We get a lot of emails here at 8-Lug magazine. Some tell us we're doing a great job, and that's often nice to hear. Others rip us apart and claim we suck so bad there's no comparison. Those letters can be fun. Every so often we get a letter from someone who has never seen 8-Lug, but has heard about it. Maybe they saw an ad in our sister publication, Diesel Power. But they haven't yet found 8-Lug on the newsstands. These letters are usually very interesting to read. The questions people ask about our magazine in order to pre-qualify us for their consideration are usually pretty good. One such letter recently proved to be particularly insightful and made me stop and write a detailed answer to the question of just what kind of magazine 8-Lug is. Here, take a look at the letter:
"I currently subscribe to Diesel Power magazine (for the last two to three years). I have been considering not renewing my subscription because I end up skipping half the articles. I have no interest in sled pulls, drag racing, dyno tests, etc. I noticed Diesel Power has a sister magazine, 8-Lug. The cover appears to have customized and off-road trucks. What is the difference in content and target audience? Do you have the last couple of months of back issues that you would be willing to send me to preview? If I like the magazine, can I switch my subscription over to 8-Lug?
Thank you,
Robbie Robinson
St. Augustine, Florida
Here is the response I sent Robbie:
What Makes 8-Lug Different?
Diesel Power focuses on the powerplant. Anything diesel. It runs mostly pickup truck stories, but often dips into submarines, trains, power generators, and more.
The story is the power. That's why dyno runs, sled pulls, drag races, and super high-horsepower truck mods are the majority of the stories you will read in Diesel Power. It has, however, been going through some subtle changes lately and has had stories on the other aspects of trucks (lifts, wheels and tires, etc.).
8-Lug magazine is all about the heavy-duty truck. Initially, we limited ourselves to diesel-powered 3/4- and 1-ton trucks. Just a few weeks ago, however, we made the decision to include gas engine trucks in the mix. The thought behind this is 3/4- and 1-ton trucks are serious trucks, and the owners don't really care all that much if the powerplant is diesel or gas. It's the truck that matters.
Our readers typically own a heavy-duty truck because they have to. It's their work truck that pulls a trailer, carries a load, or hauls the crew. But on weekends, the truck is used to haul toys. Sand cars, ATVs, toy box trailers, and more are often attached to the heavy-duty truck and pulled out to the sand dunes, desert, woods, and other play places on weekends.
We have coined the term Double-Duty Diesel for these hardcore heavy-duty trucks. Contractors, construction workers, plumbers, and all sorts of craftsmen have to be in their heavy-duty truck Monday through Friday, and they want it to perform well, be comfortable, and look good.
So, our stories reflect our readers. We do lifts, wheel and tire swaps, transmission builds, stereo upgrades, billet grille installs, door handle swaps, you name it.
Since most of our readers' trucks are visually pleasing thanks to customization, we go the extra mile to make sure we have the best photography in the business. No one on our editorial staff has less than 20 years doing this. Our freelancers are handpicked for their skill with a camera and a typewriter (oh, wait...that surely shows my age...I meant a computer). We make sure that we are connected with the smartest brains in the business when we do our stories so they are accurate and helpful to the readers.
One source of irritation is that 8-Lug does not yet have subscriptions.
We hear rumblings that this might change soon, however, so we have
hope. But, as for now, you would need to pick it up at the newsstand
every month. I will gladly send you the past three issues so you can
see what it's all about. I hope you like it but will understand if it's
not for you. There are other magazines out there and I'm sure one of
them is right for you.