I have just returned from a trip to the Kimberley region of Western Australia in my diesel Grenadier Trialmaster, towing a 16ft hybrid off-road pop top caravan (tare weight 2000kg, loaded weight about 2400kg, tow ball weight approx 230kg).
Covered 8500km in 31 days: Perth to Kununurra (for the Ord River Muster) via Meekatharra, Newman, Port Hedland, 80 Mile Beach, Fitzroy Crossing and Halls Creek. A few days at Lake Argyle then back to El Questro Station (off the Gibb River Road) to Mt Hart Station via Halls Creek and Fitzroy Crossing (Gibb River Rd direct to Mt Hart from the north east was closed due to high water at the Pentecost River crossing), Derby, Dampier Peninsula, back to the Great Northern Highway (via Marble Bar) and home to Perth.
I was very nervous before I set out: no Ineos service centres in WA other than Perth and no spares north of Perth. The Grenadier never missed a beat, fantastic to drive over long distances (even when towing), 6 – 8 hours at the wheel most days, comfortable Recaro seats (the right hand drive, left foot hump is a total non-issue for me), brilliant performance on the roads, both corrugated dirt and bitumen, plenty of power for overtaking 60 meter road trains (even uphill) and reasonable fuel consumption (overall average15.3 L/100km and about 80% of the total distance was towing). 14.5 to 16.0 L/100km towing with a tailwind and 16.0 to 17.8 into a headwind or in hilly terrain. The vehicle with caravan sits in 8th gear happily at 1600rpm, handles gentle uphill slopes without a downshift and only drops into 7th (or occasionally 6th gear) on the steeper hills. I usually sat on 90 - 95km/hr into the wind and 95 – 100km/hr downwind. Fuel consumption rises rapidly above 100km/hr when towing, especially into the wind.
Only drama was a cracked windscreen on the Gibb River Rd from an errant stone from a truck going the other way. Clear packaging tape stopped the crack from spreading too far and it all held together until we got home. Carried two 20 L jerry cans of diesel in the caravan (just in case) but never needed it.
Diesel prices varied enormously ($1.93/L in Perth, up to $2.50/L along Great Northern Highway, back to $2.00/L in Port Hedland and Kununurra but very expensive in the more remote areas ($2.80/L at El Questro Station and $3.20/L at Mt Hart station). The Grenadier fuel filler is a bit of a pain, will not accept high flow filler nozzle.
This is the best and most capable long distance touring vehicle I have ever driven. It handled beach sand, rough corrugated dirt roads, flooded creek crossings, rough rocky terrain and slippery muddy tracks with ease. I engaged low gear and the central locker (plus wading mode) fairly often, but never looked like needing the rear or front axle lockers.
For those of you interested, this is my set-up as ordered:
Scottish White Trialmaster (diesel)
17” steel wheels, BFG KO2 tyres
Utility trim, heavy duty seat covers and rubber floor mats
Smooth and rough packs (includes diff lockers front & rear)
Roo-bar and siderunners (steps)
Raised air intake
Auxiliary battery, electrical prep and switch panel
Towing pack & wiring
I placed the order in July 22 and the vehicle was delivered in late November 2023. Cost approx AUD109,000 drive away, no more to pay (hah, hah!). I thought it was expensive when I placed the order, but looking at current prices for competing vehicles it now looks more than reasonable.
I have since added the following:
Stedi light bar, front mounted
ICOM IC-450 UHF
Ctek D250SE linked to the Ctek Smartpass to enable roof rack mounted solar panel charging
Additional dashboard USB charge points for phone and GPS
ARB on-board compressor
Rear compartment Anderson plug for the fridge (direct from auxiliary battery)
Rear bumper Anderson plug (from auxiliary battery) for caravan charging and running the dust suppression system in the van on the road
Redarc Tow-Pro Elite electric brake controller for towing
Low profile Rhino-Rack steel mesh roof rack (can’t get into my garage with the big Rhino Rack designed for the Grenadier)
Sphere permanent rear viewing camera system for both the car and caravan.
Next addition is the Brown-Davis long range fuel tank extension (68 litres) which incorporates a high flow diesel filling port. Will probably add Air-Bag Man pneumatics to the rear springs to account for the added fuel and tank weight (if needed).
Cheers
Wombat51
Covered 8500km in 31 days: Perth to Kununurra (for the Ord River Muster) via Meekatharra, Newman, Port Hedland, 80 Mile Beach, Fitzroy Crossing and Halls Creek. A few days at Lake Argyle then back to El Questro Station (off the Gibb River Road) to Mt Hart Station via Halls Creek and Fitzroy Crossing (Gibb River Rd direct to Mt Hart from the north east was closed due to high water at the Pentecost River crossing), Derby, Dampier Peninsula, back to the Great Northern Highway (via Marble Bar) and home to Perth.
I was very nervous before I set out: no Ineos service centres in WA other than Perth and no spares north of Perth. The Grenadier never missed a beat, fantastic to drive over long distances (even when towing), 6 – 8 hours at the wheel most days, comfortable Recaro seats (the right hand drive, left foot hump is a total non-issue for me), brilliant performance on the roads, both corrugated dirt and bitumen, plenty of power for overtaking 60 meter road trains (even uphill) and reasonable fuel consumption (overall average15.3 L/100km and about 80% of the total distance was towing). 14.5 to 16.0 L/100km towing with a tailwind and 16.0 to 17.8 into a headwind or in hilly terrain. The vehicle with caravan sits in 8th gear happily at 1600rpm, handles gentle uphill slopes without a downshift and only drops into 7th (or occasionally 6th gear) on the steeper hills. I usually sat on 90 - 95km/hr into the wind and 95 – 100km/hr downwind. Fuel consumption rises rapidly above 100km/hr when towing, especially into the wind.
Only drama was a cracked windscreen on the Gibb River Rd from an errant stone from a truck going the other way. Clear packaging tape stopped the crack from spreading too far and it all held together until we got home. Carried two 20 L jerry cans of diesel in the caravan (just in case) but never needed it.
Diesel prices varied enormously ($1.93/L in Perth, up to $2.50/L along Great Northern Highway, back to $2.00/L in Port Hedland and Kununurra but very expensive in the more remote areas ($2.80/L at El Questro Station and $3.20/L at Mt Hart station). The Grenadier fuel filler is a bit of a pain, will not accept high flow filler nozzle.
This is the best and most capable long distance touring vehicle I have ever driven. It handled beach sand, rough corrugated dirt roads, flooded creek crossings, rough rocky terrain and slippery muddy tracks with ease. I engaged low gear and the central locker (plus wading mode) fairly often, but never looked like needing the rear or front axle lockers.
For those of you interested, this is my set-up as ordered:
Scottish White Trialmaster (diesel)
17” steel wheels, BFG KO2 tyres
Utility trim, heavy duty seat covers and rubber floor mats
Smooth and rough packs (includes diff lockers front & rear)
Roo-bar and siderunners (steps)
Raised air intake
Auxiliary battery, electrical prep and switch panel
Towing pack & wiring
I placed the order in July 22 and the vehicle was delivered in late November 2023. Cost approx AUD109,000 drive away, no more to pay (hah, hah!). I thought it was expensive when I placed the order, but looking at current prices for competing vehicles it now looks more than reasonable.
I have since added the following:
Stedi light bar, front mounted
ICOM IC-450 UHF
Ctek D250SE linked to the Ctek Smartpass to enable roof rack mounted solar panel charging
Additional dashboard USB charge points for phone and GPS
ARB on-board compressor
Rear compartment Anderson plug for the fridge (direct from auxiliary battery)
Rear bumper Anderson plug (from auxiliary battery) for caravan charging and running the dust suppression system in the van on the road
Redarc Tow-Pro Elite electric brake controller for towing
Low profile Rhino-Rack steel mesh roof rack (can’t get into my garage with the big Rhino Rack designed for the Grenadier)
Sphere permanent rear viewing camera system for both the car and caravan.
Next addition is the Brown-Davis long range fuel tank extension (68 litres) which incorporates a high flow diesel filling port. Will probably add Air-Bag Man pneumatics to the rear springs to account for the added fuel and tank weight (if needed).
Cheers
Wombat51
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