Premier Welder To The Rescue
I enjoyed your "Welding on the Run" article in the May '10 issue. A Premier welder has saved our day on many trails over the years. I finished reading your article just prior to the Tierra Del Sol Desert Safari. Then, while on the TDS run, I came upon Rick Péwé performing a trail fix using the new Premier welder. I guess this was a real example of welding "on the run." I'm sure the new welder met your expectations and got the broken rig moving again. Thanks from all the wheelers you've helped over the years. You've got a great mag, and I look forward to every issue.
Tom Armstrong
Chino, CA
Thanks, Tom. It's always fun to help out other wheelers, sort of like paying it forward. If something doesn't break on a trail ride, the trail must not be too tough. And if I don't get a chance to fix something, the day (or night) just isn't complete.
LightWeight Wheeler Build?
Extreme rock, mud, and even show builds are all great. But haven't we all noticed how moderate flatfenders and Samurais are all-around trail monsters? A build concentrating on products and ideas to strip down and lighten a rig would be very interesting. The idea is to get some of the benefits tube-frame trail buggies enjoy, but for commuter wheelers starting with a stocker. From mirror relocators (stage 1?) for stripping down to carbon fiber front clips and aluminum heads (stage 3?) for lightening up. Your industry resources could save readers a lot of legwork.
Bill Phillips
via 4wheeloffroad.com
P.S. A popular joke in the defense industry starts with the military being interested in a mouse for its small, light, go-anywhere design. When all the improvements have been made and it meets mil-spec, the design is rolled out and ... it's an elephant.
Great idea, Bill! We are currently building a project CJ-7 (page 78) that incorporates that idea. It, too, will end up heavier than planned, but along the way we intend to improve the power-to-weight ratio, usually by adding more power!
Canadian Version
I just received my August issue and cracked it to Readers' Rides. On page 18, "Mud Prince," it notes that it is a '77 Ford F-205. Since it is a Canadian truck, this must be the metric version, eh?
Grant Christiansen
via 4wheeloffroad.com
Haha, we get it. We apologize for the typo. But for more on that problem, read on.
What The Heck?
The picture on page 37 (of Rick Péwé) in the June '10 issue gave me a good laugh. I just went through a mandatory office ergonomics evaluation, and I can tell you there are about 10 things wrong with the way you're working. I'll name just a few.
First, that "Jeep Commander" office chair is a joke. That looks like it might work for a boardroom meeting, but for hours of computer work, forget it. There's no way anyone with sense would have designed that for a workstation. That would not be allowed at my work.
Second, you're leaning forward while typing, which is a really bad habit. Are you having trouble seeing the screen? You might want to get your prescription checked on your glasses because you shouldn't have to get that close to the screen. Also, your screen should be a bit higher. You're looking down. You should be able to look roughly straight ahead at it.
You should move your keyboard back, away from yourself, because your arms are in an unnatural position. Then move some of those office supplies like the stapler and the tape dispenser out of the way so you have enough room for the mouse to move. Looks like it's where your elbow is, but really it should be a little farther back too.
Finally-and granted, this a computing tip-try and organize your folders so everything is not stored on the Desktop.
I love Petersen's and just want you guys to continue to produce a good mag while working smart. I work a few blocks down the street from your new address (on Douglas Street in El Segundo). If you need me to come over and give you some tips I would be happy to.
BTW, looking at the new Source Interlink building, I can't possibly imagine that your workshop moved there too. Just the offices, correct?
Ed Laag
via 4wheeloffroad.com
Where would I start? First off, thanks for trying to help. We always appreciate that. However, the photo looks like I'm in an unnatural position because I am. The photo is intended to show the "Jeep Commander" office chair, but if I sat normally you couldn't see it. So I leaned forward, got too close to the screen, scrunched my arms up, and made it look like a bad office scene, all for the photo. As a matter of fact I usually lie far back, see the screen fine, relax in the way-comfortable chair, and only move my hand slightly to use the very fast and sensitive mouse.
Oh, and every file and folder you see on the screen is what I go through every day- you should see all the subfolders behind them!
As far as a shop goes, well, we never had one at the old building, and we have a photo studio in the new one. We work on vehicles out of our garages, backyards, and other people's shops-there's no way we would fall into the trap of a company-owned and -dictated shop for us to work in.