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As the name suggests this drive is good for newbies and fewbies alike. The plan is to have the initial part as a newbie drive for about 2 hours from Mahafiz to Fossil Rocks, and we will break for a bite and some drinks before the newbies can be escorted out. From the Fossil Rocks to Faya will be a fewbie level and hoping for a quick run to reach Faya and have about 30 minutes of pa time there. Newbies and Fewbies will have a great chance to see and learn the real fun that off-roading offers in a very safe and organized environment. Since timing will be crucial I request everyone to respect everyone and be on time. When: 20 December 2019 Meeting time: 6:00 AM, the convoy will move at sharp 6:15 AM Where: Adnoc Petrol Station Maleha Road GPS Coordinate: https://goo.gl/maps/ye28yTnTSYr Level: Newbie, Fewbie and above. Type of Car: Any proper 4x4 with front and back tow hooks and 10 inches of ground clearance. Plan: Drive, train and enjoy till about 11:30 AM What to bring along: Snacks - whatever you like with little extra to share, water, liquids, smiles, stories, enthusiasm and willingness to learn. Approximate finish time: Newbies about 9:30 AM and Fewbies around 11:30 AM Please RSVP on the below calendar.

So basically they are just throwing shit at the wall hoping something will stick Start with the utter basics like checking wheel balancing then go down the list. Caster and camber angles Lift the tyres in the air and see if there is any play at the 12 n 6 and 3 n 9 position. Check all suspension bushings with a big tie rod for any play. Then check for any play in the steering. Then for any play in the drive shafts Finally check if your disc brakes run out in within spec Oh also no harm in having tyres checked out again. Ive heard and experienced newish tyres here go out of round or get bulges after a long day of driving in the rain. I was driving my friend's car last year and he had recently changed tyres. After being stuck for a couple of hours on a water logged mbz road. On the way back to Rak a vibration started to appear and got worse and worse. By the time I reached RAK it had gotten real bad. Turns out a bulge had formed. I think they were zeetex brand tyres and clearly being partially submerged for a few hours had messed them up.

Thank you, everyone, for such an amazing drive have a look at this video of our off-road drive

Four-wheel drive (4WD) Let’s start with four-wheel drive. Displayed often as 4WD, and sometimes referred to as four-by-four or 4×4, this system’s main distinction is that it’s typically used on vehicles designed and built to handle the unpaved wilderness. This includes rugged trucks and SUVs such as the Jeep Wrangler, Mercedes-Benz G-Class, and the Toyota Land Cruiser. In a nutshell, it’s a system that sends power to all four wheels equally and without vectoring (controlling the division of power delivery between the wheels or axles), meaning each wheel will spin at the same constant rate as all the others. Power flows from the engine, through the transmission, and normally into a device known as a transfer case that divides it between the front and rear axles. The equal split of power is great for maneuvering through tough and low-traction situations, but it isn’t very friendly on the pavement. Driving a four-wheel drive car on solid ground can make simple actions like turning around in a tight street very difficult, because the wheels are no longer in sync. Most modern 4WD systems are “part-time” and at the flick of a switch four-wheel drive can be engaged Imagine yourself doing a u-turn. In a four-wheel drive car, the inside wheel has to turn more slowly than the outside wheel, which is covering more ground. You might hear a rubbing noise or feel the car hopping when you approach full lock. This is why most 4WD systems are part-time systems that can be disabled. The car operates in two-wheel drive in normal conditions to improve on-road drivability, but still offers four-wheel traction when you need it. What about part-time vs. full-time? Most modern four-wheel drive vehicles are equipped with a part-time system, meaning they operate in two-wheel drive mode in normal driving conditions. The driver can engaged the four-wheel drive system by flicking a switch, pressing a button, or yanking on a center console-mounted lever in low-traction situations. Some 4x4s feature a transfer case with multiple settings, like 4-Low or 4-High. 4-High limits and vectors available power to the wheels so you can move quickly over slippery surfaces (up to about 60 miles per hour). To get the most available power, however, you’ll want 4-Low, which means 4WD with low-range. This low-range gearbox is for low-speed maneuverability, such as rock crawling or getting unstuck, and is only for such conditions. You really don’t want to go too fast in 4WD-Low because things will start breaking, and your trip will start getting expensive. To avoid complexity, a word of advice: You really don’t want to go too fast in 4WD-Low because things will start breaking, and your trip will start getting expensive. Most newer vehicles with part-time systems have an automatic deactivation when the vehicle goes beyond a certain speed to avoid this damage, but older trucks typically do not. Part-time four-wheel drive systems generally feature locking and unlocking differentials. Between each axle sits a differential that compensates for wheels spinning at different rates. By locking a differential at a front or rear axle, you are inhibiting any slip from occurring at the axle, forcing each wheel at said axle to turn at the same rate. Full-time four-wheel drive systems typically don’t come with a two-wheel drive (2WD, or 4×2) mode, so the system is active all the time. It sends power to the four wheels at the same times with limited-slip capabilities. This system is becoming increasingly obsolete, because a part-time system makes more sense for most consumers. Most drivers don’t need four-wheel drive all the time. Older trucks, such as 1990s Toyota Land Cruisers, have full-time systems. They come with an additional center differential to enable limited slip for better drivability on the road, and the system handles power distribution on its own. All-wheel drive (AWD) All-wheel drive is a much more recent innovation, and it’s a little bit more complicated, but also considerably more user-friendly. It crops up on everything from supercars like the Audi R8 to grocery-getters like the Buick Encore. While a four-wheel drive system tries to send as much power to the four wheels as equally as possible for maximum traction, all-wheel drive is all about varying the amount of power sent to each wheel, either mechanically or electronically. Think of all-wheel drive as similar to the part-time four-wheel drive system, except for cars and some crossovers. All-wheel drive is often associated with road-going vehicles, such as sedans, wagons, crossovers, and even some larger SUVs. Crossovers like the Honda CR-V, the Toyota RAV4, andthe Mazda CX-3 tend to fall under the “car” category while SUVs like the Chevrolet Tahoe and the Toyota 4Runner fall under the “truck” category. All-wheel drive is similar to the part-time four-wheel drive system we just described, except it’s used on cars and crossovers. It’s also completely automated. The system is constantly active, and it needs no activation or input from the driver to work. Most newer all-wheel drive systems send power to a primarily axle, either the front or the rear, and transfer power away from the slipping wheels when they detect a loss of traction. This helps improve fuel economy. To quote Subaru’s ad campaign, all-wheel drive “transfers power from the wheels that slip to the wheels that grip.” All-wheel drive is becoming increasingly common in performance applications, too. The Mercedes-AMG E63 is a perfect example. It is now sold only in AWD in the United States because its 600-plus-horsepower output can overwhelm the rear wheels if they try transferring it to the pavement on their own. Even when we aren’t talking about tire-scorching performance cars, splitting power evenly means added stability in all types of weather. All-wheel drive does have some clear advantages over 4WD. AWD isn’t quite as robust as 4WD, and it can’t match the acute power delivery necessary for low-speed off-roading like rock crawling. The maintenance and complexity of these systems can also get extraordinarily expensive, but ensuring they function as intended is crucial to your safety. All-wheel drive does have some clear advantages over 4WD, though. These days, computers are involved in most AWD systems. Sensors on each wheel monitor traction, wheel speed, and several other data points hundreds of times per second. An engine control unit (ECU) analyzes traction conditions and decides which wheel receives power. This type of system, usually called torque vectoring, appears on everything from the Subaru WRX to the Dodge Charger. Torque vectoring has allowed massive improvements in handling and all-weather capability. So, which one do I want? Ultimately, the system you choose largely depends on your driving needs and where you live. Four-wheel drive is your best bet if you plan on using your vehicle off-road and in difficult terrain on a regular basis. It’s normally found on SUVs and pickup trucks that boast the durability to match the ruggedness of a four-wheel drive system. For most people, however, all-wheel drive makes more sense. In the sort of winter road conditions most drivers experience, a modern all-wheel drive system that responds instantly and automatically is good enough. Additionally, all-wheel drive vehicles normally have a better weight distribution, which improves traction and performance. [Courtesy : https://www.digitaltrends.com/cars/awd-vs-4wd/]

Wish you a very Happy Birthday Emmanuel. May god give you a lot of tall dunes to enjoy with Jawaher (Xterra). Enjoy your day Mr. Velociraptor.

Dont get me wrong but better to sell that car. Every month you are facing with another problem. I was in same position with my old Cherokee and i always thinking it will be good at some point but didint.

In the case of my 99 Pajero it was the left CV axle that was on its way out and responsible for vibration at around 80kmh.

Happy Belated Birthday @Emmanuel Have an adventurous and blessed year ahead.

I use G2 spacers.

many happy returns of the day @Emmanuel

Many many Happy Returns Of The Day, Happy Birthday 🎉

Was not sure if I could wake up in the morning due to jet lag, but at 04:00 I was already walking around. Didn't want to wake up my other half, but in some way I could convince her to join me. We made it just before 06:30 at the meeting point 😅. I am not going to give a full trip report. Lazy mood. It was a nice relaxing drive. Learned a few things again that I added to my baggage. The feedback I want to give is, I was driving behind Adam, the black 2doors Wrangler. In my opinion he was doing very well, by choosing a slight different track and taking a conservative distance. Understands the importance of momentum. Hope to catch the drive on the 27th. If I won't see you, till next year

Have fun guys

I and my friends are camping at Tal Moreeb on 2nd and 3rd and will return back on 4th morning. If any intermediate drivers and above are around on 3rd jan, we can go for a spin around Tal Moreeb area. PM or Call me at 0506990411.

@Wrangeld Thanks for the nice write-up. Your posts should become our advertisement post for Carnity. You describe the exact feeling i also get when waking up early in the morning and driving to the meetup point. Always looking forward to the next adventure and people to meet. @Srikumar has again treated us with fantastic dunes and when I look at how everyone managed this terrain so well I am fully sure that the guidance, briefings, confidence , and mentorship skills that he applies on every drive is the main reason for this. @Shamil and @Rahimdad did great sweep duties. Thanks for having our backs every time. This will be my last drive for 2019 so I’m currently dusting out and cleaning the little blue one and giving her a bit of rest. I’ll be back in 2020 and I wish all my Carnity friends a warm Christmas and blessed New Year !

Happy birthday

As i see 9-10 Jan is the important days. Anyone will be interested to make a meeting there?

Cheaper or replica wheels are PITA for balancing and alignment. Also for offroad use they are quite risky, seen few bend or broken with extreme offroad use, stick to reasonable brand or buy used stock ones they are much safer to use and last.

My oh my. Another early start 100% worthwhile. Srikumar led us through beautiful dunes: looking every inch like the desert vision we had in our minds in Europe growing up. Freddie. Thanks for laying down tracks to follow , Rahimded for sweeping us up and a fantastic gang of wonderful people for what turned out to be simply the funniest and most technical drive yet. Shamil, TJ Xaf, Adam, Bony, Adil, thanks for everything (sorry if I missed someone). We even had a few moments if real learning on how to recover. Important to feel how that feels for next time. My over enthusiasm meant you very kindly had to dig me out ... followed by a transforming piece of advice which this newbie is not going to forget. Riding the dunes has a whole other meaning now. No doubt it gets more and more challenging from here. These small technical dunes felt like a training ground for the promise of what's to come ... and boy, are we looking forward to that. Anyone reading this with doubts about whether it's really worth getting up before the crack of dawn to join these drives, push those doubts from your mind. Take a nap in the afternoon. There's not a lot of better ways to enjoy your Friday morning with some great company, incredible natural beauty ... let's not forget the gazelles either ... and safe learning of how to truly enjoy this majestic landscape. Thank you once again.

@Srikumar If you are going to change the wheels, I would start with searching the wheels you like with less offset. For example; if your rim has ET0, go for -30, that would be the same as a spacer of 30mm. Regarding different size and offset compared with the original, you can check it with this: https://www.wheel-size.com/calc/?wheel1=285-70-17X8ET50&wheel2=295-70-17X8.5ET0&scl=1.96875in&wcl=1.1875in&fcl=1in&sr=0in I would give it a try in Sharjah, a set for 4 wheels costs between 1000-2000 aed (you need probably 5) (chinese copy) I have no idea for your XJ, but don’t give up if they don’t have your wheels with the offset you like. Try the next shop, they might have a set somewhere upstairs stored. If you can’t find your wheel with correct offset, then I would go for spacers. Quality spacers are not cheap, so I am sure u will be cheaper of when you go for wheels with correct offset. Good luck

Wish you many many happy returns of the day... Happy Birthday

start on 26th Dec 2019 and ends on 10th Jan 2020

Also deep dish rim size comes in higher sizes above 17 and 18 onwards, I really doubt you can source 15 inch in deep dish rims.

Deep dish rims are good ides to solve both issues but it is expensive and also require some custom brake job to fit them. H&R spacers are good but majority here are fake unless you buy from authorized retailer. It's a very good known brand and that's why market are flooded with replicas. I would go with spacer choice (reversible mod) and stick to your model specific ones even if you have to import from US with xaf overnight delivery option, lol.

I was meaning between wheel spacers and reduced backspacing rims. What is the difference?

Both Steel and Aluminum have their own advantages and disadvantages: No idea what alu rims cost here, and the quality differences they come with. You could have a look at secondhand ones too. Just make sure the bolting pattern fits and go for a rim with a low ET value to achieve that wider stance.

Are you sure that aluminium would corrode? The heavy steel wheels were stock, which I didn't change. But now that I am looking to widen the stance I thought that maybe I can change the rims to 15 inch aluminium with less backspacing so that it solves both issues at the same time. Would anyone be aware of the approx costs of both options and if there are any advantages / disadvantages of each?

Spacers are aluminium so there is a chance of corrosion. Maybe not manufactured to support heavy steel wheels BTW question is why do you still have heavy steel wheels?

Happy Birthday Emmanuel! Hope you have many more in good health.

Ah ah thank you @Gaurav ! Thanks Xaf and Brette.

Happy Birthday Emmanuel. Have a super year. Cheers.

Double check if you can use steel rims with the spacers. Mine are saying, "don't use with steel rims"

bon anniversaire Emmanuel!

https://www.titanwheelaccessories.com/products/1980-2001-jeep-cherokee-hub-centric-wheel-spacers-5x4-5-bolt-pattern?variant=12943138357271

this is a bit disturbing, but very important lesson... it shows the importance of having a solid recovery points and soft shackles and the kinetic rope. i got this on whatsapp, you probably got it somehow, since it went viral over whatsapp.

Is there anyone knows when will be Liwa 2020 festival. If there are enough people interested we can go together.

Hi There is vibration and noise between 75-105 Kms after the speed goes above 105 the noise and vibration goes off same with when speed is lower than 75 no noise and vibration No vibration in P-R-N-D while idling Recently i have changed my Engine Mounting and Gear Mounting. diagnosis done by 2 Mechanic - Something wrong with tyres (Tyres are 6 Months Old ) - Engine Coils have gone bad - so when there is load on the weak coil its makes vibration - Something wrong with steering coloum Rod (Which is above Silencer) some dirt or damage which they have to open and check If you have any idea what can be the reason please help me or help me with someone who can take a proper look and solve the problem @Barry @Gaurav @desertdude @Frederic need your expert advice's

im no expert but it looks a particular gear wheel (maybe 3rd or 4th gear) is messed up since the issue pops up at a very specific speed range. i had a similar issue with my old VW tiguan and the culprit was the transmission but then again that was exhibiting similar traits like your issue on lower speeds. I sincerely hope i am wrong about this because if i am right, it could mean that you would need to change your entire transmission system.

Missed out on this thread completely. Happy birthday @Emmanuel. Stay blessed bro.

Hi, For my XJ which has a 3 inch lift, I am looking to widen the stance a bit (maximum an inch on either side) just to lower the overall center of gravity. The options that I have read up are 1) wheel spacers or 2) by reducing the back spacing of the rim. I am currently running 15 inch stock steel rims with back spacing of 5.25 inch. Rim width is 7 inch. I understand that with spacers its important to get a good brand and not from the Iranian shop. If I go that route, I will order them from the US. Thanks in advance for your inputs.

besides H&R, another reputed brand for spacers is Spidertrax and ive got them in my Xterra. Im not sure about the pricing of H&R vs Spidertrax but you could check that brand as well.

Criss Crossing Don't try this without experience it requires lot of practice. VID_20191214193330.mp4

I’m afraid I haven’t been good this year (my last name is, literally, Baadi)!! If I do ask him for that, he might bring me a Picanto, or whatever the equivalent of coal in cars is 😁

Don't mind to take something with me for you, only the delivery is sometimes unreliable. I only stay 2 days in the USA for work, and when we are going to order something, we have to be sure it will be delivered in this timeframe. Ordering too early, the risk exist that my schedule changes and nobody can pick it up. Ask Santa for a nice 4x4

I’ve just finished Christmas shopping and trip preparation, nonstop since the morning. If I’m not there in time that means Mr. Sandman dictated I stay in and therefore see you all next year! (Unless you organize an afternoon or evening drive before Thursday 😁)

Ali express is no benchmark, please. Call Gulf star, National Auto parts in shj for quick price check to decide.

If you don't mind going to Sharjah I can hook you up with a Land Rover Specialist. Works fast and work is solid and very reasonably priced. P.S : AliExpress is all Chinese junk

This is a very good topic as I knew only about the wheel spacers, never knew about reducing the back spacing of the rims. Tuned in to learn more. As per my knowledge besides the American brands, the Australian branded wheel spacers are also good options.

Yes wheel spacers can be found as universal ones but these are crap as they don’t have a center hub so alignment might become an issue. Better to order the ones specific for XJ online. Maybe some of the Dubai off-road shops have some on the shelf. H&R is a very good brand but a bit pricey. I got 35mm spacers front and back with center hub second hand via my workshop where a guy ordered them specifically for Pajero but never collected them. When buying rims look at the ET value. This is the offset value.

Go to the shop i sent the location below. His name is Sanjith. He is expert of European cars. Mostly German but i believe he can handle Land Rover also. 0585283007. He will give you the price first than he will do the job with your confirmation. His prices are more affordable when you compare with other European car mechanic shops. You can mention my name he knows me very well. https://goo.gl/maps/HpsUoRW7FYj1G3wi7