New direction for this forum

[AceMan]

I just want to take a moment to let everyone know what's going on with this site. As Leif already announced, the site is in an actual data center now, with high-speed access, 99.99% up time, and a backup service.

As for the major changes that will be made, E
everything is preliminary and still on the drawing board.

Also, Mike Key has joined the team as a moderator. I believe he is a positive asset and addition to our current team He has also made some suggestions that I feel good about that we'll announce later.

Immediate goals:

1. Stabilize this site.

2. Get an SSL certificate to secure your connections.

3. Get email configured properly with relay and SPF records.

4. Get Tapatalk working

5. Reorganize the Forum sections. As you've probably already read the latest posts, it's a mess, including the numerous stickies, and it needs to be reorganized

6. Get the actual PWR truck Registration numbers and section working again, for any year truck, 3rd, 4th, and 5th Gen, and future generations.

7. Upgrade the site to vBulletin.
- As you know, DodgeTalk, and many other major social forums use vBulletin.
- It only be obtained by purchase
- The add-ons are pretty solid, including Facebook authorization integration using OAuth, Faceboook VBSocial Connector for forum section to Facebook "Power Wagon Registry" group synchronous discussions, and a cool drag and drop file posting upload capabilities

Note: That discussion synch should be pretty cool feature, because as I understand it, we can select a specific forum section, maybe called, Facebook Discussion," so the discussions will work back and forth between the section and the Facebook PWR group.Still needs to do something POC and some testing.

If anyone has ever looked at the price of vbulletin, you'll probably ask me, "Who's going to pay for it all?"

I am. I'll be investing **heavily"* in this site's success.

One of my main goals is I DO NOT and will NEVER put up ads on this site. I think ads are bullshit, bandwidth hogs, and they just take away from the focus of the Forum.

However, I will set up a **voluntary** contributions request using GoFundMe or a PayPal account. It will be completely voluntary, and the sole purpose is to keep this site going.

I welcome any and all feedback.

Ace

[Colibri]

Till be the first to make a donation aceman! Thanks for all your hard work!

[RustyPW]

On the 370Z forum. There is 2 different memberships. Regular, just sign up. And Premium Membership. $15.00 a year. With the Premium. You get access to other parts of the forum that a regular member can't see. It has it's own section. Has it's own lounge (chat room), and a NSFW sections.
Vendor deals for Premium.

http://www.the370z.com/premium-members/

[AceMan]

Russ, I heard of that. Mike mentioned that, too with vBulletin. Does that forum use vBulletin? Look at the bottom of their forum’s web pages, it should show which forum software they’re using.

[Low_Sky]

350z forum is vBulletin.

I applaud you for forgoing ads. When I’m looking for information I dread following any links to the Cummins forum. The ads ruin that website. They’re all over it, even embedded in the posts.

When you get the system up and running I’ll be in line to chip in. This is a great forum and I’m happy to help keep it going.

[Low_Sky]

350z forum is vBulletin.

I applaud you for forgoing ads. When I’m looking for information I dread following any links to the Cummins forum. The ads ruin that website. They’re all over it, even embedded in the posts.

When you get the system up and running I’ll be in line to chip in. This is a great forum and I’m happy to help keep it going.

[RustyPW]

Russ, I heard of that. Mike mentioned that, too with vBulletin. Doesbthat forum use vBulletin? Look st the bottom of their forum’s web pages, it should show which forum software they’re using.

The 370Z forum uses paypal to collect money.

[OffroadTreks]

Paypal I think is the best since they won't dip into funds.

And I changed my username to match what I use normally on all other forums and instagram, FYI

[Low_Sky]

Paypal I think is the best since they won't dip into funds.

And I changed my username to match what I use normally on all other forums and instagram, FYI

Haha, I thought something looked different. I thought it was just the green moderator font. I totally missed the name change.

[Low_Sky]

Paypal I think is the best since they won't dip into funds.

And I changed my username to match what I use normally on all other forums and instagram, FYI

Haha, I thought something looked different. I thought it was just the green moderator font. I totally missed the name change.

[Bill2014]

Paypal I think is the best since they won't dip into funds.

And I changed my username to match what I use normally on all other forums and instagram, FYI

Haha, I thought something looked different. I thought it was just the green moderator font. I totally missed the name change.

You seem to be double posting now...

[DamageWagon]

The Dodge Trucks Xtreme has a really nice ‘paying members only’ section that’s huge, has some very cool stuff you will not find anywhere publicly, however I don’t feel that those things are necessary here. Might be cool but not needed and 99.9% of traffic is not on those boards

[AceMan]

The Dodge Trucks Xtreme has a really nice ‘paying members only’ section that’s huge, has some very cool stuff you will not find anywhere publicly, however I don’t feel that those things are necessary here. Might be cool but not needed and 99.9% of traffic is not on those boards

I'm not going to do that, here. I want it open to all members to share everything.

[OffroadTreks]

I'm still a fan of xenforo as the better software honestly. Better mobile support, modern features like liking posts, etc.

http://www.ramforum.com/
https://americanadventurist.com/forum/
https://www.overlandbound.com/forums/
https://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/

----

That being said, I think "supporting member" might be a neat idea. Especially for some of us long timers. Ram Forum has a nice implementation. Avatar size gets increased, you have a banner that indicates your a supporting member under your username and different color, similar a little bit to the colors here currently, but better styling overall. Also get larger inbox and file size attachments.

To be honest, doing either a one time drive, or just offering that might be a good fit moving forward.

Heck just $25 bucks for a year, 4 members supporting that would cover the hosting for a year.

I honestly would have no problem with that for this site.

Anyways, that's my input for public discussion.

[Mule]

I'm still a fan of xenforo as the better software honestly. Better mobile support, modern features like liking posts, etc.

http://www.ramforum.com/
https://americanadventurist.com/forum/
https://www.overlandbound.com/forums/
https://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/

ADVRider switched to that a few years ago, from vB. A bit of a transition, but I've come to prefer it to vB.

For the love of $DEITY, don't ever use Huddler.

[PWJouster]

Im in for a yearly donation, let us know when its ready and youll probably be retaining a management fee. forums are critical tools for people like me.
its crazy how many forums there truly are... and how so many became critical to the experience of my ownership of cars,jeeps, guns, motorcycles, electronics,home ownership,drugs..... PRAISE THE INTERNET

[AceMan]

I'm still a fan of xenforo as the better software honestly. Better mobile support, modern features like liking posts, etc.

http://www.ramforum.com/
https://americanadventurist.com/forum/
https://www.overlandbound.com/forums/
https://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/

----

That being said, I think "supporting member" might be a neat idea. Especially for some of us long timers. Ram Forum has a nice implementation. Avatar size gets increased, you have a banner that indicates your a supporting member under your username and different color, similar a little bit to the colors here currently, but better styling overall. Also get larger inbox and file size attachments.

To be honest, doing either a one time drive, or just offering that might be a good fit moving forward.

Heck just $25 bucks for a year, 4 members supporting that would cover the hosting for a year.

I honestly would have no problem with that for this site.

Anyways, that's my input for public discussion.

I'm starting to think to go in that direction. Keep it an ongoing annual subscription, maybe $20.

Like you said, Mike, it will take only a relatively small number of members to help keep the site going year after year with the annual hosting fee, upgrades to the forum software, add ons, etc. I just have to get through the initial hump of the initial forum software purchase, migration, and any add-ons that we may need that require purchase.

[RustyPW]

Russ, I heard of that. Mike mentioned that, too with vBulletin. Does that forum use vBulletin? Look at the bottom of their forum’s web pages, it should show which forum software they’re using.

Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.4
Copyright ©2000 - 2018, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.

[AceMan]

Russ, I heard of that. Mike mentioned that, too with vBulletin. Does that forum use vBulletin? Look at the bottom of their forum’s web pages, it should show which forum software they’re using.

Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.4
Copyright ©2000 - 2018, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.

Thanks, Russ. That's a very old version. It's up to 5.x. But I guess if it works, and it's stable, why pay the $300 to upgrade to the latest?

[Mr.Smith]

Perhaps I’m posting this in the wrong thread...are we visible in tapatalk?

[AceMan]

Perhaps I’m posting this in the wrong thread...are we visible in tapatalk?

It should be. I'm actually working on the TapaTalk installation. I may have caused that. Try to reconnect a little later. Sorry about that. Forum improvement growing pains!

[Mr.Smith]

Thank you Sir!

[John8170]

Can you post a link for the GoFundMe page ?

[AceMan]

Can you post a link for the GoFundMe page ?

Hi John,

Here you go:

Please submit all donations at this link:



Main Donation thread:
viewtopic.php?f=2&t=5478

We truly appreciate your support!

[adeluca73]

Paypal I think is the best since they won't dip into funds.

And I changed my username to match what I use normally on all other forums and instagram, FYI

I figured you’d change it to “10—the best mm”