Process in buying H3 (Need advice)
 

Hey All,


New member here... I'm a former 92' Jeep Wrangler owner (1994-2000). It's been almost 14 years and I miss going off-road. The past couple of months I've been looking at a Jeep Unlimited to buy and realized:
1. They can be expensive
2. MPG is comparable to hummer (H3)
3. Hummers just look bad a$$


When I started researching the hummer on the internet I noticed that for some reason they got a bad rap... people either hate them or love them...


Anyway, I'm looking to buy an H3. I have less than a mile commute to work, and will be using it for medium off-roading. Will I need the Adventure package? or will the base do? What year do you recommend? Is the luxury package worth the comfort? Anything I should look out for?


I am debating getting a cheaper one with higher mileage or a little more expensive one with less mileage. What is the sweet spot? I am trying to make the best decision possible... Any help would be great!


Thanks!

Look for a 2007 or later with the Adv/Offroad pkg.

Moved to the H3 forum for more input from 3 owners.

I do not know what medium off roading is, but the adventure gets you firmer shocks, low ratio T Case, and a rear locker. In 09 & 10, a front locker was added to the Adventure package. A non Adventure 3 will do an impressive array of off road obstacles as long as it has good tires, so factor that in your search. An Adventure with good tires is a very capable off road platform.

If you want to combine the Adventure goodies with a leather interior, you would be looking for a Lux-Off Road package.

It all depends on how much you want to spend on your H3.

Remember a lot of these rigs have had parts changed or
modified by previous owners and even dealers.


Purely by sight without the keys to the rig and the doors
locked:


A bone stock H3 Adventure (I5) will have the Bridgstone 285/75R16
tires. Take a peak inside and you will see the center stalk
4x4 controls. There will be 2 buttons to the right side of
the 4x4 controls instead of one.

A bone stock H3 (V8) Alpha (not Championship editions) will have
chrome mirrors, chrome door handles, Alpha badge on the
steering wheel, Alpha Badge on both of the front leather seat
head rests, Alpha Badge on the rear door.


A bone stock H3 (V8) Championship Edition will have Red shocks and
brake calipers, fender flares, matte black hood stripe behind the fake
hood vent, exclusive Ultra Silver Metallic paint, 2 buttons
to the right side of the 4x4 controls. Note: they could be
had with the Base or Chrome Package, Leather or Cloth.


Below is a list by year of different option packages offered
for the H3/H3T I have compiled:


The Adventure package was only available on the I5 equipped
H3/H3Ts.

The OffRoad package was only available on the V8 (Alpha) & Championship) equipped H3/H3Ts.


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 (Leather
optional)/Monsoon/Red Shocks and Brake Calipers/Wheel well
flares/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)




Hope this helps!




.

Judah, I was in the same boat as you 3 years ago. Take your time to find the right one. I was going from old Chevys to the H3. If you are going to do off road trips take the time and find an adventure model. Well worth the time, you WILL kick yourself the first time you want/need a locker and the low range TC. They are out there, just have to find it. If you are only going on light trails any H3 will do.

I would suggest if you don't do alot of driving on the highways the I5. I would prefer lockers, but everytime I go to buy one there is not one close with them. I have wheeled alot of more extreme areas without lockers. if you are careful and understand what is happening, you cna always find another route that they are not needed. the only bad thing I have to say about the I5 motor is with bigger tires they suck driving down the interstate

Wow! Thanks for the replies. Lots of excellent info. Loving the active hummer community already!


I'm debating between these two:


Cars for Sale: 2007 HUMMER H3 in MURRIETA, CA 92562: Sport Utility Details - 369358078 - AutoTrader.com


and


Cars for Sale: 2007 HUMMER H3 Adventure in Colton, CA 92324: Sport Utility Details - 368847051 - AutoTrader.com


What do you think?

The one with the ugly aftermarket rims is not an Adventure, is missing the seat backs, spare tire size does not match the rest of the tires. That tells me that the previous owner has "skimped" on some stuff. It just looks like a nightmare with all of the previous owners "customizations" to deal with when somethign goes wrong.

The other looks pretty nice but the passenger side A pilar trim is jacked up. You will never know until you drive them and look underneath the hood/body.

Go drive 2 or 3 of them that are local, maybe even a low mile 2009 or 2010 even if they are not what you are looking for or can afford. You will get a feel for what a good one will feel like when driving it and you can make a better decision when the one that fits all of your "wants" comes up for sale.

The 1 from Chadwick is an Adventure model. Go look at it, the price looks to be good deal too. Wear your dirty clothes and crawl all over/under it. I bet they will take 17 OTD.

Between those two, I wouldn't even look at the first. Missing seat back nets, wrong size spare... Might be a good deal with that low of mileage, but ultimately it's not an Adventure which it sounds like you are after. The second one isn't perfect, you will need to fix the window trim unless you like loud wind noise and possibly whistling, but that's an easy fix. Overall it looks decent without excessive miles. In your shoes I'd definitely test drive the Adventure.