Opinions: H3 aftermarket fab lacking?

[Chocflip201]

What do you feel the aftermarket is lacking most on the H3? Fabrication wise.

Bumpers?
sliders?
tube fenders?
undercarriage protection? (UCP)
aftermarket suspension? (Coil over kits, chromoly (and serviceable) A-arms?)
roof racks?
other?

let me know what you would be wanting, and a price range of what you would be willing to pay.

 

[Chocflip201]

Also what would your expectations be of each product? (Other than just good quality)

 

[amrg]

Regearable front diff that won't blow up!
Maybe long arms?

 

[Chocflip201]

Regearable front diff that won't blow up!
Maybe long arms?

which flavor?

i know what you mean, I want one for my 3 too, but I don't think I could feasibly compete with the companies already making them. I could however make install brackets and stuff to where one of those diffs could "bolt in" to our 3's.

 

[digglesworth]

There's a few bumpers... Some have came and gone (BA I think)... But there's still a few. They're just so damn expensive.
Sliders... There's a few. Although the oem ones are getting harder to find and the aftermarket options are expensive. A jeep can go have their pick for 2-300 bucks where we're paying 5-600....
Someone was working on upper control arms but haven't heard much on that...
I haven't had issues with my drivetrain so for me, my diffs are ok.

I think for me, I'd like to see a few more bumper choices. I just hooked my rear bumper on an obstacle and mangled a corner. Now would be a perfect time to upgrade to aftermarket but the $500 price tag has me not pulling the trigger. I also want a front bumper w/ winch mount but for the price of that combo, I can do a 4:1 t case or a rear locker or maybe both.

I think it's really tough cause everyones in different places in the mod process with their trucks. Some want axles and gears cause they've maxed out their stock stuff. Others are just starting out and just want to find some ucp or sliders. It's hard to narrow it down.

 

[Chocflip201]

What would you (realistically) expect to pay for sliders? Would you want them completely out of round tube or have rectangle too with a tube outrigger? Bolt on (more $$) or weld on? (Less $)

the H3 needs to keep it's weight in check, what would you guys think about bumpers with steel subframes & winch mount, and .190" (3/16") aluminum body? Would you want all plate or plate/tube combo?

 

[Airborne]

I would say for me I am looking for bumpers/winch mount, possibly tube fenders, and if you could come up with a solution for a front only lift to accomodate the SOA guys you would kill that market. I know for me the biggest thing I would want is something to accent the SOA conversion besides the rancho. Which means you have to buy their whole damn kit, front and rear...

 

[rsc]

Front bumper needs to be light, but that usually means less strength. Some tube 1/2 doors would be nice or at least door shells that have a deeper window to lean out of on the trail. I would like fender options, more than just some little stick on flares. A better, stronger, regearable front diff or maybe portals... I do think that a set of sliders with a rear kickout as a rear door step and removeable front steps would be great!

I appreciate good, quality stuff but like to have good performance at a matching price. That means I can live with $350 worth of performance from a slider or fender. Its good to have options and not just at the overkill level either.

 

[954paulo]

Tube doors would be cool. And I second that front lift idea. Something similar to the rancho front so I could use soa in the rear


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[digglesworth]

I'd like to see a slider that mixes the Rocky Roads with the oem... I like how the rocky roads stick out for lateral protection but they leave the pinch weld very exposed. And I prefer bolt on since I'm not familiar with welding nor do I wanna pay someone to put them on.
I got my oem set for 300 and I was very happy with that.

With the boxy shape of the H3, I'd be more inclined to buy a bumper that was made out of flat sheets instead of tubing. Just my opinion. I like the option Thorparts gives by letting you choose whether you wanna run a brushguard, bull bar or nothing.

And this is simple but I'd really like to see a plate with a single shackle tab to replace our plate/d-ring recovery points. I personally would like to be able to undo a bow shackle to attach a strap vs puttin a shackle on the d-ring and adding another link in the chain so to speak. I know you can girth hitch one end of the strap around it but you'll always need to attach the other end somehow. Or using an equalizing strap between both front points.

 

[Chocflip201]

If I'm going to design a competitive lift system it won't be like Rancho's at all:

As far as the winch bumper goes, .190" aluminum would be great for most people's 3's. But if the consensus would like steel, that could be done too (cheaper than Al).

 

[Chocflip201]

And tube doors would be very feasible :horns:

 

[Chocflip201]

Any bumpers designed would completely bypass the factory d-ring system.

 

[Airborne]

So what type of numbers are we talking to have the front lift made?

 

[Chocflip201]

So what type of numbers are we talking to have the front lift made?

Honestly and unfortunately, big numbers. I'm not out to duplicate anything that is already on the market (frumakers sliders, OEM sliders/UCP, Ranchos stuff etc.

I would be filling in gaps of a thin aftermarket where there are few or no options to choose from. Those of which have a couple options, (like sliders/bumpers) I would be interested in making parts that are better than what's out there at a reasonable cost. (Not outrageous priced items where you are paying for the name.)

 

[Chocflip201]

Obviously pricing would depend on interest. If I have 30 people interested in tube doors I can do them for a lot cheaper than 2-3 pairs.

 

[HummerRoller]

I would do tube doors... but I have a 9 month old too... hidden winch mount?

Sent from inside the cardboard box in the alley behind your house.

 

[Chocflip201]

I wouldn't do a hidden winch mount like Schwarttzys, that gap is filled and I'm not going to step on any toes on the forum.

 

[amrg]

I wouldn't do a hidden winch mount like Schwarttzys, that gap is filled and I'm not going to step on any toes on the forum.

Yeah there are two options in that area, one of them is for a forum sponsor.
A proper lift kit with more travel (think of mid travel kits that give us 8-10") upfront would be nice!
(That plus a regearable front diff that won't go boom)

 

[kilroy]

Front bumper crossed between the BA and the upper OEM fascia that maintains the OEM crash bar and a modular rear bumper (like ARB's Toyota version) with swing away tire carrier and maybe jerry can holder. Longer arms with coil-overs would be nice with replaceable ball joints, though Scorpworks and Outfitter were working on them. Outfitter decided the cost would be more than the market would bear though.

 

[Chocflip201]

I have no problem becoming a forum vendor when I do come up with a part to manufacture.

Modular stuff is awesome in my opinion. It does push the parts cost up a little bit, but opens the door to so many more people in the market.

 

[06 H3]

If you did the ifs would u go wider then stock for more travel?

I like the fact that anyone will do anything for the h3 market but I understand high prices compared to jeep stuff. We're small they make 1000s while our market is for 10-100. Big difference.

Another thing is projected sales. 40 people say there in on a forum I bet 5 will follow through.

Sorry to be a Debbie downer but I say build whatever you can! It will help us hummer owners

 

[Chocflip201]

No it understand that all and that's why I'm interested in making some parts for the 3, because the market is 10-100. I don't have the machinery to make 1,000+ part productions. Nor do I have that much time ha.

And I can tell you that whatever parts we decide to make that my prices are very reasonable for what you're getting. I'm not someone who is out to retire off of something like this.

Shipping is going to be customer's biggest price issue.

 

[Chocflip201]

And the ifs would basically have 2 levels. Level 1; stock width, uses factory (or Rancho) knuckles, factory halfshafts, all that jazz. It would basically be an upper and lower A-arm, with provisions for coilovers. Maintaining stock geometry. Basically the upgrades here would be stronger, and serviceable A-arms, and ditching the torsion bars/standard shock system for coilovers.

Level 2 would be balls out. New everything. New geometry, longer travel. New shafts.

Of course everything would be rigorously tested and approved before any sales.

Something like a level 2 IFS system would be down the road, making sure that you guys liked what I'm putting out first. Or it would be something that is big $$$ because it wouldn't be for everyone and would be low production numbers (<5?)

 

[06 H3]

I wish pirate had ifs a arm geometry calculators lol they do for link suspensions.

I like the tube fender idea