How good is the GM belly armor?

[telemike]

Thinking of getting the belly armor kit gm offes. is there a better option?

 

[Hans3T]

Nope, not really. Even in the H3 heyday, there weren't that many aftermarket offerings. The GM stuff is about the only option you'll find anymore -- and it serves its purpose well.

 

[Green 1]

The GM is not bad but a lot of people have a added a bar or two to the stock GM to make it better.

 

[alrock]

GM is best but maybe because it is the only option other than custom. It is recommended to add metal strips to the piece that protects the transfer case to prevent rocks from coming between the bars. I added those strips a bit late, kinda like adding a home alarm after you've been burglarized.

 

[06 H3]

It will do the job but I feel they reduce ground clearance a custom set can help with that if done right

 

[telemike]

I don't have fabrication facilities........ so GM may be the way to go

 

[Chook]

I love the GM stuff............. Lots of scrapes & no damage (touch wood) though I would agree it takes away some ground clearance.

 

[telemike]

I'd rather have some protection from rocks than none at all

 

[Schwarttzy]

Hey, Hey, I'm literally talking with my Laser Cutter about making Solid Aluminum Skid Plate right now which will protect from the front bumper all the way back to the transfer case. It will be completely smooth, even the bolts holding it on won't be exposed, and about just a tad over 2 feet wide. These thing should be killer, especially in deep snow or mud.

 

[reaper]

Hey, Hey, I'm literally talking with my Laser Cutter about making Solid Aluminum Skid Plate right now which will protect from the front bumper all the way back to the transfer case. It will be completely smooth, even the bolts holding it on won't be exposed, and about just a tad over 2 feet wide. These thing should be killer, especially in deep snow or mud.

Schwarttzy, you're such a tease.

 

[telemike]

If I had the drawings, I could see if the laser guy at my work can make some on the side for me....

 

[poncho1965]

Like this?

 

[08SolarFlareH3]

Rasta 4x4, CBPhoto, and there is a place in Texas that makes UCP but I can't think of the name. Boulder Accessories used to make one similar to the GM one, just used round tubing on the bottom instead of square. DOI used to also make UCP. Thorparts/4speedfunk makes plates you can weld to the OEM UCP.


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[cbetts]

Ponch is now the tease! That setup looks pretty sweet!

 

[3Hummers]

Reloader made some great UCP and T case skids for his H3. If he wants to make some side money I think a lot of people would buy his set up. I have the OEM and have had no issues even though as some have said it does take away a little clearance room.

 

[3Hummers]

View attachment 7141

Like this?

This type of skid is great for protection but has some drawbacks. Rick ( KingKozy) had this type of set up on his H1. It seemed to hold the heat and raised his transmission operating temps some. Also collected and held mud. The biggest issue he had was a split in a T-case line that caused him to have a significant ATF leak onto his exhaust pipe. When it caught fire he expended his two fire extinguishers trying to put the flames out but couldn't get good enough access to put out all the flames. Final result was a 100% fire loss on Big Bear Mountain of one really cool H1. From a protection standpoint they are great, just drop and clean them after wheeling/mudding and possibly increased the number of access points.

 

[poncho1965]

Of of my perequisites was I didn't want to lose ground clearance....my setup takes nothing away from what I have. No more T-case worries!

 

[3Hummers]

Here is a link to Rick's story. He is a great wheeler and a fellow H1 Psycho Squad member.

http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/hummer/832892-memory-boxy-lady.html

 

[3Hummers]

For those that don't know the whole story Psycho Squad members set up a website to accept donations and Psycho Squad members and many other people contributed enough to put Rick into a replacement H1. Rick is extremely active in supporting all trail maintenance, save the trail/land use issues using the Psycho Kitchen ( M101A3 trailer set up as a mobile kitchen ) to cook for all those types of events.

 

[Hunner]

I ran the OEM GM UCP for awhile and did add some more metal to protect the transfer case and fuel lines, but found it had it's limits like most things.
This of course is pictured upside down from the way it mounts to show the bend with the straight edge.

I now run the later design that BA came out with. It has been duplicated now by others. I think maybe that the round tube is stronger.

 

[poncho1965]

This type of skid is great for protection but has some drawbacks. Rick ( KingKozy) had this type of set up on his H1. It seemed to hold the heat and raised his transmission operating temps some. Also collected and held mud. The biggest issue he had was a split in a T-case line that caused him to have a significant ATF leak onto his exhaust pipe. When it caught fire he expended his two fire extinguishers trying to put the flames out but couldn't get good enough access to put out all the flames. Final result was a 100% fire loss on Big Bear Mountain of one really cool H1. From a protection standpoint they are great, just drop and clean them after wheeling/mudding and possibly increased the number of access points.

That's horrible! I hadn't considered this possibility. Think I will carry a bigger extinguisher!

 

[4speedfunk]

Beef-up the stock UCP and it will take anything you can throw at em. Like this...

View attachment 7147

These cost $70 (free shipping), and only 3/16" of ground clearance. They are pre-cut ready to weld-on...I think I got three or four sets left.

 

[3Hummers]

I need to put my set on next time I am in Texas. Something like 4speed's solution seems like the perfect addition to the OEM set up.

 

[3Hummers]

That's horrible! I hadn't considered this possibility. Think I will carry a bigger extinguisher!

Poncho it wasn't the amount of capacity that kept him from getting the fire out so much as it was the inaccessibility to the area that was initiating the fire. If he had four more fire extinguishers the result would have been the same. If he could have hit the fire at the source with what he had he could have saved the truck.

 

[f5moab]

I need to put my set on next time I am in Texas. Something like 4speed's solution seems like the perfect addition to the OEM set up.

I will agree. A solid skid plate under the engine and 4L60E trans is asking for trouble. They need to breath. I believe someone else ran without the front skid on an noticed a drop in temp (forgot who) but I did for a month and also noticed a drop in temp. I shudder to think of what the trans would do without some additional airflow over the case.