Help with H1 purchase - Steel Soldiers::Military Vehicles Supersite

dirtyfingernails · 09-25-2009, 13:47

Off MV subject sort of, but. I am considering buying an H1 (the military HMMWV is too austere for me at my age--I need AC). My price range is under 50K. Preferably 40K. What do I need to look for? Are all Hummer H1s essentially the same? Will I have a difficult or impossible time finding someone qualified to work on the truck? I'm a good wrench turner, but I don't know about this beast at all. Do I want a 6.5 liter? I heard that the 6.2s were all replaced by warranty. Please school me. Thanks!

saddamsnightmare · 09-25-2009, 15:10

September 25th, 2009.

Good luck in your price range sir, there's a civillian H! ambulance type body around here, 2004 model 16 K miles $60,000. The problem with the civillian H-1's is there are a de rated military version with a different engine and a lot more "stuff" on them. If they are like other civillian vehicles of 2004, a computer workstation might be good. AND if they have CTIS (like the one I saw today), be aware that if one "O" ring leaks, you'll have 4 flats instead of 1. I'll stick to my deuce and Unimog, much simpler machines and the AC is you open all the cab windows. Good luck on your hunt.... I'd love to hear what your insurance is gonna run you as against what I pay for the deuce and the Unimog (both of which are less then my wife's 2006 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited.

Cheers,

Kyle F. McGrogan

dirtyfingernails · 09-25-2009, 15:20

Been there and done that with the deuce. Nice trucks for certain and simple, but I've always wanted a HMMWV. I know it's an impractical vehicle, but you only live once and that life is VERY short. Thus, my desire to buy one. I'd prefer some help on what to look for as opposed to admonishement for wanting to do so.

Andydieselpower · 09-25-2009, 15:31

I've always kept a close eye on the civilian H1 prices as they seem like a neat vehicle to own. The 6.5 ltr Chevy diesel scares the heck out of me though. I know some will state that they have 300k on theirs with no issues but the majority of the ones I have seen have replaced motors. I'd encourage a generic search on craigslist and type in 6.5 diesel. See how many GM trucks have either bad moters that need replaced or are on a rebuilt/replacement with under 150k miles- not my definition of robust. You will be suprised as I found over 10 bad motors/rebuilt motors just for Minneapolis MN CL alone last time. Pull 7.3 Powerstroke and Cummins and check for a comparison for durability as you will have a hard time finding a rebuilt/bad motor. The H1 is unique enough that I can live with the 6.5 diesel's short lifespan but personally I would pad your price that an engine replacement will come up at some point if you keep it awhile. I think the 6.5's like to run hot and the cooling pkg the H1 had didn't help. I'm sure someone who knows H1's will chime in but thats my experience of 6.5's in the civilian world and of a few guys I knew that had them. Good luck with your search!

Andy

southdave · 09-25-2009, 15:36

Wasn't there guy or down in one carolinia who was putting a cummins 5.9 in hummer thought they where around 30k

dirtyfingernails · 09-25-2009, 16:11

Andy,
Interesting take on the engine. I currently own an F250 with the powerstroke 6.0 and love it. I don't really know chevys. What engine does the HMMWV use? I was under the impression that the same motor was in both civy and military versions. Maybe I need to rethink this purchase. I've been watching classifieds all over Florida. Trucks in the 10 to 15 years of age range with about 100,000 miles are going for 25 to 50k. If the engine needs replacement at 120,000 miles that stinks!

actionpaintball · 09-25-2009, 16:20

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Stay away form the 6.2 for the civi model. I would recommended the 6.5TD. You have lots of options and plenty of nice truck in that price range: buyers market right now. Also shay away from the older trucks that do not have updated AC units-or you will be spending lots of cash for the upgrades in the near future.

Snarky · 09-25-2009, 17:01

The 6.2 and the 6.5 are junk motors but I feel like majority of the problems with them are with people riding them too hard and lack of PM. You can get 300k out of these engines, you just have to not drive it like a maniac and follow the maintenance guide lines. Yeah you'll probably have to replace something expensive once in a while, but the engine should never be a total write off unless you kept driving like you stole it or waited 10,000 between every oil change on vehicles that generally have undersized filtration systems.

If you went with the 6.2 you could probably get a bunch of replacements from GL and keep them in the backyard to replace every 30,000 miles

B3.3T · 09-25-2009, 19:34

The problem I have seen with H1 is all the sellers thing like Harley and Corvette owners; even though there are tons out there, they all think theirs is something entirely special, and hence worth more than it is.

lavarok · 09-25-2009, 20:18

Aboonski sent me this CL ad the other day.....

1995 Hummer H1 ~~~ Diesel~ Alarm~low miles~~24"wheels~~10k invested~~~

needs a new paint job and a new set of tires!!