Had a guy riding in our group, at Rausch Creek last May, blow a tire out and did not know how to use hi own Hi-lift jack. :lol: He stood by as others took care of his junk.

Excellent example!!!

Just because someone has taken or does take any of their vehicles to a shop doesn't mean they don't know how to operate simple tools.

In the end of the day, to each his own. Sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do.

There's another view on the topic as well.

People like myself (I.E. Those that are trying to learn but have little experience) who don't have a garage nor family/friends who do either. Working on a vehicle in a parking lot for anything major in my complex is seriously frowned upon. :p

There's also this; Although I WANT to do everything to my Kee, I'm nervous as hell to attempt things as I've never done them before. Sure! There are all sorts of write ups! But on the other hand, I've never attempted to put on a lift kit, change ball joints or whatever else I need to do. Plus, it's my DD so it can be out of commission for only so long before work starts sending the cops to do a wellfare check on me. :p I'm slowly convincing myself that I can do certain stuff but it takes time. :)

I have a friend whos all into Mazdas and the AutoX scene and he doesnt even change the oil on his car. I asked how much it was to have the oil changed on my car and the tires rotated out of curiosity and he told me 69$ at the place he goes to. I said thats ridiculous for something I could train my 4 year old niece to do.

He responds "I take it to a shop so if the wheel comes flying off I can blame them"

I said "I do it myself so it doesnt come off in the first place, and by the way... Good luck getting them to pay for damages"

lol He still hasn't learnt though. Oh well, first blown engine from them and he'll be doing it himself I suspect.

For me, I at least try to do it my self first. If I get stuck I go on here and look for help, and try again. this has gotten me through almost every repair I have had to do on my jeep. The only things I have not done my self are ball joints and ujoints( when i first got the xj I had my parents friend who is a big jeep fan and mobile mec do it. I had no tools, know how or this site)

and my lift.
I wish i had done my lift my self. I didn't even get to watch them do it:(. my ride rushed me out of the shop as soon as I dropped the jeep off.
I would have had a lot of trouble as my jeeps a 92 and all the rusted bolts just break .
there were 7 rusted stuck bolts that snapped and had to be tapped and drilled. I don't know how I would have handled that.

Still I feel like I cheated and missed out on learning important info about my jeep. Not to mention I could have all my skid pates and the front bumper I want for the cost of the labor.

I'm slowly building my tool arsenal
so I dont have to shell out money I dont have in the future.

it would be really cool to be able to weld so i could make my self a bumper, roof cage, replace floor pans, ect . hopefully I can learn somehow. Its hard if you don't have tools or know anyone to help you out
but so much more satisfying when you do it your self

i agree with you, jeep guys are the ones who work on their rigs themselves, and get sunburns at night time from their welders.

its funny how the "other" group of "jeep" guys react when i tell them i cruise around on pirate 4x4 they seem to get scared :laughing: and think its insane that i made my own long arm kit lol.

not everyone can do all of these things but i feel that the ones who take the jeep to the mechanic when they hear a funny noise shouldnt be driving or wheeling.

imo if your smart enough to build it then you should be able to drive it.

if your jeep doesn't make a funny noise, then you definitely need a mechanic. because that means it's not running :)

thats worthy of putting in my signature :lol:

Could not agree more

The only time any of my vehicles have ever been to someone elses shop, was for paint, or hook up to a computer to diagnose what the problem is. Im no ace mechanic, but you cant learn if you dont try and too, my father was a mechanic for 35 years so, ive got 35 years of tools that need not to go to waste.

lol thats the way I was too. My step dads a mechanic and every year his tool allowance goes towards tools for his home collection since he never needs anything anymore for work.

everytime I go to work on my rig seems like I need a tool I don't have. But at least my tool box is getting more full. I learn by doing on my rig and the added benny is more tools, cant go wrong there.

Wrenches, screw drivers, sawzall, and welder should get 99% of it taken care of.

I do need to invest in a welder, never welded before but I want get one and learn. Learn by doing.