I came across this by chance when I search for something which returned results for ASGvis’s forums. I got to links to the same thread, but one gave a different layout.
For instance, this is the normal URL to a topic: Chaos: Industry-leading design and visualization software
Notice the “topic=5574.0” part of that URL.
Now try this: Chaos: Industry-leading design and visualization software
See the different layout with wider pages?
Navigate from there and you stay with the wider layout.
Re: Alternative forum URL gives wider pages
I’ve tried both of your links and i don’t see any difference in the layout.
Re: Alternative forum URL gives wider pages
That’s odd… The URL it links to changes… As you see form teh link text, it’s different from the actual URL…
let me try again: http://asgvis.com/smf/index.php?topic=5574.0
Re: Alternative forum URL gives wider pages
Bah! the forum automatically converts the URLs. copy the URL text and use that.
Re: Alternative forum URL gives wider pages
Nope…
Except the different web address there’s no change (in layout).
I tried it on internet explorer and safari browser.
Re: Alternative forum URL gives wider pages
Yep, if I manually edit the URL to match Thoms 2nd URL I get the wider frame size… shame it’s not really useable. 
Re: Alternative forum URL gives wider pages
I tried again and got it. it is wider 
It’s useable Just save this address Chaos: Industry-leading design and visualization software as bookmark/favorites and any topic you’ll go to will have this wide layout 
Very cool. Thanks Thom
Re: Alternative forum URL gives wider pages
Awesome! Nice find guys. BTW, you do realise that you’ve “hacked” into the new forums don’t you? ;D
Re: Alternative forum URL gives wider pages
Don’t think it’s the new one. It was like this before the last redesign as well. I stumbled across it then as well.
Re: Alternative forum URL gives wider pages
Hi, sometimes I use IE 6 and it doesn’t open the forum properly. I have a ‘modern browser’, it is Opera, the last version, but Opera doesn’t open at all. It only shows a lot of codes, no forum.
IE 6 only doesnt show the links, what is very sad.
Re: Alternative forum URL gives wider pages
I don’t know the reason for that issue. But i’ve experienced it once when i tried to use IE on a friend’s pc. when i switched to firefox on that pc everything worked just fine.