jakesz28 build thread

[jakesz28]

Not much to talk about right now. But I thought I would start a thread to get to know every one a little better and let you know what I have done so far.

The first change was caused by the need for increased space for camping, going to the drive inn, or to the drag strip.

I removed the spare tire carrier, had some 1.5" tubing bent, welded the supports on and modified a hitch mounted carrier to go over the spare tire.

This was just finished up in time to load up and go camping.

 

[jakesz28]

The next thing I added was a Thor Parts front bumper. Man I wish I would have ordered the rear bumper at the same time.

No pics of the work in progress.

Looks a little funny with out a winch!

 

[jakesz28]

Next was still added for the need of extra storage space. The vehicle that was easily traded in for the H3 was a dodge durango. So the third row of seats and extra inside width made it easy to carry clothes, tent, cooking gear, cooler but most importantly the 10 by 10 pop up shelter. which is to long to easily fit in the back. I also had a 17' canoe that I needed to haul to the river.

So I ordered about the cheapest roof rack that I could find before I really found the decent forums and did any research. A Warrior Products roof rack. This is just the universal fit. with the universal mounts.

So I made some T-nuts out of some 6061 aluminum stock.

Here you can also see the 9500LB winch I added, plus the roller fairlead license mount and the blacked out grill.

 

[jakesz28]

Here is a cheap grill gaurd I picked up used. I plan to take this off and build one that is different and will hold up to the ocasional midwest deer accident. I also finally purchased a set of tires. Picked up 5 Nitto trail grappler 315/75R16's.

 

[jakesz28]

I added an ARB awning. At this time I wish I would have ordered the full legth roof rack. So since I did not want the awning longer then the roof rack I just go the four foot (or1250mm) one and put it on the rear of the rack. It works great if I park facing the sun.

 

[jakesz28]

I never took any picks, but I did take the front sway bar links off. I carefully ground flats on then so I can stop them from spinning with a wrench. Removing these was the hardest mod I have done. I twisted the 5mm allen wrench trying to remove them and had a hard time holding them from spinnning with a pair of channel locks. So now I can pull one side to disconnect the front sway bar. I don't have pictures of the JKS quicker disconnects (WJ#3100) that I shortened and retapped to use as rear disconnects. I can go snap pictures of the final product but should have taken during the process.

I also added the GM rock rails and CBphoto's under carriage protection.The next will be mounting an air compressor and tank. I ordered the puma compressor and tank. I have seperated the tank and compressor. I plan to put the tank in the front bumper and the compressor infront of the air filter box. This thing with a full tank of air pumped an empty 35x12.50 super swamper from 0 to 40 PSI in less then a minute and a half.

.

 

[Pappibri]

I commend you on the awesome job you have done thus far... Like all of the lil mods you have done as well as the larger ones. Like your basket creation for the rear... Those Nitto's look aggresive on your rig.. I plan on buying me some 315-75-16's when I can afford some.. Will just keep them for my offroad adventures and run the 265-75-16 all other times.. Tis my daily driver. But good job and keep us posted with pics... Nice build thread.:thumbs:

 

[Nacho]

Great build, really sharp looking 3. Do you have any interference with the over the spare rack and the 315 sized tires?

 

[jakesz28]

Great build, really sharp looking 3. Do you have any interference with the over the spare rack and the 315 sized tires?

Yes I do. I made a 1.5 inch spacer out of some thru hole lug nuts that I retired from my Camaro. They worked good with the stock tire. Now with the 315's i need to actually make some treaded spacers out of aluminum to space the tire out farther. I think if the spacers were 2.5 inches it would clear.

 

[alrock]

Very nice build! Though this was either a really slow build or your kid is the fastest growing kid on the planet - comparing your before and after pics:

New tires, brush guard and the kid doubled in height!

 

[06 H3]

Nice build! I really like what you have done so far

 

[jakesz28]

Two different kids. The baby I left home and took the ten year old out.

Actually all this happened in about a month or two. The next mods will cost more and not all of them will fit in the bolt on category.

 

[jakesz28]

Well do to the hummer not starting the next mod is in the the parts ordering stage. Just ordered a double battery tray and will be adding two optima batteries. Undecided on the type of battery isolator. Tempted to go with a constant duty soleniod, but thinking of an actual diode style isolator and the soleniod for self jump starts. I want to make sure I use a high current soleniod. Just if I go with the diode style isolator I wont need the consant duty soleniod.

 

[Expendable]

curious as to how come you chose to go with a dual battery setup?

 

[jakesz28]

I want to go with the dual isolated batteries, do to the fact that I have the winch and a high current air compressor. I just feel there may be times when I'm running one of these and not running, the engine. Then add the cold winters here which lower the cca. So I want to be able to do a self jump start if needed.

 

[Expendable]

ahhh, makes sense.

I'm guessing yellow tops rather than red tops then?

 

[M22KLARS]

Man great mods for a guy from Iowa. :wink:

 

[jakesz28]

What's wrong with a guy from Iowa?
Well the dual battery tray is ordered. I put another battery in it for now. I have a yellow top here. But yes that is what I plan to use at this time. After some more thought and research I have decided to just use a consent duty relay that will be energized while running. On Monday or Tuesday I'm ordering a Thor rear bumper. My biggest concern or reason to replace the bumper at this time is to protect the trailer wiring harness. Plus it just looks bad ass and matches the front bumper. I do not care for the placement of the factory towing harness. I plan to add the extra mount on the drivers side and add an extra tow hook. So anyone have a factory tow hook they don't need?

 

[jakesz28]

Dual battery tray is here. Plus the Thor parts rear bumper is here. Pics are a couple weeks out. Leaving town again this weekend.

 

[jakesz28]

Well before I left on go to Australia I thiefed the battery out of the Camaro to put in the hummer. I do have the dual battery tray here. I need to paint them and get the bedliner on them. Then I will start that phase of the upgrades. I decided to just go with a constant duty soleniod for the battery isolator.

But since Im back and the new Thor parts bumper was in the dining room. I decided to install it and get a look at what it was going to take to mount the second tow hook on the back.

So I need one of these on the other side. I will be ordering a donor bumper mount to weld to the tow bar.

Here is a quick pic of the bumper. I wire tied the plate to the spare tire. But will be ordering or making a mount for it.



You can see in this pic the main reason I had for the new rear bumper. I no longer have to worry about ripping the trailer wiring harness apart. It has been buried and packed with mud a couple times. It was funny that the plastic cover for the top of the original rear bumper weighed almost as much as the bumper. When you pick this one up you will realize that its going to last a long time even if you are scraping off of boulders.

 

[jakesz28]

Another one were it doesn't look as shiny.

 

[Justanotherhemi]

Great look Hummer and build. How are the Trail Grapplers holding up? I upgraded to the exact same tire and size and got grief for going with Nitto.

 

[jakesz28]

Love em. I have been out twice in the mud. Both times I was able to get thru the trails without having to throw a lot of mud. Both times I had a cleaner vehicle and got stuck less then the others. I find myself driving with less go peddle. They are not a super swamper tsl, but they ride nice down the road. They were easy to balance and the guy that talked me into buying them runs them out at Moab and recommended them over the km2's. He said they real similiar. They worked decent in the hard packed snow and pulled me thru some deep long drifts.

 

[jakesz28]

Well I braved the cold wind chill here in Iowa in 10* weather to install an Airdoc and K&N filter. I also added a new half shaft to my spare parts collection.

 

[j3jackson]

Sharp truck, hope you can bring it down to Frostbite.