Anatomy Of An Aussie-Built Ineos Quartermaster Overlander

For good reason, Ineos Automotive’s Grenadier Quartermaster pickup is getting a lot of attention in the off-road community. The body-on-frame truck’s standard equipment includes solid axles, a coil-spring suspension, a two-speed transfer case, a turbocharged BMW straight-six engine, and an eight-speed automatic transmission.

Now, Ineos’ Australian operation has raised the bar with a custom Quartermaster build that has transformed the truck into a heavily modified, overland-ready beast.

Based On A One-Off Cab Chassis

The build is based on a one-off special Quartermaster cab chassis with Trialmaster Edition trim. The Trialmaster package includes differential lockers, a raised air intake, an auxiliary battery, a high-load auxiliary switch panel, and external power plugs. Additionally, it features 17-inch steel wheels and a 400W power source. In all, it’s a well-rounded collection of off-road-friendly equipment and a strong foundation for this build.

Tray, Canopy, Fridge, And More

One of the most eye-catching features of the truck is the Norweld Elite Tray and Compact Deluxe Lite Canopy. The Elite Tray mounts where the Quartermaster’s cargo bed would normally reside. It has a one-piece floor, flared mud guards, a dust-resistant trundle drawer, and under-tray toolboxes. It even has a 40-liter poly water tank. The Compact Deluxe Lite Canopy is attached to the tray, and its features include a slide-out drawer and table, an overhead shelf, and a fridge mount. Additionally, it includes a dual-stage ladder, a lockable drawer, and internal tie-down points. Furthermore, it’s designed with a gutter system and rubber seals that provide water and dust resistance. In addition to the standard equipment, the canopy is fitted with mounts that safely retain a pair of spare LT315/70R17 (34.4-inch-diameter) BFGoodrich Mud-Terrain T/A KM3 tires. Inside, there’s also a 130-liter Bushman upright fridge with a REDARC wiring system.

Abundant Electrical Current

Numerous REDARC products ensure that there’s ample electrical current available during backcountry exploration. These include the RS3 2,000-watt pure sine wave inverter, the Manager Alpha 50 battery management system, and the Alpha 150 12-volt lithium auxiliary battery. The RS3 inverter can power sensitive electronics, such as a laptop computer. The Manager Alpha 50 works with AC, DC, and solar charging methods. The Alpha 150 battery features a built-in battery heater, Bluetooth connectivity for the monitoring app, and is said to have a lifespan of over 5,000 cycles at 100 percent depth of discharge.

Remote-Reservoir Electric Damping Adjustment Shocks

The truck is fitted with JMACX Off Road Solutions Alpha remote-reservoir electric damping adjustment shocks. These are ideal for a truck such as this one that is driven over varying terrain. This is because they allow for damping adjustment from inside the truck’s cab. Each shock has an internal bore diameter of 2.5 inches and is 16-stage adjustable. Additional features include a 22mm microcracked shaft, CNC-machined finish, Cerakote body finish, and 4,785 psi-rated hoses and fittings.

Body Protection And Additional Fuel Capacity

Other modifications and gear include a selection of Ineos accessories, such as a front Roo Bar, Rock Sliders (which provide body and chassis protection, as well as an anchor point for an off-road jack), and front fender Checker Plates (designed to allow a person to stand on the front fenders for loading a roof rack, among other tasks). There’s also a Rhino-Rack heavy-duty aluminum roof tray and a set of Maxtrax MKII Recovery Tracks mounted on the company’s Universal Flat Rack Mounting Kit. Additionally, to extend the truck’s driving range between fill-ups, it’s fitted with a Brown Davis two-piece, 44.4-gallon fuel tank located directly behind the rear bumper. According to the manufacturer, this tank transfers fuel to the main (factory) tank, which has a 23.7-gallon capacity, giving the truck a total fuel capacity of 68.1 gallons.

Lighting The Way

Wheeling doesn’t just take place during daylight hours. With this in mind, the truck was equipped with a variety of Stedi aftermarket lighting and accessories. All of the lights are LED, including Type-X Evo Mini 4-Inch flood and spot beam lights, Black Edition C4 cube lights, and a Micro Touch Dual Color 7.8-Inch Work Light. The installation also includes the company’s wiring harnesses and clamps.

Backcountry Communication: Check

Communication was also covered, and it comprises a GME Communications XRS-660 handheld two-way radio and an XRS-370C4P mobile two-way radio. The mobile radio is connected to a GME heavy-duty radome antenna, mounted on a bull bar bracket. Additionally, the truck is equipped with a personal locator beacon in case of an emergency.

It’s Called Kaiju Quartermaster

The truck was given the name “Kaiju Quartermaster” by its creators. Kaiju means “giant creature” or “monster” in Japanese, and it was chosen to reflect the capabilities of the Grenadier Quartermaster. It’s also a nod to Australia’s love of modified Japanese vehicles. Justin Hocevar, Regional Director, APAC at Ineos Automotive, commented, “We wanted to create a truly unique Quartermaster together with some incredibly innovative local engineering and accessory partners. The Quartermaster Cab Chassis is a ‘blank canvas’ that allows for great versatility when it comes to customization, so together with these project partners, we let our imagination run wild. Ultimately, the ‘Kaiju Quartermaster’ expresses our Australian vision of Built For More.”

For those who like to modify their 4x4s, it’s worth noting that Ineos Automotive extends the warranty of its vehicles to cover select aftermarket components from official accessories partners when ordered through retailers.

Additionally, If you’re in Australia and want to see the truck, it will make appearances at events and other promotional happenings in the country over the next few months.

About Ineos Automotive

In 2017, 4×4 enthusiast Jim Ratcliffe had a vision of creating a “stripped-back, no-nonsense, utilitarian 4×4” that combined modern features with reliability. By 2018, over 200 engineers were working full-time on the vehicle’s design at the company’s facility in Stuttgart, Germany. In 2019, the Grenadier team was joined by 4×4 specialists Magna Steyr to engineer the production vehicle. The result of this collaboration was the Ineos Grenadier, which launched in 2022. This was followed by the Quartermaster pickup, which launched in 2023. More recently, the company unveiled the Fusilier, offering all-electric and range-extender electric powertrains. Ineos manufactures its vehicles at a former Mercedes-Benz plant in Hambach, France.