This past summer we managed to visit some new and some historical places. My return to the Rubicon (article still to come) was historic for reasons other than the fact it is the Rubicon Trail.

Back when I started to get serious about my wheeling I bought my first Jeep (1992) just so I could go on the Rubicon Jeep Jamboree. I stuffed a Rugged Trail spring lift, (terrible) some 33-inch BFG Mud Terrains under it and a Warn M-8000 winch and headed for California. I sprung this trip on a friend not telling him where we were going - just camping in the USA I told him – and a road trip was born.

Broke a U-joint in San Francisco. Ran the trail, broke another rear U-joint somewhere in Northern Cal on the way home. We pulled the rear driveshaft and drove it home in front wheel drive, only to make it to the border of Washington when a bad wheel bearing seized and broke off the driver's side axle hub (AMC 20 two-piece axles) dropping the rear of the CJ onto the pavement in the middle of I-5 at 50 miles per hour. After managing to get it under control and off to the side of the road I went to salvage the tire (which passed us, ending up in the meridian) and the broken chunk of axle lying in the middle of the road. I got to the axle only to watch a semi clip the end of it and shoot it off the road into a field. Well, it was off the road anyway.

This was the time I got introduced to my first real 4x4 shop. After getting the Jeep towed to Woody's 4x4 in Vancouver, Washington and grabbing a hotel for the night we were back fixing the Jeep in their parking lot while they gave us a hand as they had time. Yes, it was an awesome trip even in that beat up old CJ!

This time, we did the trip in a Toyota with much less drama, but it was just as memorable. It was good to be back!

A trip to Colorado through the desert heat of Utah was also a first for me and I plan to return. There are a ton of trails (many not very far from Moab) so it makes sense to add them on at the beginning of the year when I visit that part of the world. After all, the weather is a little cooler then, too!

For 2006 we have some great projects in the works and some wicked trails we plan to explore. The 4Runner project will continue with dual t-cases, a solid axle swap using front coils and rear leafs, and maybe even a stroker 4-cyl under the hood. Our new salesman Rob, a Jeep nut in his own right, is currently trying to find an YJ for his plaything. YJs (or Square headlight Jeeps) may be one of the best used-vehicle buys right now. Lots available with good bodies (on the west coast anyway), tons of easy upgrades and you can have the pick of the bunch for $3000-6000.

And despite the fact that diesel fuel is now more expensive than gas, all the noise about diesels these days will result in a diesel feature issue in June, while in May we will include a huge 4x4 camping feature. As well, with the response that pours in from Unimog owners every time we feature a Mog, we will make sure we add something for you – even a test drive of a new 2005!

I am told BFG has something in the works for us editors and if they even matched the wicked trip to Baja in 2004 I will cancel everything to attend (so don't get offended if I miss a scheduled event this year). Detroit Lockers are planning another trip and I think it will take us to Idaho and Montana if it goes off. Of course, we will hit the back woods around Canada – maybe even head as far east as possible and hit some trails on that big island on the right coast.

I want to thank all of those who sent articles in to us in 2005 – your points of view help this magazine have a more diverse content. By the time the next magazine hits we should have a new staff member at the helm of the layout - let's hope this helps me get away from the computer a bit more to develop some more in-depth editorial (and clean up the odd typo we miss when it gets really hectic around here).

Thanks for sticking with us since 1998 and keeping me employed – it seems like I have been doing this my whole life and I can't think of another job I would want to do right now. So stick around and we will try and make you an even better magazine for 2006!

Albert Vandervelde
Editor, 4WD Magazine