No worries. Frankly, the 4x4Wire Isuzu site is nowhere near as up-to-date as I'd prefer, but it *has* actually been touched in this decade. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/pfft.gif" alt="" />

I'm done overtly evangelizing Isuzus... I've been there and done that, and it got in the way of my 'wheeling. I'm happy to share Isuzu stuff with anyone who wants, but I'm just not trying to 'recruit' anymore. Some folks incorrectly dismiss Isuzus. :shrug: I'll just 'wheel right on past them, and they can try to keep up.
Randii

IÆve been rolling the Isuzu boulder - in Sisyphus-like fashion, as it were - for quite a few years nowà uphill, both waysà and here lately, IÆm finally starting to see things from RandyÆs perspectiveà

It's just not worth the effort.

My enthusiasm for our chosen brand has not waned in the least, but rather, I have simply come to the realization that most people within the world of traditional 4-wheeling JUST DONÆT WANT TO have their opinions altered or adjusted to include anything as pesky as a few factsà Like the fact that an Isuzu is impressively well-built, straight from the get-go - Or that a slightly-modified Isuzu is an extraordinarily cost effective force to be reckoned with - Or that an extremely well-built IFS Isuzu is, dollar-for-dollar, equal to (or perhaps even greater than) just about any other street legal 4x4 on the trails. --- And then, of course, there are quite a few SASÆd `Zus, and a number of dedicated trail rigs, that even further reinforce the point.

Nevertheless, frequently, even when presented with first-hand proof (like when you conquer an obstacle that 'they' were unable to climb just moments before), seldom do our Isuzus receive the recognition that they so richly deserve. --- Instead, oftentimes youÆll hear a murmur of ôWhat the Hell is that grocery-getter doing out here?ö type comments.

WhatÆs the point? --- If someone canÆt allow themselves to process the information that theyÆve just seen with their own eyes, and realize that these æinferior vehiclesÆ must not be so inferior after all - then what good are a bunch of words gonna do?


Perhaps, in-time, after seeing such demonstrations again and again, a sort of Pavlovian conditioning will occur - wherein, at some point or another, the bulb will finally light-up over their headà Until then, I intend to keep driving right up next to those broken-down [*insert vehicle]s, and asking if they need any helpà even when I know that the response is typically going to be negative, and frequently possess an air of arrogance and condescension. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif" alt="" />




After learning almost everything that I know about 4-wheeling from behind the wheel of an IFS rig, I might even go as far as saying that IFS can spoil your sense of perceptionà

With IFS, the body roll itself serves as an inclinometer, whereas, in a sold axle-equipped rig, the suspension does a whole lot of compensating before you start to feel any real sense of your position.

IÆm convinced that this had a whole lot to do with why I flopped Z-ManÆs `Runner last weekend. --- If IÆd been in my Rodeo, IÆm relatively sure that I would've had a moment or two to respond, because the body would have been æinformingÆ me sooner about how hairy things starting to get û and allowed me a wee-bit of time to re-think whether or not I wanted to proceed, or grab for reverse. --- As it was, by the time that I realized just how crossed-up we really were, it was already too lateà. *Rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrt* & *Crunch* <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/ignore.gif" alt="" />



As such, instead of doing my previously planned SAS in the not-too-distant future, I believe IÆll be spreading the Isuzu Gospel by way of IFS for at least a few more years - with an Aussie rear, ARB front, custom steel front and rear bumpersà and if funding allows, maybe an EXO! <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />


<img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cheers.gif" alt="" />
<img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

It just beats you down after a while. I'm back and excited to be 'WHEELING my Isuzu. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" /> Much better than DUSTING it! <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" />

Who knows, maybe now that the General has finally urped up the last of its Isuzu shares, we'll see a corporate turnaround from Isuzu, and we'll find new Isuzu 'wheelers, instead of just preaching to the choir of an aging Isuzu 4x4 fleet, with numbers on the wane as older Isuzus wind up in junkyards.

I still pick up a print rag, from time to time, so I do hope they occasionally cover our marque, if nothing else, then to keep the small handful of vendors in our space.


I love helping those folks the most! There's something magic about taking the high road and helping somebody who's clearly on the low road... I'm a fan of irony!

Randii

Just wheel it, man. You can't sell this kind of addiction. Look at all the hype there is out there for Jeeps, for example. We see them on the trail, we see them in every 4x4 magazine we pick up, we see them on the road, lifted or non. Did the jeep craze grab you? Did you catch Jeep fever?
If you're on the isuzu forum, then no you didn't. What did you give up? More accessories, bolt on modifications, a quicker acceptance into your local 4x4 club, less head shaking as you drive by a construction site from the guys that drive "real" 4x4's, and a picture of what your rig could be in whatever off-road rag. yep, gave up all that.
SO WHAT
you didn't give up an awesome community of enthusiasts or the ability to wheel it!
So wheel it!

I appreciate all of your input. It is a real shame we live in a "spoon-fed" soceity, and $$$$ dictate image and what to buy or wheel. Well I say, "IMAGE IS NOTHING...I DO OFF-ROAD" sounds like a cool sticker slogan eh!

just tell them that your looking for your kids soccer practice <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />.

A friend told my husband that his VX was in 4wheel and offroad this month. I couldn't find anything until I went to their website.
http://4wheeloffroad.com/eventcoverage/131_0602_svclean/

It's not the front page, but it's a start. The person wrote nice things about it .... kinda
Swordy is a volunteer for the forestry service and does many trail clean ups with Cal 4 wheel.

Deby

Does no one here see the obvious other than Randii, Deby and I? If you want to get recognized, get involved. It has always seemed to me that Isuzu owners for the most part, do not want to associate with other 4-wheelers. There seems to be some sort of anti Jeep sentiment and Isuzu owners just donÆt want to associate with them for one reason or another. I know very few Isuzu owners who are members of local 4x4 clubs which is the first step to becoming involved in a local, regional and national level to not only promote the sport of 4-wheeling but keep our public lands open to motorized use.
Andy is involved and got noticed at an event. You want to get your picture in a magazine and show others how great your Isuzu is then start by wheeling organized events with active local clubs. There are a lot of great wheeling folks out there that donÆt own IsuzuÆs. Show them how capable your rig is and sometime you just may end up in a magazine.
You may find out there are a bunch of other 4-wheelers out there interested in the same things you are even though they might drive a Jeep, Toyota, Rover or whatever. You may also find out these local clubs do such things as adopt a trail, clean ups, restoration work in conjunction with land managers to promote our sport and keep our trails open.
Funny thing, Last week in Moab during the largest 4x4 event on the planet I did not see one other Isuzu out on the trails (apart from Dallas). I think that kind of tells the story why IsuzuÆs get no respect because they are just not there.
Todd

Here is my collection of dusty magazine coverage:

George R

Steve G

Zu Zoo

Thanks Steve,
I had not seen the Back Packer story. Frenchie is a friend of mine. Gunned for me last Tuesday.