Rattlesnake revealed

[JSA_3]

Looks like alot of fun

[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!

[Frank Hewitt]

so was the H1 clearly superior, driving abilities being equal?

gasman

[Buckeye Hummer]

I hope Steve doesn't answer this. It will be about a 10 page post that will only have you more confused at the end.

Here are my BRIEF thoughts having owned both:

I am AMAZED what the H2 will do particularly with a skilled driver. The H2 will go on any trail an H1 will go (with a good driver). There were a couple of areas I thought would be troublesome yesterday (for a newbie) but Steve went right through them. I would like to say that the H1 is more idiot proof but it's NOT. You have to understand it's TT4 traction system unlike the the H2 where you push, select and go.

Basically, unless you're driving through something really ridiculous with body damage guaranteed, the H2 will get through it.

So back to your question: Say you take a good driver (Steve, Alec, DRTY) and let them try both vehicles. I'm sure they would get both through the trail fine but would drive them very differently. They are very different vehicles but very much HUMMERS!

[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]

I'm going to attempt my version of an answer to this "H2 comparing to the H1" question. I have owned and driven both extensively off-road (I just sold my H2 after one year of ownership). First, every obstacle has it's own dynamic or physics. Every vehicle's has it's own geometry. Certain vehicle geometry has an advantage to the dynamic of each opposing obstacle. The advantage goes the the vehicle most suited to the widest variety of obstacles. I attached a couple of pictures from a 20-mile Moab trail loop. 15-miles into the trail we came across this obstacle. It was in a canyon. There where no alternate routes or bail out. It was do it or backtrack the entire 15 miles. If anyone can explain how an H2 could negotiate this obstacle (remember that pictures alway make something look less than it is), I would love to hear it. Therefore, a vehicle is only as good as the one obstacle it can't get through, and which is that more likely to happen to and H2 or an H1?

[Buckeye Hummer]

Craig, pics?

You did a great post. This part in particular must be trademarked <BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR> Therefore, a vehicle is only as good as the one obstacle it can't get through <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

BUT then you pooped and left without posting the pic. C'mon the suspense is killing us.

[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

[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]

here's Craig coming down it

[Steve R]

Here's a way-modified vehicle coming in..

[Steve R]

and the conclusion

[DRTYFN]

That's not the conclusion to the first pic. The setting is different.

[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.

[RockYoda]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by 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.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

I call B.S. there is nothing other than the Honda/Rodeo thing that is the same. Just look at the diffrent scenery...

[RockYoda]

Ok a viewpoint from somebody other than an H1/H2 owner who has been on this trail a few times....

Seeing the Hummers in action for the first time i was somewhat impressed of the capaibilites of the H2 (especially when Steve's H2 almost rolled... very close..) This trail however is what i would cosider easy to mild for an off-road trail. There was another side trail that Steve took a few guys on and i was more impressed with the drivers skills of not fipping over on the steep terrain..

I felt that the H2 did very well for the trail. However it proved to me that the H2 is not the truck for me. 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

[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

[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]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by RockYoda:


Seeing the Hummers in action for the first time i was somewhat impressed of the capaibilites of the H2 (especially when Steve's H2 almost rolled... very close..)<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Funny....I thought you said you were "very impressed" with the Hummers...particularly the H2.

I have to admit...I was a bit freaked when the H2 started to roll really fast & hard to the side. I was getting in & out of my own rig and spotting myself for the most part....when I finally decided to just trust Dave. Dave is an "expert" Hummer instructor of sorts.

So Dave's guiding me here and there...and suddenly I'm rolling (quite unexpectedly). The H2 listed severally to the right...more so then I've even been before....all I could do was look up at Dave and wonder if I was going to go over. I didn't.....but that was more then exciting.

Dave insisted that I was never even close to rolling. He may be right....there was this one guy at Gorman who got so ridiculously sideways that he could reach out from his window and practically touch the ground. Not knowing Hummers, I think you'd be shocked how extremely sideways they can get as compared to most offroad vehicles.

Frank...you were supposed to say a whole bunch of nice things and score points here....what happened to the big plan????

Oh wait...I forgot about the even bigger plan.

TROLL!!!!! TROLL!!!!!! TROLL!!!!! TROLL!!!!!!

[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.