H3 ALPHA V8 2008 LUX OFFROAD

Dry Lake Mojave Road

Viewing note: I created this to best be viewed in Google Chrome set to 144% view and using a 24 inch wide screen monitor. Adjust your size to best view the images.

This is all about the Hummer H3 made by GM. I used to wheel alot in various rigs but got out of it for several years. When I decided to get back into traveling and camping and shooting pictures I wanted another 4 wheel drive. When I checked out the 2006 H3 right off the showroom floor I was taken by how well equipped it was just stock compared to other vehicles that would require modding just to get offroad and back.
However not one to leave things alone with my background in lots of things automotive I had some ideas of my own to pursue. The early model in 06 had some issues that started coming up across the boards that I wanted to take the time to change for myself. I did the ground work for the BulletProof tie rods for the H3 with their help guiding me thru what they needed to know to adapt their product which they ultimately designed from the information I submitted to fit an H3. I was not sure that problem would be fixed by GM but the 16mm seemed to be an attempt. All of that has been transferred to my 08 H3 Alpha and continued to develop into what I like to call the "Hunner Edition" I will list all of those projects in time to show what can be done or to inspire others to mod on.
So far all the Hunner mods to this 08 H3 Alpha have held up well and it is a pleasure to take it out to see how it performs with a level of confidence I will get back.
I will continue to supply the rear skids I have fabricated as long as possible or until the demand slows to not warrant the minimum buy.

STEERING RACK MOUNTING

The next problem seemed to be a bushing and clamp holding the rack on the passenger side. It would wallow out rather quickly depending on the amount of off roading the H3 was being used for. That for me seemed to be about 10,000 miles. That would allow the leverage created by the tie rods and tires to eventually cause a separation in the rack at the other end.

The fix for making that end remain more in place and reduce leverage on the other end is to use a metal wear bushing cut in half and placed under the clamp.

The next level for more extreme conditions would be to add a center clamp. Using an OEM clamp and drilling thru the cross member for the bolt. Extreme caution should be used to fill the space so there is no misalignment of the rack. I made my own spacer by grinding until it fit properly from a piece of steel channel. I also went a step further and made a piece of flex line for the shorter hydraulic line. If the rack breaks the ridged line will not give and breaks loosing your fluid and possibly burning up your steering pump. I don't think that can happen after adding the other two bracket fixes. I traded for an 08 Alpha and have not installed the center bracket. I think the passenger side sleeve may have been enough for now.

Trail Tools and Spares

I weighed the added equipment
64 lbs Brush guard winch mount, rollers
85 lb winch
124 lb Rocky Rails
34 lb UCP
28 lb Hi Lift with big base for soft ground or sand
3 lb? Shovel (scale did not read)
56 lb Rola roof rack
17 lb Hunner skids

10 lb Computer mount
5 lb Tail Light guards
426 lbs total armor

Recovery Gear Bag

2" strap
3" strap
Jerk strap with fittings
tree saver strap
4 shackles (Trail Duty)
Warn snatch block
Cable gloves
small cable end shackle
Thimbles and cable clamps

Total 34 lbs.

Ready Bag

First Aid Kit
Gloves
3 size flashlights
head gear light
winch control
air hose and chuck (I have a Warn power plant winch/compressor)
tire gauge
Off skeeter repelant
fire ext or 2
2 ratchet straps
fire stick
night scope (to watch for the enemy) (or help)
Total 17 lbs

Stuff Bag

Limb saw
trailer wire adapter
trailer to 12v accessory
20 penlight batteries
4 D cell
4 C cell
FRS radios and charger
spare ralley light covers (law in some states)
spare head light bulbs

Total 14 lbs

Large tools and parts Bag

Crow bar (to pry gas tank shield away from drive shaft and in field body work )
1/2 torque wrench
serpentine belt
2 inner 1 outer tie rod (I don't use them but somebody might)
set 1/2" drive deep sockets
set open/box wrenches up to big really big
1 long extra rack hyd line
1 modded short flex line
2 extra rack brackets and bushing
steering gear rack
12 pipe wrench (for tie rods)
5qts oil,filter, funnel (for water crossing)

Total 53 lbs


GRAND TOTAL 539


I took off on the last trip
100 lbs extra winch
80 lbs second spare and rim
150 lbs passenger

My black Tool Pak is full of standard and not standard H3 specific tools and multi-purpose compact tools that has developed over many years of "what works" and covers most repairs. The bigger tools for tie rod repair and steering and suspension adjustment I only carry on out of town trips.
I will post the contents of the Tool Pak someday in all my spare time It holds an amazing assortment in a soft bag easy for storing.

CUSTOM TIE RODS

One major project I took on was to have custom tie rods made. The stock ones in 2006 were only 14mm and with the learning curve of people driving an H3 there were enough broken to be of concern. The IFS of the H3 could not withstand the "Good Ole Boy" style of hit the gas, spin the tires and power thru or over things. The sudden stop broke the tie rods. Turning up the torsion bar adjusters to level it only made the problem worse by increasing the angle of the tie rods so they pushed up more on the steering rack and put more force on them. Larger tires also applied more force on them.

Solution

My Garage

The way it came was all the stuff on the window sticker for an Alpha lux"offroad" as they call it now,chrome pkg,leather(only way I could get the V-8 and CI front Diff) (I wanted a Championship but they got delayed no axles),plus sun roof,backup cam,rally lights,SSbrush guard! chrome step rails ugh,tow package. Garage opener on the sunvisor wow ha ha, tan leather.
WHAT I DID TO MAKE IT A HUNNER EDITION
Took off the SS brush guard, removed rails swapped chrome wheels for aluminum
swapped chrome mirrors and handles for black,texture painted silver bumper and grill black tex,
moved all 421lbs of armour and winch off my 06 to the 08
Replace winch with a WarnPowerPlant9500, Warn 9000ti off 06 to a rear Hunner mount,removable)(not included in 421 lbs),Steelcraft brush/winch mount,RockyRoadrails/Hunner mod,GMUCP,Hunner shock/spring skids and front spring mount skid,GMcrossbars/Rola roof rack, rack backup lights
2remoteGoLights,Silver Star bulbs,Hunner steering gear mount,Purple Cranium diff guard,Hunner bump stops,taillight guards,marker guards,E&Gflares(removed flaps,too much mud loaded up)Rack over spare,Hummer logo rubber mats,Scan gauge,magnetic hood non-glare black panels,Rammount for camera and computer with GPS DeLorme nav program and wireless internet.CB,sat phone,
Two sets of aluminum wheels,MTZ and Bridgestones,two full sets of chains
BulletProof tie rods I did research on for design,front adjustable sway bar links,Front Bilsteins,replaced my design bump stops with 1/2 Trail duty,ARB Safari Snorkle,Sy-Klone prefilter,Brandmotion seatback packs,Daystar dash tray,Hutchinson Dual Beadlocks,Cooper STT 35's,Flashpaq tuner,
Need to add more pictures of mods and find receipts on expenses, or maybe I don't want to know???? the never ending story............................


Got Hunner EXtreme skids??

Hunner EXtreme Skids

One of my first mods after seeing the damage that can be done to the undercarriage was to make some better skids for the spring hangers. GM chose to place the springs under the axle leaving a lot of things hanging down. Early skids were sold thru dealers that supposedly came from AM General (Hummer) they of course had the Hummer/Dealer tax added on. (inflated price) They were thin, not gusseted or slot located assembly, too narrow to protect the lower shock mounting bolt and were only for the rear hanger assembly.

I found a local place with a laser CNC machine that could precision cut these in large quantities and weld them up. We designed them wider, stronger and made a front pair. Both pieces to work as a skid forward and back  would have to be shaped to conform to the existing assembly so were limited in design to conform to that. I continue to tweak the design as testing and different shocks become available.

Contact me at 1secondwind@comcast.net for more details and to purchase a set before you damage your mounting points and spring hangers.

With skids

Road Trip Testing Adventure

Death Valley

In 2008 after extensive mods I thought the 2006 H3 was ready for the real test, ROAD TRIP! I went 4373 miles and 9 states! Awesome scenery just driving. I was sort of overloaded besides my normal complement of bolted on extras and recovery gear. I thought being on my own in some places I should be independent for ten days. Coming back I had 5 extra wheels I traded for and other "stuff". I wheeled the Mojave Road, Death Valley, Zion, Bryce, Kodachrome and Arches Parks. I stayed in Moab and checked out the local eateries. I did lots of side trips and many moderate offroad trails. I wanted to do some more remote trails but was the lone vehicle and (heavy) decided to wait for another trip with someone. I have to say the mighty I-5 (with mods) is a great little power plant. Gross return trip 6820lb! I'm already working on getting back closer to 5850. If I had needed any of the "xtras" it would have been worth it instead of being stranded. I did not see much "traffic" in the places I went. Mtz tires did well. My Hunner Steering mods and BulletProof tie rods all worked.
Cell phone coverage was non-existent a great deal of the time and the ONSTAR phone worked in a lot of places when the handheld cell phone did not. I will consider renting a SAT phone next time.