Team-BHP > 4x4 & Off-Roading > 4x4 Vehicles


Reply
  Search this Thread
35,724 views
Old 8th December 2013, 06:45   #16
Senior - BHPian
 
getsurya's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Hyderabad
Posts: 1,641
Thanked: 1,929 Times
re: A day with the US Army Humvee!

Quote:
It must have been a great experience to be around these great super functional machines.
Hi Samurai, It was indeed a wonderful experience, to touch, feel and have a short drive of the Hummer. The engine growl, the crawl and the torque of the vehicle were sure great memories for a petrol head!

Quote:
How many seats does the us army hummer have inside ? I could see 3
Hi F150, These generally have 4 seats inside which are very functional.

Quote:
This is like "WOW"!
Hi Behram, When this proposal was put to me, I just jumped out of the sofa and said when are we going to do it. I was ready for taking a day's leave and visiting these awesome machines. I have video's too of the Hummer drive and Chinook's 'courier' delivery. Awesome experience!

Quote:
Fantastic Drool Material this is, thanks for sharing.
Hi Sudarshan, Super stuff and the joy of touching, starting the beast with those simple mechanical switches have all told me to keep the car's mechanical more than electronic for their everlasting service. The driving range was a different one with lots of offroading stretches.

It would have been a wonderful experience for our seasoned off roaders with these machines and the 'practice' runs.

Quote:
Looks like it was one amazing day for you.
Hi coloneljasi, it was a great day for all of us in the family! My kids played in Hummers and amphi's. They were over joyed as playing with toys is one thing, but getting to be in the real one is out of the world experience.

Quote:
loved it just as much!
Hi Equus, Thanks and the pictures are few.

Quote:
The US army has put them to the real use
Hi pdma, you are correct, they use, train and maintain these machines to be ever ready!

Quote:
That was a refreshing set of pics to see on t-bhp for a change
Hi Karan,

I am glad to share, should have done earlier. Being caught up in the wordly work!
getsurya is offline   (1) Thanks
Old 8th December 2013, 09:04   #17
BANNED
 
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Pune
Posts: 1,200
Thanked: 877 Times
re: A day with the US Army Humvee!

Quote:
Originally Posted by DHABHAR.BEHRAM View Post
== There are numerous design cues that can be taken from this vehicle. Please note the driveline ratio reduction inside the wheel hub. It moves the drive shaft up therefore increasing ground clearance. It also makes the assembly very simple!
Also with this, they managed to give a centralized tyre pressure system controlled from the cabin. As far as I remember from the manual, the drive shaft to wheel (inside the geared hub) is hollow, carrying pressurized air for the wheel.

BTW, the IS ( independent suspension) seems to be the order of the future

Sudarshan.
Sudarshan is offline   (2) Thanks
Old 8th December 2013, 10:23   #18
Senior - BHPian
 
DirtyDan's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Dharamsala, H.P
Posts: 2,074
Thanked: 1,554 Times
re: A day with the US Army Humvee!

They recycle these. When a humvee reaches a certain age or has a big malfunction, it is not auctioned off, scrapped or parted out. It goes back to a recycle specialty plant and is rebuilt. They toss in all new moving parts to preempt any further difficulties. Back to the field it goes. Low center of gravity, wide stance, high ground clearance, stone-reliable diesel motor.....it is built to last and to handle most cross-country missions. The humvee is well over 30 years old now. It replaced the U.S. Army jeep which had greatly evolved since its WWII inception but was found to be fundamentally lacking.
DirtyDan is offline   (4) Thanks
Old 8th December 2013, 17:49   #19
Distinguished - BHPian
 
dhanushs's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Chennai
Posts: 4,265
Thanked: 9,789 Times
re: A day with the US Army Humvee!

Hi getsurya,

Thanks for this wonderful set of detailed pics.

Quote:
Originally Posted by DHABHAR.BEHRAM View Post
Please note the driveline ratio reduction inside the wheel hub. It moves the drive shaft up therefore increasing ground clearance. It also makes the assembly very simple!
It also reduces the torque transmitted through the drivetrain, reducing the freequency of broken axles and twisted propshafts?.
dhanushs is offline   (3) Thanks
Old 8th December 2013, 18:07   #20
Team-BHP Support
 
Samurai's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Bangalore/Udupi
Posts: 25,808
Thanked: 45,332 Times
re: A day with the US Army Humvee!

Is the title correct in saying Army Hummer? Shouldn't it be Humvee? I recall Hummer is the civilian version.

Quote:
Originally Posted by DirtyDan View Post
The humvee is well over 30 years old now. It replaced the U.S. Army jeep which had greatly evolved since its WWII inception but was found to be fundamentally lacking.
You probably drove this vehicle a lot. Could you please give a brief summary on the driving experience. How does it feel in comparison to Thar or Invader?
Samurai is offline   (1) Thanks
Old 8th December 2013, 22:03   #21
Senior - BHPian
 
desertfox's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Gurgaon, Delhi NCR
Posts: 1,270
Thanked: 647 Times
re: A day with the US Army Humvee!

The Army H1 is a great off roader. However what you will get in India for 40 lakhs will not at all be like this.

Read my report below about the Hummer H 3 civilian model.

Humming along.
By : Shahid Ahmad

The mudfest was over by 10.30 AM, and I dropped Mr. Robert Flemming from Khaleej Times back at Dragon Mart where he had parked his car.

A couple of hours of sleep just before Friday prayers and the desert bug got into me again. The mudfest was not enough for one weekend even in this heat!

We decided to take the HUMMER H3 for a test drive. We chose the intermediate route which we intend to use this Friday for a newbie trip with a lever.

The Hummer we tested is equipped with a 3500 cc engine, and a four speed transfer case.

Seating position not very comfortable. Restricted rear view and the front view is also only average because of a very low seat position. Instrument panel clear and precise. Good angle of view from driving position. Sound system fair.

The vehicle was a full time 4WD with a 4H and 4L electronic locking central differential and an electronic rear diff lock.

We put it into 4H central diff lock mode and chose gear position 3 to start with. The vehicle did a good climb with a front angle of approach of 42 degrees. It was a 30 degree gradient slope.

However as the sand got softer and going in the dunes harder the vehicle was gasping for power. The low side steps also were not very practical for dune driving.

At D or 3 position the Hummer was out of breath. It negotiated short climbs only in 2 position at very high revs. The torque was inadequate for tougher climbs.

On intermediate dune climbs, and on softer sands the Hummer H3 performed very poorly. It is not zippy in the sand like a Landcruiser. The airconditioning was good although. It did not trip throughout the trip.

After about 40 minutes of driving the engine started overheating, the needle was bordering on the red zone. Outside air temperature was 50 degrees at that time ( 5.00 PM ).

We stuck to tracks from this point onwards till the needle came down to the half mark. Then we subjected the Hummer to s steep sideways climb on a slipface of soft sand. Landcruisers, Prados and Wranglers easily negotiate this particular side dune climb. The Hummer failed. The sidesteps got buried in the sand. After a bit of digging with the shovels, I engaged the rear diff lock and climbed down in reverse.

Overall off road ( sand ) diagnosis FAIL. Not up to the mark.

Back after tyre inflation, on the highway, a strange dragging noise was apparent. A plastic grill on the bonnet that is designed to give it a fancy look actually deflects wind onto the windscreen making a terrible sound. Also when the wind passes through the series of orange lights on the roof, a big rattling noise comes through. Very annoying to the passengers.

The engine shift is not smooth and the vehicle gasps for power whenever the gas pedal is pushed. Highway driving result FAIL
_________________

Last edited by desertfox : 8th December 2013 at 22:06.
desertfox is offline  
Old 8th December 2013, 22:35   #22
BHPian
 
Dopamine's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: Dshala/Doon
Posts: 46
Thanked: 45 Times
re: A day with the US Army Humvee!

It seems you really enjoyed your day!
I guess I'm one of the few people who prefer the H2 to the H1 but it's also true that these army humvees are probably the only Hummers on the planet that are actually being used for the purpose they were meant for..
Dopamine is offline   (1) Thanks
Old 9th December 2013, 09:50   #23
Distinguished - BHPian
 
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: MUMBAI
Posts: 3,060
Thanked: 5,346 Times
re: A day with the US Army Humvee!

Quote:
Originally Posted by DirtyDan View Post
When a humvee reaches a certain age or has a big malfunction, it is not auctioned off, scrapped or parted out. It goes back to a recycle specialty plant and is rebuilt. They toss in all new moving parts to preempt any further difficulties. Back to the field it goes.
Dear Ken - thanks for this wonderful feedback, this opens up excellent possibilities! .

Dear Sharath - description of driving experience is "just nirvana". I guess I got blessed "that day"! Believe me when I tell you, "this thingy goes"! It must be costing a bomb, it is extremely thirsty, but it goes! The tire pressure system is just out of this world! .

Best regards,

Behram Dhabhar
DHABHAR.BEHRAM is offline  
Old 9th December 2013, 10:46   #24
Distinguished - BHPian
 
naveen.raju's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Cochin
Posts: 4,823
Thanked: 8,846 Times
re: A day with the US Army Humvee!

Awesome stuff. Really good to see review of cars that we generally do not get to see. I first laid eyes on this after watching Broken Arrow. Always wanted to drive one (Yes, I know that's one hell of a dream). Lucky you.
naveen.raju is offline   (1) Thanks
Old 9th December 2013, 10:56   #25
Senior - BHPian
 
Guderian's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Thane
Posts: 1,616
Thanked: 1,455 Times
re: A day with the US Army Humvee!

Hey getsurya !
A delightful set of snaps. Viewed every little bit of it. Could almost smell the canvas, cordite, diesel & sweaty unforms in it. Thank you for making my day.
Incidentally isn't that a Corsair II that the Chinook had set down ?

And did you notice that steering wheel lock ? At an army base they require that eh ? Some gutsy crooks they have there - or perhaps they didn't want anyone to inadvertently drive off with that and have the wheels and other bits coming off I guess !
And Humvee shown in detail appears to be a specialist vehicle - possibly a communication command vehicle and not a troop carrier.

Last edited by Guderian : 9th December 2013 at 11:23.
Guderian is offline   (1) Thanks
Old 9th December 2013, 12:59   #26
BHPian
 
catchjyoti's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Pune
Posts: 175
Thanked: 502 Times
re: A day with the US Army Humvee!

Getsurya: The only thing I can say is WOW and a big Thank You to you for sharing. This certainly made my day. You are an incredibly lucky dude. In all the years that I stayed in USA, I had wished that I will befriend a cop and be able to ride in his cruiser for a day. Not sitting behind in the place meant for unsavory elements, but by his side. I had a friend who got such a chance, but alas it remained a dream for me!
catchjyoti is offline   (1) Thanks
Old 9th December 2013, 13:19   #27
BHPian
 
Sabareesh's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Ambarnath
Posts: 338
Thanked: 88 Times
re: A day with the US Army Humvee!

Quote:
Originally Posted by Samurai View Post
Is the title correct in saying Army Hummer? Shouldn't it be Humvee? I recall Hummer is the civilian version.
Yup, Calling it Humvee would be apt. As you correctly said, Hummer is the civilian version. Just for everyone's information. Humvee (HMMWV) is an acronym for High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle.


Thanks Getsurya; the pics are an absolute delight.

Last edited by Sabareesh : 9th December 2013 at 13:20.
Sabareesh is offline   (2) Thanks
Old 9th December 2013, 14:13   #28
KPS
Distinguished - BHPian
 
KPS's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Bangalore
Posts: 2,755
Thanked: 11,499 Times
Re: A day with the US Army Humvee!

Thanks getsurya for sharing your wonderful experience. Most of us seen the Humvee in movies and in the NEWS, hence seeing your detailed pictures makes it very special for all of us.

Hope for many more such experiences you can share with us!

Cheers

KPS
KPS is offline   (1) Thanks
Old 9th December 2013, 14:58   #29
BHPian
 
a_bharadwaj's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: Mangalore
Posts: 74
Thanked: 108 Times
Re: A day with the US Army Humvee!

@getsurya:
Very nice pictures! You are one lucky guy!
The post was very informative too. Thanks for sharing.
a_bharadwaj is offline   (1) Thanks
Old 9th December 2013, 15:51   #30
BHPian
 
arup.misra's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Mumbai
Posts: 651
Thanked: 303 Times
Re: A day with the US Army Humvee!

Hey Surya, The title made me almost jump out of my chair. You are one lucky man. Thanks for sharing this.

How was your experience in driving this?
arup.misra is offline  
Reply

Most Viewed
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Team-BHP.com
Proudly powered by E2E Networks