BajaNomad

A question for Hummer I (and other straightfoward rig) owners who work on them yourselves.

Packoderm - 5-26-2005 at 08:36 PM

I am aware that the armed forces use Hummers. I'm also pretty sure that they have diesels in them. As for the civilian Hummer, are they straight forward to service and repair, or is there such stupidity as having to remove the timing belt in order to replace a water pump? I've been working on my wife's Geo Tracker, and although I am of modest means, it just might be worthwhile to shell out the $125,000 or whatever Hummers cost if they are more substantial and less disposable than my wife's Bic lighter of a Tracker. I guess this is a rant. The engineering and attention to detail is atrocious on the '96 Tracker.

Maybe for non Hummer owners, I'd like to hear your stories regarding how serviceable your rig is. My '92 Ford Ranger is pretty straight forward (I think I can do just about anything on it except the transmission, the rear end, and some of the fuel injection), and my '78 VW bus seems to be a 50/50 mix of ingenuity and engineering weirdness. I'm waiting for it the bus to be 30 years old to where I don't have to worry about smog, then I plan to replace the fuel injection with a Scat single carburator kit.

Packo------

Barry A. - 5-26-2005 at 08:45 PM

My advice, for what it is worth, stick with your old time vehicles. I do not have a clue what is going on under the hood of these newer computer operated vehicles, and it scares the blazes out of me. I can fix my old Baja Bug, and old '69 Ford truck, with no problems, but not these new ones.

By the way, I think the civilian type "military Hummer" is about $85K, and the H2 Hummer about $55K. Personally, I would rather have a "Jeep Rubicon extended" than a Hummer. Hummers are just too big.

Dave - 5-26-2005 at 08:48 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Packoderm
I plan to replace the fuel injection with a Scat single carburator kit.


Why? I assume it's a 2.0 ltr. You won't be gaining anything except carburation which you will have to pay for. FI is "a good thing".

Ken Bondy - 5-26-2005 at 08:53 PM

Packoderm I have put about 80,000 miles on my 1996 H1 (6.5L turbo diesel). Mechanically it has been great, very little service required. I have done all the oil and filter changes myself and can reliably report they are easy to do (the 16" ground clearance helps a lot). Never having needed any other repairs I can't report firsthand, although the clearances and access to everything in the engine compartment looks pretty generous.

++Ken++

PS Barry A I don't think you can touch a new H1 for less than $110K now.

[Edited on 5-27-2005 by Ken Bondy]

[Edited on 5-27-2005 by Ken Bondy]

Packoderm - 5-26-2005 at 09:22 PM

Dave, I just feel that I may get stranded somewhere in Baja if my fuel inj. goes wacky. I do carry a spare for every fuel injection part including an extra "brain." I have also considered buying the Scat carb kit and just carrying it with me when I'm in the hinterlands. I guess I could do that now; all I need is the $275.00 to pay for it.

And Barry, I plan on doing exactly what you are suggesting. On my next trip south, I'd like to find a place, maybe in Mexicali, where I can get a heavy duty, full length roof rack for my bus.

Ken, I've been reading about your H1 for some time. That was you who had a battery terminal go though your fiberglass hood wasn't it? If I remember correctly, you were a good sport about it.:yes:

I really would like to hear some stories about those who work on and customize their own rigs. That is my favorite subject on the Baja sites. I sometimes lurk about Baja.net for just that kind of thing. Maybe I'll try to start a stronger thread on that subject.

Dave - 5-26-2005 at 09:34 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Packoderm
I really would like to hear some stories about those who work on and customize their own rigs. That is my favorite subject on the Baja sites. I sometimes lurk about Baja.net for just that kind of thing. Maybe I'll try to start a stronger thread on that subject.


I'm just starting a major project involving my '79 bay camper. A complete renovation with some minor mods for Baja. Everything comes apart, the body gets refinished and engine rebuilt. New custom interior also.

Hope I live long enough to see it through.:lol:

Ken Bondy - 5-26-2005 at 09:38 PM

Oooops Packoderm I forgot to mention that ;D;D;D. That was indeed me. Add a battery change with a terminal punching through the hood to my list of owner-accomplished repairs :tumble::tumble: I was trying to forget that.
++Ken++

Packoderm - 5-26-2005 at 09:38 PM

Dave, any photos?

Or was that the Dodge Diesel I saw months ago?

[Edited on 07/17/2004 by Packoderm]

Dave - 5-26-2005 at 09:45 PM

I'll see if I can find any "befores". I doubt that you'll want to see a bunch of bus parts lying around on the garage floor.

Still looking for a top notch machine shop in either TJ or Ensenada.

bufeo - 5-26-2005 at 10:33 PM

Quote:

PS Barry A I don't think you can touch a new H1 for less than $110K now.


They're around--and definitely available for >100 grand. In fact, there's a new one on ebay right now for under $65K.

I was looking for one a few months ago and had three new ones ranging in price from $54K to $78K.

After driving one I decided that its dimensions were just out of whack for the backroads we like to travel. I liked the vehicle in so many ways (the three I had narrowed the search to were all diesels) that it was difficult for me to discard it as a choice.

In the end, though, it was the low towing capacity that turned me off. I felt that there was not enough torque to work with.

I'm still infatuated with the H1 (don't care for the H2 or the Jeep Cherokee lookalike successor), but it probably won't make it into our stable.

Sharksbaja - 5-27-2005 at 01:19 AM

yes I like the H1 but the new ones are hurtin' (wheres the clearance?) My wifes bro has two....one for parts :bounce: Their dirt-bike children want a pick-up like mine. Say "not enough room"

bufeo - 5-27-2005 at 08:29 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by whistler
The Hummer's towing capacity is lower than a lot of 1 ton trucks but it's not because of low torque... .


You're correct, whistler, I was careless in my "cut and paste".

Here's the original sentence I had meant to post:

"In the end, though, it was the low towing capacity that turned me off. I felt that there was not enough difference between the max. towing capacity and the wt. of our off-road trailer. It's puzzling though 'cause there's plenty of torque to work with."

I had originally posted that on another web site and did a sloppy job of copying it to this one.

Since Hummer offers a heavier duty hitch for towing (up to 7000 lbs, I think) you'd thing they'd put together something that would move the max up to 10K or thereabouts, but I'm no engineer.

Hey Pack

jrbaja - 5-27-2005 at 09:12 AM

don't forget about the bamboo rack idea. You could be the first with a VW bus.

Packoderm - 5-27-2005 at 09:48 AM

Jr, I tried to talk my wife into the bamboo rack, but she didn't want to go for it. It would be cool looking though. I think I'm going to try to go for a heavy duty metal one.

El Camote - 5-27-2005 at 09:58 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by Dave
Quote:
Originally posted by Packoderm
I plan to replace the fuel injection with a Scat single carburator kit.


Why? I assume it's a 2.0 ltr. You won't be gaining anything except carburation which you will have to pay for. FI is "a good thing".


Hope there was a lot of improvement in VW's F.I. system in 10 years. I had a '69 Squareback in college and the F.I. system was constantly a problem. Leaking injectors, loose temp sensor which made the engine run like sh*t and suck gas. When it ran right I got incredible mileage, like 37 mpg. but that was very rare. Switched to the dual carb set-up and never had another problem. Dave, I'd think seriously about the switch!

Ken Bondy - 5-27-2005 at 10:20 AM

bufeo - obviously I'm looking in the wrong place. All the sticker prices I've seen on new ones in dealerships are over $100K. I wasn't aware you could buy a new one on ebay.
++Ken++

Dave - 5-27-2005 at 10:58 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by El Camote
Hope there was a lot of improvement in VW's F.I. system in 10 years. I had a '69 Squareback in college and the F.I. system was constantly a problem. Leaking injectors, loose temp sensor which made the engine run like sh*t and suck gas. When it ran right I got incredible mileage, like 37 mpg. but that was very rare. Switched to the dual carb set-up and never had another problem. Dave, I'd think seriously about the switch!


When they came out with the 2.0 ltr they got the FI right. I've never had a problem with it even the four years I drove it on Mexican gas. Most convert to carburation because they understand it, can fix it and are afraid that a Mexican mechanic doesn't or can't. IMO, it's much easier to learn FI then go to the expense of switching. And FI is way more efficient, cheaper too.

bufeo - 5-27-2005 at 11:19 AM

++ken++

I just did a very quick search on ebay and found several '06s with miles ranging from 37 to 122 and bids from $31K+ to $85K+. I think each said "Reserve Not Met" but I learned last year that these so-called reserves are negotiable. and one dealer (in NV) offered to deliver the H1 I was interested in to our house in CA (near Santa Barbara) for no charge. At that time the price on that one (a new '05), fully loaded w/manual xmission, was $56K.

I don't know particulars but apparently the H1s have not enjoyed the popularity that GM had hoped for and dealers are negotiating prices aggressively.

[Edited on 5-27-2005 by bufeo]

Sharksbaja - 5-27-2005 at 11:44 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by bufeo
I think each said "Reserve Not Met" but I learned last year that these so-called reserves are negotiable.


Really, how would one do that!

Ken Bondy - 5-27-2005 at 12:00 PM

Thanks bufeo, good info for me. I understand only about 9000 H1s have sold in the US. You have to be crazy to own one, I am a good example of that. But I sure love mine and will never get rid of it. OTOH at those prices for a new 05 I might get another one :lol:
++Ken++

[Edited on 5-27-2005 by Ken Bondy]

I looked at one yesterday

Sharksbaja - 5-27-2005 at 12:21 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Ken Bondy
Thanks bufeo, good info for me. I understand only about 9000 H1s have sold in the US. You have to be crazy to own one, I am a good example of that. But I sure love mine and will never get rid of it. OTOH at those prices for a new 05 I might get another one :lol:
++Ken++



At Safeways parking lot. I dunno what happened but they look awfully low to the ground. The step was only like 14 inches off the ground. I sure thought they would have more than that. :?:

Ken Bondy - 5-27-2005 at 12:30 PM

Sharks the H1 spec book sez it has 16" ground clearance. I measured mine and it has more than that but I am using 38" tires.

Sharksbaja - 5-28-2005 at 12:38 AM

Kores' probably the best for wide open desert and has a great rep. I personally needed a little more clearance for deep mud and rocky terrain so I put together my own package utilizing Toyo 36s and a 6 in tuff-country lift. Fox shocks and Weld offset 18 in rims. Handles excellent on all surfaces. Still maintains a very good COG. Feels perfect at 110mph. I have always admired the H1 although I have never driven one. The owners are very protective!:tumble: I hope yer gas mileage is better than mine, Ken.:(

[Edited on 5-28-2005 by Sharksbaja]

Ken Bondy - 5-28-2005 at 07:08 AM

Any time Whistler. No bib required. Sharks I get a reliable 10mpg.

++Ken++

Sharksbaja - 5-31-2005 at 12:07 AM

stupid mouse buttons... lost my post somehow when I just clicked on the text.....

Ken, my mileage hangs around 12-14, magic speed is around 80. Guess what, a good lookin' H1 Hummer was parked directly in front of the restaurant tonight. Man they just look bad(that's good)! I went out and saw it had Toyo M/Ts 15.50X20X38s. I also noticed the front tires had conciderably noticable more tread wear on the fronts. I have the opposite. More(much) in the rears. Odd I think cause I don't burn em although I use 4x only when absolutely necessary.
Whistler, I shop at Les Schwab tire. They are a good bunch of off-road guys who love to lift and beef up trucks(never seen so many 2500s until I built mine up). They are dealers for Toyo, Weld and M/ts and fix flats free etc. Labor very reasonable too. I was asked to give some of the new Edelbrock shocks a good beating in Baja. They say wonderful things about em. We'll see.