T4WDO Magazine?

[woooody]

This is all quite petty. I get both magazines. They are different, suck it up. Second, I've met Dave at several Cruise Moabs, the only TLCA event I can afford to do. I'm nobody, and he has, at every event, stuck his hand out and said "hello." He even handed out sample magazines one year. Come to think of it he was also at the Rising Sun Rally this summer, and he said "hello" to me.

The two magazines compliment each other. Get one, get both, or don't get either. Your choice.

There is nothing "petty" about it. It was a direct response to a statement by Dave.

I'm glad you've met him. Really. But that wasn't the point of my statement. I honestly think the point has been lost. The point wasn't if Dave and/or T4WDO reps were at events, or talked to the people running it.

The original question was -- Why aren't TLCA and T4WDO cross promoting one another? I offered up thoughts that occurred from the last time that I know when it came up (late 2005, early 2006). Obviously, things have changed. There are different people on the BOD, and there are some of the same on the BOD. In no way am I speaking for the current board. You would have to ask Dave if he's brought the subject up again. Or you could ask Alan or Nick or Casey or any of the other BOD.

The ultimate question for either side is do they have anything to gain? Do they have anything to lose? It's really a business decision.

An example -- we all know about Henry Brimmer's Calendars. I have one from every year, as do many others. Henry approached TLCA in '06 about distributing his calendars through the TLCA webstore. It was brought to the board, discussed and voted on. We decided that due to the short sales window, and our tight budget, that the risk of unsold calendars outweighed the potential profit.

The BOD meets every month, on the last Thursday of the month. The BOD is who would decide on TLCA's behalf. It's really a question for them. My only participation in this discussion is to what happened in the past, not what could happen in the future.

 

[IronYuppy]

Just my $0.02 is that they're both excellent mags, and I hope someone who has invested thousands into his/her rig doesn't feel a need to take sides supporting two publications which can only advance knowledge and "brotherhood" among Toyota truck owners.

It should be said that TT is almost exclusively Land Cruiser based, obviously, while Dave's magazine covers the whole range of 4x4 'Yotas (I wouldn't mind seeing some tech articles on some of the other AWD Toyota vehicles in future issues, as well, and I can't see TT doing a write-up on the '88 Celica GTS4).

Additionally, unless you live in the US, TLCA membership is not that great a deal. It's expensive for non-US residents, even though they are less likely to benefit from all the perks of membership (I have yet to find a Canadian-based company who honours any of the TLCA member discounts, for example). In the grand scheme of things, I'm paying a lot for six magazines and a sticker. That said, I will continue to maintain my membership, as I think the TLCA and TT are worth supporting, and because TLCA's old website probably helped me recover my stolen 4Runner a few years ago.

But with T4WDO, I know that my money is going into supporting a magazine 100% of which I can enjoy, while I have to live with the fact that my TLCA fee is going into a pool of things most of which aren't really available to me.

 

[brew8]

I subscribe to both, I like them both, I'm an FJ40 guy the rest are station wagons, hate to see this kind of stuff, great publications, I think they both promote off roading, the more people interested the more trails stay open and the more people enjoy the hobby, keep up the good work, Larry

 

[nuclearlemon]

(I wouldn't mind seeing some tech articles on some of the other AWD Toyota vehicles in future issues, as well, and I can't see TT doing a write-up on the '88 Celica GTS4). .

i, on the other hand would stop subscribing if there were cars. it's toy 4wd, not toy awd. i have no interest in cars. i love the magazine as it is and, even though i'm a cruiser lover, i still enjoy the pickup stuff.

 

[Radd Cruisers]

Soon as we renew, I will post up the TLCA membership disscount on the web site.

But your special and we always give you a discount, you gotta drop by and see how nice the office turned out by the way.

Rob


(I have yet to find a Canadian-based company who honours any of the TLCA member discounts, for example).

 

[fj80toyman]

...This is where you put your spin on what happened. However, if you look back at your spam on 'mud, or even the cover of that magazine, you'll notice that you claimed "exclusive photos and drive report from the Rubicon". You seem to have forgotten that Trails had already published virtually identical photos. To me, as a Board member, I felt you tried to undermine what we had already published.

I was the one that took a lot of the photos that were in both TT and 4WDTOm of the FJ on the Rubicon. That's why they're identical. The difference was, Alan L. who I wheeled alongside for the 3 days asked my permission to use the photos and of course I said yes. However, they just showed up in 4WDTO without my knowledge or permission. No long-term sour grapes here, but it did piss me off at the time, and after I brought it to Dave's attention, he gave me credit in the following issue.

I always wondered if Joe was ever compensated for that 'contribution' to the magazine. Didn't ask, don't need to know, he no longer works here.

Ultimately, I am an enthusiast, even a fanatic and I look forward to and quickly read BOTH TT and 4WDTO. Competition is good for everyone, it makes us sharp. A little synergy goes a long way though.

 

[Stumpalama]

Additionally, unless you live in the US, TLCA membership is not that great a deal. It's expensive for non-US residents, even though they are less likely to benefit from all the perks of membership (I have yet to find a Canadian-based company who honours any of the TLCA member discounts, for example).

It is a good point Morgan. However, as one who has been a member in the U.S., Japan and Canada, without being a member of a TLCA member Chapter, I have noted the following. There is ,to my knowledge, only one TLCA sponsored event in Canada, River Shiver, put on by RMLCA (which kicks a** BTW). Their site says: the first and only Canadian TLCA sponsored event in history, yet, there are four TLCA chapters in Canada. What I am saying is, the TLCA is there, but the Canadian chapters, for whatever reasons, haven't taken advantage of those things offered by the TLCA.
I've read a few threads griping about TLCA delivery into Canada but those who complain, fail to mention what shipping option they chose, or how many TLCA events they have attended. I also know some former Canadian TLCA members who let their memberships lapse a few years ago because of lack of communication with those BOD members responsible for membership and dashplaques and stickers and such. My response to them is there was a time when things were sort of "disorganized and unresponsive" from that part of the BOD, but those issues seem to be a thing of the past now.
I've been a TLCA member since 1997, yet have not made a single sponsored event. That's my fault not their's. There are plenty of events on the West Coast that are only a day or so drive away. Of course, if we (VICruisers) join TLCA, then we can work to have an event closer to home and take advantage of the opportunities offered byTLCA Chapter membership.

Cheers-
-Stump