I want to be hands ON, how?

Good for you @BigKountry .

I didn't know squat to begin with - just petrol engines and basic auto electric.

First step was to grease it myself, source and change oil and filters, and familiarize myself with the truck and its systems.

Ask questions of your mechanic, you'll find they actually enjoy explaining things to guys who show an interest - rather than disappear to the drivers lounge to eat pizza and tell lies.

 

Find a good shop close to home, where the same person does most of your work. Watch and learn, but more important you need to learn to find freight that pays more so you can afford shop time.

I fix the small things but most goes to the shop, but I understand how things work.

Had the truck repaired on the road last week, the axles were pulled on the front drive and i watched them set the wheel bearings and I knew they did not do it right. Got home and had my guy reset the bearings, (out of state shop paid)

The key is to learn all you can and know when they are screwing up, had I not had my guy set the bearings I probably would have had a big problem,

Biggest mistake that has broke many people is to take the truck to a dealer and say fix it. Remember most mechanics work on commission.

 

Like said earlier, start small, most everything on the outside of the motor just bolts on. Do preventive maint yourself on weekends when at home.
Sometimes trying to do too much without the knowledge can hurt you by costing you time. Especially if you don't have the proper tools or knowledge, or just too lazy to do things right. If you don't have time to do a repair you #### sure don't have time to do it twice.
Hang out with some of the old hands that used to do everything them self. I had an older friend that was really to old to be working on trucks but if I bought the beer he didn't mind pointing out things and telling me exactly what I needed to do. There are a few that I work with that at least one of us is almost always working on something. Offer your help and when you need it they will almost always offer to help you.
Look at most of the mechanics out there, just like trucking, it ain't rocket science.

You will eventually get over this desire to do it all yourself and look for a good mechanic that you can trust to fix most things and then it's good to be knowledgeable enough to be able to get yourself out of a jam and not be stuck on the side of the road. The best way to avoid that is good preventive maint but if you drive long enough it's going to happen and when it does it's nice not to have to call a flunkie and pay an outrageous fee.

 

I started with cars. Only minor stuff. I bought my first 4x4 chevy at 16. Haynes manual was my next purchase. I also hung around guys who turned wrenches. If you have an understanding of cars, you will be able to grasp diesel mechanics too.

 

I agree 100 percent. I also think that wanting to learn is a big part as well.

 

One thing @Old Man taught me that paid off -

"While we're in there, what else can we do?"

Whether you do it, or your trusted independent.

Example. ABS LF sensor bad. Turns out to be leaking wheel seal. While we're in there we do wheel bearings - which is good, because when the right side comes off there's a broken spring that has the lower shoe dragging. New brakes, bearings, seals both sides, and replace sensor - good to go.

Nothing better than the knowledge you've knocked out a bunch of important stuff rather than going back in again and again.

I always ask them to save the parts for inspection. In this case the mechanic told me it was good timing, and showed me the wear on the bearings.

 

One way to save money is to supply parts to the shop if they let you.
They don't price shop and mark them up 10 to 25%