Reader: I am a recent subscriber to your magazine although I have been buying them at the supermarket checkouts for more than 20 years. I have owned close to 20 vehicles over that time, most of them modified 4x4s. I feel that Petersen's 4-Wheel & Off-Road (and most of the other 4x4 magazines) have been lacking in a topic that is fast becoming the norm amongst us off-roaders: a lightweight tube-framed trail buggy. When I say lightweight, I mean 38-inch tires or less; no Dana 60s, V-6, or stock V-8; somewhere around a 3,000-pound finished weight; preferably four seats; and less than $17,000 invested. This would be a vehicle that fits between a built-up TJ and a full-on rock buggy with 60s, V-8, and more than $25,000 invested. I am building a lightweight trail buggy. I have less than $11,000 invested so far, and expect to have it running for somewhere close to $15,000. My last buildup was a '99 Jeep TJ. I paid $9,000 for it, and then dropped another $6,000 into it (RE long-arm kit, gears, wheels, tires, and lockers), and although it was a good vehicle, it is nowhere near the ability I will have with the buggy for the same amount of money.
Most of us that get into this sport start with our daily drivers, and continuously modify them until we realize that we have exceeded the design intension/integrity of the vehicle. At that point they become purpose-built vehicles, and typically the body damage has started to take its toll. I have reached this point so many times that I have decided to build a lightweight tube-framed buggy as a dedicated trail rig. Would you be interested in publishing articles (whole or in part) as I start the buildup of my buggy?
John Rabenius
via 4wheeloffroad.com
Editor: You make a good point about building a buggy for trail as opposed to rock racing or other competition. However, Tech Editor Fred Williams is doing just this and we've covered the buildup over the last year or so, as Project Fun Buggy. The idea is to have a capable rig for fun that is still street-legal, and so far he's making good progress. Thanks for offering your buggy build for an article, but we better stick to what we have in house for now.
Reader: I just got my Oct. '06 issue, and on page 54 there is an ad for a '89 Jeep Grand Wagoneer near Columbus, Ohio. Do you know anybody from northern Ohio? I want to know because you are an international magazine, yet you picked the Canton, Ohio, Craigslist and picked that Jeep. Was it a random pick or were you looking? I was just looking to buy parts off that Jeep two weeks ago, and when I saw that article my jaw dropped. I told the owner of that Grand that you had it in there. Thanks. You have a great magazine and I look forward to it every month.
Ian Adams
via 4wheeloffroad.com
Editor: Freelancer Drew Hardin responds: I wrote the article about Internet shopping that you refer to in your e-mail. The reference from Craigslist was, in fact, totally random. I work in the Los Angeles area, and I wanted to give an example of what could be found on CL from an area of the country that wasn't L.A. I stumbled across that one, and it was indeed a total coincidence. Good luck with your parts hunting.
Reader: Rick Pw (with all the accent marks) was correct in saying that the Jeep Wrangler Rubicon is probably the best stock wheeler ever ("Best 4x4s Ever," Sept. '06). The only problem is that a Rubicon is not pictured! The picture in the article is actually a Wrangler Sahara as far as I can see. I'm sure I'm not the first person to mention this to you guys, but it can't hurt, right?
Mason Copeland
via 4wheeloffroad.com
Editor: Sharp eye, but no, you were the only one to notice that. The truth is, that is the very first Rubicon before the Rubicon ever was-code named "Elvis." Former Editor David Freiburger and I built up that Sahara pictured with a then revolutionary 4:1 transfer case, lift, lockers, and so on before the TJ first came out. You'll even notice I had dark hair then, a dozen years ago!