Anyone wheel their H3 ?

[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.

[RazM]

Originally Posted by 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.

Didn't you buy your H2 already modded by the previous owner? So your experience is only with a heavily modded H2 vs a stock H3?

I'm not taking anything personally, I've never wheeled an H2, but numbers to numbers and spec to spec, there really isn't anything that makes the H2 stand out over the H3. With a front locker coming to the H3, I think the only conclusion will be that the H3 will take the lead in overall capability.

I'm really curious to hear from your experience where you feel the H2 has done better and what part of its design makes it outdo the H3?

[RuggedH2]

Originally Posted by RazM

Didn't you buy your H2 already modded by the previous owner? So your experience is only with a heavily modded H2 vs a stock H3?

I'm not taking anything personally, I've never wheeled an H2, but numbers to numbers and spec to spec, there really isn't anything that makes the H2 stand out over the H3. With a front locker coming to the H3, I think the only conclusion will be that the H3 will take the lead in overall capability.

I'm really curious to hear from your experience where you feel the H2 has done better and what part of its design makes it outdo the H3?

RazM,

Yeah I did buy it lifted, with Fabtech tie rods, a sweet Gobi rack and lights, custom dash, etc, etc, all good stuff and Tim did a great job building the rig (it is cool as hell, and all my friends love it). I looked for awhile and was about to buy new when he put his on the market. It was just about a year old and a great deal with all he had done to it, and the condition he kept it in.

I added the better wheeling tires, the front locker, beadlocks and gears later, I also took the rear drop brackets off the lift for better clearance.

Raz I have wheeled with some people that really know their stuff, including some great H3 wheelers. I have watched them work harder on many obstacles than I have had to in the H2. With that said, the H3 is a great machine, I really like mine and I still wheel it often.

IMHO the H2 is more durable, and goes over most obstacles easier than my 3. I modded the H3 with 35" Toyo M/T's, UCP, rock rails, shock skid protection, rear diff guard, Cognito shocks...... and will add the cast iron front diff.

The H3 turns like a Jeep..... The H2 turns like a battleship. The gearing and transfer case are better in the H3. The size difference hasn't really made that much difference but I have had to get out and lift a tree branch off my Hi-lift jack mounted to my Gobi rack.

Spec sheets are interesting but they don't really tell the story. A locked cast iron front H3 Alpha will be a bad-ass machine..

I still chose to build the H2 on purpose.

[RazM]

Originally Posted by RuggedH2

RazM,

Yeah I did buy it lifted, with Fabtech tie rods, a sweet Gobi rack and lights, custom dash, etc, etc, all good stuff and Tim did a good job building the rig. I looked for awhile and was about to buy new when he put his on the market. It was just about a year old and a great deal with all he had done to it, and the condition he kept it in.

I added the better wheeling tires, the front locker, beadlocks and gears later, I also took the rear drop brackets off the lift for better clearance.

Raz I have wheeled with some people that really know their stuff, including some great H3 wheelers. I have watched them work harder on many obstacles than I have had to in the H2. With that said, the H3 is a great machine, I really like mine and I still wheel it often.

IMHO the H2 is more durable, and goes over most obstacles easier than my 3. I modded the H3 with 35" Toyo M/T's, UCP, rock rails, shock skid protection, rear diff guard, Cognito shocks...... and will add the cast iron front diff.

The H3 turns like a Jeep..... The H2 turns like a battleship. The gearing and transfer case are better in the H3. The size difference hasn't really made that much difference but I have had to get out and lift a tree branch off my Hi-lift jack mounted to my Gobi rack.

Spec sheets are interesting but they don't really tell the story. A locked cast iron front H3 Alpha will be a bad-ass machine..

I still chose to build the H2 on purpose.

Cool, your H2 sounds like a mean machine, and with everything it's equipped with I have no doubts it'll kick the ass of both a stock H2 and stock H3.

However, you're still comparing a HEAVILY modded H2 to a fairly stock H3, so I have no doubts that it runs obstacles easier.

I'm not saying the H3 is a better wheeler than the H2, what I am saying is they're very comparable and TEX telling a guy to buy an H2 is kind of pointless. The smaller size of an H3 is a big benefit in a lot of cases, especially when considering very narrow, heavily wooded areas up here in the north.

[RuggedH2]

Originally Posted by RazM

Cool, your H2 sounds like a mean machine, and with everything it's equipped with I have no doubts it'll kick the ass of both a stock H2 and stock H3.

However, you're still comparing a HEAVILY modded H2 to a fairly stock H3, so I have no doubts that it runs obstacles easier.

I'm not saying the H3 is a better wheeler than the H2, what I am saying is they're very comparable and TEX telling a guy to buy an H2 is kind of pointless. The smaller size of an H3 is a big benefit in a lot of cases, especially when considering very narrow, heavily wooded areas up here in the north.

Man we totally highjacked dudes thread.

This isn't about whether the H2 is a better wheeler than the H3.

My point was...... I wheeled it a lot before I added many of the wheeling modifications. The lift may have helped where clearance was a factor.... but that didn't figure in much. Especially with the damn rear drop brackets hanging down, hell, with those on it was like stock clearance.

Raz the H2 isn't that much wider than the H3 with the mirrors folded in.

As far as Tex goes........ don't let him push your buttons....... look at all that chrome he has.

[HummBebe]

sweet baby jesus......


are we really going to do this

AGAIN???



buy it or don't

[RuggedH2]

Originally Posted by HummBebe

sweet baby jesus......


are we really going to do this

AGAIN???



buy it or don't

I just saw this one.

yep...... looks like we did.

[Bully13]

Originally Posted by HummBebe

sweet baby jesus......


are we really going to do this

AGAIN???

yes... lol.

Since we have both I'll tell you my opinion. Both of ours have 35inch offroad tires (the h3 has BFG's and the H2 has Toyos). When going through the trails, the H2 did seem to do the the job easier. I think it's just because it's wider and does not tip as easily. Also it's bigger and heaver, so the ride is smother and you don't feel as much, so it makes everything seem easier.

Having said that I think that the advantage of the 3 is that you do feel more of the trail, which makes it more of an offroad experience. Plus it's easier to get through narrow spot and tight turns especially where trees are involved. We enjoy them both though. I think they are pretty even when it comes to offroad capability.

[HummBebe]

Originally Posted by RuggedH2

RazM,

Yeah I did buy it lifted, with Fabtech tie rods, a sweet Gobi rack and lights, custom dash, etc, etc, all good stuff and Tim did a great job building the rig (it is cool as hell, and all my friends love it). I looked for awhile and was about to buy new when he put his on the market. It was just about a year old and a great deal with all he had done to it, and the condition he kept it in.

I added the better wheeling tires, the front locker, beadlocks and gears later, I also took the rear drop brackets off the lift for better clearance.

Raz I have wheeled with some people that really know their stuff, including some great H3 wheelers. I have watched them work harder on many obstacles than I have had to in the H2. With that said, the H3 is a great machine, I really like mine and I still wheel it often.

IMHO the H2 is more durable, and goes over most obstacles easier than my 3. I modded the H3 with 35" Toyo M/T's, UCP, rock rails, shock skid protection, rear diff guard, Cognito shocks...... and will add the cast iron front diff.

The H3 turns like a Jeep..... The H2 turns like a battleship. The gearing and transfer case are better in the H3. The size difference hasn't really made that much difference but I have had to get out and lift a tree branch off my Hi-lift jack mounted to my Gobi rack.

Spec sheets are interesting but they don't really tell the story. A locked cast iron front H3 Alpha will be a bad-ass machine..

I still chose to build the H2 on purpose.

Quick question....did you ever wheel your 2 bone stock on the same trails you have wheeled your 3?

Then are you really making a fair comparison?

I would never say which is better, there is no real way of determining that. They are all different.

Out of all the available off the shelf vehicles, I chose the H3, not because I was going to wheel it.

Now that I have experienced what I have experienced beyond what most H3 owners have done.

I would choose my H3 all over again.

[RuggedH2]

Originally Posted by HummBebe

Quick question....did you ever wheel your 2 bone stock on the same trails you have wheeled your 3?

Then are you really making a fair comparison?

I would never say which is better, there is no real way of determining that. They are all different.

Out of all the available off the shelf vehicles, I chose the H3, not because I was going to wheel it.

Now that I have experienced what I have experienced beyond what most H3 owners have done.

I would choose my H3 all over again.

Right on Beebs and that is what matters. I load the H2 to the roof with camping gear! I have 5 in my family and the youngest (3) is in a car seat. Most of my friends drive Jeeps and I have a lot of respect for the ability of the new JK's...... but I don't want one. Doesn't fit my needs overall.

The fire was a little too hot for my two boys.

[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

[RazM]

Originally Posted by tomp

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).

Same question goes for you since you own both the H2 and H3, since spec to spec they're very close, where do you feel the H2 does better and why?

Originally Posted by tomp

However, the Rubicon wins in all areas expect for on road comfort.

Not quite all areas, I'll take an H3 through the mud over any SFA rig. IFS benefits a rig in mud IMO where a solid front along with a solid rear gives more room for snagging.

HUMMER's are mudding kings.

[tomp]

Originally Posted by RazM

Same question goes for you since you own both the H2 and H3, since spec to spec they're very close, where do you feel the H2 does better and why?



Not quite all areas, I'll take an H3 through the mud over any SFA rig. IFS benefits a rig in mud IMO where a solid front along with a solid rear gives more room for snagging.

HUMMER's are mudding kings.

Ummm, before you go running around getting defensive, maybe you should look at the undercarriage of an H3 and it will speak for itself. The bottom is not even close to being flat on an H3 and there are way too many things to get hung up on.

...and you still have the rear solid axle so your mud argument doesn't even help. A 4x4 pickup will mud as good as an H3 if all other parameters are equal. We are talking extreme wheeling here and the H2 will leave the H3 stranded when things get really tough. If you talking about trail riding like most people offroad their hummers, then that's a different story.

I am talking "wheeling" like you see my H2 here:
http://www.*******club.com/forum/vie...php?f=2&t=7688

Bebe knows what I am talking about - she has wheeled the crap out of her H3

The H2 can fit 37 tires from the factory and if you know anything about wheeling there is a HUGE difference in wheeling between 35s and 37s. The H2 is also very flat on the bottom with nothing to get hung up on.

The, the H2 has had the capability for a front locker since it's beginning

Like I said, I own both so there is nothing for me to gain by telling you the H2 will out wheel an H3

All I am saying is the H3 has lots more things protruding on the bottom to get hung up on

[RuggedH2]

This pic is badass Tomp.

[RazM]

Originally Posted by tomp

Ummm, before you go running around getting defensive, maybe you should look at the undercarriage of an H3 and it will speak for itself. The bottom is not even close to being flat on an H3 and there are way too many things to get hung up on.

...and you still have the rear solid axle so your mud argument doesn't even help. A 4x4 pickup will mud as good as an H3 if all other parameters are equal. We are talking extreme wheeling here and the H2 will leave the H3 stranded when things get really tough. If you talking about trail riding like most people offroad their hummers, then that's a different story.

I am talking "wheeling" like you see my H2 here:
http://www.*******club.com/forum/vie...php?f=2&t=7688

Bebe knows what I am talking about - she has wheeled the crap out of her H3

The H2 can fit 37 tires from the factory and if you know anything about wheeling there is a HUGE difference in wheeling between 35s and 37s. The H2 is also very flat on the bottom with nothing to get hung up on.

The, the H2 has had the capability for a front locker since it's beginning

Like I said, I own both so there is nothing for me to gain by telling you the H2 will out wheel an H3

All I am saying is the H3 has lots more things protruding on the bottom to get hung up on

Who in the world is getting defensive? I asked you a question, and in no way was it argumentative or defensive. Now, however, I WILL get defensive and tell you nothing pisses me off more than people who read something and twist it in their head to be negative or however they wish to portray it.

Yes, I HAVE looked at the undercarriage of an H3, infact I've looked at the undercarriage on all HUMMER's, I'm not retarded and I'm not speaking out of my ass. Don't pretend your H2 is like an H1 and all flat, it's NOT, and it has nearly as much to get hung up on as an H3. Sure the H3 has spring hangers and everything associated with leaf springs and the crossmembers aren't flush with the outer frame but that's what undercarriage protection is made for. The H2 has nearly as much in the rear axle area, from the sway bar to shock mounts. On both the H2 and H3 those components level off to the bottom of the pumpkin.

My "mud arguement" (and again, I don't know why you're defensive and consider my OPINION an ARGUEMENT) is valid, and it was refering to The rubicon over an H2 and H3. I've done more mudding than rock crawling, and from my personal experience I've seen Jeep's and other SFA's getting stuck where I just wiggled through with less resistance.

You still haven't answered WHY you feel the H2 did better than an H3 on similar trails. I want to know WHY, clearance isn't that much better, the angles are similar, the H3 has better gearing...

My initial question was purely from my own ignorance on the H2 and it's capabilities since I've never wheeled one and I was asking those who have had the luck to wheel both WHY and WHERE they felt the H2 did better. You twisting my words like I was being some smartass or being defensive is completely uncalled for.

P.S. I like how you edited your post and removed the "OWNED" image. Very mature of you.

[RuggedH2]

Raz,

Dude chill.......

You do look defensive. Tomp wasn't insulting you. He seemed to be telling you what you asked him to.

It looks like you are only open to what you want to hear. What difference does anyone else's experience make if you have already decided the answer to the question you asked.

Tex did come in and say buy an H2 and made a little remark about the size of our toys...... but your comments;

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.

Brought out experience from people that have both. I invite others that have wheeled both to make their experience available also........ but this thread is not about one being better than the other.

I regret that I got dragged into that. I was just telling the truth, as I think Tomp was too.

Raz...... you are not very objective on this topic.