Tag Archives: guide

Grenadier build – metal number plate holder installed

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The Doc has never been happy with the front plastic number plate holder. Black Sheep now sell a metal version which The Doc installed today.

Here are some of the lessons learned.

BLACK SHEEP NUMBER PLATE HOLDER INSTALLATION HELP
The Doc could not get all four bolts into the bumper bar, there was always one hole misaligned, despite trying a few things. Not sure if it is a design issue with the Black Sheep holder or a manufacturing variation in The Doc’s car. The Doc used the top two bolt holes and the bottom right side. The Black Sheep holder is secure and a lot stronger than the old INEOS plastic number plate holder (INEOS holder). The missing bolt is not visible with the Black Sheep holder cover down.

The holder appears level on the bumper bar.

Make sure the top of the holder is properly aligned with the bumper, otherwise you can have issues inserting the new bolts.

TOOLS NEEDED

  1. Screw driver to remove the screws holding the number plate onto the INEOS holder.
  2. Torx T30 bit/tool to remove the four bolts securing the INEOS holder. All four bolts were not tight on my car, but they did appear to have some sort of loctite on the bolts.
  3. A 10mm bit used to tighten the bolts supplied with the Black Sheep holder (they have hex heads and a washer, they are not Torx T30 bolts). You cannot reuse the T30 bolts removed earlier due to their head shape.

PARTS NEEDED

  1. You must source two bolts used to attach the number plate to the Black Sheep holder (instead of the screws which do not work with the Black Sheep holder). The Doc used bolts with a 8mm hex head. These bolts go into different holes on the number plate (compared to the screws), The Doc just aligned the number plate on the Black Sheep holder to see what bolt holes to use.
  2. The Doc used marine Goop on all the bolts and the black plastic covers for the visible bolts (hiding the silver bolt heads and nuts). Over time these black plastic covers are likely to fall off, even with the Marine Goop.

There were rain showers during the install. The number plate is a standard size NSW plate, not a custom size.

Grenadier build – Outback Shakedown changes – Round 2

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ABNTR4X4 Rock sliders refined
A metallic noise/rattle/squeak developed about one week after the installation of the rock sliders. Luckily before The Doc went on his Outback trip.

The sliders were attached using plates secured by bolts; some bolts were fitted through a drill hole, others through a slot in the metal plate (to allow adjustments). The bolts through the slots were trying to pull the washers through the slot, so the washer became cupped letting the rock slider move.

After the initial install the mechanic had commented the bolts should be longer. After discussing the noise problem with the mechanic, The Doc bought longer high tensile bolts (replacing the OEM galvanized bolts) and large square washers that were also thicker than the OEM washers. After jumping up and down on the sliders after the refit, the mechanic found there was still some noise. On closer inspection there were screws in the body work exposed after the trim was removed to fit the sliders. So metal was still rubbing on metal. The mechanic adjusted the position of the sliders away from the exposed screw heads.

Everything has worked well since the changes and no more issues arose in the Outback trip.

ABNTR4X4 rock sliders are great, but they needed some refinement for Australia (at least for my purposes). First, longer 50mm high tensile bolts. Second, larger and thicker square washers and lastly adjusting the sliders to avoid touching the screws exposed after the trim was removed (you could cut these screws off, but that was not my preferred option).

XHQ Molle Panels refinements – when fitted with 30l diesel tanks
When travelling on intense corrugations the XHQ Molle Panels were being vibrated, creating an annoying noise when the tanks were filled with diesel. The corrugations created a wave vibration in the Molle panel you could see in the rearview mirror. It looked like Rolf Harris was using it as a wobble board!

Additionally, two of the four washers down on the L track attachment points were not sitting flat over the Molle panel slot (sound familiar?). One washer had dug into the side of the slot on the Molle panel. I upgraded the L track bolts from M8 bolts to M10 bolts. I also used bigger and thicker washers. The upgrade has fixed the noise around the city, but no testing on corrugations so far.

Rear Bracket – passenger’s side
My dual air compressor was attached to an ORS custom bracket on the driver’s side. I decided to get a matching bracket on the passenger’s side. ORS made the bracket and covered it in marine carpet. This allows me to use canvas bags with a carpet grabber to configure what to store on the bracket.

The bracket also creates a storage area between the bracket and the rear window for storage.

Below are images of the new bracket and the carpet grabber bags I have on order. These can be easily reconfigured depending on my needs.

I also reconfigured the driver’s side storage area with my AED device, new First Aid Kit and a storage bag. The distance between the windows and brackets is slightly different between the two sides – because the plastic wheel arch trim on each side. The AED and First Aid Kit were a better fit on the driver’s side (RHD).

Grenadier build – more build details

12 volt, 4X4, Anderson plug, Aussie made, Australia, guide, Uncategorised, , , , , , ,

Things done recently:

1. The Doc and his brother installed the rear roof shelf over the weekend and The Doc has been experimenting how to pack the shelf. At present, he is using it to store the Solar Screens, air compressor equipment, Nakatanenga rear Door Air Vents and the Blacksmith Camping firewood carrier. Minimal loss of rear vision due to the shelf.

Here is a photo – the Travel Buddy Oven will be installed on the left side under the shelf after The Doc fits the Anderson plug to the oven.

2. The bed extension is removed while ORS makes some refinements to the design. It did allow me to easily fit the BLE Battery Monitor to the main battery today.

3. The Bushman Fridge arrived for the Grenadier and The Doc gave the courier a guided tour of the car. 🙂

4. The Doc installed the rear Firestryker extinguisher next to the air compressor cylinder. Brian from ORS suggested the location; and I thought it was a good suggestion, so I used it. You can see the air compressor bracket created a little space between it and the window that I can use for storage. Still working out what to put there. In the image there is a red Drifta Power Towel Dispenser and the other canvas bag has a 240 volt extension cable. When camping I can hang the Drifta towel dispenser from the roof shelf. That worked out nicely! Finally, the tie down rings will be re-installed where you see the bolt and washer on the bracket, so I can use the raised tie down points on both sides of the car.

Image from Drifta website.

Grenadier build – drawers, wind and water

12 volt, 4X4, Anderson plug, Aussie made, Australia, battery management system, battery monitor, guide, NSW, Uncategorised, , , , , , , ,

Images from the Offroad Systems fitout. Description of the fitout here.

Grenadier build – Nakatanenga stuff

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The Doc’s Grenadier build continues. The Doc installed the Nakatanenga Sun Visor Organiser today on the passenger’s side visor. He was running out of room in the lockable centre console. He also bought an emergency mirror that he mounted on the organiser killing two birds with one stone – a vanity mirror on the passenger’s side and an emergency mirror if needed. The mirror is visible when the visor is down. Image from Nakatanenga website.

The Doc also installed the Nakatanenga rear Door Air Vents on both sides. Driver’s side shown here (RHD car). As he will sleep in the car, The Doc needed air circulation throughout the night. Previously he used a window sock and put down the window. This is a better solution.

ORS rear drawers, water tank, bed extension and dual ARB air compressor go into the car over the next 2 days.

Off-road trailer guide

Australia, Nissan Patrol,

Having been on the road for nearly 2 years The Doc decided to write a guide for off-road trailers. It is mostly common sense and it will apply to most trailers, not simply those used off-road. Having the trailer serviced is a separate issue and should be done before any major off-road trip.

It is written for trailer newbies, like the The Doc was at the start. So some readers may find it simplistic, but you will be amazed at how many people make no checks and pay the price.

If you buy a new trailer The Doc also suggests some other checks including that all nuts and bolts are tightened correctly including the wheel nuts, nuts on the jockey wheel and the towing hitch.

Guide for off-road trailers checks when on the road can be read here.

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