The Magazine for Hummer ts - The Hummer Experience

The Magazine for Hummer ts 

www.ultimatehummersmag.com FALL 2006 

HummersGoneB ERSERK! 

Who Says You Have To Break The Bank? 

2006 Hummer Homecoming 

NO More RUB! 

USED H1s 

BAJA 500 

At Over $500,000, The Most 

Expensive Hummer 

You’ve Ever Seen 

Ultimate Hummers $4 US/ $ 6 CAN

FALL 2006 

www.ultimatehummermag.com 

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3rd Annual Hummer Homecoming 

A wise man once said, “I’ll get all the 

sleep I need when I’m dead.” Actually, 

now that I think about it, I am pretty sure 

that was Sam Elliot’s character Wade 

Garrett in the movie Roadhouse. 

ALL 4 Show! 

Putting a lot of money into your Hummer 

takes on a whole new meaning! 

X Concept SRV 

After Three Years, What Started Out As A 

Drawing Finally Becomes Reality As CASBORN 

DESIGNS Releases Its New Radical Hummer 

Hummers Gone Berzerk! 

If you have a penchant for collecting 

Hummers, or just looking to get your 

hands on an affordable one, then Angry 

Iron just might have the solution. 

BAJA 500 

The late start combined with the 425 mile race 

distance made it clear that we would be out on 

the course until the early morning hours. 

[Features]

Berserker [Photo by: Amanda Lindley] 

Take a ride with Ultimate Hummers 

Subscribe now online at 


New Stuff 

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News 

It’s been 20 years since the HMMWV was first 

put into service and now the Pentagon and the 

US Army wants something new. 

HummahTech 

Unless AMG and GM change their minds, the 

only way you will be able to get an H1 will be 

used. 

View From Washington 

It’s easy to understand why the public is a 

mite ticked-off at notoriously naughty Big 

Oil’s manipulation of world petroleum prices. 

Product Profile 

No More RUB! 

Off Roadin’ 

The Hi-Lift Jack – Yeah, It is THAT Good! 

HummerLife 

[Departments]

Ultimate Hummers 

Magazine 

Publisher/Editor in Chief 

Marlon Cole 

Executive Editor 

Michele Cole 

Managing Editor 

John Richards 

Contributing Editors 

Bruce Scott Levinson 

John Schumacher 

Chuck Kopelson 

Manny MacMillan 

Jim Ober 

George R Thompson 

Copy Editor 

Linda Vanderpool 

Art, Design & Layout 

John Richards 

Marlon Cole 

Photography 

Jim Ober 

Marlon Cole 

Advertising Sales 

Calvin Trout 

630-654-9124 

calvintrout@ultimatehummermag.com 

Peg Williams-Southern Image Inc 

800-881-4684 

peg@ultimatehummermag.com 

Circulation 

Brian Gregory 

RCS (Ryder Circulation) 

Marketing/Promotions 

Everett Roberts 

Marilyn Cole 

Ronnie Shaw 

Shaun Blair 

Corey Smiley 

How to reach us: 

631.249.4901 

Ultimate Hummers Magazine 

53 E Merrick Rd Unit 2 #360 

Freeport, NY 11520 


Publisher: marlon@ultimatehummermag.com 

UltimateHummers® (ISSN 1576-2639) is 

published quarterly by Cole Publishing Inc. 

Copyright© 2006 by Cole Publishing, Inc. All 

rights reserved. Nothing in this magazine may be 

reprinted in whole or in part without the expressed 

permission of the Publisher. Unless special 

arrangements are made in advance, all published 

materials becomes the sole property of Cole 

Publishing, Inc. The Hummer name, H1 and H2 

are registered trademarks of GM and is not 

affiliated with UltimateHummers Magazine 

FromthePu blisher 

Hello Fellow Hummerphiles 

Gas prices have fallen a tad, and with that SUV sales have 

risen. See how they control us like puppets? And now with 

falling fuel prices they want to cut production to stop a 

gallon of gas from from getting any cheaper. But even when 

gas prices hovered over $3, Hummer sales, especially the 

H3 continued to rise. And with the newly opened South 

African plant, and with strong hints of a forthcoming H4, 

the HUMMER name continues its forward momentum. 

This issue we visit with X Concept Motorsports for the 

exclusive unveiling of its X Concept SRV. Casborn Design 

and X Concept Motorsports have spent over three years 

finalizing the designs, through costly R&D, to come up with 

the final product. The X Concept SRV represents a whole 

new world for custom vehicles that cater to each individual 

owners needs. They even have an off road model on its way. 

Then we take a look at the Berzerker, as Angry Iron shows 

us that deep pockets are not always necessary. After that, 

we fly back to Vegas to visit the over the top All4Show 

Hummer, which is perfectly suited for the city of 

overindulgence. 

And if you’re looking to add larger rubber to your Hummer, 

or if you’ve already done so, then you undoubtedly have 

some form of rubbing. Especially up front. With full lift kits 

pricey, and sometimes not sensible, you usually are left 

having to deal with it. Well an unfortunate air compressor 

failure (Thanks for the repair SUN Hummer) caused by my 

rubbing tires up front has left me seeking options, 

especially for someone living in a city that doesn’t have 

enough tall parking garages to accommodate a full 

suspension lift. This issue in Product Profile we take a look 

at the popular method of turning up your torsion keys to 

squeeze out some extra inches. 

Then Manny takes you through what he believes is an off 

roaders best friend, while Bruce keeps his ears to the 

ground over in Washington. And with the demise of the H1, 

Chuck and HummaTech shows you what to look for when 

searching for a used H1. And last but not least one of my 

favorite departments is the HummerLife section. I love 

checking out all the readers Hummers pictures sent in from 

all over the World! So keep them coming and we’ll publish 

them. Ok, time to sit back in your favorite reading area and 

enjoy another issue of Ultimate Hummers. See you after 

SEMA! 

MARLON

New Stuff 

This has to be one of the nicest roof racks for the H1 we 

have ever come across. The new billet Tactical Rack from 

H123andmore, LLC is constructed using 1.5” round 

aluminum tubing and ingenious roof rack brackets that 

feature inner bearings that allow the rack to flex with your 

body off road to prevent unwanted buckling. With its 

modular design you can even add various optional racks 

as well additional rails to make the rack taller. Available in 

billet aluminum or black powdercoat finish. Retail price: 

$3499. Available through www.h123andmore.com or by 

calling 909-337-5345 

8 

Performance Upgrades, Chrome, Wheels 

Road... 

The Giovanna Caracas 8 will take up just as much room on your 

Hummer as it does on this page. Giovannas’ latest release comes in as the 

largest wheel ever made, and is available exclusively for Hummers. The 

one piece chrome wheel features an 8 split spoke design and rolls on 

Pirelli’s new 315/30R30 Scorpion Zero 

Asimmetrico tires; the first 30” tire 

designed for the Caracas-8. A 

complete package will set you 

back around 30 grand. 

That’s a gee an inch. 

The Dynapro MT 

WildRunner from 

Hankook features an 

aggressive shoulder tread 

design, along with an equally 

aggressive Impact Protection 

Block tread, that extends 

from the shoulder to the 

center increasing traction as 

well as protection from 

objects. Special lifted stone 

ejectors in between the 

shoulder treads help dislodge 

those unwanted rocks, while 

self cleaning grooves limit 

dirt build up which can cause 

reduced grip. Available in 15- 

20” sizes and an all-new 22” 

coming in January 2007. 

Visit 

www.hankooktireusa.com for 

sizing availability

Tires, Lighting, Off Road...Performance Upgrades, Chrom 

Imagine seeing this thing in your rearview. 

This beefy lower brush guard comes straight 

from Germanys’ tuning experts Geiger 

Performance. The Hannibal Bar features 

high polished 3” stainless steel tubing and 

easily installs in stock locations using 4 bolts. 

The bar is imported and presently only 

available direct. To inquire about pricing and 

shipping send Geiger an email at 

info@geigercars.de be sure to ask about the 

matching rear bumper set as well. (Note: Bar 

will decrease your approach angle slightly.) 

If you’re trying to stuff some bigger 

rubber on your H3 then you know 

that rear clearance is not the 

problem. The front is. The new 

TRUXXX Leveling Kit solves 

that problem. The kit which 

includes new torsion keys and 

shock extensions lifts your front end 3” allowing you that 

needed extra room. Installs easily using common shop tools. 

Retail $449. Available thru www.truxxx.com. Available for the 

H2 as well, allowing you to run 37 inchers. (Be sure to check 

out our tech install in this issue) 

If you looking for some more power along with some extra 

sound and styling for your H3, then upgrade your stock exhaust 

to a Billy Boat Performance exhaust. The H3 catback 

system adds 15 more ponies and features 2.5” T304 stainless 

steel tubing and dual 3.5” double wall tips. And Billy Boat 

stands behind their products. Each system is backed by a 

lifetime warranty against rust, corrosion or burn through and 2 

years against materials and workmanship. MSRP $799 Visit 

www.bbexhuast.com 

www.ultimatehummersmag.com 9

New Stuff 

Trying to find a solution for more bass without 

taking up any room can be hard for Hummer 

owners, especially for the SUT. Not anymore. The 

new underseat sub enclosure mounts under your left 

rear passenger seat neatly tucked away taking up no 

needed space. The custom fiberglass enclosure 

houses 4 eight inch subs and is available primed 

ready to paint or wrapped in any material and color 

including stock matching black or wheat. Available 

thru Ultimate Hummers. For more info send an 

email to info@ultimatehummermag.com or give us a 

call at 631 249 4901. 

Winching’ with your H3just got easier with 

the new Amstar LLC/MileMarker winch 

bumper combo. The complete kit includes a 

new bumper that mounts in the original 

bumper area and includes a MileMarker 

SE9500c winch, roller fairlead and 

brushguard. The new bumper improves the 

approach angle of the H3 and the complete 

kit only adds an extra 150lbs to the front 

end. Retail $1800. Available individually as 

well without the brushguard. Available at all 

Hummer Dealers. Stay tuned for more new 

accessories to be introduced from Am 

Generals newly formed Amstar company. 

Performance Upgrades, Chrome, Wheels 

If you want your H3 to stand out then check out the new carbon fiber hood louver from Creation 

Composites. The louver is fabricated from genuine carbon fiber cloth, reinforced with a structural FRP (fiber 

reinforced plastic) layer laminated with aerospace grade epoxy resin. 

Although the new louver has its own original styling, it still mounts 

effortlessly in the stock location with the 

supplied OEM mounting clips. Retail 

price is $575.00. Available in carbon 

fiber and carbon/colored Kevlar. 

Colors available include orange, blue, 

green, red, and natural Kevlar 

yellow. And if you are looking for a 

truly unique item, then how about 

designing your own? Got an idea? Give 

them a call and inquire about their custom 

composite design and development services. 

Give Creation Composites a call at 503-318-3139 or email to

Tires, Lighting..PerformanceUpgrades, ..................................... 

Amsoils Diesel 

Concentrate Performance 

Fuel Additive is a total 

system cleaner that improves 

diesel fuel quality, resulting in 

better engine operation, 

restored horsepower and 

efficency. Cleans and lubricates 

dirty injectors and piston rings 

limiting the soot buildup. It 

even works with low sulfur and 

biodiesel blends. Visit 

www.amsoil.com for full details 

on its diesel enhancing benfits. 

Available at your local auto 

center. 

Upgrade your stock instrument 

cluster with an aftermarket 

overlay from US SPEEDO. The 

gauges are available in a variety 

of colors to compliment any 

interior. They even have 

stainless steel and one 

specifically for diesel 

engine upgraded 

H2s. Available for 

all H2 and H3 

models. Installation 

takes about 

45minutes.Visit 

www.usspeedo.com 

for pricing for your 

specific model. Or 

give them a call at 

810 244 0909. 

Stopping your Hummer just got easier, 

especially for those of you running larger wheels 

and rubber. Rotora introduces the largest 

brake system offered for Trucks & SUVs. The 12piston 

Caliper Brake system features a billet 

aluminum alloy 12 piston caliper with 6 ceramic 

pads, each being pushed by 2 sequentially sized 

pistons. Available with 15” (380X34mm) or 16” 

(405mm X 36mm) oversize 2-piece floating 

discs. DOT compliant stainless steel brake lines 

are included, as well as solid S45C carbon steel 

mounting brackets and hardware. System 

retains stock master cylinder and is ABS 

compatible. Calipers are available in standard 

red or blue metallic or custom dark blue, 

chrome, gunmetal, gold, silver, black, or yellow. 

Pricing for the front with 12-piston caliper & 

405mm disc is $4595. A rear set with 4-piston 

caliper & 380mm disc retails for $2695. Visit 

www.rotora.com

12 

New Stuff 

The new Low Down Cruiser cargo box from 

Inno offers a surprisingly adequate amount 

of space for such a low profile. With 12 cubic 

feet of cargo space, the 

aerodynamic case is 

perfect for carrying those 

extra items during those 

outings off road, or 

ventures down the 

highway. And with its low 

profile, it’s perfect for 

keeping the overall height 

of your Hummer within 

reach. Available in glossy black or silver 

along with an array of custom colors. Visit 

www.rv-inno.com for more info or give them 

a call at (310) 533-1647. 

Here’s something supercool for you 

golfing fans. These new golf bag travel 

cases from Dennco,Inc has everything 

you need to keep your prized irons 

protected like full padded construction, 

molded tow handles and rugged wheels. 

The Hardsided Travel Case features an 

unbreakable ABS weatherproof shell and 

resembles a HUMMER grill. Prices start 

at $119.99. Visit www. clubchamp.com to 

check out the entire line of officially 

licensed items including HUMMER 

branded 3 wheel golf carts. 

Performance Upgrades, Chrome, 

Cellective Case introduces their new line of HUMMER cell phone 

cases. The cases are available in a variety of different styles to fit 

most popular mobile phones and blackberry devices. Each rugged 

case is manufactured using a variety of materials from ballistic 

nylon, lambskin and/or leather. Some even feature a D-ring for 

your Karabiner Clip, and a rubber front resembling a Hummer 

grille. The licensed cases are available thru www.cellectivecase.com 

and prices begin around $22.95

NEWS, 

100,000 

General Motors recently announced 

its new 100,000 mile, five-year 

powertrain limited warranty 

beginning on all 2007 model year 

vehicles. This compares to 

Toyota's five-year, 60,000-mile 

offer, and is now one of the 

longest offered by any other 

manufacturer. The warranty is 

completely transferable and 

carries no deductible. GM also has 

expanded its 24/7 roadside 

assistance and courtesy 

transportation programs to 100,000 

miles and five years. The new 

warranty covers more than 900 

components related to the engine, 

transmission, transfer case and 

final drive assemblies on all 2007 

model-year Hummers. The warranty 

is extended to other vehicles in 

their line as well, including 

Pontiac, Buick, GMC, Saturn, Saab 

and Cadillac. For non-powertrain 

components, GM's Bumper-to-Bumper 

New Vehicle Limited Warranty 

remains in effect: four years or 

50,000 miles for Buicks, 

Cadillacs, Hummers and Saabs, and 

three years or 36,000 miles for 

Chevrolets, GMCs, Pontiacs and 

Saturns. 

The new warranty will apply 

retroactively to 2007 GM cars and 

trucks already sold. 

14 

[& Views] 

Warrior One receives a makeover 

One of the Hummers used by CNNs journalists and 

news correspondents while covering the war in Iraq 

has received a makeover for a good cause. Warrior 

One was purchased from a Hummer dealer in Kuwait 

by CNN to help provide war coverage as its staff was 

attached to the 1st Battallion, 7th Marines. The 

Hummer and its crew even came under heavy fire at 

times. 

As part of the TLC show OVERHAULIN, the war 

employed Hummer underwent a major renovation to 

commemorate the journalists who risked their lives, 

and those who gave their lives as well, to provide up 

to the minute war coverage. The transformation 

included an engine overhaul, interior enhancement 

with audio/video upgrades and special airbrushed 

exterior featuring images of news correspondents 

and soldiers as a tribute to those who served during 

the war in Iraq or covered the war. 

END TO THE RUMOR 

Despite all the rumors, and criticism from environmental groups, 

California Governor Schwarzenegger has reaffirmed that he is not 

dumping his fleet of Hummers, which includes the Hydrogen 

powered H2. 

Grapevine 

Look for a V8-powered H3 for 2007 and a crew-cab version for 2009. A 

new H2 based on the GMT-900 platform should arrive by 2010. 

H4 on the Horizon 

“Hummer brand needs to double its product line-up by adding two or 

three more models”- General Motors Vice Chairman Bob Lutz 

During a recent opening of a Hummer dealership in Paris, GM Vice 

Chairman Lutz expressed a need for Hummer to develop more 

products in order for the brand to have sufficient market coverage. 

By expanding the Hummer brand with smaller fuel efficient models, 

GM will go head-to-head with less expensive models like the Jeep 

Wrangler and Land Rover Freelander. Lutz also expressed that a 

Hummer branded pickup still remains an option. A forthcoming H4 

will likely derive from a smaller version of the Chevy Colorado and 

H3 frame and should be available by 2009. 

SMA: Back to Business 

Looks like SMA Corp and SMA Hummer will be back in the Hummer 

accessory market soon. After its recent bankruptcy it seems a whole new 

set of owners have come on board to get things back up and running. 

Stay tuned for an all new catalog and a new line of products. Visit 

www.smahummer.com 

Warrior One will spend the next few months touring 

the country and military bases before it is auctioned 

off in January by Barrett-Jackson Auction Co. CNN 

has announced that all proceeds from the auction will 

be donated to the Fisher House Foundation, an 

organization that provides temporary residence for 

families of patients receiving major medical care at 

military and Veterans Administration centers. The 

Fisher House organization operates 35 houses in 16 

states, as well as one in Germany. 

The OVERHAULIN episode featuring the Warrior One 

makeover will air on TLC on November 14th at 9pm, 

and the auction will take place January 20, 2007. in 

Scottsdale, AZ.

NEWS, 

M998: Time For A Change 

[& Views] 

It’s been 20 years since the HMMWV was first put into service and 

now the Pentagon and the US Army wants something new. When 

the Humvee first gained its notoriety in Operation Desert 

Shield/Storm it quickly became an icon of the military. But over the 

years the Humvee has been riddled with numerous complaints from 

soldiers serving with them in action; from being underarmored to its 

low fuel efficiency. 

Since its introduction there have been many technological 

improvements in drive trains as well as lightweight materials that 

the Pentagon feels could very useful on the battlefield so it’s looking 

for some changes. Presently, under armored Humvees serving 

overseas are outfitted in the field with make shift sheets of metal 

and wood attached to the exterior to make the soldiers less 

vulnerable from ballistics such as road mines. The added armament 

adds a significant amount of weight to an already hefty Humvee 

(Some armored Humvees weigh 5 tons),which makes them much 

slower, sometimes barely toppling the 40 MPH mark. 

Although the Army is looking for new designs of their tactical 

vehicles that would put an emphasis on fuel economy without 

sacrificing protection, the Humvee is not slated for immediate 

replacement, rather than just retooling it with upgrades such as 

more energy-efficient power trains, including a hybrid-electric 

engine. AM Generals director of public relations affirms that his 

company has recently designed a new generation Humvee. 

The new generation Humvee must meet several other requirements 

on top of increased efficiency and armor protection, such as support 

for built in computers, GPS units, built in fire extinguishing systems 

and provide increased electrical power output. And of course it still 

must retain its supreme off road capabilities, which leaves 

enormously big shoes to fill for those companies wishing to replace 

the Humvee. 

Tests on new generation Humvees, as well as potential replacements 

will commence in 2008. Navistar International with its CXT, and 

Lockheed Martin are currently working on prototypes to present to 

the Department of Defense. If none of the prototypes succeed then 

the Humvee production could continue indefinitely. 

Hummers sales rose 53% for the first 8 

months of 2006. The H3, accounts for 

about three-quarters of current sales. 

H3 Production begins 

in Port Elizabeth, S Africa 

International production on the H3 commenced this 

October at Hummers Straundale assembly plant as 

GM continues its global expansion of the Hummer 

brand. The H3 vehicles built in South Africa will be 

exported to markets in Europe, the Middle East and 

Asia. The Straundale built H3s will be powered by an 

all new 242-HP inline-5 in either manual or automatic 

transmissions. 

Right Hand Drive Slated to Debut in UK 

When the H3 hits the shores of the UK sometime 

next year it will be available in right hand drive 

versions with diesel powered engines and a price 

tag of around $50,000. Unconfirmed reports 

expect the H3 will use a revamped version of the 

3.0 Liter turbo diesel found in the Isuzu Rodeo, 

which pumps out 155bhp and 258lb ft of torque. A 

gas powered version similar to the 3.7 liter US 

powered H3 is still being considered. The right 

hand drive Euro model H3s will be available 

through 5 dealers around the UK. 

Import Scheme Halted 

A Bollywood star (Indias version of Hollywood) was 

recently ordered to pay an enormous 100% duty 

along with an additonal 15% penalty for evading 

paying duty on an imported Hummer. The Hummer 

which was imported by Vacations Tours and Travels 

for film star Suneil Shetty was confiscated as the 

government uncovered a racket that involved 

importing high end cars including Hummers and 

avoiding paying the required duties. In the past 

certain businesses such as hotels, travel agents, and 

tour operators were only required to pay 5% duty on 

luxury vehicles imported, which led to wide abuse as 

they were sold to movie stars who avoided the 

normal duty. This led to the government revising its 

Export Import policy to avoid future schemes to 

make a fast buck. 


Sleepless in Indiana 

By Manny MacMillan 

A wise man once said, “I’ll get all the sleep I 

need when I’m dead.” Actually, now that I think 

about it, I am pretty sure that was Sam Elliot’s 

character Wade Garrett in the movie 

Roadhouse. 

My trusty 4x4 co-pilot Chris and I both have 

families at home, so we know that sometimes 

wheeling has to take a backseat to family duties. 

He has a wife and two kids, and I have a wife 

and son, all of whom tolerate our off-road 

adventure addictions. For Father’s Day 

weekend we both knew full well that we needed 

to be home with them, so we didn’t even 

consider taking off for the Hummer 

Homecoming 2006 event. Not until Monday 

morning, anyways. With a little sleep 

depravation, we just might be able to pull this 

off. 

At 10:00AM I finished prepping the truck for 

our 1,000 mile trip to South Bend, Indiana. My 

’95 AM General Hummer Open-top has 

140,000 very hard miles on it, so there are 

important maintenance and prevention tasks 

that need to be performed before a long trip like 

this. For example, I removed the front doors, 

rolled the top up to the windshield and bungeed 

it out of the way, threw all my tools, luggage and 

several hundred pounds worth of spare parts 

into the rig and headed straight out to pick up 

Chris. He tossed his own luggage and a cooler 

full of sodas and water into the truck, and we hit 

the pavement toward the Hoosier state. 

Since our sensible and responsible selves had 

determined that staying home through the 

whole Father’s Day weekend was prudent, we 

had some time to make up. The truck was 

pretty full at this point and we didn’t have any 

room left for sensibility anyways, so we decided 

to drive straight through the night to get to 

Indiana for Tuesday morning’s activities. And 

rather than drive in shifts, we decided to just 

both stay awake the whole time. 

The drive through New Hampshire and 

Massachusetts was a breeze. As we passed each 

exit that marked a trail we are familiar with, I 

noted to Chris that we would already be 

wheeling if that was our destination… but that 

wasn’t where we were going today. We each 

tapped into the cooler of caffeinated beverages 

at this point – the first of many. 

Halfway across the state of New York, the skies 

darkened and the wind started to pick up. We 

could see the gray smears in the sky extend all 

the way to the ground in the distance that could 

only mean one thing: heavy rain. I checked 

behind my front seat one more time to see if we 

had brought any sensibility with us, but there 

definitely wasn’t any room back there. We 

decided that we would try to drive past the 

ominous gray shapes. With some luck it might 

miss us. Alas, we were using all our luck for 

other purposes on this trip, so we got absolutely 

hammered by torrential rain. The rain came 

down hard enough that the cars in front of us 

put on their flashers and slowed down to 

35mph. Our visibility problems were 

compounded by the fact that the inside of the 

windshield has no wipers on it, but we 

successfully navigated about 10 miles of 

highway before the next available exit. We 

stopped, and of course, so did the rain. 

Refreshed, we got back on the road, and with a 

few stops for food and fuel, we continued to 

grind out the drive to Indiana. The sun set, and 

then the sun rose. Finally, we arrived at the 

Fairgrounds at 6:00AM on Tuesday morning, 

right on schedule. 

We hadn’t slept since Sunday night. 

Compressing the week into Tuesday through 

Thursday didn’t give us any time to spare, so we 

registered and hopped into the truck to drive 

over to AM General’s obstacle course. The fun 

had officially begun at this point, but I was 

burnt out from nearly 20 hours of driving to get 

there so I turned the truck over to Chris. He put 

the truck through its paces on the course. What 

started out as a single file of trucks over the 

opening obstacles had quickly turned into 

various H1s and H2s sprawled all around the 

grounds doing steep climbs, articulation pits, 

rock gardens and deep water crossings, and 

pretty much any other obstacle you might 

imagine driving your Hummer on. We were 

wide awake again, and having fun. 

After the obstacle course we had just enough 

time to hustle back to the fairgrounds and catch

the bus for our tours of the AM General 

factories. Production of the civilian H1 had 

already ended earlier in the month, so the H1 

tour was strictly a HMMWV tour now. 

Nonetheless, it was fascinating watching all the 

rivets being done by hand, and seeing full 

HMMWV bodies swooping through the room on 

slings. The factory workers were working 

steadily, and they offered smiles and waves as 

we rounded each corner and observed each task 

in the process. We had a very entertaining tour 

guide who demonstrated genuine enthusiasm 

for what he did. Then, there was the H2 factory 

tour. Our group was handed off from intern to 

intern, each reading a script off of a clipboard. 

Our lack of sleep hit us hard at this point, and 

we both started to sleepwalk as we wandered 

through the H2 plant. No work was being done 

as we walked through, so we were asked to 

imagine what things would be like if the 

machines were moving… I imagined they would 

be a lot like a king sized hotel bed. 

We decided to skip the “world’s longest 

Hummer convoy parade thingy” in favor of 

zipping across town to check into our hotel 

before dinner. After much needed showers and 

a change of clothes, we returned to the 

fairgrounds and lounged around in the grass 

waiting for the parade to roll in. The Hummer 

lineup eventually appeared over the horizon and 

soon hundreds of trucks moseyed back into the 

fairgrounds in single file while kids from the 

town waved and cheered them on. Dinner, 

speeches, and finally we were free to head back 

to the hotel and sleep at last... that is, unless a 

couple of the bolts on my custom/experimental 

off-road wheels broke during the ride across 

town, which they did. BANG, BANG. Crap. So 

rather than calling it an early night, we spent the 

evening swapping all our wheels and tires off for 

my OEM steel wheels to be ready for day two. 

At 11:30PM on Tuesday we finally went to bed, 

and slept like rocks. Really tired rocks. 

Twelve hours later we awoke and headed back 

to the fairgrounds, just in time for lunch. Now 

that we were well rested, the overall feel of the 

event changed. We spent the next couple of 

days immersed in the Hummer world. Crispy 

attended the HOPE driver certification class. 

We took the Alpha, H2, and H3 on the off-road 

test drive. We met Rod Hall and he told us some 

stories about his racing experiences, and a few 

of his other recreational pursuits. We did the 

Level 3 “H1-only” off-road course, which turned 

out to be a very muddy and wet romp through 

the woods. We thoroughly inspected the 

soapbox derby H2 car from the TV ad and 

discussed how we could make a better one for 

our own kids. We explored the swap meet and 

got to put some faces to names that we had seen 

for years. And whenever we wanted a break 

from all the organized displays or sessions, we 

would just wander around the grounds and look 

at the hundreds of different Hummers that had 

gathered from all around the country. It was a 

pretty great event, really. 

Despite the fact that Friday had events 

scheduled, Thursday night was for all intents 

and purposes the “closing ceremony” night. 

Representatives of the Hummer Club, Inc gave 

out about a thousand awards to club members 

for the “Show and Shine” event (think Gaylord 

Focker’s 8th place ribbon), and AM General 

headman Jim Armour spoke to the group about 

several things, most notably a sincere and wellprepared 

explanation of the difficult decision to 

discontinue the H1. Things moved outside 

where a well-deserved tribute to the men and 

women of our armed forces served as a lead-in 

for the Lee Greenwood concert. Chris and I 

bailed out of the concert early and made our 

way over to the campground to hang out with 

some of our old friends (as well as some new 

ones), to share a few brews at the campfire for 

the remainder of the evening. I can’t possibly 

remember everything we talked about that 

night, but I do recall learning two important 

things. First, don’t even think about competing 

with Carmello when it comes to story-telling. 

He is entirely too entertaining, he has already 

outdone everything that you have ever done, 

and his versions are much, much funnier than 

yours. Second, never bet against Joel Gardner’s 

ability to put an entire bag of marshmallows 

into his mouth at one time. Seriously. 

In a word, Hummer Homecoming 2006 was a 

blast. But I have to tell you, that didn’t make the 

ride home the next morning any shorter. We 

left at 10:00 on Friday morning and arrived 

home at 6:00AM on Saturday with 2,000 new 

miles on the odometer for the week -- just in 

time to go to a birthday party with the family… 

on no sleep… again. I blame Wade Garrett. 

www.ultimatehummersmag.com 

17

Hummer 

owners come in all 

shapes and sizes, and so do 

their tastes. While some prefer the off 

road look to maintain the military heritage and 

its abilities, some opt for the bling. And some go totally 

overboard dumping way over six figures into customizing their 

Hummers. Well here’s one for you hardcore anti-bling owners to 

cringe at. 

106 what you ask? Well actually if you need to ask then our 

photographer did not do a good job. 106 monitors that’s what. 

Coming from the city of non stop bright lights and sexy showgirls, 

where millions are poured into the gaming industries pockets 

every day, is the over the top extravagant All 4 Show Hummer. 

With 106 monitors adorning the exterior and interior, everyone is 

guaranteed a front row seat when this Hummer throws a movie or 

the latest music video in. 

The All 4 Show project 

began with its owner, Mike 

Chavez, merely wanting to add some 

audio/video excitement to his 2005 H2. It 

quickly escalated into a custom paint job and a full blown custom 

show Hummer that now spends most of its time being chauffeured 

around on a flatbed to shows around the US. 

Putting a lot of money into your Hummer takes on a whole new meaning! 

Exterior DAZZLE 

The custom paint by Shawn Ealy is a dedication to Mikes’ Sin City 

heritage with all the typical monikers associated with the gambling 

capitol of the World; roulette tables, Vegas show girls and the 

famous Bellagio Hotel just to name a few. Mike put a lot of money 

into All 4 Show. Literally. Money was never an issue and to show 

that, there are over $1000 in actual bills spread under the clear 

coat over the entire truck. Everything from Big Bens to Andrew 

Jacksons now reside permanently affixed to All 4 Shows exterior. 

Before the paint was dry, the Hummer had to go thru some drastic 

changes to accommodate the vast number of monitors. They even 

designed a totally new hood. The hood handles were relocated 


19

to the outside incase Mike wants to 

pop the hood to show off its 

underside, which now features a 

two dimensional Vegas skyline 

image with its very own 

proclamation to the reasoning 

behind All 4 Show. It reads “It’s the 

valley of cash unlike any other 

kind…It’s the playground for the 

rich where true players 

shine..forcing the rest to stand in 

line, and wait their turn….2 watch 

how we roll with money to burn.” 

Money to burn is an 

understatement. Over $50k went 

into the paint job alone on the 

truck. Every part of the truck is 

painted or airbrushed including the 

wheel wells. Even the entire 

undercarriage and frame has either 

been painted, powder coated or 

completely chromed by the Custom 

Shop costing well over $35k. 

The exterior of the truck is a rolling 

billboard for Audiovox, with over 

(26) 7-inch displays throughout. 

The custom hood holds 8 alone. 

The skid plate is chromed and has 

cut outs to accommodate 4 more. 

The rear bumper corners have three 

in each side and the rear bumper 

itself has three. Then there’s one in 

each rear view mirror, which 

violates every safety ordinance in 

the book, which is another reason 

why All 4 Show spends most days 

being transported. And last but 

definitely not least (we still have the 

inside), the hood towers hold two 

each. 

Stepping Inside 

Enter the custom Hummer via its 

Lamborghini wing doors and you’ll 

be amazed by the overwhelming 

remainder of the Audiovox 7-inch 

and AcceleVision 10.2-inch video 

displays. (I lost count somewhere 

around 43). 

Sit inside and sink in the supple 

leather and suede interior 

compliments of Santa Barbara 

Upholstery. I don’t have enough 

editorial space so rather than tell 

you where all the monitors are on 

the inside I think I’ll save paper 

and ink by telling you where they’re not. The floors. Yup that’s the only place I did not 

see a monitor. I better say that quietly before they get any ideas. Honestly there are 3 

monitors in each front door, 2 in each rear, 2 in the front seats and one in each rear 

seat. 1 in the center arm console, 1 in the rear passenger console, 9 in the headliner, one 

in each kick panel, 11 in the rear hatch where the T30001BD and T15004BD Rockford 

Fosgate Amps reside, and 9 in each rear side window facing outside. Lost count too 

huh? Did I forget the additional 18 mounted in the rear hatch glass facing outside? 

22

A Tracvision satellite receiver from KVH mounted to the roof 

helps feed the latest video or breaking news from DirectTV to the 

Hummer, both inside and out. Or you can keep yourself 

entertained by one of the 2 Sony Playstation 2 consoles. 

One of the most impressive features I have to note in the interior 

is the pristine sub enclosures installed behind the rear seats that 

house 6 Rockford Fosgate subs. And if that isn’t enuff thump for 

you, there are 4 more eight incher subs under the left rear 

passenger seat. Boston Competition Mids and Tweets help balance 

the sound, while a 15 inch drop down by Audiovox acts as 

command central for the entire system. The entire audio and 

video upgrades were done by Vegas’ own Dwane Thomas with an 

estimated investment of $200,000. 

Ok. Now comes the total invested. If you’ve been keeping track on 

all the numbers flying around this editorial then you should be 

somewhere around $350,000. Not including the vehicle itself. 

That’s a whole lot of money to spend on a vehicle whose tenthousand 

dollar 26 Inch DUB Homies rarely sees the asphalt. 

Mike has recently began work on his second show Hummer, and 

with the success of All 4 Show, he knows he’ll have no problems 

getting the sponsors to answer his calls this time. But how much 

more over the top can you go? We’ll have to wait and see. 

Love it or Hate it. Whichever side of the fence you are on, one 

thing is for certain. All 4 Show deserves its recognition within the 

pages of Ultimate Hummers. 


23

After Three Years, What 

Started Out As A Drawing 

Finally Becomes Reality As 

X Concept Motorsports and 

Casborn Designs Releases 

Its New Radical Hummer 

26

It was this time last year when we began 

receiving images and clip shots of an all 

new Hummer concept project that was 

underway. After 3 years of R&D, and over 

$1-million expended, the X-Concept Street 

Recon Vehicle (SRV) was soon to become 

a reality. 

So we followed the project along the 

way as it went from the drawing board 

to the exotic SUV you see here. Then 

finally we got the call. Casborn Design and 

X Concept Motorsports were ready to 

present the P001 prototype of the much 

anticipated X-Concept Street Recon 

Vehicle (X-SRV). The X Concept SRV 

project is the result of a successful 

collaboration between X Concept 

Motorsports LLC, manufacturers of 

armored luxury and exotic automobiles 

and sport utility vehicles; and Casborn 

Designs, an industrial design firm that 

specializes in exclusive high end, exotic 

automobiles and sport utility vehicles. 

After numerous images, we were eager to 

see the P001 in person, so we took a short 

plane trip to Niagara Falls, where it would 

be unveiled exclusively for us. After seeing 

the P001 in person, it was clearly obvious 

that the pictures did it no justice. This was 

not some bolt on 

body kit with 

flares and a 

spoiler. The 

flawless 

exterior 

represents a 

totally new 

design forward thinking for a Hummer. “In 

designing the prototype we wanted to 

capture not only the distinct, rugged look 

of a military orientated vehicle with the 

feel of a 1930’s era Cadillac and 

Deusenberg, but more 

importantly, design 

a high 

performance, 

exclusive vehicle 

that can be 

individualized,”- Ramone Casborn, CEO of 

Casborn Design. 

The X Concept SRV might have started life 

as an H2, but just about every aspect from 

its exterior design to its power train has 

been redesigned. Items like the wide 

fender flares, and a carbon fiber rear wing 

have seamlessly become one with original 

Hummer and are permanent fixtures on 

the X Concepts’ body. The streamlined low 

profile nose, with its huge billet air intakes 

help the P001 suck in all the oxygen it 

needs to feed the supercharged 6-liter 

pumping out 550 HP. And if that’s not 

enough, there is a level four option 

available capable of pumping out 1000 HP 

via a 427 twin turbo engine. Further X- 

SRV exterior styling includes an array of 

billet accessories including a Viper GTS 

styled fuel door, and sleek side view 

mirrors. XENON headlamps and fogs help 

light up the road, while bright rear Led 

taillights keep those in the rear alert. 

24” Giovanna GFG Klessig 7 three piece 

rims wrapped with Pirelli tires keeps the 

aerodynamic SRV planted to the ground. 

With the huge wheels slammed in the 

wheel wells, it looked as if the X Concept 

could barely roll over a pebble without 

breaking something. But although the X 

Concept lacks its original Hummer 

clearances, it handles surprisingly well in 

what little dirt it will ever see, as my 

concern for taking it through a bed of rocks 

were put to rest as it rolled effortlessly 

over. 

So far just about everything on the X 

Concepts exterior is amazing, from the GT 

fuel door, to the custom stainless steel 

exhausts exiting on both sides of the 

P001. Now it was 

time for the 

interior, which is 

breathtaking. 

Suicide doors 

(reverse 

opening) open 

with the

push of a remote, which reveals the interior of the doors that 

feature a full fiberglass design with elegant X Concept logos, 

blue suede upholstery and 3- JL Audio component speakers to 

pump out some mids and highs. If it was not for Ramone 

pointing it out, I would have overlooked the unassuming 

special glass in the doors, which feature the soon to be 

released InFusion Glass, available in six stylish and 

distinctive colors, and specifically designed to reduce vehicle 

noise, weight and heat for a cooler, quieter, more comfortable 

ride. The interior dash components are completely remolded 

out of fiberglass, featuring some of the best seamless fits I 

have ever come across. Two thumbs up to the fiberglass team. 

Up front, the silver pearl fiberglass features elegant silver US 

SPEEDO gauges, and four monitors, which includes an 

Alpine IVA-D310 to control the vehicles audio and video 

components. The center console allows seamless integration 

of the built in 60 Gig IPOD, while a custom pod housing 7 

individual gauges monitors everything from temperature to 

battery voltage. Sink into the plush drivers’ seat, press the 

push button start, and become engulfed in the exotic 

materials including crocodile/ostrich and Coogi designer 

upholstery. But the X- SRV does not cater to its driver alone. 

It’s all about luxury and high tech style for its passengers as 

well. The rear of the interior features a coach limo design, 

with its rear seat pushed way back towards the rear hatch 

28 

exposing heaps of leg room and comfort. The interior features all the 

latest mobile technology available including blue tooth technology, 

internet connectivity and fingerprint recognition. The X-SRV is 

equipped with an abundance of elite electronic brands, such as Alpine, 

JL Audio, Stinger, Visteon, Carpc, and Icon-TV. 

An ingeniously designed center island houses Direct-TV and an X-Box

360, and 4 of the 14 video displays, including a 10 inch VGA 

touch screen computer monitor that allows you to keep track of 

your important files. Or you can watch your favorite movie on any 

one of the other monitors which include (one) 17 inch, (six) 7 inch, 

and (seven) 10 inch. The X Concept pumps out 3900 watts of clean 

JL Audio power through its amplifiers cleverly mounted out of the 

way in the ultra suede headliner. Two Alpine TME-M770 6.5 inch 

touch screens in the rear C pillars allows full control of the entire 

system without ever having to leave the rear seat. The ear piercing 

decibels are compliments of the JL Audio XR653-cs, XR650-csi, 

and XR525-csi components and the ground shaking bass comes via 

three JL Audio 13W7 subwoofers mounted in a custom enclosure 

located in the rear hatch along with (3) more of the 7 inch 

monitors. 

The X Concept SRV (X-SRV) represents a totally 

new approach in elite SUV design and each 

vehicle is custom built tailored precisely to each 

owners desires. Only 250 SRVs will be designed 

and manufactured. Each SRV will feature exterior 

styling vehicle identification markings indicating 

its place in the 250 limited production, as well as 

the exquisite 3d Casborn logo. 

Each buyer will be able to individualize their 

vehicle directly with the dealer from the one-onone 

sketch phase with an X-Concept designer to 

final production. The host of available options 

includes your choice of 10 Casborn Design 

luminescent pearl exterior colors, which includes 

silver, or Niagara Pearl as shown on the P001. 

Other options include your choice of Wicked 


Powered engineering packages, ranging from a level one 550 Hp to a level four 427 

twin turbo 1000 Hp, as well as an optional V12 diesel for international clients. 

And for you dignitaries, or execs fearing attack, there is a Level II-V spectra shield 

ballistics protection packages available upon special request and completion of a 

clear background check. Interior options include exotic materials such as crocodile, 

eel, gator, shark, stingray, and ostrich skin upholstery. Exotic aged leather and 

suedes are also available from prestigious brands such as Burberry, Coach, Coogi, 

Fendi, Gucci, Hermes, Issey Miyake, Prada, and Louis Vitton. To compliment the 

exterior styling, your choice of 24”, 25”, 26”, 28” and 30” rim and tire packages are 

available. 

And now for the price. Base price for the 500 HP X SRV is $258,500. Optional 

Stage 2-Stage 4 engine upgrades prices vary. The 427 Twin Turbo (750hp) has an 

MSRP base price of $359,900, and the 427 Twin Turbo (1000hp) base price is 

$399,900. The first X-Concept SRV P001 seen here is priced at $600,000, which 

some could conceive is a steal for a vehicle that is valued at $1.2 million. 

Want to know more? Visit one of the select dealers listed below to take your 

imagination for a drive, or visit them online at www.xconceoptmotorsports.com and 

check out their cool website. You can also catch a glimpse of the X Concept SRV at 

this years SEMA show in Las Vegas. 

Prestige Imports 

1400 Biscayne Blvd 

North Miami Beach, Fl ,33181 

www.prestigeimports.com 

The NEW AUTO TOY STORE 

920 south, Federal Highway 

Pompano Beach, Fl 33062 

954-463-1768, 1800-255-9102 

www.Thenewautotoystore.com 

Blvd Customs 

3063 Tech Drive 

St.Petersburg, Fl 33716 

1-866-822-2583 

www.blvdcustoms.com

Photos by: Amanda Lindley


33

If you have a penchant for collecting 

Hummers, or just looking to get your 

hands on an affordable one, then Angry 

Iron just might have the solution. The 

answer? Resuscitate old Hummers once 

thought to have reached their end of 

service life by not restoration alone, but 

with total modification to suit each 

individual owners needs. And if 

necessary, all within a budget. 

And so is the case with the Berserker. An 

original 24-volt powered Marine Corps 

M998 that has been transformed into the 

Berserker. All you war historians should 

have no problem with the restored 

Humvees namesake. By definition 

Berserk is described with several 

adjectives like unrestrained, frenzied, 

wild. All which can fit this mammoth 

Hummer. But upon further investigation 

of the origin of the word you’ll stumble 

across- an ancient, aggressive 

Scandinavian warrior frenzied in battle 

and held to be invulnerable. What a 

befitting name for a Hummer. 

When Jerry Reynolds first obtained his 

1993 M998, through Atlanta-based 

United Defense, it was slated for long 

term storage after being stripped and 

demilled (demilitarized, sometimes I 

forget I’m out the Army). During this 

process many parts were removed, lost or 

damaged. So Jerry sought out Shawn 

from Angry Iron to assist with the project 

build and to help bring his ideas to 

fruition, all while keeping within a 

budget. 

After going through the entire truck, 

inside and out, and replacing all the 

missing parts, it was now time for the 

modification. With Angry Iron, every 

project starts with a theme or inspiration, 

to satisfy each owner’s individual needs. 

So Jerry and Shawn sat down and began 

brainstorming, often times utilizing 

Photoshop designs to merge each others 

ideas to see if they would work 

cohesively. They knew that Berserker 

would spend most of its time in Jerrys’ 

hometown North Dakota and Colorado 

doing Rescue and Police support work, so 

it would have to be suited for major off 

road work and needed some serious 

equipment riding underneath supporting 

the drivetrain. The engine would remain 

stock except for a custom exhaust. 

The front and rear differentials were

Photos by: Amanda Lindley 

remanufactured by Southern Axle with the proven, durable Detroit 

Soft Locker in the rear and selectable Auburn ECTAD up front. Beefy 

H1 halfshafts were used, but budget concerns kept them at the 

10,500 GVW rating, although they would have opted for the 

upgraded 12,500lb max shafts had money not been a concern. 

The Active Adapters ATLAS II transfer case was used for its 

quietness and its ability to adapt to each vehicle, although they did 

have to manufacture a new cross member. This was then mated to 

the solid PATC 700R4 Raptor tranny which pumps out monster 

amounts of torque. A custom skid plate helps keep everything out of 

harms way when navigating obstacles off road. They soon found out 

that 4th gear would run a tad too high for the 42” Irok Swampers 

wrapped around true beadlock Allied Rock-a-Thons. 

So now they got the Berserker rolling again and now it was time to 

38 

tackle the interior and exterior. The Berserker features an array of 

Hella lighting to help it navigate through the woods at night. The 

Hella headlights were converted to operate on 24 volt DC, while 8 

Micro DE's fog lights were mounted in the front and rear. Four are 

used as driving lights in the front, and four in the rear; two serving 

double duty as reverse/back up and work lights, and two as work 

lights. The cool looking windshield mounted roof lights pump out 

550 watts of lighting with its (10) individual FF75's. All lights obtain 

power from a custom water proof relay and fuse box made from a 

Pelican case. 

Every Hummer needs some tunes, and to accommodate the audio 

signals being sent via the SONY head unit, Shawn manufactured 

custom overhead mounts for the Bazooka Tower speakers. A Cobra 

CB, Garmin GPS, and Tekk VHF radio helps the Berserker stay on its

intended route as well as in direct contact with any breaking news. 

Other electrical conveniences include 12 aux outlets, 24 volt DC to 

110 AC inverter, Air compressor, air horn, Block heater, oil pan 

heater, and two Mojave interior heaters with double sealed quick 

disconnects. 

On the outside, an offset snorkel helps Berserker tackle any extended 

trips through the water, while the Mile Marker front and rear 

mounted winches helps pull it, or another vehicle, out of any muck it 

gets stuck in. Both of which can be controlled from inside the cabin. 

The exterior is protected by 3/16” rocker panels along the side with 

integrated rock sliders and Rock rails for the back fenders. A 3” body 

lift helps squeeze out some more clearance inches. In case of tire/rim 

failure, a custom integrated spare tire carrier in the bed allows some 

extra rubber to come along for the ride. Finally a custom camouflaged 

paint job helps bring Berserker back to its roots. 

After 3 months the Berserker project was finally complete. The final 

outcome? An authentic Hummer reborn with an assortment of 

custom mods, while keeping true to its go anywhere capabilities with 

one exception. The price. $55,000. And that includes the truck. 

Mission Accomplished! 

If you have a Hummer project in mind and need some expert 

assistance then give Angry Iron a visit. But keep one thing in mind- 

Angry Iron is about function over form. “If it looks cool but performs 

like crap I do not want the Angry Iron name anywhere around it.” 

Want to see the entire Berserker build from start to finish? Visit them 

at www.angryiron.com or by calling (478) 396-0015 


HummahTech 

U S E D H 1 s 

The 2006 model year will be the last for the 

Hummer H1. In May of 2006 the president 

of AMG said "Unfortunately, in recent years, 

the production and actual retail sale of the 

Hummer H1 have fallen to a level between 

200 and 300 vehicles per year. At that level 

of sales, the GM dealers tell us that with a 

vehicle that costs $145-150,000 each, it just 

becomes too difficult to find customers 

willing to pay ". Unless AMG and GM 

change their minds, the only way you will be 

able to get an H1 will be used. 

The H1 is unique because technical 

changes were slipstreamed in 

constantly, not just at the beginning 

of a model year. This was due to 

the way government contracts to 

supply military trucks were written. 

The government wanted the 

newest and best fixes installed on 

the trucks as soon as possible. 

When setting your sights on a used 

H1 it's important to know what 

those changes were and when they 

were implemented. A 

comprehensive list of changes can 

be found on my web site 

www.flashoffroad.com. 

A Hummer H1 is a very 

maintenance intensive truck. If you 

religiously keep up with it a used truck will 

be like new. There are many Hummers out 

there that have hard miles on them and 

have been neglected with little or no 

maintenance. Make sure you know what you 

are getting. For instance, if you buy a model 

without CTIS, 4 speed transmission or the 2 

fuel tanks, keep in mind it’s difficult and 

economically impractical to install these 

later. There have been so 

many changes throughout 

the years, so it's important 

to know which features 

and improvements you 

want. 

High mileage doesn't 

matter if the truck has 

been maintained, because 

all the wear parts have 

probably been replaced. A 

newer truck that hasn't 

been maintained could 

cost you far more. The 

biggest weakness of the 

Hummer is its front end. 

The trucks go through idler 

arms, pitman arms and steering gears. 

40 

Chuck Kopelson 

Problems with bent wheels and out of 

round tires and out of spec aftermarket 

wheels exacerbate the problem. 

The $100,000.00 question is - What are 

used Hummers going for? If you're looking 

to buy or sell an H1 you will find many for 

sale on eBay and Auto trader. 

Flashoffroad.com has an H1 EBay Auction 

Database of many of the EBay sales of 

H1's. Here are a couple of important facts 

for buyers and sellers. Buyers of used 

Hummers are looking to finance them and 

therefore are limited in how much they can 

borrow to purchase the truck. Most will 

finance through a bank or a credit union 

who will often times only loan off of NADA 

Low Retail which is a pretty low value. 

Depending on the buyer's credit some will 

loan off of Kelly Bluebook which is higher. 

The following is a condensed synopsis of 

the different model years and some of the 

factors to consider when purchasing. 

H1 Front End Components 

The 

first civilian Hummer 

rolled off the production line in late 

1992. So the 92 & 93 models are kind of in 

their own category. They are the closest 

models to the military HMMWV. The seats 

are not adjustable, have plastic covers and 

the batteries are under the seat inside the 

truck. There isn't any sound insulation so 

the trucks are very noisy. The drive train 

consists of a 3 speed transmission; the 

mechanical bulletproof 3L80. It 

does not have overdrive which 

makes it pretty difficult driving 

on the highway over 55. They 

also have a 6.2 liter diesel 

engine that has been called 

under-powered. The trucks all 

have 25 gallon fuel tanks. On 

the other hand the trucks are 

lighter. The nice thing about 

these trucks is that they are 

less complicated and easier to 

work on because do not have 

computer controls. Their A/C 

blows cold because they use 

R12. These trucks are a 

favorite of the hard core off 

roaders. These trucks came with 16.5" two 

piece steel wheels and Goodyear MT tires. 

1994 models got an entire drive train 

change with the NA (naturally aspirated) 6.5 

liter diesel engine and a GM 4 speed 4L80-e 

transmission. The new 4 speed transmission 

really brings the engine rpm down on the 

highway saving fuel, wear and tear and 

noise. The 6.5 NA 

engine is still very 

under powered 

compared to a 

turbo diesel. At 

high altitudes they 

run out of power 

on the road and 

off. They also 

relocated the 

batteries, changed 

the HVAC design, 

made body and 

interior changes as 

well as adding 

adjustable seats. 

The new HVAC 

system turned out 

to be under

powered and prone to heater core 

problems. 

The biggest thing in 95 was the introduction 

of the 350 cubic inch gas powered engine. 

Many customers were apprehensive about 

owning a diesel so AMG created the gas 

model. Aside from having on road 

performance as poor as the NA diesel, the 

fuel tank only held 23 gallons which isn't 

much when you're getting 7 to 11 mpg. The 

95 incorporated many of the base 

improvements and creature comforts found 

through the 2003 model year such as the 

interior and body. 

The 1996 was a major step because it was 

the first year of the turbo diesel which finally 

brought the truck into the realm of great onroad 

and off-road performance. All the 96 

trucks came equipped with 2 fuel tanks for a 

total of 42 gallons. This was a real boon for 

the gas powered trucks. Unfortunately, it 

was the last year gas trucks were produced. 

A major problem cropped up with the turbo 

diesels in 1996 into the 2000 model years. 

They are at risk for a cracked engine block 

due to a GM design flaw. AMG replaced 

many engines under warranty. If you buy a 

used turbo diesel truck it would be a big 

plus if it's engine was 

already replaced. 

1997 was a year that 

brought many major 

improvements to creature 

comforts. The truck was 

outfitted with decent sound 

insulation and the 

Monsoon stereo was 

introduced. The turbo 

diesel was upgraded for 

better cooling and a little 

more power. Many items 

were slipstreamed into 

production this year so 

there is an important 

difference between 1997 

and 1997.5. 

The most important change in 1997.5 was a 

complete change in the heating and air 

conditioning. The heating / AC system 

introduced in 1994 was a poor design and 

didn't perform well. There were numerous 

changes made to this system over the years 

that didn't solve the problems. Finally AMG 

stopped producing replacements and 

upgraded all the defective in-warranty 

trucks. The heater cores are almost 

impossible to repair and the upgrade will 

cost around $3000, so see if your used 

truck has the upgraded system. 

1998 is considered by many to be the 

quintessential year because it has all the 

improvements that were begun in 1997 and 

is the last year before Hummers were 

equipped with ABS and a new TT4 traction 

control system (which many off-roaders 

don't like) that caused the Torsen II 

differential to be replaced with a Torsen I. 

The method for camber adjustment was 

changed to cams instead of the labor 

intensive shim system. This truck is quieter 

then any of the previous Hummers and has 

the axle ratio that AMG is now using in all 

the Hummers. 

1999 was a transition year. The NA diesel 

was dropped, due to the introduction of ABS 

and TT4. It was mandated that class III 

trucks have ABS by the government. The 

ABS system wouldn't work with the Torsen II 

differential which up to now provided the 

exceptional traction the Hummer was known 

for. This is why AMG had to go to electronic 

traction control (TT4). Because it was the 

first year for TT4, the system is not as good 

as the later models. The truck as a whole, 

its creature comforts, sound insulation and 

interior are perfected. This would be a great 

year for a mostly on road truck or a good 

candidate for add-on lockers. 

2000 - 2002 are pretty much the same truck 

as the 1999 except for some minor interior 

changes. The TT4 is improved. AMG 

introduces 16.5" and 17" aluminum wheels 

although by 2002 all 16.5" wheels were 

discontinued. These are great on road 

trucks and good candidates for lockers. 

They did increase the bias ratio on the 2002 

trucks which will allow you to BTM them. In 

2000 the factory produced 39 slantback 

models which are relatively rare. In 2002 

the factory produced 65 10th anniversary 

model wagons. 

2003's have an Eaton electrical rear locker 

which goes a long way towards making the 

truck as good off road as the earlier trucks 

with the Torsen II differentials. 

2004's have a 

Brand New 

Interior and an 

upgraded engine 

called the 

'optimizer' which has 

10 more hp. An optional Eaton front 

and rear lockers are available which make 

this the best stock truck yet. AMG does sell 

the Eaton lockers to upgrade older models. 

You now have the option of an aftermarket 

Auburn electronic or an ARB locker. There 

is a big step between 2001 and 2004 as far 

as noise level, driver comfort etc. 

NOTE: AMG skipped the 2005 Model year 

for H1's. 

The 2006 Alpha is an order of magnitude 

better both on road and off road. Just about 

everything under the truck is new. According 

to AMG the only parts that are the same as 

a 2004 are the control arms. The 

suspension uses all the components from 

the 12,100 GVW upgrade which includes 

larger disk brakes, heavier half shafts, 

springs and sway bars. The whole steering 

system has been redesigned using a heftier 

Sheppard steering gear box, stronger 

components and changes in geometry. The 

whole drive train is different due to the 

addition of the Duramax diesel and 

Allison transmission. Because this 

combination of engine/ transmission is 

longer, the transfer case is pushed 

further towards the rear. This 

necessitates a longer front drive shaft 

which is a new design using double 

cardon U joints. In order to meet DOT 

requirements the shape of the fuel 

tanks had to be changed. When the 

tanks were redesigned, engineers at 

AMG took advantage of the extra 2" 

space that resulted from the lifted 

body to increase the total fuel 

capacity to 51 gallons. The transfer 

case is the same NP 242 which was 

strengthened to take the increased 

torque from the new engine. The 

geared hubs now have helical cut gears to 

reduce noise. The price of the Alpha 

includes all scheduled maintenance for the 

warranty period.The downside to an Alpha 

is the price. You can spend anywhere from 

$131,000 to $145,000 on a new Alpha not 

including tax. The quoted price for an 

extended warranty is $17,000. 

Later on in 2006 there will be a 'wave 2' 

release. The Alpha's in this wave will 

probably have the new Allison 6 speed trans 

and a newer version Duramax engine. 


Inspecting a Used Truck 

See if the owner has a traceable maintenance history showing what 

was replaced and when. 

Check with Carfax to see if there is anything wrong with the title or 

mileage. This will tell you if the car has a salvage title or if the 

claimed mileage doesn't agree with mileage reported to Carfax. 

Does the truck have aftermarket wheels 

or oversized tires? There are only two 

brands of wheels that have the correct 

offset and weight capacity for a 

Hummer H1. AMG factory wheels and 

GT/ Cepek Wheels. Incorrect wheels 

can be dangerous because they 

change the steering geometry and 

alignment. Don't forget that a Hummer 

weighs 7 to 8000 lbs. 

Don't forget to check the obvious. 

Check the fluid levels including the 

engine oil, antifreeze (engine cold), 

power steering, brake and automatic 

transmission. Bad transmission fluid 

smells burnt and is brown instead of 

red. If you can; check the fluid in the 

transfer case which typically runs very Leaking Hub 

hot when a truck has been driven at excessive speeds. Check the 

battery water if it's the kind that needs fluid. 

I think one of the best indicators of a truck's condition is the tires. 

Uneven tire wear indicates problems with alignment, front end parts, 

wheel balance and shocks. Tires worn on the inside or with 

flat spots indicate many possible problems. 

Hummers go through 

suspension parts like most cars 

go through brakes. Idler arms, 

pitman arms, ball joints, tie rod 

ends are all items that seem to 

get replaced frequently. With 

the truck running turn the 

steering wheel. If you can turn 

the wheel 2 or more inches back and forth and the front tires don't 

move you probably have a bad pitman arm. When you turn the 

wheels all the way to the right and all the way to the left and they turn 

easier in one direction you probably have an issue with the steering 

gear. A steering wheel that isn't level indicates an alignment problem. 

Look at the geared hubs. If you see oil dripping or a fan spray of oil 

on the inside of the tire you have a hub seal leak. If the CTI system 

won't hold air you could have a leaking hub seal. 

Look at the truck on a flat surface and see if it sits level. If the truck 

isn't sitting level you have sagging springs. Closely examine the 

springs and look for cracks in the coil indicating a broken spring. 

The truck should stop straight and the brake pedal should be firm 

and not pulse. Pulsing brakes indicate a warped rotor. Soft brakes 

indicate air in the line. Check the brake pads for wear. 

Test the parking brake. Put the truck in gear and make sure the 

parking brake holds the truck back. Make sure the brake releases. 

The parking brake is incorporated in the rear calipers and can be 

expensive to fix. 

Old Shock 

With your foot on the brake put the truck into drive then shift to 

reverse. Do this a few times. See if you hear much of a clunking 

HummahTech 

sound. This will tell you how much free play there is in the drive train. 

It could be a stretched transfer case chain, bad hub, bad diff etc. My 

truck clunks because I have a Detroit locker in the rear. It could also 

be normal for a truck to clunk when shifting from D to R and back 

due to the normal shifting of an automatic transmission. You really 

have to know what to listen for. If you hear anything metallic you 

probably have a problem. 

Alignments are expensive. 

Drive the truck around town and on the 

highway. Make sure the transmission 

shifts into all 4 gears. 

See if the truck sways around corners. 

This is an indication of worn shocks. 

Most owners don't realize that their 

shocks are worn due to the tightness of 

the Hummer's springs. 

Take it up to 70mph and see if it 

shakes. Many trucks have vibration 

problems due to bent wheels, out of 

round tires, unbalanced tires or worn 

suspension parts. If you feel a vibration 

under the drivers feet it could be a bad 

front drive shaft. See if the truck pulls 

to one side or the other. This could be 

a brake problem or alignment. 

See if the transfer case will shift into 4H and 4L. This is best done on 

a dirt or a gravel road. 

Check for body damage. Take a look at the undercarriage and see if 

it is bent up and touching the exhaust. This happens frequently when 

you off road. Look at the rocker panels and see how bad 

they are scarred up. Check the body for rust at seams in 

the roof and where the wagon 

body meets the lower body. The 

Hummer doors and wagon top 

are steel, not aluminum. 

Drive the truck in a very slow tight 

turn in both directions. See if the 

tires are rubbing on the hood or 

suspension. This could indicate over sized tires or sagging springs. If 

you hear any creaking noises it could be loose front body mounts. 

Check all the gauges and make sure they work. 

Try out the radio / cd and make sure it works. 

Drive long enough to completely warm up the truck. Make sure that 

the truck's engine temperature is in the normal range. Trucks with a 

gauge should read almost 200. Voltage should read over 13 when 

the truck is running. 

Test the heat and the A/C making sure the blower blows on all 

speeds. 

See if the power mirrors and power windows work. Check out all the 

lights and turn signals. 

Check the tire pressure and make sure the central tire inflation 

system works. Run the pump on the front, rear and both tires.

44 

view from 

WashingtoN 

By Bruce Scott Levinson 

bruce@ultimatehummermag.com 

Have you 

thanked 

an oil 

company 

lately? Sure you 

have. Every time 

you fill your tank. 

And that’s all the 

thanks that really 

matters. 

It’s easy to understand why the public is a 

mite ticked-off at notoriously naughty Big 

Oil’s manipulation of world petroleum 

prices. Until you realize that Big Oil is not 

so big – or so able to control prices. The 

companies you buy gas from are mere 

pipsqueaks on the world’s slickest stage. 

All ten of the world’s largest oil companies 

in terms of reserves are owned by various 

governments around the world according to 

a recent article in The Economist. Only 

four of the 20 largest oil companies are 

privately held businesses. With somewhere 

north of 90% of the world’s known oil 

reserves held by government-controlled 

companies, it’s hard to understand just how 

the privately-owned firms exert such global 

dominance. Unless you’re really angry at 

gas prices. In which case reason doesn’t 

matter. It’s sort of like blaming Hummer 

owners for petrol prices, climate change, 

traffic jams and the Redskin’s failure to 

field a competitive team. 

But blaming Hummers for all evils in the 

world is still the rage among the less clever. 

A recent McDonald’s promotion including 

toy Hummers with Happy Meals resulted in 

the all the usual outrage manifested in all 

the usual ways. Which is to say that much 

spleen was vented on the internet. The 

Union of Concerned Scientists protested 

that the toy was “targeting the next 

generation of car buyers with pro-Hummer 

marketing” and showed “a tremendous lack 

of sensitivity and care for the health and 

well-being of America's kids.” The Ronald 

McHummer website fulminated that the 

Hummer Happy Meals are selling “future 

car buyers on the fun of driving a 

supersized, smog-spewing, gas-guzzling 

SUV originally built for the military.” The 

plot worked. Hummer dealers now report 

that six year olds are their best customers. 

In response to the free publicity from the 

anti-Hummerites, McDonald’s (on their 

blog, of course) explained that “the 

miniature Hummers are just toys, not 

vehicle recommendations.” Pity. 

In truth, Hummer owners are about the 

only group that can’t be blamed for 

guzzling gas. Hummers actually use very 

little petroleum. Mostly because they are 

too expensive to drive. Although as oil 

prices continue their steep slide, that may 

change. The best thing about three dollarplus 

a gallon gas is that it makes two-andquarter 

a gallon gas seem cheap. 

Oil prices have already declined by about 

$15/barrel and continue to track 

downward. The lower prices should not 

come as a surprise and can be explained by 

the usual technical factors such as a mild 

hurricane season, previously damaged 

production and refining capacity coming 

back online, reduced instability in a few 

strategically important regions and the 

upcoming mid-term elections. That sort of 

thing. 

Irrespective of gas prices, Hummer sales 

continue to climb faster than a lobbyist’s 

campaign contributions. Thanks to 

McDonald’s toys and the H3, Hummer 

sales for the first seven months of the year 

are up 60% from the same time last year. 

Despite the most strenuous efforts of the 

Hummer-haters, Hummer remains an icon 

of rugged durability and strength. The 

newest product to sport the Hummer badge 

is the Hummer Laptop. Compliant with 

Military Standards 810F for vibration and 

temperature, the computer includes a 

magnesium case, shock-mounted 

removable hard drive and integrated GPS. 

Perfect for finding your way in that vast 

uncharted land beyond the Beltway. 

Here in Washington, better known as the 

Land of Reason, fuel efficiency and energy 

policy are being calmly and thoughtfully 

deliberated by enlightened individuals – 

but being made by Congress. No worries. 

Our political leaders will give full and 

proper consideration to energy issues after 

they take care of more pressing issues, such 

as being elected. 

At least one noteworthy action has already 

been taken. Joel B. Bullard’s Representative 

took to the House Floor and congratulated 

him on Joe Bullard Cadillac-Hummer 

receiving the 2006 Time Magazine Quality 

Dealer Award. Clear evidence that 

Congress cares about their constituents. 

Actually, the government does take energy 

issues seriously and is diligently working to 

achieve energy security by doing what they 

do best, spending money. One of the many 

ways in which the government is wisely and 

judiciously investing your tax dollars is by 

supporting the development and 

production of biofuels, gasoline and diesel 

substitutes made from plant matter. The 

good news is that this means that the 

federal government is supporting 

production of ethanol. Unfortunately, it’s 

only for use in cars. 

The Energy Department is spending about 

a quarter-billion dollars to build two 

“bioenergy research centers” where smart 

people are supposed to develop ways to 

produce relatively inexpensive ethanol and 

other biofuels from a variety of sources. 

This is good as it seems unlikely Americans 

could ever figure out how to produce 

alcohol on a commercial scale without 

government support. 

(cont’d p 45)

view from 

WashingtoN 

Thanks to high gas prices and 

Congressional interest in alcohol, ethanol 

production facilities are being built across 

the country. Auto companies already are 

producing an increasing number of flex fuel 

vehicles than can run on a blend of 85% 

ethanol and 15% petrol. In Brazil, 

widespread use of ethanol-based fuels 

produced from sugarcane is helping the 

country achieve energy independence. With 

persistence and a few olives, there may be a 

MartiniMobile in your future. 

Some enterprising folks aren’t waiting for 

the government before taking their own 

actions. Alex Conger converted his H2, 

named Ethyl, to run on almost pure 

ethanol. Of even greater interest, he 

explained “it's possible to brew up to 3 

gallons of your own fuel per hour in your 

own backyard.” Now that’s leadership. If 

Congress really wants to boost America’s 

energy security, they would live by the 

moto, make booze not speeches. Now, back 

to reality. 

And reality is that no matter what voters 

decide, it’s the courts that make the final 

policy decisions. The Supreme Court’s 

eventual decision on a lawsuit against EPA 

by Massachusetts, several other states, a 

couple of cities and an activist group or two 

could result in new regulation of 

automobiles. The suit seeks to force EPA to 

regulate carbon dioxide as a pollutant 

regardless of what the agency, the Congress 

or consumers decide. If you don’t care for 

how vehicles are designed now, just wait 

until auto blueprints have to be approved by 

judges. Not that they would really require 

that now, would they? 

Meanwhile, the National Highway Traffic 

Safety Administration has admitted that 

they are going to require electronic stability 

control systems be included on all cars and 

trucks, including the H2, by the 2012 model 

year. NHTSA’s move provides yet another 

reason to mourn the passing of the H1, the 

one vehicle that could pass any stability test 

without electronic trickery. 

Although the civilian world thinks the real 

Hummer is dead, the Pentagon is 

evaluating the next generation of Hummers, 

mellifluously known as the M1151 and 

M1152 High Mobility Multi-Purpose 

Wheeled Vehicle (HMMWV) aka The 

Hummer. The 2 door M1151 and 4 door 

M1152 have a higher capacity chassis and a 

stronger engine. The innovative 

improvement in the new Hummers is that 

they are designed to use removable add-on 

armor. 

Current armored Hummers, the M1114 

UAH, have their armor permanently added 

after production which means limited 

carrying capacity – and flexibility – for the 

lifetime of vehicle. The new Hummers will 

include some basic built-in armoring, 

particularly underneath the vehicle and 

behind the firewall. The rest of the armor is 

designed to be easily added and removed on 

an as-needed basis by the Hummer’s crew. 

One of the biggest benefits of the new 

Hummer is that as armor technology 

improves, enhanced armor can be used 

without changing the vehicle itself which 

should mean that better armor will get into 

the field more quickly and at lower cost. 

Demonstration models of the new 

Hummers are now undergoing automotive 

and ballistic testing at Aberdeen Proving 

Ground. As Defense Industry Daily 

explains, Hummer “remains the main 

source of mobility for US land forces” and 

“is expected to remain in that leading role 

for some time to come.” 

More real Hummer developments are being 

planned including the M1152P1 Ambulance. 

The first three prototype ambulances are 

expected to be delivered before May. The 

Hummer ambulance is designed to “operate 

at isolated military installations and sites 

worldwide to respond to medical 

emergencies in extreme environmental 

conditions.” While performing its 

humanitarian role, the M1152P1 will also 

demonstrate why the Army should never, 

ever be allowed to name anything. 

Farther from home, the South African press 

is reporting that the first H3 assembly plant 

outside the US will open in Port Elizabeth. 

The $100 million facility is expected to 

create jobs for thousands of South Africans. 

In Europe, a Scottish businessman with the 

oddly-apt name of Tony Ferrari is entering 

a Hummer in the Cannonball 8000 race 

from London to Budapest. As the 

Edinburgh News noted, a Hummer will be 

carrying a Ferrari on a Cannonball run. 

While Mr. Ferrari has some hope of picking 

up a medal despite racing against exotic 

sports cars, he is certain to achieve his real 

goal, raising thousands of dollars for 

Edinburgh’s children’s hospital. Hummer 

has been transformed from being the 

quintessentially American vehicle into a 

global brand. Hummer-hating, however, 

remains a predominantly American disease. 

You already know that a Hummer can take 

you just about anywhere. But you still may 

not realize just how far a Hummer can go. 

Buzz Aldrin, one of the first men to walk on 

the moon, and Apple computer co-founder 

Steve Wozniak are planning to drive an H1 

to the South Pole. The H1 Alphas that will 

be used for the 2007 expedition are being 

modified to run on hydrogen fuel cells. The 

entire trip will be filmed in 3D for an 

upcoming movie. Of note, Wozniak already 

owns a Hummer as well as Prius. Proof 

that there is room on the road for diverse 

vehicle choices. 

The cost of driving Hummers to the South 

Pole? Plenty. The value of sojourning to 

the one place on earth out of shouting 

distance of politicians, lawyers and special 

interest groups? Priceless. 


22” ROZZI FUEL With 

37” KHUMO ROAD VENTURE MT 

Aftermarket wheel and tires are the number one accessory changed on 

new Hummers, with stereo system upgrades coming in second. 

Whether you change for performance reasons or merely just for looks, 

larger wheels can leave you plagued with problems, with rubbing being 

the most prevalent. That minor rubbing up front is not completely 

detrimental to your vehicle, but in some instances can cause problems, 

especially off road during extreme wheel articulation, which in most 

cases will mean you would need to install a full suspension lift kit. This 

of course can be expensive. But for most of you that swap the extra 

rubber for looks and stay mostly confined to the asphalt then there is a 

solution, especially if a suspension lift kit is out of your budget or just 

too high for you. 

Your H2 and H3 utilizes a torsion bar 

suspension system upfront, which 

essentially is a long metal bar attached 

firmly to the vehicle chassis; the opposite 

end terminates in a lever, mounted 

perpendicular to the bar, that is attached to 

the axle of the suspension arm or wishbone. 

The up and down movement of your wheels 

causes the bar to rotate along its axis and is resisted 

by the bar's adjustable torsion resistance. 

At the end of the torsion bar are adjusters called torsion keys, which 

are used for ride height adjustment. Turning the torsion bar 

adjustment bolt causes the torsion keys to rotate which in turn causes 

the vehicles front end to raise or lower, depending on the direction the 

bolt is turned. 

PRODUCT PROFILE 

Many owners utilize this adjustment to increase their front height for 

larger wheels, or simply to give the truck a more level look, eliminating 

the forward rake (nose down stance). Although this method is 

successful in raising your front end, it puts an extra strain on your 

suspension. Rotating the stock keys too far can 

bend the adjusting bolt and place the shock 

piston outside the standard travel. Overrotating 

the torsion bars can also cause the 

suspension to hit the bump stop prematurely, 

causing a harsh ride. 

Aftermarket torsion key kits use modified 

adjuster keys to prevent over-rotation, as well 

as shock brackets that keep the piston travel 

in the stock position. The TRUXXX Leveling 

Kit is available for both H2 ($329 Part 

#40502) and H3 ($449 Part #403030) 

models and will effectively raise your vehicles 

front end up to 3”, while still maintaining the stock ride. We of 

course have oversized tires, 37s to be exact, and were eager to get one 

of these kits installed. We were not only pleased with the new stance, 

but our rubbing has subsided. Installation requires minor shop tools 

and took us approximately 1 hour to complete. Although we utilized a 

shop lift, it can easily be accomplished at home in your driveways as 

well using a heavy duty jack suitable to accommodate the hefty weight 

of a Hummer (3-tons or better recommended) and stands. A front 

leveling kit is also great for vehicles with increased weight on their 

front end caused by add-on items such as plows and winches. 


49

First we measure the front height at the front wheels, as well as the forward rake (nose dive) from the sides of the vehicle.This will help 

with adjustments later. Keep in mind to note the location of the vehicle so you can return to this point when measuring after the install 

and a test ride. Variations up to 1/2” on both sides are normal. Each vehicle has different variables that will affect its own measurements 

including tire size, accessories, inflation etc 

1. Locate torsion key adjusting bolts (2) and remove 

2. Locate rectangular torsion bolt that adjusting bolts threads into 

3.Using torsion key removing tool or ball joint remover, tighten and push in torsion key to relieve tension placed against rectangular 

nut that torsion adjusting bolt threads into 

4. Slide out rectangular nut (Image 2) 

5. Slightly move torsion bar forward to allow stock torsion key to fall out 

6. Install new torsion key in and insert torsion bar thru hole and make sure at least 1/4” of the torsion bar is exposed on the other 

side. 

7. Using torsion key remover/ball joint remover tighten torsion key until you have enough clearance to reinsert rectangular bolt 

8. After reinserting bolt ,remove torsion bar remover and reinsert adjusting bolts and tighten until only 1/4” of threads are exposed. 

(You will adjust as needed once the install is complete and the vehicle is driven to allow the suspension to settle. 

50 


Front Height(before) Front Height (after) Difference 

Passenger 41 1/4” 43 1/2” + 2 1/4” 

Side Height (Nose Dive Measurement). 

(Measured at two points. One towards the front and one towards the rear of the vehicle. 

We used our stock steps.) 

Driver 41 1/2“ 43 5/8” + 2 1/8” Front Height Before Front Height After Difference 

Passenger 13 3/4 15 3/4 +2 

Driver 13 1/2 16 +2 1/2 

Rear Height Before Rear Height After Difference 

Passenger 14 16 1/8 +2 1/8 

Driver 13 1/8 16 1/4 +3 1/4 

1 

1a

2 

3 


3 

5 

7 

51

1. Locate lower front shock mount bracket and remove shock retaining bolt 

2. Remove upper shock bolt. (Access outside in wheel well or inside engine compartment) 

3. Remove front shock. You may have to compress manually to allow for easy removal and replacing 

4. Remove 2 bolts inside stock lower shock bracket and remove 

5. Install new extended shock bracket using stock bolts. 

6. Reinstall front shock into upper mount, then compress slightly to reinstall into new front shock bracket. Insert shock retaining bolt and tighten. (*note: 

you may have to reinsert the bolt thru the other side. The increased height of the bracket may make it difficult to clear the axle without removing.) 

7. Repeat for other side, then lower vehicle and drive vehicle to allow suspension to settle. Then measure both sides again and adjust as needed by 

turning torsion key adjusting bolts clockwise in to raise height and counterclockwise to lower. This can be done with vehicle on ground, but bolt will be 

harder to turn due to the weight on the suspension. Make slight adjustments and measure again. Try to get both sides as even as possible at least 

within 1/8”-1/2” tolerance. Visually observe the vehicle rake [forward stance] and adjust height as needed. 

5 

1 

2 4 

6 


1a 

For More Info: 

TRUXXX 

810 E 19th St 

Tucson, AZ 85719 

website: www.truxxx.com 

email: info@truxxx.com 

Tel:1-888-660-5892 

Hummer H2 Leveling Kit part #405020 

Hummer H3 Leveling Kit part #403030

OFF FF 

ROADIN’ ROADIN’ 

O f f R o a d i n ’ 

The Hi-Lift Jack – 

Yeah, It is THAT Good! 

Those of you who have read this column in the past have already 

heard several times before that the Hi-Lift jack is an important 

off-road tool. Let me take that one step farther; if I was going to 

go wheeling by myself and I could bring only ONE recovery item 

with me, it would definitely be a Hi-Lift jack. The simple truth is 

that no other single item has gotten me out of more trouble than 

this sturdy and simple device. High centered, stuck in waist high 

mud, tail end sliding sideways downhill while winching… these 

are just a few of the predicaments I have been in where a Hi-Lift 

has come to my rescue. 

How Do I Use This Thing? 

Operation of the jack is simple, but it takes a little practice to 

become proficient. There are basically two controls on the jack: 

one lever to engage and disengage the lifting mechanism and the 

handle for actual jacking. With the lever in the disengaged 

position, you place the jack into a stable position under a solid 

jack point on the truck. Lift up on the lever to engage the 

mechanism, and then push the handle down away from the shaft 

of the jack to start lifting. You should always push the handle 

away from the shaft to lift – don’t pull on it. Try to keep 

everything clear of the 

area between the handle 

and the shaft of the jack, 

just in case the handle 

slips out of your hand and 

kicks back against the 

shaft. Watch the jack 

carefully during the 

lifting process. You 

should always “block and 

chock” when jacking, so 

“chock” by wedging 

something against the 

tires to prevent rolling, 

and “block” by building 

up the trail below the 

tires with rocks or logs as 

you jack up on the 

vehicle. If the jack starts 

to tilt too far in one 

direction, the base starts 

sinking into the ground 

excessively, or if the top 

of the jack starts to tilt 

inward threaten the body 

of your rig then you will 

want to reposition the 

jack. Finish “blocking” 

the vehicle to hold its current position, and then lower the lever to 

disengage the lift mechanism. The jack will not release the load at 

this point, but the handle will now work in opposite fashion: 

pushing the handle away from the shaft of the jack will lower the 

load with each pass, and you can lower it until the weight of the 

vehicle is no longer resting on the jack. Once the jack is unloaded, 

54 

“Some guys walk around puffing out their chests, bragging 

about how their Hummers never get stuck, but there is a 

saying out there in off-road circles that goes something like 

this: “If you never get stuck, you aren’t trying hard enough.” 

you can slide the jack out and work on placing it properly for the 

next portion of the lift. When you get home, wash the jack off and 

hit it with some white lithium grease to keep the moving parts 

happy. If you treat the jack well, then it will return the favor 

when you really need it. 

Safety First 

Recovery operations are often the most dangerous circumstances 

you will encounter on the trail, and using a Hi-Lift jack is no 

exception. Hummers weigh as much or more than any other 

vehicle on the trails so the Hi-Lift will be pushed to its limits 

when you use it. ANSI ratings for a Hi-Lift jack test it up to 4660 

lbs, but the shear pin on the jack is designed to withstand up to 

7000 lbs before failure. The jack is smartly designed so that this 

pin failure will NOT release the load. I have personally only 

broken one shear pin in 8 years of recovering Hummers with Hi- 

Lift jacks. In another case, I actually bent the shaft of the jack to 

nearly a 20 degree angle while jacking up the front of an H1 that 

was pointed downhill – but nothing else on the jack failed. The 

point is that the forces involved are very great, and any kind of 

recovery operation is a serious operation. Keep all spectators 

clear, move deliberately and carefully, and stop and think things 

through before acting. Wear heavy work gloves to protect your 

hands, and try not to put your feet or legs into areas under the rig 

that you are lifting. 

What Else Do I Need? 

The Hi-lift can be even more valuable when you add the right 

items to help out. Shackles, straps and chains are always handy 

items for recovery in general, and the right combination of those 

items can make a Hi-Lift work as a manual winch when needed. 

There is only one other accessory that I purchased specifically for 

use with the Hi-Lift jack; a Jack-Mate. This versatile accessory 

replaces the top clamp of the jack, and attaches with a quick 

release pin. The Jack-Mate allows you to clamp, attach a shackle 

or slide in a link of 3/8” chain. Hi-Lift recently introduced their 

Extreme Off-road version of the Hi-Lift all-cast jack that includes 

a top clamp that is similar in functionality to the Jack-Mate. This 

special edition jack also adds a cool looking gray powder coat 

finish, albeit at more of a premium price.

Another accessory worth considering is the Hi-Lift brand jack 

base. This molded plastic base is designed to hold the jack 

securely in position while distributing the weight over a larger 

surface area – a must in soft sand, mud, or loose dirt. I have 

found that a square piece of plywood works for this purpose as 

well, and doubles nicely as a traction pad to throw under a tire 

when things get slick. One way or another, it is a good idea to 

have something flat and sturdy to put the jack on, or you may 

find yourself driving the jack into the ground instead of raising 

your Hummer. 

There are several handle isolators 

on the market that are nice for 

keeping the jack from rattling 

when you are driving around, but 

it can also get in the way unless 

you remove it entirely before 

jacking. If you don’t have handle 

isolator, a zip tie will also hold the 

handle securely and it is easy to 

break away when you need to 

make use of the jack. 

If you don’t want to carry a 

second Hi-lift jack as a spare, a Hi-Lift repair kit would be a 

wise investment. If you do break a shear pin, or if your springs 

or slide pins have problems, this kit will provide you with the 

parts you need to repair it in the field. If your jack fails under 

a heavy load, chances are it won’t be a convenient time for you 

to drive into town to buy a new jack – getting it fixed on the 

trail might be the only way to get your truck back out. At less 

than $20 the “Fix-it Kit” takes up very little space in a toolbox 

and it is cheap insurance. 

Don’t Leave Home Without It 

Like many off-road recovery tools, a Hi-Lift won’t help you if it 

is in your garage or if it is locked to your truck. Some people 

say leave the Hi-Lift at home if you aren’t going wheeling that 

day so that you save on gas. Well, I can think of two times that 

I got stuck when I wasn’t going to go wheeling that day – at 

least not to my prior knowledge. The first time I had to call a 

friend to bring me home and pick up my Hi-Lift before 

returning to recover my truck, and the other time I had to use 

a hacksaw to free my Hi-Lift from the cable lock on my front 

brush guard, since I had left the key to the cable lock at home. 

I now keep at least one unlocked Hi-Lift in my 

truck at all times, whether I plan to go wheeling 

or not! 

Off-off-road Use? 

I have used the Hi-Lift for many jobs at home as 

well. Each time I remove and reinstall my front 

winch I have needed find a way to line the holes 

up for the front bumper and the front D-rings. 

Without a Hi-lift jack, I am not sure how else I 

would get that part of the job done. I have used 

the Hi-Lift as a giant bar clamp on numerous 

occasions around the garage as well. Remember, 

the Hi-lift jack has been around as an agricultural 

jack long before recreational 4x4 drivers started 

using it – this is a useful tool around the farm, 

and around the home. 

Now Go Get One! 

So now you know that all those other Hummers, 

Jeeps, Land Rovers and other 4x4’s out there 

have a Hi-Lift jack mounted on their roof racks, 

brush guards or spare tires for a reason... If you don’t already 

have one on your truck, figure out which model meets your 

needs best and then get one. The 48” jack is easier to stow 

away, but the extra length of the 60” jack can come in very 

handy, especially when you are recovering a high centered 

truck, or using the jack as a manual winch. 

For Hummer owners, I suggest you get the 

all cast model. The stamped steel one will 

probably do just as well, but the cast steel 

one is likely more durable. And for 

goodness sake, once you get your Hi-lift 

get out there and get it dirty once in a 

while so you don’t look like a poser. 

See you on the trails! 

-Manny 

OFF 

ROADIN’ 


55

[HummerLife] 

56 

HummerLife is dedicated to all Hummer owners. In this section you can 

meet with other owners, join local clubs, list events,show off your 

Hummer, or share any hummer experience. It’s all free! 

Send to:info@ultimatehummersmag.com Atnn: HummerLife 

Terry Runion, of Mesa, AZ has created the ultimate mobile gaming experience which he calls the MaxxGamer H2. 

MaxxGamer features 8 LCD monitors and 8 Halo limited edition green Xbox gaming consoles all networked together allowing 

up to 8 players to play against each other. And the best part of all is its available for bookings at events. Visit 

www.maxxgamer.com

[HummerLife][HummerLife][HummerL 

Phillip Balalovski, Columbus, Ohio, OHIO 

Darren Blackshalls 

H2 in front of LLoyds 

of London, with his 

little brother Richard 

showing off his own 

Hummer 

“I kept promising 

him I’d buy him a 

Hummer-I’m sure 

he didn’t expect 

the real thing, but 

he was delighted 

when he received 

a 2ft long remote 

control model H2.“ 

Tamara Sandoval, Las Vegas, shows why chrome doesn’t belong in the dirt 

“..my lugs were rusted because I cover them with mud every chance I get” 

“Not really any Hummers like this in Columbus” 


57

First Hummer World Run a Success 

Over 12,000 visitors and more than 150 Hummers converged 

on Zorneding, near Munich 

Germany on October 7-8 for 

the 2006 Hummer World 

Run presented by 

Europe’s’ largest 

Hummer dealer 

Geigercars.de. The 

well known 

supertuning company 

who has tuned out 

some of the Worlds 

fastest Hummers 

extended invitations for 

all to come out and 

“personally experience the 

Hummer fascination”, which 

has expanded globally past US 

shores. Visitors had the opportunity to 

test drive their choice of an H1, H2 or H3 and experience each 

vehicles off road prowess in a specially designed off road arena. 

One lucky person even walked away with a free one year lease 

on an H3 courtesy of Geigercars.de. The weekend festivities 

concluded with a Hummer parade through Zorneding that was 

over 130 Hummers long. 

$18 

[begins with current issue] 

$16 

[begins with next issue] 

Online: 


Phone: 

631-249-4901 

Mail check/ money order: 

Ultimate Hummers SUBS 

53 E Merrick Rd Unit 2 #360 

Freeport, NY 11520

The German supertuner Geigercars.de has taken another 

Hummer over the top again with their latest creation, the 

Hummer GT. The eye-catching exterior of the Hummer GT 

features custom light blue paint with an orange racing 

stripe normally reserved for sports cars. But hey if a 

Hummer can do 0-62 in 7.9 seconds then doesn’t it deserve 

a racing stripe as well? The Hummer GT is not just about 

looking fast. It really is. The stock 6-liter is modified with a 

supercharger and high performance stainless steel exhaust, 

as well as some special calibrations to the ECU, which helps 

the GT pump out 556 ponies, 564 (ft) lbs of torque, and 

achieve a top speed of 140 mph. 

Gullwing doors, like those found on Lamborghinis, adds 

more race appeal, as does its lowered aggressive stance. 

Almost four inches to be exact. But the most striking aspect 

of the GT are the giant 30-inch wheels wrapped in 315/30 

R 30 Pirelli Scorpion Zeros it sits on. Yes, thirty inches. And 

just when you thought they couldn’t get any bigger. 

Blingers unite! Sport anti-sway bars help control the GT at 

high speeds and ensure the rubber stays planted around 

those sharp corners. A high performance brake system 

utilizing 15-inch perforated and vented discs, with 8-pot 

fixed calipers up front helps bring the Hummer GT back 

within the legal speed limit. 

On the inside the Geiger tuned Hummer features carbon 

fiber accents, color-coded instruments and a multimedia 

system including a navigation system, DVD player, TV 

receiver and two LCD-screens, which are integrated in the 

dashboard and a specially designed roof console. 

Most of the upgrades found on the Hummer GT can be purchased 

individually as well. A set of the wheels and tires found on the GT retail 

for around $35k, and a sport brake upgrade will set you back $13k. Or 

of course you can purchase your very own completed Hummer GT 

starting at $168k. For more info visit www.geigercars.de or drop them 

an email to info@geigercars.de 


ROD AND CHAD HALL DRIVE H3 

TO VICTORY IN THE ‘BAJA 500’ 

Photos: Jim Ober/Coverage: George R Thompson 

Reno, NV -Team HUMMER arrived in Ensenada, Mexico 

on June 1st to run the Tecate/SCORE ‘Baja 500’ for the 

first time since 1994. We brought two trucks for this race: 

The #779 Team HUMMER H3 SUV to run in the Mini- 

Stock production class and the #861 Team HUMMER H2 

SUV entered in the Full-Stock production class. We choose 

to leave the new H1 at home for budgetary reasons but H1 

driver, Chad Hall joined us as one of a team of drivers 

scheduled to share driving time with team owner, Rod Hall 

in the H3. Rounding out the H3 team of drivers at this 

year’s ‘Baja 500’ were Larry Webster from Car & Driver 

magazine and Alan Taylor from Car & Driver Radio. Chief 

mechanic, Sam Cothrun, brought down the Team 

HUMMER H2 SUV from Reno and Josh Hall planned to 

solo the entire race. 

This year’s ‘Baja 500’ boasted a record 436 entries so Josh 

Hall, in the #861 H2 SUV, didn’t take the green flag until 

11:18 AM on Saturday morning, followed by Car & Driver 

magazine’s Larry Webster behind the wheel of 

the #779 H3 SUV at 11:25 AM. The late 

start combined with the 425 mile 

race distance made it clear that 

we would be out on the course 

until the early morning hours. 

Josh Hall, with Sam Cothrun 

in the co-rider seat, got off 

to a good start in the H2 

putting almost an hour on 

the competition by the 

time they arrived at a 

massive on-course traffic 

jam at racemile (RM) 

108. Apparently a minipickup 

had gotten stuck 

in the mud of a narrow 

creek crossing in the 

pine forest, bringing the 

race to a halt while 

everyone waited for the 

mini-truck to free 

itself from the 

quagmire. Seeing that 

nothing was being 

done to get things moving, Cothrun got out of the H2 and 

orchestrated a work detail from the numerous co-riders in 

the 20 or so race vehicles that separated the H2 and the 

hapless mini-truck. After an effort to pull the mini-truck 

out by hand failed, Cothrun persuaded everyone to pull off 

to the right so they could get the four-wheel drive H2 up to 

the front to tow the Ford Ranger out of the creek so 

everyone could continue racing. Cothrun took a tow strap 

from the driver of the Ford, attached it to the H2’s front 

bumper and yanked him out of the mud in no time. Once 

the way was cleared, he cut the tow strap, hopped back in 

the H2 and the pair sped off in front of the pack having 

delivered on their promise to clear the course and passed 

twenty race cars in the process. 

There wasn’t much time to celebrate the fact that they had 

gotten through the traffic jam because just a few miles up 

the course the throttle 

on the H2 

became 

unresponsive, 

bringing the 

truck

to a stop with the engine idling but unable to accelerate. All 

Josh and Sam could do as they searched for the problem 

was to watch all the cars they just passed get by them and 

disappear in the distance. Normally, one might think that 

the H2 broke an accelerator cable and there was a time 

when that would have been the case with most vehicles. But 

the H2 does not have an accelerator cable but rather the 

gas pedal (throttle) is loaded electronically as part of an 

engine management system which is actuated by sensors 

located in various parts of the ignition and fuel systems. It 

was in the area of this system that Josh and Sam, logically, 

concentrated their search to no avail. All of the sensors 

were replaced and the wiring and circuit boards seemed 

intact but a failure in one part can result in problems not 

easily diagnosed in the heat of a desert race. To make 

matters worse the radio in the H2 was not able to 

communicate through the dense growth which populated 

their location in the pine forest so Hall could not contact 

the H2 chase crew for help. 

Larry Webster, with Thad Stump 

at his side, started in the #779 

Team HUMMER H3 just seven 

minutes behind the H2. The 

first 30 miles were trouble-free 

but in the sand wash around 

Ojos Negros, the truck 

started to overheat. 

Once they got 

beyond 

this area and climbed into the pine forest, the H3 returned 

to normal operating temperatures and would not overheat 

again. At Checker pit #1 (El Rayo), Webster was replaced 

behind the wheel by Chad Hall and Stump remained in the 

truck. At this point, (RM 100) the two Team HUMMER 

trucks were already 45 minutes apart, so when Chad Hall 

finally pulled up next to the #861 H2 to check their status 

at RM 115, Josh Hall and Sam Cothrun had already 

determined that the problem was deeper than they could 

easily diagnose. It was clear they needed help! Chad was in 

a race of his own in the H3 so he carried on however, once 

they cleared the forest, Stump was able to establish radio 

contact with the H2 chase crew, inform them of the 

problem and pinpoint the location of the stalled race truck. 

Chad brought the #779 Team HUMMER H3 into Checker 

Pit #2 (Nuevo Junction) for fuel and a driver change at RM 

148 with a half-hour lead in the mini-stock class. Thad got 

out; Chad moved into the second seat and Car and Driver 

Radio’s, Alan Taylor took over behind the wheel. After some 

adjustments Alan headed off to the BFG pit at San Matias 

Pass (RM 173) where he brought the H3 in with a 57 minute 

lead. Alan turned over control to Chad Hall, who slid over 

to once again take the wheel where he would remain until 

Tres Hermanos (RM 374). 

Meanwhile, help had finally reached the H2 

but the source of the problem continued to 

elude everyone and the Tech2 diagnostic 

computer was not providing the answers 

the team needed to sort out the problems. 

At this point the H2 had so much downtime 

in pursuit of a solution for this problem that 

it became doubtful whether or not we could 

finish within the time limit. The decision 

was made to retire the H2 from the event 

and the problem has yet to be fully 

diagnosed. A faulty connection was found 

back at the shop which could have 

contributed to the problem although it falls 

short of a definitive diagnosis. The H2 has 

been sent to the Desert Proving Ground for 

a more thorough evaluation of the electrical 

systems. 

There were no problems with the H3 since 

the temporary overheating issue early in the 

race had fixed itself. Chad Hall had taken 

over at RM 170 and Thad Stump, who had 

co-ridden all but 30 miles of the race, was 

back in the second seat. Hall brought the 

#779 Team HUMMER H3 SUV into the 

BFG pit at RM 285 for fuel and sped off into 

the Baja night toward Erindera. Illuminated 

by a bank of LightForce HID Lights, the 

lonely trail along the beach was 

transformed into daylight when the transfer 

case suddenly began to mysteriously shift 

on its own. Thad had given the 

(Cont’d p 62) 



63

electronically actuated 

transfer case a workout 

during the race in an 

effort to keep up with 

the varied terrain of the 

mountainous course 

and it had performed 

flawlessly until they got 

on the flat beach area of 

Erindera. Chad stopped 

the truck briefly while 

Thad cycled the transfer 

case controls through 

its positions a few times 

and got underway once 

again. As with the 

overheating problem, 

the transfer case 

seemed to cure itself 

and offered no further 

problems. Just south of 

Ojos Negros, Chad 

pulled into Checker Pit 

#7 to take on a splash of 

fuel and turn the truck 

over to Rod. Stump 

stayed with the truck, 

probably welded in the 

passenger seat by now, 

all of his bones locked 

in the sitting position. 

Certainly the Team 

HUMMER ‘Baja 500’ 

Ironman award goes to 

Thad for riding all but 

30 miles of the toughest 

race in ‘Baja 500’ 

history. Obviously the 

custom made 

MasterCraft seats which 

we use in all the Team 

HUMMER trucks, made 

his long journey in the 

second seat possible. 

Fortunately the early 

morning ride into the 

finish line was troublefree, 

which was a good 

thing because daylight 

was near and Rod was 

pushing the truck to 

finish within the time 

limit. If the H3 was able 

to take the Checkered 

flag before 5:22AM, this 

would not only be a 

record 16 ‘Baja 500’ 

wins for Hall but the H3 

would be the first Mini- 

Stock class truck to 

64 

finish this event 

since 1998. By now, 

we were so far in 

front of the Honda, 

Nissan and Fords, 

that are the 

competition, that 

they are not a factor. 

We knew from the 

start that it would 

not be the other 

trucks we had to beat 

but the desert itself 

and a time limit 

which allowed for 

almost no downtime. 

Having 

accomplished the 

final driver change, 

the crew gathered at 

the finish line in 

downtown Ensenada 

to wait for the H3 to 

take the checkered 

flag. The last 30 

miles of the course 

was very rough and 

following all the 

previous race 

vehicles, which had 

already covered the 

terrain had not made 

the course any more 

user-friendly. By 

5:00AM, Rod had 

still not finished and 

the crew began to get 

anxious with every 

passing moment. 

Finally, at 5:09AM 

the H3 took the 

checkered flag and 

the Class win, with 

13 minutes to spare 

before the 18 hour 

time limit expired.

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