06 H3
a.k.a. "The Jackal"
- Messages
- 9,493
- Location
- Meridian, ID
Today we did a small run which was originally to Miller Jeep Trail but changed it up last second to dry canyon and to the gorman 4x4 area after the dry canyon run. We ran it with 3 rigs and 8 people, I took 3 newbies with me and my brother had one with him.
Gonna upload pics of the H3 when I get them...
Devyn in the ZJ
My brother in the JK
Before the run I knew I had some slack in the steering but went on the trail anyways. Even with some concern to breaking a rack I REFUSE to take on the trail with me. If I take that then another thing will lead to another and before you know it I will have 2000lbs worth of spares, NOT HAPPENING! I also know that driving with a broken rack is possible so why carry the extra weight.
Now we get to dry canyon. The first part of the trail is fine as always until we get up to the squeeze. Once we get there my brother and devyn get through just fine. Its my turn...out of the 3 attempts in the past I am 1 for 3, now 1 for 4. I get up to the one boulder that always has given me problems...right as I go to climb it my tire slips off and gets me stuck on my springs. Those damn bald ass duratracs were the problem! If I didnt slip I wouldnt have had any issues. With little room to work with (walls on both sides) and being caught on my springs I ended up needing the winch. Which kinda pisses me off...I hate when my brother uses the winch on me. Anyways, nearly every damn time I get stuck its because of tires and the spring under. 40 feet later I get stuck again...on what? springs...
So I have decided on ordering MT/R's. The only part I am unsure about is going with new duratracs as DD tires and then the MT/Rs for off road use only.
I am also doing a spring over. I have been hung up too many times...Go underneath my truck and there were no new scrapes from the front bumper all the way back to the leaf spring hanger. At that point back the H3 took a damn beating! It was scraped to ****. I believe once I have new tires and a spring over my capability will be improved dramatically.
Now on to the steering rack, I must say it seems pretty tough to me. I lost the entire sleeve and the whole rack was banging back and forth in the mount with EXTREME amounts of play. Nothing bad happened...for now I will throw in the stock bushing (have a new one) and will order a new hunner one. I will weld the one end onto the mount itself...It was my fault for not using loctite.
After we went to gorman and must give my brother props! He has been petrified of the sluice box but was willing to give it a try after getting a sweet deal on 4 tube doors for $250. He got all the way through but smacked the **** out of his fender. Luckily the JK fenders pop out dents and are plastic. I didnt enter the sluice due to the rack.
At the end of the day I am on the same page as backcountry. I feel the H3 can be made into a great off road rig but there are a few weak areas that need to be worked out and that starts off with the rear end clearance. The front to mid section is great but the hangers and springs are an issue. Gonna order the stuff from Ruffstuff tomorrow.
Gonna upload pics of the H3 when I get them...
Devyn in the ZJ
My brother in the JK
Before the run I knew I had some slack in the steering but went on the trail anyways. Even with some concern to breaking a rack I REFUSE to take on the trail with me. If I take that then another thing will lead to another and before you know it I will have 2000lbs worth of spares, NOT HAPPENING! I also know that driving with a broken rack is possible so why carry the extra weight.
Now we get to dry canyon. The first part of the trail is fine as always until we get up to the squeeze. Once we get there my brother and devyn get through just fine. Its my turn...out of the 3 attempts in the past I am 1 for 3, now 1 for 4. I get up to the one boulder that always has given me problems...right as I go to climb it my tire slips off and gets me stuck on my springs. Those damn bald ass duratracs were the problem! If I didnt slip I wouldnt have had any issues. With little room to work with (walls on both sides) and being caught on my springs I ended up needing the winch. Which kinda pisses me off...I hate when my brother uses the winch on me. Anyways, nearly every damn time I get stuck its because of tires and the spring under. 40 feet later I get stuck again...on what? springs...
So I have decided on ordering MT/R's. The only part I am unsure about is going with new duratracs as DD tires and then the MT/Rs for off road use only.
I am also doing a spring over. I have been hung up too many times...Go underneath my truck and there were no new scrapes from the front bumper all the way back to the leaf spring hanger. At that point back the H3 took a damn beating! It was scraped to ****. I believe once I have new tires and a spring over my capability will be improved dramatically.
Now on to the steering rack, I must say it seems pretty tough to me. I lost the entire sleeve and the whole rack was banging back and forth in the mount with EXTREME amounts of play. Nothing bad happened...for now I will throw in the stock bushing (have a new one) and will order a new hunner one. I will weld the one end onto the mount itself...It was my fault for not using loctite.
After we went to gorman and must give my brother props! He has been petrified of the sluice box but was willing to give it a try after getting a sweet deal on 4 tube doors for $250. He got all the way through but smacked the **** out of his fender. Luckily the JK fenders pop out dents and are plastic. I didnt enter the sluice due to the rack.
At the end of the day I am on the same page as backcountry. I feel the H3 can be made into a great off road rig but there are a few weak areas that need to be worked out and that starts off with the rear end clearance. The front to mid section is great but the hangers and springs are an issue. Gonna order the stuff from Ruffstuff tomorrow.
