Editor's Note: If you want to say or ask something, email Unloaded at jerrod.jones@off-roadweb.com or write: Unloaded, OFF-ROAD Magazine, 2400 E. Katella Ave., Ste. 1100, Anaheim, CA 92806.
Remember, we're giving away swag every month to the author of our favorite letter. Be sure to include your address, so we know where to send your goods. And since we lost our copyeditor, please know that we are not going to be copyediting your letter if you are going to be hating on us, so you better check it over well before sending it our way! Thanks!
Not Enough Chevys?
I just finished reading January's OFF-ROAD, specifically the Top 4 Trucks of 2008. Maybe you should change the name of your magazine to FORD OFF-ROAD. I looked at other past issues and found something disturbing: There were very few Chevys in 2008, and none in the Top 4 article. I looked with my own eyes, so I know there is no way I am mistaken or crazy. Perhaps I could misspell some words or phrase them wrong so you could discredit me (it's the content of the message that's important, not the manner it's written in). Unfortunately, you can't be a Chevy lover and enjoy this magazine. Please cancel my subscription.
Ted Newlander, Marble, MN
Ted, you misspelled subscripshun.Ouch! That sorta hurts! Calling me a Ford lover is almost hurtful when I'd say I was a Dodge fan first, and a Chevy fan second.
But, I did go through past issues to see if there was some validity to your statements, and in fact you're right that we need more Chevy stuff! We did go a bit heavy on the Ford features last year. Unfortunately, we can't always control the cool trucks that people build. But we are making a definite effort this year to do more Chevy stuff for guys like you and me who are Chevy fans. And yes, there is a Ford on this month's cover, but last month's had a Chevy!
Ranger Mudbogging
I've been reading your magazine since I was a little kid. I used to love the "Worst Stuck" section in the back of the mag, but I no longer see it there. I would love it if you brought that back.
I am a 17-year-old avid mud bogger in Fairbanks, Alaska, who started with a beat-up ZX4 Yamaha four-wheeler with tractor treads, but I now own a Ranger with a 4-inch suspension lift and 2-inch body lift. I'm still running a stock V-6 and I'm wondering if there is a cost-effective supercharger out there for my engine? I need a little more power to spin my 36-inch Wranglers in the mud!Renford Parrish, Fairbanks, Alaska
We'd love to bring back the "Worst Stuck" section, Renford, but the fact is that readers stopped sending in their worst mishaps. If we start getting entries, we'd love to put some in the mag. If you have some, please send them to jordan.may@off-roadweb.com
Oh, and about the cost-effective supercharger-it's called nitrous. That is the absolute only way you are going to make supercharger-type power without spending $5,000 for a supercharger on your V-6.
Binder Love
Hey, guys! Love the format-great diversity of rigs and tech, even stuff a "hick in the sticks" like me can understand and appreciate. But, I cannot find any good tech or parts for my '73 IH pickup. I see stuff all over for Scouts, but can you throw a bone to the pickup and Travelall portion of the Corn-Binder faithful? Any info for performance parts or more importantly a lift kit would be great. Keep up the awesome job!Joe Toller, Lewistown, MT
Thanks for the props, Joe! Unfortunately, as you already know, the 'Binder crew is not a large one and that's why the off-road magazines don't often cover them. BUT, I agree with you that they are cool, and I've actually always wanted a Travelall myself. Give me some time and let me look into what specific mods there are for IH vehicles, and we'll try to get something together for the International Harvester bunch.
Letter of the Month
This month our Letter of the Month writer is getting a couple genuine OFF-ROAD Magazine T-shirts to wear around! These are the newest designs-so new in fact that not even all of our staff has these shirts yet! Enjoy!
Dodge Lover
Hey Jerrod,Your truck is FREAK'N SICK! I just picked up the March issue, and have to say I'm stoked to see what's coming up with your Ram! I'm sure it's probably too late, as your article is probably done at this point, but if not, I was wondering if there's any way to include a few pics of how your front axle is trussed? It's pretty cool, as my truck is the same sport model, and same color as yours. It shows me what my truck will eventually look like ... hopefully sooner, rather than later. I'm done with my YFZ, so I think I'll be concentrating on my truck from now on!
Anyway, keep up the great work and the great mag!Justin, via email
Thanks, Justin! We're trying to put something cool and realiable together on that truck. I had these big dreams of all this crazy stuff, but tried-and-true equipment a lot of times leads to the most fun you can have with a truck. If I thought building them was more fun than driving them, I'd probably be getting a little crazier with the build. As for the truss, well, we haven't figured it out quite yet what with all the suspension points on the axle. For being such a loyal reader, I'm making yours my Letter of the Month.