resqman911

I'm a member of a club that has adopted multiple trails in my area, and they are out maintaining them regularly, and once again you are making a generalization, insinuating that new jeepers are the issue. I see newbies out on the trail all the time sometimes in over their head, I don't get mad, I try to help and educate, I don't get mad.

What's your solution , only you get to choose who you think deserves to be on the trails? And you will judge their vehicle and yuppiness and decide if they meet the requirements?

I'm of the mindset " the more the merrier " and I will help anyone I can to get into this hobby.

Jonathan_JK

We are going to have different views on things and thats ok. It might be different in other regions. I have no problems with people new to the Life but we all know that a few bad apples ruin the bushel. I don't get mad at anyone I just try to educate them on things like excessive wheel spin, picking lines for your setup, Your waiting for someone to get through an obstacle Pick up a few pieces of trash. Go on dedicated cleanup runs things like that.

Back to the subject... Depending on what you want to do. Your going to appreciate the new gears on and off the road your going to notice your not going to need as much momentum to get through stuff off-road and on the road your going to notice that your Jeep won't be hunting for gears as often.

resqman911

Agreed, I wasn't trying to be hostile, hope I didn't come off that way.

twise

I have been a mechanic for over 30 years. Yes, you should bring your work to me. I will perform the work and you will leave knowing you had it done by a professional. You will also have a warranty from my shop and the manufacturer will be easier to deal with because you had it done by an "authorized" dealer. Yes, I am a mechanic, born and bred. You know what I am not, I am not an attorney, chef, police officer, firefighter, pilot or doctor. I ask one of them for help when I need it. I don't think I have ever left the doctors office to a group of guys calling me a dip-shit or faint hearted for not splinting my own arm. Ease up guys. I can't tell you how much knowledge I have gained in my 30 years of experience. I still learn new things all the time. I am always happy to help someone out who hasn't a clue. That's why I am a mechanic. I love fixing shit, it's what I do. So, you go do what you do. I will be here when you need me.

Jonathan_JK

Not to discredit your 30 years I'm sure you are a Master Transmission Specialist and very good at your job. Probably takes you half the time most people can do it.

I know you guys have overhead costs, payroll, advertising etc... and thats why you charge a ball park $75-$100 an hour and thats great. So of course you want the business. I have my own setup and no overhead to pay so it costs me nothing but a few beers and some time joking with friends, I like those charges over the $100 an hour.

If you go off road you should be trained or have the minimum skills to get you out of the woods and out of the cold. Things like pulling a driveshaft, Pulling the axle shafts, or taking out the carrier so you can get out of the trail. Setting up gears is more involved and if your not comfortable by all means take it to a shop I'm not going to argue with you about that.

Going out into the places I go is going to battle with Nature. They don't send Marines/Soldiers out into battle without Basic Combat Life Saver skills so why should it be any different.

MKPjk08

I just changed mine to 5:13 gears and I love it it woke my jeep up my buddy has a stock 3.8 engine on 35's with 5:13'S and he liked that it didn't seem as bogged down going over bridges or up hill. I would defiantly recommend it!

As for installing them yourself it can be tricky if you have youtube and some mechanic no how you should be fine it is a good learning experience and really isn't that bad. Personally I don't like paying people to do stuff I can do and when you do it yourself you know its done right and no corners are cut cause you generally care about your Jeep. I've taken my Jeep to shops and its been a nightmare one show didn't tighten any bolts to spec and they all where loose. Not saying that all shops are bad there are really good shops out there. I just perfure to work on my Jeep cause I know its done right and by someone who cares. Good luck man

twise

Well, I never got the chance to use my AAA card in combat, but I have used it to get home to the garage more than once. I think all you need to explore off-road is the urge and a car key. The rest comes with time.

I think there are two camps here, and you reside in the diy camp. That's great, you have skills and buddies and beer and most importantly, time. I just wouldn't be so quick to judge the guy who pays to get it done. He may have no skills, he may have no buddies and he may not have time. That doesn't make him less than. Everyone's situation is different.