Tag Archives: fitout

Starlink Mini installed

12 volt, 4X4, Australia, crimping, tips, wire, terminals, lugs, review, , ,

Starlink bracket
The Doc needs Starlink for The Kimberley trip – many bookings can only be made online and with poor mobile coverage, Starlink will be my only option. How things have changed since my last trip there.

The Doc bought the Smart Touring Systems Starlink MIni Mount bracket (key lockable) here. It was an easy install, less than 5 minutes. It was mounted onto the Rhino Pioneer Platform using M8 bolts with Nord-Lock washers, torqued to 16Nm.

Starlink Mini dish now installed
The Starlink Mini dish is now installed on the Grenadier.

The Mini is secured in a Smart Touring Systems lockable bracket (SMS) on the Rhino Rack Pioneer Platform. The Doc has a SMS voltage booster inside the bracket assembly plugged into the Mini. The power cable feeds into EXT3 on the passenger’s side of the roof (RHD). The cable goes from a Deutsch DT plug on the Mini end to a Deutsch DTP on the rooftop outlet (EXT3).

The SMS bracket allows the Mini to be installed or removed very quickly, in around 1 or 2 minutes. The Doc is making up a cable to plug the Mini into his Lithium powered battery box inside the car when parked overnight, if he needs it.

The Starlink Mini can be used while driving or parked. When parked you need the EXT3 switch turned on as well as the PWR button.

The Doc renamed the Starlink Network name to get rid of “STARLINK”. He Doc usually uses Latin network names to make it obscure, here The Doc used Viva Cristo Rey (which is Spanish rather than Latin).

The hardest part was trying to work out how to put security on the Starlink Mini Wi-Fi connection. Wow what a task that was, for such a simple matter. NOTE: the Starlink Mini must be on, the Starlink app connected so you can get to Settings>Router to set up a password.

Battery box lid gas strut installed

4X4, Australia, battery management system, ,

It was done some time ago, but The Doc forgot to post details to the blog.

A gas strut has been installed on the metal battery box lid in the Grenadier. It is now easy to open and close the heavy metal lid. Real easy, almost weightless.

Only one strut was needed – gassed at 50kg. The Doc decided against a second strut and he wanted the strut mounted on the outside of the box, to keep it away from the aux battery and wiring.

The Doc never knew there was a support to keep the lid up, until the installer showed him. When The Doc picked up the car the dealer had put a plastic tie on the cargo barrier and he used that. Both can be seen in the image below.

Now The Doc can mount small Molle bags on the spare areas of the battery box’s side, not taken by the gas strut.

Towing with the Bilstein B6 shocks & steering damperer

4X4, Australia, , , ,

Equipment

  1. INEOS Grenadier, AU Spec diesel 2 seater utility with drawers, winch and roofrack. Even empty it is on the heavier side.
  2. Vista RV Crossover XLE. Probably around 1,650 kgs, max is 1980kgs.
  3. Allin tow bar with DO35 hitch.
  4. Eibach springs, lift of 35mm.
  5. Polyair Suspension airbags on Grenadier set to 20PSI when not towing, increased to 50PSI when towing. PSI was varied but The Doc settled on 50 PSI. Vista airbags set at 80PSI when towing.
  6. Bilstein B6 struts front and back.
  7. Bilstein steering damperer.
  8. Side fuel tanks on Grenadier filled. Three fuel Jerry cans on the Vista filled.

Observations from recent Melbourne trip (around 3,000km)

The package towed well; on bitumen and some limited dirt driving with minor corrugations. The condition of the bitumen did vary quite a bit in regional areas.

The package was stable, easy to steer and brake. The setting on the throttle controller was set at FACTORY which worked in most cases, but you run out of grunt around 100kph. The car and van compliment each other and tow well together. The van and car share an almost identical profile, so the wind resistance penalty from the van is minimal. OEM side mirrors work well. Fuel consumption varied between 13.7 to 14.9 litres per 100km. The main factor influencing fuel usage was cruising speed. Ad Blue usage was low. You need to drive faster to get the car to shift into  gears 7 and 8, compared to when you are not towing.

The only challenges were:

  1. where the road was made up of patches of bitumen and I needed to slow down, as there was too much feedback through the dampener and suspension;
  2. hitting the expansion joints on bridges, larger potholes and large indentions on the road gave quite a bit of feedback through the steering wheel. More than the OEM damper. Never any suggestion of death wobbles. Issues disappeared once you when over the expansion joint, etc;
  3. no issues with modest corrugated roads. Heavy corrugations still to be tested; and
  4. the only change will be lowing the hitch so the van is level, the hitch sits too high, even though the van handled well on the trip.

Grenadier gets a new skin

4X4, ,

The Grenadier has its new protective skin on the front and sides. Images courtesy of the House of Tint and Paint Protection Film.

The Doc had to quickly drive back to Sydney via Wagga and Dubbo. It was suppose to be a week trip but the fuel crisis prevented that, however a few days in the van has allowed the Doc to do a partial shake down of the van setup.

The average price of diesel is now hitting AUD3 a litre, with petrol not that far behind.

The Kimberley trip is now in doubt. So The Doc is looking at shorter trips instead.

Trav and Trish at House of Tint did and excellent job on both the car and van. The Doc caught up with Rohan from GrenX who also inspected the Grenadier and was impressed with the new film.

Video of the work done on the van and car:

https://www.facebook.com/share/r/14WcMAZyXDY

Vista RV Crossover XPEL PPF film

Uncategorised,

The Vista RV has its new protective skin on the front and sides. Images courtesy of the House of Tint and Paint Protection Film.

Video of the EPEL film being applied to the van:

https://www.facebook.com/reel/1492935335789729

Grenadier build – Starlink bracket

12 volt, 4X4, Aussie made, Australia, , , , ,

The Doc needs Starlink for The Kimberley trip in 2026 – many bookings can only be made online and with poor mobile coverage, so Starlink will be his only option. How things have changed since his last trip there.

The Doc bought the Smart Touring Systems Starlink MIni Mount bracket (key lockable) here. It was an easy install, less than 5 minutes. It was mounted onto the Rhino Pioneer Platform using four M8 bolts with Nord-Lock washers, torqued to 16Nm.

The Doc is waiting for some narrow split tubing so he can protect the Starlink cable and it will be plugged into a rooftop outlet (front passenger side outlet).

The Doc will also have the option to run a power cable from my 125Ah Lithium Battery Box if the power drain is too much when camping. He can also plug it into the Vista RV van. Viva Cristo Rey:\.


GrenX Accessory Rail

12 volt, 4X4, Aussie made, Australia, guide, ,

In preparation for the Kimberley trip (hopefully) later this year.

Working from the right side of the GrenX Rail, The Doc a GME UHF Mic holder on the angle side. He can move the UHF hand-piece across from the passenger side holder, when offroad.

The Doc dissembled the GME Mic Holder (Model MB207), drilled a hole in the back plate, inserted a stainless steel 1/4 inch 20 UNC bolt through the hole, reassembled the Mic holder. He put double sided tape on the back and then screwed the ¼ inch 20UNC bolt into the GrenX Rail. The allen key was inserted through the opening in the GME Mic Holder. The idea was from Rohan at @GrenX. The Doc did buy 1/2 20UNC bolts but they did not fit into the Mic Mount. The 1/4 bolts fitted perfectly.

Next is the Garmin GPS Tracker.

Far left is the holder for the caravan reversing camera screen, not currently mounted. This reversing camera and the Garmin use RAM Mounts.

Pictures below show the Mic piece moved from the passenger side holder to driver’s side holder.


Grenadier build – sealed snorkel

4X4, Aussie made, Australia, , ,

The Doc just paid for the final work on Wally, being:

  1. install the diff breather kit;
  2. add rear airbags for towing the van (Poly Air, the ones also used on the van); and
  3. a bolt on a sealed snorkel. It is a bolt on job, no cutting. GrenX’s final development of the diesel airbox is now complete. Rohan confirmed to me last Friday at the 4WD and Adventure Show.

The Doc has some DIY things to do, but GrenX will do the final work. The Doc needs to book the trip to Melbourne. The Doc organized the final work with GrenX at the Sydney 4WD and Adventure show.

Watching the Grenadiers do water crossings up at Cape York in the Canny Outdoor video was the final prompt.

Grenadier button pusher

4X4, Australia, Uncategorised, , ,

The Doc always turns off the Stop/Start function on the Grenadier. This must be done each time you start the car, unless you get the Grenadier USA Button Pusher which does that for you. One of the most useful accessories fitted. Starting is so much easier, much more than The Doc was expecting. Expensive but worth every cent for the time saved. The Doc bought red, the fastest colour. 😉