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Hummer H3For the Hummer driver who wants the rugged look and off road capabilities of the Hummer, but in a smaller size and with a more fuel economy friendly engine.
If you're getting them just for looks you can go with the cheap, online set (a fraction of the O.E.M. price). If you're planning on using them for their actual purpose of carrying loads go with the O.E.M.'s. The difference is the cheaps are rolled stainless steel and will handle 150 lbs. (rated) where the O.E.M.'s are 1/8" thick extruded aluminum and will handle 250 lbs. (rated). You can tell the difference by the black end caps. The cheaps just have a plain end and usually offer HUMMER stick on letters where the O.E.M.'s have the word HUMMER actually molded into them, it was a proprietary thing with GM.
Last edited by Broken Halo; May 17, 2023 at 02:54 PM.
If you're getting them just for looks you can go with the cheap, online set (a fraction of the O.E.M. price). If you're planning on using them for their actual purpose of carrying loads go with the O.E.M.'s. The difference is the cheaps are rolled stainless steel and will handle 150 lbs. where the O.E.M.'s are 1/8" thick extruded aluminum and will handle 250 lbs. You can tell the difference by the black end caps. The cheaps just have a plane end and usually offer HUMMER stick on letters where the O.E.M.'s have the word HUMMER actually molded into them, it was a proprietary thing with GM.
On my last H3 I purchased a set of the aftermarket roof bars and they had the HUMMER logo molded into them, so I would not use that as good indicator of OEM vs aftermarket.
The aftermarket were also extruded aluminum and seemed sturdy, but I never loaded them up so can't vouch for their load carrying capacity. On the ones I got the hold down mechanism was lame, lacking sufficient clamping power to keep the bars from moving when the lock lever was engaged. I ended up adding fender washers to increase the clamping force so they wouldn't move around in the wind, but would't trust them for much more than a light load with small wind forces. I have a set of OEM bars on my current H3 and they are much sturdier. My advice to the OP based on my experience is to find a good used set of OEM vs. buying new aftermarket.
Aftermarkets could NOT mold the word HUMMER into the end caps without facing the possibility of lawsuits unless they were licensed by GM. Your description of them indicates they ARE O.E.M. Why do you believe they are 'aftermarkets'?
On my last H3 I purchased a set of the aftermarket roof bars and they had the HUMMER logo molded into them, so I would not use that as good indicator of OEM vs aftermarket.
The aftermarket were also extruded aluminum and seemed sturdy, but I never loaded them up so can't vouch for their load carrying capacity. On the ones I got the hold down mechanism was lame, lacking sufficient clamping power to keep the bars from moving when the lock lever was engaged. I ended up adding fender washers to increase the clamping force so they wouldn't move around in the wind, but would't trust them for much more than a light load with small wind forces. I have a set of OEM bars on my current H3 and they are much sturdier. My advice to the OP based on my experience is to find a good used set of OEM vs. buying new aftermarket.
I can assure you the OEM cross bars hold over 500lbs. I've put them to the test many times, they flex downward, yet never broke. The key is to PROPERLY SECURE the load! I always use 2 ratchet tie down straps (3,000lbs break strength) routed over the cargo, through the interior of the rear passenger doors, 1 furthermost forward and 1 rearward, ratchets inside, tight AF. No way for the load to lift/pull out the cross bars, in the wind.
