The H3 Build

While the above modification worked well to keep essentials handy, it encroached too far into the cargo space, since the overland gear packs in filling the space completely while securing the load.  The Fiskars ax has been relocated across the driver-side cargo area storage compartment and the MOLLE panel has been moved up above the rear-door utility shelf.  Now the packs clear the load when the door is closed, yet they're still accessible. Rear Door Utility Shelf Mod  One of our favorite interior modifications on the Montero was the addition of a utility shelf that provided a place for food prep. The H3's rear door stows the jack and hardware assembly behind a removable plastic panel, a perfect place to adapt a shelf to the rear door access cover versus adding one like what was done on the Montero . Looking at clearances and how the panel is engineered to fit into the plastic surround I decided to use one-quarter inch oak veneer for the shel...

I had an Australian 60" Eezi Awn awning on the Montero that converted me to the idea, but not to the convenience since the Eezi Awn's cam system in the legs was unstable at best in calm conditions. This ARB awning solves that and other issues. Its engineering makes it easy to deploy by one person. The construction is top notch with reinforced corners on the awning and clever plastic disk stays on the struts and legs that keep all the hardware in place until it's deployed. Stowing is a cinch in its PVC reinforced nylon bag with two d-ring velcro straps and heavy duty weather-proof zippers.

I'll admit it. Most my OCD is manifest in putting stuff in the right spot. The H3 is short of spots and in my quest to sort out its interior I came upon Blue Ridge Overland Gear . They're a company out of Virginia who make high quality MOLLE, hoop and loop, pouches and accessories for most any storage application in an adventure vehicle. Some of their stock is custom made to upgrade existing gear like fridges and store Goal Zero battery packs, and that's what caught my attention. I have neither, but I could see how I could adapt their products to my needs and get things where they belong. Blue Ridge makes an eight-inch headrest panel of loop material on the backside and a smooth, blank panel on the front. It creates a foundation to configure pouches for storage needs of items kept readily at hand. I added their Goal Zero 10 Battery Charger pouch to hold handheld two-way radios with their headsets, and a 4x8x1 Medium VELCRO front zip pouch to the headrest panel. ...

Another reason for the MOLLE panel was to relocate the breakout-bag, giving me reason to find a better pouch for the gear. I chose the Tactical Breakaway Pouch from Rothco due to its quick accessibility and its ease in retrieving. This clamshell pouch opens to a three-fold footprint making easy access to it contents. The pouch is secured with a hook-and-loop base plus a quick-release strap, just what BOB needs. I'm not crazy about the build quality. We'll see how it holds up over time.

Not one to let unused space go, I filled up the MOLLE panel on the H3's rear door with pouches, the middle one from 3VGear, the three V's being veni, vidi, vici, the infamous "I came, I saw, I conquered." Not sure how this little pouch is going to amount to that unreasonably high expectation. It's well-made save for a little snafu in the zipper. It hangs on a bit of the 600 Denier PVC-back poly sewn into its path. But, it's a nice zipper, silent like on the Voodoo EMT pouch. Nice long attachment points and a grommet for draining. This bag works well for my set-up and was a reasonable value at just under $11 on Amazon. I'm wishing I got two.

I constructed a breakaway first aid kit on the Montero that was stowed in a small Pelican case. I used it once on the scene of a rollover and appreciated its immediate accessibility. The H3 has nothing like it, so the first thing I added to the MOLLE panel (that I added to the rear door panel) was an EMT pouch made by Voodoo Tactical. It's a clamshell design with two-way zippers and silent pulls. Triple row length MOLLE tabs and a grommet on the bottom for drainage.   Military spec, excellent craftsmanship.

On board, under the hood or portable has been the question in considering an air compressor, once I determined that VIAIR has the most to offer in any of those domains. I went with the 300P Portable. It's a 150 PSI pump that connects to 12V via two alligator clamps to the battery posts rated to fill up to 33" tires. If I decide to go 35s I'll upgrade to an on-board system. It has an inline tire pressure gauge, and a locking deflator/inflator that makes it easy to dial in pressure up or down. Cycles for 15 minutes with engine running. I've yet to overheat it and have been impressed with its inflation time versus previous portable compressors.