don't give up on H2

[haven]

I hope GM doesn't give up on the Hummer H2. While everybody loves to hate the H2 (gas-guzzling poser-mobile, etc), the underlying hardware is pretty stout. If GM installs the new 4.5L diesel in the H2 in 2010 as originally planned, it will make an intriguing platform for a vehicle like this:

http://i188.photobucket.com/albums/z241/expeditioncampers/ratchet-1.jpg

http://i188.photobucket.com/albums/z241/expeditioncampers/ratchet-2.jpg

This vehicle was built to play the "Ratchet" character in the Transformers movie.

Oh well, if GM does pull the plug on the Hummer, you could use a Chevrolet Silverado as the starting point for a similar project. We should see the 4.5L V8 diesel in GM vehicles in about a year, sold as 2010 models.

Chip Haven

[02TahoeMD]

Actually, if you took off the SAR / Emergency markings along with the red / white flashing lights, and took off that excessively big brush guard, that would indeed make a killer Expeditionary vehicle. I imagine there would be TONS of room ( ok, comparatively speaking.... ) in the cargo area.

It is a shame that is a one-off Hollywood creation.....

[calamaridog]

Truck and suv sales are down and the profit margin on the remaining sales has disappeared. The H2 must die, if for nothing else, the image of said vehicle. It's the poster boy for GM excess and I don't see salvation in the H2's future.

[eugene]

I hope GM doesn't give up on the Hummer H2.v ... the underlying hardware is pretty stout.


Most off road forums I've seen anyone that has had an H2, or suburban/silverado 2500 says the underlying hardware is weak.

[eugene]

Actually, if you took off the SAR / Emergency markings along with the red / white flashing lights, and took off that excessively big brush guard, that would indeed make a killer Expeditionary vehicle. I imagine there would be TONS of room ( ok, comparatively speaking.... ) in the cargo area.

It is a shame that is a one-off Hollywood creation.....

The rear bumper too, notice the body in the rear angles upward but then the bumper hangs way low.

[haven]

It looks like the bumpers were mounted low on purpose. At the moment, each state sets its own rules about bumper height.

[Ron B]

Most off road forums I've seen anyone that has had an H2, or suburban/silverado 2500 says the underlying hardware is weak.

I think the major problems with h2's have been with the tie-rods. They are about the cheapest part on the truck and easily upgradeable. I'm not the biggest h2 fan, but they do wheel very well right off the showroom floor as well as being very comfy. You are right about it being the poster-boy for excess though.

rb

[Ron B]

forgot to add that those bumpers are made by Road Armor:
http://www.roadarmor.com/site/hummer/
a bit over-kill imho!

I bet that ambulance/h2 is pushing the gvw. All that stuff is really heavy and adds up quick.

rb

[FourByLand]

Would be cool if they used them as workhorses, seems like with the right components they would be a good candidate.

[mtrmble]

I feel wieghted down just looking at it!

[Life_in_4Lo]

H2 production is already stopped except for special order, I believe.
H3 sales dropped huge. The entire brand may disappear or be sold off.

I think the Hummer brand may become a casualty of the huge market shift.
GM is scrambling to make the shift and there is a lot of collateral damage.

Jeep is the only profitable brand for Chrysler but otherwise all are in trouble w/ trucks & suv's.

Land Rover & Jaguar are already sold off to Tata in India.

[James86004]

I think the major problems with h2's have been with the tie-rods. They are about the cheapest part on the truck and easily upgradeable.
rb

A friend of ours was out wheeling with his H2 last year, and in a remote canyon in central AZ, the shaft coming out of the bottom of the steering box sheared off. After talking about various tow rope options with the other drivers in their group, they decided it was best to just call GM Roadside Assistance. It took the towing company 10 hours to get it out, and cost $5800. I think GM covered everything.

Picture here:

http://picasaweb.google.com/jessralvarez/20070414BrokenH2/photo?authkey=TO_FGRCsCFs#5053480813963946898

[Ron B]

A friend of ours was out wheeling with his H2 last year, and in a remote canyon in central AZ, the shaft coming out of the bottom of the steering box sheared off. After talking about various tow rope options with the other drivers in their group, they decided it was best to just call GM Roadside Assistance. It took the towing company 10 hours to get it out, and cost $5800. I think GM covered everything.

ouch! never heard of that failing.

[Guinness44]

Never heard of that happen either. Wonder if its got anything to do with the nonstock tire/wheel setup (wrong offset), or just a bad part to start with.

[upcruiser]

I heard that Mahindra is looking at Hummer.

[Fireman78]

He still can't put a ton of gravel in the back like I can!

[eugene]

IIRC the tie rods are the first to fail, then comes the cv joints then the ball joints, etc. If I understand corretly the 2500 series trucks and suv's were designed mainly as on road towing and hauling vehicles, 4x4 was added for pulling boats up ramps and such but they were never really intended for off road use. But marketing departments never look at intended design anyway and threw hummer body on top but the whole vehilce is too heavy for the drivetrain. The 1500 series make better off roaders. Some of the gm 4x4 boards though about replacing 1500 parts with 2500 parts on their 1500 trucks to make them stronger but find the 2500 parts are no improvement so they end up going with aftermarket parts.

[Guinness44]

The H2 body is not thrown on a GM 1500/2500. Certainly some parts are shared.

When the H2 got designed the requirement was that the truck (also the 3) has to be able to do 80 percent what an H1 does, bonestock, but fully loaded. Having been at AMG and their testing/traininggrounds, I wanna see that 1500 in the woods, and the infield. Bet my beer, it will NOT make the first obstacle.

For those who want to know, the net has plenty of info.

[cruiser guy]

For those who want to know, the net has plenty of info.

That's the problem!! I see photos/videos of the Hummers breaking on minor obstacles on Youtube.

Now that you cannot lease a full size I think these are essentially dead except for those who require one of the full size vehicles (which is almost no one).

[eugene]

The H2 body is not thrown on a GM 1500/2500. Certainly some parts are shared.

When the H2 got designed the requirement was that the truck (also the 3) has to be able to do 80 percent what an H1 does, bonestock, but fully loaded. Having been at AMG and their testing/traininggrounds, I wanna see that 1500 in the woods, and the infield. Bet my beer, it will NOT make the first obstacle.

For those who want to know, the net has plenty of info.


I didn't say it was on a 1500, its on a 2500 suburban frame. check the frame specs on www.gmupfitter.com as you say the net has plenty of info, you see the frame drawings for the 2500 sub and h2 are identical as well as a lot of the drivetrain.

[evldave]

I didn't say it was on a 1500, its on a 2500 suburban frame. check the frame specs on www.gmupfitter.com as you say the net has plenty of info, you see the frame drawings for the 2500 sub and h2 are identical as well as a lot of the drivetrain.

Hey you know I dug through that website and couldn't find a frame spec for the Hummer...can you link directly to that page? I did see frame specs for the tahoe/suburban, but for the life of me can't find the H2.

[Guinness44]

Go to Lynch Hummer: then: Changes by year and buying guide: H2 03, the first year, then Chassis.

[panzer]

H2=2500 Suburban
H3=Colorado
Accept it and move forward.

[CapelConcepts]

H2=2500 Suburban
H3=Colorado
Accept it and move forward.

SO TRUE!!!! The only real Hummer is the H1.

An interesting tid bit though, the H2 didn't entirely create a new market when it came out. It took a lot of sales from the Cadillac Escalade. The company I was working for at the time of the H2 intro also noticed a drop in sales for Escalade parts, but it was balanced by the H2. So what does that mean to GM as a whole if now they are losing the H2? Will people go back to Cadillacs?

[Life_in_4Lo]

So what does that mean to GM as a whole if now they are losing the H2? Will people go back to Cadillacs?

GM is billions in losses. The large suv market is dead. They can't make small cars fast enough and people leaving H2 are also leaving Escalades, Suburbans, Tahoes, and all the 'bread n butter' GM vehicles.
GM is so in the hole with it's investors, it basically showed all it's new vehicles undisguised for the next 5 year product plan just to calm investors! They just laid all their cards on the table, which is unheard of.

[Whitey]

Never heard of that happen either. Wonder if its got anything to do with the nonstock tire/wheel setup (wrong offset), or just a bad part to start with.
http://i220.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jrwhite13/DSC02126.jpg
Probably didn't help.