What the TDR Admin needs to hear from us. .

[glhs]

I like ALL the articles in the magazine. The magazine IS what makes TDR. I try to renew my subscriptions in 2 year increments. It's nice to be able to look back or just sit down (away from the computer) and read the info. Someday I will own a newer model and/or will need to work on one and it's nice to know something about them.

Long live the TDR!

 

[boatpuller]

I too would like to see a how to arcticle with pictures on how to go through a first gen injection pump and reseal it, in the magazine so I can take it out to the garage and use it as a reference while resealing my pump, with the new fuel I believe it won't be long until my seals start leaking.



Now on the subject of the Internet subscription only, I personally would rather continue getting the magazine, let me explain why, when I come here I always read the new posts in the first gen forum, look at the towing forum, and the shop forum, sometimes the product forum but that's about it, I don't want to spend my whole life on the computer. It's nice to learn about the newer trucks in case I ever decide to get a newer one in the future, that's where the magazine comes in, I don't take my computer into the can with me, can't stick it in my lunch box to read at breaktime, but I can the magazine. So even if there isn't a lot of 1st gen stuff in the magazine I still like it as it's a great publication. I also need to keep up on the newer one's as all my friends who buy a newer one are always asking me about things on their trucks or the truck they are thinking about purchasing because they know I'm the diesel guy in the group.



So thanks TDR

 

[cerberusiam]

First thing to say is, why are 2nd & 3rd Genners commenting here?? The post is clearly asking for 1st Gen input. Isn't having the majority of the website and magazine enough for you guys?? I'm sure you will post if you want to, but this is our poll.

I think you would greatly surpised at number of people that actually own and drive a 1st gen but don't have it in their signature.



Granted, there are more 03's than all the 1st gens, but, it is pretty easy to FIX a 1st gen. Thats not quite so easy with the newer trucks, alot of times its a wait for a wrecker and fight with the dealer about warranty.

 

[TDRadmin]

Great Information

This is an excellent thread. Here are some insights I'd like to share:



1. We are looking for a paid writer for the First Generation trucks specifically. This would be a contract writer who would be given his/her own column each issue. We have had one TDR member express an interest and appears to have the technical as well as writing skills to do the job. BUT, if you know of another individual/shop/writer, please contact me. Additionally, SUBMIT YOUR TECHNICAL WRITE UPS TO ME! SUBMIT YOUR PHOTOGRAPHS TO ME! PM me for a FTP uplink or just email them to me. We are aggressively looking for ways to make the TDR more meaningful for the First Generation truck owners. You guys are the really cool guys that bring history and early knowledge to us that we DO NOT want to lose.



2. Photographs are somewhat hard to come by. This year, we have received over 300 entries in the TDR Calendar competition. But (and this is just my gut response, not the actual count) only about 10 of those were of First Generation trucks. I have opened and renamed each and every photograph received. And I'm pretty sure there are only about 10 First Generation truck photos entered.



3. We are looking for ways to get the back issues online for you guys (at no additional charge). It is just a little harder than we expected and hosting/downloading that data in a .pdf format is way too expensive. This is a high prioriy for us, however.



4. This list of "topics of interest" is great. I will print it regularly and provide it to our editor/writers. And remember, if you're doing a project, write it up. Make photographs. Submit it to us. We can take your material and edit it into a publishable format. Some folks just don't like to write. We understand. Just put it together in whatever format you prefer, and we will work with you to get it published.



5. Email or post any other ideas you have on making the TDR the most valuable tool possible for our First Generation owners.



Thank you for all of your continued support, guys and gals.



Robin

TDR Admin

 

[MEby]

I voted that I am happy with things the way they are. However, more options are always good.

 

["Mad Max"]

All good posts - all of them. There are several things to consider here, and I think the biggest factor is, and always will be, numbers. There are so few 1 genners relative to the enormous number of 2nd and 3rd genners out there, and of course the majority of the aftermarket and upgrade items available are for those masses. It is no surprise at all to see more 2nd and 3rd gen stuff in the mag.

I have to agree that the magazine has very little actual tech or real-world input for my rig..... but..... and this is a big but... ... I get what I need from right here on the threads, and, in order to help get what I need from the website I have no problem with $35 a year... which includes the magazine.

I read the 1st gen areas completely, hoping to maybe see my name in print somewhere indicating I had input worthy enough to print , but the rest of the magazine is mostly not something I look at - simple numbers. I do not need the magazine to get what I need, but I do need the threads - the cost and magazine are perks.



Now, what would I like to see? Here's how I see things for the 1st gens. Let's say I'm a brand new 1st gen owner and want to know what I should do, look out for, be aware of, and beware of. Well, as it is I would need to scan the threads and piece together the info, and ask questions that have been asked since day 1.

Every 1st gen is now a minimum of 14 years old, and nearly all of them, even the cleanest low-mileage ones, have problems and need fixes, often times requiring some voodoo. Well, I feel there could be similar thread breakouts as the 2nd and 3rd gens.



By now, somewhere available via the TDR, there should be a book or how-to article either orderable or downloadable, with very high quality pics of how to rebuild and modify a VE44, and a listing of the most common upgrade items, their effects, and relative costs. There should be a KDP book. There are decent pics on the threads, but sometimes the pics on the threads print off grainy and are hard to determine just where the governor spring clips into the hole.



Anyways, I get what I need from the threads, but sometimes I sure have to dig to find it. But, I figure that is part of the curse... and charm... of driving a 1st gen - it takes more effort... but is sooooo worth it. I love my truck .



- Sam

 

[Leper]

It's fine the way it is.



Without the mag, the subscription would probably be 25. 00(like it is on most sites) and I figure that the exta 10 spot keeps me informed enough on the newer stuff. There isn't much first gen info in the mag, but I look at it like 2. 50 a copy, and its worth it for that. I keep them in the throne room also.

 

[AMikonis]

Andy Mikonis used to write 1stGen stuff, whatever happened to him?



Daniel

I'm still here. Thanks for asking! I'm still doing late model stories for TDR. I've tried to do some First Gen stuff when I can, but honestly I haven't been working on my truck much, and that's my main source of material these days. I still also help edit the First Gen tech talk from here that goes in the magazine. Even there, I'm having a hard time finding topics that are fresh and new.



Then again, I've been writing on First Gens for TDR since about 1999, so I am out of touch with what the new owners are looking for. This thread is helpful in that regard, and I'll certainly coordinate with the editors to possibly take on some of these topics myself. I've been talking about doing the Getrag rebuild article for YEARS... maybe that could happen sometime. Somebody mentioned rust repair in the other thread - if I can get around to replacing the outer rockers on my truck this winter, I'll document it for the magazine.



Andy

 

[skobylenski]

I like things how they are, as well. The magazine has never been a dull read. While the 1st Gen section of the mag is kinda lack-luster, so are the other truck sections - its just copy-paste from the forums... . I enjoy reading the other articles from the various writers who are some of the best magazine writers I've ever read (just pick up any other car/boat/aircraft mag and you'll understand what I mean). I don't think there hasn't been an issue in my 5 years here that lacked at least 1 article that was worth reading a second (or third) time. Perfect example has been the oil articles in the last 2 issues. It was a REAL eye-opener to know the oil I've been using regularly isn't the greatest - heck, it ain't even in the top 10... ... .

Would I love to read more on the older trucks? Sure. What would I like to see? I'm really not sure, but to start I'd suggest backtracking to the basics for some of the newbies around here to get a solid start.

~Scott (First-genner for life)

 

[JLEONARD]

I voted to keep as it is, but yes I would like to see more first gen articles in the magazine.

Jay

 

[Flexiheep]

My 2 cents is that I like the magazine, may not read it like I did in the past, but I like it and would select to keep getting it.



Now to muddy the water, what if the admin could put the past relevant articles in a single first gen issue that was offered for sale at say 10 or 20 bucks or something... I know it would be a lot of work, but it would be cool to have good single source of printed info for those of us that missed the first 10 years. This would be a lot of work, and really only a stop gap till they got everything online like they want.....

 

[Bob Beauchaine]

I just tried a search in the "FAQ Forum" for a how to regarding headlight relays for 1st Gens - I did not get any hits after about 5 minutes of trying. I have already done this particular project by using a link on another forum. There were links to a multitude of projects and it is one of the most popular 1st Gen forums I have found. The search on that forum took me about 2 minutes and lead to another forum with a detailed step by step "how to".



I'm sure I could probably find this "how to" if I wanted to dig hard enough but why? I have always valued my stay at TDR and will continue to keep getting the mag and posting on this forum but I do feel that more and, easier to use "stickies" would make for a more active forum participation.



Bob

 

[MrWinkey]

I do not have a newer truck but I enjoy reading the Tech even if most of it is about the newer trucks. A good chunk still applies to the older trucks and it still makes for an good read.

My vote was to keep things as they are. If they put more articles up online that would be great and I would pay extra for that!

 

[Don Tanklage]

... but I do feel that more and, easier to use "stickies" would make for a more active forum participation.



Bob

i agree 100%



not just for repairs but for mods too



don

 

[CSteinke]

I prefer the mag as my putter is very slow and I take the mags with me to read when we go on our spring camping trip in the warm south