Should we close the forum?

[TrikeKid]

I don't see a reason to kill it quite yet. The new format sucks, it sucks on every website I'm a member of that has "updated". I don't know what forum software IBB is using but it works, and it's the closest thing to the way forums used to look and operate. There is a ton of tech/build threads here here if a guy knows how to search. If we could get a few guys that are still around off IG and posting builds here I think it'd help (John Martinson, Traildemon etc...) there are still guys around here building and wheeling cool ****, it's a matter of getting them either on here or back on the board.

 

[nkr]

I know that I go to forums for good technical info, Facebook for pictures and to watch drama (get out the popcorn). My $0.02.

 

[ronin-sj410]

I like the forums, I'm on faceless, no ig or any groups to follow. I always liked being able to see who was going where to be with groups. My boys are getting older and LOVE watching all the trucks. Would be great to see comeback

 

[CHOP SHOP]

This forum is not an old lawnmower.

You can just start it and keep it running.




This place used to be like a poppin tavern. You dropped by and PARTICIPATED!!

Now people just sit in the family side of the bar and eves drop over the divider rail.


ITS THE MEMBERS FAULT IT HAS FAILED.

Tech??? Bull****, thats not what keeps people entertained. I can log in ONCE a month and get caught up on a build in 20 minutes.

Juicy BS or news or debates or difference of opinions get people to check in daily and PUT THEIR TWO CENTS IN!!!!!

I used to log into the main page and look at the bottom "current users", low number, but "visited today" would have a hundred or more of the OLD regular posters that just stopped by to see if there was some EAVES DROPPING to do, but not ADD any CONTENT.

Its the same behavior that they learned from facebook. Dont go visit or talk with people, just stalk/watch them on the net/fb but not a give a **** enough to actually visit, call or socialize with them.

Society as a whole is getting WEIRD and impersonal.

Combine lack of participation with the PNW's passive aggressive demeanor and you have a bunch of people that would rather watch/film your ship sink than help you bail it out and keep it afloat.


Every one of you have pounded at least one nail into the coffin here.

 

[RTPG]

I believe that forums like this could come back again. Especially with all the BS on Facebook and such. I for one hate Facebook and would love to go back to these type of forums.

 

[mikeymoto]

I haven't been active on here ever really (see post count) , but I am more of a lurker than a poster. As such, I find forums to be about a million times more useful than Facebook or Instagram. I have actual people I can speak to in the real world if I just want to be social, but a tech thread on a forum is can be useful 10 years down the road. I see a lot of forums withering away, but they still have a lot of value in my opinion.

Woah a post count / day ratio lower than mine! Congrats.

 

[mikeymoto]

I still prefer forums. More substance than photo/video driven FB and Insta and people trolling for ego boosting likes. That said, I still have a mildly built TJ but haven't really wheeled it for about a decade.

 

[CHOP SHOP]

I believe that forums like this could come back again. Especially with all the BS on Facebook and such. I for one hate Facebook and would love to go back to these type of forums.

I think this will happen but maybe not until the forums are gone.

The wheeling crowd tends to attract the non liberal leaning folks and usually people with guunns! Both of which facebook hates and continues to censor.

As people with right leaning opinions keep getting banned and censored of their opinions and the pro 2A crowd keeps getting beat down on FB they will turn back to the traditional forums for contact with like minded folks in a SAFE place.

Im just not sure it will happen fast enough to save the ship.

 

[CHOP SHOP]

More substance than people trolling for ego boosting likes.

You ever trolled a forum? Its a ****in hoot. lol

 

[Muddytazz]

I have always preferred forums. Only reason I have a Facebook is to talk with my kids as where I moved to put in the country it lacks quality cell service.

I also haven't actually had a wheeler in probably 8 years since I sold it so we could buy our first house out here in the country and here I am 50 years old. Mind you I'll build another soon. I do currently have a weekend logging trail super mild wheeler which is also my daily driver.

But to answer, I'd say keep it up and running

 

[armyRN]

I must have forgotten I joined this forum till I got the question asking about closing it. Looks like I joined in 2010 - that was a lifetime ago. I was at Ft Lewis WA at the time. Then to Ft Campbell KY in 2012, a quick trip to Afghanistan, then Ft Hood TX, then retired from the Army in 2017 and back to WA. Lately I've been more into Overlanding - usually I'm on the Overland Bound site, Expedition Portal, and the JeepForum. And on Facebook the 2A/3A page.

 

[Tod]

Stick around.
FB, Google and the twits hate our kind so the communication need will be there.

 

[Normal1]

Love the forum format and was very active on others when I lived in AZ, then kid, and move, and divorce, and job get in the way of doing fun stuff. HATE fb and most other socials for their mega BS and full data mining and only post to them purposefully twice a year (sorry Mom!). This will be my first post here but tough to find good people to get into the dirt with except a couple old timers like me that actually organize a trip or two a year by text.

Signed,
The Introvert...

 

[Logan80]

I used to read this forum every day when I still had my Samurai. I don't have a wheeler now besides my quad, and even that rarely gets taken out.

I do like the forum, I think a visual refresh would go a LONG ways towards making people want to stick around. Eliminate useless sections and add other potentially relevant sections. Advertise a bit on FB and Instagram and you may see a resurgence.

 

[Kate]

This is the first time I've visited a forum in a few years.
I initially joined when we first move here in hopes of joining a club. You folks are a bit far for us. Never found one

I generally use Facebook, though I've come to loath it.
The fun, friendly atmosphere, management and manners of forums like this are greatly missed but it seems their time has passed for now.

I hope you find the answer you're seeking... happy trails.

 

[Dan Fredrickson]

Hey man, I like the forum format better then fb. Cant stand fb. With that said, I would be willing be more active as a vendor if that helps bring people back. I did however move to AZ, so that could be a good thing, I no longer have to charge tax to WA customers.

Be careful, you do after you go over the threshold number, I’m not the account but I believe that number is only $20,000 in sales.

 

[auburnaviator]

Its great to read through this and see so many familiar names, from this forum and others. Brings back a lot of great memories. I joined this site when we lived in WA (military) so that had to be 2006-09 timeframe. Once we moved away I only really checked back for tech threads. Living near Memphis TN now and still wheel although not nearly as much as I used to. I hate FB and other social media platforms. I’d love to see the boards make a resurgence but don’t know if it’ll ever happen. Keep it open if you can but I wouldn’t expect the traffic it had back in the day. We’re living in a different world now unfortunately.

 

[Qman]

The forums are great for archived info. But, in todays got to have it now society they are too slow. FB and Instagram are the most popular places.

 

[nwbronco]

I personally think we need to keep it up. One of the things going on is folks are still wheeling. And no trails/facilities are being maintained. We need to strive to be better stewards. I know on FB these type of conversations end up being a crap shoot.

 

[ToyotaTom]

I say keep it. I moved from Florida in 2016 and used the forum a lot when I first got here. I have met people on here to wheel with, spot for me in comps, buy stuff and sell stuff. I still check the site pretty often.

 

[Lucas]

... forums are the superior format for this stuff/tech/trip reports/etc. and i think that as reddit implodes and facebook continues to decline, forums that can string along are poised to do well, or at very least, better

^^This

Finding, learning, and more importantly, discussing tech is what makes forums great. fakebook and instagram and such is just about the moral boost. Yeah, there's some cool **** posted on there, but that's it, its just posted with a picture. Not much discussion about what was done, how it was done, or why it was done a certain way.

I'm not a fan of fakebook and the like, never joined any of them. I'll stick to lurking on forums, Granted, haven't logged in here in a long time. But would like to see it hang on if it can. Irate4x4 seems to be off to a decent start, and there are forums in other "hobbies" that are doing well. Like someone else mentioned, SXS forums seem to be doing well, maybe try to get some of that going here.

 

[4xrick]

I hate bookface.
i miss the forums and dont get on as much as i wish i could as running a business takes up most of my time.
I met a lot of good people over the years on this and other forums.
I have not been out on a trail in my rig in 89 years.
look forward to the day I will again.

 

[Blackbeard]

I think it's great that people want to keep the site up. Hope we can keep folks checking in on us and making a post or two even if it's off topic.

 

[the4x4pig]

I think this site would grow again if we could get some runs/ trips organized so folks could get to know each other. Or encourage some local clubs to come aboard. It’s a local PNW forum and will only survive if the members have a good reason to visit a local forum. We are small, if I need tech info, I rarely look here. I go where there is a larger knowledge pool.
I do come here for local deals and would communicate here more if I got to know some folks on here personally.

just my humble opinion.

 

[POR]

I think this site would grow again if we could get some runs/ trips organized so folks could get to know each other. Or encourage some local clubs to come aboard. It’s a local PNW forum and will only survive if the members have a good reason to visit a local forum. We are small, if I need tech info, I rarely look here. I go where there is a larger knowledge pool.
I do come here for local deals and would communicate here more if I got to know some folks on here personally.

just my humble opinion.

Makes me wonder actually how many people on here actually wheel?.. what's the avg age of user on here late 30's 40's?
Most of our age group is settled into their friend groups and all the team send it ***s are doing it for the "gram" so I don't really see any runs going on from here.. there used to be a guy on here all the time asking but noone ever replied to him. I feel we should have a bunch of build threads since most people our age are still buying and building not trying to trade our way to the top. I do notice most people have projects but wont post cuz it's a leaf sprung 44 build with old school sbc stuff not links ori's and ls.. I always found trolling the maintenance the trails to hwy's crowd very fun and I think we need more of those posts.. lol that gets people fired up hahaha

 

[CHOP SHOP]

Makes me wonder actually how many people on here actually wheel?.. what's the avg age of user on here late 30's 40's?
Most of our age group is settled into their friend groups and all the team send it ***s are doing it for the "gram" so I don't really see any runs going on from here.. there used to be a guy on here all the time asking but noone ever replied to him. I feel we should have a bunch of build threads since most people our age are still buying and building not trying to trade our way to the top. I do notice most people have projects but wont post cuz it's a leaf sprung 44 build with old school sbc stuff not links ori's and ls.. I always found trolling the maintenance the trails to hwy's crowd very fun and I think we need more of those posts.. lol that gets people fired up hahaha

Thats Steve with the fj40. I took the wifes tj and ran up the wagon trail with him.

Nice fella.

 

[junkyard jim]

I hate bookface.
i miss the forums and dont get on as much as i wish i could as running a business takes up most of my time.
I met a lot of good people over the years on this and other forums.
I have not been out on a trail in my rig in 89 years.
look forward to the day I will again.

Bookfarts

 

[toyzuk]

Thats Steve with the fj40. I took the wifes tj and ran up the wagon trail with him.

Nice fella.

haha yup i wheel with steve all the time now lol.

 

[Rekless_off_road]

I've abandoned Facebook completely as it has too much censorship. I have gone back to forums like these. I feel the information is better and the communication is better as well.

 

[cougarfix]

I can't stand Facebook! It is to popular and is now getting a lot of attention from hackers and fraudulent activity. We as a community need to encourage our brothers and sisters to come back to our Hobby specific forms Facebook sucks when you looking for something specific you don't want to deal with all the idiots fraction of crap just good people and that's what we need to encourage I say do not close the Forum I say Word of Mouth get it out to anyone you seal in a four-wheel drive that is not a pavement pounder