H4O first ever run Gold Mountain in Big Bear Sept 17TH

[Zach]

Here is the link to the trail report

http://www.hummer4x4offroad.com/forum/showthread.php?399-Gold-mountain-Big-bear-Ca-Sept-17-2011

 

[Sierra H3]

Sierra H3 has been on a couple of runs. As far as I know he didn't suffer any damage.

06 H3: 3Hummers is absolutely right. My H3 slipped by pretty much unscathed. I only noticed a real good workout was had by the skid plates due to the lower ground clearance of aired down 33s. At the end of the rock garden, it felt more like driving a sled than a truck. My son and I had a lot of fun with the group and there were actually a couple of familiar faces from runs last year. I did gain some good experience on this trip thanks to the guidance and advice of the seasoned members on the trail. This trip had everything - more challenging terrain, a strong representation of all classes of Hummers, on the fly field repairs, ideal mountain weather, the beginnings of a search and rescue operation, a rock throwing contest, and a certified nut case waiting for us at the meeting spot. So what's going to beat this on the next trip?

 

[06 H3]

glad you made it out with no damage. The next run should be posted soon from Mr. President or VP. I cant wait for this one!!! My all time favorite trail :woot:

 

[cbetts]

Mark your calendars for October 22nd. We will be taking Last Chance Canyon. I will making an official post later when I have time.

 

[Portager]

06 H3: 3Hummers is absolutely right. My H3 slipped by pretty much unscathed. I only noticed a real good workout was had by the skid plates due to the lower ground clearance of aired down 33s. At the end of the rock garden, it felt more like driving a sled than a truck. My son and I had a lot of fun with the group and there were actually a couple of familiar faces from runs last year. I did gain some good experience on this trip thanks to the guidance and advice of the seasoned members on the trail. This trip had everything - more challenging terrain, a strong representation of all classes of Hummers, on the fly field repairs, ideal mountain weather, the beginnings of a search and rescue operation, a rock throwing contest, and a certified nut case waiting for us at the meeting spot. So what's going to beat this on the next trip?

I did Gold Mountain on aired down 33" tires back in March and I shared your sledding experience. This time I didn't air down and despite the worse trail conditions I drug the undercarriage less than before. I had to use my lockers a little more, but that's what there for right? The only disadvantage I saw in not airing down was the ride was a little rougher. Next trip I'm thinking of airing down to 25 psi to see if I can find a happy medium. With your tires I'm not sure you could get away without airing down, but it might be worth a try.

 

[Ron B]

I measured my truck once at 40 psi then deflated to 20 psi (on 39.5" iroks)...lost 3/4" in height which was much less than I thought.

 

[Kurt]

I was running 20, but I inflated up to 25/27 starting at the rock pile. I figured it wouldn't be a good idea to be tugging on other hummers with a tow strap with my tires at 20.

That was on 37" MTR's.

 

[3Hummers]

I was at 25 PSI the whole day.

 

[Portager]

I measured my truck once at 40 psi then deflated to 20 psi (on 39.5" iroks)...lost 3/4" in height which was much less than I thought.

The difference in rolling radius between my 33" BFG KM2 and 35" KM2 is 0.7". I haven’t measured it yet, but I think I lose about that much ground clearance when I air down, so if I don't air down I should have about the same ground clearance as if I aired down with 35". All I know is I had less trouble on Gold Mountain when I didn't air down than when I did.

 

[Ron B]

I was at 25 PSI the whole day.

I was at 15/18ish -- didn't have issues until the loose rock with one rear wheel. Thank god for front lockers or I'd still be there spinning.

 

[LagunaH1]

I ran at around 25 all day

 

[cbetts]

I was at 15/18ish -- didn't have issues until the loose rock with one rear wheel. Thank god for front lockers or I'd still be there spinning.

Nah, we just gotta teach you to BTM.

 

[Sierra H3]

I had 18 lbs in the 33s. If I kept the 40 lbs in them, I have to wonder if I would have made it over the "ledge". My son took a video of the front tires trying to get a grip on the way over. Portager is probably right, 25 lbs could be the happy medium. If I still have the 33s on a second try there, we can give that a go.

 

[Portager]

I had 18 lbs in the 33s. If I kept the 40 lbs in them, I have to wonder if I would have made it over the "ledge". My son took a video of the front tires trying to get a grip on the way over. Portager is probably right, 25 lbs could be the happy medium. If I still have the 33s on a second try there, we can give that a go.

Wern't you running on A/T tires? If so you wouldn't have as much traction as my KM2's. Do you have a front locker?

 

[LagunaH1]

Nah, we just gotta teach you to BTM.

Oh I think Ron knows a thing or two about BTM'ing. He was in 3 wheel drive most of the day

 

[Sierra H3]

Hi Portager: Yes, the truck is a stock 2008 Adventure - 285 75/16 Bridgestone Dueler ATs. Overall, I have been happy with them on ice, rain, sand, and the highway. But, they are poor in mud - found that out at Cleghorn and just okay on rock. In 2008 the H3 Adventure still just had the rear locker, but Hummer did upgrade the H3 to a cast iron casing for the front differential.

 

[Ron B]

I cannot say enough great things about old school btm on the pre-1999 torsen diffs. Simply amazing. I was with Art on on the gatekeeper (before they blew it up!) when he grenaded his t-case during heavy-dudty btm. After that I added an aft detroit to help ease the stress on the drivetrain -- then eventually a front auburn when I went to bigger tires.

With a broken rear shaft (common with detroits) getting through those loose rocks would have been really tough without the front locker.

 

[Sierra H3]

The one front locker option that looks like a fit for the 2008 H3 Alpha would be the one made by ARB. But, that is down the wish list a ways.

 

[3Hummers]

I have done lockers and BTM and I prefer to BTM. I did Moab in the Alpha one time and used the lockers. Not near as much fun as BTMing the truck.

 

[Portager]

Hi Portager: Yes, the truck is a stock 2008 Adventure - 285 75/16 Bridgestone Dueler ATs. Overall, I have been happy with them on ice, rain, sand, and the highway. But, they are poor in mud - found that out at Cleghorn and just okay on rock. In 2008 the H3 Adventure still just had the rear locker, but Hummer did upgrade the H3 to a cast iron casing for the front differential.

Wow! I'm a little challenged because of my wheelbase and ground clearance, but I couldn't imagine doing Gold Mountain without a front locker and on A/T tires. You did a great job driving that trail.

Is the ARB locker better than the 2009 cast iron differential.

 

[cbetts]

Wow! I'm a little challenged because of my wheelbase and ground clearance, but I couldn't imagine doing Gold Mountain without a front locker and on A/T tires. You did a great job driving that trail.

Is the ARB locker better than the 2009 cast iron differential.

You just described my first trip with the club! I had those POS 33" Revos on my truck for the first run up Gold Mountain. Oh, and no front locker. Add the stick shift to the mix as well. If I remember right, I was aired down to 15lbs on that run. Fortunately, I had done a TB-crank lift so I had a little more clearance to make up for the airing down.

 

[06 H3]

Is the ARB locker better than the 2009 cast iron differential.

It's not that the diff is better. If he was to run an air locker he would have the same strength as you in terms of diff. The actually locker is where it differs. Factory lockers are eaton and those use electronics to lock the diff the arb locker uses air. They do the same job just using different methods of locking the diff. It all depends on what your preference is. the biggest compliant about arb air lockers is breaking an air line. If you break it you have no locker. Now these air lines that break are usually not run very well,hanging low and susceptible to rocks mud and damage. If you run the line right you shouldn't have issues but if u run a bad line for the electrical wiring you could have the same issue. In terms of locker strength though, arbs seem to be stronger. The pins on eaton lockers wear out faster. Hope that helps.

Sent from my DROIDX using Tapatalk

 

[Kurt]

I perfer electronic lockers all the way vs air. Just +12V and you are locked, the hummers are bad enough with leaking CTIS lines no need to add another air circuit onto the truck to troubleshoot airleaks I think ARB makes a electric locker as well?

As for the rear shaft, I was talking with Mike about it down at Tustin, he showed me the "fast" way to do it.

-Chock wheels
-Stick t-case in neutral
-Jack problem corner of the truck up.
-Remove wheel and shaft retainer plug and bolt.
-Remove radius arm crown bolt
-Remove upper half shaft crown bolt
-Swing around the geared hub and lower control arm
-unbolt half shaft [it should spin free]
-replace shaft [it should slide right in with no interferance
-use jack to raise lower control arm to reseat the ball joint, then replace the radius arm.
-replace crown nuts and cotter pins on radius and ball joint
-Replace retainer bolt and plug and reinstall wheel.

Probably a 30 min job unless something screws up.

Good to know for next time. :bc8:

 

[Portager]

I perfer electronic lockers all the way vs air. Just +12V and you are locked, the hummers are bad enough with leaking CTIS lines no need to add another air circuit onto the truck to troubleshoot airleaks I think ARB makes a electric locker as well?

I agree, especially on an H2 or H3 that doesn't already have a compressor. I went to a CO2 tank to reduce complexity and make one less failure point (now the failure point is when I forget to fill the tank, but let’s not talk about that). Adding a compressor to operate the air locker seems to be going the wrong direction. Unless I'm missing something.

 

[Fish]

You just described my first trip with the club! I had those POS 33" Revos on my truck for the first run up Gold Mountain. Oh, and no front locker. Add the stick shift to the mix as well. If I remember right, I was aired down to 15lbs on that run. Fortunately, I had done a TB-crank lift so I had a little more clearance to make up for the airing down.

Don't forget you also had your steps on too :shame: