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H3 H3 frame question

rustybacon54

Member
Messages
5
Location
Detroit, MI
So this guy that I'm buying some H3 parts from has said something along the lines of, "these trucks have the strongest frames ever made because of they're made from high carbon steel". Any thoughts on this?
 

5gn-h3t

Well-Known Member
Messages
616
Location
Northeast Pennsyltucky
I don’t know if they are the strongest ever but they are made from a high strength steel and are fully boxed. My friend works in collision repair and he tells me that the frames are extremely difficult to pull.
 

Zach

Mall Crawler
Messages
4,812
Location
So Cal
There is a weak point. Where the lower control arm meets the frame at the rear bushing. On street accidents, I’ve seen them buckle at that spot. Which required frame replacement. Off road, have never seen that issue. Go figure
 

JPaul

Well-Known Member
Messages
2,400
Location
Way up north, UT
There is a weak point. Where the lower control arm meets the frame at the rear bushing. On street accidents, I’ve seen them buckle at that spot. Which required frame replacement. Off road, have never seen that issue. Go figure

Pretty sure that's a design feature to improve crash ratings, though I guess that depends on how severe those accidents were. You can also see a few spots up by the bumper that are designed to buckle the frame to absorb crash energy.
 

4speedfunk

Well-Known Member
Messages
4,212
Location
Tardville
Wow. As somebody that has cut apart and re-welded several H3 frames...I can promise they are far from “strongest ever made”. In fact...they are very flimsy. So flimsy that certain shelf type winch mounts can bend them during a hard pull.

The entire front frame from the motor mounts forward is intentionally designed to collapse in a collision. Same for the rear frame rails. I deal with lots of wrecked H3’s and more often than not...a wrecked H3 will need some “massaging” to get bumper bolt holes to line up properly.

I’m not saying this is a bad thing...it does save lives. But from a builder’s perspective, I would definitely beef up the frame for serious off-roading.

THORparts frame plates. Laser cut from .250” steel...
10d30a6156f47e503c4696bb27850941.jpg
 

alrock

El Diablo
Staff member
Messages
10,442
Location
Scottsdale
I know the H2 frames can bend from a stump pull as well. I think it's the nature of things now with collision safety.
 

Zach

Mall Crawler
Messages
4,812
Location
So Cal
I know the H2 frames can bend from a stump pull as well. I think it's the nature of things now with collision safety.

Stump pull? Really? I’ve really only seen one stump in pictures and those go way back. Really even wasn’t that big of a stump.

Just saying! And hi El Diablo. [emoji33].
 

2010H3TAlpha

Well-Known Member
Messages
563
Location
Issaquah, WA
Wow. As somebody that has cut apart and re-welded several H3 frames...I can promise they are far from “strongest ever made”. In fact...they are very flimsy. So flimsy that certain shelf type winch mounts can bend them during a hard pull.

Yikes, which types of winch mounts do you recommend to avoid this bending?
 

Korby7

Well-Known Member
Messages
395
Location
Utah
Sigh.... one day.
 

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JPaul

Well-Known Member
Messages
2,400
Location
Way up north, UT
Thorparts or ARB. Not really anything else out there aside from custom (or essentially custom, there is a DIY kit I think).

4speed, speaking of your bumper, I have a mod I'm eventually going to make to mine to put a front receiver tube in just below the fairlead (once I'm done renovating my suspension). Might be something to consider adding as an option.
 

humvee

Well-Known Member
Messages
507
Location
Doha, Qatar
Same for the rear frame rails. I deal with lots of wrecked H3’s and more often than not...a wrecked H3 will need some “massaging” to get bumper bolt holes to line up properly.

I once pulled a land cruiser from a sand pit using the rear toe hook. I yanked it out harder than I should with more tries than I should, and definitely feel like it affected the frame alignment a little. I always had a slight vibration that I could never get rid of at 60mph, its now increased and I regret it.


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