Rob Bryce and Jim Mijali remove some axle parts which will be transplanted into Jonathan's stricken TJ... sometime around midnight.

Inner Peace Through Trailside Breakdowns

Ok, perhaps inner peace is a bit of an exaggeration. The point I'm trying to make with this article is that you need not fear a trailside breakdown IF you approach it with the right attitude. And believe me, if you go off-highway with any degree of regularity, you WILL suffer a breadown on the trail. Fortunately, it's not the end of the world. In fact, if you approach it as an opportunity to learn, these breakdowns can be very beneficial.

When I was new to fourwheeling, I was in awe of the people who did the hardcore trails. I wanted to build up my Jeep to conquer the worst trails just like they did in the magazines. But at the same time, there was this nagging fear in the back of my mind: I'm not a mechanic! How would I handle a repair if I broke something a hundred kilometers from the nearest paved road?

Four years later, I'm still no mechanic but I have learned enough to get myself home in most cases. This new found knowledge was accumulated bit by bit, by going on trail rides with my more experienced friends. If I, a computer geek, can learn how to perform emergency fixes, then so can you.

I've drawn on my considerable fourwheeling experience to present this 12-step program for developing your mechanical skills the fun, easy way through TRAILSIDE BREAKDOWNS! (Insert drum roll here.)

1. OBSERVE - If someone in your group experiences a breakdown, don't sit in your truck and stuff your face full of Cheetohs [tm]. Instead, observe how the knowledgable people diagnose and repair the problem.
2. ASK QUESTIONS - Observing a repair is useful but you should ask questions as well. Most people will be more than happy to explain what they're doing. This is much more interesting than learning from a book, and more useful if diagnosing the problem involves listening for particular sounds.
3. BE INVOLVED - Offer to provide help. Even if you know nothing about automotive repair, you can at least hold a flashlight or hand-feed Cheetohs [tm] to the repair crew. Being part of the repair team is the best way to retain the experience and knowledge. As an added bonus, you can upgrade your toolkit by transferring expensive tools into your own box. Feign shock and indignation if accused.
4. DON'T PANIC - You don't need to maintain copious notes of each and every step involved in the repair. The fact that you're involved in the repair will result in excellent memory retention. I guarantee that it will all come back when you really need it.
5. OK, SO I CAN'T COUNT - There are only 4 steps.

If you follow those four simple steps, you'll be a much more self-sufficient fourwheeler and I guarantee that your travelling companions will appreciate having you around. Oh, one last word of advice: stay away from my toolbox and keep your freakin' hands out of my Cheetohs [tm]!!!

...lars