Outfitting my Grenadier Trialmaster

[jscherb]

I think the Grenadier designers could have placed the rear 12v outlet better - a plug in the socket sticks out into the cargo area and something loose in the cargo area could smash into the plug and damage it and perhaps the socket as well. I added an unswitched outlet right above the factory one to power my kitchen a while back, so I decided to add a little protection for both outlets. Since the Grenadier has guards over many of its switches, I decided to do the same for these outlets. I found the guards at Home Depot: https://tinyurl.com/mrxt7y9p

 

[jscherb]

The Grenadier is a fairly tall vehicle, especially when you add a rack on top and a roof top tent. To keep from going somewhere I shouldn't, like a too-low parking deck, since I reconfigure what's on top of my vehicles for each expedition something I've done in my Jeeps is add a reminder of the height of the vehicle with various options on top. Using my Dymo LetraTag, I did that for my Grenadier too, listing the basic height, height with the factory Rhino rack crossbars, height with my Garvin rack basket on top and with the roof top tent on the Garvin. And a tip: before I travel, if I plan to park in a deck somewhere I use Google maps street view to check out where I plan to park - you can often get a view of the clearance bar so you know what the clearance is before you go.

 

[jscherb]

Some years ago I implemented a jumper cable/winch power system for all three of my Jeeps which consisted of cables permanently connected to the battery with an Anderson connector on the end, jumper cable ends with clamps and an Anderson connector and an extension cable. I kept a jumper cable end in each Jeep (a fairly small thing to store) so if I ever needed a jumpstart or needed to jump someone else, I always had what I needed. And if I ever needed to jump one of my Jeeps with one of my other Jeeps, I could just plug the two Anderson connectors on the ends of the battery leads together - I've attached of photo of one time I had to do that in my home garage. I also used the battery leads to power my winch, which goes in a receiver mount on the front bumpers of the Jeeps, and the extension could be used either to jump a vehicle some distance away, or to power the winch in the rear receiver of one of the Jeeps. It's worked out to be a very convenient and effective system, so I decided to implement the same thing in the Grenadier. I've attached a few photos of the cable in the Grenadier. Now the Grenadier can jump/be jumped either by plugging the Anderson connector into one of the Jeeps or by using the jumper clamp ends and I can run a front winch off the same connection, although I do have the optional 500a winch circuit in my Grenadier.

This photo shows the cable stowed in the engine compartment. It's along the very front. Note the two aluminum guards to prevent contact with the hood springs (which could wear the cable insulation if contact is made), and just outboard of the guards there are plastic clips holding the cable in place when stowed. The Anderson plug is at the right, secured to the radiator support with a loop of Velcro (Velcro not visible in the photo).



The cable unstowed with accessories - jumper cable end and extension cable.



Where the cable is connected to power showing the connection cover open and closed.



Jumping one Jeep from another using just the cables in the engine compartments and plugging them together:

 

[jscherb]

When I was shopping for my Grenadier I considered adding the factory front receiver - I use a receiver-mount winch on my three Jeeps and planned to use it with the Grenadier as well. Unfortunately the factory front receiver is only rated for moving trailers around, it's not rated for as much force as a winch can provide when getting the Grenadier unstuck.

So I ditched the idea of adding the factory receiver to the front, and decided I would need to build my own receiver as I've done for my Jeeps. I've designed and built "quick install" receivers for the front of the Jeeps which bolt in place/remove in minutes - since I only need a winch (and therefore the front receiver) when I'm on an expedition, I can install the receiver and winch just for that expedition and remove it for daily driving when I return home.





I've designed a quick install front receiver for the Grenadier and I am getting ready to build it. These are the main materials that will be used... a Reese Class IV (10,000 lb.) hitch for some pickup and a piece of 3/8"-thick steel angle:



It'll go together approximately like this - the steel angle will be cut into brackets that attach using the bumper bolts that are behind the plastic trim on either side of the center of the bumper. The Reese hitch will be cut to fit between the brackets and welded to the brackets; there will also be tabs in the back which have holes for bolts that go into factory holes on the top of the bumper into the frame. I'll have it powder coated once it's built.



Installation will be simple - remove the two plastic trim pieces (4 T-30 screws on each side), remove the 4 bumper bolts into the frame on each side, position the hitch to replace those bolts and tighten them down. Should only take a few minutes and removal will take about the same time.

I'll install it just for expeditions where I might need the winch and remove it when I get home, same as I do with the quick install receivers on the Jeeps.