Basic repair tips

Hi all, I’m getting big into overlanding and I’m not exactly mechanically inclined and I’d like to address that because I’m sure there’s going to be a problem that happens in the middle of no where with no help available. I had a bit of a scare yesterday that made me realize just how inept I am when it comes to these things

Where or how should I go about learning on some basic repairs on common things that break down in the bush? Going back to school and apprenticing or taking long courses aren’t really an option for me
Here’s a picture of my 2020 OR

 

YouTube is amazing for help on really anything. Extra set of axles on hand if your doing lots of overland stuff. Portable air compressor with airline extensions. Lots of extra fuses, And maybe a NOCO G40 battery charger. I don't overland but lots do so I am sure they will chime in.

 

Thanks. The problems I find with that rabbit hole is that every channel I’ve come across is either they are talking about things beyond my mediocre skill level already and I can’t keep up, or the comments section contradicts everything that the video says. It’s a bit overwhelming

 

I do agree with that my friend

 

Upgrade your suspension and ecgs. Do the work yourself and you’ll learn a lot. What tools you need. And then you can keep a spare axle and tie rod and the tools needed to do it off the road.

 

Good for you for diving in to learn those skills, they will serve you well for your whole life and increase your confidence on the trail. Honestly, if you can get something like an old CJ or FJ to learn on, or buddy up with someone in an off-roading club who has one, they are dead simple machines and a great place to learn mechanical skills. I wouldn’t want to try and learn vehicle repairs for the first time on a 2020 anything. But if you absolutely have to, you might invest in a good repair manual Like Haynes or a Chilton and walk through the repair processes they show as if you were doing the repair for real. It’s only a dry run but it would be better then nothing.

 

Ask around to your friends with hoopties and see if u can help with they work on stuff. Or befriend a local garage. The only way to do it is to be hands on. YouTube is good for theory, but out in the garage can be way different. Good luck!

 

I think many of us learn from doing our own mods and our own maintenance
That makes you start to collect tools and spare parts
Then I’d suggest starting from the bottom up and getting to know anything on your truck that would hit the ground, a rock, etc and get damaged
I also recommend all of Corb Lund’s albums if overlanding out of Alberta
They will protect your truck as well as provide entertainment should you need to repair anything

 

That’s good advice, thank you. I’ll definitely look into that

 

I forgot all about Haynes, I didn’t even think they were still making books. Thanks, I’ll try to find one!

Edit; it looks like they only have up until 2018 so far. Does anyone know if thats sufficient for now? AFAIK the lights, seats and infotainment system are the only real differences between those years, am I right?

 

I'd recommend taking a night course in Auto Repair at your local Community College or Adult School (when places like that are allowed to re-open). The good ones will be taught by a retired (or sometimes current) Mechanic, will have a bunch of old Junkers in the back to work on and most will allow you to bring your own truck in to do work on (might have to pay a small Lab fee). 20 Years ago when I started getting into off-roading that's what I did. A couple of years later I took a similar course at the same school to learn how to weld.

It's also a good idea to join an off-road group. I have a Fiberglass Dune Buggy built on an old air-cooled VW Chassis (or Pan) and the first thing when I got it (actually before I bought mine) was to join a club for people who had them. Thru that club I learned some very valuable skills plus I made some life-long friends and have seen some really interesting places I never would have before (the first time I went to Moab, Ut was with friends from this club).

Most of all just get out there and start seeing what your truck can do! I spend one weekend a month (generally) in my local mountains playing around on Fire Roads in my Taco and keep being more and more impressed by what it's capable of in stock form. Hands-down my Taco is the best 4x4 I've owned thus far.