Hi all, thought I would finally get around to posting about our QM build. Hope there might be some useful info in here for anyone else thinking about similar mods.
Base vehicle is a 2024 QM - base version with high load aux switch panel and diff locks.
Plan is to build a tourer capable of 4-5 days self-sufficient travel for a family of 4, without having to tow a camper trailer or caravan. Must have robust improvements to deal with the usual issues of the Australian bush - corrugations, kangaroos, more corrugations. So the list below is what we think needs to be done to the QM to be long-weekend travel ready at any moment:
With all of the above learned from our 130 Defender, I was doing the research on the improvements while searching for the QM.
I had a great experience in buying the QM from AutoWorld Ballarat (call Richard Ford he was awesome to deal with, nothing was too hard or complicated). And the QM headed straight to GrenX (shout out to Rohan, who was, and continues to be, awesome to deal with) in Melbourne to complete most of the work noted above. Particularly the GVM upgrade, which given the restrictive rules in Aust. is best completed pre-registration.
After a bit of a wait, particularly for the GVM kit to be approved, this is where we were at.
This post is already getting pretty long, so I'll put up the full list of mods on the next one.
We picked the car up from Ballarat in mid-August and we love it. No crazy tracks or epic adventures, but has already been loaded up for a couple of short camping trips and it is on the way to being exactly what we are hoping for.
Finish this post by saying a massive thanks to the GrenX crew, and thanks to the team at AutoWorld Ballarat.
Matt.
Base vehicle is a 2024 QM - base version with high load aux switch panel and diff locks.
Plan is to build a tourer capable of 4-5 days self-sufficient travel for a family of 4, without having to tow a camper trailer or caravan. Must have robust improvements to deal with the usual issues of the Australian bush - corrugations, kangaroos, more corrugations. So the list below is what we think needs to be done to the QM to be long-weekend travel ready at any moment:
- The first item for us was to increase the load capacity of the QM. We are going to use up the sub 800kg load capacity in a hurry between additional fuel, water, fridge and power station, recovery gear, and the general stuff that a family drags around when they travel. So a GVM upgrade is needed.
- We want to retain the tub and work out a way to maximise (and organise) storage space. Including significant water storage - 150 litres min.
- Power to the tub for the fridge, any pumps, lighting, etc. Allowance to use the vehicle batteries for certain aux. use and also for solar input to the vehicle batteries. Fridge to run off a power station, probably 12V only and not an inverter system - we dont need to run a coffee machine, or any of that rubbish (though inverter cooktops are pretty awesome).
- Install a long range fuel tank, ideally to have over 1000km range. Just the extra fuel and water are why we will need the GVM upgrade.
- Protection against animal strikes - good quality bullbar.
- Self-recovery = winch. Even though we don't intend to send the QM up any highly technical tracks, having a winch is good insurance against the day the weather changes and the dry trail you drove in on changes to something like a waterfall that is almost impossible to drive out of.
- Protection against dum things that I might do as a driver - rocksliders, underbody skid plates.
- Navigation?
- In cab storage.
With all of the above learned from our 130 Defender, I was doing the research on the improvements while searching for the QM.
I had a great experience in buying the QM from AutoWorld Ballarat (call Richard Ford he was awesome to deal with, nothing was too hard or complicated). And the QM headed straight to GrenX (shout out to Rohan, who was, and continues to be, awesome to deal with) in Melbourne to complete most of the work noted above. Particularly the GVM upgrade, which given the restrictive rules in Aust. is best completed pre-registration.
After a bit of a wait, particularly for the GVM kit to be approved, this is where we were at.
This post is already getting pretty long, so I'll put up the full list of mods on the next one.
We picked the car up from Ballarat in mid-August and we love it. No crazy tracks or epic adventures, but has already been loaded up for a couple of short camping trips and it is on the way to being exactly what we are hoping for.
Finish this post by saying a massive thanks to the GrenX crew, and thanks to the team at AutoWorld Ballarat.
Matt.
