H2 Lift Kits

[KYBOB]

I am thinking of putting either at 6" FabTech lift kit or a 4" Rancho lift kit in my 2004 Hummer H2. I want to have better off-road clearance, but it is also important that I continue to be able to drive my H2 at interstate highway speeds on-road. I use the H2 to commute around several states for business, but also enjoy off-roading it. So. . . I'm looking for the best of both worlds. I'd like to hear from anyone who has put a lift kit in his/her H2. How did it affect on-road and off-road use? Would you do it again if you had the decision to make over? What suggestions do you have?

Thanks for your reply.

[timgco]

Rancho 4" is closer to 6"
I ran that kit with a 37 13.50 on a 17 x 9 wheel. It was great on and off road!!!! Cornering wasn;t bad either at highway speeds. I ran that truck up to the mountains on I70. handled great.

I have had much better customer service with Rancho over Fabtech. Also the Rancho kit was a tad cheaper. You can run 38's and wheel teh truck without rubbing.

For on road driveability/ highway commute, and improved offroad clerance, I vote Rancho with a 37 13.50 tire.
If I were to lift my current H2 again, I would go this route, Rancho steering stabilizer, Toyo MT 37 13.50 17 or 18, upgrade the tierods to Rare Parts. Than add a Hypertech or Superchips Programmer to compensate for tire size and calibration.

Plan on spending about 5K to 6K for everything installed.
Let me know if you need certain angle pics or anything.
hope that helps.

[charles06]

I have the Fabtech kit with spacers in the rear and new torsion keys in the front for a total of about 7.5" of lift. I've all done all of the Cognito steering upgrades, as well as their upper A-arms with uni-ball ball joints. I run 38" Toyo's, etc... You can read my signature.

The service guys at, formerly, Hummer said my truck is the nicest driving, lifted, H2 they've ever driven. The biggest change you should be prepared to make will be the gears. I went with 4.88's and can cruise nicely at 75mph.

Also, as a heads-up, when researching tires, look for the "actual diameter", not just the companies' posted sizes. Many of the better companies will list their actual size on their website. This just gives you a better idea of what you're getting.

[HumminNBoatin']

Bob,

If you are going to go with an full blown lift kit as opposed to my lift get the Rancho. I am pretty sure Fabtech is in real financial trouble right now and the customer service is terrible.

[ROUSHDEMON]

I agree with all of these guys, I went with Rancho... is more like a 6" lift and with the keys and spacers I was able to get 7" out of it, Rancho's customer service was freaking awesome, they stayed on the phone and answered every question and maybe I got lucky but they were all really nice and helpful while Fabtech guys never answered and when they did they just wanna get off the phone and halfass answer questions.
On another note I run 40" tires, they clear just fine with no rubbing with a -44mm 20x12 wheel. Love the freaking thing offroad and onroad is great BUT... again, I run 40s, so I need some gears , cuz it will get to 75mph on the highway but... yeah... its sluggish for sure. Upgraded tie-rods is a most, I went with red RareParts, specially with 40s.
Other than that? what can I say? I freaking love it, with the tire on top its 9.5ft tall and its huge and blacked out and everybody gets out of the way QUICK and turns heads everywhere it goes.

Do your research man, do what you feel is right for you, do set aside about 6k, little things add up like good tie-rods, instal, might want to replace ball joints and hubs while you have everything apart anyways.... just plan it out and I guarranty you wont regreat it.