hi, new member, FJ vs H3 videos

[exfjfan2]

I was happy with my toyota at first, but after driving my boyfriends h3, I think I am going to go see about a trade. The h3 just seems to be something I would like a lot better. The motor in the h3 doesn't have the get up and go that my fj does, but I think it would be much stronger.

I found these videos posted in another forum, thought you would enjoy!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3jakPvVwuyU I can't believe all of the trouble the FJ has on this trail.... I really can't!! Pretty Sad!!!!

http://video.gnvmotorsports.com/video/bf4a8e06-40e9-4cb7-bf94-98490099b34d.htm Hummers? well... you get the point

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[LifeTech]

The two trucks yu mentioned are really different from each other in alot of ways.

Size being an obvious difference, as such, the Hummer has way different suspension geometry that accomodates its stature.

The longer wheelbase is probably the greatest advantage of the Hummer.

The FJ is really a serious offroader none the less. The FJ compares more to a Jeep Wrangler. The H3 might suit yu better. I'm sure no one has to tell yu that a Toyota product is superior to a GM vehicle rebranded as Hummer. (when it comes to durability and reliability)

The FJ was field tested for many thousands of miles during its prototype
stage of developement. Iknow that there was little done for the H3, as it was cloned from an existing GM chassis/Frame.(merely a GM parts Bin vehicle)

That's your call. Don't base your decisions on video footage alone. And it takes many years of trail driving to gain experience and confidence with any truck.

I've been on trails and no two drivers drive the same given the same vehicle and path. It's the driver not the vehicle that tells the story alot of the time.
Don't underestimate the FJ by any means. But if yu are not happy with it do get what yu want. A driver should ALWAYS be confident in what they drive. It is a very subjective matter of opinion.
Just my 2 cents.

[Diego]

That's your call. Don't base your decisions on video footage alone. And it takes many years of trail driving to gain experience and confidence with any truck. "quote"


Exactly If you search the web for off road video's you will see good performance and bad of pretty much any vehicle. Just check out the rivalry between Jeep and Hummer forums. I have seen some Hummer video's of what apears to be pretty poor performance of Hummers. What you have to realize is that every situation is different. It amazes me somtimes of what I can go through in my own 4x4 but yet other times it seems to really have a tough time in some areas that seem like they should be a simple walk in the park Also the FJ in the video link above looks to be running on the stock tires. Tires can make or break off road ability. If you check out the tire rack website they rate the tire that comes stock on the FJ VERY poorly. It's not just the FJ either, I did not see the best performance on my Tundra 4x4 until I replaced the crappy stock Rugged Trails with Revos. They, "Toyota, and pretty much all manufactures" tend to choose tires that cost less but offer the best ride comfort and good fuel mileage to get better EPA ratings with less importance on off road performance. A good off road tire more often than not, will provide a stiffer ride and lower mileage. The FJ is a very capable off road vehicle, as to compare to the H3 I would likely say that either one may do better than the other in certain situations. I do firmly believe though that longterm owner satisfaction will be greater with a Toyota vehicle than with any GM product.

[01gsxr1]

first let me say that that trail that that fj is one i have been up and down i have been to gilmer with the xj i use to own in that is in my picks and to moab that trail in gilmer is not a ez one i have seen well setup street driven jeeps not make it down that trail and even my jeep locked front and back with long arm kit and 37's would lift a tire so i have to give that fj some mad props for running that trail because that video does it no justice

[voodoobluematt]

I think both vehicles are great at what they do. Although I am not a big fan of GM products, the H3 vid was pretty good. Infact, a little to produced for my taste. The Blue FJ vid was an even better vid to watch to see how it preforms. I was more amazed at what the FJ did rather than the H3. If there is a vid of an H3 negotiating the same area as the FJ, that would be what I want to see before I made the decision to do the trade.

I just took it on a 1000k mi trip this weekend from the Sac area of California to Salem Oregon and I do not even feel like I drove that long. It was comfortable. Granted my FJ is a 2wd (I do not go off road, specially in a new car) but the ride quality was great and the power for the hills was there. Had to fill up 3 times but I did that a 1/4 of a tank.

[silvertoy]

I think you need to make a decision based on more than videos.

Here's a lady running a bone stock FJ through hells gate at MOAB

YouTube - Miss FJ wheels Hells Gate on Hells Revenge

Here's someone else doing it with a wrangler... It's all in the hands of the driver.

4x4 Rollover - Google Video

[voodoobluematt]

That jeep vid was brutal.

[ImagePro]

What i didn't like about the videos was the apparently lack of experience of off-road driving in the first video. Sorry, just thought i would throw in my two cents.

ImagePro

[Michael2000]

I had to stop the first video of the FJ. I couldn't watch the whole thing. It was just miserable. This guy is taking completely the wrong lines. He's got his wheels in the ruts. Second, what's he doing without a locking rear axle? Or maybe he didn't know to turn it on. A properly equipped FJ, with an experienced driver could do a lot better than this.

I driven the H3 offroad, and it will spin the rear tire just like the FJ in the video did if you don't lock the rear. As far as which one is better offroad, I would say an H3 with the Adventure package (locker, more armor, 4:1 transfer case, better tires) would have an edge, but not by a whole lot. You'll pay for that edge. The H3 will beat you up onroad.

If you really want to see how each will do, you have to get them out there side-by-side, with good drivers. It's that close.

Michael

[silvertoy]

LOL, it was her first time I gather. I was trying to prove that the FJ makes it easy. Both the FJ and the H3 are very capable off road. In fact, I think that there will be very little advantage of either. The FJ has a better engine, for both on and off road work. The Hummer looks more bad ***. The FJ has more heritage, although people don't know it and will mock you that it is a baby hummer. If you option up the H3 similarly to the FJ, you'll find that the FJ is just as capable for significantly less $$$

If you were to take that trail in the very first video and put the same noob driver behind the wheel of both the FJ and the H3, I am willing to bet you would cringe at both videos. When it comes to aftermarket, the FJ has everything you could want, bumpers, skids, rails, you name it. The hummer... has a LOT of chrome parts.

[Michael2000]

Originally Posted by silvertoy

The hummer... has a LOT of chrome parts.

Only if someone puts them on.

[silvertoy]

Originally Posted by Michael2000

Only if someone puts them on.

I was referring to aftermarket parts, but a lot of chrome does come standard with the hummer as well.

[DevinSixtySeven]

Those three vids were an interesting comparison...

I would never, ever go off the pavement with the people in the first FJ video. It's an example of how NOT to drive, spot, or human assist, just downright awful.

The drivers in the Hummers at least knew what they were doing, or (most likely) had several experienced drivers coaching everyone else. If you're looking at vehicle capabilities tho...I believe the stock 4x4 FJ package comes with a locker. If you look carefully at the Hummer vid, not all the rigs had a locker, but the skill of the driver and spotter (for the most part, there were a couple idiot moments in the video) overcame any limitations posed by the stock rig. None of the trails they ran were particularly difficult, and actually what they showed on the video was less difficult than the terrain in the first video.

The third video is a great example of the 90% driver/10% vehicle theory...excellent spotting and driving. Locker engaged, moving forward on three stable wheels, watching the spotter, steady throttle. This was actually the EASIEST obstacle shown in any of the videos, but poses the MOST risk of any of them...that's why skill and communication are so important and the driver of the Jeep rolled his/her junk. Shame, too...nice build. Incidentally, I heard they drove it away, after putting the dirty side down again.

Almost every small offroad vehicle except a Wrangler comes with IFS and a live rear axle (or IFS/IRS and WTF). My personal opinion after watching the vids is that either vehicle will shine if it's driven properly, AND that both vehicles seem to attract people who think that because they bought <insert brand name>, they can automatically run around offroad . Be like Miss FJ instead , regardless what you buy.

Work out the details later, but if you want to go offroad, look for things like this in a vehicle...low center of gravity, good approach and departure angles, room for your stuff, high underbelly clearance, body on frame construction, strong front suspension and steering components, and strong differentials, and places to mount full skid plates, rock sliders, stronger bumpers, and larger tires. The FJ is pretty much like the Hummer in every category except room for your stuff and large tires, which both might be a reason to get the Hummer, if you're not looking at the quality history of the manufacturer. Buy something that was MEANT to go offroad, not something that looks like it should be offroad but needs a million aftermarket parts and dealer options to do it. I think that actually means you should get a Wrangler . Most vehicles these days are meant to look mean and sport a brand name while they sit in valet parking.

-Sean

PS didja notice this thread was actually started by a troll?

[file014]

I always get a kick out of seeing a kiddie hummer. 5 cyl engine? come on. just go get a colorado for half the price. ive done more offroading in my tercel

[SDtundra858]

Only Hummer i would buy if i had the money would be the H1 Alpha, or the original Hummer used in the army