Why so few DIYers

[LSK]

I fix pretty much everything I have the tools for, but I also have access to a couple of shops with lifts and tools if I need it.


I remember putting the lift on my jeep and finding out the cost of having the local shop do it.


Insane.

[Dave-ROR]

Originally Posted by jsimon7777

Let me have my kids sleep under there. The car can double as a tent!

That quick jack thingy is better than actual jacks, yes, but I'd have to get one version for the truck and another version for the cars. The truck has a 149" wheelbase and the FRS has 101". Plus what if I eventually get a 2500 or 3500 truck? That crew cab with the diesel is over 7000lbs and a dualie can go over 8000 if I option it up.

Crawl under the 3/4 or 1 ton for basically everything but brakes..

and the 7k QJ will probably break under a real truck too

[rice_classic]

Originally Posted by ermax

My concern with the QuickJack has always been the inability to slide under the side of the car. So say you want to unbolt the exhaust at the mid section of the car. You would have to craw unter from the front or rear. Then again it looks like it's high enough that you could quickly roll under there with a creeper.

I changed my exhaust while the car was lifted by my Quickjack and I thought it was great. The QJ gets the car higher than my jack stands ever did (well.. safely at least). Sliding in from the front or back with a magic creeper is ezpz. Secondly, the total sum benefits of the QJ far outweighs the 1 or 2 inconveniences of them. I can't wait to the QJ during the race season at the track!



Every DIYer should have this:

https://magiccreeper.com/

[soulreapersteve]

Drunken rambling:

I can do the basics (oil, tires, etc.), but ask me to change the spark plugs and I'll say no. Lack of knowledge/experience, and probably the lack of desire to learn on my own unless someone is actively guiding me in person.

I suppose this can be said about computers (former IT here). I've fixed the most, from my view, mundane issues with people's devices on the user end; simple stuff on the server side. However to the lay user, its some serious shit!

Speaking of plugs, I have to get it changed in 3k miles...

[Ultramaroon]

Originally Posted by soulreapersteve

Speaking of plugs, I have to get it changed in 3k miles...

Meh. That's an ok one to put off.

[bcj]

I've still got the original plugs at 73k.
Had the 60k service done by the body shop while they were fixing the back end and exhaust.
Told them not to bother with the plugs then. They haven't quit yet.
I'll get them done with the valve spring work. Eventually.

[ermax]

Originally Posted by rice_classic

Every DIYer should have this:

https://magiccreeper.com/

Man that is freaking cool. I’m sold! Thanks for sharing.

[Lynxis]

I personally do anything short of cutting and welding. Well, I cut my endlinks out when they seized so I'll cut certain things but welding is out of the question.

For most people, I think the lack of willingness to DIY is based mostly on lack of confidence and this seems to go in levels.

1. Will do literally nothing to their cars themselves
2. Will do simple routine stuff themselves like fluids, wheel swaps, maybe brake pads
3. Will swap bolt on parts and kits like brakes, suspension, exhaust, FI kits, canned tune
4. Who can will cut and weld pieces, minor self-fabricate
5. Design, fabricate and install major solutions

[soundman98]

Originally Posted by Lynxis

I personally do anything short of cutting and welding. Well, I cut my endlinks out when they seized so I'll cut certain things but welding is out of the question.

For most people, I think the lack of willingness to DIY is based mostly on lack of confidence and this seems to go in levels.

1. Will do literally nothing to their cars themselves
2. Will do simple routine stuff themselves like fluids, wheel swaps, maybe brake pads
3. Will swap bolt on parts and kits like brakes, suspension, exhaust, FI kits, canned tune
4. Who can will cut and weld pieces, minor self-fabricate
5. Design, fabricate and install major solutions

and then there's people like me who are really a 2, but see themselves as a 5...

[NoHaveMSG]

I'm a 4 that thinks that I am a 5. I just bought a tig welder and should be popping my first CF part that I made in my garage soon.

I did some pretty major stuff on my 4runner but most of it I used online sources to figure out.

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by Lynxis

I personally do anything short of cutting and welding. Well, I cut my endlinks out when they seized so I'll cut certain things but welding is out of the question.

For most people, I think the lack of willingness to DIY is based mostly on lack of confidence and this seems to go in levels.

1. Will do literally nothing to their cars themselves
2. Will do simple routine stuff themselves like fluids, wheel swaps, maybe brake pads
3. Will swap bolt on parts and kits like brakes, suspension, exhaust, FI kits, canned tune
4. Who can will cut and weld pieces, minor self-fabricate
5. Design, fabricate and install major solutions

I will add a rider to this that these steps imply having a place and the equipment to work up through the levels. I have been a 5 in the past but now come in someplace in the negatives.

[new2subaru]

Originally Posted by Tcoat

I will add a rider to this that these steps imply having a place and the equipment to work up through the levels. I have been a 5 in the past but now come in someplace in the negatives.

Yep. I've worked in gravel out of desperation. Never again.

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by new2subaru

Yep. I've worked in gravel out of desperation. Never again.

Oh the repairs I have made on the side of the road. They were needed and not one of the fun parts of the hobby though.

[NoHaveMSG]

I passed on a house a while ago that my uncle offered to me for cheap(110k). Later I found out it had a 10ft garage door, 11ft ceilings in the garage, and was deep enough I could have fit about 4 cars nose to tail It was basically a shop with a 2 bedroom 750sqft apartment attached