Build Thread The Lobster, DaneJa's overlanding build

[Tenac]

They determined that they couldn't develop a solution to bolt on the OEM axels that would meet their standards. They collaborated with Currie Enterprises to make a Dana 44/60 hybrid axle for Jeeps and some version of that is likely what will go into the Grenadier package with braketry to match OEM mounting so it'll be bolt-on. Quinn posted a video about a year ago when gauging interest in a Grenadier package, but nothing has come out since.

Wow thank for the details I missed that one completely. Saying he needs some commitment, does anyone have a actual $$$ in mind here?

 

[DaneJa]

Wow thank for the details I missed that one completely. Saying he needs some commitment, does anyone have a actual $$$ in mind here?

About $35k in parts

 

[LRNAD90]

About $35k in parts

And my wife thinks I spend too much money on 'the cars'..

 

[TCMColorado]

I will argue that if the technical capability of portal axles is needed then the Grenadier is not the correct tool for the job. A JL Wrangler on 37" - 40" tires is much more appropriate for rocky technical terrain with no need for a portal conversion only a moderate lift. At some point you are building a rock buggy. Not to disparage rock buggies, they are awesome, but it is not within the envelope of the Grenadier's design brief. Nor is the gearing of the Grenadier appropriate for the most technical terrain. The Greandier crawl ratio is 53.81:1. A JL Wrangler's crawl ratio is 77.24:1 with the OEM auto transmission and 4.10 axle gearing and can easily be increased to over 90:1 with a change to 4.88 gears. With the OEM manual transmission and 4.88 gears the crawl ratio is 100.14:1. The issue is that the Grenadier has only 2.5:1 reduction in the transfercase while the Wrangler is 4:1. Yes you could gear portals to acheive a lower crawl ratio in the Grenadier but that would impact on road driving as this lower gearing would apply when in both high range and low range.

 

[Tenac]

I will argue that if the technical capability of portal axles is needed then the Grenadier is not the correct tool for the job. A JL Wrangler on 37" - 40" tires is much more appropriate for rocky technical terrain with no need for a portal conversion only a moderate lift. At some point you are building a rock buggy. Not to disparage rock buggies, they are awesome, but it is not within the envelope of the Grenadier's design brief. Nor is the gearing of the Grenadier appropriate for the most technical terrain. The Greandier crawl ratio is 53.81:1. A JL Wrangler's crawl ratio is 77.24:1 with the OEM auto transmission and 4.10 axle gearing and can easily be increased to over 90:1 with a change to 4.88 gears. With the OEM manual transmission and 4.88 gears the crawl ratio is 100.14:1. The issue is that the Grenadier has only 2.5:1 reduction in the transfercase while the Wrangler is 4:1. Yes you could gear portals to acheive a lower crawl ratio in the Grenadier but that would impact on road driving as this lower gearing would apply when in both high range and low range.

But they also make the truck look cool as hell....

 

[TCMColorado]

But they also make the truck look cool as hell....

Cannot argue with that. The LeTech Grenadier with portals looks fantastic.

 

[ryanjl]

I will argue that if the technical capability of portal axles is needed then the Grenadier is not the correct tool for the job. A JL Wrangler on 37" - 40" tires is much more appropriate for rocky technical terrain with no need for a portal conversion only a moderate lift. At some point you are building a rock buggy. Not to disparage rock buggies, they are awesome, but it is not within the envelope of the Grenadier's design brief. Nor is the gearing of the Grenadier appropriate for the most technical terrain. The Greandier crawl ratio is 53.81:1. A JL Wrangler's crawl ratio is 77.24:1 with the OEM auto transmission and 4.10 axle gearing and can easily be increased to over 90:1 with a change to 4.88 gears. With the OEM manual transmission and 4.88 gears the crawl ratio is 100.14:1. The issue is that the Grenadier has only 2.5:1 reduction in the transfercase while the Wrangler is 4:1. Yes you could gear portals to acheive a lower crawl ratio in the Grenadier but that would impact on road driving as this lower gearing would apply when in both high range and low range.

Makes sense to me.

But then again, someone pushing the envelope of what's possible and shooting for the moon is what gets the rest of us plebes tang, velcro, and Speedmasters with cool casebacks.

So, I say go for it!

 

[TCMColorado]

Makes sense to me.

But then again, someone pushing the envelope of what's possible is what gets the rest of us plebes tang, velcro, and Speedmasters with cool casebacks.

So, I say go for it!

Amen for the Speedmasters!!

 

[ADVAW8S]

I will argue that if the technical capability of portal axles is needed then the Grenadier is not the correct tool for the job. A JL Wrangler on 37" - 40" tires is much more appropriate for rocky technical terrain with no need for a portal conversion only a moderate lift. At some point you are building a rock buggy. Not to disparage rock buggies, they are awesome, but it is not within the envelope of the Grenadier's design brief. Nor is the gearing of the Grenadier appropriate for the most technical terrain. The Greandier crawl ratio is 53.81:1. A JL Wrangler's crawl ratio is 77.24:1 with the OEM auto transmission and 4.10 axle gearing and can easily be increased to over 90:1 with a change to 4.88 gears. With the OEM manual transmission and 4.88 gears the crawl ratio is 100.14:1. The issue is that the Grenadier has only 2.5:1 reduction in the transfercase while the Wrangler is 4:1. Yes you could gear portals to acheive a lower crawl ratio in the Grenadier but that would impact on road driving as this lower gearing would apply when in both high range and low range.

I don't know if you saw but Agile has new gearing. Grenadier Gearing:
Ratios: Available in 4.56:1 (for oversized tires, restoring factory feel) or 4.88:1 (maximum torque for larger tires).
Required Components: A Gear Ratio Correction Module Kit is required to maintain proper engine/transmission operation.
Components: Manufactured by HTV Gears for high-stress durability.
Purpose: Addresses the sluggish acceleration and lost torque associated with upgrading tire size on the stock 4.10 geared drivetrain.
Protection: Complements the gears with upgraded front or rear differential covers to protect from damage.
Agile Offroad
Agile Offroad
+4
These gear sets are part of a broader range of Agile Offroad performance products for the Grenadier, including suspension and armor.

 

[TCMColorado]

I don't know if you saw but Agile has new gearing. Grenadier Gearing:
Ratios: Available in 4.56:1 (for oversized tires, restoring factory feel) or 4.88:1 (maximum torque for larger tires).
Required Components: A Gear Ratio Correction Module Kit is required to maintain proper engine/transmission operation.
Components: Manufactured by HTV Gears for high-stress durability.
Purpose: Addresses the sluggish acceleration and lost torque associated with upgrading tire size on the stock 4.10 geared drivetrain.
Protection: Complements the gears with upgraded front or rear differential covers to protect from damage.
Agile Offroad
Agile Offroad
+4
These gear sets are part of a broader range of Agile Offroad performance products for the Grenadier, including suspension and armor.

Yep Agile sells the only regear kits I am aware of for the Grenadier. The 4.56 gears increase the crawl ratio to 59.85:1 and the 4.88 gears increase it to 64.05:1. Personally I would like to have the 4.56 gears installed simply because I am running the larger Mickey Thompson Baja Boss tires in 255/85R17.

 

[MileHigh]

What is the top speed then? 80mph?

Not my path, but I’m glad that there are people like Dane that will do this. I might just hang out by his garage and build a spare Grenny from all the parts he throws out…

Ok, OK. I’m stuck with a low garage. There. I admitted it.