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My H3T

cdarveaux

cdarveaux

Well-Known Member
Messages
544
Location
Colorado Springs, CO
So I have been dreaming about having a HUMMER since I can remember. I passed all my classes, which was the agreement between my father and I, if I was to pass all my classes I could get my truck. SOOOOO I spotted this sexy H3T sitting all lonely in Austintown, Ohio and I said I HAD TO HAVE IT. August 12th we flew out from Houston and landed in Cleveland, It was hard to sleep because I was thinking about it. We go to the dealership and we go out for a test dive at this time I was ecstatic, we come back to the dealership and the guy is like:"Hey do you wanna go on the test track?" All I could do was nod, we go on the test track and my father was taken away by its performance on the test track (At the time the truck was stock). He was sold as was I, we purchased it for $32,000 and we drove it all the way back to Houston. Since then I have been putting upgrades in it and I REALLLLLYYYYYYY want to go off roading. Here are some pics from when I first got it to now.
IMG_0672.jpgIMG_0688.jpgIMG_0749.jpg
Plasti-Dipped Grille, Rims, Handles, and Mirriors. Then my buddy and I installed ThorParts' rear bumper
IMG_1389.JPGimage-1.jpgIMG_1431.jpgIMG_1432.jpgIMG_1447.jpgIMG_1453.jpg

Don't worry I'm not done, I'd like to know how to plug my winch to the battery so I don't drive my dad nuts with all the labor bills.
 
Hans3T

Hans3T

Lif"T"ed
Messages
3,035
Location
NC
I had a similar situation. We didn't fly out to WA to get mine...we had it shipped though.

Congrats on the truck! Enjoy it!
 
Bigunit

Bigunit

Hammer Down!
Staff member
Messages
6,561
Location
Arizona
Great looking T. Congratulations. Sounds like you have a great dad!

Sent from my DROID RAZR using Tapataint
 
4speedfunk

4speedfunk

Well-Known Member
Messages
4,250
Location
Tardville
Looks good. Let me know if you need any input on the gate. I built the original THORparts gates myself, and I can get you any info you need to make your own.
 
Last edited:
RamRod

RamRod

Well-Known Member
Messages
3,914
Location
AB, Canada
4speedfunk said:
Looks good. Let me know if you need any input on the gate. I built the original THORparts gates myself, and I can get you any info you need to make your own.
Click to expand...

Whats got me stumped is how to do the pivot point properly.... I built one rear tire carrier 3 years ago and never came up with a setup that I liked and was happy with...
Whats the best?
 
4speedfunk

4speedfunk

Well-Known Member
Messages
4,250
Location
Tardville
Whats got me stumped is how to do the pivot point properly.... I built one rear tire carrier 3 years ago and never came up with a setup that I liked and was happy with...Whats the best?
Click to expand...

I've never met a side-hinged spare tire gate that I truly liked (on any vehicle). IMO...the best idea is to replace the entire tailgate with a tubular spare-tire gate...
tiregate_340.jpg tiregate_147.jpg
For some reason this turns-off a lot of H3T owners, and the only other idea I can come up with is the original side-hinged spare tire gate. Even though I came up with it, designed it, and built a few of em...I'm not a huge fan of the original THORparts design. Like you, I was never super-happy with it, and its not what I would want on my own personal truck if I owned an H3T. I would much rather have something like the ones pictured above. I could whip one of these out in no time flat but, T's are very rare in my area and I would need the truck here at my shop to build a prototype. I still do not have access to one, nor do I know anyone in a 300 mile radius that owns one.

The problem with the side-ways hinged design is the weight of the spare, and the single hinge point. It really needs two hinges, (upper and lower) but thats impossible due to the H3T's tail-light design. To make matters worse, there are guys that want to hang a bunch of other stuff on it...jerry cans, hi-lifts, shovels, etc. which causes even more stress to the single hinge point. Lastly...it takes a very large foot-print to swing such a long gate. Its very awkward in a parking lot or garage, and downright dangerous when you're parked on a sideways incline. So for all these reasons...I dropped it. I simply don't think the side-ways hinged design is worthy of pursuing.

For those of you wanting to build your own side-ways hinging gate....check out the numerous Jeep and Toyota designs all over the net. Slee Offroad makes some real nice gates, and so does RockHard4x4. Parts like pivots, latches, bump-stops, etc. can be bought all over the internet and there are many designs to choose from. The pivot bracket that I used on the THORparts T bumper was my own design because I couldn't find one that I liked. I can get you drawings of it, and I can even get you the bracket pre-made, powder-coated, and shipped to you. If you're interested shoot me a PM and I'll get you a price.
 
SolidusJ

SolidusJ

Well-Known Member
Messages
2,028
Location
FT. Carson, CO
4speedfunk said:
I've never met a side-hinged spare tire gate that I truly liked (on any vehicle). IMO...the best idea is to replace the entire tailgate with a tubular spare-tire gate...
View attachment 9350 View attachment 9351
For some reason this turns-off a lot of H3T owners, and the only other idea I can come up with is the original side-hinged spare tire gate. Even though I came up with it, designed it, and built a few of em...I'm not a huge fan of the original THORparts design. Like you, I was never super-happy with it, and its not what I would want on my own personal truck if I owned an H3T. I would much rather have something like the ones pictured above. I could whip one of these out in no time flat but, T's are very rare in my area and I would need the truck here at my shop to build a prototype. I still do not have access to one, nor do I know anyone in a 300 mile radius that owns one.

The problem with the side-ways hinged design is the weight of the spare, and the single hinge point. It really needs two hinges, (upper and lower) but thats impossible due to the H3T's tail-light design. To make matters worse, there are guys that want to hang a bunch of other stuff on it...jerry cans, hi-lifts, shovels, etc. which causes even more stress to the single hinge point. Lastly...it takes a very large foot-print to swing such a long gate. Its very awkward in a parking lot or garage, and downright dangerous when you're parked on a sideways incline. So for all these reasons...I dropped it. I simply don't think the side-ways hinged design is worthy of pursuing.

For those of you wanting to build your own side-ways hinging gate....check out the numerous Jeep and Toyota designs all over the net. Slee Offroad makes some real nice gates, and so does RockHard4x4. Parts like pivots, latches, bump-stops, etc. can be bought all over the internet and there are many designs to choose from. The pivot bracket that I used on the THORparts T bumper was my own design because I couldn't find one that I liked. I can get you drawings of it, and I can even get you the bracket pre-made, powder-coated, and shipped to you. If you're interested shoot me a PM and I'll get you a price.
Click to expand...

Would you make something this?

http://www.hummer4x4offroad.com/forum/showthread.php?5392-One-Off-Tiregate
 
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