Mobile Mechanic FAQ: Straight Answers for Jeep, Pickup and SUV Owners
Updated October 2026The questions people ask before they book, answered in plain words: who comes to your house, when, what can be fixed in a driveway, what it costs and what's covered. We work on Jeeps, pickup trucks and SUVs across Louisville and Southern Indiana. If your question isn't here, call Noah at (502) 557-6786.
Mobile Mechanic Basics: Vehicles, Hours and Service Area
What vehicles do you work on?
Jeeps, pickup trucks and SUVs, and only those. Jeeps are our specialty: Wrangler TJ, JK and JL, Gladiator, Cherokee XJ and older CJs. We also work on half-ton and midsize pickups like the F-150, Silverado, Ram 1500 and Tacoma, plus SUVs. We don't take cars, minivans or crossovers, and we'll tell you on the first call if yours isn't one we work on.
Who actually works on my vehicle?
Noah, the owner. He answers the call, diagnoses the problem and does the repair himself. There's no service writer in between and no technician you've never met. You can read his story on our about page.
When are you available?
Weekday evenings from 5 to 8pm, and Saturdays and Sundays from 8am to 8pm. That way the repair happens when you're home, not while you're at work.
Are you open on Sundays?
Yes. Weekend appointments run Saturday and Sunday from 8am to 8pm.
What area do you cover?
About 30 miles around Louisville: Jefferson, Oldham, Bullitt, Shelby and Spencer counties in Kentucky, and Clark and Floyd counties in Indiana. That includes Jeffersonville, New Albany and Clarksville. There's no trip fee anywhere inside that area. See our pages for a mobile mechanic in Louisville and Southern Indiana.
How fast will I hear back?
Usually the same day. Noah is often under a vehicle when the phone rings, so leave a message or send a request. Reach out in the morning and you'll usually hear back at lunch; later in the day, usually after 5pm.
How soon can you come out?
It depends on the job and on whether parts need ordering. Noah will give you the first open time when he calls you back.
Can you work at my apartment complex or office?
Usually, if the property allows repairs in its lot. Some apartment complexes and HOAs don't, so check before you book. A workplace lot works if repairs are allowed there and you're on site during our hours.
Do I need to be home during the repair?
Not always. Once you've approved the quote and we can reach the vehicle and keys, Noah can work while you're away and call you when it's done.
Do you work in the rain or cold?
We work through most Kentucky weather. If heavy rain, ice, darkness or an unsafe spot would hurt the quality of the repair, we may reschedule, and we'll tell you ahead of time.
Are mobile mechanics worth it?
For most repairs, yes. You skip the tow, the drop-off, the ride and the lost day of work, and you deal with the person doing the repair. A good mobile mechanic also tells you when a job isn't right for a driveway. Our mobile mechanic page compares mobile repair and a shop honestly, including where mobile stops.
What a Mobile Mechanic Can Fix: Brakes, Suspension, Steering and More
Can a mobile mechanic do brakes?
Yes. Brakes are one of the most common driveway jobs: pads, rotors, calipers, lines and fluid. Squealing, grinding, a soft pedal or shaking when you stop are all signs it's time. Pads and rotors start at $450, parts and labor, on Jeeps and half-ton pickups, and the quote is free. Heavy-duty 2500 and 3500 pickups cost more because the parts do. More on our mobile brake repair page.
Can a mobile mechanic do suspension work?
Yes. Shocks, track bars, control arms, bushings, sway bar links and most other suspension parts get replaced right in your driveway. Suspension repairs start at $275, depending on the parts. Lifts up to 3 inches and leveling kits are driveway jobs too.
Can a mobile mechanic replace ball joints?
Yes. Ball joints, tie rod ends, drag links and steering boxes are all driveway work, and they're some of the most common jobs we do on Jeeps. Full front-end steering on a Jeep runs $2,000–$3,000, depending on what it needs. Our steering and ball joints page explains the work.
My Jeep shakes violently at highway speed. What is it?
That's almost certainly death wobble. Don't slam the brakes: hold the wheel, ease off the gas and slow down. Dropping below about 65 mph usually lets you get home safely. It's usually several worn front-end parts at once, so a stabilizer alone won't fix it. The diagnostic is $120 and repairs start at $500. Our death wobble page explains what causes it and how it gets fixed in your driveway.
Can you install a lift kit or leveling kit at my house?
Yes, on Jeeps, pickups and SUVs. We install lift kits up to 3 inches, with labor from $800, kit extra. Leveling kits are a separate job, with labor from $200, kit extra. All we need is a level, paved spot. Bigger lifts are by arrangement, so ask us. Details are on our lift and leveling kit page.
Do you install winches, bumpers and lights?
Yes. Winches, bumpers, skid plates and rock sliders are installed and tested in your driveway, with installs from $120 labor. Off-road lighting installs start at $120 labor, wired on their own circuit. See armor and recovery and off-road lighting.
Can you diagnose a check engine light?
On older Jeeps, yes. We diagnose engine and running problems on Jeeps up through the JK (2007–2018), including the XJ, TJ and CJ, for $120. Newer JL Wranglers and Gladiators have complex electronics that are usually best handled by a Jeep dealer. On pickups and SUVs, we diagnose brake, steering, suspension and noise problems. Our Jeep Wrangler check engine light guide covers what the light usually means.
Do you do oil changes and maintenance?
Yes. Oil and fluid changes, transfer case and differential fluid service, filters, batteries, belts and hoses, starting at $120. Exhaust, electrical (call first) and body and trim replacement are on our services page.
Do you work on work trucks and company fleets?
Yes, for small local fleets of work pickups, after hours in your lot so the trucks never miss a workday. See mobile fleet maintenance. We don't work on semis, box trucks or other commercial trucks.
Do you do alignments or tires?
No. After steering, suspension, lift or leveling work, we'll tell you whether you need an alignment and send you to an alignment shop. Tire mounting, balancing and rotation go to a tire shop.
What can't be done in my driveway?
Bigger jobs that need a shop floor, like regears, frame work, transfer case and manual transmission rebuilds, and lifts over 3 inches, are by arrangement, so ask us about yours. We don't repair automatic transmissions, and we're not a roadside or emergency service. Nearly everything else on a Jeep, pickup or SUV gets done at your place.
How do I get my Jeep ready for its first trail run?
Start with our Before You Wheel checklist: a driveway check, the recovery gear to carry and how to use it safely. Then go with a group. Our Louisville Jeep community guide lists the clubs, events and trails.
Pricing, Parts, Payment and Warranty
What do you charge?
Labor is $120 an hour. The diagnostic is $120, and only when there's a problem to find. Flat-rate jobs like brakes and installs get a free quote. There's no trip fee inside our service area. Prices for specific jobs are on each service page, and our mobile mechanic page lays out the full mobile mechanic cost, from maintenance to front-end steering.
Is there a diagnostic fee?
Only when there's an unknown problem to find, like a warning light, a vibration or a noise nobody can place. The diagnostic is $120. Flat-rate jobs like brakes, accessory installs, and lift and leveling installs get a free quote instead, by phone, from a few photos or with a quick stop at your house.
Will I know the price before you start?
Always. You get a clear price before any work starts. If Noah finds something else along the way, he stops, shows you, and tells you what it costs. Nothing is added to the bill without your OK. Our how it works page walks through a visit step by step.
Where do the parts come from, and how long do they take?
Noah orders parts from the same suppliers repair shops use, so the right part shows up the first time. They usually arrive in 1–3 days, and he brings them with him on the day of the job.
Can I supply my own parts?
Yes. We'll install parts you've bought. For lift and leveling kits, we install kits from established manufacturers that back them with a warranty. If a part you've picked isn't right for your vehicle, we'll tell you before the job starts.
What warranty do you offer?
Our labor carries a lifetime warranty, and parts carry their manufacturer's warranty, whether we supply them or you do. The details are in our terms and conditions.
How do I pay?
Payment is due when the work is done. We take Visa, Mastercard, Discover, American Express, Apple Pay, Venmo and Cash App Pay.
What if a rusted bolt breaks during the repair?
It happens on vehicles that have seen years of road salt, even when the work is done right. If it does, Noah stops, tells you what broke and what it takes to fix, and doesn't go further until you say so.
Are you insured?
Yes. Heritage 4x4 Outfitters carries business insurance.
Do you do pre-purchase inspections?
Yes, on Jeeps, pickups and SUVs within our service area. Call for the price; pre-purchase inspections have a flat charge plus mileage, since they aren't a repair visit.
Didn't See Your Question? Ask Noah.
Ask it the way you'd ask a friend who works on Jeeps and trucks. Noah will call you back, give you a straight answer and, if it's a driveway job, come to you.
Heritage 4x4 Outfitters · Mobile repair for Jeeps, pickups and SUVs · Weekdays 5–8pm · Weekends 8am–8pm · About 30 miles around Louisville