From Arizona To The Arctic In A Custom Outfit Ineos Grenadier Trialmaster

Wyn Geiser has more than 50 years of wheeling experience, so it makes sense that shortly after purchasing his 2024 Ineos Grenadier Trialmaster he pointed the 4×4 on an epic adventure. The journey covered roughly 9,000 miles, taking him from his home in Mesa, Arizona, to Alaska and back again, with plenty of dirt along the way.

We were curious how he prepared his Grenadier for a trip of this magnitude. After all, countless hours would be spent driving and camping in the rig, so everything needed to be dialed in. Additionally, he and his Grenadier had to be ready for whatever the road or trail might deliver. Here is a look at the SUV and its modifications. Later in the story we’ll share his report on how everything performed.

A Solid Starting Point

The Ineos Grenadier Trialmaster was a solid starting point for a trip of this magnitude. The full-frame vehicle is powered by a gutsy BMW 3.0-liter I6 gas engine paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. It features solid axles front and rear, a two-speed transfer case, a center differential lock, locking differentials, front and rear skid plates, and more. But even with these solid features there was still room for improvement from a mechanical standpoint.

Suspension Upgrades For The Long Haul

One of the first areas Wyn addressed on the Grenadier was the suspension. He owns Geiser Off-Road, which specializes in progressive springs for 4x4s, so naturally a set of his company’s springs were part of the build plan. The setup pairs 2-inch-lift progressive springs with MetalCloak Duroflex adjustable control arms and Evictus 2.65 Prerunner remote-reservoir shocks. The upgrade helps boost ground clearance and sharpens the suspension’s overall performance. The remote-res shocks are perfectly suited for hours of driving at speed on the remote, rough terrain of Alaska and Canada. Wyn also swapped the factory front track bar for a MetalCloak Durotrac heavy-duty adjustable unit.

The additional lift also created space for larger tires. Wyn ditched the stock 32-inch tires in favor of 35-inch Goodyear Territory MTs. These were take-offs from his other vehicle, a Ram 1500 TRX. They are mounted on 18×9-inch KMC Grenade Crawl beadlock wheels.

Almost 50 Gallons Of Fuel Capacity

One of Wyn’s favorite upgrades is a practical one for a trip where gas stations can be few and far between. He added a Long Range America 24-gallon auxiliary fuel tank to supplement the factory 24-gallon tank. With nearly 50 gallons on board, the Grenadier gained a welcome dose of range and gave Wyn peace of mind while traveling in the middle of nowhere.

Outside And Inside Mods

Every inch of the Grenadier, inside and out, was outfitted for the trip with usability in mind. On the outside, the rig wears a TrailRax roof rack. It serves as the mounting point for Wyn’s lodging-on-the-go, an Alu-Cab Gen 3-R rooftop tent. A Renogy flexible 200-watt solar panel is mounted to the roof of the RTT, and the Grenadier’s optional solar integration package simplified installation of the solar power system. Other exterior upgrades include a slew of forward-, side-, and rear-facing Triple-R lights, CAtuned Off-Road Grenadier External MOLLE Panels used to secure liquid cargo, and a set of automatic electric running boards.

Inside, the Grenadier packs smart storage and trail-ready gear. An Engel 40-liter fridge-freezer rides on a sliding mount alongside the solar power system components. Wyn made use of nearly every inch of interior space, aided by several aftermarket additions. These include a Bison Gear roof shelf that stores the RTT ladder when not in use, overhead cubby shelves, a LeTech drawer system, and strategically placed MOLLE panels. A pair of Quad Lock phone holders mounted to a dash panel phone bracket on the center console keeps navigation and communication within easy reach.

Trip Report

Wyn’s trip began in Mesa and took him to Bellingham, Washington, where the SUV was loaded onto a ferry bound for Haines, Alaska. After disembarking in Haines, he explored the state with stops in Tok, Anchorage, Mount McKinley, Fairbanks, and the Arctic Circle, among others. From there, he aimed the Grenadier toward the gravel Top of the World Highway and Dawson City in the Yukon. Eventually, the route brought him back through Bellingham and down to Mesa.

So how did the setup perform? According to Wyn, the trip was trouble-free and none of the modifications disappointed. From a mechanical perspective, the only time a wrench touched the SUV was during a scheduled maintenance stop. It’s always satisfying when a plan delivers exactly as intended.

Photos: Wyn Geiser