When does the amount of work in a project make it unrealistic to do it yourself?

[bobofthenorth]

Unless you're going to buy new and stay in warranty I don't see how anyone can own any metal toy without planning to work on it at some time.  Even if you plan to farm out all your work there will come a time when something breaks at 0:dark:30 and mama isn't interested in waiting until you can get a mechanic on scene.  Personally if I'm not under the gun I kind of like wrenching so its no big hardship but I feel the same arthritic pains that several others have referred to.  (I'm MUCH younger than them though - just prematurely arthritic I guess)

I think its more about adjusting your timeframe.  As long as there's an agenda it will feel like work.  If I've got time on my hands I can make an oil change last all day and it will never feel like work.  Working smarter not harder seems to come with age.  I used to take pride in how much I could lift; now I take pride in how much I can get done with little physical effort.  As far as lifting starters goes - get an MT39 and you will be able to lift two of them with one hand.   

[bottomacher]

The pain of doing it yourself is often not as great as the anger and frustration of paying some careless idiot to do it for you.

[MEverard]

I am a General Contractor and own a cabinet shop. Before I bought the bus, I didn't like doing any projects for myself. I now enjoy doing the plumbing, electrical, woodworking, etc.. I am learning to work on the bus mechanics out of necessity. I agree with bobofthenorth, you must be able to do some repairs yourself. I think that routine maintenance is a must by the owner. I want to know that everytime I get behind the wheel that I believe my bus is ready, and safe, and not because someone told me so. I am still young enough to do most of the work myself. However, I am also smart enough to know when it's time to yield to the professionals.

Good Luck,

Mike