As a rule, we try to avoid arguments. Hey, we're lovers, not fighters-it's our nature. Like Ferdinand the Bull of storybook lore, we'd rather spend our time outdoors smelling the roses than feuding-heck, isn't that why we go venturing into the backcountry in the first place?

But every now and then, while wheeling the trail, we overhear some smarty-pants remark about "inferior front suspension" or "that cruddy carb" that really gets our dander up, and Real Men that we are, we just gotta throw down the gauntlet (OK, the Mechanix gloves) and engage in a little playful 4x4 smacktalk. In the following pages we'll cover several points of contention-gas or diesel? carb or injection? leaf springs or coils?-that wheelers have debated 'round the campfire for years. We may not convince any true believers out there, but hopefully we'll provide you with some food for thought that'll help you out the next time you find yourself stuck in the middle of a good ol'-fashioned 4x4 Throwdown.

This is our fourth annual 10 Best Buys in Four-Wheel Drive list, which differs from our Four Wheeler of the Year competition in that it includes every four-wheel-drive vehicle on the market for consideration, and not just those that are all-new or significantly improved. We pick what we feel are the rigs in each category that will get you on the trail fastest, work as a solid foundation for aftermarket upgrades, and give you the most factory capability for the money. We have changed up our categories slightly from years past and now include recognition for the best four-wheel-drive system available. Here are our picks for 2008's 10 Best Buys in Four-Wheel Drive. Feel free to tell us what you think, or what your picks would have been, at www.fourwheeler.com.

Our spies are at it again, this time snapping up pictures of an F-350 mule. At first glance, this truck may not appear significant, until you realize that the taller, raised hood actually houses one of the most important Ford projects-the 2011 6.7L Scorpion turbo-diesel. Diesels make up almost 80 percent of Super Duty sales and the move to Ford's Scorpion engine is expected to permanently end Ford's longtime use of Navistar-built diesel engines in its heavy-duty pickups. Ford has used Navistar diesels in its F-Series trucks since 1982. Our sources tell us the Scorpion-powered Super Duty will also receive a new six-speed automatic transmission, to directly compete with General Motors' and Chrysler's six-speed heavy-duty diesel trucks.

We were reading your "101 Places to Wheel Before You Die" (June '08) and were shocked that your list did not include Clayton, Oklahoma. We've wheeled all over the country-Moab, Katemcy, Hot Springs, Tellico-and we absolutely love Clayton! Love your magazine, and hate to be a critic. (We hate when people criticize y'all.) Just a thought to investigate Clayton-most wheelers in Texas and Oklahoma love to wheel there.

Eddie & Michelle Stephens
Little Elm, TX

We call it quasi-Bronco because even though it resembles a Bronco, there really isn't much original Bronco left. Some of the rig's features include a custom 2-inch body lift; a tubular "skeleton" for mounting the steel and aluminum "skins"; a lightweight carbon-fiber hood; Hanson bumpers; a Warn winch; a full rollcage; stretched wheelbase; and a narrowed body. The Bronco frame has new crossmembers added, and all of the body panels with the exception of the carbon-fiber hood have been powdercoated. Ditto for the frame and cage. The rig rolls on 42-inch Swamper TSLs that are mounted to custom dual bead-lock wheels with run-flat capability.

20 Years Ago

30 Years Ago

Do You have America's Ugliest 4x4?

Some things have definitely changed in the last 40 years. The August '68 issue of Four Wheeler, for instance, was only 68 pages (and you could get it for only 60 cents). On the other hand, some things haven't changed a bit---and 40 years later, we're still heading down to Truckhaven Hills near Salton City, California, every spring for the annual Tierra Del Sol Desert Safari, as we did in August '68. Judging by the photos in our coverage, much of the wheeling there is the same as it ever was, though the crowds have grown a bit---we counted "nearly 600 vehicles" in attendance back then; nowadays, we'd guess you see 600 vehicles an hour on some of the Safari's busiest days. We thought it would be fun to take a look back at our coverage from the Psychedelic Era, and we'll be archiving more good ol' stories like this on our site in the coming months.

Beasley Knob OHV Trail System
Where it is: Location: Blairsville, Georgia
Length: 10.6 miles
Time: Multi-day
Experience level: The U.S. Forest Service says most of the trails are rated difficult to most difficult. They say that Beasley Knob is recommended for experienced drivers only.
Points of interest: The park has 8 interconnecting trails with names like: Blue Rock Mountain, Bridge Gap, Nelson Cove, Nicholson Gap and Roundtop. Obstacles have names like The Wall and Rattlesnake Hill. The park encompasses 2800 acres.
What you need: Five dollars a day gets you into Beasley Knob. The park is closed from the first Monday in January to the middle of March. Bolted, studded or chained tires are not allowed.
Information: Blue Ridge District, 706/745-6928, www.fs.fed.us/conf/rec/ohv/beasley.shtml
---Ken Brubaker

Arroyo Seco del Diablo, Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, California
Location: Situated between Vellecito Wash Trail and Fish Creek Trail, the trail is generally run from South to North.N32 52.94'
Length: 8 miles
Time required: 1 hour
Experience level: Intermediate
Points of interest: Arroyo Seco del Diablo is a great trail, mostly known for the Diablo Drop Off - a steep sandy decent that is fun to run in reverse in high horsepower rigs with lockers. This trail winds through the scenic Carrizo Badlands and should be combined with Vellecito Wash and Fish Creek for fun wheeling and fantastic scenery that offers a very good overview of the Anza-Borrego State Park.
What you need: A capable stock rig or one with basic modifications - 31s, traction aids, etc.
Information: Anza-Borrego State Desert Park (760)-767-5311 http://www.parks.ca.gov/default.asp?page_id=638
---Sean P. Holman

Atacama desert, Northwestern Chile
Spanning some 70,000 square miles across the driest terrain on earth, the great Atacama Desert of Northern Chile provides endless fun for sand-runners and trail blazers alike. The region beckons anyone with a passion to go fast or far. Each year, several rally-style events happen in the region. Because the Atacama is home to the second largest sand dune in the Americas, it will challenge even the most experienced of drivers. Check out "Raid Atacama" videos on YouTube to see just how popular the region is.
---Robin Stover

Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest near Deer Lodge, Montana
Location: Flint Creek Mountain Range, 35 miles north of Butte on Interstate 90.
Length: Unknown.
Time: 1 week
Experience: Beginner to advanced.
Points of Interest: Historical mining area with many lakes. It's generally only accessible to travel from July through October due to snow. Lots of wildflowers are in bloom in the spring and summer in subalpine meadows. Many creek crossings and huge granite boulders can be expected. There are numerous spur trails in the area too, suitable for hiking. For historical flavor, spend a few hours at the Grant Kohrs Ranch National Park for a look at ranching in the mid 1800s, and visit the "old" Montana Territorial Prison in Deer Lodge. Favorite trails are Carruthers/Mountain Ben, Bowman, and Alpine Lakes on the west side, and Blizzard Hill to Leadville on the east side.
What You Need:
Information: Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest, 406/683-3572, www.fs.fed.us/r1/b-d/
---Willie Worthy

Badlands Off Road Park
Location: Attica, Indiana
Size: 700 acres
Time: Hours to days
Experience level: Beginner to advanced
Points of interest: The Badlands offers a variety of terrain from sand to mud to water to rocks. There is a "trucks only" portion of the park that is off-limits to ATVs and motorcycles and has trails specifically designed for four-wheel-drive rigs.
What you need: A daily pass is $20, a two-day pass is $30, a three-day pass is $40 and there is a $5 passenger fee per day. Flags are required for all rigs. A new shower house is being built in the park and there's a campground near the main gate.
Information: 866/762-2981, www.badlandsoffroad.com
---Ken Brubaker

WEB EXCLUSIVE!

FOUR WHEELER'S Places To Wheel Before You Die

You can own the baddest rock-crawlin', dirt-throwin', mud-plowin' ultra-capable rig on the planet, but if you don't know where to 'wheel, then it's just a fancy driveway ornament. Heck, you might as well sell it and take up stamp collecting.

When Tony Squier of Mena, Arkansas, purchased this '54 Dodge Power Wagon, it had been sitting under a tarp, half restored, for 15 years. As you can imagine, it wasn't in the best shape. That all changed over the next nine months as Squier transformed the old Wagon to better-than-new condition. Not only did he painstakingly restore every component of the truck, he went a step further and completed a radical modification by swapping in a fuel-injected 5.7L Hemi engine.

Address your Correspondence to:
Four Wheeler
6420 Wilshire Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90048.

Here is the first official rendering of the Hummer HX, the concept precursor to the much- anticipated 2010 Hummer H4. It is widely known that Hummer is interested in expanding the brand with a smaller, more fuel-efficient vehicle, making the H4 a natural competitor to the Jeep Wrangler JK. But don't be fooled-just because small and fuel-efficient are mentioned together, the HX was built to wheel with a high-performance suspension and powerful V-6. We were recently invited to the Hummer studio in Warren, Michigan, to get a look at the upcoming concept in the flesh and confirmed much of what we have already reported-with a few new details. From firsthand experience, we can tell you the HX will have 35-inch tires, front and rear lockers, a removable hardtop panel system, a slantback roof, and a super-trick four-wheel independent suspension featuring coilover shocks and jounce shocks. Originally thought to be built off of the H3 platform, the HX uses a unique chassis, and since Hummer announced all vehicles in its lineup will be biofuel-capable by 2010, it is a safe bet the HX will run off E85. Look for a full HX report after the North American International Auto Show.

We recently had the opportunity to check out the latest OE 4x4 offerings at the 100th anniversary Los Angeles Auto Show, and while L.A. isn't typically known in the automotive industry as a great truck showcase, this year's show did have a couple of surprises in store. Here's what we spied:

Most readers of Four Wheeler will be familiar with the cool 4x4 camper van conversions from Sportsmobile. These off-road-ready vans have been plying the backroads of the world now for more than 40 years. Sportsmobile began in 1961, converting VW buses into campers. The rugged Vee Dubs took their owners far off the usual beaten camping paths in places like Baja and Alaska. The flourishing company had found a unique niche market, building adventure campers for people who wanted something more rugged and maneuverable than a pickup with a slide-in.

Address your correspondence to:
Four Wheeler
6420 Wilshire Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90048.

General Motors recently announced that it is investing $73 million in its Shreveport, Louisiana, truck plant for production of the upcoming Hummer H3T. We recently caught the H3T in Mexico chasing for Team Hummer in the Baja 1000, and for the first time sporting the production bed. The H3T is based off of the H3 platform and has a unique, stretched frame and will only be available in a crew-cab configuration, not the regular cab of the H3T concept. As you can see, the H3T will be a true pickup, with a full 5-foot bed, and not an SUT. Word on the street says it and the H3 will finally get that front locker we have been asking for and will have enough bed accessories to make it the Swiss Army knife of pickups. Drivetrain options will mimic the H3 lineup.

When Matt Klouzek set out to modify his '97 Dodge Ram, he gathered ideas from previous Top Truck Challenge competitors. "Stan Prueitt's T-Rex was my inspiration for building a Dodge Ram and Brad Austin's Blue Beast was my inspiration for narrowing the bed," Klouzek says. After integrating these and many more ideas, this rock-ready Ram was born. Klouzek's next goal? Compete in Top Truck Challenge.

Shoehorning a Cummins engine into a Chevy Avalanche isn't easy. Getting it to run isn't, either. Nonetheless, Jeremy Mathews of New Paris, Indiana, was up to the task. Over the course of five months, he spent afternoons and evenings pursuing his goal, and in the end he accomplished what he set out to do. The result is an ultra-unique rig that even makes us drool.

It's been said that unstuck wheelers are all alike, and every stuck wheeler is stuck in his own way. And nothing proves the point better than the plights of the 20 unfortunate souls profiled here. And while we can't do anything about their hydrolocked engines, their busted axles, their bent sheetmetal and ugly wrecker's bills, we do feel their pain. So everyone featured in this month's issue gets a complimentary box of Four Wheeler swag for his efforts. And one lucky (sort of, we guess) winner takes our Grand Stuck Prize this month, a Warn 9.5ti winch.