Woops, I'm the friend that started this whole deal. Picked up my wife's H3 last Monday. Fuentex and I will be going wheel'n with in the next couple of months to test the H3 out. I think that both parties have valid points...the Hummer v. Jeep debate will be like the Ford v. Chevy debate....mostly brand loyalty and neither party will total accept the other...just a fact. What should be said and somewhat has been said, is that each vehicle is capable in its own way and in the way that it was designed. The hinderance of most Hummers on our trails here in the east is the large size of the vehicle when compared to the narrower width of a jeep. However as a jeep owner and a Hummer owner now I will just have to see what happens. I WILL wheel the H3 to see how it does and give an honest opinion. It will be difficult to even begin to compare its performance with my jeep since the Scrambler is far from stock.
As for IFS...my bro's XJ has front coils and runs 38 boggers. I have seen him actually over come some obstacles b/c his stiff arse suspension was able to lift one of the front tires over a hole....I couldn't take the same obstacle because the "Rat" is just too damn flexy. However, I've taken other obstacles that the flex allowed me to walk easily up and he flopped on the side.
Two different types of vehicles, both designed for offroad usage, but different driving styles are needed for each and must be adjusted to the vehicle and terrain. I would not drive a stock Unlimited the same way I drive my CJ8, and will not drive the Hummer the same as the 8. The combination of skill, rig capability, rig engineering, and etc. will ultimatly determine what the vehicle can do. Neither rig Hummer or Rubicon of any flavor are designed to be "point-and-shoot" trail rigs.
