The Ultimate HUMMER Upgrade?!

[JL]

As much as I love my H3 there are aspects of it that I wish were better! There are just some things that can't be fixed by the aftermarket and the only thing to do is trade it in for a NEW HUMMER! (new to me since clearly there are no more new ones...) I had a chat with some of the local dudes about this but though I'd ask for another perspective...



My H3 has the 3.7 with the base suspension, so no lockers, no super low range transfer case, etc. but I do have some 35" mudders and I've actually been pretty impresses with the off-road ability of this little machine but still wishing for a bit more. You can buy lockers but the power of that little motor.. nothing can be done!! If I had the cash for it a 2008/2009 H2 would be the only choice but as a young'n it's outta my price range!! I really like my H3 so moving to an Alpha with the off road goodies would be a good upgrade, an 09 model with front and rear lockers would sell me for sure but finding one is the real trick, you know?! Hard to come by is putting it lightly and as far as I have seen there are at most 1-2 for sale in the whole country at any given time!



An H2 would also be pretty sweet but definitely bigger than I need (although a Hummer was never much of a 'need' in the first place so whatever!) and really the H2 is just plain out cool. Don't really care about the economy too much since it'll just be a weekender primarily, seeing like max 10K per year including a few thousand clicks taking it on holidays so in the grand scheme gas won't cost too much either way. H2s have the H3 beat in driving comfort that's for sure, but I like the H3 interior just because it's so tight, not a single squeak or rattle in mine and I have heard that the H2s do have their squeaks and rattles.. true or not true?! It's the torque of a nice V8 that I need!!!! Locker(s) would be nice too but at least you can add a front to the H2 down the road for the same price as a set of tires... (give or take) and the locker lasts for ever!



Another problem I have found is simply getting parts for the 3.7L, with the 5.3L or 6.0L you're gonna have a much easier time getting those basic parts. As I am sure everyone knows mud takes it's toll on front end accessories and I don't want to be off the road for weeks just getting getting some basic, home swappable parts!



Anyone who has gone from an H3 to a H2, or who drives both??



Any other comments or opinions are GREATLY appreciated!! I don't want to start 'seriously' looking until the new year but still something to think about in the mean time!

[Khamul]

Well..... U definitely know my opinion.... I truely loved my H3 Alpha and I would still have it to this day if it would pull a 30 foot trailer... and fit 3 kids a bit more comfortably...

The H3 Alpha has a completely different drivetrain than the 3.7 but I must admit, I never had to get any parts for that thing as even though I put it through the paces.... nothing ever broke - even when I went straight into that boulder at a fairly decent speed..... just a couple alignments over the course of my ownership..



Now of course I must admit I love my H2 and the torque of the 6.2 along with the 6 spd tranny that you can manually shift is awesome! But parking can sometimes be a beatch and of course it sucks back the gas...... but the H2's drawn attention and especially now with a bit of bling..... I didn't get noticed much in my H3...



Most importantly, I've had to run and grab parts for Karl and Gary on a Sunday and have never had an issue getting anything! even on my 08 for a driveshaft on a sunday... in stock! Gary needed a belt tension assembly.... in stock!... new belt... in stock! My second round of Calipres on a Sunday.... in stock!



Love my H2! I would love an H1 but I'd have to sell 1 kid, and parts are alot harder to come by....

[shotgun-cam]

Okay Rhino's an H3 Alpha without the adventure package so no lockers and as an '08 there were no front lockers anyway . He has destroied 2 Front Diffs and 2 Transfer cases both running in the same location Botland (2 events about ten months apart). Both repairs under waranty took a month ( front diff and transfer case each time) due to waiting for parts. The same event actually had 2 victims as Patrick split his H2's front diff case and was towed to the shop while Rhino crawled home from Cambridge to Toronto in "4 Hi" with no front drive at all.

Rhino has some nice features like power heated seats (front) and some curses like the position of the controls for said seats ( nothings so bothersome as bumping the heat control then trying to find the switch to set it to off down between the seat and the door). The V8 is nice to surprise other drivers who think they can outrun an H3 they generally can't.

As for availability nows the time as the '08 models will be coming off lease (2 to 3 year terms)

[Sugarphreak]

I think you will start to see more aftermarket parts become available for these vehicles as more people who off-road them start to pick them up.



I would steer clear from 09' & 10' Hummers, I have not been impressed with the amount of stuff that breaks on them. I think GM was in survival mode and canned all the quality inspection guys or something.



The H2 is probably a good choice, you can find them for a lot cheaper than they used to be on Kijiji and Craigslist right now.



Mine is for sale if you want <img src='http://www.canadianhummerclub.com/forum ... e_wink.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' />

[dwaxman1]

I Love my H2 and my H1 both... I am also gonna be on the market for a H3 one day to complete the trifactor

[JL]

Thanks for the feedback everyone!



Anyone else with an opinion I'd love to hear it!

[shotgun-cam]

[quote name='dwaxman1' timestamp='1288798269' post='22457']

I Love my H2 and my H1 both... I am also gonna be on the market for a H3 one day to complete the trifactor

[/quote]



Rhino's NOT for sale. Sorry to Run over u. Actually thinking of watching wreckers for '09/'10 H3 alpha with adventure package to grab the drive train and control package for Rhino.

[dwaxman1]

I will only take a H3T...it is unusual and I like it to be a bit different.. also been looking for a pickup for years, this is a way for me to get exactly what I need and want both!



<img src='http://www.canadianhummerclub.com/forum ... ght_on.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':right_on:' /><img src='http://www.canadianhummerclub.com/forum ... oflmao.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':rotflmao:' /><img src='http://www.canadianhummerclub.com/forum ... ght_on.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':right_on:' />

[Khamul]

If going with the H3.... the Alpha is a must in my books.... but I have noticed less people have issues with things breaking when they had teh adventure package than if they didn't...



Food for thought as it's just what I've seen anyways....

[JL]

I do like the H3 Alpha but as I just sit here and look, on the AutoTrader I can see only one Alpha with adventure package (it's an 09 too..) and it's the only one in the country (at least on AutoTrader)! And.. it's in Toronto! And.. there isn't even a price on the site!



At least an H2 with moderate mileage and in good condition is a lot easier to come by and can be bought locally.. something to be said for that?



It's too bad yours isn't still floating around Dave that'd be perfect! And they were asking a good price as well if I recall !!