Hummer H3 How To Identify An Adventure Package H3

[Acer4LO]

Alright I know that everyone who actively uses this site knows this by heart, but I figured this would be helpful to the guys just getting into H3s as they continue to drop in price. Here is a quick guide I made on how to identify a H3 with an adventure package. This would come in handy if anyone is buying their first three. Feel free to copy/paste to anyone who asks elsewhere.

 

[Get_ARMED]

Now I know something new about my rig.

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[mrchew]

I wished I knew this before I bought mine 2 years ago. Just thinking my 08 H3 could be even better but I'm happy with mine.

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[rsc]

I'm betting that your image is going to be hyperlinked to quite a bit (or outright stolen). Good work putting it together.

 

[4speedfunk]

Now if we could just get car dealers to read this and quit advertising base models as "Adventure Pak" models and visa-versa. I've had several people tell me that 4LO-lock (with the pad lock emblem) means "locker".

Duh.

:roll:

 

[650Hawk]

Only issue is that it's not always called the "Adventure" pkg; On the Alpha, it is called the "OffRoad pkg". The 2009-2010 models with the Adv/OR pkg will also have the Traction Control button relocated down below the heater controls. Both the "Adventure pkg" and the OffRoad pkg" also includes specially tuned shocks and 33" tires (285's instead of 265's).

Which, come to think of it, is another easy way to identify those with the Adventure or OffRoad pkg; look at the Federal Tire label in the driver's door frame; it will list either the 265's (base model) or the 285's (Adventure or OffRoad) as stock tires.

 

[Bruces]

I still prefer the build sheet method. With all the mods people do I want to be sure of what I'm buying.

 

[650Hawk]

I still prefer the build sheet method. With all the mods people do I want to be sure of what I'm buying.

Which is a good reason to look at the Federal Tire Label; that will tell the story regardless of what other mods may have been done by subsequent owners over the years.

 

[f5moab]

Only issue is that it's not always called the "Adventure" pkg; On the Alpha, it is called the "OffRoad pkg". The 2009-2010 models with the Adv/OR pkg will also have the Traction Control button relocated down below the heater controls. Both the "Adventure pkg" and the OffRoad pkg" also includes specially tuned shocks and 33" tires (285's instead of 265's).

Which, come to think of it, is another easy way to identify those with the Adventure or OffRoad pkg; look at the Federal Tire label in the driver's door frame; it will list either the 265's (base model) or the 285's (Adventure or OffRoad) as stock tires.

Not just the Alpha model. H3s with the Luxury package will also not it as an off-road suspension package.

 

[Ordieh]

Are you guys forgetting the Championship Edition which is neither an Alpha Off Road or an Adventure?

 

[Acer4LO]

Are you guys forgetting the Championship Edition which is neither an Alpha Off Road or an Adventure?

Yes you are correct the CE had 5.3, Front/Rear Lockers & 4:1 standard and was not considered an extra. The steering wheel had the H3 logo found on 3.5s and 3.7s instead of the Alpha logo as well. My whole Idea behind making this graphic was basically to help distinguished if the H3 they are looking at has locker(s) and the 4:1 T case ratio. Most people are gonna have no idea GM ever made this special edition since it doesn't have any labels. When I helped my buddy WaySub, we checked out some CEs. One guy at the dealer had no clue and same for the private owner we called. Therefore I know there are some small technical distinctions about what certain models have, but honestly this two things make the biggest difference in terms of off-road capability and adding these extras can be costly. Other stuff like shocks, tires, can easily be replaced or may already have been changed by an owner.

 

[Ordieh]

Cool, and a great job Acer4lo!

 

[650Hawk]

Interesting that a 5 cyl has it listed as the OffRoad pkg...again, looking at the Federal Tire Placard in the door frame verifies whether or not the truck has the 4:1 transfer case and locking diff(s), regardless of what it is (or isn't, in the CE case) called. Does the sticker say 285's? Got 'em. 265's? Nope.

 

[Bruces]

Labels are good but if a vehicle has been rebuilt labels can be swapped removed or replaced and lastly faked. Countless numbers of stolen vehicles get vin plates and labels from stolen vehicles.

 

[650Hawk]

Seriously? Let's be realistic; it would be extremely rare for the tire sticker in the body door frame to be swapped, replaced, or faked. And if that IS the case, whether or not it has a 4:1 transfer case is probably irrelevant, and the least of your worries.

As Acer4lo points out, the quick & easy way to identify the "good" offroad components is by simply looking for the diff lock button(s) on the dash, whether it is called the Adventure pkg, the OffRoad pkg, or (in the case of the CE) not called out at all. The tire sticker is simply verification of it.

 

[Bigunit]

Are you guys forgetting the Championship Edition which is neither an Alpha Off Road or an Adventure?

Nope, not forgetting about the rarest H3 model ever produced with a V8, front and rear lockers and a 4:1 transfer case.

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[Clark]

Man is my face red. I'm the 2nd owner of my H3 and the gentleman I bought it from told me
it was an adventure. I looked into it and I come to find out mine is just a regular AWD H3.
But I love my H3.

 

[4speedfunk]

Even the buttons are not a guarantee...easy to swap the button strip. To make sure, crawl underneath and check the rear pumpkin for the electrical pigtail.

Also...if you've driven lots of H3's, it's very easy to tell if it has a 4:1 or 2.6:1 low range.


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[Acer4LO]

Even the buttons are not a guarantee...easy to swap the button strip. To make sure, crawl underneath and check the rear pumpkin for the electrical pigtail.

Also...if you've driven lots of H3's, it's very easy to tell if it has a 4:1 or 2.6:1 low range.


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Lol the way I checked to see if it had a locker was to put it in low and turn on the diff lock, make one turn (on gravel) and listen if the wheel is skidding on the ground. Definitely not a really good thing to do, but it makes sure that the thing properly engages.

 

[rusty bucket]

 

[EndeavoredH3]

View attachment 33907View attachment 33908

Base, Non-Adv

 

[Jeepwalker]

I don't know that I'd be too worried if I didn't have an adventure pkg. Depends on the type of off-roading you do, and how you use your H3.

For DD use, trail riding, mud, snow .....a 4:1 xfer case is not handy at ALL compared to a 2.1 non-adventure transfer case. In snow for DD use or getting through long drifts, a slow 4:1 is almost worthless. And the locker only works in low range...so fundamentally, if you wanted to use a locker in snow to keep your momentum up going through really deep stuff on the way home from work .... a 4:1 transfer case doesn't work very well. You'll loose valuable momentum shifting into low. Yer almost better off buying a non-adventure tk with a 2:1 and adding your own locker to it. The Bronco rear locker works in both 2H and 4H. Much better thought-out IMO.

For rock crawling the 4:1 and locker work great.

So depends the type of wheeling ya do the most.

 

[650Hawk]

2.6:1

Just sayin'