''Four Wheeler'' was a magazine for

4×4 A four-wheel drive, also called 4×4 ("four by four") or 4WD, is a two-axled vehicle drivetrain capable of providing torque to all of its wheels simultaneously. It may be full-time or on-demand, and is typically linked via a transfer case pro ...

SUVs and

off-road Off-roading is the act of driving or riding in a vehicle on unpaved surfaces such as sand, dirt, gravel, riverbeds, mud, snow, rocks, or other natural terrain. Off-roading ranges from casual drives with regular vehicles to competitive events w ...

truck enthusiasts, with the first issue being published in February 1962. Four Wheeler focused on new vehicles, project vehicles, technical aspects of assembling a vehicle, product tests, outdoor equipment and machines, 4x4 shows and competitions, and travel. Four Wheeler was published monthly by the

Motor Trend Group Motor Trend Group, LLC (formerly known as Source Interlink Media and TEN: The Enthusiast Network) is a media company that specializes in enthusiast brands, such as ''Motor Trend'' and ''Hot Rod (magazine), Hot Rod''. Headquartered in El Segundo, ...

and was headquartered in

El Segundo, California El Segundo ( , ; ) is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. Located on Santa Monica Bay, it was incorporated on January 18, 1917, and is part of the South Bay Cities Council of Governments. The population was 17,272 as of t ...

. The magazine ceased publication after February 2023 issue.

Top Truck Challenge

The first Four-Wheeler Top Truck Challenge (TTC) took place in 1993 and was held annually at the Hollister Hills State Vehicular Recreation Area near

Hollister, California Hollister is a city in and the county seat of San Benito County, located in the Central Coast region of California, United States. With a 2020 United States census population of 41,678, Hollister is one of the most populous cities in the M ...

, until June 2015. The concept of the challenge was to test the engineering capabilities of 4x4 vehicles nominated by the magazine's readers. Competitors were selected by Four-Wheeler readers, although that process didn’t begin until 1995. Starting with the 2004 Top Truck Challenge, competition vehicles were no longer required to be street-legal. Over time, the challenges included an obstacle course, a mini Rubicon Trail, and the Tank Trap. In 2012, Four-Wheeler held the first Top Truck Champions' Challenge, pitting past Top Truck Challenge Grand Champions against one another. Segments from the Top Truck Challenge have been broadcast on

Outdoor Channel Outdoor Channel is an American pay television, pay television channel focused on the outdoors, offering programming that includes hunting, fishing, western lifestyle, off-road motorsports and adventure. It was launched on April Fool's Day (April ...

Four Wheeler of the Year and Pickup Truck of the Year

Each year, the magazine gives two awards voted on by the editors to automakers of new 4x4s: Four Wheeler of the Year and Pickup Truck of the Year. The competition began in 1974 with the Four Wheeler Achievement Award, given to the 1974

Jeep Cherokee The Jeep Cherokee is a line of sport utility vehicles (SUV) manufactured and marketed by Jeep over five generations. Marketed initially as a variant of the Jeep Wagoneer (SJ), the Cherokee has evolved from a full-size SUV to one of the first ...

. In 1989,

pickup truck A pickup truck or pickup is a Truck_classification#Table_of_US_GVWR_classifications, light or medium duty truck that has an enclosed cabin (truck), cabin, and a back end made up of a cargo bed that is enclosed by three low walls with no roof (th ...

s were separated into their own contest. In 2012, Motor Trend featured a behind-the-scenes look at the Four Wheeler of the Year and Pickup Truck of the Year competitions in an episode of ''The Downshift'' on ''Motor Trend''. In 2017, the Four Wheeler of the Year award was renamed SUV of the Year. Vehicles are evaluated in categories such as

performance, highway performance, mechanical and empirical data, along with interior and exterior features. The competition typically takes place in southern California and covers approximately 1,000 miles both on- and off-road, with vehicles being scored by experienced judges. In 2020,

Jeep Jeep is an American automobile brand, now owned by multi-national corporation Stellantis. Jeep has been part of Chrysler since 1987, when Chrysler acquired the Jeep brand, along with other assets, from its previous owner, American Motors Co ...

won both SUV of the Year and Pickup Truck of the Year. No manufacturer had previously won both awards in the same year.

Books

*''Four Wheeler Chassis & Suspension Handbook'' (2004) ()

References

External links

Four Wheeler Website
{{Motor Trend Group Motor Trend Group Automobile magazines published in the United States Monthly magazines published in the United States Transport magazines published in the United States Magazines established in 1962 Magazines published in California Magazines disestablished in 2023