H3 Thinking about dismantling my h3 :/ ?

[backwoods]

Alright so my first 6 months went by great with only an issue here and there and in the last two week it seems i have a staircase effect of issues on my 3 to start i just forked out cash to put a header on it now i have an issue with my steering rack and pinion ....a leaking front axle seal and a rear leaky pinion seal ...and a ball joint ...this is my primary vehicle and dont have a secondary so im stuck driving it with the issues ...im twenty one and have plenty of bills that keep the pocket book tight ...im asking advice from you out there as friends ...should i part ways and sell the mods or risk more damage driving it and fixing when i can ...im a tech at a car dealership drive 40 min one way to work not even sure what its worth with the mods

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[bro of bro of 3 & 3hummer]

These repairs seem like relativly easy repairs to make with not a huge amont of expense if you are able to do the work mostly yourself. If you like the H3 and want to keep driving it then make the repairs and enjoy it. Any offroad vehicle will have some maintanance issues. Hope you can keep it. It looks good.

 

[backwoods]

Easy but costly things are really tight not able to budge at all

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[backcountryislife]

I'd think about getting a cheap car. Having an offroad toy that you NEED to drive on monday takes some of the fun out of running it on the weekends. Just what you save in gas will pay for the car if you really drive 80 minutes a day...

You can find a beater for what one of the repairs costs, avoid putting meaningless miles on the H3, save on gas, save miles on pricey tires...


Since I stopped having our H3 be a daily driver, I haven't aired up in a month, I'll leave it disconnected for the rest of the summer... and I'm not wasting miles on it... best situation I could have run into. (I started working from home, so my wife drives my TDI, so the H3 can stay here)

Another buddy of mine did this a few months ago... and he's SOOOO happy he did.

 

[Hans3T]

I would cut back on other expenses (beer, eating out, etc.) and focus on the fixes in the short term. You will likely get hosed if you sell the truck as-is.

Fixing the truck now will cost less in the long run than picking up another vehicle/causing further damage/ taking a big cash loss on a sale or trade-in.

 

[LagunaH1]

X2 on getting a cheap daily driver. However: If that's not possible then maybe reverting back to stock _might_ reduce the number of repairs you have to contend with. In my opinion stock configuration is likely to put the least strain on the trucks components. This is opinion, not fact

 

[backcountryislife]

Just re-read, to be clear I didn't mean selling/ trading, I just meant getting a cheapo so you didn't have to have the H3 for a daily. (just searched CL for honda civic $500-1000 & got tons of listings...)

 

[backwoods]

I have a rocket and ride it regardless of the weather exxept for snow of course but as my luck goes it in the shop with a knock

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[3Hummers]

Any other members close by that can help with the repairs?

 

[Gunner_45]

Assuming your truck is not paid off yet………….I offer the following.

Before you get too far along in your thought process, I’d check what your pay-off is against the trade-in
and/or retail value of your truck. If you are right side up (Truck is worth more than you owe), then
you have options. If you are upside down (Truck is worth less than what you owe)…..Then your options are very limited.
If the latter is the case, it will probably take you more $$ to get out from underneath the truck than it
would to keep it andmake the necessary repairs. Regardless, you need to avoid a knee-jerk reaction.

Take some time, put some numbers on paper and then make a decision.

I see notes come through our system every day where someone has been upside down on a vehicle note,
traded it in on another vehicle and financed the difference……That is how they end up with some damn base
model Kia on a 72 month note at 23.5% interest…..Great googley moogley.

Just sayin’.

If you work for a dealership of some sort, buy one of your sales guys a “Drink n Dog” special for lunch and have them run the numbers foryou….Worth a try.

 

[alrock]

I've had my repairs come in waves. Well mostly one long fifteen month wave after three years of nominal issues. Taking it off road does a lot of wear and tear - it you're not breaking it then you're probably breaking it down slowly. I've had to shell out a lot of cash but I've also supplied a lot of beer to get friends to help. I've learned a lot along the way. Sometimes I do intermediate repairs, like putting on used front shocks from another member, other times when I'm better set with cash I do more repairs.

Any vehicle you use off road will have these types of repairs. Just something you have to work out in the budget.

 

[4speedfunk]

H3's are high maintenance! No question about it. They leak, break, wear, rattle, bang, clunk, squeek, more than any other 4x4 out there. Fortunately all of the stuff you mentioned is super-easy to fix. Other than the rack...its all super-cheap too. Its a good thing you're an auto-tech! Can't you just pull your rig in the shop after hours and do all that on a lift? Buy your boss a case of beer.

FWIW...I drove a beat-up piece of crap Nova when I was 21.

 

[Pappibri]

I agree with the other guys. Look into getting a beater for your daily driver.. Just make sure the engine and drivetrain are solid, and heck with what the body looks like. Luckily I picked up a Certified one, so my Hummer is covered until the end of 2014 or 103,000. That was the big selling point for me...

 

[backwoods]

I've had my repairs come in waves. Well mostly one long fifteen month wave after three years of nominal issues. Taking it off road does a lot of wear and tear - it you're not breaking it then you're probably breaking it down slowly. I've had to shell out a lot of cash but I've also supplied a lot of beer to get friends to help. I've learned a lot along the way. Sometimes I do intermediate repairs, like putting on used front shocks from another member, other times when I'm better set with cash I do more repairs.

Any vehicle you use off road will have these types of repairs. Just something you have to work out in the budget.

Thanks man its true i hadnt had issues at all till two weeks ago maybe it was my mistake for wheeling with mud trucks ... They needed me in the back for a winch just in case the guy got stuck fording chest deep water the deepest i entered was maybe 33" but i do have to say i love my rig and what ive done with it its the only one around that ik of and closest is paladine71 about 2 hours away ...

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[backwoods]

H3's are high maintenance! No question about it. They leak, break, wear, rattle, bang, clunk, squeek, more than any other 4x4 out there. Fortunately all of the stuff you mentioned is super-easy to fix. Other than the rack...its all super-cheap too. Its a good thing you're an auto-tech! Can't you just pull your rig in the shop after hours and do all that on a lift? Buy your boss a case of beer.

FWIW...I drove a beat-up piece of crap Nova when I was 21.

First off whats FWIW?
Yes everything but the rack is easy still not even sure what the issue is i have a rack i can use on saterdays for a couple hours ...I just have to scrape around for money to get a new rack if it needs replaced ...

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[backwoods]

I agree with the other guys. Look into getting a beater for your daily driver.. Just make sure the engine and drivetrain are solid, and heck with what the body looks like. Luckily I picked up a Certified one, so my Hummer is covered until the end of 2014 or 103,000. That was the big selling point for me...

I have a rocket and a mustang mustang isnt mine officially untill i pull the drivetrain is pulled ... If i could afford a beater i could buy the motor and tranny for the stang and or fix the h3 leaving a beater out id the question im just down on my luck my bike aquired a knock and that was my gas saver whenbi ride my bike i save the money im lacking ...if the motor is shot on the bike then ill be rendered helpless

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[backwoods]

Assuming your truck is not paid off yet………….I offer the following.

Before you get too far along in your thought process, I’d check what your pay-off is against the trade-in
and/or retail value of your truck. If you are right side up (Truck is worth more than you owe), then
you have options. If you are upside down (Truck is worth less than what you owe)…..Then your options are very limited.
If the latter is the case, it will probably take you more $$ to get out from underneath the truck than it
would to keep it andmake the necessary repairs. Regardless, you need to avoid a knee-jerk reaction.

Take some time, put some numbers on paper and then make a decision.

I see notes come through our system every day where someone has been upside down on a vehicle note,
traded it in on another vehicle and financed the difference……That is how they end up with some damn base
model Kia on a 72 month note at 23.5% interest…..Great googley moogley.

Just sayin’.

If you work for a dealership of some sort, buy one of your sales guys a “Drink n Dog” special for lunch and have them run the numbers foryou….Worth a try.

I owe 12000 nada books it out around 15-16kish i can sell the mods to my fellow hummers buddies if i were to go that route

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[Gunner_45]

Very good...............Being in decent shape like that, you do have some options then.

You are doing a LOT better than some I've seen.

Hope you can find a way to keep the truck.....Once these damn things get in your blood, it is hard to do without one.

Good luck with your decision.

 

[Hunner]

I don't really blame my H3 for the things I had to fix. After all it's just a truck and offroading will of course break and wear things out faster on ANY vehicle. I do take some issue with the steering rack design and the pot metal it is made of for a vehicle that was touted or advertised as being a macho offroad machine. I admit to having put mine thru some harsh conditions and have adjusted and modded the best I can to prevent some of the failures from happening again.
I also accept the fact that I should expect things to not hold up if I continue to play hard. Sounds like you just got behind and/or got a rash of things all at once. It's all based on how much you go out wheeling and it sounds like you do that often.
I know guys here with Cheby Silverado's and they have the shocks hanging down just like we do or maybe worse even on the Z whatevers and are whacking those all the time and having the same issues you are on other things.
If you play you pay comes into mind and in your case the stress of having it as a crippled daily driver adds to the problem.
The steering rack is one of those things that is inadequate the way we abuse them but not a big expense if you can get one of those out of Canada. Modding the mounting will help a lot.
Maybe you need to rethink how yours is setup and get back closer to stock after you fix things and do some less aggressive driving for awhile so you can recover from the expense of fixing it.
I will have to go back and look up what all you have changed but from the picture in that first post the lift and stance of the wheels I would say that a lot of the problems you listed are a result of that and then wheeling it hard.
You have changed it beyond it's design parameters adding to the more frequent failures. Ok, if your prepared to pay the price.
I'm sure you can get help and advice on here as to how to get your rig more dependable by scaling back on some of the mods and installing some preventative measures.
I hope you get thru the trauma of all this piling up and stick with the H3.

 

[backwoods]

Thanks hunner ill just have to sit down and price out my parts and put them in order by priority

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[backcountryislife]

Maybe the market is different other places, but here H3's sell for well below book, even from a dealer. I got mine from a dealer for $2k under private party & I paid $500 more than I could have, had I driven down to the Chity (denver) Maybe they've rebounded a bit since then (last fall) or it's different where you are. Just saying how was at that time here.

 

[07Custom]

FWIW = For What Its Worth? I vote that you keep the truck. But get smarter about how you drive it. Your truck is awesome and huge, but with all those aftermarket parts you're bound to run into problems. And if you can't afford it right now, don't do any hardcore wheeling. No mud, rocks, or sand. Try to get your vehicle back to working order and just drive it for a while. Treat it like a car haha and once things start turning around for you financially start considering actual wheeling. That's just my $.02 but do what you need to do.

 

[Bigunit]

I agree with Hunner's above-comments/advice.

The steering rack is one of those things that is inadequate the way we abuse them but not a big expense if you can get one of those out of Canada.

Here's the link to the steering rack from the Canadian seller that Hunner mentions (comes with 16 mm tie rods):

http://www.ebay.com/itm/HUMMER-H3-R...Parts_Accessories&hash=item48440dec98&vxp=mtr

Like Hunner said, if you wheel your rig, things are going to break or wear-out faster than if you don't wheel your rig. Case in point, my wife's 08 H3 with 50k miles has never been offroad. Her front diff crossmember bushing still looks brand new (I've gone through 3 cross members), her steering rack is original OEM, never had any issues (I've gone through 3 and always carry a trail spare), her CV boots look brand new, no leaks (I'm having one replaced right now). These are all minor repairs - they do cost $$ if out of warranty but IMO are well worth paying for than dismantling & selling your rig. If you like to wheel and end up getting another off-road rig, you will inevitably be breaking things and paying to repair them too. If you never plan to wheel again and only need a car to drive on the road, then I say, sell the H3 and get a more-fuel efficient daily driver - I hear that those Pri'i get good gas mileage and look pretty stylish! :wink: Good luck with your decision.

 

[Hans3T]

Dwight, FWIW is just an acronym for "for what its worth". Just fyi (for your information). :wink: :cheers:

 

[Ron B]

like Hunter Thompson said, you bought the ticket, take the ride! Looks like you enjoy your truck, and you have put a lot into it, follow some of the good advice above and keep the truck.

Having a second, more economical car is ideal if one can afford it...but I have to admit that I find it kinda funny hearing people talk about having daily drivers for their h3's. They are pretty comfy well mannered on the street unless they are seriously modded and then some. That being said I have a little hatchback for a dd, the 12 mpg and not fitting in a typical parking space is an issue with my truck, but I do drive it as much as possible -- too damn much fun to ignore.

keep it if you are able! Nice truck