Do you do your own work on your Jeep or pay someone?

Do you do your own work?

  • I do my own work.

  • I pay someone else.


Results are only viewable after voting.
Both... and a big thank you to this forum for helping learn more and more about what I can do myself. I use a specialist Jeep shop for bigger jobs that I don't trust myself for or lack the tools, but smaller stuff I'm learning more every day.
 
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You need a third option in your poll @asstip. My answer is both. Had three back surgeries. Some repairs lend themselves to not bending and stooping. Others - even minor repairs - that require alot of back movement I have someone help me. Or take it to a shop. Especially stuff like tire rotations. If I can pay a shop $40. It's alot easier on me physically. Hell even if I didn't have a bad back. I'd pay someone else to rotate my tires. Same with oil changes. As cheap as it is to take to a lube shop. Why bother with that mess in your own garage?
 
I do my own work unless it's out of my skill level, or the cost to pay is less than the cost of my time to do it.

Now with my broken finger healing, everything's getting outsourced to shops :(
 
Both. Like most responses it depends on the job and I’ve done most things so far except the exhaust. Like @chino1969 I learned years ago that I’d rather have a shop do that. Routine maintenance I’ll take care of. That was one of the reasons that I bought the Jeep, to have a project that I am able to work on and enjoy. Also, I’m lucky to have a mechanic that I like and trust.
 
So far all my own. Years ago I purchased a four point lift which has paid for itself in labor costs saved. When we moved I brought it with me and reinstalled it in my current shop, a repurposed horse barn.
Jeep TJ air spring install 2.JPG
 
Mostly myself, exceptions to this would be if I got it painted.
I might consider a re-man engine but I've thought about doing it myself. It would be fun and we have a machine shop here on Maui for that part of the work.
I would not do a re-gear myself, I don't really have the shop tools.
For the computer I have a Blue Driver to look into that but I've been lucky on that front so far.
I'm thinking of putting in the air conditioning from Jeep Air, that should be a bit of work, I'd have to take it to a shop for charging.
 
Similar to others, mostly me but there will be things I’ll hire out. Since I skew toward mostly my own work, I voted accordingly.
 
I usually try to do my own short of paint work and gears. I trust my own work and research much more than others. Too many shops will half @$$ things just to move vehicles quickly and make money
 
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Perhaps a fourth option for some jeepers:

"I don't have money to pay anyone so I have to do my own work."

This 😂 also being a machinist causes me to critique and not trust anyone who claims to do anything “real quick” or “for cheap”. Or some shops even. Being as my TJ isn’t my primary vehicle, I make room in the garage as needed and tackle things one project at a time. If it takes me a month, then so be it. Though I did give in and source out my gear install because I couldn’t do it faster or better in the amount of time that the other guy could. Or beat the price haha $500 for both axles was a deal for me.
 
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I have to say that i don't trust most shops out there. So i do 99% of all my own work. The few shops i do trust cost an arm and a leg. But you get what you pay for.

But i was pleasantly surprised when i returned home and found out my mother went to take her car in for an oil change. She only had 2k miles on the current oil but 6 months in time. (She doesn't drive much) The owner of the shop told her not to worry about the time and come back when she gets more mileage on it. The topped off the fluids and sent her on her way. No charge.

It was so refreshing to hear about a company that doesn't take advantage of an older woman. I wish I could find more places like that one. I would stop working on my own cars.
 
I used to be a fanatic about doing my own work. In a previous life I fixed cars professionally and still have all my tools, so I have the ability to do it all when not taking into account my time. Now I have two little kids and and two jobs that require a fair amount of travel, so when I'm home I would just as soon not be working in the garage. A few weekends ago I went ahead and changed the front brakes, hubs, and u-joints on the TJ; it was the most work I've done myself in awhile. Prior to that I heard some odd noises coming from the rear brakes and I just did not feel like dicking around with brake shoes so I took it to a shop.
 
I have a very good friend who spent his first career on aircraft carriers. He was responsible for keeping the aircraft airworthy.

He continues the travel the world in his second career and has become an avid offroader. However, he seldom touches a wrench and when he does it is usually to hand it to someone else. I once remarked that he could save a fortune if he did some of his own work. He replied, "Been there, done that. Its someone else's turn."
 
Both - lift kit went on with the help of a few buddies. Cold air intake swap, oil changes and replacing spark plugs - no issue.

Swapping in new axles and doing a disc break conversion, and adding a SYE and new driveshaft I will be looking to by brother in law - he is a mechanic.

I will be sanding and painting the interior and swapping the seats this year.

I know my mechanical limitations.
 
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So far I've done it all minus the first regear, and first sye. Though I made that up with the second 4.56 installation and the super short installation.
 
For me, it depends on the price, the time, and the difficulty. I'm happy to do my own work so I can learn more about my rig. Some jobs are just too damn large, though.
 
I have a very good friend who spent his first career on aircraft carriers. He was responsible for keeping the aircraft airworthy.

He continues the travel the world in his second career and has become an avid offroader. However, he seldom touches a wrench and when he does it is usually to hand it to someone else. I once remarked that he could save a fortune if he did some of his own work. He replied, "Been there, done that. Its someone else's turn."

That is pretty much my sentiment. I have the skill set and training to tackle damned near any job but at my age and temperament I prefer not to. Oh, granted, I still do most of the routine maintenance like brakes, fluids, etc. but stay in that arena most of the time. It is good to know the procedural requirements for certain jobs as well as a fair estimate of the labor involved. You can discuss the job with your mechanic in an intelligent and informed manner that lets him/her know you know what the job entails as well as a fair cost estimate.
 
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