DIY Disasters - Off-Road & Overland Build Mistakes

[@OutdoorAuto]

What important lessons have you learned from DIY projects?

[@streams76]

To ALWAYS wear eye protection while grinding metal things in vices ;)

[@brettperkins4643]

YES, LISTEN TO THIS MAN!!!!!! START ALL YOUR BOLTS BY HAND. ask me how I know

[@OutdoorAuto]

I have feeling we both learned this lesson the hard way…

[@PRodent]

Also what's with aftermarket manufactures providing SAE hardware for a metric truck?

[@OutdoorAuto]

YES! This drives me nuts

[@LBC_squared]

You must be new to working on cars buddy. America is the reason ot should I say MURICA

[@guyshred3949]

American bolts are better

[@TeensierPython]

All cars have been metric for decades.

[@alexross4062]

YES to the parts list! I have a 2002 Sequoia as my rig, and I've realized any time I work on something to expect a system overhaul. If I'm going in to replace one thing in a system, I should plan on having to completely overhaul a majority of that system.

[@OutdoorAuto]

It happens… and parts are so hard to get right now.

[@alexross4062]

@OutdoorAuto absolutely! While doing my wheel bearings one of my brake lines cracked, took over a week for me to find parts, fittings and tools to custom build a replacement since Toyota doesn't sell them!

[@bjlanders]

good/fast/cheap is a three sided scale, and it never lies. The scale definetly weighs DIY projects. I do most of my own work, so I can afford the end product, and so that the work is good (hand torque to factory specs, no air hammers ) so I am not as fast, but I am cheaper than paying a shop. If I paid a shop, it would be faster, but it will be at an industry time and rate, so it may not be good whilst being faster and not cheap anymore. So, I have learned to weigh my time, money, and quality requirements.

[@jpackard2723]

Yep, didn't listen to my inner voice that said "these upper ball joint mtg bolts really look kinda iffy" but hey "everybody is buying this kit, so they must be okay" Yeah, stripped out the first nut snugging with a 6"or 7" wrench, hadn't even got the torque wrench out yet 😕 Wasted time running to town and money... just as you say " listen to that inner voice" Good solid advice in this video thanks for the honesty

[@OutdoorAuto]

Some of the lessons we learn the best… we learn the hard way.

[@dylancattaneo5989]

This is SO IMPORTANT for people to hear!! Great video man.

[@frankheffernan8066]

Always great to see your content. Your advice on how to avoid the problems that you personally encountered resonates.

[@garretlewis4103]

Good advice.

[@darranjacobsen4366]

Great info, funny I always thought Tacoma Screw was just located in my hometown of Tacoma Wa.

[@rushthezeppelin]

Don't use impacts to even do initial tightening on stainless. I was test fitting a bumper with stainless hardware and only a few ugga duggas stripped 1/2-12 threads so freaking fast. I looked up generic torque specs and sure enough it's like 43-45 ft lbs. The nuts were welded on too. I ended up drilling the nuts out and buying longer bolts and some nuts as well as washers and lock washers. Kept the same thread. Hand tightened them put the torque wrench on.

[@hwi7114]

Stainless steel has a tendency to thread gall if you don't use anti-sieze or some other form of lubricant on the threads.

[@Draevon68]

What are some good dyi projects for someone new to working on their own vehicle? I grew up working on cars but spent the last 20 years living in suburbia and taking my vehicles to a garage. I want to relearn how to fix my own truck and upgrading it for off-roading.

[@candidcapture]

I find... the 1st attempt is always f'd up. something always goes sideways. This is why if you have the $$ and down time is not optional, take it to someone who knows and is better equipped to recover. However....!!! Given where we take these rigs, it is better to diy so in the field, if something craps out, you are in the know. But yea, 1st time always sux. 😅

[@OutdoorAuto]

Totally agree… learning doesn’t take twice as long… it’s like 5X…. But then you know… and it’s pretty awesome to know how to do stuff.

[@candidcapture]

@@OutdoorAuto 1st camping trip with my lady... while cooking under the awning with an led strip light and an electric kettle boiling of to the side, I turn to her and say "I built this" with her repling "I know, its awesome." :: reward enough for me:: I have to add.... Having been modifying cars for the street forever, I only heard of "the Toyota Tax" and not experienced it. Now that I'm on a GX470 build I am finding that every component that I skimped on 2 yrs ago is definitely subpar and already due for replacement. And the genuine, well... no drama during install or use. 😱🤯

[@dainperrault585]

hell yea nates budget build!

[@OutdoorAuto]

I’m up in the mountains snow wheeling it now… getting the whole thing all figured out.

[@taki2425]

Craziest thing I see youtubers do is use those spring compressors that latch on to each side of the spring, idk what they are called but I would never use them. For doing anything with the springs I would suggest paying a professional or use a good spring compressor like the branick. I've seen them fly multiple times. Also regardless of spring compressor you use, put vice grips on both sides of the clamp where it mounts on the spring, will limit possibility of the spring spinning and coming out while compressed.

[@fltllc4136]

You guys should consider a jack rod from agm if you guys like to use your jack as a jack stand.

[@elpatudo3670]

Absolutely 🎯! 🎄🍻

[@wayned3137]

What’s the brand of rack you talked about in the video? So we know and can be aware of it. Thank you! Merry Christmas

[@johngray9702]

Thank you. I love your videos

[@OutdoorAuto]

Thanks for watching, I appreciate the support.

[@boda4339]

Don't ever forget your safety glasses when using a die grinder.

[@davesantimaw5413]

Very helpful!

[@Antiyoutubeyoutubeaccount]

Oh my word you are buying nate’s LC 🤩🤩🤩

[@AdventureBraten01]

NO WAY YOU GOT THE DIRT LIFESTYLE LEXUS

[@DarkCavalry1228]

no pride, just good info!

[@jacquezghardy]

Bro if you’re someone out there and you hit a curb hard enough to bust down a cv axle, I gotta see footage😂 that would be crazy to watch

[@chazparker2488]

You remind me a lot of humble mechanic. But off-road version lol

[@OutdoorAuto]

If I named my channel like his it would probably be “Mediocre Mechanic” 😂🤣

[@2WheelViews]

I listen to the voice in my head when it says “wear safety glasses when using a grinder” cringe.. 🤭🤭 do you get that voice?

[@OutdoorAuto]

It depends 🤷‍♂️

[@SOLAscriptura-]

Oh that little voice… “stop dude” … shhh “I can make this work, I told my wife I’d be done 2 hours ago”…

[@joeashbubemma]

Is it really "DIY" when all you're doing is bolting sh-t on?

[@OutdoorAuto]

Changing your oil is technically DIY... And this channel is trying to help people build up the courage to take on anything from big to basic projects... Also... pretty much everything is bolt on unless you are doing fabrication... Most engine swaps are bolt on...

[@ZboeC5]

Yes. If you have spent any amount of time dealing with "bolt-ons" you'd know that they are rarely as described. From extra trips to the parts store get supplies you weren't ready to deal with to full on cutting/welding/machining to make the "bolt-on" work as advertised. Nothing worse than a 30 minute "bolt-on" job turning into a 3 day ordeal.

[@androjeff]

You've gotta be kidding me..... Literally, yes it's DIY if you're bolting it on yourself. You know, because you're not having someone else bolt it on 🙄🤣🤓

[@TyinAlaska]

Good question. DIY is self-explanatory. It means you did it. The factory didn't do it. Someone else's shop didn't do it. You did. It doesn't necessarily mean that you built a shock absorber with machinery or programed a CPU's software from code, but it certainly means you built the final product. Sometimes DIY just doesn't feel good enough unless there's custom fabrication, but more often, "bolt-ons" are more than adequate.