Sorry for the newbie question but...

Is there a quick and easy way for to tell if a H3 really has the adventure package?

May be buying a H3 @ some point soon.
Not that familiar with the breed.
Don't want to be faked out by 35" tires and a badge.
Something in the vin?
May meet up with a seller soon to check one out.
Won't have a lot of time &/or resources.

 

If it is an Adventure Pkg. it will have Locker switches on your switch panel. 1 switch (rear locker) 2008 and prior, 2 switches (front and rear) 2009 and 2010 models. They will be to the far right of the 4 Hi, 4 Lock, and 4 Low Lock switches. If someone has switched tires, this is the best way to determine this as there is no badging.

 

Thank you very much.
Knowledge is power.

 

I went through this wen I bought mine. As RKSmith163 says - the switches are the only way to tell. If you are looking online, forget about what the ad says - dealers don't seem to know the difference. Almost all "Adventure package" H3s I found were not, and the one I bought was not listed as Adventure or Offroad at all. Once you know what you are looking for and get the hang of it, you can spot the switches (or lack of switches) easily on interior photos. Even poor quality, bad angle shots. You just look for 2 white marks instead of 1 where the switch would be.

 

The one light up on the right, with an X in between the rear tires.

 

Thanx to all.
This will help me a lot.

 

it will also have 285 tires,not 265

 

Not necessarily now a days Tom. Back in the day when you could buy a New HUMMER H3 off the lot I saw H3 Adventures with 265s cause the dealer swapped out the 285s to some Lux or Base guy to make the sale. It is more so true in todays market. They will swap pretty much anything from H3 to H3 just to make the sale. Also if you are purchasing from an independent owner he/she may have either upgraded to the 285s on a Base/Lux or down graded to 265s becuse they got a better deal/someone told them that's what it came with(dumb tire store)/found a good deal on Chrome OEM rims with 265s to replace their alum. ones/etc.

The only way to actually know is to check the dash and/or put it in 4lo and lock the rear while on jack stands. I have also seen dealers put a picture of an Adventure/OffRoad dash on a base/lux before also. Tricky bastards, we gotta know our stuff to make sure we get what we want!

 

Well, I learned something today. Actually, three somethings.

I didn't know that only the Adventure series had the locker switch(es).
I didn't know that my '08 locked only the rear diff.
I didn't know that the '09 and '10 locked both ends.

(Actually, that last one kind of pisses me off) I wonder how tuff it would be to put a front locker on my '08.

Thanks Guys

 

It can be done. If you have an Alpha you can use the existing case and gears. The 08 Alphas have a Cast Iron front diff. and you want the CI front diff if you are going to be putting a locker in there.

06-08 I5s have an Aluminum case which can "deflect" when under stress from OffRoading.
08 Alphas have the Cast Iron case
09-10 All have the Cast Iron case regardless of engine or Adventure/OffRoad package.