
Banning, California
Editor: To each his own, Jack. It's OK if Ted doesn't much care for sand. But he'd better not knock mud. Or rockcrawling.
A GM Pickup Missing In Action?
Reader: I'm a little aggravated with Four Wheeler's Pickup Truck of the Year comparison test (Jan., '02). It didn't seem fair. Where was the General Motors pickup? The Avalanche was there, but that's not a pickup, it's more like a big plastic SUV. Second, why didn't you use an actual four-door Ford F-150, instead of the Super Cab version? And last, why two Toyotas? Why not just one of each make, or two, if necessary? I like the Top Truck Challenge, though. How about doing two of them next year?
Joshua Lawson
Indianapolis, Indiana
Editor: Well, we deviated a little from our usual Pickup Truck of the Year formula this last time, and it's not something we'll do again. Usually we insist that only those vehicles that are new or substantially changed be admitted to this comparison. This year we invited every manufacturer to submit two pickups each-a fullsize and a compact. Toyota was the only manufacturer that did that. We got the Ford you saw in this story because that's what Ford sent. The Avalanche was in this story because it's got a pickup bed. We know it's not exactly a pickup, but we also know that it's not exactly not a pickup, either, if you see what we mean. Trust us, next year it'll be back to our old tried-and-true format. Two Top Truck Challenge events? Arrrggghh! One of them is sufficiently complicated, thanks very much. We have discussed this idea, however, and it nearly came to pass. Who knows, it still could. Not this year, though.
The Question
Reader: When does my subscription expire?
Donnie Coxsey
Alpena, Arkansas
Editor: Look, we're editorial wonks, not subscription wonks. We know from words and pictures. We do not know from subscription information. It's not that we don't care. We do care, and deeply. It's that we don't know, because that part of the overall function of this magazine is handled by a group of specialists located in Florida. When you need information about your subscription, and you need to know who to contact, here's what you do. Turn to the page containing the editor's column, Limited Articulation. Ignore that. Everyone does. Instead, look at the very bottom at the adjacent staff box. There you'll find a paragraph that begins, "Send address changes to...." Those are the folks who know from subscriptions. We do believe, however, that the address information printed in the address box on the cover of subscription issues contains the information you are looking for. Looks to us like your sub is good until November, 2003. But we could be wrong, because we're editorial wonks, and not subscription wonks.
Women Up In Arms
Reader: I read with interest the story in your January 2002 issue, "What Your Wife Should Buy You for Christmas." Why don't you do a story titled, "What Your Husband Should Buy You for Christmas?" It just makes me upset when you tell men how to get their wives to buy them some useful part for their 4x4s. Just do some articles from the women's point of view and it'll be OK.
Becky Jo Olson
Badger, Minnesota
Editor: We figure that with the multitude of ironing boards, vacuum cleaners, and other such ideal gift items out there, men don't need all that much help, right? (Hoo-boy, Mr. Editor Thompson, where will you live after I forward this to your wife? -Julie Greene, Managing Editor).
New Blood
Reader: I recently began subscribing to your magazine after visiting Colorado and seeing first-hand how great four-wheeling is. My problem is I'm only 17 and hardly know anything about truck tech and what I really need to go off-road. I hardly know anything about great stuff like differentials and what gears I need, and what kind of truck is necessary. I think it would be good if you had a beginner's section in each issue, or a guide on the pros and cons of older trucks. Sometimes I read Four Wheeler's articles and just become lost in the tech, but I can usually read the article over enough to get a small grasp on things. Anyway, Four Wheeler is a great mag. Keep up the good work, and I'll keep subscribing.
Jeff
Via the Internet
Editor: Well, this is what we'd call a wake-up call. We have in past months been applying additional emphasis to entry-level material, but apparently we're not supplying enough of that. So we'll try to do better. As a starting point, however, here's a suggestion: Go to your local library and pull out back issues of Four Wheeler. Check out "13 Essential Upgrades," (April '01), "What Works Where," (May '01), "Getting the Best Used Truck for Your Buck," (June '01), "Drive Like the Heroes," (Oct. '01), and most especially, if you want to understand traction and lockers, "Ultimate Traction Explained," (Feb. '01). The material in these stories should go at least part of the way toward answering your questions.
What's Better?
Reader: First, you guys do a solid mag every month. Definitely better than the other guys. My question is this: I'm going to buy an early '80s CJ-7. Do you have any recommendations for me-i.e., fuel injection or carbs, automatic trans or manual?
Charlie
Via the Internet
Editor: Our preference always would be for fuel injection over carburetion. As to automatic versus manual, this: The stock manual transmissions were the Tremec T-4 or T-5. The automatics in these Jeeps were fairly reliable Chrysler Torqueflite transmissions. We'd stick with the automatic, unless you're compelled to be shifty.
Win!
Four Wheeler's "Letter of the Month" is the most interesting or informative letter we receive each month. The letter's author will be sent one of Four Wheeler's highly prized Four Wheeler license plates. So be sure to include your full name and address when you write Four Wheeler.
Letter Of The Month
Hear Her Roar
Reader: I warn you, this letter will take some shortening, as I have much to say. I am the only female mechanic here at Lakenheath, England, in the U.S. Air Force. Originally from Sublimity, Oregon, I was thrilled that Four Wheeler would reach me here.
I noticed that recently there was an Oregon truck represented in Readers' Rigs, and that's good, but hey, there are tons of awesome places to go muddin' in Oregon, and aside from that Readers' Rigs piece, rarely do you guys cover anything to do with Oregon.
Next, the letters from women that were published in the December issue of Four Wheeler: There are many of us females who have a greater knowledge of and passion for trucks than many men. The only reason we don't write in is because we already know the answers! (And here the writer draws us a smiley-face so that we can know she's saying this all in good humor. -Ed.)
But my big question is, what do you do when you're stationed in a country where muddin' is virtually nonexistent, and even if it weren't, your '78 Chevy is lifted too high, and even if it wasn't, is too big to fit on any road or in any parking space without getting a ticket?
Do what you'd like with this letter, but just remember, there's a little Oregon cowgirl somewhere in England loving Four Wheeler and dyin' to get home to her truck and Oregon mud.
Casi Jo
Lakenheath, England
Editor: Well, Casi Jo, what we're going to do with this letter is publish it and send you a Four Wheeler license plate. As for that Chevy 4x4 of yours, sounds to us like you're pretty much stuck, since England is so densely settled, with (as far as we know, at least,) virtually no serious 'wheeling opportunities. But we'll bet there are four-wheeling clubs there nevertheless. These might be composed of guys smoking pipes and wearing wellies and tweed jackets, driving Land Rovers. Or maybe not. Perhaps it would be worth your while to explore that possibility as a stopgap until you can get home.