Build Thread MallCrl 3.0

[anand]

Brilliant - have you the time to show us the wiring and the individual modules in situ?

Sure, wiring is a bit of a pain to photograph as to not remove my drawer system I'm only working through the small access panel on the rear right.

Either way, let's try to walk through it.

The modules are SoundOff Signal mPower 3" lights, there are a few different versions, but these are the "quick mount" version which just means that it comes with 3M VHB applied to the back of the light for mounting (instead of being bolted into place). They are available in a array of colors and types. I went with the dual color, but single color and tri-color are also available.

Wiring the lights is straight forward. They come with a 5 wire pigtail: Red, Red/White, White, Green, and Black.

• Red = Color 1
• Red/White = Color 2
• White = Color 3 (or a modifier for dual color use)
• Green = Flash pattern/synchronization
• Black = negative/earth/ground

For my use I wanted each color to be "steady burn" (not flashing), which is done by grounding the green wire with the black wire; subsequently mine are wired with 3 wire connectors (Red, Red/White, and Black+Green).

• Red/White is for the white illumination, and goes to the output from my Switch Pros controller for "rear scene"
• Black+Green is grounded at a point near the factory towing control module in the rear cargo area
• Red connects to Output 1 on the added flasher and is where it gets ever so slightly more complicated

I have a Feniex 4X flasher (also called the H2220) installed in the cubby next to the TRM (factory towing module). This flasher uses 12v positive, negative/ground/earth, up to 3 separate "mode" triggers, and up to 4 light outputs. It is wired as follows:

• 12v positive = 10A fuse in my BlueSea fuse block (powered from my aux battery)
• 12v negative = ground point adjacent to the unit
• Mode 1 = Blue/Orange wire from TRM (as referenced here)
• Mode 2 = to a blunt cut/capped wire left under the back seat for future use
• Output 1 = Red wire going to lights

The 4X Flasher is configured for "Brake Pop" in Mode 1; and to a slow flash for Mode 2 (this will only be implemented if I want to add another switch for traffic warning or chase use)

 

[Trialmaster]

Thanks - a brilliant write up. Checking out the website for the relevant hardware now. If they ship to the UK will have a go at doing that myself.

 

[anand]

Thanks - a brilliant write up. Checking out the website for the relevant hardware now. If they ship to the UK will have a go at doing that myself.

There are countless suppliers that sell them in the US, however, apparently their UK retailer is EVP Europe

 

[BenTN]

Something that has been on my list since I got the truck.... a giant wind brake! Errr... I mean an awning!

I've been eyeing up the Kammok awnings for months now, and seeing one up close at Overland Expo sealed the deal on ordering one... Originally was going to order from my usual source, but Kammok had an open box on their website for a ridiculous deal, so I clicked "check out". The only thing I've found is a knick in the top of the housing, luckily that's over 7ft in the air .
...

Hey @anand I'm wondering how you feel about the Kammok awning in the rear mount position after living with it for a month or so...

 

[anand]

Hey @anand I'm wondering how you feel about the Kammok awning in the rear mount position after living with it for a month or so...

I've used it more frequently than any other awning I've had (mix of ARB conventional awnings and a Rhino Rack Batwing 270) and am definitely a fan.

I think a lot of that use has to do with the simplicity of use. No bag to unzip, nothing to unroll/unfold, no poles, etc. The Batwing was faster to set up than the ARB I think; but even that took a bit to do all the steps. The Kammok is in or out in literally a single digit number of seconds.

I'm not a huge fan of how high it sits though, purely for aesthetics. I got a set of 23Zero awning brackets from Jill @ Apex Overland after seeing her Kammok awning on her Sequoia, as it lowers the awning down to below the height of the cross bars, but have not installed them yet

 

[Rok_Dr]

Late to the party as usual, and have just read your thread from start to finish over my morning coffee. Very impressive and it’s given me a couple of ideas. I particularly liked your installation of the victron chargers. They are quality kit.

Thank you
Cheers
Steve

 

[TrueNorthGoneSouth]

It's been a long time coming, something along the lines of a 5 month delay from when it was originally quoted to arrive, but yesterday I was finally able to pick up my Grenadier from the awesome folks at Regal Ineos in Georgia. Bo, Brian, John, Lane, the whole crew down there was absolutely wonderful, and I cannot recommend them enough. A painless purchase process, awesome communication, and possibly best of all, absolutely no dealer added fees! Our 950mi drive home was great and just as comfortable as I remember these vehicles being for double digit hours at a time.

The thread title.... With our 4Runner, the license plate was MALLCRL (Mall crawl, short for mall crawler), as it was anything but that. The Tundra was dubbed MallCrl 2.0, and now the Grenadier 3.0.

The starting spec: Base SW, Raised air intake, F/R diff locks, leather, compass, safari windows, interior gear rail, rear ladder, spare tire storage bin, tow package.

"Why didn't you get XYZ?" - The most common "why's" are no second battery, no high amperage switch panel, and no winch. The short answer is that I'm not a huge fan of the Ineos solutions for those aspects and would rather handle them myself.

Build plans: In no particular order (these always change, but it's nice to look back and see what the initial plans were)

• Full sound/thermal insulation - 80mil CLD on floors/doors/sides/roof, 3M Thinsulate in the doors, sides, and above the headliner, 3M Minicell under the flooring, 3M Low-E above the headliner, and possibly 3M TAI above the minicell for the floors
• Stereo replacement - Components up front, coax in the rear doors, DSP amp, and 8" or 10" sub; probably Hertz, Focal, or Morels for speakers; Kicker KEY for the amp
• DIY drawers/storage system - I built two for my 4Runner (one wood, one aluminum/composite), this will most likely be 1" Aluminum extrusion (often referred to as "80/20"). Still undecided on one wide (with a divider) or two separate drawers, and also still undecided if I want to keep it low to turn one side into a sleep platform for the fairly rare times I'm solo on a trip.
• Dometic CFX3-45 Fridge - Already here and waiting for a fridge slide and the drawers to be built
• Window Film - Llumar/FormulaOne Pinnacle and AirBlue80, 15% on the sides/rear, undecided between 15% or 30% on the safaris, and AirBlue80 on the windshield
• Method 702s with 255/80/17 Falken Wildpeak A/T4Ws - I'm a huge fan of the tall and skinny tire, and while a 34/35 can fit, I think the 33 is a nice middle ground for the vehicle
• Roof rack - Probably a 3/4 rack, but this could change, already "ordered" from a company who has yet to release products for the Grenadier
• Sliders - With a kickout, see above for manufacturer
• Skid plates - See above
• Winch mount/bumper - See above - I've used both Warn VR and ComeUp Seal Gen2 winches on previous builds and have had great success with both, winch TBD but probably 12k lbs
• Lights - One of my favorite aspects - Plans are to add Diode Dynamics SSC2s in the bumper side grilles for SAE fog, replace the lights in the grille, and then add some side/rear lighting once the rack is in place. Additionally some ground/rock lights, and additional lighting in the cargo area.
• Lighting control - Switch Pros SP-9100, I've used both the Switch Pros and the sPod (actually both are serving different functions in our Sprinter), and much prefer the Switch Pros. This will probably be mounted to the overhead panel
• Air compressor - ARB Dual, not sure where yet
• Communication - I've been super happy with the Garmin Tread XL in our Sprinter, so maybe just a second mount for that, or a regular sized Tread.... Or go back to the trusty iPad/Gaia combo for mapping and a separate inReach. For 2 way radio, I have a MARS modded Icom IC-2730A that never made it into the Sprinter, so I'll remote mount that and put the head probably on the overhead panel. Of course, it can't be "overland" without a WeBoost, so that'll be there somewhere.
• Communication holder - The jury is still out on this one, I want something that can solidly hold 2 phones, a tablet, and perhaps one-three additional devices (inReach, Gopro, and/or radar detector). Nothing really suits what I want on the market as of yet, perhaps Expedition Essentials will make a mount as I've used their stuff in previous vehicles with great results
• Enforcement Notification - I've been a diehard Valentine1 fan since I got my license almost 25 years ago and never not had one in my vehicle, a V1Gen2 is already in the Grenadier, just need an improved mounting option for due to how steep the windshield is
• Additional (electric) power - Dual battery with a self heated LiFePO4 aux battery, considering the Dakota 135Ah unit. All the rest of the components will be Victron (Orion XS DC-DC Charger, SmartShunt, Cerbo-S, SmartSolar MPPT, BlueSmart AC-DC Charger, and Phoenix 1200VA inverter). All fusing/distribution components will be Blue Sea. This is how I built the system in our Tundra (except with an AGM aux battery) and similar to our Sprinter (using 700Ah of Battle Born batteries)

Phew, ok so that was a lot.... Maybe a few pictures? You'll have to settle with one, because I completely forgot to take a photo when we picked it up, luckily my better half remembered, so here's her photo
View attachment 7853616

Replies will come as the handful of things already here or soon to arrive start making their way on!

Great combination of paint colours. The roof - is that white or a beige colour?

 

[anand]

Great combination of paint colours. The roof - is that white or a beige colour?

Scottish white, OEM option!

 

[TrueNorthGoneSouth]

Scottish white, OEM option!

Good choice.