Outfitting my Grenadier Trialmaster

jscherb

Expedition Leader
What's in my sewing room... the ladder from my Grenadier. It came with my TrialMaster but I didn't need it so it's been off the vehicle in my garage since I got the Grenadier. But I brought it to the sewing room to implement an idea - a cargo bag that mounts on the ladder. The bag matches the style of the Overland Outfitters SpareHopper (a photo of that is attached too); it's weatherproof and highly UV resistant. It's got a rear leather strap with a buckle but for quikc access there's a quick-release parachute buckle behind the belt. I sewed this by modifying an OO SpareSide Bag, I've got two of them on my JKU spare and they're very handle (photo of that attached too). We often use the SpareHopper bag on the spare for trash and one of the SpareSide bags for recycling when we're out in the wild. And when we return, both bags go through the automatic car wash just fine. Since I've found this bad useful on my Wrangler, I decided to adapt one to the Grenadier's ladder. If there's interest I could turn over the design mods to OO to see if they want to put it in production. I'll reinstall the ladder and post photos of the bag on the Grenadier when I get back from the trip I'm on right now.

LadderBag1.jpgLadderBag2.jpgLadderBag3.jpgLadderBag4.jpgLadderBagAndWeatherMOLLE.jpg

SpareHopperPressureWashed.jpg
 

jscherb

Expedition Leader
I've been at the Overland Outfitters factory this week, helping them finish up some preproduction samples. I've now got a preproduction Cargo Side Bag and a preproduction First Aid Bag for the rear door panel. Photos of both are attached. I've also attached a photo of the prototype Cargo Side Bag I've been testing in my Grenadier for reference, the preproduction sample is essentially identical to my prototype so as soon as I get home and test it I expect I'll be able to let them know it's ready for production (ignore the wrinkles in the fabric, they relax out in a few days).

CargoSideBagPreproduction.jpg

For reference:h

SaddlebagTest1.jpg

The First Aid Bag for the large rear door panel is almost identical to the cargo bag that zips into the same panel but it's got some special features for first aid supplies. It zips open to lie flat and inside are small and medium pockets for the supplies, behind those are larger pockets, and a center panel with elastic loops to hold even smaller medical supplies. Unlike most first aid bags, the organization inside this one is designed so one can find the needed supplies quickly in an emergency when time is of the essence.



RearDoorPanelWithFirstAid.jpg

FirstAidInside.jpg

For reference:

RearDoorPanel2.jpg

When I get home I'll install both of these in the Grenadier and I'll also load the first aid bag with supplies to show how the inside organization works. BTW it also zips onto the attachments on the seat backs and the cargo sides so if all one needs is a great first aid bag it can be hung in either of those places instead of on the rear door.

Monday they should have the sample panels for the small rear door ready for me.
 

jscherb

Expedition Leader
I have an off-the-wall question. Do you have any idea why they chose to call it a TrialMaster, and not a TrailMaster?
"Trials" are mostly a UK/Europe thing. They're offroad events where you must drive your 4x4 along a prepared course, staying within the confines of the course (often marked with cones). You lose points for going outside the course outlines and other infractions. The emphasis is on driving skill, following the correct line, etc. and they're generally slow-speed.
From Google AI:

Offroad trials are events where vehicles navigate a challenging course of obstacles designed to test the driver's skill and the vehicle's ability. The emphasis is on ground-reading and driving technique rather than sheer power or vehicle durability.



Key aspects of offroad trials:
  • Obstacles:
    Courses feature various obstacles like steep slopes, water crossings, ruts, and side slopes, requiring careful maneuvering.
  • Gates:
    Trials often involve "gates" – narrow passages that vehicles must navigate through.
  • Skill over Power:
    The focus is on precise driving and understanding the terrain, rather than simply brute force.
  • Non-damaging (Ideally):
    While the terrain can be challenging, well-designed trials are meant to be navigated without causing significant damage to the vehicles, especially with the proper technique.
  • Different Types:
    There are various types of offroad trials, including RTV trials (for road-legal vehicles) and CCV trials (which may include non-road-legal vehicles).
  • Organizations:
    Trial events are often organized by dedicated clubs or organizations, like the Association of Land Rover club in the UK.
The TrialMaster is so-named because it's supposed to be a master at winning these trials.

A few references:


 

Rube2K6

Observer
"Trials" are mostly a UK/Europe thing. They're offroad events where you must drive your 4x4 along a prepared course, staying within the confines of the course (often marked with cones). You lose points for going outside the course outlines and other infractions. The emphasis is on driving skill, following the correct line, etc. and they're generally slow-speed.
From Google AI:

The TrialMaster is so-named because it's supposed to be a master at winning these trials.

A few references:


Thanks for that!
 

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