[timgco]

Originally Posted by nierace

I have been searching the H3 forums for a while and never really find much info or trail reports on those who wheel their H3's and I am wondering how capable they are?

I would say equal to your modded Jeep. I had one as well with a 4" and 33's. The H3 with 35's and a tbar crank gives you some respectable AP and DP angles. Get the adventure package , uc protection, and rock sliders. It sounds like you'll need them. Also, if the funds allow, get the ALpha so you can have the V8. I had two H3's with the I5. This V8 is a big difference..esp. with 35's.

I'd like to know what trails a H3 with a level kit sitting on 35's or 37's would do on a rated trail such as what moab uses of 1-10 or many adventure parks use green - blue - black and reds. I know there alot of variables but with a competent driver and with minor damage on such trails, approximately what category would you put the H3 into as being well challenged but not in over its head.

Depends on your abiliities as a driver. The hardest I have seen an H3 run was Golden Spike. It will also depend ont eh terrain. A 5+ trail in Moab can be doable on teh slickrock, but maybe not on loose trails combined with driver abilities.

I'd also liked to know how effected the road manners are with the leveling kit and how much the 35's/37's bog down the H3. Also if many have had trouble with axle shaft breakage or draglink's/steering being over strained by the extra meat.

Forget about a leveling kit. Just crank the T bars to 24" and you're at teh same height as the leveling kit...and it stiffens the ride up a little. It's a welcomed mod. It still handles close to stock with the exception of a little more body role. When you put the leveling kit on or crank the Tbars, your take the front bumpstops off the A arm. on teh other hand, you get a little more up travel. Again, go for the Alpha if you plan to run 35's or 37's. ..although 37's on the H3 I think will spell disaster if you are going to wheel the pi$$ out of this truck. The 4" racnho kit with 35's have enough room to flex up. 37's rub some, but IMO, the front diff, steering rack will not hold up well over time.


On that note also is there anyone running 37's with just the leveling kit and possibly extended bump stops and some trimming ?

37's will not fit with a levling kit. You need 4.5" at least to make this work if you plan to wheel. Again, I would stay with 35's.

I noticed while searching that the front travel looked to be only 4" on the shocks, is that true ? It just seems to be very little and I would expect more articulation out of it.

IFS is not like a solid axle. So you will not get the travel like a Jeep. This truck is a different animal.

I am asking all this because the incentives from GM have caught my attention and I can get a H3 for a very reasonable price and am very tempted. I currently have a lifted jeep grand cherokee that is great offroad however its on road manners are not so hot and make me weary. I'd like to have something my girl friend can use in the winter in case of a emergency or what ever and not worry about something happening, but at the same time I can still run fun trails. My jeep now is at a point where I would have to spend around 5k on new axles to go to the next stage and run 35/37's, so I'd rather get what I can for it and invest in something that can pull double duty instead of having the heep and another daily driver.
NICE JEEP!!!!

Btw- you should be able to get down to $100 over invoice since sales are down so bad now. You should be at around 10K off sticker with the current incentives and sticker to invoice discount.

Thanks for any feedback

My current rig for kicks :

..