Menu of Road Camping Trips across North America with my dogs

Please click here   to read about Donner, who was with me for eight wonderful years.

Please click here    to read about Annie, who is now joining me for her own n On The Road adventures

Please click here    to read about the Grenadier, the likely successor to my faithful Defender

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Click on the links where provided to go to those blogs. To return to this page, just click on the
www.OnTheRoad.camp link in the right sidebar on any blog or page.  Click here for a note about my blog entries.

2024 - On the Road 2024 with Annie (upcoming)

2023 - On The Roard 23  with Annie  (cancelled)

2022 - On The Road 12 with Donner (Shenandoah Valley etc.)

2021- On The Road 11 with Donner on the Donner Party Trail



















 Sonntag's and my 2000 trip was the featured piece in the cover stories of  two National Geographics:  the January 2002 National Geographic ("From Wolf to Woof") and of the 2012 National Geographic special issue on cats and dogs, among other books and publications. After the 2002 issue appeared, the previously-unknown wheel-chair business for dogs exploded world-wide, with the result that many dogs that would have been put down were given new "leashes" on life.

*1998-1999 - "I think my dog is paralyzed." 

Backpacking trips prior to my road trips.

*1997 - Kamchatka!  

*1996 - The Brooks Range: Gates of the Arctic National Park

1995 - Katmai and The Valley of 10,000 Smokes II 

1994 - Katmai and The Valley of 10,000 Smokes II 

1993 - Katmai and The Valley of 10,000 Smokes II

1992 - Alaska!

*Prior to 1992 - How it all all started 





Possible Successor to the Defender?

Back in 2016, Land Rover announced the end of the classic Defender as the world knew it and loved it. When Sir Jim Ratcliffe, a Defender aficionado  from Great Britain, learned of that, he tried to persuade Land Rover to keep the Defender going. Failing at that, he tried to buy the rights to make the Defender himself. As the billionaire founder of INEOS, the British chemical company, he apparently has a few billions to spare.  Land Rover turned him down.  So, as billionaires are won't to do, he got together with a few drinking buddies at a bar in England called the Grenadier, and Sir Jim decided to build his own replacement.   But instead of just building one or two for himself, he decided to go into the business, and so the Grenadier was born. When Land Rover saw that his design  bore a striking resemblance to classic Defender 110, they sued poor Sir Jim, but lost.  I found out about this five years ago, and immediately snagged one of the first reservations.  Today, I placed a pre-order for one, which will arrive about December. Below is the precise image of the one I ordered..  I will write more about this later, but I wanted to get this posted today.

 

 

 This doesn't mean that my Defender is going anywhere anytime soon.  My guess is that I will hang onto it until I am convinced I made the Grenadier was the right decision for me and someone makes me an offer I cannot refuse, to compensate for my surrendering a beloved vehicle that bought me so much joy on all my trips with Sonntag, Kessie, Leben, Erde, Donner, and now Annie (aka "Squirt").


Model:Station Wagon

Version:Grenadier Trialmaster Edition

My Grenadier

01 VEHICLE & POWERTRAIN

Engine

BMW 3.0L Turbo Gasoline, Straight-Six Engine$0.00 

Transmission

8-Speed Automatic Transmission with Manual Override$0.00 

02 EXTERIOR

Body Color

Queen’s Red metallic + ?

Contrast Roof - Scottish White$1,280.00 

Contrast Ladder Frame - HALO Red$1,065.00 

Wheels

17" Alloy Wheel$735.00 

Locking Wheel Nuts$90.00 

Tires

BFGoodrich All-Terrain KO2 Tire$0.00 

Options and accessories

Access Ladder$0.00 

Safari Windows$2,150.00 

Heat Reflective Privacy Glass$525.00 

Spare Wheel Lockable Storage Box$350.00 

Exterior Utility Belt$0.00 

03 INTERIOR

Interior trim

Utility Trim$0.00 

Heated Front Seats$535.00 

Heavy-duty seat covers

Seat Covers - Front Row *$415.00 

Comfort

Nappa Leather Driver's Pack$0.00 

Central Stowage Box, Lockable$0.00 

Infotainment

Compass with Altimeter$0.00 

Flooring

Heavy Duty Utility Flooring with Drain Valves$0.00 

Floor Mats

Rubber Floor Mats *$250.00 

04 UTILITY

Packs

Rough pack$0.00 

Smooth pack$0.00 

Off-road

Center Differential Lock$0.00 

Differential Locks Front & Rear$0.00 

Raised Air Intake $0.00 

Cyclone Pre-Cleaner *$395.00 

Checker Plates *$330.00 

Side Runners *$945.00 

LED Light bar *$1,125.00 

Winching and towing

Integrated Heavy Duty Winch - 5.5 Tonnes$4,085.00 

Recovery Kit *$485.00 

Heavy Duty Shovel *$90.00 

Class III 2" NAS Tow Hitch and Electrics$800.00 

Power

Auxiliary Charge Points$0.00 

Auxiliary Battery $0.00 

High Load Auxiliary Switch Panel & Electrical Preparation$0.00 

Power Take-Off, 400W$0.00 

Interior cargo

Interior Utility Rails$0.00 

Luggage Net *$60.00 

Quick Release Tie-Down Rings *$60.00 

Tailgate Table *$395.00 

Roof cargo

Roof Rack *$2,000.00 

Load Corner Brackets *$165.00 

Batwing Side Awning *$995.00 

Hi-Lift Jack Mount *$145.00 

Lockdown Security Cable *$70.00 

Roof Tie-Down Rings *$70.00 

Pioneer Accessory Bar$150.00 

Safety, Security & Convenience

Anti-Theft Alarm & Immobilizer$0.00 

Advanced Anti-Theft Alarm & Immobiliser$0.00 

Park Assist Rear (PDC)$0.00 

Park Assist Front (PDC)$0.00 

Rear-View Camera$0.00 

Power Heated Exterior Mirrors$0.00 

Heated Windshield Washer Jets$0.00 

Smokers' Pack$70.00 


Key features

  • 17” Steel Wheels
  • Raised Air Intake
  • Exterior Utility Belt
  • Access Ladder
  • Interior Utility Rails
  • Auxiliary Battery
  • High Load Auxiliary Switch Panel & Electrical Preparation
  • Compass with Altimeter
  • Belstaff Trialmaster Jacket

 

  • Rough Pack
  • Differential Locks Front & Rear
  • BFGoodrich All-Terrain KO2 tires

 

  • Smooth Pack
  • Rear-View Camera
  • Park Assist Front (PDC)
  • Power Heated Exterior Mirrors
  • Heated Windscreen Washer Jets
  • Central Stowage Box, Lockable
  • Puddle Lamps & Ambient Door Lighting
  • Auxiliary Charge Points
  • Advanced Anti-Theft Alarm & Immobilizer

Technical specifications

Dimensions and capability

Length (including full-size spare wheel)191.2 in

Width (including mirrors)84.5 in

Height80.7 in

Wheelbase115.0 in

Ground clearance10.4 in

Wading depth31.5 in

Approach angle36.2 degrees

Departure angle36.1 degrees

Breakover angle28.2 degrees

Permanent 4x4Yes 

Transfer caseTwo-speed 

Towing capacity7,716 lbs

Fuel Tank 23.8 gallons

 

Performance

Transmission8-Speed Automatic Transmission with Manual Override 

EngineBMW 3.0L Turbo Gasoline, Straight-Six Engine 

Engine Power (PS)286 

Engine Power (HP)282 

Max Torque (Nm)450 

Max Torque (lb-ft)332 

 

Warranty & servicing

Base warranty5 years or 60,000 miles 

Paint warranty3 years or 60,000 miles 

Anti-perforation warranty12 years unlimited mileage 

Service intervals1 year 

Consumption and emissions §

Fuel consumption - City14 mpg

Fuel consumption - Highway14 mpg

Fuel consumption - Combined14 mpg

CO2 emissions – Combined 633 g/mile