Reader: I have read before that a good way to stay active in the four-wheel-drive community is to join a club. Recently I joined the Great Lakes Four Wheel Drive Association (www.glfwda.org), which is part of the United Four Wheel Drive Association (www.ufwda.org). My girlfriend and I went to Drummond Island (eastern end of Michigan's U.P.) for the 5th annual Drummond Off-Road Adventure. This was our first outing as members of an organization. It was put on by a local club-Mud, Sweat and Gears-all of whom are members of GLFWDA. I have to say that I wish I would have joined sooner. Not only did we get to wheel, but we did so with like-minded people who hold themselves to high standards. Tread Lightly, no alcohol whatsoever on the trail, wait for the guys behind you, pick up garbage on the trail, and observe trail courtesy at all times were as integral as having a good time and heckling the members of your group at every obstacle.
I was very impressed with the level of organization that this event had. There were two days of trail riding that culminated in a dinner with a raffle for sponsor-donated prizes. All of this seemed to go off without a hitch-however, I understand what was involved. M.S.G. had to work with the D.N.R. for trail use, the V.F.W. for dinner, and all of the sponsors who donated stuff.
I learned more about the Blue Ribbon Coalition and what they do for all off-highway users. There is no way I could have had access to all of this without being a member of a club. I have to say that just the genuine level of camaraderie was worth the price of the annual fee. I would recommend that anyone who wishes to expand their off-road horizon should join a club.
Pete Koehler
New Haven, MI
Editor: We can't stress that fact enough, and belong to a few off-road and 4x4 groups and clubs ourselves. Regardless of what you drive or where you go, the only way to keep our trails and open land accessible by mechanical means is by banding together with groups like this and others.
Reader: In regards to the "Point Taken (maybe)"(Oct. '05), where the discussion is basically which way to use an adjustable wrench. First off, you're both right. You shouldn't put the load on the weakest point of the wrench-which is the movable jaw-that's just common sense. I know this from working as a welder, where the main wrench that you carry is an adjustable one (it fits in your back pocket easier than a 25-piece set), and also a lot of your new adjustable wrenches have their own little built-in arrow so that people who don't know how to use one, can. But as far as the picture, it was stated that, "As you can observe, the outer end of the fixed jaw is touching and the inner portion has a gap." Now I would've had to agree 100 percent with that statement, but I had to go and look at the picture. C'mon! Now I don't know much about photo analysis and I haven't spent the last 50 years in a garage with my buddies discussing which way you should turn a wrench. But I do know if you're pushing on something (like a wrench) your finger tips don't turn red, like they are in the picture. That only happens when you're pulling or hanging on something (like a wrench). What I'm saying is that the picture is right. I really enjoy the magazine. Keep it up. Oh yeah! Thanks for your time, and if I'm lucky maybe a license plate.
Justin Silvers, via 4wheeloffroad.com
Editor: Right you are Justin, as well as the hundred of other readers who agreed with us. Of greatest interest was the fact that we received a ton of mail about this subject of which way to use a wrench, including CAD drawings, technical dissertations, and the drunken "right on, Dude" reply on this subject. Bottom line guys; you use the little arrow on the handle as a guide, or as we showed in the photo. You can't tell which way the blood is flowing in that photo nor should you be concerned about that, as the photo was staged for the arrow to be inserted, and the hand model was so excited to be in a magazine he had that wrench in the grip of death. Of more important concern is the fact that this subject generated more mail than the editorial (4xForward, Sept. '05) concerning joining a club or organization to help save our 4x4 trails. I received four replies, all in favor. That's a very small percentage, and absolutely embarrassing to our 4x4 community. Go join a club!