Wrenching on gravel/dirt/grass tips and tricks

I can't quite afford to pour that slab yet, so I'm doing everything on slightly uneven gravel which means:

• Some sort of wood stacked under jacks and stands
• Laying on scrap cardboard

What else have you got to make my life easier?

 

A tarp for a lean-to for when it's raining

Maybe one of these?

 

Hell yeah! Did not know those jacks existed.

 

1 1/8 plywood, 2 sheets

 

I like that quick adjustment but I wouldn't trust that little pin holding it up.

 

When ground is cold and/or wet, 1/2" Insulation board(stuff with foil/plastic lamination) works great instead of cardboard

also have one of these which is great for uneven floors & gravel



http://www.bonecreeper.com/roughrider.html

 

More things I didn't know I needed, goodbye money!

 

Creepers are a godsend, but they need one with rubber wheels and a bit heavier duty.

 

Agreed! That rough rider looks nice but I can't imagine it rolls very well over loose gravel.

 

I've had a few different creepers over the years and none of them ever seemed to work very well on my rough driveways I guess. A big piece of cardboard is easy to slide around on so that's what I use

 

Until it gets wet

 

^fair, but I tend to not work in the rain. Fair weather shade tree mechanic here I also recycle the cardboard after every project so long as I didn't ruin it with oils.

 

Oils, fluids, spilled beverages, kids up the street get their hands on a hose...

 

Wrap any internal parts that are temporarily exposed in plastic. A little breeze and dirt gets in your oily smooth parts and makes them not oily and smooth.

 

Buy yourself a new refrigerator, throw it away (new might be crap anyway), now you have a nice, big, body sized piece of cardboard to work on. Store it indoors when not in use. I have one that's 10 years old at least.

 

Magnets magnets, magnetic trays, magnetic extensions, free magnetic trays from harbor freight, and possibly some more magnets. Seriously before paving my driveway, I lost many bolts and screws in the grass and gravel, but with a few magnetic helpers, found most.

 

I used a tarp to lay on when my plow truck broke and I had to change out the Transmission...in my driveway out in the snow. Helped to have some scrap pieces of plywood to lay on also. I try not to work on vehicles in the elements but sometimes you have to get it done...

 

Sometimes ya' gotta work out in crappy weather.

 

I have used my Sam's club pop up canopy on multiple occasions. Definitely worth it

 

what would have been nice to have was one of those big blower heaters....