Wrnagler at SEMA 2012
by Perry Mack
2013 is shaping up to be one of the best and most exciting years for off-roading and I'll tell you why.
The SEMA show is the bellwether for the aftermarket off-road industry and there's great things coming to us from manufacturers and fabricators. This years’ show presented the industry with more new and innovative products than ever before. Talking to many of your favorite manufacturers showed me that they are excited about what they are bringing to the market to make our wheeling experiences even better. Social media is giving them feedback on what we, as 4x4 drivers, want and they are excited to build it and get it to us. Check out the new products section in this issue and you'll see what I mean.
If there was one down side to the SEMA show it was the utter domination of the Jeep Wrangler. That may sound like heresy to the Wrangler fans out there who feel vindicated in their passion by the win of Wrangler as the 4x4/SUV of the year award (again). It’s great news for Wrangler owners (and soon to be owners) because it means there are more ways to customize and personalize your Wrangler than ever before, more ways to make it trail ready for your personal style of wheeling.
But dare I say it, perhaps it has gone too far. There are so many other great 4x4 brands out there that are not going to benefit as much from the innovations in the aftermarket industry. Even other models of Jeep are suffering from neglect. The current trend will create more reasons for people to buy a Jeep Wrangler – driving up the premium that we already pay for used models. So watch out for the good deals in 2013 to be 4x4’s other than the Wrangler – great, fun reliable vehicles that will get you off-road without the premium price.
The newspapers love to give us doom and gloom news more often than good news. But there is no denying that there are very positive signs in the economy. Both Chrysler and Ford are reporting some of the best sales numbers in a decade. Manufacturers that I spoke to are starting to spend more in new products and marketing - this means they are optimistic for 2013 based on what they've experienced in 2012. To you and me it means that they are going to invest more money in our sport - through trail, event and club sponsorships as well as more affordable and higher quality upgrades.
I've also seen that many 4x4 clubs are growing again (check out the Toy Run article in this issue) and new ones are popping up (like 4wheelbc.com in the search and rescue article). Participation in clubs helps keep trails open – as demonstrated in this issues’ KVR All Access Run story and at the same time clubs provide more opportunities to go wheeling and make new friends.
We like to promote clubs here at 4WDrive because they are great for our sport. If you have photos from a trail run, toy run, trail maintenance, show ‘n shine or other fund raiser – drop me a line at editor@suncruisermedia.com. I’d like to tell your story and promote your future events and membership drives anyway I can.
New products, better products, better prices, more events, more prizes, more clubs, more club members, more trails, more trail runs - that's why I'm excited for 2013 and I'm certain most of you are as well.