Protection vs Performance

[CampMaster]

If you get the underbody protection for the H3 you gain some protection for the underbody but lose an inch of clearance...



Is it really worth it at that point? The protection you seek makes it hard to get back to where you could use the protection...

If you want to wheel better in the back country, why would you limit yourself?

[HummerNewbie]

I can tell you from personal experience that you will be glad you have it down there. It gave me the confidence to just go for it in Tellico. Yes there were a couple of times where the second day that I got hung up a little or scraped but HI didn't due to the UCP. But ask her what her stress level was the first day when we got to the first real obstacle. Knowing the UCP was down there, I just went for it and didn't really worry. Knowing what I do now, I wish I would have at least checked into getting the 35"s instead. If I had, I would not have lost any clearance at all with the UCP.

[Ipedog]

If you want to wheel better in the back country, why would you limit yourself?

Because its better to loose an inch of clearance (that can be regained with bigger tires) than to loose a transfer case and be stuck in the back country?

Just a thought...

[Hal]

I have the UCP as well, but I knew when I installed it that 35"s were eventually going on the truck and a lift kit too. If one of those items are not in your future then the UCP may not be necessary for the type of wheeling you plan to do.

Another thought to bear in mind if anyone is planning to get UCP, it may not be compatible with a suspension lift (or may need modification). Anyone know about this?

I'm hoping it will work with the RC lifts that are coming out soon.

[Edd]

I am twitching to lift my H3, so I have been watching the RC lift development. I was told one of the reasons the lift is taking so long to come out is because it had to be re-engineered because the UCP designed changed from the original UCP offered by HUMMER. So, the RC lifts should be compatible. Now if only they would HURRY UP!!!!

[DarthKarl]

Originally posted by Ipedog:
Because its better to loose an inch of clearance (that can be regained with bigger tires) than to loose a transfer case and be stuck in the back country?

x2!

If you are wheeling somewhere where getting hung up on some rocks is an issue, I'll take losing an inch (or less) in clearance over the bill for a new t-case any day of the week.

The UCP is cheap insurance. If you hit a rock just right without the UCP, you'll be getting a tow and a big repair bill.

[HummerNewbie]

Originally posted by DarthKarl:
The UCP is cheap insurance. If you hit a rock just right without the UCP, you'll be getting a tow and a big repair bill.

From what we heard it would be at least $1K if you had to have a tow truck come get you in Tellico. I am a lot happier spending less on the rocker rails and UCP than one tow would have cost me let alone the repair bill.

[Sewie]

Originally posted by DarthKarl:
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Ipedog:
Because its better to loose an inch of clearance (that can be regained with bigger tires) than to loose a transfer case and be stuck in the back country?

x2!

If you are wheeling somewhere where getting hung up on some rocks is an issue, I'll take losing an inch (or less) in clearance over the bill for a new t-case any day of the week.

The UCP is cheap insurance. If you hit a rock just right without the UCP, you'll be getting a tow and a big repair bill. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

x3 Just slap some 35's on there and you'll get that clearance back.

[f5fstop]

I have never like the idea of losing an inch , but it is better than destroying a tranny pan or a case.

[PARAGON]

Originally posted by Edd:
I am twitching

They make drugs for that.

If you are going to wheel where there are rocks, you need UCP. It's pretty simple. The extra clearance really doesn't matter if you break to the lack of.

Worst case is that you high center due to the supposed extra inch. That's a much better and easier scenario to solve than a busted pan or a rock banging around up in your driveline.

[ketcat]

This a picture of the RP and UCP after Sunflower Mine Loop trail. I know the pictures are not that good but the stuff hanging from the UCP is metal not paint. Can you imagine how the aluminum transfer case would have faired.

If your going off road get the RP and UCP.

[ketcat]

UCP: If I ever get the H3 in the air I will take some better pic's. This one really does not show how much the UCP has been used but it's all I have.

[NEOCON1]

just thro on a set of 35's to get that inch back thats what i did . heres mine i will be putting the UC protection to use this weekend for the first time

[ketcat]

Originally posted by NEOCON1:
just thro on a set of 35's to get that inch back thats what i did . heres mine i will be putting the UC protection to use this weekend for the first time

Have fun putting the UCP to use. I put the MT/R 315's on last week and they really help off road. I would never go back to the 285's.

[NEOCON1]

great news ket i have a happening this weekend so will be testing it out did they rub at all , did you bend something ?

[DTHVLY]

Originally posted by CampMaster:
If you get the underbody protection for the H3 you gain some protection for the underbody but lose an inch of clearance...



Is it really worth it at that point? The protection you seek makes it hard to get back to where you could use the protection...

If you want to wheel better in the back country, why would you limit yourself?

Get the rock rails but don't waste the money on the UCP. Not only do you lose at least an inch of clerance but those are useless unless your going over really smooth rocks, otherwise there just going to get hungup on everything. Get a piece of 1/4" steel and have it cut to fit, it will give you total protection between the frame rails and you won't lose any clerance.

Looks something like this

[MarK M]

DTH, the pic you show... is that for the H3? Did you make that yourself? How can I obtain one of those protections?

thats a good point you bring up about it getting caught up on things. I already read about the current UCP collecting a lot of mud!

[ketcat]

Originally posted by NEOCON1:
great news ket i have a happening this weekend so will be testing it out did they rub at all , did you bend something ?

The tires touch the sway bar at full lock, not bad but they do touch. Don't know about the alignment yet but I really don’t know how I could have bent something. I was not on that difficult of a trail……we’ll see.

[DTHVLY]

Those plates were made for a 4runner, but you could take some measurements of the H3 and have some made at a metal fab shop. The belly pan should be easy the front skid would be a little tougher because of the bends.

Here's what it looks like mounted

[Sewie]

Originally posted by MarK M:
DTH, the pic you show... is that for the H3? Did you make that yourself? How can I obtain one of those protections?

thats a good point you bring up about it getting caught up on things. I already read about the current UCP collecting a lot of mud!

Exactly. While a plate like that looks good, I'd be worrying about collecting mud and trying to clean it. I had about 4-6 inches of mud on top of my UCP after the last trip.

I'm more interested in something like this.

http://elcova.com/groupee/forums/a/t...1/m/6601039561