Feedback On Cars And Foreign 4x4s
Reader: Just wanted to take a moment for some feedback about your magazine.
I like to purchase Four Wheeler off the magazine rack. It allows me to review each issue and decide if it is worth purchasing. With the increase in price, this has become especially important and useful.
Your May '09 issue stayed in the store because precious article space was devoted to a car. If I want to read about cars, I will purchase Car & Driver.
And then there are the ads. Photos run in the magazine so small those of us with poor eyesight can barely see them. But full-page ads for such on topic products as male enhancement run as large as possible. Is this really necessary?
Time to get back to vehicle buildups and new product introductions. Your former fondness for foreign 4x4s is one particular subject I miss greatly. Until then, I will be giving each issue a hard look.
Gary Larimer
Barnesville, GA
Editor: One of the great challenges of being a magazine editor is trying to provide something that will attract the interest of every kind of reader in a limited number of pages each month. A couple of years ago, for instance, we were running periodic coverage of overseas competitions such as the Croatia Trophy and the Istra Challenge that featured plenty of those Euro-rigs you mentioned, but we got a lot of letters from U.S. readers complaining that they found these stories useless because they couldn't relate to the vehicles. So we stopped running those kinds of stories for a while. However, these things tend to go in cycles, and in the coming months, we're planning to publish some pretty cool features on some neat-looking rigs we've found in the UK and Iceland, so don't give up on us quite yet. Either way, we do appreciate all your suggestions, and thanks for your support of the magazine.
Spacer Lift Recommendation
Reader: I've had your magazine for at least five years now and re-up every time my subscription is up, and will continue to do so. You guys do a great job, and I've gotten a lot of entertainment value, as well as useful knowledge out of the magazine. I know you don't have the room or time to go through everything, but I did want to make a comment on your June '09 issue. You had a great article on low-buck spacer lifts, but you seemed to miss one of the better-made ones out there that's made by a company called Hellbent Steel (www.hellbentsteel.com). I'm using their spacers on my '01 Dodge Cummins. They're 2-inch spacers, solid steel, and they only cost $65 to $75--plenty feasible for a guy on a budget who's looking to at level his fullsize rig without breaking the bank. Just an FYI, if you find room to print this.
Seth Hopper
Indianapolis, IN
Editor: Thanks for the tip. We're always glad to hear from our readers about new players in the 4x4 suspension market.
Looking For Wheeling Events In The Southeast
Reader: I'm not a current subscriber, but I read your magazine through a friend's subscription occasionally. I noticed some upcoming events advertised in last month's issue, but did not get a chance to note the dates and place. I have looked online without much luck, so would you be willing to recommend a few contests that would be within a few hours drive time of Nashville, Tennessee, that would be good to see? Preferably sometime around July 2009. I would be a first-time eventgoer, but have always enjoyed watching events on TV and what little off-roading I do here at home.
Jonathon Johnston
Columbia, TN
Editor: Well, for goodness' sake, man, take out a subscription! That way, you'll be up to date every month on any 4x4 competitions that are coming to your area. We don't have much information about any July events near you, but the W.E. Rock Eastern Nationals are coming to Dayton (Tennessee) the first weekend in August, and there's a Truck & Jeep Fest in Atlanta at the end of the month. Check out this month's calendar on page 92 for all the info. Be sure to check out fourwheeler.com as well--we keep an updated list of events that are happening around the country each month.
Wants To Level Nissan Titan
Reader: I have heard many opinions on this topic, but wanted some expert advice: Nissan Titan leveling kits. I wanted to know your take on this. I have heard PRG is the best. The lift is only 2 inches, though. Will that level my 2004 Titan 4x4 SE? I measured the wheelwell from the top of my tires--it's almost a 3-inch difference. A lift with 35s is my dream, but not in the budget right now. So getting it leveled out along with my BFG KM2s would look tough! Any assistance you could provide would be much appreciated.
Chris Ackerman
Summerville, SC
Editor: Two inches should be sufficient to level your Titan. And, yes, it's true. PRG makes a quality product, but so do a number of other manufacturers including Daystar, Rough Country, Skyjacker, Trail Master, and Tough Country. There are some differences between leveling kits, however: some kits change the factory spring preload, and some don't. Some require disassembling the struts, and others don't. There are differences in the types of materials used, and of course, there are differences in price. We'd advise shopping around the web to see which kit works best for your technical know-how, and for your budget.
New ORV Park In Michigan
Reader: I would like to know if by any chance the magazine would be interested in doing a story on this great new off-road park called Rocks and Valleys in mid-Michigan. The park's web address is www.rocksandvalleys.com.
Michigan has very few legal places to four-wheel, and this was the driving point on starting this venture. I believe your readers would be interested in learning of a new place to run their rigs, and yes, it would be great P.R. for the park as well. I have worked hard and put in many hours nearly single-handedly in building trails, rockcrawls and more throughout the park. We have had several pre-opening runs with all great comments. I feel Rocks and Valleys will soon be on many folks' wheeling trip plans soon.
Ronald Price
Harrison, MI
Editor: We can't guarantee for certain when we'll be able to check out your park for ourselves, but we can help spread the word by letting everyone know about it right here. So to all you Midwest wheelers--show a brother some love, and give Rocks and Valleys a look-see!