Hates Tires and Moab
I have been very disappointed in the last few issues. There has been very little about Jeeps and what has been done to them. You show Jeeps and only put in a couple of lines when you used to put a couple pages. How many times are you going to fill up space with crap on tires? Come on, every month you fill half the mag with trips and tires. What happened to showing us how Jeeps were built and how to do cheap swaps, not tires? And who can afford to go to Moab, Utah? What about Jeep tech? How to modify on the cheap using salvage yards not high-end parts? Get back to working on a Jeep, not some trail that most of us can't go to. Help us keep our Jeeps running, I don't need stories of where I can't afford to go or fancy tires that fill the pages. I will buy it again when there is more info for my Jeep and not a travel ad.
I have been working to get my Jeep together for over 10 years. I built the frame to run in tough truck competitions and most of the ideas come from your writing. Now I lost my job so getting the axles and brakes rebuilt, a new clutch, and wiring might be my last 10 years (I am 51). So keep doing the cheap builds. We need them.
Dave Johnston
New Franken, Wisconsin
Well, sorry but the Moab Easter Jeep Safari is the largest Jeep and 4x4 event in the U.S. and likely the world. And tires are usually in the top 10 modifications Jeep owners want to make to their rigs. Anyway, did you miss the 51 Jeep Tips issue (March '09)? Low Budget Junkyard Swaps issue (April '09)? Or the Garage Upgrades issue (May '09)? That's half the content we've done so far this year dedicated to budget building! And it's still not enough? Hey, we have to cover all aspects, not just cheap parts and upgrades. Besides, did you catch the review of the retread mud tires, the Project J-2008, or the Field Find feature in the August '09 issue? If you truly look I'm sure you will find something in every issue of Jp that fits the budget.
The truth of the matter is that Hazel, Trasborg, and I do 90-percent or more of the modifications and builds you read about in Jp right in our very own garages and driveways. And most of the time we seriously consider them budget builds. I don't think any other off-road magazine title or website can really claim that and still be making the same kinds of modifications we do. They go to shops. We may not be Shakespearean writers, but we can fix and build a Jeep with very little.
Bed-Wetters Beat It
I truly feel you have a great staff to support the rag you send out. I read comments from people that get their feelings hurt if you jokingly (or not) comment on something they drive. Tell the crybaby bed-wetters to go away. The forum you all write on gives knuckle-busters like me a chance to learn a little more and to troubleshoot my way back to the trail. The only thing I would like to see more of is Randy's Electrical Corner. I like his page and think that I could learn more electrically, especially with all of the electronics that are in our vehicles now. Keep up the great work and don't loose your sense of humor! Thank God Trasborg is as bad, if not worse, than I am when it comes down to "seeking" out a Jeep.
Mike Parker
Fruita, Colorado
Thanks
I wanted to thank Christian Hazel for helping us get our friend's broken Jeep out of the trail at the '09 Easter Jeep Safari. My buddy broke on Double Whammy and we were not sure of the fastest way back to town. Not only did Christian lead us out of the trail, he also ran one of our guys back to town to pick up the tow vehicle. Once back in town he stopped by to see how we were doing and make sure we had everything we needed. Christian had taken some photos of our Jeeps before my buddy broke and went out of his way to stop by and pick up the information sheets as well. He is a great addition to your mag and it was a pleasure wheeling with him for a short time before it went bang ("Kentucky Long Rifle" Aug. '09).
Doug Eberle
Floyds Knobs, Indiana