My build thread

[Gunick]

So it was only a matter of time before i started one of these. I got the H3 about a month and a half ago and im already starting the build process. I traded in a mazda cx7 for the H3, i used the vehicle for just daily commuting and then i got back into heading to the river every sunday. heres what the cx7 looked like


it was turbo awd, and i added some nitto's to it, tinted tail lights and de badged it as i was tired of looking like a soccer mom:emb: it did ok going to the remote areas of the river i like to go to but it just wasnt quite built for those trails so i decided it was time for something different.

heres the H3 after i picked it up

it came with the factory wheels painted black which was awesome because i would have done that day one anyways.... its the I5 auto with factory lockers, also has the dvd headrests (no care for them personally) and the 32's.

wasnt but 3 days till i took it out to my spot on the colorado river


now its been about a month a half and i decided to tint the taillights, plasti dip the handles and chrome trim as i am not a fan of chrome.


as for future mods, heres pretty much what im looking at. It will be a DD with weekend fun about 70/30 road to desert ratio. I already have a KNN filter. will do airdoc here in next few weeks

1. either 285's or 305's havent quite decided
2. level via tbars
3. bilstein 5160's
4. gobi rack or other rack

seeing as how this will be more a desert road rig, and verry little crawling im gearing everything towards washboard dirt roads with loose gravel ect.

if anyone has any advice or opinions feel free to let me know!
thanks for looking everyone hopefully will update in the next few weeks with tires depending on what i hear from all of you!

 

[SuperBuickGuy]

pretty easy to test drive the mods - most of us have (at least) all of the things you've listed and have done build blogs on them

welcome - you've got a nice start

 

[Kyle]

you submitted a photo to my instagram feed didnt you?? Nice truck btw!!

 

[Gunick]

pretty easy to test drive the mods - most of us have (at least) all of the things you've listed and have done build blogs on them

welcome - you've got a nice start

Yea I've spent a ton of time on here reading on everything I've wanted to do, of course I still have the same dilemma as everyone else right now "what tire and what size" there's just so many to pick from.

I'm pretty curious to see how far things go as far as desert mods for me. I've pretty much just figured follow rod halls approach to it. Has anyone on here done similar builds for desert?

 

[Gunick]

you submitted a photo to my instagram feed didnt you?? Nice truck btw!!

I probably have haha!

 

[3Hummers]

Welcome and good start on the mods.

 

[MessiaH2]

Looks nice

 

[ArtHummer]

seeing as how this will be more a desert road rig, and verry little crawling im gearing everything towards washboard dirt roads with loose gravel ect.

if anyone has any advice or opinions feel free to let me know!
thanks for looking everyone hopefully will update in the next few weeks with tires depending on what i hear from all of you!

285 and 305 are both 33" so you will not see a big difference from each other.

Pros to go to 305: Better traction in mud, snow and send.
Cons to go to 305: cost more then 285, more rubbing at full turn, weigh more then 285 therefore putting more stress on your wear and tear parts.

If you don't need that little bit of extra traction I would just better of to stay with 285.

 

[Gunick]

285 and 305 are both 33" so you will not see a big difference from each other.

Pros to go to 305: Better traction in mud, snow and send.
Cons to go to 305: cost more then 285, more rubbing at full turn, weigh more then 285 therefore putting more stress on your wear and tear parts.

If you don't need that little bit of extra traction I would just better of to stay with 285.

Pretty much what I figured, I just haven't seen too much of a price difference. But 285's have a lot more choices. May even go red letter grabbers

 

[SuperBuickGuy]

I have 305s on my H3... they don't rub, even with the stock, adventure package wheels....

 

[Pappibri]

Nice rig by the way... I have the Duratracs and love em. I am wanting to go up to 315's and will when the funds allow it..

 

[Gunick]

Nice rig by the way... I have the Duratracs and love em. I am wanting to go up to 315's and will when the funds allow it..

If I find the right deal on some solid 315's I'd have no problem getting them, it's not like the I5 is a power house to begin with, so I can't see the power loss being an issue. With intake and exhaust I'm not stressing. I'll find out tomorrow what size and of what I'll be buying.

 

[SuperBuickGuy]

305s are the same height as 285s, 315s are 2" taller.... I can't imagine you'd notice a power loss with the 305s

 

[Gunick]

305s are the same height as 285s, 315s are 2" taller.... I can't imagine you'd notice a power loss with the 305s

With 305's I really doubt that I would, with 315's though it'll happen I'm sure.

 

[SuperBuickGuy]

With 305's I really doubt that I would, with 315's though it'll happen I'm sure.

true - of course, you have 4.56 gears, so you'll not be doing many top-end blasts anyway.... do you have an adventure package h3? the wheels on your h3 and the 265 tire size suggest you don't

 

[Gunick]

true - of course, you have 4.56 gears, so you'll not be doing many top-end blasts anyway.... do you have an adventure package h3? the wheels on your h3 and the 265 tire size suggest you don't

Nope just base model. I hate the 265's

 

[poncho1965]

I had a base H3 as a loaner once while mine was being worked on. I noticed a big difference between 265 vs 285's on the highway. Kinda why I am hesitant to make the jump to 315's.


Mike

 

[06 H3]

poncho you run 265s?

 

[poncho1965]

poncho you run 265s?

Nope, 285's.


Mike

 

[Gunick]

So I'm gonna run the 285's for the sake of keeping it built for what I do most, daily commute and river roads on Sundays, I have no need for a real crazy tire, gonna run the cooper atp as the price is right as I need tires ASAP. (Currently have 71k on wranglers). May put em on today and update with pics later!

 

[SuperBuickGuy]

Nope just base model. I hate the 265's

the reason I ask, 265s are a 31" tall tire; 285s 33"; 315 35"

the spare on your vehicle - isn't the bridgestone tire GM put on the Adventure package trucks - adventure package was (among other things) a 4:1 low range case (rather than 2.65:1), wider stance, locking rear differential, and 33" tires.
Given your plans, I can't imagine you'd need the Adventure package, but it's good to know when you're updating... for one, your speedometer will be 7% off with 285 tires.... and that will cause a host of other annoying issues (such as traction control issues)

 

[Gunick]

the reason I ask, 265s are a 31" tall tire; 285s 33"; 315 35"

the spare on your vehicle - isn't the bridgestone tire GM put on the Adventure package trucks - adventure package was (among other things) a 4:1 low range case (rather than 2.65:1), wider stance, locking rear differential, and 33" tires.
Given your plans, I can't imagine you'd need the Adventure package, but it's good to know when you're updating... for one, your speedometer will be 7% off with 285 tires.... and that will cause a host of other annoying issues (such as traction control issues)

Oh I knew what I was (and wasn't) getting with the base model, when I got the vehicle I was looking for either style knowing the base would work for my needs. I just don't feel the 31" tires look right on the H3. The 285's really shouldn't cause an issue at all, those with the 5160's and few other things should make it a solid desert rig. I'm not looking to race the Baja 1000 or anything but I will be towing a 3 seater seadoo and carrying some camp gear at most. 285's are a perfect fit

 

[SuperBuickGuy]

Oh I knew what I was (and wasn't) getting with the base model, when I got the vehicle I was looking for either style knowing the base would work for my needs. I just don't feel the 31" tires look right on the H3. The 285's really shouldn't cause an issue at all, those with the 5160's and few other things should make it a solid desert rig. I'm not looking to race the Baja 1000 or anything but I will be towing a 3 seater seadoo and carrying some camp gear at most. 285's are a perfect fit

if you can find Adventure wheels, you can avoid some of the rubbing issues described above

 

[ABNTROOP]

315 are the way to go man! Really fills those wheel wells and changes the whole look/ feel of the rIg!

 

[Gunick]

315 are the way to go man! Really fills those wheel wells and changes the whole look/ feel of the rIg!

Trust me if I had the alpha I would run 315 in a heart beat. So I'll have the coopers on September 27th. Once they're on I'll level it.