Helmet Cops On The Rubicon?
Reader: First, I'd like to state my appreciation for your keeping a first-class magazine going. I was a subscriber when I still lived in Colorado and can't wait to get back out west where I belong. Petersen's still doesn't hold a candle to you guys. Secondly, a big part of what I hate about this part of the country is reflected in the first letter (Feb. '08). I hardly had to even look to see that it had to be from somebody around this part of the country (Ohio). For crying out loud, what kind of danger is a mud pit to your head? It's this same Eastern mentality that is behind the desire back here to close land in the West to four wheelers. If you don't live there, keep your cotton-pickin' hands off! Next thing you know, they'll be demanding seatbelt cops and helmets on the Rubicon! Keep up the good work, and I'll be seeing you on the trails back in God's country soon.
Daniel Frasier
Nevada, OH
Lookin' For Xtreme Blazer Body
Reader: I need to know if there's a body kit for my '00 S-10 Blazer. I'm lookin' for the Blazer Xtreme kit. Let me know if there's a Web site for them.
Schnell
via fourwheeler.com
Editor: The only avenue we know where you are still likely to find a complete Xtreme body kit is directly through your GM dealer. You might have some luck poking around the classifieds at eBay or Craigslist, but of course this is usually a hit-or-miss proposition. A good resource we found is an enthusiast site for S-10 owners, www.s10forum.com, where you can find info about the Xtreme package, along with OE parts numbers for all the individual body components. Good luck hunting.
Wants A Job At Four Wheeler
Reader: I was just wondering if you're hiring for anything right now. It would be a dream come true to work with Four Wheeler.
Tyson Jenkins
Nampa, ID
Editor: Thanks for the kind words, but sorry to say, we're hiring about as frequently as Hillary Clinton wins Democratic caucuses these days. When job openings occur, we do as a rule post them to some of the bigger job sites such as Monster. com, or to magazine-specific sites such as Media Bistro. We've also posted job notices at fourwheeler. com when positions have opened up at the magazine, so check our Web site regularly for the latest info.
The Crated Jeep Mystery,Solved At Last
Reader: Please stop saying there are no Jeeps in crates. I started working on tractor-trailers in 1977, and one trailer had a Jeep in a crate inside of it. The Jeep had the wheels off for shipping. It came with an owner's manual. So please don't call me a liar and do some research. This is the second time I have emailed you about this. The least you could do is send me a free subscription.
Carter Richardson
Roanoke, VA
Editor: We get all kinds of pitches for free stuff. Yours is one of the more creative ones. But keep trying!
Old vs. New Tire Comparos?
Reader: I think that some of the best issues are the ones with tire tests in them. Just a few days ago, I thought of a great tire test. What if you put the new and the old versions of BFGoodrich Mud-Terrains to the test on the same vehicle and put each set through the same course and see which one works better for different things?
Ryan Walls
Poplar Bluff, MO
Editor: We sort-of did that in our review of the new KM2 Mud-Terrain (Nov. '07). We didn't run them over the same course at the same time, but as luck would have it, we'd been driving a Wrangler Rubicon with the previous-gen tires on it for a month before we hopped into another Wrangler Rubicon that was shod with the new tires, and given identical vehicles, an apples-to-apples comparison was fairly easy to make.
On the other hand, that particular test was kind of a one-shot deal since both versions of the Goodrich M-T were still available to the public. That will change in the near future, as Goodrich phases out production of the old M-T later this year. Which begs the obvious question: Why would we want to test a tire that isn't being made anymore, and which probably won't be easy to find in the future?
Trying For 20 MPG From A Truck
Reader: I just recently got a new job commuting 80 miles per day. I just sold my '96 Toyota T-100 SR5 4x4 V-6 because I was only getting about 15 mpg. I don't want to go without a 4x4 (I live in Maine), but I really need to find one that will get 20 mpg on the highway. I was looking at '96-'00 4x4 Jeep Cherokees with the I-6 engine. I looked up fuel ratings at Kelly Blue Book, and they said it should get 16 city and 21 highway; the manual transmission is said to be about 1 mpg or so better.
I know there are a lot of upgrades available for the Jeep, but I don't want to make a bad purchase, and I am open to any ideas that you may have for trucks or SUVs, or aftermarket vehicle upgrades that actually give you better fuel mileage. I picked up a '97 GMC 1500 4x2 with the 5.0L and a five-speed to get by. It gets 20 mpg, but it is not a 4x4. I've considered doing a twowheel- drive suspension lift but am not sold on it entirely. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. I know that vehicle fuel ratings are not always that accurate.
Scott Brouillard
Biddeford, ME
Editor: You're getting 20 mpg overall with a 10-year-old V-8 pickup truck? We're impressed.
There are so many variables involved in estimating mileage-your driving style, your vehicle's state of tune, the types of roads and weather you drive in-that it's hard to guarantee that any particular vehicle we'd recommend will deliver anything approaching its promised EPA mileage. One thing we can tell you, though, is this: if you're concerned about mileage above all else, forget about the suspension lift. Anything that adds weight and/or wind resistance to your vehicle will have an adverse affect on mileage.
And that leads to another thing: When it comes to mileage, nothing-but nothing-beats light weight. Or a diesel engine. Or better yet, both.
Engine Miles: How High Is Too High?
Reader: I have a '94 Chevrolet 1500 Z/71 that has 350,000 miles on it, and all on the original motor. It is completely stock, except for dual exhaust, and I have been looking into putting a 3-inch suspension lift and 33x12.50 tires on it. Do you think it would be worth the money and effort to put a lift on a truck with this many miles on it?
Mark Shimmel
Wake Forest, NC
Editor: Not without a fresh motor. Next question?