As some of you have probably noticed, we've had some changes in the personnel roster at Four Wheeler magazine over the past few months, and as a result of these fresh faces, the magazine will begin to show a bit of a "new look" down the road as we try some new approaches with our stories and monthly editorial packages.

However, we want to make sure we're still providing our loyal readers with stories and articles that'll keep you coming back to the pages of FW next month, and the next month, and the month after that.

So today, YOU get to be Editor for a Day, and tell ME what you think should be in the pages of Four Wheeler each month.

Here's a few topics to kick-start the discussion: 

* Feature Trucks: Should we have more of them, or fewer? Newer models, older iron, or a mixture of both? What about unusual vehicles like militarys or 4x4 industrial rigs? What about restos?

* Travel & Adventure: More trail rides, or truck shows? What about racing events? Club events? Travel stories from North America, or international travel, or both? 

* Tech: More "general interest" stories, or specific how-to's and bolt-ons? Any subjects you think we've been missing lately? 

* Tests: More vehicle tests, or fewer? What about comparo tests? Tow tests? What about product tests? Anything you think we oughta be testing that we're not? 

* Buyer's Guides: Do you find them informative, or a waste of time? Want to see more of them, or fewer? What about New Products in general? More, or fewer?

* Design: How does the book look to you? What do you like or dislike about it?  Anything you'd like to see us do differently?

* The competition: What do you think we should be doing that, say, 4-Wheel & Off Road doesn't? What should we be doing to make this magazine totally unique among all the other 4WD mags?

Okay, these talking points should be good for a start. Please feel free to offer up any and all comments, criticisms and suggestions. If you wanna call out any particular stories, articles or even individual writers for praise or criticism, feel free. My only demand is that we all remain respectful in our replies to each other on this board. 

I'll be checking back every few days to read your critiques and suggestions. So bring 'em on! Thanks in advance to all of you for your responses, and Happy 'Wheeling.

---Douglas McColloch

Editorial Director/Editor, FW

I think that the way the magazine is set up now is really good. I like the tests that are done, they are informative, and well done. I think that a build up of a old jeep or a pick up would be cool, take a heap and make it a cool trail worthy rig. In my opinion it is the best off road magazine out there.  

Somewhere in all of this the old stock 4x4 seems to have gotten lost. There is little mention of these in your magazine. SOme of those old stock trucks were pretty bullet proof when left stock and I know because I owned some when they were new. Todays 4x4's have completely lost focus and your tesing of them is not always fair or objective.  

First off Four wheeler Mag. is an awesome publication. Here's my thoughts on what it should include. More do it yourself projects would be awesome for us college students that can't afford to have someone else to do the work. Also it would be awesome to see some coverage of mud bogs and things like that for us people that live up in Maine and do that rather than the more agressive rockcrawling. More budget minded buildups are always a plus along with any other kind of tech articles rather than car reviews and such. Toyota tech is always appreciated but I think that may be being a little concise so I'll stop here. As always an awesome magazine and I'll keep my subscription going..  

I would really like to see you guys work on a ford ranger, or a mazda b4000 LE. I dont see much people showing off a ford ranger. I think it would look really nice. i have a 1994 mazda b4000 LE and this summer i would like to lift it. so maybe you guys could give me some ideas if you came out with an issue like that or maybe you guys could do a project on my truck(lol)  

O.K. FROM THE TOP OF YOUR LIST ON DOWN!

FEATURE TRUCKS; GOOD AMOUNT, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE MORE ACTION PICTURES OF THESE TRUCKS. THE TECH. PART IS COMPLETE ENOUGH.

TRAVEL ADVENTURE; I ENJOY IT WHEN YOU GO ALONG ON CLUB EVENTS. IT WOULD BE GREAT TO SEE YOU DO A SHORT FEATURE (ALONG SIDE THE EVENT COVERAGE) OF THE MOST INTERRESTING VEHICLE PARTICIPATING IN THE EVENT.

TECH; YOU DO VERY WELL ILLUSTRATING BUILD UPS AND MODIFICATIONS. I LIKE TO SEE THINGS THAT CAN BE DONE IN THE DRIVEWAY WITH A FEW HAND TOOLS. PUT YOUR HOIST AND AIR TOOLS AWAY. SHOW IT DONE WITH HAND TOOLS AND JACK STANDS LIKE MOST OF US HAVE.

TESTS; I'M QUITE BORED WITH TESTS OF WAY EXPENSIVE SUV/LUXO VEHICLES THAT 99% OF US WILL NEVER THINK OF OFF ROADING OR MODIFYING. RATHER SEE YOU FIND A STOCK (OR CLOSE TO IT) OLDER TRUCK/SUV/JEEP AND DO A TEST LIKE YOU DO THE NEW ONES AND GIVE US YOUR FINDINGS!!!

BUYERS GUIDE; DOING GOOD SHOWING NEW PRODUCTS FROM LARGE MANUFACTURERS AND ESPECIALLY SMALL COMPANYS (OR INDIVIDUALS) WITH NEW ITEMS.

DESIGN; VERY GOOD, I LIKE THE LAYOUT TO STAY THE SAME SO WE CAN FIND THE SECTIONS WHERE WE ARE USED TO FINDING THEM.

COMPETITION; I ALSO SUBSCRIBE TO 4WHEEL AND OFF ROAD AND OFF ROAD ADVENTURES. 4WOR, IS ALSO A GOOD MAG. I THINK THEY ARE A BIT MORE JUVENILE IN THEIR OPPINION/APROACH TO A FEW THINGS. ORA, IS MORE OF A WAY FOR "FOUR WHEEL PARTS" TO GET SOME BUSINESS WITH THEIR LARGE AD IN THE MIDDLE OF THE MAG. BUT THEY HAVE SOME VERY INTERRESTING ARTICLES/TRAVEL FEATURES.

I READ ALL 3 MAGAZINES PRETTY MUCH COVER TO COVER EVERY MONTH. I ENJOY FOUR WHEELER THE MOST.      

first off i love your guy's mag. its pretty awsome

as for improvements

feature trucks: a mix of both would be kool.  mabe some industrial rigs too so we can see some of what else is out there

travel and adventure: trail rides are pretty good  and so are the others

tech: mabe put some more things in there

tests: what you got is good

buyer's guides:  these are pretty good as you can see whats new and what is out there. keep this up

Design:  try not to put ads in the middle of the articles.  mabe put a couple after each article

the comp: i really like what you guys are doin with the trailex cause no one has really done this before

well good luck with the mag

need4mud

Overall I find your magazine enjoyable to read and the content satiafactory. One thing I would really like to see is more build-ups of older rigs. Lets face it, most of us out there are not going to take a rig that is less than five years old, spend thousands of dollars on upgrades, and then wheel it like theres no tomorrow. I have to believe the majority of your readers, like me, have a truck or SUV that is tens years or older and  modify it as we can afford to or as it breaks. And I don't mean $3000.00 axles either, we would all love to spend that kind of cash, but face it,  most of us wheel on a tight budget!   

I really like the LOW RAGE column!  

Take a look in the back of your magazine and it's full of advertisement's,It would be neat for you guys to pick one a month and test it, try it , buy it, or something like that. Dynatrac has been advertising an up grade for newer superdutys,i.e. front wheel bearing and hub replacement, Why ? ,check it out and give me a call. Larry  

hi there,

i think that you should have some more feature trucks, so someone can see what people do to their rigs and maybe get some ideas for you own. a mix of old and new is good! i like the old iron myself, but it is always good to get to know what is possible with the new ones!
also the tech area is a good thing with bolt ons or how to put stuff on, that is always helpful!
and i like the project rigs you do, very good.... i´m only missing my favorite project lately, the project super burb!! i´dlike to see some more of that!
ralf

i have been a reader for years and this has got to be the best four wheel mag  there is.   to me the only thing i  think would make it any better would be an art section.  i know lowrider mag has one and wondered why this one didnt since there is a lot of people out there that can draw great 4x4s.  this is just my opinion of course.   i work in a exhaust shop and we would like to see more tech articles on exhaust too.   even our customers love your mag since we have countless fourwheeler mags at the shop.   thank you  

NO more escalades with big rims!!!! That was a total embarrasment to Four Wheeling in general. I have never seen anyone dressed like that while I was on a trail.

I'm with the guys that would like to see more inexpensive stuff in the mag.  Let's face it, the Lexus SUV project is great, but i'm pretty sure that nobody that read the magazine will go buy a brand-new Lexus, modify it, and wheel it like a hardcore rig.  And it's the same with the 2004-2005 Ford, Dodge and Chevy trucks!

We need more project that a regular guy can complete on a budget, with some hand-tools, instead of project we can dream about doing.  Don't afraid new readers by making them think that you need 3 jobs if you want to have some fun in the mud!  Just focus some projects on college students, and guys like me that have a job, but can't spend 50 000$ on some gadgets. 

Like I always say, it's better to have a 300$ rig, no money but lots of knowledge, than having a 70 000$ rig, millions in the bank, and not having a clue of what your doing.  And i'm sure that lots of people think like me.

Something that could be cool would be to see some articles for unusual rigs.  Lots of people out here have rigs like Trackers, Rangers, Mazdas, Comanchees, Dakotas, ect.  I would surely like to see some articles on the build of a 87' Ranger sometime!  Or even a 91 Tracker!

And at last, something that would complete the mag would be to have a "driving tips" section, to have some tips that we could use on the trail, in the mud or even in rock-crawling.  Even if you've been driving and wheeling for 25 years, you can always learn something new!

your mag is good and i would like to see some of the older less built up machines.also some more tests on the pats you advertise in the back of your mag. KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK!!