Handing over the keys

[Heimkehr]

I've been maintaining my vehicles, to include repairs and accessory installation, for 30+ years now.

Continuing this M.O. with my Wrangler, albeit on a modest scale thus far, has compelled to think about how much longer I can reliably slide around on a concrete floor, or an asphalt driveway. For the first time, I've had to acknowledge a ticking clock.

Buying time, in the form of a two-post garage lift, just isn't in the cards. And so having something like the benchmark upgrade of a 2" lift added to my Jeep would probably force me to give the vehicle and the key fob to a shop for the first time, ever. Oddly, it's not the expense of doing so that is personally annoying, so much as it is the abandonment of proud self-sufficiency.

Have you found yourself staring at the same decision, or reality? Have you made peace with it?

Sponsored

 

[Reinen]

I've accepted the fact that certain "luxury" comfort items are starting to grow into "necessity" items. Like a nice garage creeper. I can accept that.

Now, the day I can't do what I do even with luxury comfort items, that will be traumatic.

 

[rickinAZ]

As a senior, I thought the thread was going to be about giving up driving privileges (forever). I must be paranoid.

[I'm still hoping that they perfect self-driving vehicles before I get to that point]

 

[Chocolate Thunder]

Sone folks get to this point before others for various reasons. I still do most things, but there are things that someone else can do better than I can, some things I don’t have the time for, and some things that I just don’t want to do myself anymore.

 

[GATORB8]

Just a thought, many of us were lucky enough to have fathers that taught us to turn a wrench, but from my observation there are a ton of guys on the forum that would be hungry for some mentoring.

For the young newbs, a nice set of tools, a garage, and a friend to teach them is hard to source. May be time to pass on the knowledge for a some complementary service and some beers.

 

[Heimkehr]

...some things that I just don’t want to do myself anymore.

I'd be fibbing if I said that thought hasn't also crept into my head. I've successfully brushed it off, though, but for how long? A sense of accomplishment has kept me going, and will hopefully keep doing so for the indeterminate future.

"The indeterminate future". Would that have been a better thread title, @rickinAZ?

 

[Jamrock]

As a senior I thought the thread was going to be about giving up driving privileges (forever). I must be paranoid.

[I'm still hoping that they perfect self-driving vehicles before I get to that point]

I understand how you feel. I am a long way from this stage. However, I dread the day when I will no longer be able to just get up and go somewhere. I love long drives into the rural towns.

Plus 1 for self driving vehicles.

 

[Retrograde]

...And so having something like the benchmark upgrade of a 2" lift added to my Jeep would probably force me to give the vehicle and the key fob to a shop for the first time, ever...

I've been wrenching on engines & vehicles of all kinds since I was 8 years old, and after 50 years of it, I was forced to self-eval along those lines as well. Until I actually took the Jeep into the dealership recently. Holy Crap, these kids are morons! I couldn't do it-- I drove the Jeep back home and ordered the Service Manual that day...

As a result of that experience, I seriously embarked on a physical conditioning self-improvement program. And it worked. I now have the strength & flexibility I had almost 20 years ago... well, probably not. But I'm much improved, and that's what it feels like. As an added benefit, my A1C is back to normal, and Doc has quit riding my ass.

In other words, the dealership can work on my Jeep when they pry the torque wrench from my cold, dead, arthritis-gnarled hands!

 

[MesaAZGuy]

I've been reluctant to do any kind of work to my vehicles except the bus I own. Even that, the heavy work gets farmed out. I am lucky that I have an awesome relationship with my Chrysler dealer who goes out of their way to take care of me. That said, I built a 16' long service pit in my side yard for the bus and basic work on my vehicles when I "feel like" working on them. It's ok. Life progression I guess.

 

[Retrograde]

...I built a 16' long service pit in my side yard for the bus and basic work on my vehicles when I "feel like" working on them.

"Mmmm.... service pit...."

 

[txj2go]

I plan to keep doing my own auto work hopefully for a long time. I do all the repairs to my house too. My father owned a garage for over 60 years and now my nephew owns it so if I get really desperate I can call them. When I worked there we used floor jacks, bumper jacks and creepers. These days they have three 2-post lifts and probably don't still own a creeper. My JLU Sport is at Rubicon height and I can get under it to change my oil easy enough without a jack or a creeper.

 

[roaniecowpony]

I've been maintaining my vehicles, to include repairs and accessory installation, for 30+ years now.

Continuing this M.O. with my Wrangler, albeit on a modest scale thus far, has compelled to think about how much longer I can reliably slide around on a concrete floor, or an asphalt driveway. For the first time, I've had to acknowledge a ticking clock.

Buying time, in the form of a two-post garage lift, just isn't in the cards. And so having something like the benchmark upgrade of a 2" lift added to my Jeep would probably force me to give the vehicle and the key fob to a shop for the first time, ever. Oddly, it's not the expense of doing so that is personally annoying, so much as it is the abandonment of proud self-sufficiency.

Have you found yourself staring at the same decision, or reality? Have you made peace with it?

Did it with mine. It's in the shop right now. The hard part for me is trusting anyone. I'm lucky in that the shop owner is a good personal friend of my brother and I trust his work and judgement.

The mods are 3.5" lift, truss axles, 4.88 gears, skids, tire rack, 37s, and maybe a few things I forgot. I just couldn't get myself motivated to do a lift and gears in the driveway. I know a day under a vehicle pays back with 3 days of pain.

 

[PhoenixM3]

I've been reluctant to do any kind of work to my vehicles except the bus I own. Even that, the heavy work gets farmed out. I am lucky that I have an awesome relationship with my Chrysler dealer who goes out of their way to take care of me. That said, I built a 16' long service pit in my side yard for the bus and basic work on my vehicles when I "feel like" working on them. It's ok. Life progression I guess.

No worries about rain there? Does it have a drain? Awesome setup!

 

[Kahunadave]

I've been reluctant to do any kind of work to my vehicles except the bus I own. Even that, the heavy work gets farmed out. I am lucky that I have an awesome relationship with my Chrysler dealer who goes out of their way to take care of me. That said, I built a 16' long service pit in my side yard for the bus and basic work on my vehicles when I "feel like" working on them. It's ok. Life progression I guess.

now that is Badasss !!???

 

[roaniecowpony]

I've been reluctant to do any kind of work to my vehicles except the bus I own. Even that, the heavy work gets farmed out. I am lucky that I have an awesome relationship with my Chrysler dealer who goes out of their way to take care of me. That said, I built a 16' long service pit in my side yard for the bus and basic work on my vehicles when I "feel like" working on them. It's ok. Life progression I guess.

I worked with a guy that finally got that hot sports car he always wanted, but he was too old to pick up pretty ladies with it by the time he could afford the car.

Sponsored