Do you know how to work on your own truck?

@ElmerFudpucker Assuming you bought that from Diesel Diagnostic....do you pay a yearly subscription fee?

 

Nobody’s paying you to work on it so it turns into a question of what is your time worth when you otherwise could be driving the truck and hauling a load, If the shop can get you fixed up and back on the road fast. Also coming home after a week or two gone the last thing you want to do is dik around with the truck on your 2 or 3 days off.

 

my back has actually been the biggest drive to order a new truck lately,

even worse then the pain, I have to say my uncle was right, I will feel that #### someday

 

I know this is an old thread but I just found it. My experience has been that the best and most dependable trucks were made from the mid 90's to 2008 when the emissions took over. My trucks from the 70's and 80's would usually go around 500K before overhaul and be pretty dependable. Then in the 90's we got electronics and suddenly air/fuel mixtures were right on the money 100% of the time and we got more horsepower with better mileage. AND my motors were getting a million miles between overhauls with hired drivers in them! I've bought quite a few new trucks in the last 15 years and the fuel mileage and power are about the same, but now, because they eat their own exhaust, we are back to 500K overhauls. They are not that dependable anymore in my experience. I buy the new Cummins and pay $8500 for all the warranty but the emissions fail constantly and the dealerships often don't have the parts and they are usually a couple weeks out to even look at it. We aren't gaining in my opinion.

 

General advise. Work on your own rig. Ensure you have the right tools for the right job. Ensure you are knowledgeable about what you are going to repair, or get someone knowledgeable to teach you how to do it, instead of going in blind, screwing it up and having a catastrophic failure.

If it’s something major and you’re trying to be penny wise, the resulting pound foolishness will bite you with both downtime and more money spent than had you just went with a professional in the first place.

Air tools, air compressor, sockets, ratchets, crowfoot wrenches, wrenches, breaker bars, welder (a good mig from Miller, Lincoln or Hobart, not the $99 welder) with shielding gas and a spool gun for welding aluminum. Electrical test meters, drain pan with pump for fluid changes, bucket and bottle pumps. I say pumps because I keep a separate pump for the transmission fluid, pumpkin lube, and engine oil is just pour in.

Good quality filters, spare wire, wiring tools and connectors and also solder where you can, instead of a shoddy twist and electrical tape job. Sealant for any cab penetrations you make.

Keep spare airbags for the cab, and buy two bottle jacks and ensure they are under pads when lifting your rig or trailer. Plus, but a nice rolling tool cart. Keep everything organized. Spare parts like nuts, bolts (make sure they are new and the right ones…don’t cheap on fasteners)

I love working on my rig. I have saved thousands of dollars already. The tools I purchased have paid for themselves already and then some.

 

Here’s a good one. Friend dropped off a truck to get recall, replace air compressor and air change… #### rednecks overfilled oil by 2 1/4 gallons. Air compressor coolant line wasn’t tightened, dpf system clamps weren’t installed properly causing him to become sick as a dog… also they charged him for parts that they didn’t replace…
American work force is full of incompetent morons, so if you want to get it done right do it yourself.

 

If thats true, I think we'd all like to know which shop, so we can avoid.

 

It’s a dealer, don’t want to announce anything since there might be a lawsuit, they’re not taking responsibility for their actions. i attached pics, it’s very true. Guy could’ve died in his sleep since he was in ND and he had to idle when it was -9 outside.

 

Good luck finding ANY shop dealership or otherwise (anywhere!) that isn't covered up with a week of work ahead of you, or even more if they're really good. That's why the dealers charge $250 an hour! Because they can. There's a massive shortage of mechanics and no such thing as paying shops a premium to save time. Just doesn't happen. If you don't fix it yourself you're gonna lose even more time.