Where To Write
Address your correspondence to:
Letters
Four Wheeler
6420 Wilshire Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90048-5515.
All letters become the property of Four Wheeler, and we reserve the right to edit them for length, accuracy, and clarity. The editorial department also can be reached through the Web site at www.fourwheeler.com. Due to the volume of mail, electronic or otherwise, we cannot respond to every reader, but we do read everything.
What, No Snow?
Reader: Your tire tests and most of your magazine do not address snow. For example, in the tire tests published in your January 2002 issue you rate tires on mud, rocks, sand, and street. Why not snow?
I live in Wyoming and require a vehicle much like those you have in your magazine. However, I drive little in mud, not at all on sand and rocks, but a lot of time on snow. Snow may be harder to test on, since it is only around for part of the year. However, I expect a large number of Four Wheeler readers drive on snow and would like to read more testing of vehicles and equipment for snow usage.
Robert P. Giese
Via the Internet
Editor: Yep, that's been a problem, one exacerbated by our location in Los Angeles where it rarely snows. We've solved that problem by opening a bureau in the Midwest. We're informed by new Features Editor (and by default, Midwest bureau chief) Ken Brubaker that there actually is snow on the roads around the Four Wheeler Midwest bureau. By supplying this information to us, Mr. Brubaker automatically and unwittingly elects himself Four Wheeler's official winter tire tester. So you will be seeing at least some tires tested in snow.
Planning Is Everything
Reader: Let me start by saying I have enjoyed your magazine and by no means am I going to bitch about it. What I am going to bitch about is the Warn Rock Crawling Championship event in Las Cruces, New Mexico, that was scheduled for November 11. My daughter and I were very excited about going. We planned a weekend of Jeeps and being together doing what we both love. I really want to support this sport, but when I called for information, I was able to develop very little. After a four-hour round-trip I found no Jeeps. I was not alone, as there were several hundred people there, some from farther away than us, looking for this event. I am not looking for anything special, just some information on how we can enjoy this sport.
Darren Stevenson
Silver City, New Mexico
Editor: The key to enjoying this and other events probably is planning. Not knowing how far in advance you did yours, it's difficult for us to comment. Rockcrawling is a wonderful family sport, however, so we would suggest that in the future you make your plans well in advance, and be sure to check in with the event organizers by telephone, using the numbers you'll find listed in Four Wheeler's Calendar section, at least a week before the event to make sure you obtain all the information you'll require to make your trip a success. Also, be sure to check the appropriate Web sites for the 2002 schedules so you can make your plans well in advance.
How To Improve Top Truck Challenge
Reader: I have a few suggestions about how to improve the Top Truck Challenge. First, why don't you guys enter some of your former project vehicles into the voting? Second, why don't you try to expand on the event? How about a Top Truck Challenge between you guys and other magazines? You guys all have built some very nice and obviously very capable 4x4s. Why not put them to good use? I'm sure I'm not the only one who would like to see this. Or have some of your editors enter their own personal rides. Imagine how happy it would make you guys if you were to put all the other major publications to shame.
Marco Sierra
Via the Internet
Editor: Please keep in mind that the Top Truck Challenge-the first was in 1993, making the upcoming event the ninth annual TTC-is driven by you readers. It is for readers and about readers, and its contestants are chosen by reader-vote from a field of reader entrants. The purpose is, as always, to learn the state of the 4x4 art, as defined by the equipment built by readers. It also is to witness the ongoing, if unspoken, competition between Jeep-like rigs and fullsize trucks. Altering the format in the ways you suggest might seem interesting, but would not fulfill the Top Truck Challenge's mission. We already put all the other publications to shame, so there's nothing to be gained there. Interestingly, a competitor in that first event now is editor of one of those other magazines. This driver/editor did not win. He came close, but close doesn't count. Which reminds us, be sure to check next month's issue for this year's crop of candidates.
A Believer Speaks
Reader: First off, I'd like to acknowledge that you produce the best four-wheeling magazine on the planet. I look forward to it every month. However, I have a few suggestions:
1. Could you possibly produce a special-edition magazine that covers and explains the general aspects of four-wheeling? I was bogged down when I first started reading because I couldn't understand the terms. For example, what's the difference between a locker and a limited slip? I know now, but it took me some researching.
2.How about a competition that revealed the best brands in four-wheeling? You could have the best four-wheeling vehicles, winches, lockers, lift kits, tires, etc.
3. After the Wrangler's embarrassing loss to the Tacoma TRD in your "Ultimate 4x4," I was wondering if you would do a re-test. There have been rumors that Jeep is offering a Wrangler in 2003 that will be equipped with front and rear lockers, rocker panels, 4.0:1 low-range, etc. Will you do a re-test of the same vehicles when this optional TJ is introduced? I just want to see Jeep redeem itself.
4. This last proposal is something that I am in dire need of-a list of off-road trails for each state. Even a possible "Best Trails in all 50 States" would be extremely useful. I am fairly new to the world of off-roading, and haven't found many trails within reasonable driving distance.
Anyway, I just wanted to say again that I love your magazine.
Lawrence Mower
Las Vegas, Nevada
Editor: You raise some interesting points, Lawrence, which we'll take one by one:
1. We do make an effort to address the concerns of folks new to the sport of four-wheeling. If, for instance, you had caught our February 2001 issue, which contained a section called "Ultimate Traction Explained," you would have learned all you needed to know about lockers and limited-slip differentials. Likewise, there are components in that issue-portions of our section "Strength through Steering," for example-that are aimed at improving the understanding of folks who are new to the sport. The conundrum we face, however, is that far and away the majority of our readers are fairly knowledgeable. So while we attempt to supply information that will be meaningful to newcomers to the wonderful pastime of four-wheeling, we also need to make sure we present plenty of material that will keep those legions of more experienced people happy and interested. So we try to be a little bit of all things to all people.
2.Best brands in four-wheeling? In part, our road tests, and especially our comparison tests, attempt to do that. Additionally, there often is no simple best because products that work well in one situation or on one application may not perform so well in another situation or on another application.
3.You're right-Jeep will introduce the Wrangler Rubicon this summer, a news story that Four Wheeler broke in its last issue. As you suggest, and as we reported, this vehicle will be equipped with Dana 44 axles at both ends. Gearing will be 4:10:1. The transfer case will contain a 4:1 low-range ratio. Tires will be 31-inch Goodyear MT/Rs. We might not do a complete reprise of "Ultimate 4x4" immediately, but a comparison of the Rubicon and the TRD is in the cards.
4. A guide to the best trails in the country? Great idea. Even better if those trails are submitted by you readers. Indeed, we're working on something like this, as we're presently compiling a guide to all public four-wheeling areas in every state. So stay tuned as we attempt to answer your questions and concerns.