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March 2005 Issue

Letters & Stuff

Send your questions, comments, etc. along with your name, address and phone number to:

or email:

info@oramagazine.com

My 2004 Silverado 2500 HD Named Treestand

I am writing you in hopes that my truck will be put in your magazine. I have installed a 6-inch Superlift suspension with a set of 325/60/20 NITTO All Terra Grapplers mounted on American Racing 20x10 Super Alloy rims. The dual front shock mounts were custom made by DXC of Shawsville, VA. The truck has Realtree hardwoods custom vinyl graphics and a Realtree glasscape on the back glass. It has been nicknamed Treestand and with lift, wheels and tires it has a overall lift of around nine inches so when I go up on the mountains of Virginia to hunt I can see in all directions. This truck has all the goodies thanks to 4wheelparts.com and I just wanted you to see what you have done for me by being a great supplier.

Offended By ‘Dinosaur’ Reference

I just received your latest mag and I must say that I’m VERY disappointed in what you had to say about the International Scout that was in the Ranger run. Why would you continue to refer to our beloved Scout as “ THE OLD DINOSAUR.” That sucks for Scout lovers as myself and being an avid reader of your somewhat mediocre magazine which will, from now on go directly into the TRASH when I receive the next one... I’m involved in a large Scout club “Scouts West” here in So. Cal. and most of the members feel the same way I do about YOUR crappy comment about our Scouts... I’ll put my OLD DINOSAUR up against any of your credit card built rigs any time of the day and it probably will out last any of the new plastic jeeps being made these days... Being that this mag is part of 4 Wheel Parts, I will not shop their stores anymore as well. Nothing better than Old Iron....... Tons of buzz on the IH sites talking about your uncalled for comment and the word is spreading fast in the IH community.... Yeah, your the big dog on the block and probably don’t care what I think but thought I’d share my and other feelings about your comment...

Bill Leutbecher — Via email

Well, Bill, I guess you’re a PC kinda guy that sits around waiting for stuff to twist into an insult. What is a dinosaur, anyway? It’s old, big, very strong, very tough and something you don’t mess with. If that doesn’t describe a Scout, what does? If you couldn’t see the context of the way dinosaur was used in the story, then you got a little growing up to do yet. As to tossing the magazine away, be our guest, but you’re going to miss a lot of Scout stuff that’s coming down the pike for the Old Iron section. In case you didn’t connect my name with the guy that writes the Old Iron column, well, they are the same. Anybody that’s read Old Iron (like the January ’04 issue on the Scout 80), any of my books or the many stories I’ve written about Scouts in the nearly 20 years I’ve been doing this, will know the deep appreciation I have for them and all other IH products. No, I’m not going to apologize for calling the Scout a dinosaur because it was said with the deepest respect. If that’s beyond your ability to understand, then I’m glad you won’t be a reader.

By the way, after your letter, I looked at about a half dozen of the larger Scout message boards, including Scouts West, and saw nary a comment. Maybe the “buzz” you’re talking about is coming from within your head and not other Scout Owners.” — Jim Allen

Air Vogel Provides Non-Stop Service Over Dumont Dunes

This is my ’88 YJ that gets me into and out of trouble on a regular basis. Here, I’m at Dumont Dunes, California where I was jumping with all the (sand) rails, and keeping up with them on the dunes. I put on a Pro Comp 4” lift from 4 Wheel Parts, 33” BFG Muds, Powertrax No-Slip locker in the rear, Spidertrax front wheel spacers, HEI Performance Ignition, K&N air filter, ARB Bull Bars, custom tire mount, custom onboard air, and more. I really enjoy reading ORA cover-to-cover. Thanks for all the great articles!

Brett Vogel, Las Vegas, NV

This Can’t Be True, I Was There!

I just received your January 2005 issue in the mail and I want to thank you for another fine issue. I really enjoy your tech articles and especially Jim Allen’s “Gearhead” column. I like to figure out the answer to the questions to see how close I am to Jim’s. However, I would like to make a correction to this latest issue though.

On page 36 there’s a photo of my 1974 Dodge Power Wagon taken during a Terra Del Sol run. I’ve owned this truck now for 31 years and I can state with authority that this truck doesn’t take the green trails as the caption says! It seeks out the more difficult trails and tackles them with greater ease than most jeeps. On that run alone, I can remember at least three nasty hills that some other vehicles went up that had to make multiple attempts to make it over. While my “antique” Dodge made it over the first attempt. I did receive some minor body damage in some of the tighter areas (an easy fix).

One thing that I can guarantee, my Dodge was the only Dodge out there. Not only that, I know it was the only 4 wheeler out there with a Holly six-pack on it! And being a Dodge, it had the most horsepower. Thanks for the picture!

Kurt Hoffman, La Quinta, CA.

Kurt — We are sorry that you feel we implied that you and your beautiful Dodge only take the Green trails. The truth is, we used your photo with a caption that mentioned the fact that Green trails are there for those who feel the need for them. The reason your Red Dodge was used for this caption was based strictly on the fact the we where so impressed with it’s clean new look. Your Dodge is truly a fine vehicle and we wish we had captured an image of you on one of the Red trails. After all a Red Dodge on a Red Trail is hot stuff. — Trent Riddle

Patrick Praises Plano

I wanted to write and tell you how one of your sales associates went out of his way for me. I have recently taken a new job south of Denver (moving from Plano, Texas). A few days before moving, I decided to get a little Texas mud on my Dodge and unfortunately suffered a puncture on the side of my 35” ProComp Xterrains. Being just a few days before I left for CO., I remembered I had the all inclusive warranty on those tires. So I ran up to the 4 Wheel Parts store up on Plano Parkway and talked to one of your sales associates, Michael Shannon, who looked into ordering me a new tire. He discovered that the closest tire that would fit a 17” rim was in Atlanta. So he put in the order and said he would keep me up to speed on the progress. It ended up that the tire wasn’t going to arrive before I had to leave. Then I got a great phone call. They had the exact tire I needed being used to demo another 17” wheel and it was hanging on the wall in the store. I ran up to the store and Michael pulled the old tire off and put the new one on while I looked around the store. This may not seem to be such a great occurrence to you but to me it was an act that has earned my business as long as I’m near a 4 Wheel Parts store, have access to the website, and a ORA magazine on my desk. Thanks again Mike and all the guys at the Plano store, the tire looks great.

Zack Must Be Some Kind Of Mowing Machine!

I haven’t been reading your magazine for very long, but something has been lacking that I have noticed in “Letters and Stuff.” Here it is, big wheels and big tires! 20-inch wheels and 40-inch Swampers under a 9-inch lift with a 3-inch body lift. I figure I would try to inspire some of you older guys and gals out there. I built this beast with my lawn mowing money and B-Day money. I turned 16 Jan. 26, 2005. With a brand spankin’ new 350 crate, new wheels and tires, I’m ready to do some THUMPING. I was going to wait until after I get it painted (jet black with pearl ghost flames), bad huh, but I have to mow a few more lawns (unless some famous painter would like to volunteer). It still needs some tweaking here and there, but what the heck, it’s a truck!

What a great job you’ve done on your rig. We’re also very impressed with your work ethic and vision of what you want at such a young age. We expect you will be heading a Fortune 500 company in a few years!