Anyone wheel their H3 ?

[Desert Dan]

Go for a 2009 H3 with front and rear lockers (Adventure Package) and the V8!

[nierace]

Well if I wait for a 09 I think there will be a high demand for H3's with the front locker and isn't there speculation of the hummer line being cut off entirely in 2010 ?

I wouldn't get a alpha because theres not enough cost vs benefit for them, I wont be towing anything over 4k and theres not even a second difference in the 0-60

Is there any difference in the 09 from the 08 front diff internals aside from it going from a aluminum to cast housing ? My only concern would be not being able to get a locker for the 08 front diff, there currently isnt any available now right (even aftermarket)?

I only have a locker in the back now and traction has never been a issue since I've put it in all though I get a bit more flex. I think I would be able to get by for the savings in $, theres always the brake trick

You guys don't think 37's would fly without a 4.5" kit? It looks to me like the H3 is heavy on sheetmetal and needs some trimming. My concern isnt as much on clearance as on drivetrain and steering strain on them :P

Do you guys get any breakage with the 35's and around about what do you get for gas mileage ? From what i've seen most get 15 mixed which is about what I get now with 33's....

I will need to do some searching for trail reports, maybe I can find something in new england who runt he same trails...

Thanks again

[Tex_h2]

Why not just step up and buy a H2.....


The difference between Men and Boys are the size of there toys!




But, I will say there are some nice looking H3's in here.......

[RazM]

Originally Posted by Tex_h2

Why not just step up and buy a H2.....


The difference between Men and Boys are the size of there toys!




But, I will say there are some nice looking H3's in here.......

No offense, but the H2 doesn't offer much more than the H3 other than just being BIG.

I've got more clearance on my H3 than a stock H2, have plenty of room inside for what I need, and it's just as capable if not more in some conditions.

The H2 is the best full size offroad rig, and the H3 is the best mid-size offroad rig, but there's not much difference between an H2 and an H3 in the capability department that would make someone pick one over the other, other than size.

[rck0025]

Originally Posted by RazM

No offense, but the H2 doesn't offer much more than the H3 other than just being BIG.

I've got more clearance on my H3 than a stock H2, have plenty of room inside for what I need, and it's just as capable if not more in some conditions.

The H2 is the best full size offroad rig, and the H3 is the best mid-size offroad rig, but there's not much difference between an H2 and an H3 in the capability department that would make someone pick one over the other, other than size.

Also, before I started wheeling my H3, I used a generic Jeep wrangler for my out door adventures. I'm still getting used to the size of the H3 compared to the Jeep (not sure the difference in wheel base), but the H2 would be completely useless for my applications: Very narrow and washed out trails over multiple tin horns. One slip = no more Hummer.

[nierace]

The H2 would be really ugly after running any of the trails here, it would get sandwhiched in alot of the trails, tight and narrow. The H3 is going to get beat up and dented it will look almost as purty as my jeep after a few rides

[RuggedH2]

I've had my H2 for just over a year now..... taken it to Moab for multi-day wheelin' trips about six or seven times.

I've had the H3 a year longer than the H2. I've wheeled it just as hard, and just as much.

My H2 is lifted and locked front and rear, and running 4.88 gears with beadlocked 38 " tall 14.50 wide KM2's...... but it wasn't always.

I have no axe to grind here whatsoever.......

In my experience the H2 will outperform the H3 in most conditions off road. It just will. Raz I'm just telling you my experience not trying to put your rig down.

I actually started a thread trying to get people to tell me what I just told you before I bought my H2. The truth.

There are times the H3 has an advantage, but mostly the advantage belongs to the H2.

I'm not looking for a pissing contest with anybody and maybe someone else's experience might be different. That's just the way I see it. Mods can change the picture too.

I took my H2 to the hippie side of town for a fish taco the other day and it got keyed from front to back....... I wondered if that same thing would have happened in my H3. Doesn't matter........ the pinstripes from branches are much worse than the little key anyway...... makes me wonder why they even bothered.

If it wasn't fresh through the dirt..... I wouldn't have even noticed it.

[tomp]

Putting 35s will increase steering and axle stress, but you should always carry spare tie rods and half shafts anyhow so no worries there. I think a stock H3 with 35s (even an 08 with just a rear locker) will go anywhere that jeep of yours would go.

Yes, the H3 has IFS and is limited on front articulation, but like you are looking for - the H3 has much better on road manners due to the IFS. It is a luxury offroad vehicle on steriods.

The H2 will out wheel an H3 on the more extreme stuff (I have both), but there are times where the smaller width H3 will have advantages but then again the H2s width will have the advantages where width will benefit. The H2 can be beefed up more than the H3 as well (due to limited H3 offroad aftermarket support). However, the Rubicon wins in all areas expect for on road comfort.

Like you said, the H3 is the best deal due to the rebates. Here in Texas they are offering 7K incentive and antoher 1.5K if you get a demo with some low miles on it. We just upgraded our 07 to an 08 demo for same monthly payment and got many more options than we had before.

The 09s are already at the dealers. I had two in my driveway the other day (loaners while our H2 and H3 were at dealer). These two did not have adventure package, nor were there any at the dealer yet. I am thinking they (GM) are doling onto them to see if they can drop the incentive plans before releasing them. I do think the locker and CI cases will retrofit the previous model years, but only time will tell.

A front diff does not make that much difference except in those rare cases where you need it. It also increases chances of breaking a half shaft in those knarly situations where front wheels are binded.

I say get an 08 before they are all gone. I think GM will release the 09s with adventure packages when all/most of the 08s are gone but then the incentives may be gone as well