2003 H2 with 12" lift and 42s
 

73 days later = DONE. Sort of. *sigh* It's leaking oil and tranny fluid (minor drip every now and then) right now in the driveway. And the rear hatch won't open with the spare on (tire won't swing our far enough), so I'm just going to take the whole damn assembly off and be done with it. The brakes are a little soft for my liking as well, I upgraded everything but the calipers and I'll likely replace those too. But it's driveable, and it's loud, and I can't stop looking at it. :) BTW, that's my 7 yr old in the first pic for size reference. :)





New drop down side steps:





42" Pitbull Rockers on 20" Ultra Predator rims, Fox reservoir shocks:

Re: 2003 H2 with 12" lift and 42s
 

I can't get over how big it is!!

Re: 2003 H2 with 12" lift and 42s
 

Looks great. I thought it was funny when you said you couldnt open the rear hatch. Just yesterday I was telling a guy I was going to put 42's on mine but settled for 40's and I'm glad I did because my hatch just clears by about a half inch or so. I'm thinking of going to those shocks on mine also. Again looks outstanding. :jump:

Re: 2003 H2 with 12" lift and 42s
 

I didn't even think about the tire clearance, I was more concerned about the hinge on the carrier holding that weight! Not a biggie tho, I'll take it over to Discount Tire in the morning, they'll take it off for me. For the first time in 9 years I'll be able to see out my back window!

The drips seem to have stopped now as well, maybe it was just residue (I'm hoping!) - I ran it for a while this morning and there's no new spots in the driveway. It's been fun sitting at traffic lights and counting stares, I think I found a new hobby. :)

Re: 2003 H2 with 12" lift and 42s
 

:perfect10s:

Re: 2003 H2 with 12" lift and 42s
 

L@@ks awesome!! Hope you have no problems with it, I want to run 40's or 42's on my yellow '03 Duece, but not too sure if i want to go up more than 6". Have you done any engine mods to help with the bigger rubber? I see you painted some of the trim on the inside yellow?? I had that done to mine, and people are always complimenting it. Especially kiddos...
:perfect10s:

Re: 2003 H2 with 12" lift and 42s
 

No engine mods, so far, so good (except for the definite tranny leak, taking it back to the shop in the AM). Go for the 6". I ran mine for 7 years with a 6" and loved it. It's addicting tho....you'll want to go bigger after that. :)

Re: 2003 H2 with 12" lift and 42s
 

wow that 2 is crazy awesome-nice work! You need to griots that rear bumper!!

Re: 2003 H2 with 12" lift and 42s
 

Why not just have your carrier modded to lift the rubber higher than your bumper...assuming that's where it's hitting.

$75 at a local welding shop...

Re: 2003 H2 with 12" lift and 42s
 

What a beast! Love it!

Re: 2003 H2 with 12" lift and 42s
 

I have bee dreaming of putting the 12" lift on mine and untill now I've not seen an H2 done the way I want to do mine.. Yours is bad a$$ and exactly what i want!!

Re: 2003 H2 with 12" lift and 42s
 

guruerror - that's an option. I'll keep it in mind.

Bad seal on the tranny, all fixed up now. Yay!

Re: 2003 H2 with 12" lift and 42s
 

Girl you need to give that rear bumper cover some attention.

I use this stuff:
http://www.meguiars.com/en/automotiv...ltimate-black/

Works great! :beerchug:

So whats the total overall height?

Re: 2003 H2 with 12" lift and 42s
 

Griots is the best for bumper restoration. Hands down. ;)

Re: 2003 H2 with 12" lift and 42s
 

:iagree: But you gotta use their cleaner/stripper stuff first.

Re: 2003 H2 with 12" lift and 42s
 

I have the Meguiars, it's worked great in the past. The truck has been in the shop for the past 3 months, I'm planning on giving it some TLC this weekend.

Total overall height is now 8' exactly. All parking decks and most drive thrus are off limits, as well as a few overpasses around town.

Re: 2003 H2 with 12" lift and 42s
 

I didn't use the cleaner/stripper first, just a good wash, and my Griot's lasted for close to two years.

Re: 2003 H2 with 12" lift and 42s
 

X2
Nothing comes close to Griots! I'm getting close to 3 years with 1 coat of Griots and just now could barely could use another coat.
Griots > All

Re: 2003 H2 with 12" lift and 42s
 

Just ordered some Griots, will be here by Friday. I never really noticed the bumper until you guys pointed it out, ouch, it IS in bad shape. :(

Re: 2003 H2 with 12" lift and 42s
 

I put mine on in 2009. And re-applied only to the rear bumper last year. It wasn't all that bad just starting to dull out.

The rest of the areas, front bumper and hood scoop, has held up great.

I think I was going at the rear bumper too much with the pressure washer. Between that and the soaps the car washes use it just wore off a bit.

FYI I used denatured alcohol to to prep.

Learned about the stuff here. I was in looking at some duplicolor the other day and noticed they have a spray on rubber/bumper restorer. Seemed like more of a paint than a dye. I figured if it was worth a sh&t I'd have read about here or the detail forums I visit once in a while.

But ya.... you're bumper is faded... ;)

Re: 2003 H2 with 12" lift and 42s
 

IIRC i used either the Groits or the mothers back to black, and did all my plastic, and hood vent as well. still looks great.. a little faded but it has been some time now with a 1 year deployment in there too..

maybe its time to touch up

Re: 2003 H2 with 12" lift and 42s
 

God Austin, you sound like my GF...



Seriously this beast looks awesome!

Re: 2003 H2 with 12" lift and 42s
 

Awesome, do love the lift. I guess only in TX though, that thing wouldn't pass inspection here. Nice job!

Re: 2003 H2 with 12" lift and 42s
 

hahaha..just retract that line. Not sure why I said that ;)

Re: 2003 H2 with 12" lift and 42s
 

Just for grins, how much did your mileage drop?

Re: 2003 H2 with 12" lift and 42s
 

It's actually gone UP by 1 mpg so far! I was at a steady 9.0 for the past 7 years. It's now up to 10.1. Whoo hoo!

Re: 2003 H2 with 12" lift and 42s
 

That can't be right. Is your mph and odometer off?

Re: 2003 H2 with 12" lift and 42s
 

Nope, odometer is spot on. I did go with a bigger gear ratio tho, I was running stock before.

Re: 2003 H2 with 12" lift and 42s
 

Did you just reset your mpg calculator then? There is no way your mpg should get better after adding a lift and giant tires.

Re: 2003 H2 with 12" lift and 42s
 

She had 38 or 40s on the previous 6" fabtech running stock gears. Thats so far off some the stock ratio, its horrible gas mileage. Even going up another size, I can see getting an improvement w regearing- gets you back in that "power band".

I went from 12 to 8.5 w/ my wheels/tires, im almost finished installing 5.13 gears in my ride. I'm thinking I should be back around 9.5-10mpg.

Re: 2003 H2 with 12" lift and 42s
 

That makes sense.

Re: 2003 H2 with 12" lift and 42s
 

I think we need some more pictures! :beerchug:

Re: 2003 H2 with 12" lift and 42s
 

Griots does work great! No need to use the prep stuff at all, just a good wash first. It applies much better when you pick up one of those thin foam paint brushes at home depot - it helps to get in the tight corners etc.

Re: 2003 H2 with 12" lift and 42s
 

Mileage is up to 10.8!

Ok, so I've had this thing for a while now and it's still bad ass. :) You get used to driving it and forget about what you're in most of the time. I got knocked back to reality the other day coming out of the store - sorry for the crappy picture, but you get the idea. That's a FULL SIZED Chevy pickup it's sitting next to. The bottom of my window is at their roof level. LOVE!

Re: 2003 H2 with 12" lift and 42s
 

That's awesome...LOL!