Fit your accessories at home and save BIG $$$

[Jaymboze Member Find all posts View Profile Close Jaymboze]

Hi all,
Just realised how much I have saved by fitting accessories at home, rather than have them fitted by the supplier / dealer.
So far I have fitted:

Ironman deluxe bullbar
Softdog suspension
Uniden UHF with remote head
Lightforce spotlights
Auxiliary battery with wiring to rear for fridge and accessory ports
Power to rear of vehicle to charge camper trailer
Electronic brake controller
Kaymar spare wheel spacer and led light
Adjustable upper control arms

Also have a set of ARB draws and cargo barrier on order which I will fit.

Savings so far equate to approx. $3000.00

Sure does pay to DIY at home if you have both the time, tools and a bit of mechanical and electrical know how.
I know it's not for everyone. I have more than a few friends who would call roadside assistance for a flat tyre.
I'm no expert, but if you are willing to at least have a go, the benefit if very rewarding.

Just sayin'

[AJ120 Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close AJ120]

And you can save even more if you make your own accessories as well

Cheers Andrew

[Madkore Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close Madkore]

Shuddup you lot!

[BlakMoth Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close BlakMoth]

I agree with Madkore. I'm just not as good at doing some stuff and don't wanna f it up

[Azza H Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Azza H]

To true, I do most stuff my self also 1) I'm a tight arse and 2) don't mind giving anything a go. Just finished the car service today being out of warranty frees me up a bit.

[Jaymboze Member Find all posts View Profile Close Jaymboze]

To true, I do most stuff my self also 1) I'm a tight arse and 2) don't mind giving anything a go. Just finished the car service today being out of warranty frees me up a bit.

Absolutely.
Servicing saves big $$$ over the course of a few years, especially compared to dealer prices. Plus you have the peace of mind that the job was done right with the correct oils, filters etc. not a quick job by a first year apprentice.
Also gives you some knowledge of how things work which can be helpful if you have a problem out in the middle of nowhere.
Give it a go I say....most things are actually pretty simple to do.
Just start off with something simple, like an engine rebuild and go from there...!

[rwo Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close rwo]

I agree totally with the op, I have had very few accessories fitted by a supplier (arb bar by arb and roof rack by another mob) and both times have had install related problems and need to return to have them resolved. That doesn't include the numerous toyota service issues or the wheel alignments by "professional" tyre mobs who can't even get that right!

It's unfortunate that just because we hand over a lot of hard earned to the professionals to get these jobs done, doesn't mean they are done right, many of them just want to rush the cars through the shop in the quickest time possible with no care to how the job is done or the final product (while this may not be true for all shops, I'm just giving my experiences which have been far from good).

So I will definitely continue to do my own work and will also do my own servicing when the vehicle is out of warranty, at least I know it is done how I want it and done right!

[Azza H Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Azza H]

Only thing I need now is to get hold of that bloody workshop manual which seems to be forbidden and hard to find. As has been said, not just saving money, self satisfaction

[BlakMoth Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close BlakMoth]

Which manual is that? The actual Toyota one or the Gregory's?

[Azza H Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Azza H]

Any, doesn't seem to be any workshop manuals for the 150 (I have seen snippets of an online Toyota tech docs but believe it is not available to the public for purchase), i have seen some on Ebay but I'm a bit sceptical but might be worth a look.

[AussieAndy Find all posts View Profile Close AussieAndy]

eBay disk is fine, is very similar to the genuine disk used in dealer workshops (info is the same, just the access format is a little different). I have it and it works and tells me everything i need, only problem is i havent found one for the facelift yet, electrically they are quite different.

[Azza H Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Azza H]

eBay disk is fine, is very similar to the genuine disk used in dealer workshops (info is the same, just the access format is a little different). I have it and it works and tells me everything i need, only problem is i havent found one for the facelift yet, electrically they are quite different.

Cool thanks for the heads up. Might go online and purchase one tonight.

[MelbournePark Member Find all posts View Profile Close MelbournePark]

The issue for me is the learning curve.

While one works out how to do something, people who've done it lots of times before, can do it in a fraction of the time. And therefore, do it right.

For very simple things, the learning curve doesn't much apply.

[Black Mamba 2014 Member Find all posts View Profile Close Black Mamba 2014]

If only I had all the tools and time to do it all myself I would've, the world wide web is full of answers/pictures/videos... not hard.

I paid the professionals $210 to install my driving lights and they failed to install the pencil beam on the drivers side and the spread beam on the passengers side, so I had to re-locate it myself. Point to note - will not go back to that shop.

[AJ120 Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close AJ120]

If only I had all the tools and time to do it all myself I would've, the world wide web is full of answers/pictures/videos... not hard.

I paid the professionals $210 to install my driving lights and they failed to install the pencil beam on the drivers side and the spread beam on the passengers side, so I had to re-locate it myself. Point to note - will not go back to that shop.

They installed them the way I would have!

Cheers Andrew