Minimum Mechanical Skill

[RangerBill]

It seems like many / most of the community here is at least moderately mechanically inclined. As a newcomer to the world of overlanding, I'm interested in what you think the minimum (and optimal) set of mechanical skills would be to comfortably head out into the woods. I can change a tire and usually get a bluetooth device to pair, but if was to truly break something on the trail, I'd be SOL no matter how fancy a toolkit I had along.

Any advice on what I should learn to do and how to go about learning it? (I'll assume youtube and Chiltons for all. Tearing apart my (almost) brand new 4Runner while still under warranty seems sub-optimal.)

Also, if there's already a thread about this, please let me know. I didn't find anything when I searched.

 

[totalnobody]

I would suggest meeting up with other members and go on a run or three with them.
you will quickly learn how to determine your routes per your skill set if venturing out alone.

 

[RangerBill]

I would suggest meeting up with other members and go on a run or three with them.
you will quickly learn how to determine your routes per your skill set if venturing out alone.

Thanks! I'm actually looking more for thoughts about ability to repair things (my mechanical skill) than driving skill or vehicle capability. Although, those are good to understand as well.

 

[Correus]

Contact the dealership you bought it from. Most dealerships offer basic maintenance classes for the marques they carry. It wouldn't hurt to contact a mechanic that works on your type of vehicle and tell them what you are wanting to do and why.

 

[Smileyshaun]

most likely breaks on the trail
tire
shocks/struts
belts hoses
u joint
axle shaft
ball joint
steering parts

become familiar with these aspects of your vehicle . Volunteer to help a friend or make a new friend by volunteering to help work on their vehicle at least for me I can read all day long about how to do something but until I put my hands on it I don't quite grasp it

 

[Hafaday]

My opinion..

The best thing you can do from a beginner stand point is, Learn your vehicle inside and out. Climb all over that thang like the hot girl you always wanted (No offense to the Ladies here). Know where all fill and drain plugs are for fluids (Axle, transmission, t-case and so on). Get under it and look for possible things that can caught on the trail when driving over them. Especially wiring harnesses. Damn near everything is electrical today.

Then you can into deeper stuff on said vehicle. IE: this electrical thing makes this mechanical thing work. What happens if the Elect. goes to poop while in the bush? can I still make the Mech. still work in a pinch to get me back to the road.

Example: My Jeep JKU. The shifter for the transfer case is all mechanical (cable operated). The stupid plastic bushing that ties the cable to the shift linkage at the t- case is plastic. if this bushing happens to fail (which they do). I can climb under the Jeep and move the shift linkage manually from 4 low/4 high. Back to 2 high to get me home. will it suck to get to and do?? Yes. but it can be done. Things like this are good to know about you vehicle.

When out with a group of people.. most likely, you all can come up with a fix/repair. if by yourself... it's all on you. The more you know about your ride, the better.

Buying a fully, capable vehicle and not knowing squat about it (other than the cool factor) does nothing for you. Other than looking good.

 

[RangerBill]

Buying a fully, capable vehicle and not knowing squat about it (other than the cool factor) does nothing for you. Other than looking good.

Exactly why I want to learn more about my 4Runner!

Thanks for all the great suggestions, everyone. I'll put together my study curriculum.

 

[systemdelete]

Exactly why I want to learn more about my 4Runner!

Thanks for all the great suggestions, everyone. I'll put together my study curriculum.

Start with doing your own maintenance, if you need to at first find a friend with more experience close buy and ask for their supervision. I'm a former ASE master technician, and you wouldn't believe how many people I've "helped" by just sitting there answering questions, and handing tools for some beer as they learned doing their own work.

 

[Ben Cleveland]

First, props for asking. Not too many people value working with their hands, and the skills that accompany that anymore. I think your approach really depends on whether or not you're approaching this from a functional preparedness standpoint, or as more of a wholistic lifestyle. I'd be willing to bet most of the people you're thinking about on here, consider fixing and repairing things a bit more of a lifestyle than something they know how to do JUST because they go offroading. Nothing wrong with either approach, but they look different.

If you're getting into offroading and want to be more prepared, then the suggestions of you doing your own maintenance, and finding a friend with experience to help you is awesome. Also, just don't be afraid to try something you've never done before! I think my friends think I'm a car expert, and truth be told I'm NOT. I just research things before I do them, and try them out, and learn new things as I have a reason to. That attitude will get you super far.

If you're really just wanting to improve your overall DIY skills, I'd suggest some stuff outside of JUST cars. Help your friends out when they're planting a garden, or moving. If someone says they're changing their oil, or pulling an engine, ask to help! And if you have a ton of time on your hands, go and volunteer with something like habitat for humanity. I really feel like there are a lot of different DIY and tool related skills that apply can be helpful when offroading, or if someone (or you) are broken down or stranded.

 

[Dakota Houligans]

Like others have said. Start doing your own maintenance and helping others that may know more than you. Youtube can be helpful. Just be careful of the source not everyone is an expert no matter what the tell you! Figure out what can make your vehicle not start and then learn how to DIAGNOSE the actual problem. Then find solutions. If your truck doesn't start what do you do? Well, that depends on if it cranks, cranks and tries to start, doesn't crank, or if nothing lights up on the dash. Each condition sends you down a different path to repair or band aiding it to get home. I would start with that type of situation. Learn about that problem and potential solutions and prepare for them.

 

[Hapkijo]

Lots of good info here. I would start buy getting a manual, and learning how to do the simple stuff. Tire changes, oil changes, fuses, etc. Getting the right tools for your vehicle and learning how to safely use them. BTW I am on the same path.

 

[CR-Venturer]

Getting a repair manual for your vehicle is a great idea, but also if you haven't already, read your owners manual front to back and then do it again! It's amazing how many people don't read their owners manual.

Another general tip about DIY, cars included, is try your best to use the right tool for the job. You tend to wreck things more if you're trying to shoehorn a tool into a job it's not made for. Having said that, at times you may have to get creative.

Forums can sometimes be helpful too. There is an 4runner owners forum online that has some awesome resources.

You'll likely find that fixing stuff on cars is actually way less difficult and mysterious than mechanics and dealerships would have you believe. Best of luck to you, OP!

 

[Ben Cleveland]

Getting a repair manual for your vehicle is a great idea, but also if you haven't already, read your owners manual front to back and then do it again! It's amazing how many people don't read their owners manual.

Another general tip about DIY, cars included, is try your best to use the right tool for the job. You tend to wreck things more if you're trying to shoehorn a tool into a job it's not made for. Having said that, at times you may have to get creative.

Forums can sometimes be helpful too. There is an 4runner owners forum online that has some awesome resources.

You'll likely find that fixing stuff on cars is actually way less difficult and mysterious than mechanics and dealerships would have you believe. Best of luck to you, OP!

X2 on researching through forums. T4r.org is an awesome resource. Start by familiarizing yourself with common issues for your generation (if your 4r is new than it would be 5th gen), and common maintenance quirks. Just reading through those threads and faq resources will help you start really getting a grasp of your vehicle specifically. For example: grease points on 4th gen 4runners drive trains can be a bit hard to find if you don’t know where to look. Also 4th gen 4runners have an odd driveshaft clunk that can be almost completely eliminated with proper greasing. It took me an hour to do all 6 yesterday. But now, I know exactly where they are and I could probably do it in 10 minutes.

 

[Dakota Houligans]

Getting a repair manual for your vehicle is a great idea, but also if you haven't already, read your owners manual front to back and then do it again! It's amazing how many people don't read their owners manual.

Another general tip about DIY, cars included, is try your best to use the right tool for the job. You tend to wreck things more if you're trying to shoehorn a tool into a job it's not made for. Having said that, at times you may have to get creative.

Forums can sometimes be helpful too. There is an 4runner owners forum online that has some awesome resources.

You'll likely find that fixing stuff on cars is actually way less difficult and mysterious than mechanics and dealerships would have you believe. Best of luck to you, OP!

Yes a lot of things are easier than you think they just take knowledge. Some are far beyond the skill of very good diy guys. Like diagnosing a signal problem on the CAN buss. Sure there are only 2 wires but, all those modules on the bus communicate through waveform signals. Your average guy struggles with electrical driveability problems. Hell, your average mechanic/technician does too. I've been out of it for a few years now and I bet I'd struggle with it for a bit too. Chasing broken wires and intermittent connections takes time. Another fun one is corrosion inside the wires that isn't visible externally. But it skews the computers input signal. Fortunately these problems are not something you likely be tackling on the trail. Maybe a broken wire or bad ground though.

 

[ChasingOurTrunks]

Good advice all around fells, and a great question to ask.

"Skill" is a bit of a misnomer though, as I'd argue that's a really short list:

1) How to support a vehicle safely (Jack stands, where they should be, etc.)

2) Lefty loosey, right-ey tightey in most cases.

3) How to wear safety gear appropriately and work safely (like, your sunglass are not safety glasses, and gloves are great but in some situations are a hazard, removed all rings and watches, etc.)

I'd argue that those are the only 'skills' you need to do most maintenance on your vehicle.

The rest is knowledge, and I'd go so far as to argue that few people actually possess the full knowledge necessary for their vehicle but know where to go to get that knowledge when they need it (Youtube, Chiltons, etc.)

Far more important than either skill or knowledge is the can-do attitude when it comes to repair and maintenance.

Get yourself a shop manual (the proper one that includes maintenance schedules) if you can, and start by doing your own regular maintenance. You'll start with oil changes and greasing joints, and then eventually move to shock and spring and brake replacements, transmission flushes, etc. and each step will build your confidence. As I've posted elsewhere, its now an easy job for my wife and I to take the top of our engine out. About 8 years ago we'd be breaking out the credit card to pay someone else to do it!

 

[Dilldog]

On the subject of service manuals, do yourself a favor and buy a factory manual. Its a lot of money up front but worth it in the long run. For Toyota Helm Inc is the supplier and if you order direct from them you will save some money.
As far as minimum skill needed that is a bit of a loaded question, it depends on what kind of terrain you plan on running. If you just want to run forest service roads and mild two track all you really need to know is how to change a tire. But if you are doing rock riddled trails you may need to be able to rebuild axles on the side of the trail.
For most people being able to change tires and U joints is a must. Another useful skill is simply being able to identify and evaluate issues, and weather or not you can keep on going. I have bent springs, axles, wheels and steering linkage on trails before. Most of them I was able to keep rolling as it wasnt critical, and some I had repair on the side of the trail to get home.
Honestly though the best thing to do as a beginner is what you are doing right now, ask questions and learn. Find local groups that host tech days and go to them. It doesnt matter what make and model it is, 90% of it will still apply across the board. Also with some of the hardcore guys, even the BS around the camp fire over whiskey will be technical in nature and there is a lot to be learned.

 

[Boort]

@Dillon Wilke

On the subject of service manuals, do yourself a favor and buy a factory manual. Its a lot of money up front but worth it in the long run. For Toyota Helm Inc is the supplier and if you order direct from them you will save some money.

FYI This may be easier said than done. I insisted that the Full factory service manual including wiring book be included as part of my purchase of the 2006 4Runner back in January. I think there is also a trans manual but that may be a unicorn. I'm 9 months down the road and still don't have my full set for my 2006 4runner. Helm has been highly unable to supply the books and ditto for about 15 after market sellers. Both the sales manager and the service department at my local Toyota dealer have been looking for them and can't get them either.

Got some good news from one of the vendors last week so MIGHT be getting the books this week. But heard the same sort of news back in Mar/Apr and ended up only receiving Vol 4. May was told a vendor had a full set even took money but to date ... no books... Were "severely water damaged on shelf".

Boort

 

[ChasingOurTrunks]

I tried and tried to get a factory service manual for the JK but couldn't get one. Instead I've paid for a subscription through www.alldatadiy.com. My understanding is they have the factory service manuals for most makes and models on a subscription basis so it's the same as getting the FSM from the dealer (But I may be misinformed on that one).

Whenever I do a job I create a PDF of the relevant sections so I have them offline in the garage, and they are there for future repairs too.

I'm in no way affiliated with that site of course but did find them useful for the JK. YMMV with other makes/models.

Regards
Craig

 

[Dilldog]

It would seem Helm has changed their website quite a bit, and a lot of newer stuff isnt available. That is very disappointing.
Another website that I have had good luck with is Faxon Auto Literature. Most of their manuals are used but they are a good outfit and customer service is first rate.

 

[KDC]

It seems like many / most of the community here is at least moderately mechanically inclined. As a newcomer to the world of overlanding, I'm interested in what you think the minimum (and optimal) set of mechanical skills would be to comfortably head out into the woods. I can change a tire and usually get a bluetooth device to pair, but if was to truly break something on the trail, I'd be SOL no matter how fancy a toolkit I had along.

Any advice on what I should learn to do and how to go about learning it? (I'll assume youtube and Chiltons for all. Tearing apart my (almost) brand new 4Runner while still under warranty seems sub-optimal.)

Also, if there's already a thread about this, please let me know. I didn't find anything when I searched.

Hey, good luck out there. As a person that prefers to do all of the work on my rig I would say some of the skills that are a must out on the trail is learning or honing some of the basics such as wiring: diagrams, schematics, soldering, and so on will come in handy as bumping around in the dirt can tend to bring out some little gremlins. Secondly taking the time to really learn your vehicle before you go somewhere. What I mean by that is familiarizing yourself with the location of components, fill/drain plugs, fuse and relay boxes, areas of concern for trails that may be a tight squeeze. The list can be as detailed or as simple as you want it to be but definitely I like using a checklist to check my truck and gear before I set off on any adventure that is going to take me far enough away from civilization that ill be out of reach if I need some type of help.

Hope some of this helps.