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

[Tazzieman]

Expensive but cheaper than a caravan, but a very capable tourer.

Our van , with as much fruit as you could want, was less than that.

 

[MattA]

Some nice gear on that build but not really well thought out for some of it
One example side bars for serious off road use but no rock sliders just stupid electric side steps, I don’t get that at all another very questionable design decision was the maxtrax and shovel inside the car, anyone who has done proper 4wding or touring that needs half the gear they have will know dam well that won’t work in the real world.
I also wonder what the GVM is now like without an upgrade or has been done?
That what I dislike , love the rest of the fit out and the side pods are an awesome bit of kit.
An fantastic tourer for someone

 

[TheDocAUS]

Some nice gear on that build but not really well thought out for some of it
One example side bars for serious off road use but no rock sliders just stupid electric side steps, I don’t get that at all another very questionable design decision was the maxtrax and shovel inside the car, anyone who has done proper 4wding or touring that needs half the gear they have will know dam well that won’t work in the real world.
I also wonder what the GVM is now like without an upgrade or has been done?
That what I dislike , love the rest of the fit out and the side pods are an awesome bit of kit.
An fantastic tourer for someone

No room on sides or roof for recovery gear, so inside it must go.

I only ever needed rock sliders once or twice in 10 years. I am not a rock climber but a tourer and I went very remote but made choices. But I do have sliders fitted.

The XSPEC badge on the side probably means a GVM upgrade of some kind. XHQ has their own registered model the Grenadier XSPEC, they are a SSM.

 

[MattA]

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. 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.

Most good touring fit outs are ballpark 100k ( with some change) by the time it’s all said and done unless you do all the work yourself from what I have priced up for different vehicles over years
The 79 build was the most expensive due to the massive amount of vehicle mods required due to crap that Toyota should have addressed at design stage

 

[MattA]

No room on sides or roof for recovery gear, so inside it must go.

A full length roof rack and up it goes, there is no way on earth I would have that recovery gear inside my toy

 

[TheDocAUS]

A full length roof rack and up it goes, there is no way on earth I would have that recovery gear inside my toy

The roof rack has dynamic and static weight limits and the large ARB RTT, solar panel and starlink would be reaching the dynamic limit.

They need canvas bags for the maxtraxs and shovel to keep the internals clean.

 

[MrMike]

Interesting build, and we all have different wants/needs. My thoughts for what its worth ....not sure why you need to change rims, tyres...yes. I agree re steps, one solid hit and those are non operational. I don't have an issue with the recovery gear on the inside but a bag for the MTs would be better, shovel (long handle) on the side of the roof rack. Kings remote res shocks for a tourer? Bushman 52lt fridge on the back seat and a drawer fridge IMO is a better use of space. Smartspace cookware are much better than round pots/pans. Those jerry cans are a good idea but a $2 plastic tap that turns on itself is cheaping out on a quality build.
Final thought....that must be a 4k kg GVM thats one heavy beast.

 

[DenisM]

I'm a fan of "minimalist" and have great respect for how @globalgregors for example, approached the relatively simple fitout for their PanAmerican highway venture.
I look at the XHQ build in question and wonder "where does it stop?"

 

[Tazzieman]

I look at the XHQ build in question and wonder "where does it stop?"

You realise you can connect a molle panel to a molle panel. Tactical , comrade

 

[DenisM]

You realise you can connect a molle panel to a molle panel. Tactical , comrade

Touche bro!!
Probably why the basic Meccano set I was gifted as an 8 yr old had grown "exponentially" by the time I was 13! Sheds and Meccano sets...(and now Grenadier options!) enough is never enough!
Merry Christmas ol' son to you and yours

 

[globalgregors]

I'm a fan of "minimalist" and have great respect for how @globalgregors for example, approached the relatively simple fitout for their PanAmerican highway venture.
I look at the XHQ build in question and wonder "where does it stop?"

Yeah, wow - very nice build. Respect to this owner and owners like @Bodhi’s Grenadier who are pushing the envelope in terms of vehicle prep.

 

[TheDocAUS]

THE XHQ BUILD- CAN 15U
My final guesstimate on 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. Kings Shocks with res: AUD6,850
14. Kings front damperer (AUD700)
15. Method wheels/Yoko tyres x 5: AUD5,500
16. Fridge - 65 litre Bushman DC65-X (AUD1,300) plus Engel 40l (AUD1,500)
17. Lithium battery setup, Yeti Li 1500X (AUD2,600)
18. Starlink (AUD600 plus mounting kit and user fees)
19. Solar panel (guess around AUD400)
20. Internal fitout including MAXTRAXS (AUD640 plus AUD55 for mounting pins) and recovery shovel (?)
21. VAAST water tank 18l (AUD425) plus tap (AUD80)
22. JetBoil Genesis Basecamp System (AUD630)
23. CLEVERSHADE 270 Awning (AUD2,800) plus LED lights (at least AUD400)
24. Roo bar (AUD2,500) was fitted by XHQ, so add that as well and the side bars (neither were in the first video)
25. Side rails plus electric steps (min AUD3,000)
26. 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)
27. Labour, no idea, but it looks AUD15,000 to AUD20,000 or more
28. Lots more electrics, cannot put a figure on it, but not cheap $$$

Parts is a minimum of AUD67,500. If labour is AUD15,000 to 20,000, the build could easily exceed AUD80.000, so my earlier upper limit of AUD75,000 is not high enough. Expensive but cheaper than a caravan, but a very capable tourer.

 

[MrMike]

THE XHQ BUILD- CAN 15U
My final guesstimate on 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. Kings Shocks with res: AUD6,850
14. Kings front damperer (AUD700)
15. Method wheels/Yoko tyres x 5: AUD5,500
16. Fridge - 65 litre Bushman DC65-X (AUD1,300) plus Engel 40l (AUD1,500)
17. Lithium battery setup, Yeti Li 1500X (AUD2,600)
18. Starlink (AUD600 plus mounting kit and user fees)
19. Solar panel (guess around AUD400)
20. Internal fitout including MAXTRAXS (AUD640 plus AUD55 for mounting pins) and recovery shovel (?)
21. VAAST water tank 18l (AUD425) plus tap (AUD80)
22. JetBoil Genesis Basecamp System (AUD630)
23. CLEVERSHADE 270 Awning (AUD2,800) plus LED lights (at least AUD400)
24. Roo bar (AUD2,500) was fitted by XHQ, so add that as well and the side bars (neither were in the first video)
25. Side rails plus electric steps (min AUD3,000)
26. 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)
27. Labour, no idea, but it looks AUD15,000 to AUD20,000 or more
28. Lots more electrics, cannot put a figure on it, but not cheap $$$

Parts is a minimum of AUD67,500. If labour is AUD15,000 to 20,000, the build could easily exceed AUD80.000, so my earlier upper limit of AUD75,000 is not high enough. Expensive but cheaper than a caravan, but a very capable tourer.

Have you weighed (as in kgs) all of this?
I'd say at a guess you'll need the 4000kg GVM upgrade, at least. There's a local guy with a 2 seat Grenadier with factory rack sliders and roo bar, he added a RTT and drawers inc single fridge and he had 40kgs left of his 3550kgs.

Ive just done a quick weight calculation and conservatively, without food/people you've got an extra 650kgs.

 

[TheDocAUS]

Have you weighed (as in kgs) all of this?

No. Happy to use your figure.

 

[MrMike]

No. Happy to use your figure.

Are you heading down the GVM/40mm path? I know that @Logsplitter said after going through Africa a lift would have been handy. I know personally that my Grenadier bottoms out far less now than it did pre lift.

 

[TheDocAUS]

Are you heading down the GVM/40mm path? I know that @Logsplitter said after going through Africa a lift would have been handy. I know personally that my Grenadier bottoms out far less now than it did pre lift.

I have the Eibach lift already. Limited GVM options so far in NSW, post rego. I bought a hybrid van so GVM is not a priority now. It is wait and see now.

 

[globalgregors]

I have the Eibach lift already. Limited GVM options so far in NSW, post rego. I bought a hybrid van so GVM is not a priority now. It is wait and see now.

Remind me, do you have airbags fitted?

I wonder if that’s enough to cover the bases if one commits to keeping the weight down.

We only start to look a bit back heavy with a full fuel & water load, which is highly uncommon outside of Oz (Atacama/Altiplano?).

 

[TheDocAUS]

Remind me, do you have airbags fitted?

I wonder if that’s enough to cover the bases if one commits to keeping the weight down.

We only start to look a bit back heavy with a full fuel & water load, which is highly uncommon outside of Oz (Atacama/Altiplano?).

Just springs, I will have airbags are on the new hybrid van.

In the Patrol I was only 50kg over fully loaded (with driver), I ended up getting a small GVM upgrade.