I couldn’t resist – so ordered one basic element (as I don’t need much carried on the roof), one MOLLE side rack, and one universal cannister rack from the good folk in Switzerland. In a short time they arrived. Beutifully packed but lacking instructions. Not a problem if your were brought up on Meccano!

Take the roof grab bars off, add the barckets (for both the roofrack and the side racks) and you’re off to good start.

Then everything screws together with nice stainless button head bolts…

Here I’ve installed the basic element as far back as it goes (for ease of access from the ladder). This is the Universal Carrier side unit. Which isn’t quite universal, as I had to make up the brackets to fit the ROTOPAX holders / handles. Nonetheless, it’s pretty flexible with what you can install.

The Black Sheep system does provide you with a lot more L-track to play with. The basic unit has L-track round the entire perimeter. So I used that for lights and the UHF antenna mount (just some steel bracket with a folding base mount). Plenty of mounting space left for cargo tie downs. The VHF antenna stayed on the roof grab bar (for now).

Both the MOLLE panel and the universal carrier are well designed, and with attachements to both the roof grab bar and the vehicles l-track cargo mounts seem very robust. Nothing mounted on the MOLLE yet, but I will try and mount my MaxTrax.

I’ll report back on how things go when we go and get dirty very shortly. By the way, ignore the door panels – they’re an experiment on having somewhere to put event stickers as well as protecting the doors off road!

I happen to like the simple elegance and speed of dynamic recoveries with a snatch strap. The tried and true way to attach the strap to the pulling vehicle is with a bow shackle, although soft shackles are certainly an option. I have always been told NEVER snatch using your tow ball, unless you want to see a towball flung at speed through someones windscreen (or head). Hence I slipped out the rather heavy (solid steel) standard Ineos towball from the Hayman Reece type receiver and slipped a Shackle Hitch from George 4×4 into place. Solid machined aluminium – so lighter than the steel towball but more than tough enough (20000kg breaking) to pull out anything I’d be game to try! Can be rotated so the shackle is horizontal or vertical. Just remember the bolt underneath (16mm head) that is there presumably to stop rattles. Useful note: the receiver is 140mm deep.

Always a good idea to zip tie everything in place too, so nothing shakes loose.

There are MANY options of hitch to choose from – including nice ones designed just for soft shackes.

Any number of light bar options are available if you have an roof rack. Here’s one on what looks like a Front Runner rack:

The Grenadier’s Safari Roof option provides some difficulties, as one does not need to get a suntan when driving at night! Black Sheep have a solution with an independent light bar sitting forward of the safari windows. Not yet released, but watch this space.

The Black Sheep concept vehicle also demontrates their new driving light option. From all reports the standard driving lights are effective. Not sure if I’m a fan of the new lights, but here’s the original and the Black Sheep concept next to each other:

Here’s one from France:

How about an Emergency Response vehicle:

The Grenadier comes with an Auxiliary Switch Panel and some electrical preparation as standard. This includes a power switch that leaves the 12v/USB power on whne the vehicle is switched off (essential for camping!) and 3 switches for 10A wiring running to the bonnet / engine bay, footwell, and fuse box.

The High Load Auxiliary Switch Panel and preparation is optional – although is included if you also option the winch. This includes:

• 25A switch for a front LED bar. Outlet on the roof
• 25A for side and rear LED bars. 3 outlets on the roof
• 500A for the winch
• 25A with wiring to bonnet / engine bay and fuse box.

Finding the pre-wired outlets

The roof outlets are easy. Footwells and under bonnet not so much! See Extra charging sockets for info on the footwell wiring. The under bonnet wire is taped to the wiring loom on the right had side, just in front / under the clear reservoir. The plastic insulators are just visible in the second photo:

The ususal “go to” solution for this is the venerable 20L Jerry can. The Grenadier has limmited ways to safely carry a Jerry Can or two – with the obvious one being on the roofrack – either securely tied down or in a specifically designed roof rack holder, such as these from Rino-rack and Front Runner:

The biggest issue with this solution is access – as one needs to lug over 20kg of full Jerry can onto your roof-rack, and then also get it down at a later stage. There are other roofrack alternatives, with mounts for Rotopax or similar smaller fuel containers readily available.

Black Sheep have some alternatives to the roof rack. One is a mount on the spare wheel for the 8.5L rounded fuel can from Overland Fuel. This stainless steel bracket uses the Overland lockable mount, and can be adjusted to different offsets of the rim, and is suitable for 17 and 18 inch rims. It does look like it would be a pain when it came time to use the spaire wheel, as it apears to mount directly to the spare wheel itself.

The other option from Black Sheep is a side mounted load carrier, mounting over the rear side window. The load carriers are mounted on the original railing and on the lower, external equipment rails (l-track) of the vehicle without drilling. The load carriers consist of two vertical and two horizontal supports with multiple mounting holes. These can be used to mount various accessories such as recovery boards or, as in this case, fuel (or water) cans. The picture shows mounts and 9L cans from Overland Fuel, although I’d guess that similar offerings from Rotopax and other manufacturers will fit just as nicely.

Expedition HQ Australia have released XSPEC, a range of accessories to suit the Grenadier. These utilise a mounting platform over the rear window, attaching to the roof rail and the l-track. The range includes a self feeding fuel tank and a more traditional Jerry can holder.

Gull-wing windows were an option on the Ineos Grenadier initially… but unfortunately were deleted somewhere in the development process.

Fortunately aftermarket suppliers are guaranteed to fill the void. Other vehicles have gull-wing aftermarket solutions from manufacturers such as Emuwing and Front Runner.

Black Sheep have created an external MOLLE panel, available through TrackParts. It fits to the L-track, so you will have to have that specified on your vehicle.

“The side load carriers are mounted without drilling on the original railing and on the lower, external utensil rails of the vehicle.

In the “MOLLE” version, a grid provides effective protection for the rear window and at the same time serves as a base for holding various utensils. The “MOLLE system” from the USA offers the specification for the subdivision of the grid and thus enables the use of many accessories already available on the market, such as luggage bags and tool holders, which are based on this system.”

Specs:

• weight 3kg
• length 700mm
• width 550mm

Pictured with some recovery tracks – but you are only limmited by you imagination. And your local road rules. And the maximum load capacity.

Front Runner have their Slimline II Roof Rack in a full length and 3/4 length offering. Full length rack details: Weight approximately 43kg. Payload not specified, but the dynamic roof loading allows an additional 107kg. 2570mm long.  The roof rack kit comes equipped with eight Gutter Mount legs. Front Runner also have a comprehensive range of attachements (using T-slot mounting) for their roof racks.

Black Sheep have a quite different option. Their low profile roof rack sits directly on the roof and attaches to the roof grab rails rather than the gutter. Standard gutter mounting gives a maximum of 420kg static and 150kg dynamic. This sytem is quoted at a 250kg static load, and 150kg dynamic load for each segment – with the load distributed onto the roof. It comes as 2 base elements or add a third for a total area of 1600mm wide x1890mm long. I understand the weight is 2x12kg + 1x11kg = 35kg total.

A nice element with this rack is the solid base with multiple L-track mounts – in keeping with the mounting system used in the rest of the vehicle. Additionally, even in the maximum size configuration the Safari windows can still be used!

Rolling Space have a novel offering, with a customisable full length gutter mounted roof rack. Their low profile design alows the Safari windows to be used, but still with the advantage of a full length rack and potential light bar mounting. Their mounting system is also different from most, with neither l-track nor T-slot. Load limits pending, but will likely be simmilar to the Front Runner racks.

Black Sheep have developed an alternative, made from stainless steel and powder coated black. The design allows for maximum ground clearance and incorporates high-lift jacking points. Weight 30kg for the pair.

Additional steps are available (aluminum, powder coated black). (Perhaps someone could fabricate some similar add on steps for the original Ineos rock sliders?)