The Garage131 Blog

Practical guides on equipment management, maintenance tracking, and ditching the spreadsheet.

Equipment Management

The Waiting Room "Guilt Trip": How Your Wife (Or You) Finally Stopped Getting Hustled at the Dealership

Service advisors are trained to make you feel guilty about maintenance. Here's how having your vehicle history on your phone changes the entire dynamic of a service visit.

June 2, 2026 · 5 min read
Equipment Management

Why Your Fuel Tracker Needs to Do More Than Track Fuel

If you’re only tracking your fuel economy, you’re only getting half the picture of what it costs to keep your car on the road.

May 29, 2026 · 4 min read
Camping & Overlanding

The Trip We Almost Took: A Lesson in Camper Brake Failure

They made it exactly three blocks. A fully loaded camper, kids buckled in the back seat, and dead trailer brakes. Here's why timing is everything when it comes to seasonal prep.

May 26, 2026 · 3 min read
Camping & Overlanding

The Truck Camper Prep I Really Should Have Done in March

Memorial Day is this weekend and you're fixing the leaky sink, the propane situation, and — yes — the bed support on your wife's side. A March reminder would have helped.

May 19, 2026 · 4 min read
Equipment Management

Get Off Excel Now: Why Spreadsheets Break Down for Equipment Teams

If your service history lives in a shared Google Sheet with 17 tabs and a prayer, you already know it's not working. Here's why, and what to do instead.

May 15, 2026 · 6 min read