2006 Amstar Hummer H3 Buildup - Off-Road Trucks

The Hummer H3 is a competent off-road vehicle right off the showroom floor. A number of companies are offering very fine suspensions for them already. The big news is that AM General and Tecstar have joined together to form AmStar, a company dedicated to building wilderness-ready H3s that you can order directly from your Hummer dealer, or you can order pieces to install yourself. AmStar's motto, "Chrome won't get you home," gives us an idea of how serious the company is.

That's right. You can get your H3 built and ready for anything right from your dealer. And we're talking built - not with useless garbage bolted on, but with needed parts. Those parts include a front Eaton ELocker (remember, you can get a rear ELocker already), Hutchinson dual (inner and outer beads) beadlock wheels just like on the H1, Goodyear MT/R tires, Rod Hall shock absorbers by Fox, and enough racks and armor to satisfy the most dedicated backcountry explorer.

By now, everyone knows the advantages of a locking differential. The Eaton ELocker, which is an available option on the H3, is a reliable locker that you can engage when it's needed and disengage when it's not. Adding one up front doubles your off-road capability. The front ELocker works with the H3's traction control system and StabiliTrak stability control system, making the AmStar H3 one of the most capable out-of-the-dealer off-road sport utilities ever offered.

The Wilderness Ready H3 also features great storage. Cargo-area drawers give you a place to store all your tools, parts, and other gear safely out of the way, yet easy to access. An onboard compressor is also included so you can air up your tires at the end of a long trip. Available outside racks, both on top of the H3 and over the rear spare tire, are very strong and capable of carrying larger, bulkier items.

Underneath, chassis armor similar to that on the H1 is an available option for the H3 that keeps nasty rocks from stopping you miles from anywhere. AmStar offers integrated rocker-panel protection/steps that work with the underbody protection and are strong enough to actually protect the body. A rearend skidplate protects the differential from rocks. The Wilderness Ready integrated winch bumper and brushguard carries a Warn 9.5xp winch and guards the front from tree branches and bushes.

Let's face it - there is a lot of garbage out there for sport utility vehicles and trucks that's built for profit and not real use. We had a chance to take a close look at AmStar's new Wilderness Ready Hummer H3 and were very impressed. This is a genuine effort of an OEM (AM General) and an OE supplier (Tecstar) to offer strong, reliable products to backcountry explorers. For those neophyte explorers who know they want something that works but just don't know what, the Wilderness Ready H3 can be ordered from their local Hummer dealer, and it arrives ready to hit the trail. For those who want to pick their parts, we understand that by the time you read this, parts will be available from AmStar's website.

Any company that tells us, "Chrome won't get you home," just has to build great products.

The AmStar Wilderness Ready H3 integrated winch bumper/brushguard wraps around the front and is strong enough to actually protect the front of the H3.
The AmStar Wilderness Ready H3 integrated winch bumper/brushguard wraps around the front a
The bumper carries the strong and fast Warn 9.5xp winch, our choice for backcountry use. Wilderness Ready lights are available not only on the front bumper, but on the roof rack as well.
The bumper carries the strong and fast Warn 9.5xp winch, our choice for backcountry use. W
Rocker guards/steps that actually work and won't cave in are available. These are prototype units. The production models won't hang down so far.
Rocker guards/steps that actually work and won't cave in are available. These are prototyp

The roller fairlead has a cover that flips up out of the way for use...
...or closes to be a license plate holder. We first saw this innovative idea offered by Tough Stuff Products.
...or closes to be a license plate holder. We first saw this innovative idea offered by T
These taillight guards seem to be mandatory for sport ute builders. Do they really guard the taillights or do they just push in and break them sooner than if they hadn't been there? Whatever the case, they're available.
These taillight guards seem to be mandatory for sport ute builders. Do they really guard t

The Wilderness Ready roof rack is strong enough to carry bulkier equipment. We don't like roof-mounted spare tires, but if you do, you can mount one up here.
The Wilderness Ready roof rack is strong enough to carry bulkier equipment. We don't like
What other OEM offers a Hi-Lift jack as an available option? This roof rack jack mount is innovative and keeps the Hi-Lift out of the way until it's needed.
What other OEM offers a Hi-Lift jack as an available option? This roof rack jack mount is

A spare tire rack can carry ice chests or other equipment that usually takes up valuable interior storage space.
A spare tire rack can carry ice chests or other equipment that usually takes up valuable i
Cargo-area drawers make the most of the H3's storage space. You can keep all of your off-road equipment hidden and out of the way until you need to use it. The drawers are tough aluminum diamond-plate. The cargo-area box also houses the 12V air compressor for airing up tires or just inflating a mattress.
Cargo-area drawers make the most of the H3's storage space. You can keep all of your off-r
If the H3 has any shortcomings at all, one could be that it needs a bit more horsepower. A Wilderness Ready K&N air filter and intake system helps the 3.5L Vortec breathe.
If the H3 has any shortcomings at all, one could be that it needs a bit more horsepower. A

An innovative fire-extinguisher/first-aid holder keeps emergency equipment within easy reach.
An innovative fire-extinguisher/first-aid holder keeps emergency equipment within easy rea
With gas prices so high, a locking cover is great to have.
AmStar's motto.