Is Earthroamer getting a Phord???

[NVR FNSH]

Originally posted by Brandon

they probably gave him one just like everything else he got... ... . Oh sorry marketing dollars traded for product, what ever. All I know is the new truck will be promoted as the best ever





just like the first bd trans was in issue 31 or 32... ... ... best trans ever



then in issue 36 or so..... ats trans best ever



earthroamer II best ever. Whatever it is is bull, because its all marketing and free bees not real world reports



I think the above is a fair and objective statement to summarize what I have seen over the last 10 issues of tdr mag



hey earthroamer guy you care to comment on this to let everyone know what really is going

I sense a bit of jealousy..... Let me guess, every sponsored racer is bought & paid for and their opinion/experience is discounted because they received the product for free? Gee, I would have thought a racers first job is to win races and would be using the products he/she felt would help achieve that goal. Can't imagine anyone running a product just because they got it for free if it was costing them wins. Or in EarthRoamer & Turtle Expedition using products that they got for free that may cost them their lives... .....



As far as BD was great, now ATS is the best - it's called learning. How many guys have upgraded from DD1s to DD3s because they figured out DD1s weren't giving them what they were really after?



Brandon you make a good point but you have to look at how the end user/'sponsored' rig is being used. A show car is one thing, an expedition vehicle or race car is entirely different.



Brian

 

[Sled Puller]

Sam is still writing away... ... .

 

[TxDieselKid]

Originally posted by NVR FNSH

As far as BD was great, now ATS is the best - it's called learning. How many guys have upgraded from DD1s to DD3s because they figured out DD1s weren't giving them what they were really after?



Brandon you make a good point but you have to look at how the end user/'sponsored' rig is being used. A show car is one thing, an expedition vehicle or race car is entirely different.



Brian

A transmission thread?



As for pushing sponcered parts. I think it's one thing for a sponcered person to say that yes, they were free, and look here's my results. Jet Piliot comes to mind in this case, never really "pushed" his sponcer's products, but shows he uses them, and has good results, done in a classy way I think.



I say write away, I never read his articles anyway, not what I want to read, but lots of people do, so write away.

 

[jmtandem]

earthroamer, et al

Earthroamer started out (if I recall about 10 TDR issues ago) to be a slightly burned out corporate guy with photography and adventure instincts and wanted a truck/camper setup to pursue his interests. I think that is great and enjoyed reading about how he was set up for camping. If I recall he used a very affordable pop up camper in the beginning. Today his many truck modifications and specialty built camper are probably overkill for what I need for camping. I suspect his new product on the Ford will be even more overkill for what I need. However, I hope Bill is successful with his new product.

 

[wyosteve]

I agree with tandem. Bill is a nice guy who decided to make a major change in his life. I say more power to him. So what if he gets it for free and so what if he gives his sponsors a plug. Take his information for what it may be worth to you, but don't denigrate him for just doing something many of us probably wish we had the cahonnies to do!

 

[Brandon]

bs brian... ... ...



free stuff is all that it amounts to... ... ... ... . if he says they are the best... ... I have no problems with the vendors just with swails morals end of subject... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... .

 

[illflem]

My 2¢

When a person obtains products for free many times his research into which product is best ends with the first product that is free.



Folks who have to research for the product that will do the best for the amount of money they have to spend is a more reliable real world evaluation.



More power to anyone who can get free products but I personally take any recommendation made about a free product with many grains of salt.

 

[Brandon]

Bill my point exactly... ... ... ..... but the articles dont say he got the stuff free... ... ..... dont forget about all the tdr readers that beleive everything in the articles... ... ...

 

[NVR FNSH]

Re: My 2¢

Originally posted by illflem

More power to anyone who can get free products but I personally take any recommendation made about a free product with many grains of salt.

Hence my comment about judging the validity of the comments based on the usage of the free parts - show car vs expedition vehicle.



I agree with both Bill & Brandon - I was just a bit disappointed in Brandon's scathing reply. Almost sounded like there was something personal there.



I thoroughly enjoy the Earthroamer & Turtle Expedition articles - more the technical/why I did it stuff compared to the actual travel articles. I had to laugh to myself while reading about Bill's Baja adventures - I've done pit support during the Baja 500 & 1000 several times and ridden dirt bikes in Baja a couple of times and thought Bill just plain out screwed up. The terrain isn't that difficult or that remote if you're prepared.



Brian



Brian

 

[jmtandem]

earthroamer and do we believe everything in TDR

Brandon,



I hope the TDR readers are literate enough to realize that all the decals and advertising on Earthroamer's truck and camper are really advertisements going down the highway. And, like most advertisements (even those in the magazine) , just because Earthroamer likes to use the product for whatever reason (even if the reason is that he got it free or is testing how it works) it is still advertising. I suspect loaning or giving Earthroamer a product to use is very inexpensive advertising as long as Bill writes stories about his adventures and publishes them in magazines. Anybody that doesn't think this is advertising can watch how long Bill will get to use free products if he stops writing about them in magazines.

 

[Snow man]

I dont read his articles either,but I do agree with Bill,and Brandon,anytime someone is sponsored or given products,I do not give much credibility to their opinions on the matter,or there evaluations of the product in any way ,since they are a puppet for whoevers sticker is on the side of their truck,and the real truth seldom comes out. I do not care that he gets it for free,we just need to keep that in perspective when we shell out our hard earned cash. Ask yourself how much $$ has HE invested in this product ?If none,then I wont even bother to listen,bring on the guys who paid for their mods,would they buy again,are they satisfied?BTW I am my own sponsor . So I tell it like it is.

 

[illflem]

little off subject

Who the heck uses Bardol?

See their stickers on racing rigs all the time.

 

[Dreher]

I think I've heard this before...

some of you sound just like this guy...



"Remember, just because a product worked or didn't work for me, doesn't mean it will or won't work for you. You and you alone must make the final decision on the products and services you choose to use. Read what I have to say and listen to what others have to say, but in the end, make an informed decision based on your requirements and judgement.



Try to learn the motivation of the person who is making a recommendation or endorsement. Are they being paid for the endorsement? Are they validating their purchase by getting you to buy the same product? Is your application similar to theirs? Are they a salesperson for the company? Is it marketing propaganda? I've made many bad decisions by giving too much weight to the choices and endorsements others have made. Many people will endorse a product simply because a company gives them a product or pays them money. "



There's more here.

 

[pwr2tow]

Really, who can we trust? Magazines, advertisements, lets not forget about the brand loyal fans out there, or the ones that bought something and are too ashamed (or egotistical) at admitting it. How about the ones that got a great deal or service and some don't. In my opinion there are too many variables to account on just one thing. Research, do your home work, and maybe you will get lucky. Even the best laid out plans sometimes get side tracked.



Buyer beware!!!



Ron

 

[JTMcCracken]

How about those $1500 HID auxilary lights he's talking about in the new issue of the magazine? I'm sure a member on this site will buy these lites, with real money, and let us know how they work. $750 per lite? Most folks are going to find a more pressing need for the money, some will buy the lites and love them, personally I'm not spending that kind of dough to replace my old KC's and tractor lites and also don't trust the written endorsement of products that are supplied free of charge. And yes, I also thought the Baja story was a little melodramatic.

JTMcC.

 

[nhincher]

Originally posted by JTMcCracken

And yes, I also thought the Baja story was a little melodramatic.

Good lord Yes! the way he built up his "seriously damaged earthroamer" in the Fourwheeler articles, I figured he ripped the front axle off the truck or something, but all that happened was some bent mounts for the camper!?!?!? big deal, suck it up, throw a ratchet strap around the thing and be on your way...



and I'm no one who can criticize writing ability but man does he get paid by the word or something? his stories could be cut in half if he would use a few more pronouns, like "it" instead of "my earthroamer expedition camper" when he mentioned "my earthroamer expedition camper" in the preceding sentence...



more power to him on the free stuff, wish I could swing the life style, he does take some pretty cool pictures too, but do they all have to have the truck in 'em?