H2 vs H3

[MessiaH2]

So it seems as if the Alpha has the strength under the hood but the Adventure has a bunch of cool features for wheeling.

One thing I was trying to figure out was what my truck actually was listed as. Now after linking to some cool pages on the NET i think i have figured that out... Seems as If my truck was ordered as a LUX PACKAGE with a **** load of options.

I remember when i bought it in JAN 04' it had about 4000 DEMO miles on it. The salesmen told me that the BOY SCOUTS of AMERICA were using it at all their functions for some promotion and how it got most of lots miles. He also said that they put as many options on it as possible to show people what you could do to them. They kept that one for over a year as their store show model.

So I have the LUX with optional Air Suspension package, upgraded leather w/heated seats, headrest tv's, Gobi roof Rack w/tire, Gobi, ladder and Grill Guard, 3rd row seat, tube assist steps, sunroof and who knows what else...LOL I thought i had the Adventure package all this time, but really I ended up with the best of both packages because they added all the options. Pretty cool, I am ok with that.



Thanks for all the input guys. I feel this thread and Forum in general has made me way more comfortable talking about the H3. We mostly heard from H3 guys and i was hoping for more H2 chime in's...All in all i believe I would own one. I am hoping for an original first but we will see. I might just pick up one of the old military one to build a wheeling beast from the ground up so i stop abusing MessiaH2... Although i think he likes it.:horns:

 

[LagunaH1]

So it seems as if the Alpha has the strength under the hood but the Adventure has a bunch of cool features for wheeling.

The H3 Alpha Adventure is a *great* truck, no doubt. Some opt for the 3.7 I5 motor because they don't feel a need for the extra torque of the V8.

 

[Schwarttzy]

Also, you could either get the luxury package OR the adventure package, seperate. In other words,"one or the other".

Your wrong man, I have the Adventure Package and the Luxury Package.

 

[atvspeed4]

I have adventure package only. You could get them individually or together. My last h3 had both

 

[mantracker]

That may be true, Schwarttzy. I'm only going by what I was told at the dealership. In 2006 you could get either an Adventure, or a Luxury model.

 

[poncho1965]

Kicking myself for not getting both !


Mike

 

[mantracker]

That may be true, Schwarttzy. I'm only going by what I was told at the dealership. In 2006 you could get either an Adventure, or a Luxury model. You couldn't combine the two, until 2007.

 

[Green 1]

Compared to anything in it's class it is awesome totally stock compared to a stock Ruby. I have seen stock H3 and stock Rubys and there is no comparison. Once you start the upgrades it is a race to see who will spend more money. You can make an H3 as capable as a built Ruby, just ask Bebe or Chris. I would take either of their trucks over a Ruby. Before people beat me up I had Jeeps and still own one. I have owned Jeeps an H3 and an H1 and will tell you they are all great. The best overall for ride comfort capability awesomeness and reliability an H2 is the best. The H1 is just plain awesome and even most Jeep guys enjoy watching the lumbering giants. H3's are so capable and reliable they are hard to beat. They are quiet and safe. The big thing about any of these trucks is it is personal preference.

 

[Big2dabank]

I'm not sure the SUT is measurably lightly than the SUV, but it does feel lighter when driving. I'll give the basic pros and cons from my perspective.

2005 H2 SUT, 4.56 gears, custom tune, headers, flow master exhaust, air doc intake, afe filter, lots of other mods..

PROS:
Absolute joy to drive, handles great on and off-road,
Very stable off-road,
Power rear window,
Midgate lowers for additional payload,
SUT bed larger than most people think and keeps dirty crap out of the cab,
Lockable storage in bed with easily removable optional cover,
Aftermarket (GOBI) racks on roof and bed cover allow plenty of cargo,
Factory undercarriage protection and rock rails are decent and handles abuse well,
Easily accommodates 37" tires without a lift,
Extremely easy to work on and maintain, except when working on top end of engine, there is no comfortable place to work,
Can perform maintenance under truck without the need to jack it up,
Very dependable vehicle and will last for hundreds of thousand miles with regular maintenance,
Wheelbase is almost perfect, front wheels could shift forward a couple inches,
Towing is acceptable, but could be better,
Tow/haul mode works well and noticeable changes the shift points and the amount of up/downshifts when towing,
Can be flat towed behind another vehicle very easily,
Cast iron LQ4 motor can be upgraded easily lots of options,
Most important, my kids love it,

CONS:
Weak steering design, factory center link and tie rods are undersized and definitely should be upgraded,
Centerlink twist/flexes under strain/stress and causes excessive wear on pitman/idler,
Fuel mileage is not great, I average 12 mpg (70% highway), so not really a con for me,
IFS allows limited flex up front and routinely have wheels in the air when wheelin, loosing traction and stability,
CV half shafts are easy to break if not carefull, but they are super easy to change on the trail and cheaper to replace than a diff,
Limited space to sit and work on top end of engine, I usually sit on the radiator,
SUT mid gate does not fold down flush with bottom of SUT bed,
Rear end flex is very good, but could be better with some tweaking,
Wide and may not fit on all trails, can't be afraid of scratches or dents if you wheel and H2,
Width also makes it difficult to see obstacles for proper wheel placement,
Heavy and could be lighter for wheelin,
Transmission is a little weak,
Radiator and transcooler is weak for this vehicle, can get hot under heavy towing loads,
Doors not easily removable,
Weak/sissy sounding horn, this was my first mod after torsion bar crank,
Tire carrier swings out to far and sticks out on the side with the tailgate down and limits ability to haul with tailgate down,
Tire carrier not easily removable to remedy con listed above, I have a mod coming for this,
Factory rock rails use thin tubing and dent/bend easily,
Front differential support bushing tears and is not easily replaceable, yet,
Brake lines are a little shortage and should be extended,
Front sway bar shifts to passenger side over time and rubs at full left lock,

Thats all I can think of right now...



Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk - now Free

 

[Schwarttzy]

That may be true, Schwarttzy. I'm only going by what I was told at the dealership. In 2006 you could get either an Adventure, or a Luxury model. You couldn't combine the two, until 2007.

No you could in 2006 too. Your dealership most likely lied to you because they didn't have any in stock. Plus those salesman I see at dealerships are so dumb most the time it's laughable. Hell the guy that sold me mine didn't even know what my H3 had in it.

 

[HUMMERDAD]

Pros for the adventure Package H2: Electronic rear Locker, Air compressor built in easy to refill tires and just about anything else you can think of, can raise and lower rear suspension with the touch of a switch, stock suspension can handle for large tires 35's, and of course all the other pros mentioned with an H2. Cons: Heavy Wide and fuel hungry, tires are expensive, air bags loose air over time, costly to repair / maintain, or modify. Ok with that all said I love my H2 it's gotten out of more trouble in adverse conditions. The traction in snow is great I would replace my wife's Toyota with an H1 in an heart beat not all hummers are equal but they all do things other trucks can't.

 

[MessiaH2]

WOW, this post has turned out cool and super informative!!! Thanks everyone so far.

Green1 - cool to hear your perspective because you have owned and driven them all, which BTW i am envious over...LOL you wrote "The best overall for ride comfort capability awesomeness and reliability an H2 is the best." I think this myself but I am obsessed with my H2, and one of the reasons i wanted to do this thread. THX

BIG2 - your post is epic, i actually stopped half way, went and got a drink, then came back and read the cons..LOL THANKS
what do you mean by this? front wheels could shift forward a couple inches,???
also i am assuming you do NOT have Air bags in back because of tow comments? I have Air Bags and MessiaH2 tows like a beast.
I also read something about this "Can be flat towed behind another vehicle very easily," can you explain how? I forgot what the process was to do it.

 

[Big2dabank]

BIG2 - your post is epic, i actually stopped half way, went and got a drink, then came back and read the cons..LOL THANKS
what do you mean by this? front wheels could shift forward a couple inches,???

The only reason I say that is to help improve the approach angle, the H2 has a great stock approach angle, but it assumes the transition to the incline is not elevated above the approach by a rock or ledge. In the case of a ledge there are many times when the trail is not wide enough to allow room to angle the vehicle enough to get one tire on the ledge first and you are forced to approach it head on and unless you can pile up enough rocks or debris in front of the ledge, you will hit the front tow hooks and bottom of the bumper on the ledge. If the front wheels were moved forward about one or two inches this would help greatly in this scenario. This is obviously not easy with the IFS, but if you are switching to a solid axle, then this is a no brainer. Moving the front wheels forward one or two inches would also help with the ability to stuff the front tire into the fender well a little better. On a my H2 with a mild torsion lift and 37" tires, I have actually stuffed the tire hard into the fender that it bent the front quarter panel to the point where it rubbed badly on the front door when open/closing. Of course it can be straighten out without to much effort, but still a pain in the ass.

also i am assuming you do NOT have Air bags in back because of tow comments? I have Air Bags and MessiaH2 tows like a beast.

I don't mean rear end sag/bounce and/or sway when towing. I mean just plain gross trailer weight. I have been over the towing capacity for short runs and I can tell you it is no fun, truck still rides great, but it really works hard and both the engine and trans will get hot in a hurry if your not paying attention. I own a construction business and my dodge 3500 will be tied up at another job site and I have, on occasion had to bring materials or equipment to another job site and I know I have exceeded the 6700# towing capacity, probably closer to 8,000#. It would be nice to get a little more towing capacity out of the H2, a dirty max option should have been available for these.

As far as airbags, I actually have a custom bag suspension in the garage for all four corners of the truck, but my plan is to supplement the suspension not replace it and only use the bags for additional lift when its necessary. I do not want to rely solely on the airbags as there is always a potential for leaks and or tears when offroad. This would give me the ability to keep my CG as low as possible and only lift the truck when necessary to increase ground clearance and improve the breakover angle.

I also read something about this "Can be flat towed behind another vehicle very easily," can you explain how? I forgot what the process was to do it.

Supper easy to do, first of all you need a good base plate and tow bar (not cheap), and a Towing Light Kit. If you plan to tow it often then get a Tail Light Isolating Diode Kit. This link has good recommendations for the base plate, tow bar, and diode kit, http://www.etrailer.com/question-15094.html

As far as putting the transfer case into neutral its simple, I would not necessarily rely on my memory, so you may want to check the manual, but I do it this way:

(1) Set the parking brake so the vehicle does not roll, otherwise you will need to remember to keep your foot on the brake so you don't roll away.
(2) Start the vehicle.
(3) Put the transmission into neutral.
(4) Press/Hold the 4Hi and 4Lo-Lock buttons for several seconds (5 or 10 I think).
(5) The neutral light should come on and you can release the buttons.
(6) Shift into D and R and make sure the transfer case is in neutral.
(7) Place shift lever into Park.
(8) Turn ignition to accessory and leave the keys in the ignition. I would lock the keys in the car and use a second set to unlock the car.
(9) If towing long distance may want to disconnect the battery.

Reverse the order to shift out of neutral.

 

[MessiaH2]

Big2... thank you very much for the thorough response.

I thought with he approach angle you were saying there was a way to move it forward (kinda like there is a way to get a little lift with torsion bars) but now i understand. I guess you can also go higher and bigger tires which pushes more tire out front. As you can imagine i do not climb much so that is something i never really thought about. The most I climb is out of a MUD HOLE...LOL

Your airbag idea seems like a great one! good luck and hopefully I will see it in the BUILDS

I also own Construction company and have hauled more then I should have with my H2 and I agree. When I am ready to rebuild MessiaH2 I am going for a complete diesel conversion.

 

[bebe]

If more H2's got out and wheeled with Jeeps and Toyotas, we wouldn't have a perception problem, same goes for H3's, except in NorCal/SoCal

 

[Xlr8n]

For those here that have been fortunate enough to have spent offroad time in both the H2 and H3, which do you think is the more capable offroader and why?

 

[cbetts]

For those here that have been fortunate enough to have spent offroad time in both the H2 and H3, which do you think is the more capable offroader and why?

Both are just as capable, but each has their own limitations. It really depends on the driver's preferences. I have driven both but personally prefer the H3, mainly for the smaller size and the manual transmission.

 

[MessiaH2]

For those here that have been fortunate enough to have spent offroad time in both the H2 and H3, which do you think is the more capable offroader and why?

This is a GREAT question... :thumbs: let's here it!!!

 

[Big2dabank]

Having been in both, I agree the H3 is more nimble and probably more suited to most trails, mostly due to its smaller size. But I can tell you, the H2 is a beast and is super stable and smooth offroad. So I am not sure that one is technically more capable than the other, it really comes down to the driver and what your more comfortable in.

 

[High Five H2]

I love my h3, but i'd take an h2 just for the axles!

 

[06 H3]

Ultimate Hummer?

H1 portals on front and rear axles with H2 front diff and H3 suspension 08+ H2 motor and trans H3 t case H2 rear axle with H3 rear suspension all packaged in an h3. The pros of everything under the smallest rig. Now thats dreaming! lol

 

[Big2dabank]

Now thats my kind of hybrid. Of course you could use the new Dynatrac portals with the H3 that would be pretty sweet rig... http://www.dynatrac.com/products/axles/portals.html

 

[High Five H2]

my favorite thing about my h3 is that the windows take like 1/2 of a second to roll down because they are so small.

 

[Mb30sdl]

2008 H2 6.2 6speed LUX
Pros:
Big and heavy
Tows 8200lbs
VERY comfy offroader (like driving on the couch)
Lots of power ( no upgrades needed to drivetrain)
Custom parts (so u don't look like every other one)
Interrior LUX and easily maintained
Great for long trips (if u don't consider mileage)
Easy upgrades (GM parts bin)
6speed trany
SUV- all inside (no dust)
IFS-comfort

Cons:
Big and heavy
Poor visibility
IFS for serious offroading
Poor gas mileage (I get ~9 with all the weight and upgrades)
Custom parts (price)
6 speed trany always searching 5/6 gear at freeway speeds (even in the stock form)
SUV-all inside (need to open rear to get something)


2009 H3t I5 Adv Auto

Pros:
Smaller and narrower
Longer wheelbase - more stable (T's)
Front locker
Bed
IFS-better ride

Cons:
I-5 no power and MPG sucks (13/14)
Transmission need 2 more gears 2.5 and 3.5 (loosing 2000rpm between shifts)
Rougher ride
Small size ( but rear doors are ~5" wider that H3s)
Bed if open get lots of dust offrading
Lack of offroad parts
IFS for serios offroading