Off Road pkg Dealer Tales?

[Kid Shyleen]

New, yes. In the process of acquiring an H3. By the way, thank you all for all the great info and pics you have posted. I am trying to get a Lux with the Off Road package. A dealer today told me that unless I was rock crawling I didn't need the Off Road package. He said the only difference between Lux and Off Road was 33" tires, and a 2-speed transfer case. Is that right? No difference in suspension? No other additions in undercarriage protection? It just didn't seem right. The Hummer site only shows the tires and transfer case, but another dealer told me I needed the Off Road suspension if I was used to the Z71 ride? Someone please help me...I am so confused...could you really tell...

[Kid Shyleen]

New, yes. In the process of acquiring an H3. By the way, thank you all for all the great info and pics you have posted. I am trying to get a Lux with the Off Road package. A dealer today told me that unless I was rock crawling I didn't need the Off Road package. He said the only difference between Lux and Off Road was 33" tires, and a 2-speed transfer case. Is that right? No difference in suspension? No other additions in undercarriage protection? It just didn't seem right. The Hummer site only shows the tires and transfer case, but another dealer told me I needed the Off Road suspension if I was used to the Z71 ride? Someone please help me...I am so confused...could you really tell...

[jkH1+H2=H3]

Just my opion! I have the Lux interior, which is awsome!! and I was in the same position, Because I ordered a Lux Black with maraccoon interior. Well, when it came and I drove it, I was ???? Don't get me wrong its a super plush ride,
OK, From experience since May, I have my h3 with exterior Adventure Pack, 33 inch wheels which look awsome and sound cool. You get the up graded suspension On the Advent. Pack, So, No extra protection underneath, thats extra! Ching, ching, not a bad price if you are into of roading.
If you Travel alot of Highway, I may say stay with the all lux pack.
Because, When you travel for a long time highway and depending on conditions you will feel bobble head sydrome.
Its fun, I was driving and we where on the interstate, road conditions where bump to bump to bump, I turned my head and saw my wifes head bobbing like at each road bump going back and forth and up and down. So with the advent.
Pack you feel the ground below.
I live in Pa so we have floods, and crappy weather in the winter. H3 Adventure Pack,I have the option to be anywhere and do anything like nothing else! enough said!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[DWPC]

I'm not a H3 owner (yet), but I stayed in a Holiday Inn last night. The dealer is probably right, but has the details wrong. All H3s have a 2-speed transfer case and good offroad capability. The standard 2.64 ratio has a lot of grunt for non-heroic off-roading. The Adventure/Offroad Pkg has a super low 4.03 transfer case for exceptional capability. Unless you're plowing the back 40 or pulling stumps, its unlikely you'll need the low ratio of the offroad pkg. I don't know about suspension differences; th H3 literature doesn't say. If your not doing serious offroad work, you probably don't need the package, but it may help resale value in the future.

Actually, if your not going to offroad, you'll probably never use the low range setting at all.

[jkH1+H2=H3]

Well said, good point, I agree, but the adventure Package gives you that feel, that you are in a hummer. I like knowing that I have the option to off road or not, even help someone stranded. I have the power to do what ever a hummer can do. with that said, if you are only interested in mainstream driving, stay with the all lux.

[Surferjo]

I think the Advent package it totally worth it for the Meats alone. I like the look of bigger tires. The Advent package costs what $1100 or so. Buying 5 33" Tires will cost you an easy $1000. All the other cool stuff is like free extras to me. When i look at those 31's" they just seem to get lost in the wheel well. I figure at some point i was going bigger on the tires might as well have them from the start. But if tires aint your thing save yourself $1100.

[FormerJeeper]

From the Hummer Web Site:

It has an offroad suspension, 4:1 trasnsfer case and electronically activated rear locker.
Oh yes, and the 33" tires

-C

[f5fstop]

The Bridgestones are better, not only off-road but in snow, the have a heck of a lot more sipes and a better block design. The Wrangler RT/S tires are garbage in my opinion and only suited for light off-road and highway use.
The shocks are heavier, or at least I was told that by an engineer on the Hummer project.
My opinion, get both the lux and the off-road; I did, and I love it.

[Donald Smith]

OK experts-I thought the differnece between adventure package and Lux-Standard was 33 vs 32 inch tires-what's the poop. Seems like 31 inch would be way small and that much difference you would feel a huge difference in highway performance.

The Next Hummer Owner-Toyota Seller after a test drive on 8-21-05

[f5fstop]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Donald Smith:
OK experts-I thought the differnece between adventure package and Lux-Standard was 33 vs 32 inch tires-what's the poop. Seems like 31 inch would be way small and that much difference you would feel a huge difference in highway performance.

The Next Hummer Owner-Toyota Seller after a test drive on 8-21-05 </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

Standard tires are 265x75x16, off-road are 285x75x16. The 265 is a 31 inch tire; the 285 is a 33 inch tire.

[WPBGUY]

When thime comes to replace my tires and I decide to get the 33"s, is there any programming or settings that have to be made to the computer, especially for the speed/odometer? Also I guss that is why I can't get my "4X4 lock low to work" I guess I did not need it any how I have pulled a few people out os some prety bad situations already. "4X4lock High worked fine" Also there may me a compressor added to the lux package to. I know on the H2 with off-road package you can push a button to lower or raise the air pressure in the tires, My H3 has a 60AMP fuse socket labled "Air Compressor", but it is empty. Maybe that is what the empty buttuns under the A/C are for. Just my guess. I have only seen the base and luxury models here in WPB. The sales people here are not knowlegeable abot the H3 yet, They are just moving them as fast as they can. I asked what those empty buttons were for he told me nothing. Yea right the just putthen in for decoration. The other is probably for the aditional light that are coming out later. WOW six light in the front and I want the roof marker lights when thry come out too. The man told me today that they have totally redesigned them and changed the part number, but they are going to recal/replace the ones that were installed already and in about 8 week they wil be available to the public gain. Good nes the price was dropped a little, maybe for the inconvenience? Yea right! From $600 to about $500. The additional fog lights Two 55-watt lights attached to the lower grille provide additional front lighting for off-road use. Around 2x4 inches. Come with removable front covers. (Available late 2005) will be out by then to for about $480. So I will wait to install the chrome grill, because it will be different. Do you think The upper runnig light wiil have a seperate swtich to. Wow you answered my message before I read it and fixed it. to many beers here. insomnia here. Had afew beers ti relax and rest but git hooked on this forum. I am not looking forward to messing with thise harnessed though there are so many up there. I unplugged one trying to find a 12vdc and ground for my radar. noluk. I Have done thid so many time inother vehicles. There is abour 5 or 6 harnessses in the cornre brhind the tweeter on the drivers sid, one of them had a plug on it. So I unplugged it. My onstar went red and they responded and asked if I needed EMS. They saw my location ans showed impact, not airbag. OOPS

[f5fstop]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by WPBGUY67:
When thime comes to replace my tires and I decide to get the 33"s, is there anyprogrsmming or settings that have to be made to the computer, especially for the speed/odometer? Also I guss that is why I can't get my "4X4 lock low to work" I guess I did not need it any hor I have pulled a few people out os some prety bas situationd already. "4X4lock High worked fine" Also the may me a compressor added to the lux package to. I know on the H2 with off-road package you can push a button to lower or raise the air pressure in the tires, My H3 has a 60AMP fuse socket labled "Air Compressor", but it is empty. Maybe that is what the empty buttuns under the A/C are for. Just my guess. I have only seen the base and luxury models here in WPB. The sales people here are not knowlegeable ablt the H3 yet, They are just moving them as fast as they can. I asked what those empty buttons were for he told me nothing. Yea right the just putthen in for decoration. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

I have never checked to see if there is a change that is allowed to differentiate between the tire sizes to adjust the odo/speedo; it might be a different PCM altogether (maybe I'll look someday when I get time).
Not sure about the rest of your message, or what you are saying so I can't really answer.
However, if the end of your message you are talking about the two blanks in the trim panel for switches; one is for the upper off-road lights, the other is for grille mounted off-road lights. No hidden agenda in regard to a tire adjustment air compressor; at least not in '06.

[bparker]

I went with the off-road package for the rear locker. If you do much off-roading you will quicly find out why its so nice to have one. Let alone from the factory and supported by a warranty.

[HummerNewbie]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by WPBGUY67:
I know on the H2 with off-road package you can push a button to lower or raise the air pressure in the tires, My H3 has a 60AMP fuse socket labled "Air Compressor", but it is empty. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

It sure would be nice to have a compressor in the H3. The compressor in the H2 doesn't have anything to do with the tires though. It is used for the air suspension and you can raise and lower the back end with it from the button in the dash.

[oneworld]

I had the simialr problem getting both packages, I had to order it and wiat for 3 months. I have driven both, I feel that I peffer the truck with both, the ride in the just lux pac is better less bumpy, but the ride with the adventure pac is more sporty and the bumpyness is minimal, it just feels more tight. I love mine and would not have it any other way. By the way the leather seats suck up the bumps better then if you just order adventure pack with the cloth. Hope this helps
As to where or not you will need the off road suspension WHY GET A HUMMER WITH OUT IT> I probably will never push mine to the test but it is a great ride firm and sport like.

[f5fstop]

WPBGUY67

If you are looking to hard wire in a radar detector, I can tell you what I did, and it took only about fifteen minutes (not counting looking for the damn A-pillar screw I dropped onto the I/P and it bounced, and I spent another fifteen minutes looking for it before giving up, then later than night I found it in my shirt pocket).
Anyway, here is how I connected the Escort.
The driver's side A-pillar has a number of wires running down from the headliner. If you have a sunroof like I do, I located the Yellow wire, and tapped into it for the detector hot. This circuit is controlled by the BCM through a relay and is the RAP (retained accessory power) circuit. It is hot in run or accessory, and stays hot with the RAP feature. (The RAP stays energized for about 10 minutes after the ignition is turned Off, but will go dead when a door is open.)
For ground, I just tapped into a black ground wire and there are a few, so I tapped into the large one just below the connector. I used butt end connectors to do the connections.

Now, if you don't have a sunroof, I would recommend tapping into the dark blue/white wire that is the power feed t the electro chromatic mirror. This circuit is also hot in run or start, and will go dead when the ignition is turned off.

I would not recommend tapping into the orange wire, since this circuit is hot at all times, and the radar detector may stay on all the time. I say may, since this is also the courtesy lamp feed that is controlled by the BCM and if the BCM senses this circuit is hot twenty minutes after the engine is turned off, and there has been no door switch movement, it will shut down this circuit (called battery saver circuit). However, not sure if the very small drain of a radar detector would be sensed by the BCM.

I also would NOT tap into the light green/black circuit which would be hot in run or accessory. This is the BCM power feed to OnStar and no telling what would happen.

To remove the A-pillar molding, just remove the small plug in the center of the molding with a small screwdriver, then remove the phillips screw inside the molding. Then pull it back, and up from the I/P. Easy to remove and install, just watch that damn little screw.

[HummerNewbie]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by f5fstop:
...I spent another fifteen minutes looking for it before giving up, then later than night I found it in my shirt pocket) </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

LOL

Done that before