Expedition HQ or XHQ (Gold Coast, Qld, Australia)

[MattA]

Well over 6k for a roof rack , with all due respect WTF
Each to their own

 

[TheDocAUS]

Well over 6k for a roof rack , with all due respect WTF
Each to their own

You forgot to add in the Letech Front Bar and Led lightbar at another AUD4,000 !

Plus the ARB Altitude RTT at AUD7,250.

 

[Dual Grenny Guy]

You forgot to add in the Letech Front Bar and Led lightbar at another AUD4,000 !

Plus the ARB Altitude RTT at AUD7,250.

 

[Tazzieman]

THE XHQ BUILD- CAN 15U

As I said some serious coin being spent, but as they are trading in the big caravan, if they sold that it would probably cover the IG build costs.

I wonder what it will weigh when loaded with fuel and water etc?

 

[DaveB]

@DenisM - Wondering the same regarding the bluetooth module. I am considering an under seat dual ARB compressor and seems we now have two choices - this one and the version from Owl Offroad. I think I like the hose chuck being on the side vs the front, and I think I prefer the non branded look of the Owl as well. But then I haven't used the bluetooth pressure control so maybe I don't know what I'm missing..? The dilemma's...

I have been using the Ryobi Inflator/deflator.
You can only do one tyre at a time, unless you buy more than 1
But it uses hardly any of the battery charge, I charges all 4 K02 tyres from 20 pSI to 36 PSI in about 15 minutes(guesstimate) and the 5 AH battery went from 5 bars to 4.
Same battery works on a sabre saw for cutting branches/wood, a small chainsaw and a rattle gun.
The whole bundle costs less than the ARB compressor and you can use it for anything inflatable.
The sabre/reciprocating saw can also cut metal, plastic, wood etc just by changing blades.
Throw in a charger and a couple of batteries and everything covered in a small space
You can also take it all out for the 90++% of times when it isn't going to be needed and use it at home.

 

[Tazzieman]

Get the power washer @DaveB . Though you don't need the lawn mower as you dumped a shed on your lawn!

 

[TheDocAUS]

I wonder what it will weigh when loaded with fuel and water etc?

An earlier video said always at or near GVM, but XHQ also have a GVM upgrade. XHQ website says Qld only but they were also looking at NSW as well (so XHQ told me).

 

[Tazzieman]

An earlies video said always at or near GVM, but XHQ also have a GVM upgrade. XHQ website says Qld only but they were also looking at NSW as well (so XHQ told me).

It'll be interesting to see how it works out in the wild.
I thought about a fat QM build but at the end of the day the flexibility and comfort of a TM + hybrid caravan works best for us. Same cost I guess.

 

[DaveB]

Get the power washer @DaveB . Though you don't need the lawn mower as you dumped a shed on your lawn!

I bought the lawnmower last year as a Christmas gift for my wife. She said she needed to exercise and I thought it would kill 2 birds with one stone

 

[Tazzieman]

I bought the lawnmower last year as a Christmas gift for my wife. She said she needed to exercise and I thought it would kill 2 birds with one stone

Did you erect a little memorial for them after collecting all the pieces?

View: https://youtu.be/IyuYzZeU0uw?feature=shared

 

[TheDocAUS]

It'll be interesting to see how it works out in the wild.
I thought about a fat QM build but at the end of the day the flexibility and comfort of a TM + hybrid caravan works best for us. Same cost I guess.

I did the same. I cannot get in and out of the bed in the Grenadier, with my injuries. So I ordered a Vista RV Crossover XLE.

 

[bigleonski]

I did the same. I cannot get in and out of the bed in the Grenadier, with my injuries. So I ordered a Vista RV Crossover XLE.

View attachment 7875052

That looks like a good bit of kit.
My only concern with those smaller set ups is how you’d go living in them for 3-4 months at a time.

 

[TheDocAUS]

That looks like a good bit of kit.
My only concern with those smaller set ups is how you’d go living in them for 3-4 months at a time.

I use to live out of a Nissan Patrol and offroad box trailer (if needed), so the Vista RV is luxury for me. I prefer trips of 6 to 8 weeks. My longest trip was 108 days, being the Kimberley/Pilbara trip.

I have a bed, easy setup, shower ensuite with hot water, Joocla GottGo toilet, internal table and work space, plenty of power (400Ah Lithium), 645 watts of solar panels, Redarc TVMS and Project Manager 30 (240 volt charging, DC to DC and solar), full offroad suspension with airbags, 12v air fryer, gas cooking with single induction cooktop backup, toaster, kettle (two, one gas one 240 volt), 3000 watt Redarc inverter, large fridge/freezer, diesel heater, 2 water tanks and 4 jerry can holders, fans and good air flow, lots of power outlets and lights. All electrcis, except the air suspension, are controlled by the Redarc TVMS with the addtional Redarc Rogue. Just use the Redvision screen or Redarc app.

Plus all the setup in the Grenadier like the bed, dual batteries, storage, fridge and Travel Buddy oven. Van tyres matched to the IG.

The Vista RV sits nicely behind the Grenadier, so minimal wind resistance penalty and it weighs less than 2 tonnes. I am told by another Vista RV owner with a Grenadier he was getting 16l per 100KM, towing around 100KPH.

The SLI model setup (internal upright fridge). Roof up, en suite and kitchen out. The XLE model does not have a that small pantry on the right, that is where the chest fridge drawer is.

View: https://youtu.be/YKvBXdExnBs

XLI tour, where I means internal fridge, (aka upright fridge). Mine is the XLE, where E means external fridge (aka slide out chest fridge).

View: https://youtu.be/5Qpt1MRbOWY

 

[Tazzieman]

That looks like a good bit of kit.
My only concern with those smaller set ups is how you’d go living in them for 3-4 months at a time.

I'd be so happy to have that amount of time off it wouldn't matter Retired friends of ours go touring and put their rig into storage whichever state they're in and fly back to Tassie until the next urge to travel strikes.
And big rigs do limit where you can get to.

 

[bigleonski]

I'd be so happy to have that amount of time off it wouldn't matter Retired friends of ours go touring and put their rig into storage whichever state they're in and fly back to Tassie until the next urge to travel strikes.
And big rigs do limit where you can get to.

Yeah I could make do with a swag with the occasional stay in a vanpark cabin.
The boss however, would like a bit more room.
I think I’m probably destined for a 19’ or 20’ offroad van in the next few years when we go exploring as a couple, with swag in tow with mates for desert trips etc.

 

[Tazzieman]

Yeah I could make do with a swag with the occasional stay in a vanpark cabin.
The boss however, would like a bit more room.
I think I’m probably destined for a 19’ or 20’ offroad van in the next few years when we go exploring as a couple, with swag in tow with mates for desert trips etc.

We no longer feel compelled to wear the hairshirt of youthful ruggedness when travelling.
Especially overnight and in the cold , wind and rain

 

[MrMike]

THE XHQ BUILD- CAN 15U
My costings on the build (appropriate only)

1. LeTech ¾ roof rack: AUD6,600
2. Letech Front Bar and Led lightbar: AUD4,000
3. LeTech rear ladder: AUD1,900
4. ARB Altitude RTT: AUD 7,250
5. ARB Twin compressor with bracket: AUD1,950
6. Water tank (behind rear LeTech ladder): AUD325
7. XSPEC drawers: AUD5,900
8. XSPEC Molle Panels: AUD700 x 2=AUD1,400
9. XSPEC Pantry (double): AUD1,700
10. XHQ Electrics Package 3: AUD3,000
11. XSPEC Water tanks: AUD690x2=AUD1,380 (there may only be one water tank)
12. Brown Davis aux duel tank: AUD2,100
13. King Shocks with res: AUD6,850
14. Method wheels/Yoko tyres x 5: AUD5,500
15. Fitting: ???? (lots of $)

AUD49,855 so far. Parts only. I think my upper limit of AUD75,000 may not be high enough.

TO COME?

1. Fridge - 65 litre Bushman DC65-X (AUD1,300)
2. Lithium battery setup
3. Starlink
4. Solar
5. Internal fitout
6. Lots more electrics
7. JetBoil Genesis Basecamp System (AUD630)
8. Roo bar (AUD2,500) was fitted by XHQ, so add that as well and the side bars (neither were in the first video)
9. Bespoke side rails
10. Labour, no idea, but it looks AUD15,000 or more.

As I said some serious coin being spent, but as they are trading in the big caravan, if they sold that it would probably cover the IG build costs.

Twin ARB with tank should be that price fitted, re check their pricing on some stuff because it's a bit on the high side IMO. Kings shocks @ nearly $7k??? while i don't like to skimp, to me sometimes things aren't needed, is there a 4.2T GVM in all of that?

 

[TheDocAUS]

Twin ARB with tank should be that price fitted, re check their pricing on some stuff because it's a bit on the high side IMO. Kings shocks @ nearly $7k??? while i don't like to skimp, to me sometimes things aren't needed, is there a 4.2T GVM in all of that?

It is the external reservoir version of the Kings Shocks, which cost more than the non-reservoir version. I did not even add in the front damperer.

LeTech is expensive in Germany, add freight, mark ups, exchange rate conversions and taxes in Australia, it is sky high here. I experienced the same with my ABNTR4x4 Rock Sliders.

I would be asking for a discount with all that stuff, but I am not privy to any pricing details. My costing guessimate is based on the XHQ website prices. I did round up pricing, which mostly meant up by a dollar (I treat 799 as 800). Sometimes there can be different versions or models and I have made an educated guess, it is not the build where the cheaper option was generally chosen.

I have used XHQ a couple of times, their pricing is not cheap, but you get what you pay for. I had some custom wiring done like this build, again not cheap. I can not even guess that part of the build cost - except it ain't cheap.

 

[TheDocAUS]

The build is done. All the fruit now added. The most comprehensive stand alone build I have seen to date.

It looks like the owner got a Christmas present - the car back.

View: https://youtu.be/qqLLC2aEQKc

 

[TheDocAUS]

THE XHQ BUILD- CAN 15U
My costings on the build (appropriate only)

1. LeTech ¾ roof rack: AUD6,600
2. Letech Front Bar and Led lightbar: AUD4,000
3. LeTech rear ladder: AUD1,900
4. ARB Altitude RTT: AUD 7,250
5. ARB Twin compressor with bracket: AUD1,950
6. Water tank (behind rear LeTech ladder): AUD325
7. XSPEC drawers: AUD5,900
8. XSPEC Molle Panels: AUD700 x 2=AUD1,400
9. XSPEC Pantry (double): AUD1,700
10. XHQ Electrics Package 3: AUD3,000
11. XSPEC Water tanks: AUD690x2=AUD1,380 (there may only be one water tank)
12. Brown Davis aux duel tank: AUD2,100
13. King Shocks with res: AUD6,850
14. Method wheels/Yoko tyres x 5: AUD5,500
15. Fitting: AUD15,000 to 20,000 (not known but lots of $)

AUD49,855 so far. Parts only. I think my upper limit of AUD75,000 may not be high enough.

TO COME?

1. Fridge - 65 litre Bushman DC65-X (AUD1,300) plus Engel 40l (AUD1,500);
2. Lithium battery setup, Yeti Li 1500X (AUD2,600)
3. Starlink (AUD600 plus mounting kit and user fees)
4. Solar panel (guess around AUD400)
5. Internal fitout including MAXTRAXS (AUD640 plus AUD55 for mounring pins) and recovery shovel (?)
6. Lots more electrics, cannot put a figure on it, but not cheap
7. King front damperer (AUD700)
8. VAAST water tank 18l (AUD425) plus tap (AUD80)
9. JetBoil Genesis Basecamp System (AUD630)
10. CLEVERSHADE 270 Awning (AUD2800) plus LED lights (at least AUD400)
11. Roo bar (AUD2,500) was fitted by XHQ, so add that as well and the side bars (neither were in the first video)
12. Side rails plus electric steps (min AUD3,000)
13. Battery box they built in the back to mount the fridge and Lithium battery (car looks like a 5 seater with the rear seats removed)
14. Labour, no idea, but it looks AUD15,000 or more.

Parts is a minimum of AUD67,000. If labour is AUD15,000 to 20,000, the build could easily exceed AUD80.000. Expensive but cheaper than a caravan, but a very capable tourer.