Poll: which is better for offroading?

[jmldenver]

I'm bored at work today and I thought I would post this poll. We have a G55 in the family and we are always debating about which truck would do better offroading. Just curious as to what you guys think.

The specs:
Mercedes Benz G55
Engine:
-5.5l
-349 hp
-387 ft lbs
Drivetrain:
-Straight axles front and rear
-3 locking differentials. Front, center and rear
Curb weight:
-5,540
Clearance:
-8.3"
Approach:
-36 deg
Departure:
-27 deg
Ascend:
-80%
Lateral:
-54%
Fording depth:
-19"

Hummer H2
Engine:
-6.0l
-316 hp
-360 ft lbs
Drivetrain:
-Independent upfront, solid in rear
-TC2
Curb weight:
-6,400
Clearance:
-10.7"
Approach:
-40.8 deg
Departure:
-41.8 deg
Ascend:
-60%
Lateral:
-40%
Fording depth:
-20"

*all specs taken from manufacturers website*

[jmldenver]

I'm bored at work today and I thought I would post this poll. We have a G55 in the family and we are always debating about which truck would do better offroading. Just curious as to what you guys think.

The specs:
Mercedes Benz G55
Engine:
-5.5l
-349 hp
-387 ft lbs
Drivetrain:
-Straight axles front and rear
-3 locking differentials. Front, center and rear
Curb weight:
-5,540
Clearance:
-8.3"
Approach:
-36 deg
Departure:
-27 deg
Ascend:
-80%
Lateral:
-54%
Fording depth:
-19"

Hummer H2
Engine:
-6.0l
-316 hp
-360 ft lbs
Drivetrain:
-Independent upfront, solid in rear
-TC2
Curb weight:
-6,400
Clearance:
-10.7"
Approach:
-40.8 deg
Departure:
-41.8 deg
Ascend:
-60%
Lateral:
-40%
Fording depth:
-20"

*all specs taken from manufacturers website*

[argonaut]

I have an idea, why don't you take them both to a challenging trail and find out...

'03 H2 Sunset Orange No mods
'03 BMW M3 Convertible
'02 BMW M5

[Buckeye Hummer]

Well, last I heard an off-road magazine was actually doing this very test with the H2, Range Rover and G55. The Ford and GM engineers were stunned and amazed to see that the G55 got stuck in the snow BEFORE the trail even began. Of course they blamed in on the G55's street tires but I think overall it was probably a good representation.

[argonaut]

that's too funny. If you have any other info (like what mag and what issue) let me know.

'03 H2 Sunset Orange No mods
'03 BMW M3 Convertible
'02 BMW M5

[jmldenver]

As much as I would like to take both of them offroad, the G will probably never see enough trails to really be able to tell. Its just too much $ to have up on a 4 wheel drive trail. The G was purchased primarily for winter driving and for weekend trips to the mountains. I posted the poll exactly for that reason, just to see what everyone's thoughts were and to see if possibly someone had wheeled with a G before. It would be interesting to see which one really does better though!

I did post this poll on an MB forum so we'll see what the G Wagen fans say.

[jmldenver]

News Flash--There is no debate going on.
Simply a poll.
Vote for which one you think is better, if it isn't too time consuming of course. I set up the poll for people to give their opinions, if you feel that it is a waste of your time then don't post on this topic anymore, you are not being forced to "waste" your time.

The G Wagen is a luxury SUV with offroad capability. Not many people are willing to take a $90k+ vehicle offroading just to see if it can out wheel an H2.

My Poll - The G55 is ugly - period

Have a nice day

"It's what you learn, after you know it all, that counts - John Wooden

[Detonate]

I've wheeled with one.

He did just fine.

http://www.firstorder.net/detonate/hummer/AGR.wmv

-Jim March
Arlington TX
2003 Red H2
Beauty is in the eye of the Beer Holder

[argonaut]

Actually there are lots of H1 owners with 90k+ vehicles that take them offroading. It's just people who buy G55s tend to be too weak to go on good trails. But hey, at leats you take your H2 through the mud. Actually the first time I took my H2 offroad (two days after I bought it) I saw a G55 stuck in the sand, I drove circles around him just to be funny, then I helped him get out with a tow strap. He was some yuppy bastard that didn't know the first thing about offroading. It was really funny to see his embarrassed expression when a car that cost half as much could pull him out with ease. The best part: he didn't even know what airing down was. I told him to drop the pressure, and even let him use my gauge. The moral of the story is that the G55 sucks unless you put real tires on the thing.

'03 H2 Sunset Orange No mods
'03 BMW M3 Convertible
'02 BMW M5

[ckhagman]

I have wheeled with a couple of H2's and a couple of Gelandewagen's and I have to say they are both really great off-road. One is military based and the other was built for the civilian market with off-roading in mind. Can you guys figure out which one. The G-Wagen was designed much like the Humvee and is a little older than the humvee, something like early 1970's. So the technology is alittle different. Of course the crowd that buys the G-Wagen is not targeted for off-road use. The funny thing is I would take a 70k hummer off-road before i would take the same G-Wagen off-road. I do have an old land rover friend that sold his D-90 and bought a G-Wagen just for off-road use.

www.wehenrys.com

[argonaut]

The problem is that the G55 is more of a sports truck, it has bad tires for offroading. THey are tires made to drive fast onroad, so they lack the nice treads our lovely BFG all-terrains have. The G500 has a little bit better tire for offroading, but still not the best. All of the AMG stuff is made for the track. The problem with mercedes is that they all drive like a huge semi. BMW all the way... Oh yeah, I'm slightly biased against Mercedes...

'03 H2 Sunset Orange No mods
'03 BMW M3 Convertible
'02 BMW M5

[Steve R]

I'll just touch on the basics:

The driver is what makes the biggest difference overall....but as far as vehicles:

The G-box is impressive for the fact that it comes with the most complete 4x4 system you can buy: not only does it have the standard locking transfer case....but also a rear-locker AND a front-locker. Along with a traction control system...the G-box is pretty darn nifty. Only now is the H1 offered with a rear locker and the H2 has yet to see a front locker: wake-up design-boys!!!

The weak areas of the G-box are obvious: because it has evolved into being the bling-thing, it comes with street tires that are all-season (not even all-terrain) and to make entry easy, it's not really all that lifted off the ground for clearance. It can lift itself higher, but just a bit. The approach/departure angles are just okay.

lift it 2-3", add some underbody protection and give it some kick-ass tires...and you're ready to rock!!! But in stock form...I'd pass for real offroad use.

[Buckeye Hummer]

I think if Steve drove the G55 it would out-perform any H2, but if Steve was in an H2 it would out-perform any G55, so really what everyone needs is Steve to drive their trucks for them

[BKLYNH2]

I have always been skeptical about the incline angle and off camber angle claims of the Gwagon. How is it that a truck narrower and shorter but just as tall a body as the H2 can have significantly better stats in this area? Ground clearance is huge for off roading and I'll bet if you lifted a Gwagon those other numbers would drop like a stone.
I feel sorry for anyone who paid 90k for one of these too. Prior to getting the H2 I was looking at the BMWX5 and while at the dealership the Benz salesman at the dealership caught us looking at the G55. He went to work on me saying that he could get me the G for a price comparoble to the X5. While this would have been a 2002 at the end of the model year we are talking about a vehicle that has been in production with relatively little change for many years. The X5 is in the same ballpark as the H2 so this basicly but the G in the same ballpark as well. Fortunately Melissa got me to look at the H2 as it been true love ever since. No regrets or doubts here.

[BKLYNH2]

What if we cloned Steve and put him in both?
I'm sorry that thought is far too scary for anyone to contemplate.