TDR #38 observations...

[Gary - K7GLD]

Couple of apparent contradictions on perspectives appear in the current issue of TDR #38 regarding the industry views and future of diesel power in the US...



Article entitled "technical topics" goes to great lengths to demonstrate existing and future EPA and various legislative problems facing diesel engine advancement and production especially pages 31-32 - and yet another set of quotes and predictions over in the "Blowin' in the wind" (pg 75 especially) column seemingly predict great advances and scheduled INCREASES in production and consumption of diesel-powered vehicles...



The first article essentially states that with existing and proposed EPA dictates "small engine diesel power is dead" - and the other article make mention of serious efforts, by Ford in particular, to develop and produce smaller displacement diesels for some of their intermediate sized vehicles...



Seems like a Mexican Standoff is on the horizon - with the "Big 3" obtaining a SERIOUS boost in production and sales of diesel powered vehicles - and with one, Ford, already on the financial ropes, elimination or serious reduction of diesel production and sales could be the last straw for Ford, and quite damaging for the others...



It'll be interesting to see where all this diesel controversy ends, and who will ultimately benefit - and I'm predicting it WON'T be the consumer...

 

[Motorhead]

I think that we can blame the EPA and all of the tree huggers here in Calif. Old sooty Diesels of the past put a bad image in alot of peoples minds. To me when a Diesel can get more MPGs than a gasser, thus using less fuel, Where is the problem? I personally think that Diesels in one form or another have a future in the transportation industry. Chris

 

[baby.driver]

Remember the EPA is the reason the Twin Towers fell down before everybody could get out. No asbestos allowed.



Jay

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

It just seems like we're on some sort of collision course - growing interest, development and sales of diesel powered vehicles on the one hand, and STRONG efforts in this country to seriously reduce or eliminate their use...



It'll be interesting to see where it all ends - BILLIONS of dollars in development, engineering, manufacturing, sales and jobs are involved...



Eliminate diesel power in this country, freight doesn't get hauled, planes don't fly (jet fuel is VERY close to diesel in composition), trains don't run - the list of things stopped is VERY long...

 

[WadePatton]

Other observations

Turbo Diesel Motorhome Register. Yeah, I know a lot of CTD pickups pull RV's, and that many self-propelled RV's use CTD power, but I'm in it for the PICKUP TRUCK aspect. Are we going to have articles by guys who own CTD powered boats next?



MOF Dad's farm tractor has a 5. 9 Cummins in it, maybe I should review it for the Register.

 

[baby.driver]

My Mom, 70+ years says



'I really like your truck Jay, it sounds and feels so substantial'



I said, 'Yeah'!



Jay

 

[Evan A. Beck]

I noticed a few things in #38 too... I really dislike the "Polly's Pickup" section. The last thing I want to read about is someone getting a friggin facial and a manicure. I pay 35 bucks a year to read about cool diesel-powered stuff, NOT that other kind of junk.



One other thing... A note to those who proofread the TDR before it gets published... The Southern Truck Parts Dodge Dakota on page 62 does NOT have an ISB in it... It's a 12-valve. Talk about being inaccurate. Jeez, lets get it straight, people!

 

[Motorhead]

Without ruffling anyones feathers, I agree with Evan. WE hear all of the time about being short of pages to put articles in. I would request that the articles stick with the Diesel subjects and not add a bunch of filler dribble.

Evan, I caught the ISB(NOT) in the Dakota also. Chris

 

[Steve St.Laurent]

I don't know where you heard that Motorhead because I've never heard it and I write for the magazine. Robert would love to expand the magazine and publish more pages. AFAIK he prints everything that he receives and is always interested in more. So send in articles, get others to send in stuff . . . He's continued to add more and more pages to the magazine - if you don't like a particular article, flip the page and go on to the next one. Not everyone is going to like every article.

 

[Motorhead]

Steve, I had heard that there was a weight restriction on the magizine and that articles or pictures couldn't be put in if you exceded a certain amount of pages/weight (Post office prices).

Like I said at the first of my comment, I am not trying to push anybodys buttons. I appreciate everyone that contributes and read the mag cover to cover. Sorry if I am mis-understood. Chris

 

[WadePatton]

hoo boy, ya'll hear that? Let's all write an article.



Move over manicures, minivans, and motorhomes. This is a truck rag.

 

[TDRadmin]

Clarification

As with any magazine, some folks prefer some types of material over others. Steve's advice is good - if there is a column you don't particularly like, turn the page.



But I will print this thread off for Robert's review. He sincerely wants input from the readers.



Regarding pagecount, what has been posted by both Steve and Motorhead is correct.



Robert is always looking to improve the magazine and as opportunities to include new columns arise, he's open and encourages writers.



But, he is also careful about pagecount (yep, weight) because the costs associated with shipping the magazines are significant. But if you were to pull each of the 38 issues to date, you'd see that the pagecount has steadily increased. And I'd be amazed if that trend did not continue long term.



For those of you wanted to submit material, feel free to e-mail your topic and general details to rpatton@ix.netcom.com. And consider graphics/photography when you're planning to submit something. Good art/photography can be a real advantage when communicating technical material. Note: for print photography, we really need print pictures which can be scanned. High resolution digital photography is fine, but it needs to be mailed in on disk - not e-mailed to our offices.



As with anything we do, there will be times (hopefully infrequent) when errors are made. We haven't yet figured out how to engineer human error completely out of the equation. If a correction is warranted, I am sure it will be handled in the next Issue.



Robin

TDR Admin

 

[rob10858]

pagecount and weight should be considered, but with one important note. the more full page ads, paid for by dists and dealers, the heavier the magazine. . right? i know in our businesss, we "sponsor" alot of trade mags. so the cold hard fact is, your membership dues alone could'nt support tdr, on it's own. the vendors pay their dues, in ad fees, we pay our dues in subscription fees. don't make us pay for a heavier edition that is loaded with ads. do like my old man use to do ,. take any major mag, tear out all of the ads , then see what's left. tdr holds it's own, in that respect... . jmho

 

[RBSOB]

Great Thread Guys

I too felt #38 was a bit "light" on hardcore diesel tech. content. Lets continue to air suggestions and even submit appropriate articles. Can only help make a good resource even better. Jim G.

 

[WadePatton]

I don't like the "turn the page" attitude. We need to be able to discuss what we like and don't like in OUR rag. If you "turn the page" too many times you wind up with no magazine.



This is not a newstand, general-interest, for-the-great-public magazine. This is by the CTD-powered DC pickup people FOR the CTD-powered DC pickup people--and that's it. Yes we are a small, very-diverse group, but we need to listen to us.



I speculate that most TDR folks subscribe or buy other magazines for their other interests. I don't read about beer in Wine Spectator and I don't read about golf in Outdoor Life, nor do I read about automobiles in Bike. Those articles are found in Zymurgy, Golf Digest, and Autoweek --where they belong.



There are some aspects of CTDism that might not apply directly to me(4x4 or 5'ers ), but articles on these subjects certainly belong in the TDR.



Atheletes often "cross train"--using running to help their riding is one example, and this is good. Magazines are different. I don't want to buy Guns & Ammo to read about the CTD PICKUP Truck.



[remove soapbox]

 

[Evan A. Beck]

Well put, Wade. I think some restructuring neews to be done... I think some things like Polly's Pickup need to be eliminated, and some things need to be added.



One other small thing that also irritates me a little, is how instead of saying "truck" or "Ram" or whatever, they always say "Turbo Diesel. " Is it just me, or does that bug you guys too??