So far I've done everything myself. The lift was the hardest by far but got it done. That may change since we'll be full timing in a motorhome next year. I still haven't decided how many tools I'm going to take along. I'll probably continue to maintenance on both the Jeep and the MH.
Wrenching on their own rigs?
- Thread starter fstfrd00
- Start date
All me...find I understand my vehicle better. But then again, the vehicle is becoming less and less stock as the weeks go by so warranty work is becoming non-existent two years and 28K miles later.
Off-Road Ranger I
- 2,876
- First Name
- Todd
- Last Name
- Hoffmaster
- Member #
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4284
- Ham/GMRS Callsign
- KJ7CRJ
- Service Branch
- Air Force
Today, I just wrenched in new tie rods, cv axles, changed the transmission fluid, finished installing my transmission cooler with remote spin-on filter and temperature gauge, fuel filter, rotors and lower ball joints on my 4Runner at the base hobby/auto repair shop and it only cost me $40 to use the lift for 8.5hrs.
Member III
Advocate III
I do the vast majority of the work on our vehicles. I'm not a mechanic but have been tinkering with cars since before I could drive and have amassed a good anmount of tools and experience along the way. I started out mostly out of necessity and not being able to afford to pay someone eles to do work (started a family young as a junior enlistedman in the Army, so money was very tight). That gave me a good foundation and once I got into performance stuff about 15 years ago, it just made more sense to do it myslef as that was a big part of the fun.
I am fortunate that I have a good network of friends, several of which are professional mechanics, and /or have been in the auto racing hobby for decades. I have done normal maintenance, repairs to fuel systems, full tune-ups, lift kits, lighting, chased down vacuum leaks, and even a complete engine swap on my sons old 2002 Mustang GT over a weekend!
I am still a little green once you crack open the internals, but as I said, I always have friends available to help.
I am fortunate that I have a good network of friends, several of which are professional mechanics, and /or have been in the auto racing hobby for decades. I have done normal maintenance, repairs to fuel systems, full tune-ups, lift kits, lighting, chased down vacuum leaks, and even a complete engine swap on my sons old 2002 Mustang GT over a weekend!
I am still a little green once you crack open the internals, but as I said, I always have friends available to help.
I'm a mechanic. There isn't much I can't do to my own vehicle. My problem is not having enough time to devote to my projects. I've posted pictures of my jeep project. I have just about everything I'll need to do a 12 valve swap in my 79 bronco. And I also have a 71 bronco that I'm trying to get rid of a ton of cancer in so I can start the resto-mod I have plans for.
Enthusiast III
The unfortunately side of having a lifetime drivetrain warranty on my new truck is that it has to be serviced by an ASE certified mechanic. But my two older ones I do the work I can on.
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I prefer to work on my rig myself, if all else fails then I take it to the shop.
Good learning experience + saves a couple bucks for future mods.
Good learning experience + saves a couple bucks for future mods.
Traveler III
I do all of my own work. I also try to make my own stuff if it's cost effective. If it's cheaper to buy a part, I'll buy it. The only exception to this are the 10 free oil changes on my rig. After that I'll do my own.
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That is my experience as well. I have gotten to the point I won't even let a tire shop touch my vehicles. I just take them the wheels.
There is not much I can't/won't do. AC systems and automatic transmissions are about the only things I don't want to tear into. I set up the gears in my Dana 30 a couple years ago, but I did hand the Chrysler 8.25 off to a shop (lacking the tools to deal with the side-loading nuts).
I have no qualms about making my own parts. This weekend I am building a new battery tray that will allow me to mount my winch relays under the battery. Probably the most ridiculous example was when I needed a new window roller and found that the part could only be obtained as part of an entire regulator assembly. I couldn't see spending $100 to replace what was probably a $1 part, so I bought a piece of Delrin, ground a couple of cutters and made my own window roller. I have no doubt that the time involved exceeded the value of the complete assembly, but dadgummit I wasn't going to throw out a mostly all good assembly over one little wheel. And yes, I am still running that assembly and homemade wheel, and it has been going for something close to ten years now.
I do some of my own. I do more and more as I learn about things. My biggest issue is i don't have a garage. Or a driveway. Just rocky dirt hills. The other issue is I live in a national park and park service doesn't want you doing anything with fluids and such.
I have to change out my radiator and u joints and pads and rotors and I plan on doing that all myself. If I can find a place to do it where it's not 115 degrees.
The only things I try not to mess with are things that are old and have rusted bolts. They just snap off and then I have to drill and rethread. Or if I need the rig on a lift to get at things.
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I have to change out my radiator and u joints and pads and rotors and I plan on doing that all myself. If I can find a place to do it where it's not 115 degrees.
The only things I try not to mess with are things that are old and have rusted bolts. They just snap off and then I have to drill and rethread. Or if I need the rig on a lift to get at things.
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I do pretty much everything on my Jeep. I don't do gears and can't press on any bearing do to not having a press.
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Traveler III
Influencer I
I'm in the same boat. I'm learning as I go and have some friends that are excellent teachers. But sometimes it is best to work with a professional when it comes to confidence with the larger issues. But that doesn't stop me from learning. I am fortunate that my mechanic is a chatty guy and loves to explain his work. We both win in that regard!
Off-Road Ranger I
I do mostly maintenance and bolt-ons to my rigs, but if there was ever anything major short of a transmission issue, my boyfriend would do it and i'd play tool getter. Ironically, he knows a lot about fixing rigs, but doesn't follow proper maintenance, so he has to wrench a LOT on his rigs.
Depends on how much money it will save me versus paying a professional. It's also a function of how busy I am and how much I am dreading the job. For example, I had a bad experience replacing drive shaft u-joints so I'd rather pull the part and take it to a shop to get rebuilt than hammer them out without a vise myself. I'll take on most jobs myself that I can do in one day. If it's a multi-day project, since I don't have a real garage, I generally opt to pay someone for that work. That being said, I have three banana skills and like to stay within my comfort zone. Typically, oil changes, basic maintenance, spark plugs, easy remove/replace parts, wheel bearings, etc. I'll do myself so I can use the money saved on labor to buy the best aftermarket part available. Parts are cheap, labor is not.
I do all my own work except machining, front end alignments and remove\replace tires on wheels. This way I know that things have been fixed correctly and you get to know your vehicle which helps if you break down while on a trip. You can download service manuals and you tube videos to fix almost anything to use at or even on the trail if you load them on your smart phone or tablet.
I have completely dissembled and reassembled my rig. To be fair it's a simple platform. However, I did the diesel engine swap while recovering from brain surgery, so I'm sure there's something wrong with me! [emoji23]
Turbo Diesel YJ
https://www.overlandbound.com/forums/index.php?threads/8019/
Turbo Diesel YJ
https://www.overlandbound.com/forums/index.php?threads/8019/
I started working on cars in 9th grade auto shop before I had a car. This being said it depends on the vehicle and what needs to be done. I have built a few vehicles from the ground up, but like Noted said they were simple, mine being per-1975 vehicles.
From me the newer cars with all the electronics on the engine are a little over my head, so my wife's 2012 Fusion goes to the dealer for engine and tranny stuff. I do the brakes and easy things on it.
With the Super duty I do some stuff and other stuff I take to a very trusted Ford factory diesel mechanic.
From me the newer cars with all the electronics on the engine are a little over my head, so my wife's 2012 Fusion goes to the dealer for engine and tranny stuff. I do the brakes and easy things on it.
With the Super duty I do some stuff and other stuff I take to a very trusted Ford factory diesel mechanic.
