Imagine being handed the keys to a brand-new '05 Hummer H2 SUT and a matching 23-foot Baja boat with the simple instructions to drive from city to city enjoying yourself. Sound too good to be true? In the case of brothers Bret and Matt van den Heuvel, that's just what happened. As a cross-marketing strategy, General Motors, Hummer, Vortec Engines, SMA, and Baja Boats pulled all of their respective talents together and created the Baja Hummer Dream Tour. The keys were delivered, the killer combo was picked up, and the odometer was set on an amazing adventure of truck shows, poker runs, and wakeboarding events.
Traveling from venue to venue, the two brothers did what they do best: mingle, smile, shake hands, discuss the killer combo, and from what we hear, party after hours. Beginning the tour in Florida, the dynamic duo traveled all over the United States, making key stops in Ohio, Michigan, Texas, California, Washington, and concluding the three-month tour back in Florida. We caught up with them in Louisville, Kentucky, at the inaugural Havoc show and slated a photo shoot for August in Long Beach, California. One sunny SoCal evening, one sick truck and boat combo, and a steady camera equaled a great layout.
Examining the H2, the first thing noticeable is the sweet paint applied by the talented crew at Kustom Kolors in Cleveland, who used green, yellow, orange, red, and silver for a slick effect. Adding to the custom exterior, SMA-the preferred billet supplier of Hummer-installed its entire line of H2 accessories. Included in this huge list are billet door handles, hood handles, hood latches, a Stinger hood panel, side marker buckets, side vents, mini grilles, and billet trailing arms. Creating a rugged appearance for the SUT, SMA also added its burly front brushguard, roof rack, and front valance, complete with KC off-road lights.
Complementing the white and graphic-covered exterior, 22-inch Raceline R2 black chrome wheels wrapped in 35-inch Toyo All-Terrain rubber give the SUT a tough and ready look. Pull on the billet door handles and the black leather Hummer interior complete with SMA billet shifter, pedals, billet A/C vent rings, and door sills is on display. Navigation keeps the brothers headed in the right direction, and a Rockford Fosgate audio system complete with 6-1/2-inch separates and two 10-inch subs keeps the bump going in the party. The spare tire relocator keeps interior space to a max and gives the rear view of the Hummer an appealing look. Towing the boat is easy with the 6.0L 345hp V-8 equipped with an SMA intake and a B&B after-cat exhaust.
Behind the tricked-out Hummer is the perfect weekend toy. A Kustom Kolors-painted, matching 23-foot Baja Outlaw boat riding on a Heritage double-axle trailer lets the fellas go skiing at will. Powering the boat to 70 mph is a 496ci H.O. Mercury Mercruiser engine pushing 425 hp. Keeping an eye on the boat's vitals is made easy thanks to Livorsi white-faced gauges. With 80 gallons of fuel on tap, the Baja spent plenty of time in the water while in the brothers' possession, and when they weren't wakeboarding behind the 23-foot water rocket, the brothers still managed to have a good time. A Rockford Fosgate CD-player and three 10-inch Fosgate subs provide entertainment for the van den Heuvel boys and up to four lovely ladies. Lovely ladies have been easy to come by with this sweet ride, as the brothers made their way from Coast to Coast.
We asked if theY needed any help on their trip, but they just smiled and said they could handle it. Figures. Keys, an expense account, and a wide-open road. It all sounds too good to be true.