80 vs H3 trail off

[fzjconvert]

I beg to differ! Look real close at the hill in the back round, if you can say that it is not the same hill well . I do realize that it's a different perspective, but it's Miller and Lockwood Valley. That is the hill right after stream near the top. Also, look at the Cali. plates on the H2. What is throwing you is the smog so you can not see Mt. Piñons further back. Regardless I am looking forward to Landtank's report..... The pictures are at the top of the hill in question. My former life before I had kids and saw the light and converted...
Dave

 

[fzjconvert]

actually i don't think it's a comparison between creepersleeper's built 80 vs. the H3, more like landtank taking his experience with his truck, knowing what it is capable of, knowing how it was stock, and now comparing that to a stock rig marketed as a off-road superior machine.

We'll see what the tank says when he gets back.

Yes, I agree... We are getting off track. giving the subject of the thread. I could not resist to post the picture of the H2 and the other. I was waxing nostalgic. My apologies for the high jack:whoops:
Dave

 

[Lka1988]

I beg to differ! Look real close at the hill in the back round, if you can say that it is not the same hill well . I do realize that it's a different perspective, but it's Miller and Lockwood Valley. That is the hill right after stream near the top. Also, look at the Cali. plates on the H2. What is throwing you is the smog so you can not see Mt. Piñons further back. Regardless I am looking forward to Landtank's report..... The pictures are at the top of the hill in question. My former life before I had kids and saw the light and converted...
Dave

Huh?

That's a Sami, not an h2.


Even a Sami is superior to hum-junk.

 

[fzjconvert]

Huh?

That's a Sami, not an h2.


Even a Sami is superior to hum-junk.

Look higher on the page.... And yes sami's are still the best bang for the buck....

 

[ShottsUZJ100]

I don't think the H2 tipping picture is Miller Jeep Trail.

DougM

H2 off camber?

Charouleau Gap
Tucson, AZ

 

[ShottsUZJ100]

Aaahhh, China Wall. I've spent much time on that trail and since the subject includes Hummers, I figured I'd include a pic or two. I've had my H1, FJ40 and FZJ80 all on the trail and they were all fun. I've also gone over all the obstacles with all of them.

The 40 is not locked and had the most trouble with the last obstacle but made it.

The Hummer was also not locked but the traction control system was awesome and it drove like it was once the computer figured out what was going on and rerouted torque. It really is a thing to behold.

The 80 made it (it was wet so the entrance was a mud hole) in stock form with not much trouble other than the crap tires not hooking up (it was before the 37"s went on). Unfortunately no pics of that...

I can't believe that after all the times I went up there with the Hummer I didn't have a picture going up the last obstacle so I included one in the area of the other "Hummer" picture. That obstacle used to be a lot harder until someone moved the rocks around.

Anyways, , looking forward to the rest of the story LT.

Kyon

Here in AZ? The H1 impressed us less than anything. To poor breakover. Hung on everything. They look cool. They can't run our trail types. Note: Our trail types.

 

[landtank]

well I"m back.

First off, I'm comfortable that I wheeled it as hard as any owner in his right mind would wheel his own rig. I high centered it several times on large loose rocks. Left a trail of gouges stem to stern on the under carriage and we needed to strap up and bend some stuff back into place in a parking lot after getting off the mountain. The truck was heavily caked with mud from top to bottom and I need to source some of those plastic rivets tomorrow to affix a flap back into place.

Overall impression: It really did better than I thought it would. I still can't tell you what it has for traction devices but it was only when I was in heavy mud and large (2' dia.) rocks that I had issues moving forward. This was mostly do to slipping on them as the mud was like grease. Turning radius was never an issue but visibility was pathetic. The window sill is so high up that trying to back up was more of a guestimate than actually knowing where you were going.

The IFS, pure junk! I thought I was wheeling a surfboard. With my truck I can put a tire up on a rock or embankment and get some lift to help carry the body over a rock. Not with this thing, raise a tire and all you do is tilt the body and drag it's belly over whatever it is your trying to get past.

The rear axle, the leaf springs were really getting in the way. The frame gussets are large and hang down off the frame quite a bit and then of course they attach to the bottom of the axle. At one point I had a large rock right under that mount which had lifted that tire off the ground. Only option was a lot of skinny and drag the truck along the rock the length of the spring and off the gusset. So typically when choosing a line you need to be concerned about where the diff is. With this setup the leaf springs and their mounts basically fill in the space to each side of the diff taking up valuable clearance If you need to position yourself for a pointy rock, it's going to catch on something it's just a matter on what.

All in all it was a great day. On the way home I stopped into a self service car wash and got 90% of the mud off and there isn't anything visible that will cause me problems when I return it. Big thanks to CreeperSleeper and to Bearcat80 and Aaron for spending some quality drinking time with me while I was out here.

 

[FirstToy]

nud... is that like a gub?
looking at the lower shock mounts, i'm not surprised at your review. how was the visibility and narrow-ness of the side glass. that is one thing that kind of bothered me when sitting in it- even the FJC didn't seem so 'chopped' in this area.


fzjconvert,
i remember that optional on the climb! I did a number on my driveshaft there. it really is a lot steeper than it looks and gets a bit off-camber too!

 

[landtank]

how was the visibility and narrow-ness of the side glass. t

forgot about this. Being tall I had the seat all the way back and the B pillar was right in my line of sight every time I looked left. I can sit in the 80 and have a nice clear view of my surroundings and that just wasn't going to happen in this truck.

 

[IdahoDoug]

As to Miller Jeep Trail, I was speaking of the crossed up Hummer still on its wheels not being on MJT. How the heck did the Hummer flip on that spot, BTW?

Rick,

Nice review of the vehicle. The IFS can really be a surprising disadvantage, eh? I had a Montero - 2 actually - and they were durable and trailworthy but the IFS was always a limiter. The factory rear locker made up for it on the newer one but still. Interesting point about the leaf springs 'filling the gap'. I have never heard it put that way but it makes the point clearly.

DougM

 

[Nay]

As to Miller Jeep Trail, I was speaking of the crossed up Hummer still on its wheels not being on MJT. How the heck did the Hummer flip on that spot, BTW?

Rick,

Nice review of the vehicle. The IFS can really be a surprising disadvantage, eh? I had a Montero - 2 actually - and they were durable and trailworthy but the IFS was always a limiter. The factory rear locker made up for it on the newer one but still. Interesting point about the leaf springs 'filling the gap'. I have never heard it put that way but it makes the point clearly.

DougM

I'd imagine the leafs themselves are less the issue than those horrid low hanging shock mounts, given most leaf sprung vehicles are spring-under from the factory and leafs will generally slide.

Good idea, good writeup, confirms what all of us know: IFS sucks for wheeling and is great for the road. A good truck can make up for a lot of it in other design areas, but at the end of the day, IFS is simply a least common denominator that takes the rest of the platform with it. If the H3 was SFA, you could do a lot with that platform starting with a rear spring over, but you just have no simple options for dealing with the front.

for even contemplating doing this 3,000 miles from home, much less pulling it off

 

[Nay]

Look higher on the page.... And yes sami's are still the best bang for the buck....

Nope. 80's are the best bang for the buck. At least when you have four kids and take them crawling with you

 

[FirstToy]

If the H3 was SFA, you could do a lot with that platform starting with a rear spring over, but you just have no simple options for dealing with the front.

...or you could just start w/ a Jeep Rubicon unlimited and have the SFA, lockers, coilsprings & trac control... then start the mods.
H3 isn't making too much sense in comparison... well, I guess it has the V8 option...just in time for $4/gal prices

 

[Darwalk]

Man, you guys need to shut up about the IFS being cruddy on the trail......you are going to anger the Shotts!!!!

 

[Nay]

Man, you guys need to shut up about the IFS being cruddy on the trail......you are going to anger the Shotts!!!!

It's not the end of the world, 100's do pretty damn well and so do 3rd Gen Runners. You take an H3, get the Adventure package, lift it 2" and run 35's, and it's gonna be a decent rig, especially if you simply relocate those rear shock mounts.

But the comment on the Rubi is dead on - that platform simply has no factory equal as the basis for a modification project. When Jeep adds that 3.0L diesel putting out 380 lb/ft it will be damn close to flawless as a set of design parameters.

Like Jeep or not, Jeep is the only manufacturer producing a vehicle specifically for its enthusiasts. There is simply nobody else in the game.

 

[FJBen]

Like Jeep or not, Jeep is the only manufacturer producing a vehicle specifically for its enthusiasts. There is simply nobody else in the game.

In the US




and please doen't anger "the shotts"

 

[Lka1988]

Nope. 80's are the best bang for the buck. At least when you have four kids and take them crawling with you

I disagree. I'm only 20, so no kiddos....

But I already have an 80.

BTW, excellent review, LT. I've been following this thread since you started it, until he-who-beats-dead-horses puked all over it.

 

[Volunteer]

I new what the results would be and still had to read. My opinion of the H2, H3 is they are a total joke and a bash to the Hummer brand. The suburban-H2 and Colorado-H3 need to stick to the rap videos and leave the real hummers to do the work. Any pics from the adventure

 

[Firedog]

I new what the results would be and still had to read. My opinion of the H2, H3 is they are a total joke and a bash to the Hummer brand. The suburban-H2 and Colorado-H3 need to stick to the rap videos and leave the real hummers to do the work. Any pics from the adventure

Real Hummers?...... Last time I went wheeling with H1's we went out on a short run with 6 and made it back with only 2! (2 Half shafts, engine, and a broken lower control arm!) They go through lockers like they were Tic Tacs!..... If someone were to GIVE me a H1 it would have a "For Sale" sign on it before I even sat in it.

Ok, enough Hummer bashing.... When you are used to the reliability of Toyotas, the Hummer is just a joke.

Thanks for the review LT

 

[fzjconvert]

Nope. 80's are the best bang for the buck. At least when you have four kids and take them crawling with you

Like I said that was my former life. Hence, that is why I am a convert and glad to be in the fold. But for a one guy camping trip I would do another Samurai or maybe a sidekick. Mine had arb lockers f/r, 6.5 tranfercase gears, sidekick motor 1600 16V and of course A/C.. and you can do all that for less than it costs to buy a stock FZJ. But now I have two kids of my own and would not trade my LX for anything. The other thing is that the LX is every bit as capable bone stock. As my built sami. So for a family rig there is no other than a FJ or FZJ. I want to lift mine. However, I am really thinking Three-link because of the years I spent in my sami. So for now I am content with tires and soon to be sliders and I will go were must can.

Landtank thanks for the great write up. I hope you guys got some pictures to share. Also glad no one got hurt and it was just fun to be had. I wish I could be there when you return the H3 it will be like " sir was everything OK? " LT- " yes just fine, thank you" then you walk out the door.

dave