Hello. I'm looking into getting a hummer h3 for overlanding and 4weeling. I'm aware they don't make lift kits for them anymore. But they do come with front and rear lockers standard. And u can get a levelling kit. So I'm woundering does anyone own an h3 and use it off road? How well does it perform? Do I need to dump loads of cash to get it off road safely? Alternatively if u have any recommendations for a different 4x4 to look into around the same price range 10-15k not jeep. Thank you for your time.

 

Ok so not all H3s have lockers. You don’t need a leveling kit. And if you’re going to wheel with it, s with any other vehicle, make sure you know how to wrench. I’ve wheeled for a lot of years with several different vehicles; things break

 

Honestly, I've owned my H3 since 2011 and can say from mho that don't lol. I'd personally look into a suburban, Tahoe, fj cruiser, land cruiser or the like.
Ironically these and other vehicles have way more aftermarket support and parts are more readily available and parts are less expensive.
Sadly, the Hummer is a dead and dying breed. If you can do extensive hands on and are really skilled at Fab work it's a great platform to start with. If not be prepared to spend big dollars for even minor repairs. I'm blessed to have a basic knowledge of vehicles and can repair and have repaired a lot on the H3's but they're getting old and hi mileage is part of the equation.

But of course u r on a Hummer H3 forum and opinion is going to be contray to what my personal experience has been. We have had an 06 H3 & 07 H3 so I speak with a bit of insight about these two. The cost of parts and availability at times has been stupidly difficult, expensive compared to say a Jeep Wrangler or Cherokee and the selection to choose from is quite limited. Recently my hunny's H3 was destroyed in an accident and she chose not to purchase another even though she adored her H3. I mean she luved her H3 lol!
But from her point of view it just wasn't logical any longer. She purchased a 2018 Jeep compass and luves it.
Crazy thing is there are more aftermarket parts, add-ons available for a Compass then her 06 H3 lol!
I'm a die hard so I've kept my H3 and continue to do up keep. And there in lies the rub ... Jmho

 

Leveling kit = complete waste of $$.

You need TIRES, some undercarriage protection, and some rock rails. The Adventure and Off Road packages get you a rear locker, plus a front locker in 2009+. Did I say TIRES? Yes, tires.
You could add more, but tires, rock rails and undercarriage protection are the basics.

The H3 can wheel with anything, don't need lift kits to do it. Lift kits are for kids.

 

Hope this helps!

Option Packages:
2006 H3
Base-Cloth/standard radio/Black accents / 265/75R16(32”)
Adventure-Cloth/Black accents/4:1 transfer case/Rear Locker/ 285/75R16(33”)
Lux-Leather/Chrome
Option Package Combinations:
Base w/Adventure, Lux w/Adventure

2007 H3
Base Engine 3.7L I5
Option Packages:
Base-Cloth/standard radio/Black accents/ 265/75R16(32”)
Adventure-Cloth/Black accents/4:1 transfer case/Rear Locker/ 285/75R16(33”)
Lux-Leather/Chrome
Option Package Combinations:
Base w/Adventure, Lux w/Adventure

2008 H3
Base Engine 3.7L I5 Optional Engine: 5.3L V8 (Alpha only)
Option Packages:
Base-Cloth/standard radio/Black accents/ 265/75R16(32”)
Adventure-Cloth/Monsoon radio/Black accents/4:1 transfer case/Rear Locker/ 285/75R16(33”)
Lux-Leather/Chrome
H3X-Leather/Chrome/18" wheels/Monsoon/Square Chrome Brushguard/ 265/65R18(32”)
Alpha-Leather/Chrome/Monsoon radio/Cast Iron Front Diff
OffRoad(only on Alpha) -4:1 transfer case/Rear Locker / 285/75R16(33”)
Option Package Combinations:
Base w/Adventure, Lux w/Adventure, Alpha/OffRoad

2009 H3 & H3T
Base Engine 3.7L I5 Optional Engine: 5.3L V8 (Alpha and Championship Edition only)
Option Packages:
Base-Cloth/standard radio/Black accents/ 265/75R16(32”)
Adventure- Cloth/Monsoon radio/Black accents/4:1 transfer case/Front & Rear Locker//Cast Iron Front Diff/ 285/75R16(32”)
Lux-Leather/Chrome
H3X-Leather/Chrome/18" wheels/Monsoon/Square Chrome Brushguard/ 265/65R18(32”)
Championship Edition- V8, Cloth/Monsoon/Red Shocks and Brake Calipers/Hood Sticker/ 285/75R16(33”)
Alpha-Leather (Cloth optional on H3T)/ Chrome (Black optional H3T)/Monsoon radio/Cast Iron Front Diff
OffRoad(only on Alpha)-4:1 transfer case/Front & Rear Locker/ Cast iron front diff/ 285/75R16(33”)
Option Package Combinations:
Base w/Adventure, Lux w/Adventure, Alpha/OffRoad, H3X/Alpha, Championship Edition, Alpha/Base(H3T only)

2010 H3 & H3T
Base Engine 3.7L I5 Optional Engine: 5.3L V8 Flex Fuel (Alpha only)
Option Packages:
Base- Cloth/standard radio/Black accents/ 265/75R16(32”)
Adventure- Cloth/Monsoon radio/Black accents/4:1 transfer case/Front & Rear Locker/ /Cast Iron Front Diff
Lux- Leather/Chrome
Alpha-Cloth (Leather optional)/ Black Accents (Chrome optional)/Monsoon radio
OffRoad(only on Alpha)-4:1 transfer case/Front & Rear Locker/ Cast iron front diff/ 285/75R16(33”)
Option Package Combinations:
Base w/Adventure, Lux w/Adventure, Alpha/OffRoad, Alpha/Base(H3T only)

 

Hi Quinton. You can buy my Alpha if you would like to; my wife refuses to drive it.

 

My wife refused to drive it when I bought it too! I finally convinced her to drive it, and sat passenger. The only problem, she was driving down the street 2ft+ away from the curb, I corrected that. Since then, not only has it been numerous trips home, for her as the DD from the family party's, events, bars, etc.(a few times in major snow storms), she also drives it alone. 7yrs later and never a problem.

 

Awesome pic, Air Doc! :