Rattlesnake revealed

[Steve R]

Okay okay....maybe I'll take the H2..BUT I've head the John Bull is one nasty rock-garden after another and just not suited for vehicles with longer wheelbases.

Did Jason put you upto this????? That guy is just waiting for the day I get stopped by an obstacle and he can get through it!

Let me check with some guys about how well a 2 can pass through that trail and perhaps we'll give it crack. Plan is to hit it next week. From what I gather, this is the Rubicon of the San Bernardino Mountains!

[DRTYFN]

Yoda,

You just can't allow yourself to give the H2s a compliment, can you?

You've got to have a protective bite plate, right? Because I've seen pics of your rig and you'd rattle your teeth out if you don't.

[Steve R]

Frank,

The "Troll, Troll, Troll" thing was entirely a joke....I should have put a bunch of smiley-faces next to it to indicate as such....my bad.

You told me that you were very impressed....and I merely suggested that the forum may like hearing from your perspective: I never asked you to fabricate or lie about anything.

My buddy Dave came along to take some Hummer pics....I asked you to take the lead or sweep so that we could get some pics of the Hummers. It started off with you in the lead....what's the big deal?

I'm going to figure you took the troll-thing 100% the wrong way and are just lashing out. I can understand why you'd be upset....but seriously, it was a joke. You were invited because you are a Non-Hummer Owner who ISN'T a Troll!!

I don't want to get way into it....it was a misunderstanding and a spin-off from a joke earlier in the forum. Apologies for being vague....but seriously, you were welcomed, included and respected yesterday.

[Steve R]

Oh...as for Craig & his pictures. Craig doesn't bull**** or lie, these pics are legit. I'll admit they don't quite look just right...but he wouldn't deceive us, it's just the pics.

[Steve R]

pre-trail stretching

[Steve R]

up into the canyon

[Steve R]

more 2

[Steve R]

The Buckster coming 'round the corner

[Steve R]

Jason...

I know what happened. When we hit that black-diamond trail I had blasted past the entrance....so I ended up running the rear sweep. Without being in front, the photographic effort drizzled to pathetic.

Seems like I just can't win unless I lead the group AND have someone else to pull my rig up so that I can be freed to shoot pics. And then I still need another person to spot so I don't have to.

Thanks for the compliments on my getting through that stuff. With the low clearance of the H2....you really have to play those rocks/ruts JJJJUUUSSSSTTTTTT right, or else you pay the price with those ugly noises & frame carnage.

At one point my spotter put me into a huge rut and I wasn't quite expecting the strong roll to the side....that was scary!!!!!! Frank saw it from behind and was freakin' a bit too....he claims my left rear wheel was easily 3.5' up OFF the ground. Wish I had a pic of that!

[Steve R]

Okay...we ran Rattlesnake Canyon today, great trail, lots of fun.

Problem...when we came to hard areas...we were way too busy getting through the nasty to remember to take pics. Here's what we got so far. I feel like apologizing, but it's always fun to check-out pics.

Here's buckeye's new ride

[Buckeye Hummer]

Yoda,

You better get on your flame-proof vest my man Steve's going to let the dog's out.

I didn't get to see Steve go through that obstacle but he did say that he was directed on a bad line (I lean towards believing him as he was adimant). I did see you in my rearview mirror in the Yoda jostling around like you were riding a donkey with a chili up it's but It was indeed not a killer trip but it was fun. I am looking for another more difficult trail this week.

I have yet to see any fully loaded suburbans on the trail but I guess that would be quite a sight

[Craig T]

It is the setting for the first picture. I took the picture. I just moved about 15-feet to the left of where the first picture was taken.

[Steve R]

and the conclusion

[Steve R]

My observation on Buckeye's post is that it is very much mixed, like sweet & sour chicken. I must therefore respond accordingly:

SHUT-UP AND THANKS!!!!!

Along with:

CORRECT!!!! AND WRONG!!!!!

Here's my 10-page synopsis:

The H1 is clearly a superior offroading vehicle. Period.

The H2 can not, will not and shall not ever be as capable as the H1. The H2 will NOT go through any trail the H1 will go on (you haven't seen the real nasty stuff yet Buckeye).

I love my H2, but folks....please, let's just face it:

The H1 has gear driven hubs. The differentials and half-shafts are tucked way up giving the H1 awesome clearance. The rest of the vehicle has HUGE clearance...please trust me when I say it comes in really really REALLY handy when traversing huge ruts/rocks/boulders.

The H1 has reinforced plating designed to allow it to drift and be dragged over boulders and designed to survive a land-mine blast. The CTIS allows you to air-up/down accordingly as well. The front-end has nearly 100% approach angle...you can go up a wall practically. Let's not forget the super-low center of gravity and width....you can really get ridiculous with that rig!

The H2 is comparatively top-heavy, has way less clearance, diff's & axles hanging out and beside the skid-plate up front...we have that stupid gusset triangles that not only don't slide over rocks but often act to grab them and pull them up (I know Drtyfn & Alec hear me on that one!).

The capabilities of the H1 are only revealed through experienced drivers. In the hands of a newbie...they'll spin tires and get goofy...perhaps even doing better in an H2.

Like fishing line...the H2 is like 20-pound test and the H1 is like 40-pound test. It's all good & fine on the mild, moderate and some difficult trails....but when it gets really nasty and you start into the extreme stuff...the H1 can keep going and the H2 stops!

Now...that's just the vehicle. The driver is still a huge & key component. I know several H1's owners who can't follow some H2 drivers.

And lastly: it's all about fun. My buddy Craig (by my opinion) is an expert driver. He had an H2 and now has an H1. Years of racing and experience make him amazing offroad. Yesterday he was not really challenged and only had "some" fun. I...on the other hand....found much more challenge getting that H2 through some of that stuff...some of that was a real accomplishment and adrenaline pumping! I had a GREAT time! I think I got a few more Smiles-per-gallon then Craig did?

Which perhaps explains why some people set records and seek to land 400-pound tuna on only 20-pound test?

Now isn't that a pretty ending?

[Craig T]

Sorry about the suspense. Steve is condensing my pictures for me. They are 685MB's. The board only accepts 300MB. They should follow shortly.

Craig

[Buckeye Hummer]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>For the price vs function i would go with a fully loaded Suburban or 3/4 ton four door 4x4 truck, but that is just me<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

My god man, have you gone mad? Did you eat your lunch next to my diesel exhaust? How could a Suburban function like an H2? I've had/have Suburban, h2 and Tahoe and they are all different but the only one that can do some nasty off road duty is the H2.

Your yoda is definitely good rock crawler. I really like the Fred Flinstone brake feature the best

Mucho rain coming our way. You know what that means!

[Steve R]

more stretching

[Steve R]

by his command...

Here's a shot of Craig coming through some section in Moab (same section where several hardcore Jeepers turned-around and retreated).

[Steve R]

more of the Rock

[Steve R]

easy, but pretty