Once again I repeat, and Impy will back me up on this one. The lame "traction control" our rides have is NOT a replacement for front lockers! The E-locker in back is OK but it works only in 4L and at speeds less than 20 MPH which makes it useless in goopy mud holes. That's where the Rubicon and Dodge Power Wagon have the HUMMER beat hands down. Front and rear (real) lockers, solid front axle and disconnecting front sway bar...Now that's a real 4x4! Our HUMMERS are nice off road rigs, better than a Grand Cherokee or a piece of crap YoyTota but they can't compare to rigs with the aforementioned setup. The new H4 will have a front locker and a cast iron front punkin'. Well done General Motors, but you should have done this to the H3 a long time ago.

"That's all I have to say 'bout that." (Forrest Gump)

http://www.4wheeloffroad.com/roadtes...iew/index.html
http://www.4x4abc.com/4WD101/locking.html

 

rhill is correct, I have the BFG A/Ts. I don't have much mud out here and I chose ride/noise quality and tire wear over Mud Terrain off-road capability. The A/Ts are definitely a compromise but still way better than stock tires. If you are doing mud, and going to 35s, I would really take a look at the new BFG KM2s.

I also compromised on size, doing 295/75-16 vs. 285 or 315s

 

We don't get much mud here either. Many sand, rock and the occasional chance to get muddy. The MTR is a good all around tire.

 

amen! i love my hummer, but realjeep pointed out its three weaknesses, traction control, the locker situation, and ifs front end. i love my hummer and they are indeed bada** offroad machines...to some extent

 

Re-read the post guys.
The GY Wranglers aren't a bad tyre but unless they're Wrangler M/T's then they are not a mud tire.
He says his rear was spinning and the front would not pull him out. Traction control sucks and is not a replacement for a locker in the fornt end.
His friends had lockers and they walked right out of the hole. Don't think your H3 is a true 4x4 because at best it a 3x4 with a rear locker and I grade that down to a 2-1/2X4 because the locker only works in LR and below 20MPH. I'm glad GM's listening because the H3T will have a front locker soon!

 

Real Jeep, while I do agree with you, you're being a bit harsh on the H3. How many production vehicles are available with OEM front locking differentials? Wrangle, Power Wagon, Land Cruiser and I'm sure there is a small handful of others. Add to that that the Wrangler and Power Wagon both have SFA, which are much more sutable for lockers. Given that, the Land cruiser has had the front locker since the mid 90, but If I'm not mistaken, the Jeep and Dodge have only had 'em for a few years. It's a relatively new trend and it looks like GM is getting on the bandwagon.

Front locking differentials aren't even that prevalent in built 4X4s for a number of reasons like driveability, turning radius, availability, and primarily durability. Locked front axles have a tendency to have problems with breakage.

 

My Alpha came with Goodyear Wrangler AT which were like highway tires as far as I was concerned. Those were gone the first week I owned my H3 for BFG/AT 295/75R16 which like rhill said are very good tires and I have owned many sets of them but they are not really very good off road tires. The best tires I have ever owned are the Toyo Open Country Mud Tires 315/75R16. I had 2 sets of them on my Powerstroke and they are great in mud, snow and on the highway but noisy and the best I could ever get out of them was 25,000 miles but that was an 8000# truck.

In mud like that I think it’s the tires and momentum that keeps you going. Once you stop you’re done andif you’re in muck and get high centered no matter what you got you’re finished! The only thing you need then is a winch. Been there, done that! [:@]

 

Back to Realjeeps defense though GM or someone should offer front lockers, fully locked an H3 would dominate MANY vehicles the problem is the parts aren't available unless you custom fabricate them. Where you at ARB and OX? Maybe a Detroit Locker?

 

Of course I like my H3 or I wouldn't have bought it. It's the most capable out of the box SUV under $50,000 on the market. But my case for lockers stands and GM knows it or it wouldn't have put them in the H3T. These aren't your Dad's lockers (Detroit, etc..) these are Eaton E-Lockers that are not as good as ARB air lockers but nice nonetheless. All I'm saying is a rig with 4 locked corners, even with A/T tires will excel off road. You can have TSL/SX swampers (The best tire for mud ever IMHO) and open diffs and still the rig with lockers will win.
Simply put, here's how they work. With open diffs, the wheel with most slip gets the most power. Add "Traction Control" and the computer puts the brakes on the slipping tire to send power to the other side with more traction. So now you have one wheel with the brake on and the other side trying to get a grip until they equalize power. Not my idea of a good off road set up and one reason why your H3 turns off Stabilitrak in four low. Go figure...

FOURNEY: I have no idea why so few manufacturers offer so few off road products for H3's. If you want bling the catalog is full of them, if you want real off road gear yer outta luck!

 

I know all too well realjeep. my problem is that i don't want bling so i guess im SOL until parts start being munufactured. My fantasy is a fully locked H3