Pooslinger900
New member
i dont know if i missed anyone saying so... but my 2008 Alpha has the door switches higher up as well
ImNoSaint's H3 Build
- Thread starter Imnosaint
- Start date
Imnosaint
Gone Microcamping
Right. That was a change made that model year.
ExplorerTom
Explorer
Really nice build log.
And really nice pictures too. But being a photographer, I'm sure you knew that already.
And really nice pictures too. But being a photographer, I'm sure you knew that already.
Imnosaint
Gone Microcamping
Thank you. And as a photographer, I'm never really sure if the pics are nice. There's always some better way to do capture it, but if I took that kind of time, you'd just be reading about the tire upgrade.
Imnosaint
Gone Microcamping
Updates
The H3 lost Drive on our way back from Moab a couple of weeks ago, getting us back to Hurricane in third gear. Then it went, too. The rebuild will be completed by tomorrow, fingers crossed. It sounds stupid to anyone who doesn't get it, but I've been out of sorts without it for the past two weeks. Along with the rebuild I've had the front diff bushing replaced. At 150k, this was all due, especially considering what I've put it through. I must remember to delete that last line should I ever decided to sell it.
I've also replaced the radiator after its commonly problematic leaking, along with general maintenance items; brakes, alignments, battery, etc.
The auxiliary lighting has proved very useful this past winter. Used almost nightly, the rocker switches install is stout and solid, the Hella fixtures and hardware are right where they've been wrenched. The Cree fixtures, not so much. Their inferior hardware oxidized quickly, as I thought they would. They've been replace with stainless fasteners. The Cree housings haven't weathered well, and over the colder months have built up condensation behind the lenses, but with no effect on performance.
Nothing else has been problematic. The rear door shelf has been used and abused, but has held up well. The dog deck has been indispensable. The Blue Sea fuse block has been a vital foundation to adding accessories. So far, so good.
The H3 lost Drive on our way back from Moab a couple of weeks ago, getting us back to Hurricane in third gear. Then it went, too. The rebuild will be completed by tomorrow, fingers crossed. It sounds stupid to anyone who doesn't get it, but I've been out of sorts without it for the past two weeks. Along with the rebuild I've had the front diff bushing replaced. At 150k, this was all due, especially considering what I've put it through. I must remember to delete that last line should I ever decided to sell it.
I've also replaced the radiator after its commonly problematic leaking, along with general maintenance items; brakes, alignments, battery, etc.
The auxiliary lighting has proved very useful this past winter. Used almost nightly, the rocker switches install is stout and solid, the Hella fixtures and hardware are right where they've been wrenched. The Cree fixtures, not so much. Their inferior hardware oxidized quickly, as I thought they would. They've been replace with stainless fasteners. The Cree housings haven't weathered well, and over the colder months have built up condensation behind the lenses, but with no effect on performance.
Nothing else has been problematic. The rear door shelf has been used and abused, but has held up well. The dog deck has been indispensable. The Blue Sea fuse block has been a vital foundation to adding accessories. So far, so good.
As an wanna-be GEN2.5 or Gen3 Montero owner looking for alternatives, what things do you miss about the Montero vs what things do you appreciate about Hummer?
If you were on a budget of say, $10,000; would you go back to a Montero, or something else? I can even find the occasional used H3 for under that mark.
If you were on a budget of say, $10,000; would you go back to a Montero, or something else? I can even find the occasional used H3 for under that mark.
Imnosaint
Gone Microcamping
I would, in a heartbeat. You can pick up a nice Gen III for under $5k and have plenty left over for serious mods. Three things I miss most about the Montero; 1) the transmission. The tiptronic shifting allows the best of both worlds, its ratios and therefore shift points were better dialed in for the combination of on and off-road driving. The H3, not so much. It's ratios serve it very well off-road. On road it feels clumsy and indecisive, even with (or perhaps due to) the PCM mod. I've had the trans rebuilt after a third-gear failure hoping that would solve for these issues, but no luck.
The Montero's room 2) is palatial compared to the H3. The trade-off is the Monty's clunky second row seat, but you might have seen what I did about that.
The little Hummer 3) has a reputation that follows it everywhere - that Hummer thing. I've blown that off because despite its stereotype, my H3 has proven itself pretty well in terms of performance. When I completed my Gen III, it was one of a kind, not just in curb appeal but in its abilities off and on-road. The Montero's seating position, outward visibility, ergonomics and its giant sunroof push my bias as well.
Hope this helps.
This post might help as well.
Now that you've had time in both, are there any other vehicles that you've been eyeing as a possible replacement for the H3? Or that maybe you wish you could have purchased instead?
Imnosaint
Gone Microcamping
PHeller, I try to stay away from the grass-is-greener dissonance that's so easy to come by in this endeavor. I love the new 4Runner - it appears to have it all - but I'd rather spend my cash on travel than a finance payment. Some great advice I picked up here years ago was simply to figure out where you want to go, what you're going to need to get there and back, and how much cash do you want to have left over to do so. The H3 has worked for me, the Montero a little more so. I've also had a Trooper, bone stock, went anywhere (there's a cool build thread on ExPo featuring a Trooper that has my imagination going). I've just tried to make the best of what's parked in the driveway. And now that means this:
