vBulletin URL & port forwarding behind router
 

I use vBulletin on a server behind a router, and using my dynamic IP URL, I am unable to access my own server (apparently due to some DNS or router issue), even though people from the outside can access it. So I need to use my server's IP address when I'm on my own network. This causes a problem when I try to access my vBulletin site, because I've set my dynamic URL in vBulletin's configuration for the forum URL. When I try to load my forum site on my own network, it takes a long time, is unable to load everything, and it times out. I've tried adding my URL to my hosts file to point to my server machine (I'm using Windows 7, and I've done that before), but I'm still unable to load my vBulletin forum site.. Is there a workaround for this?

cant you just add the IP and URL to the Window 7 host file so it resolves correctly?

oh.... didnt read it all the way through :) will continue to think...

Correct me if I'm wrong.
You're running your forum off a home based server on your residential internet service. If that's the case and you're not in violation of their TOS, then request they give you one of the static IP addresses reserved for you. A place I used to stay at I had a cable provider that not only had a dynamic IP for me but had reserved 5 more in a static mode for free. I used the dynamic for surfing and the static for testing my company network at a remote location.
As for hosting a forum in that way they're going to see a lot of heavy traffic and not like that.
If that's not the case then a call or email to your host should get some results.