Hummer Guy Hummer News and Opinion from an experienced off-road instructor
Quick-Jump Guide
Introduction
Safety
Specifications and Dimensions
Off Road Clearances
2009 HUMMER H3 Introduction
The H3 is designed to get you through the most impressive off-road obstacles unscathed with its fully welded steel frame, 9.7 inches of ground clearance, and full undercarriage protection. The H3 is particularly adept in water with its ability to ford 24 inches at 5 mph and 16 inches at 20 mph. You’ll be able to avoid most hang-ups with the H3’s 37.4 degree approach angle and its 34.7 departure angle.
Under the hood of the H3 is the Vortec 3.7L engine, which turns out 239 hp at 5800 rpm and 241 lbs-ft of torque at 4600 rpm. The Vortec 3.7L is high-tech and lightweight, bringing a perfect balance between performance and fuel economy.
2009 HUMMER H3 Safety
The H3 is designed with safety in mind for all driving situations. To begin with, the H3 has an exceptionally strong frame providing rigid structural support. Also, the H3’s reinforced body structure is designed to act as a safety cage. In the unfortunate event of an emergency, the H3 has several features that help you before, during, and after impact.
Before:
Tire Pressure Monitoring System – The TPM is constantly monitoring pressure in all four tires and if one or more falls below the optimum lefel, an indicator light on the instrument panel illuminates.
LATCH (Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children) – This system is for anchoring child seats in the rear.
Rear Door Child Security Locks – When activated, these locks help prevent young children from opening the rear doors from inside the vehicle.
Daytime Running Lamps – This feature helps increase the visibility of the vehile to other drivers during daylight hours.
During:
Standard Head Curtain Side Air Bags with Rollover Sensors – In the event of a moderate to severe side impact collision, the head curtain side air bags inflate, providing added head-impact protection for the front and rear outboard passengers.
Dual Front Air Bags – This feature supplements the safety belt system and helps protect the driver and front passenger in the event of a moderate to severe front impact collision.
Panic Brake Assist – Standard on all 2009 H3 models, this new safety feature helps the driver especially during on-road driving. The PBA detects emergency braking situations and helps maintain and optimize braking pressure over and above the braking pressure applied by the driver. This helps bring the vehicle to a quicker stop with more driver control.
After:
OnStar – The 2009 H3 comes standard with one year of the OnStar system, including Automatic Crash Response. In a crash, built-in vehicle sensors can automatically alert an OnStar Advisor who is immediately connected into your vehicle and can request emergency help to be sent to your exact location.
2009 HUMMER H3 Specifications and Dimensions
2009 HUMMER H3 Exterior Dimensions
|
Length (with rear tire carrier) |
187.5 in. |
|
Width (Includes sideview mirrors) |
85.0 in. |
|
Track Width Front/Rear |
65.0 in./65.5 in. |
|
Height |
73.2 in |
|
Overhang Front/Rear |
31.6 in./35.2 in. |
|
Wheelbase |
111.9 in |
2009 HUMMER H3 Interior Dimensions
|
Headroom (without sunroof) |
40.7 in. |
|
Shoulder room |
54.4 in. |
|
Hip Room |
53.8 in. |
|
Legroom Front/Rear |
41.9 in./36.1 in. |
2009 HUMMER H3 Cargo Dimensions
|
Length (behind rear seat) |
31.7 inches |
|
Width (at floor) |
42.1 inches |
|
Volume Behind 2nd row/With 2nd row folded |
25 cubic feet/62.8 cubic feet |
2009 HUMMER H3 Off-Road Clearances
|
Ground Clearance 32″ tires/33’tires |
9.7 in. / 10.5 in. |
|
Approach Angle 32″ tires/33″ tires |
37.4 degrees / 39 degrees |
|
Departure Angle 32″ tires/33″ tires |
34.7 degrees / 36.3 degrees |
|
Breakover Angle 32″ tires/33″ tires |
22.1 degrees / 23.7 degrees |
|
40 percent |
|
|
60 percent |
|
|
5 MPH Water Fording Capability |
24 in. |
|
20 MPH Water Fording Capability |
16 in. |
|
Vertical Scaling Capability |
16 in. |
Glossary
Approach Angle: When viewed from the side, this is the angle between the ground and a line running from the front tire to the lowest-hanging point directly in front of it, which is usually the front bumper. This angle gives an indication of how the vehicle can approach a steep incline and its ability to climb up objects like rocks and other obstacles without damaging the front bumper.
Breakover Angle: This angle is a measurement of a vehicle’s ability to drive over a sharp ridge without touching its underside. The “included” angle measures the angle inside the ramp, and the “excluded” angle measures the included angle to the vehicle’s horizontal. A shorter vehicle with large tires will have the best (largest) breakover angle. Most SUVs run around 20 degrees “excluded” breakover angle.
Departure Angle: The angle between the ground and a line running from the rear tire to the lowest-hanging point directly behind it, which is usually the rear bumper or trailer hitch. Similar to the approach angle, this angle indicates how the vehicle can depart a steep incline and its ability to exit off of rocks and other obstacles without damaging the rear bumper.
Grade (upslope) Capability: The percentage grade of a hill that a truck is capable of driving/climbing up.
Side Slope Capability: The percentage grade of a hill that a truck can traverse.
Water Fording Capability: The depth of water through which the truck can drive.