...Ok, I'm still pretty much an "outside observer" because my almost stock piece o' shiat is covered in snow, and I'm SOFA KING FAR from the 'Famous Wheeling Spots,' so I wanted to give my observations from the last 2 years...:

When I first got interested in the sport, the magazines all had mainly "trail rides" with close-to-stock rigs, articles on "upgrading your D30" :rolleyes: and reviews on :rainbow: accessories...

I just bought 5 different mags yesterday (Been too busy lately :D): 4WD & Sport Utility (last & this month's), Canada4WD, and the crap ones :rolleyes: Petersens & Four Wheeler (I'm a collector, what can I say... :rolleyes: :D)...

...And what do I see? How to Spraybomb your POS properly, articles describing how beadlocks and steering and tire/wheel combos work, the guts of a x-case, etc... TECH articles, well-written, and HELLA INFORMATIVE...

...Women's Rockcrawling coverage (my girl said "Cool..." :evil: )... And rigs that laugh at chrome, and look like they might be useful.

...It's grown. ENORMOUSLY. Hell, one of the rags actually suggested visiting the PBB for info on something! :eek: Awesome.

It's fawkin' sweet.

Congrats to everyone who's working to bring crawling and extreme wheeling to a higher level, and to all those that organize these contests and events.

...Yup. :D

As is often the case, I will take up my role of caring and nurturing a ColdNorth post until it grows into a useful member of the PBB. :D

I agree with you on some points, but if I had to choose between those magazines (which I considered the manual for building a 4WD vehicle in my high-school years :rolleyes:) and PBB, I'm sure I'd make the same choice as any of us. POR.

While they are good at getting things out to the general public, the magazines are still focused primarily on the "Off-Road.com" style bolt-on mods. I doubt you'll see an article on fabbing dual spring shackles to get the correct shackle angle for your Chevy rear springs any time soon.

Plus, they're dumbshits who are afraid to speak negatively about anything when it comes to tire tests. Boggers are never tested in mud, and a Pirelli Morning-Flower AT is reviewed as a decent offroad tire. Just once I'd like to see them say, "If you buy these tires, stay on the pavement, dumbass".

Originally posted by Yota_san
As is often the case, I will take up my role of caring and nurturing a ColdNorth post until it grows into a useful member of the PBB. :D

I agree with you on some points, but if I had to choose between those magazines (which I considered the manual for building a 4WD vehicle in my high-school years :rolleyes:) and PBB, I'm sure I'd make the same choice as any of us. POR.

While they are good at getting things out to the general public, the magazines are still focused primarily on the "Off-Road.com" style bolt-on mods. I doubt you'll see an article on fabbing dual spring shackles to get the correct shackle angle for your Chevy rear springs any time soon.

Plus, they're dumbshits who are afraid to speak negatively about anything when it comes to tire tests. Boggers are never tested in mud, and a Pirelli Morning-Flower AT is reviewed as a decent offroad tire. Just once I'd like to see them say, "If you buy these tires, stay on the pavement, dumbass".

Thankyou, kind sir. :flipoff2: :D

...I agree, but there has been a major attitude shift, and more useful information is being distributed through these mags than I've ever seen.

I do agree about the review stuff... But the simple fact is that they NEED to give the best possible review for these items, because you can't piss off potential or current advertisers if you want to keep your magazine afloat.

It's just a simple fact of capitalism that you have to give up somewhere to get ahead. Gotta pick your battles, and for the people who actually USE the review information (I don't think we have ANY of those on the board :D), the information is IDEAL.

Everybody wins, really. Those of us who know better don't read those articles.

I've ALWAYS taken reviews with a grain of salt. You have to.

...Unless it comes from a PBB person, then I'll believe it. :D

When I started reading 4x mags, they all featured Monster trucks...before you all start thinking that I'm some old prick...I was around 11 then:flipoff2:

and in the '80's every truck had to have contrasting neon doo-dad's...and you lifted your fullsize by adding a boat-load of leafs (and as many shocks with neon boots as you could fine places to mount) And don't forget the 'cool' splash graphics!

The mags are still pretty lame, much better than before, but lame none the less...advertizing dollars rule the roost.

The tech "answer man" departments are probably the least improved segment, very funny (in a sicko way) but lacking.

Best thing is that they have finally gotton away from the show trucks, lift blocks, 16 shocks with pink boots stuff, and are covering some ugly trucks that have fun.

I use to admire lifted full size trucks with 16 shocks and 12" lift blocks, now I don't even notice them. I notice what my wife calls POS rigs, give me rig with d60's, rear disc's, dual case's and boggers. I quess I'm just too old for the Offroad mags:)