Outer Limits 4x4 Board

Seems like everyone these days either does have the time, inclination, skill or some other lame excuse not to work on their junk themselves.

So I'm just wondering....How many DIYers do we have here, v's I'll just pay someone to play with my nuts

i'd answer but i don't want to be viewed as someone with lame excuses..

Yeah but are you looking to learn or.......

haha since you asked, i'll write my original excuse then
i will try to do any task on my rig as much as possible using what i know and using the assistance of others. above that i will ask for outside help.
outside help is brought in because:
*i am 20 and know close to zippo, so when its a no go, i will go to my local mechanic and get him to do it while i watch. yeah i know you can read on the net how to replace axle seals but i'd prefer to see it done at least once before i go and do it. i reckon 90% of those people who have websites telling you how to do that sort of thing didn't first do it with just instructions from the internet.
*i have little money so i can't affort a welder/decent tools that are required for anything above using a spanner, grinder, jigsaw.etc.

so to answer the poll, i'm a sometimes DIY'er. things like the rear storage and the o/h console i am making i will do myself. bodylift i would do my self. but things like new shock mounts, and sliders where welding and metal fabricating is required, i'm going to shell out the $.
..to use all your listed excuses, i will do a welding course when i have time. something i have nothing of during uni semesters.

Ahh but even starting on basic stuff and spending $$ saved on tools - will get yer brownie points in my book.....IMHO these days too many people just don't wanna get their hands dirty

preaching to the coverted here haha
yeah i will just stare at my jeep wondering what i can get my hands dirty fiddling with next!
i really enjoy doing things myself and can't wait til i know enough to be self sufficient...

As i started getting into my 4wf, I am now doing more and more myself and with some on my hands, often get my hands dirty either replacing a radiator or repacking the hubs. I want to learn how to weld though and I have to admit that if it wasn't for others around me I'd be taking it to a mechanic to get stuff done. I'm not perfect and I'll make mistakes but I won't make the mistake twice though. Some stuff though I have to go to a speciallist though ie engine rebuild

Leprecaun,
I'm not sure where your garage is upto, but heres my thoughts on the vitals:
First & foremost - Factory service manual for your specific model, far preferable not the cheapo generic Haynes or Chiltons manuals. Even if you choose not to work much on your rig at least you'll have a reference to be able to talk-the-talk when liasing with shops.
Range of spanners and sockets (preferably ½" drive & maybe some ¾" drive for the bigger bore sockets). IMHO this should really include a decent quality torque wrench, I use this with lock-tight on just about every bolt I tighten.
Range of screwdrivers and hammers/mallets.
Decent quality trolley jack and stands - basically as big as you can afford to spend. A cheaper/smaller second trolley jack isn't a bad idea either.
Drill and angle grinder.
Workbench with at least one vice.
A set of pullers &/or slide hammers is also very handy.
Then I'd suggest a welder ( I'd probably suggest a mid-sized MIG - but I must confess I have a small arc and an OxyAcc set which I really enjoy using).
Next I'd list an air compressor for impact wrenches, etc these are serious time & knuckle saving devices. This is also great if you are doing any renovation work around the house - I actually convinced the wife to get mine to initially use with a nail gun for our renovations . Also the blow gun is great for a range of uses around the home workshop. Not to forget spray guns etc....Did I mention that I love my compressor & accessories
I also find having a small cheapo Hand winch in the garage a useful tool.
Lastly in my garage I have a reasonably comprehensive tap & die set. oh yeah and some "easy-outs", in case you ever snap a bolt/stud.

Naturally a range of fluids to suit your rig stored means you'll not be doing 8:50pm runs to Bunnings, only to find they don't stock Gear oil with LSD additives

That's pretty much where my garage is upto at this point.
My list of planned acquisitions for the near future include:
Hydraulic press, small metal lathe, Drill press, a notching tool (to use with hole saws) and a tube bender.....Dang I need more garage space

I do most things myself but am very aware of my limits in tools facilities and skill so I do farm big stuff or safety type stuff out


Currently rebuilding the carby on my POS to some on here that is a real yawn but for others like myself it is about streching your limits within confines of what achieveble

I have done all the suspension myself but being a cj I think my 2yo could do that

Do brake services but then pay to get it checked over afterwards as I dont trust myself

I guess not too bad for a computer geek who has lived in a unit the whole time I have owned my POS

Do everything myself and am lucky enough to have people with jeeps let me build stuff for them and wrench on their cars its a good world

i only do it if it continues to precieve to be cool..

I do everything myself on the fleet (four 4wds), I'm lucky I'm self employed, work from home, and my 4wds are integral to my work. I know that there are trustworthy mechs out there, but it can be hard finding them sometimes, never really bothered. I am self taught I guess through necessity, I don't have a lot of money to play with, so the country background comes into play - you don't throw it out, you look after it and repair it so you don't have to replace it with a new one. I reckon there has been a slow decline in DIY, but of course there are some people that should never attempt DIY. My youngest rig is '97 Sportage (no ABS or airbags - yay for tubebars and simple braking systems...) and the oldest is an '81 daihatsu F20. I've never had anybody to show me the first time, but with enough manuals, careful disassembly, neat and logical parts storage, it has been easy to do all things. You do learn as you go, and there are a lot of similarities across all makes. If you develop a rapport with a parts supplier, you can get some helpful tips along with the purchase - loyalty counts.

Time can be an issue with some people, one of the menaces of society - lack of any spare time - but I look at maintaining a 4wd you own (or anything for that matter) as a responsibility you must take seriously - I hate going out with other people that don't maintain their truck, and the damn thing keeps breaking down. I recently had one of my trucks fail me on a dayrun (battery terminal came loose when motor was running, diode pack (rectifier) fried, alternator failed and no charge to the battery, had to push start everytime stalled/stopped) and it just annoyed the shit out of me. I have a meticulous log book system and maintanance schedule, but then I'm trying to get at least 15-20+ years of service out of each machine.

I LOVE DIY...

do everything myself........ its a dollars issue versus a tight wad

Get this moved to general tech it's a good poll

I'm in the backyard mechanic, learn as you go, can't fabricate sh!t bracket

mj wrote:I'm in the backyard mechanic, learn as you go, can't fabricate sh!t bracket

Who isn't - but don't stop me trying to stick two bit of metal together with bird poop welds.....

Used to pay people to do stuff for me, but the more you wheel the more you need to be able to fix things yourself. I've gone from knowing pretty much nothing to doing a full motor buildup, xfer case mods and auto conversion. Its all about having help along the way and doing things with perseverence. Yeah, I've screwed some things up along the way but I've learnt a shitload. To me that's what it's all about - learning.

Hey I'm a jeep owner you think I'm gunna git my hands dirty.. I even get some one else to wash it..

I do every thing myself and you can really tell just by looking at my worthless peice of junk.

But at the end of the day I feel proud of what I have achieved.

I DIY my general servicing, do get a mechanic to service every 50000km, and will install accessories that I buy, but when it comes to fabrication, I'll leave that to those who know what they are doing for large items; however, small brackets and stuff I'll attempt to knock up.
When it come to brakes and diffs I let a professional do it.

There have been times that I have not had the time and get a shop to do stuff when I'm at work. Can you imagine the stuff you'd build for your rig if you had deep pockets and didn't have to go to work.

i do everything myself , being a mechanic i know how much we mongrels overcharge , and if you do it yourself you know its done .

as for fabrication i do all that myself as well, my welds look like crap but MOST of them hold together

and i agree buy proper work shop manuel ,them gregorys and hanes manuels are the best way to turn some one of doing a serious component rebuild

Befor owning this jeep I had only ever changed a sparkplug, I had no mechanical knowledge at all. But I quickly learnt that playing hard in a Jeep means BIG $$$$$$, both to modify and repair, especially when you try to follow them Big Nissans.

Therefor since becoming a jeep owner I've Installed my own OME suspension with RE control Arms. Fitted the Winch, winch bar, lights, locker swithes, compressor, body lift (home made) Motor mount lift, I removed the Auto gear box to modify the breather and rebuild it (this was done by a mechanic) and refitted the trannie, I pulled the trans case out, fitted a SYE, TBS, K&N Pod filter. etc etc

I had the ARB lockers fitted by a mechanic, this was a bit much for me.

If I had to pay someone to do all the above this it would cost ($5000 or more)

So being a jeep owner has put me on a steep learning curve. DIY or cough up the $$$$$$.

Im not confident enough with what Im doing to take that saftey risk.. for the moment Id much rather have the mechanics workmanship to fall back on incase anything goes wrong.

How do i open my bonnet? And if it can be opened is it like a big boot in there so i can keep stuff in it?

Im lucky as i have a spanner chucker that I know and we do the work on my rig together. As I learn more about my rig I am able to build a same make rig with my 15 year old son. I consider myself Very lucky!!

I just bought a new push mower and i had to read the manual as i have no idea how to change the engine oil.

SERIOUS!

thats a start at least.

Darn straight!