Air ride or standard??

[John D]

How do the air ride and the standard suspension compare on and off roard? I am getting ready to buy and would go for the air if it gives just as good highway ride. Your comments are welcome and needed.
John D

[John D]

How do the air ride and the standard suspension compare on and off roard? I am getting ready to buy and would go for the air if it gives just as good highway ride. Your comments are welcome and needed.
John D

[Big Z]

I have the standard suspension and like it just fine. There have been a fair amount of failures in the air system. I personally don't think it's worth having, except maybe to air up the tires. http://www.elcova.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif

[H2 Doctor]

MUST have air compressor to go off-road, to re-inflate the tires on your back.

Also, important for re-sale.

[RasterMaster]

Purchased H2 in January and ZERO problems at almost 11K miles. Air suspension was a factor for me, as I wanted it with the truck.

Check out the OkC Chapter Page!

[argonaut]

The air is the **** man. I love it. I have had no problems with it, and it gives a slightly better ride on road (I tested both) and is great for towing, hauling loads, etc. Plus that extra clearance helps a lot offroad.

'03 H2 Sunset Orange No mods
'03 BMW M3 Convertible
'02 BMW M5

[Buckeye Hummer]

I run the standard suspension on the same trails with Steve who has air. Same trail, same obstacles. He is a better driver so takes better lines but there is no difference in performance when it comes down to it. If you are watching dollars, spend the money on a good winch set up. It'll save you alot more than the air!

[Tucson Beast]

AIR

http://www.elcova.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif http://www.elcova.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_cool.gif

"It's what you learn, after you know it all, that counts - John Wooden

[Detonate]

I think the air ride is a scam personally. I couldn't tell the difference when test driving one that had it.

However I do think having an on board compressor is cool. However, it's much cheaper to buy a better one aftermarket and have it installed.

I'd test drive both and see which one you like better.

-Jim March
Arlington TX
2003 Red H2
Beauty is in the eye of the Beer Holder

[Steve R]

Sheesh...this topic again??? Okay....

AIR!!!!!!

Better articulation on the rear-end with the air!!!! Far better ride offroad with the air. Nice to be able to inflate your own tires and not have to bum air from Steve everytime you head out to off-road. http://www.elcova.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif http://www.elcova.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif

And....the additional rear height comes in handy too!!!!!!!!! Cool noises to boot. The auto-leveling works a bit for offroading too. It is not a scam, sham or gimmick.

The only bummer is you potentially can drag-butt if your system goes out....such is the case when you add more electronics and features to anything.

I'll leave it at this: I wouldn't own an H2 without the air, but that's enitrely for offroading purposes!

[Buckeye Hummer]

Our good friend Billy is now working on an air kit that is adjustable up to 5 inches! I may be the first guinea pig for these new 4500 pound bags!

[Steve R]

as pigs go....you're a good guinea! http://www.elcova.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif

It's good to have friends in capable places...ya gotta feel sorta dialed-in huh?

Forum...Billy is the same guy planning on making us some super-heavy-duty tie rods and some sway-bar disconnects too.

Bill-master-E is THE MAN

[austoak]

Go with the air. Much better ride!!

[DURAMAX TIM]

We just got back from a HH last weekend and I ran the rocks that they (not close to the ones out west)had and I had less trouble than the ones w/o air ride.
I also gave the front end 2 turns on the torsion bars when I put the MT tires on.
Some of the other drivers came up and asked me why I wasn't having the trouble they were so I had them compare our ride heights.
The wife's video skills are very lacking, 60 minutes of tape and 15 seconds of our car. http://www.elcova.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_frown.gif

[Swisshummerfreak]

Hi over there,

Well, we here in Switzerland mostly run em with AIR RIDE. It's just a smoother ride and lets you lift your rig better in stucks.

[Circuitguy]

I have the Air Ride in the rear. Its computer did need to be reprogramed because of its ongoing runtime. After the dealer did that all was good! Works great now!! BIG-C

White 03-H2-LUX

<a target="_blank" href="http://www.gstyle4u.com">
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[Hum2]

All good comments. The ride on/off road is nearly identical, it's the extra 2" lift that can come in handy. Wish the front could be raised as well.

Better yet, find a way to get around our low 10" ground clearance....hummmm bigger tires I guess.

Ric

OMAHOG/IHOG
Hum2@cox.net

[DURAMAX TIM]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR> In the beginning we used to get 15 seconds of Hummer, 1 hour of the inside of the camera bag and 1 hour of her chatting with the spotters. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
Our wives must be TWINS http://www.elcova.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif

[Circuitguy]

I would love to lift my H2 but then I would have to park it outside. It already hits the top of the garage opening now! Anyway, I would be less one H2 if I dident use the garage at night! BIG-C

White 03-H2-LUX

<a target="_blank" href="http://www.gstyle4u.com">
http://www.elcova.com/h2/gstyle2.gif</a>

[CJ]

AIR!

[CJ]

Air!, and here is a good reason. Co-pilot overdeflated the right front and we had to bring it back up to 8-lbs. A little reverse, right turn, and slap it into drive and away we went 1st try!

[CJ]

pic

[Detonate]

I don't think the ability to inflate you tires should really matter that much. I bought a cordless air compressor, that also has a light and some other gadgets at Target for $30.

Much cheaper than the $2k or whatever it is for the Air Ride.

-Jim March
Arlington TX
2003 Red H2
Beauty is in the eye of the Beer Holder

[Albie]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Buckeye Hummer:
I run the standard suspension on the same trails with Steve who has air. Same trail, same obstacles. He is a better driver so takes better lines but there is no difference in performance when it comes down to it. If you are watching dollars, spend the money on a good winch set up. It'll save you alot more than the air!<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Hey Buckeye heard you took a wrong line the other day and got stuck.......EHHEHHE

[Buckeye Hummer]

Albie,

'tis true, but I don't mind. I learn something new every day particularly from Billy who travels with us. I also was the second guy up the hill that Steve so conveniently softened up for me. He was nice enough, however, to pull my ass out of the 1' spot I was stuck in and then I got up just fine. Are you coming to the White Mountain?

[Steve R]

Oh Jason...

From Billy you learn....am I just along for the humor and good looks????

And dude...you totaly blew it. You should have come back at Albie with something along the lines of "it's bound to happen once in a while when you take a black-diamond trail.....but then again, you wouldn't know.....would you Albie? Oh, but wait...there was that time you got hung-up on that parking lot speed bump??" http://www.elcova.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif http://www.elcova.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif

[Buckeye Hummer]

Steve, I actually don't think I've seen a black H2 off road yet. I think those were made differently than the rest so they are restricted to the pavement. My only question to you Albie is: Do you work on Sunday too? http://www.elcova.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif

[H2Norcal]

To Air or not to Air:

Look, buying the air system is a no brainer if you bought the H2 to go off-road. Here is why:

1. You get free air inflation in a nicely contained package (no charging a portable or bumming air from my H2 when you need to reinflate),
2. A little nicer ride.
3. A method to raise the rear up to 2+ inches when you need a better departure angle (if you go off-road you will need this at least once)
4. The most important...it keeps the vehicle perfectly level to your liking side-to-side and front-to-rear when you load all your camping gear or tow anything. In other words, no butt sag.

I will tell you that it is not a good feeling when you are running some trails with a group and you need a little extra clearance for an obstacle and when asked to raise your rear height you have to say "I didn't buy the air bags". I have seen this twice already.

You make the choice based on how you plan to use it. But the best part for me is keeping the H2 perfectly level. I actually lowered my rear by adjusting the air bag levers. It took that little rake out of the back. Now it sits perfecto everytime.

Good luck with whatever choice you make.

[Steve R]

Awesome point Brian....

I've MANY times told people to activate their rear height control only to have them look back at me with emtpy-eyes and nervously say "we don't have that feature....are we going to be okay???".....

Can an extra 2" really make a difference???....probably could have saved a lot of marriages over the years...... http://www.elcova.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_eek.gif http://www.elcova.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_eek.gif http://www.elcova.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_eek.gif

[Buckeye Hummer]

Hey Steve, you made a funny http://www.elcova.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif

After looking at the underside of my H2 maybe air would make a difference http://www.elcova.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_rolleyes.gif My skid plate looks like it says H1 now and I had some nice bends on the frame as well (just the parts that stick out from the frame, obviously not the frame itself.

So we'll see. I opted for the sunroof, which was a must for me in lieu of the air but am now talking with Billy about his air deal. I'll let ya' know.