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Originally Posted by PhilD
Sure you can avoid damage if you are careful, but where's the fun in that?
If you like to push the vehicle to its limits, stuff will break, you pay to play. Even if you just soft-road, stuff will break sometimes. But there is a subtle difference between abusing your vehicle and driving it hard, if you abuse it, you will break stuff regardless of how hard or easy the trail is.
As H2CP says, the IFS is definitely the weakest part of the H2 and is what requires the most maintenance. I'm on my 7th idler arm, 4th Pitman arm, 2nd steering box, and have gone through numerous tie rods, ball joints, sway bar bushings, half shafts, etc. Although a lot of that is due to the lift and the additional stresses it puts on the steering/driveline. That said, you can lift a H2 and never have any issues if you soft-road.
Body damage comes with the territory when wheelin' hard and will happen sooner or later if you push the vehicle. Good spotting will really help keep it to a minimum, but sometimes it just happens and there is nothing you can do about it.
If you are not willing to break stuff then stick to easy/moderate trails and drive sensibly; think twice, drive once, and you'll substantially reduce the reapirs needed.
After every off-road trip I get the impact wrench out and make sure all the bolts are tight and check for damage. It is amzing how many nuts and bolts will come loose after just one wheelin' trip.
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Hey Phil, I wheel plenty of "moderate/hard" trails, prob about 20 to 30 a summer and see plenty of breakage...
I myself, have not broke a damn thing wheeling and I push my vehicle plenty out here, trust me...
Dont assume because someone wheels slow and carefully that they are not pushing the limits of their rig. It has more to do with knowing what needs upgraded in your setup, what is strong, and what the weak points are. From there you know when and where you can "push" it and when you cant....
No dont get me wrong, I have replaced my steering box, radiator, shocks, and other simple parts, but I have never had to "replace" anything due to it failing me or breaking on the trail. I know one day I will, but if your careful and know what your doing you can push your vehicle plenty and not break stuff...
"Sorry, just proud of my little heep".........
Agreed on tightening up after wheeling though. Now that I have a nice garage, I will check all my suspension and front end nuts and bolts after each wheeling trip. Keeping "chit" tight is a very important proventitive step in making sure you dont break something on the trail...
I know I'll break something soon enough, just waiting...............but I've been careful so far and lucky in other situations I suppose. I can think of a few times on a few trails I thougt I'd be towing my ass home and ended up being just fine.....my day will come.......