Topic: Message #1125073

[blackdiamond]

IIRC, didn't you start off with an '85 way back when, so you did some wrench turning?  I know with a lot of my friends as we got into our 30'sand 40's we had more money than time, often less space, i.e. the wives took over the garage with stuff or they live in HOA's that frown on DIYer's, so paying to have it done or buying a built rig made things easier. 

I know some guys are also just not mechanically inclined and don't have the any other choice, with them it seems to be how much they value their money.  I have tow buddies like that, one knows he can't turn a wrench and not wanting to wanting to have his man card rescinded on the trail, he drives like his stuff is made out of crystal, on the other hand, another buddy flogs the piss out of his and then stands around waiting for others to fix it.   Not sure if he still does that or not, haven't wheeled with him in about 6yrs now, last  heard he had gone to Danas.

I have done very little of the work on either of my rigs.  I did start with an 85.  I have a bit more ability than I'm willing to use partly because everything is a bit of a learning process so just takes more time than I'm willing to spend on it.  I make it a point to not wheel with people that I consider to be high risk for breaking things because I don't find waiting around (helping where I can) to be any fun.  If someone is a smart wheeler, drives a solid and well built rig, and they break something then it doesn't bother me a bit because it's part of the game sometimes.  I'm more than willing to accept help with repairs off road, but always go in with the mindset that nobody owes me anything so if I need to spend some $$ to get home that's what I'll do.  For the most part, I don't wheel "easy" just to avoid breaking things, it's my natural style.  I will on occasion get more aggressive if making it up something that I'm struggling with becomes of interest, but it doesn't happen very often.