This past week we went on a kayaking and mountain biking trip to Lake Superior, Apostle Islands. The trip was a bust; it rained every day with only a few glimpses of the sun. However, everyone stayed dry and warm, and we enjoyed good food, good drinks, good conversation, and fun games. Here are a few notes about the Grenadier and some of the accessories:
1. 2,800-mile road trip pulling a teardrop trailer, mountain bike, gear, two adults, two kids, dog, supplies, water, etc. No issues, and it was a pleasure to drive. In Wisconsin, the premium fuel is ethanol-free. I filled up the tank and was surprised to see the fuel range increase to 330 miles! It did not last long; it dropped back to the expected 280-270 miles (is there a sensor that can detect this?). Overall trip MPG was 16.8, not bad considering the load.
2. Tougher back seat covers - with rain, mud, sand, dog, and two kids, they worked great. If you are considering them, do it.
3. Agile Fox Steering Stabilizer - worked well. As weight is added, it may be less effective. Overall, it worked better than the stock.
4. 1up USA hitch bike rack - Holy sh^! I have owned and used other bike racks; nothing compares. This hitch bike rack is simply the best, rock solid, even when we were off-road.
5. Grenadier dual battery setup - worked great. We moved the NL fridge into the Grenadier when there was heavy rain or at night, and there were no issues. The next morning, the Grenadier started right up.
6. Victron Energy Solar Charge Controller(s) - Even with cloud cover, I was able to deploy the solar panels and charge the batteries in the trailer and the Grenadier.
7. Yakima 10-gallon road shower - This is mounted to the Rhino rack on the roof. In our pre-trip testing, the driving characteristics of the Grenadier changed significantly with the road shower filled with water. Though filled to the max, the water still shifted in the tank, changing the driving dynamics. On this trip, we filled it up at our destination and emptied it when we traveled back.
8. Gen Y Glyder shock absorbing hitch. I needed to extend my hitch by just a few inched (factory was just too close, could not open doors) and decided to purchase this. It did as advertised, it absorbed the bumps in the road for a "smooth steady ride". This was a good buy.
9. Rockie Talkie Mountain Radio and 5 Watt Radio - Outstanding product. When we were able to hit the water, the 5 watt radio had outstanding range, battery life and is IP67 water proof. Back in camp the kids had the mountain radio and we were able to communicate with them while on the water (about two miles).
Lastly, with the Grenadier loaded, it did sag in the back - has anyone installed coil spring air bags? Thanks.
