So what do you want to see in Jp Magazine? Currently we're working on a high-speed/adventure Cherokee that doubles as a daily driver, a monster J-truck built at home on a budget sporting huge axles and tires for mud, sand and climbing and a high-tech TJ Brusier Chassis rock-crawler that can also hit high speeds, air time and dunes. We understand you may not build exactly the same Jeep we do but much of the tech can be adapted into your own projects. With that in mind tell us what you want to see in future issues. 

Thanks,

John Cappa

Editor, Jp Magazine

i would like to see anything jeep.  i would also like to see retro stuff.  i would like to see land use issues.  i would like to see actual built, bought and bolted on rigs.  i would like to everyday kinda people trail rigs.  i would like to see rigs built on a budget.  

i would not like to see anything that hurts our sport as a whole, or childish and immature.  basically i would like to see everything that you haven't been doing as of late.  i don't want to see every bolt on mod an advertiser sends to you  i would not like to see trespassing drinking on the trail, or hearing about our bar hopping storyies.  i also could care less about a bruiser chassis that has no jeep parts on it.  a buggy is not a jeep.  and don't use the cop out of, you can use these ideas and implement them on to your jeep, as i could do the same thing with a bronco or zuki.  what's the difference b/t a bruiser and one of those?  i also do not call how to spray paint tech, nor did I care for the mayhem tour.

greg  

For tech:

How about a regular old trail vehicle?  How to upgrade an old CJ on a budget.  Junkyard tranny tcase adaptors.  How to build yourself a cheap T18-D20/D18 combo. How to build a cheap TH400-D20/D18.  Shortening and lengthening your own driveshafts.  Building a stable flexy spring under suspension with junkyard parts.  Rebuilding an ancient 8274. 

For trail reports:

How about some trail reports about more family oriented clubs?  Maybe focus on offroading more and leave the off trail activities undocumented.

Chuck Pedretti

www.oldjeep.com

www.mntrailriders.org

I agree with Chuck Lets see some really cool home grown tech!! Lets see some tech on the old buick 350's where to spot a 401 how to install a rubicon 44 front in a yj.......

Their are soo many tech articles you could write on!

How to save a jeep tub

more product testing

Installing unimogs on your jeep!

Tons and Tons of great things you guys could write about here cappa

MC.....from bulltear.com

I'd like to see more tech articles and more reviews that the working man can use on his working mans rig. I'm not going to build a tube chassis. It's like watching this old house and thinking "Yea, I could do that with those tools." I've always wanted to see a home improvement show using $200 worth of tools. I could build a Poison Spyder Custom, if I had, their shop, tools, experience, and $50,000, but I don't. I want to read about projects I do in my driveway, with little or sporadic time, a wrench, and a budget. Search the boards, we all have tech questions and want reviews of products.

Take a look at the first 2 or 3 years of JP. That will give you a baseline.

How 'bout some tech on how to lengthen a frame and/or tub? Tub and frame rust repair?

Creative (boneyard) heat solutions for older Jeeps?

How to stop windshield leaks?

What are the likely causes of a CJ stalling at every stop sign??? I must have seen this question a thousand times in the past few years.

Jeep trailers... what is their history, how can they be refurbed, where can they be found??

How can one man lift a tub off of a frame, then put it back on without any help?

Cover Jeep history/facts. Dispel myths. This may require some actual research.

Spotlight a club each issue. Show more real people rigs. Hook up with some small clubs, hit some trails with them, document the experience. Review their rigs, what works and what doesn't. Cover local club-sponsored events. Cover Jamborees, there's enough variety in them you could cover a jamboree once per issue and not repeat for years.

Spotlight a successful internet Jeep resource each month. Clubs, forums, organizations that exist for the purpose of sharing Jeep information and experiences. There are hundreds out there.

You need to find a balance. Not everyone is hardcore, but we don't want a bunny-slope mag either. Work for broad appeal. Family appeal. Figure out what the average Jeep owner is doing, or wants to do.

Stay in touch with your supporters. You mention "high-speed" twice in the 3 things you are working on. Do your demographics tell you that high speed appeals to a majority of your subscribers? I suspect it would be a relatively small percentage.

Finally, solicit input continuously. Just as soon as you're sure you know what the readers want and stop asking, that's when you no longer have a clue.

And be polite. Respect your audience.

Good luck, I hope you find a way to turn this ship around before my subscription expires.

Lynn Klingel

York, PA 

www.earlycj5.com 

Want more: more backyard tech, Jeep history, retro rigs, weekend warrior rigs with a ~$5k budget, "local" Jeep club articles, Jeepers in the spotlight (collectors, restorers, Jeep specific merchants, parts pimps), pre '72 Jeep restorations, land issues, positive sport promotion, humor, more '5s.

Want Less: shock value jokes and pics, less emphasis on big dollar "hard core" upgrades.

Other "filler" articles- how to support your jeepin' by "horse trading".  Jeepin' and Ebay, Jeep internet forums, where to wheel.

Let's face it.  Most "Jeepers" are tightwads.  If we want the scoop on the big dollar $7k axles and like products, we can get that from 'Peterson's'.  Rahter than having the content appear like a trade show, it should read like a fireside chat.

Posting the comments below for my friend Brad in North Carolina. He is having some difficulty in obtaining a Login on this site.

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Dear Mr. Editor: I agree with those who have asked for a reality check for JP. I work for a living. I have a family. I buy JEEP parts. I own a modestly equipt classic Kaiser/AMC era Jeep. I see little or none of these in your mag. How about more content like this
http://www.oxcreek.com/modules.php?name=News&file=print&sid=30

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Lynn Klingel 

York, PA 

www.earlycj5.com 

I really enjoyed JP when it first came out.  Last fall my girlfriend bought a subscription to JP for me.  I told her not to renew it because I felt you lost touch with the roots of Jeeps and Jeeping in general.  I feel that the magazine has changed and put too much emphasis on new products from your advertisers in articles.  There is a big gap growing in the Jeep parts communities.  Almost all manufactures are putting out parts for the NEW types of Jeeps and leaving the older models behind.  We happen to own 4 Jeeps right now.  79 cj-7 (5" of lift on 35" swampers), 89 Grand waggy (stock), 93 YJ (3" of lift on 32" tires), and a 2000 TJ (8" of lift on 35" tires).   My main interest is in keeping what we have in running condition. 

I would like to see a Monthly article on some kind of restoration topic, or tip.  Like how to save a rusting frame on a CJ or FSJ.  Or body work tips on saving a tub.  Not necessarily an entire rebuild on one vehicle.  I think it would be more helpful to put out smaller articles on specific reparis.  I don't think you necessarilly need to change formats.  But maybe have an article on install or buidulp using new products (keep advertisers happy).  Then maybe a location shoot.  And maybe a repair type article.

I will have to admit that I feel JP has lost its appeal, to me anyway.  Its too much like the big 4x4 mags that are full of nice shiny pics and no real content.

I'd like to see rigs built off a real-world budget.  High dollar parts are super sexy, but a good number of us don't have the green it takes to get that stuff under our rigs.  I guess what I'm leaning towards is a rig with a lot of junkyard parts ie: axles, cases, trannies, etc.  And maybe doing a good portion of the work themselves instead of taking it to a local shop and paying to have it done?  I don't mean a rig built off ghetto fab, but a DIY project that would appeal to the majority of Jeep wheelers.

Maybe an "All Junkyard Issue" where you could show the buildup of a rig using a good portion of junkyard parts and maybe even a "How to Haggle at your Local Junkyard" article that covers the do's and don'ts of junkyard shopping. 

The Cherokee article sounds cool - I'm an XJ owner and I enjoy reading articles and buildups on these rigs as well as others.  How about an "XJ Cage" article perhaps?

 - I'd like to see low budget & high end axle buildups.  run them side by side to show the most extreme of each, and readers could pick and chose the options shown in each buildup to fit their budget.  do it for D60's, D44's, and I guess even D30's. 

- What about more custom suspension work, explaining geometry and such.  All sorts of diffrent end links (rod ends, poly, rubber, spherical, etc.) and each's pros & cons.

- Do an article or two on fuel cell how to, different options. 

- Do something on cool tools and how to set up your garage.

Just a few ideas, they're still plenty of good things about JP Mag, it's still one of my favorites I look forward to reading.....but, no longer the favorite and it's slipping.  You guys can get it back to it's potential, I still believe!!!!

RP

JP needs to focus on more real-world projects and modifications.  Dana 60's, air lockers, Atlas t-cases, and tube frames aren't needed or practical for the working class Jeep enthusiast.  Like Lynn mentioned, take a look at the first few years of JP.  These issues were great because they contained a little Jeep history, vintage rigs, solutions to common problems, and mods that were realistic to ordinary Jeep owners.  Take a look at your latest project vehicles.  How are these practical for the "Average Joe" to take on?  Sure they're nice to look at maybe, but I'd much rather see an early restored Jeep or any Jeep with common sense mods that work.  I own a mid-'60's CJ and the earlier magazines helped out a bunch, but within the last year or so, I basically only use JP for the Ad Index.

Also, club recognitions would be a nice addition.  We need to see more clubs in the spotlight.

Bob Quartaroli

'66 CJ5 V6

HEY DUDE, I want me in JP! ME! ME! ME! and my Jeep! And do every thing I want and every thing I think other people want (C'mon I'm just kidding), I have been reading some of the posts recently, ( this one and the Mayhem tour) Man, some people are just way too black and white about stuff.  Your recent stuff has been enjoyable. Your humor is great. Yea, some people are offended, but guess what? Is it really that big of a deal humans? Ya know, I had a budget jeep once, but now it is a Resto/Mod that has a lot of green put into it, some stuff came out of the junkyard and was built  by myself (pat, pat, pat,), I rolled the thing and full coverage insurance paid up. (KEEP ALL YOUR RECEIPTS). Even with the junkyard parts, you will have to spend some money to clean it up, up grade it or what ever. Jeeps cost money man, its an expensive hobby, and if you can afford a beer afterwards, get after it. Its all about being reasonable and responsible. Enjoy your own crap and even though some people do not like buggys so much, they can pick something off of an article  to apply to use on their rig, John, you and Christian keep up the good work. I am in Law Enforcment and have to deal with idiots that go over board about being black and white. (also courts look at things within reason, so forget about what you are told about things being shown in your mag and lawsuits etc. You know all that already though because you have Corporate lawyers). People need be REASONABLE and have a friggin' open mind. Your Mag takes me to reality brother, I appreciate all your advice even if I don't agree. Thats where I make my own mind up and decide, and not try to push it on to others. Please show more scandily clad women in your mag (hell, my wife even likes it). Sign me up for your next mayhem tour, lets go to Daytona or Lake Havasu, whatever, also lets drive our Jeeps that are built multipurpose and done right, fast on the freeway and RESPONSABLE on the trail. Lets pick up trash and then go have a beer afterward (I don't drink but my wife can throw them down) then WALK back to the motel or tent.

PS. How many bags of cheetos and 6 packs of Mountain Dew do I need to send to get a JP license plate???  I do like seeing the Old school Jeeps converged with the new technology. Simple things like a CJ with TJ stuff, or Corvette brakes or 38's working great with old school spring unders. I also like the new technology and being able to try and to apply it to my old/new school resto/mod CJ.

Hey you, I'm into JEEPS! 

Keep it FUN and Religious brother!!

Jeepdude, it's not about relaxing in a PC world or threat of lawsuits.  It's all about image.  The 4x4 community has a bad image to those unfamiliar with all the good we do and care most of us take while following "treading lightly" guidelines.  It has everything to do with changing that image and keeping our trails open.  I go to hearings all the time on trail closure issues and I have seen environmentalists hold up as exhibits mag. pics of people going through rivers and off designated trails.  The damage this does to our image is immeasurable.  JP and other mags need to be more accountable and get the word out about teaching proper trail guidelines, etc.  I never see that in JP and would like to at least occassionally.  

Now, what I'd like to see in JP.  More competition stuff, standings, etc.  Trail rides, better tech.  No the tech looks like marketing material from the advertisers.  I call it "tech ads."  Less childish humor.  Specialty mags should focus on deep dive info., including tech, history, features etc.  I would like to see more on how to be stewards of the sport.  Too much crap about whoopin' up like a bunch of drunken rednecks.  While I enjoy tipping a few back, I don't subscibe to JP to follow the frat party pranks of the staff.  I can read Stuff mag. for that.  I should want to keep JP mags around as a resource-right now I don't.  I read them in about 30 min. and they go right in the recycle after that.  I want this mag. to succeed, but as it stands now, after my subscription ends I won't renew.  The good news for you, my wife got me a 2 yr. subscription so hopefully you can turn it around before then.  Otherwise its bad news for me for the next 2 yrs. 

By the way, thanks for asking this question.  There is a lot of frustration out there over the direction of this mag.  Good luck.