Leaderboard

1. Apply through the Dubai police RTA for adding colour and mention the original colour also. 2. Get CID approval before putting on the sticker. Or talk to CID department in Quasis and convince them its already done. (Good luck) After inspection they will give you a paper for adding colour. Do the sticker and take it to any inspection centre for adding in the Mulkia. Some car wrapping agencies or sticker services can help in getting necessary RTA approval if you get the stickers done from them. Bear in mind there is a fine for stickers without approval

@Tamas Hoffmann @izzumonv @Juan Carlos Elizalde Reyes @seosamh nash @Probir Mukherjee @Hardik Mody @Sara EL FANIDI welcome to the Carnity Offroad Club. PREPARATION FOR THE DRIVE AND WHAT TO EXPECT 1) Please ensure that you reach the meeting point on time, i.e., 5:00 AM sharp. If you are late, you would be left behind. 2) Convoy numbering would be posted on Thursday evening after 6 pm. 3) Please spend 15 minutes of undivided attention to go through the Absolute Newbie briefing Video. This is absolutely necessary for the safety of you and your vehicle before your first offroad adventure. 4) For those who have radios, you can program them to the Carnity Frequency using the guidelines provided in the below post. If you dont have a radio, we shall provide you with a spare radio during the drive. We will be using Carnity Channel 2 tomorrow. (446.03125 Mhz). The instructions to program the radio are provided in the below post 5) All traction controls, ABS and Air bags need to be switched off. If it requires pulling the fuse, please do the needful. Incase of any queries you can always ask the senior members before the drive or better still, post your queries on this drive post and we would assist. 6) Deflate to 15 psi. Incase if you have any difficulties you can approach the senior members before the drive who would assist you. 7) Feel free to ask questions at any time. We shall be starting the drive close to Hammari Well at Qudra, and enter the desert through some nice easy tracks and dunes so that you can get familiar with your vehicle. As the convoy's confidence increases I shall be gradually increasing the level of the drive always keeping in mind everyone's comfort level. We will be driving for about 3 hours practicing driving in sand, proper steering control, crossing some dunes, and getting you and your vehicle accustomed to off-roading in general. By 08:30 am we will be heading out towards the Qudra parking, where you can inflate the tyres with your compressor or at the Last Exit gas station.

@Sinol I got the spal fan from Al ras spare part ajman. Check Al ras( thery have 3 shops in uae), Arctic spare part(please check for push fan, last time they gave me pull fan). You should get different sizes. Call them before going as most of the time they are out of stock of push fan. 12" fan should cost you around 180-200 in these shops. If you go to official distributor of spal fans which is Ampex engineering will cost you the same 12" fan at around 270 aed There are other low price fans (around 50 aed) in market but I heard they are not good. Please read earlier message in which Gaurav had mentioned what should be minimum CFM This is the one I have. I think this is engine oil cooler fan. Fit in the space between condenser and front grill.

I’m surprised (or maybe I didn’t get what you mean?) because there’s always a briefing, even at fewbie level. If I remember well, at the beginning of the morning drive you attended last Friday, for example, @Wrangeld explained his plan in details and made a radio briefing.

Hi @Biju Abdul. Dune bashing is just a general name for a dynamic driving style in the dunes, in which ridge riding and criss-crossing is a part of. I never liked the description "bashing" as it would mean that we try to destroy the dune, which is the complete opposite of what we should be doing. The real art of offroading exists in "riding" the dunes like a surfer would "ride" the waves. Hence, using the slopes to gain momentum and make it to the next dune by carrying that momentum. If you drive in a convoy, you need to be aware that there are drivers coming behind you that also want to enjoy the same dune, so churning up the sand and fishtailing all over the place is not the way to do it, as you are completely destroying the tracks. The spinning while taking fast turns and rounds is called making "donuts". That is being done in 2WD and serves NO purpose other than showing off.

Congratulations @Sreejith Sreenivasan. I should thank you to show me the amazing value the LR2 presents and the fun you can have with the smallest member of the LR vehicles.

Thanks Craig. Yes. NEALE should have been included. My bad.

Thank you @Nivin finally I got it done from Juma Al Majid sharjah same person Richard. It was the last 4 piece left with this price. Can’t wait till Friday to hit the dune with it. 😀

Thank you a lot Frederic

Hi @Mohamed Seidam. That is a good question. My personal reccomendations: Before the drive: 1) Check your engine fluid levels: (engine oil, transmission oil, coolant). If you are not sure how to do this, ask the technician on your next visit to the workshop to show you. NEVER OPEN THE COOLANT CAP WHILE THE ENGINE IS HOT !! 2) Physically check your tyres and tyre pressures. If one tyre is having low pressure, it might be a minor leak/puncture. 3) Go through your offroad tools and make sure everything is in the car. (as per your drive level). 4) Make sure you have a full gas tank when you arrive at the deflation point. After the drive: 1) Clean out your air filter by gently tapping it, the sand will fall out. 2) Inflate back to normal tyre pressure and inspect your tyres and the rest of your car for any damage incurred from offroading. 3) On the way home, turn off the radio and listen if you spot any strange noises, inbalance, or something that was not there before. From heavy offroading, the wear and tear on items such as shocks, bushings, link rods will accelerate and will lead to wheel inbalance, clunky noises while braking, or other suspicious sounds. If you had a pop-out there will mostprobably be some sand inside the tyre that can also contribute to inbalance. Get to know your vehicle and do not ignore these early warning signs. Bring it to a competent workshop and let them inspect and show you what is worn and needs replacement. There is a difference between a slightly worn bushing that can still last a few years, and a totally broken one that needs a replacement asap.

@Jun Zamora @h1fny @Anish S @Edgar @Christian Andras @Islam Soliman @Yousef Alimadadi @Chaitanya D @David Ortells Thanks for signing up for the Fewbie drive from Big Red to Pink Rock. Myself and @Brette are looking forward to an exciting and challenging drive on Friday morning. The route from Big Red has multiple dune ranges where we will have some fun sweeping through the dunes. There will be challenges: lots of crests to clear, criss crossing, side slipping and climbing. Be prepared for the intensity of the drive to rise as the drive develops. Prepare mentally for you to have to be in total control of the vehicle and push yourself and the car further and harder than you have before. This is a Fewbie drive and as not everyone has driven Fewbie before (congrats to the new Fewbies), you need to be prepared for what's to come. As ever, @Brette and myself will be there to support you throughout the drive while expecting that you will self recover where possible. Make sure you have all the required equipment for your grade in Carnity. If you don't have the kit - you don't drive. No excuses. With priveleges comes greater responsibility. That means getting yourself prepared mentally and your vehicle properly for a drive. We will be giving more information, such as radio channel and convoy numbering later in the week after the drive closes. Feel free to ask any questions here. See you soon in the sand.

My tire size is P265/70R17, anyways I will check with them.

Thats a super deal, thnx for sharing.

Yes it is 1386AED for 4 including fitting and one time free rotation and alignment at 10K

Thanks, it is the buy 4 pay 2 promotion I assume?

@Xaf 265/65R17 Yokohama Geolander A/T G015 2019 - AED 693 per tire

Could you also provide us the size of the tires, "size does matter", especially regarding price

Thank you @sertac and @Nivin for the guidance. The price seems to be very good. I will reach out to them. Thank you very much.

@Biju Abdul they are out of stock now. Was looking for a friend and he couldn't get it. G015 2019 is available with Juma Al Majid for 1400 for 4. +971504660765 Juma Al Majid Sharjah

Thank you @sertac hi @Nivin can you share the contact please? I would like to get it done before this Friday drive.

@Nivin was saying he got G012 from Sharjah for good price. Maybe he can tell us where to get it.

Hi Srikumar Thanks for the invite to join the Friday drive Car: Jeep Wrangler JK 4dr / front and rear hooks/ no experience Regards Seosamh

Congratulations @Frederik Bisbjerg. You will do very well considering " Fred's" in this group are excellent !! @Frederic & @Febin Frederic

Different ways of crossing sand dunes Throughout the Carnity Offroad briefings you might have heard the terms "straight up and straight down", "side sloping", or "criss-crossing", and these are basically different techniques that we use in desert for crossing the sand dunes. Each come with its own risks and by learning and understanding the technicalities behind them i hope we can all learn faster and get more confidence in executing them. I hope below tutorial gives a more clear understanding on the subject and we can use it for future reference. 1) Straight Up - Straight Down Carnity Offroad Level: Newbie and Fewbies Description This technique is one of the very first we learn to apply when learning offroading. The trick is to approach the dune straight up with "JUST" enough momentum to make it through, but not too much to damage bumpers or cause a jump. One should always take into account the resistance that the sand offers based on different areas, and even more on different seasons. Most sand dunes have two sides - The windward side, which is the side where the prevailing wind blows on, and can be recognized by the wavy lines of the sand. This is the side where we ride on because the sand is more compacted and firm to drive on. - The slip-face side, this the softer backside (smooth side, no lines) of the dune which is generally not recommended to climb on, but this technique can later be learned as you advance through the off-road levels (slip-face attack). How to tackle It is advisable to start off at the bottom of the dune with applying a decent amount of power, and start letting go of the gas once you have climbed 75% of the dune. By that point the momentum should carry you further, and as soon as the car front wheel touches the crest, leave the gas completely or apply a bit of gentle braking when needed, to let you slide on other side of the dune safely. In fact the perfect technique is finding that right amount of momentum that you don't even need to apply brakes on the other side. Some gentle blips of throttle can help at the top to push you over the edge, as you learn and master this first step. If you run out of momentum going upwards to cross the dune, do not worry or panic, this is called a REFUSAL. Gently reverse and slowly come back in a straight line as you have climbed up. Announce on the radio that you have a refusal. Reverse up far enough so you can take a second attempt but this time with a bit more momentum. Risk Level: Low to medium. Approaching too slow will increase refusal and might cause stuck at the crest. Approaching with excessive speed might damage the bumpers or cause a vehicle to jump. Apply gentle throttle and slowly increase after learning. Take note that every dune is different and each approach will need to be made slightly different in terms of speed. Associated Risks: If you approach the dune too fast, more likely you will cause the bumper damage because your reaction time will be reduced substantially at very high speed. 2) Side-Sloping Carnity Offroad Level: Fewbie and upwards Description This technique is very fun and addictive, but it needs to be executed with a clear mind and a good experience on the behavior of the car. That is the main reason why this technique is only used from Fewbie level onwards. It is very critical to understand how gravity works and as we always says: " DO NOT FIGHT GRAVITY ". this applies to this technique most of all. When you approach a dune that you want to side-slope on, you need to carry enough momentum to get you through. This does not necessarily mean FULL throttle, because that depends on the type of dune. As soon as your car is on an incline, it will have the natural tendency to try to come down. The more momentum you carry, the further you will get. It is extremely important that you do not fight this by going higher up the dune at that point, but to steer down in a smooth way. Braking at this point is also very dangerous. While doing side sloping try to choose smooth path as possible and avoid stepping on rock, bushes or bumps that can bounce you and disturb the whole balance and tip you off or result in dangerous fish-tailing or tire pop-out at high speed. EVERY MOVEMENT OR ACTION YOU DO WHILE SLIDE-SLOPING NEEDS TO BE DONE IN A SMOOTH WAY, SUDDEN BRAKING OR EXTREME STEERING CAN LEAD TO ROLL-OVERS. Best practice: Always visually mark the entry and exit of the dune that you wish to do side sloping on. Stick to the initial plan as far as possible and exit safely. If you are new to this, then watch and observe how others have done before and try to replicate that as much as you can. The best thing to keep in mind is to think about "HALF MOONS" What i mean with that is that you should never make 90° turns during any kinds of these activities, but make smooth half moons during approaching dunes or crossing them. Risk Level: Medium. With proper training and guidance you can eliminate the risk of a roll-over for 95%, but one should always be aware of the risks involved and take all measures possible to minimize these. Keep both hands at the steering wheel and your full attention on the view ahead. Do not get distracted ! Associated Risks: If your vehicle is lifted more than 4 inch of OEM stock height then your 4x4 center of gravity will be less, and this will increase the risk of roll-over or flip by 50%. Same goes for bouncy (non-standard/rated) suspensions. 3) Criss-Crossing Carnity Offroad Level: Fewbie and upwards Description Criss-crossing is the art of riding the ridge of the dune and crossing over to the other side. Also here it is vital to understand that the approach towards the ridge, as well as the crossing over needs to be done in a smooth, half moon way. So basically you approach the dune along the length, you can stay on the ridge for as long as you want, but don't lose momentum at this point, or you will be crested lengthwise in the exact middle. Now the trick is to choose the right point at which you cross towards the other side. This feels scary at the beginning, but soon you will get the hang of it, and cross ridges without panicking at all. Make the criss-cross movement again in a half-moon method as seen below. Below picture shows the right and wrong way to criss-cross a dune. On the left side you will see that the approach is smooth and as soon as you cross over to the other side you gently steer down. Braking at this point is again very dangerous. In the right-side scenario, the angle of approach is very sharp, and during higher speeds this can result in a roll-over. EVERY MOVEMENT OR ACTION YOU DO WHILE CRISS-CROSSING NEEDS TO BE DONE IN A SMOOTH WAY, SUDDEN BRAKING OR EXTREME STEERING CAN LEAD TO ROLL-OVERS. Risk Level: Medium. With proper training and guidance you can eliminate the risk of a roll-over for 95%, but one should always be aware of the risks involved and take all measures possible to minimize these. Keep both hands at the steering wheel and your full attention on the view ahead. Do not get distracted ! Associated Risks: If your vehicle is lifted more then 4 inch of OEM stock height, then your 4x4 center of gravity will be less and this will increase the risk of roll-over or flip by 50%. Same goes for bouncy (non-standard/rated) suspensions. 4) Hill Climbing While this technique is not immediately necessary to cross dunes, climbing a mighty big dune will bring some fun and adrenaline in the equation. At first, you might feel intimidated and not sure if your car can handle this. With the right techniques at hand you can at least make a safe attempt and see how far you can get. This technique can be practiced from Newbie level onwards on small hills, and later you will learn to approach taller dunes from Fewbie level and up. Again it is extremely important to make a smooth "half-moon" circle at the top. If you run out of momentum and come to a standstill, DO NOT attempt to make a turn, but put your car in 4LO, and slowly reverse down the dune while keeping your wheels straight. The low gearing will help you in keeping that slow pace. As you begin to learn this, it's always advisable to make a smaller U-Turn to learn how your car reacts and how your mind reacts when you take the first turn on top of dune. This needs to be done with confidence and without any doubt or fear, so that you don't brake on top and do the complete U-Turn without braking and in a very smooth manner. Practicing on small U-Turn will build your confidence and after 5-10 small U-Turn attempt you can try higher and higher by understanding your vehicle dynamics and limitations. Risk Level: Medium. With proper training and guidance you can eliminate the risk of a roll-over for 95%, but one should always be aware of the risks involved and take all measures possible to minimize these. Keep both hands at the steering wheel and your full attention on the view ahead. Do not get distracted ! Associated Risks: If your vehicle is lifted more than 4 inch above OEM stock height, then your 4x4 center of gravity will be less and this will increase the risk of roll-over or flip by 50%. Same goes for bouncy (non-standard/rated) suspensions. Safety of all offroad enthusiasts is the most important thing. This is an extreme hobby that brings confidence, thrills, and people together as a family. We can only do whatever we can to make all safety instructions clear and concise but in end it's up to the offroader behavior to understand all risk and associated risk involve and enjoy safely. Open for any questions or comments !

This drive is organized in full compliance with the COVID19 guidelines. We expect every member that joins this drive to go through below information and and strictly follow these guidelines in order not to jeopardize someone's health, and to ensure we can keep organizing these drives safely. MUST READ AND TOTALLY AGREE: COVID19 Precautions MUST READ AND TOTALLY AGREE: BAN POST Two Way Radio Guidelines Every Offroader brings his own radio, programmed to the frequencies described in below advice topic. We will not share spare radios or program your radio on the drive. If you need assistance in programming the radio, post a topic on the Carnity website with your questions and we will help you out. Make sure your radio is fully charged. It will be your only way of communication while driving. Before buying, please carefully read below advice so you are informed properly on which model / cost / shops... No radio = No drive. It is an essential tool and you should make sure you bring it on every drive and learn/practice how to use it. MUST WATCH: NEWBIE VIDEO BRIEFING Drive Details Level: Newbie and above (All Level) When: 14 Aug 2020, Friday. Meeting time: 5:00 AM (SHARP - Without any exceptions) Meeting Point: https://goo.gl/maps/ig4VJTHWRh9hyxSa6 (Mahafiz Tree Shade) Type of Car: Any proper 4x4 with front and back tow hooks and 8-10 inches of ground clearance. What to bring along: Loads of water, snacks (for yourself), face mask, rubber gloves, enthusiasm and willingness to learn. Approximate finish time: 09:00 AM LIMITED SPOTS AVAILABLE: Limited to 15 cars maximum. RSVP will close on Thursday - 9 AM. 1 Lead Marshal + 2 or 1 Senior Members + 12 Members. If the RSVP is full and you wish to join, please mention your name on the drive thread to add on the waiting list Latecomers will be returned back - without ANY EXCEPTIONS. Members without RSVP will be returned back - without ANY EXCEPTIONS. Members that do not confirm the terms of the COVID requirements will be removed from the RSVP list. Please withdraw your RSVP, if you aren't joining, so your spot can be taken by others. Repeated no-show members after RSVP will have their account suspended for a month. PLEASE RSVP ON THE CALENDAR

Join us in exploring the Al Qudra Desert to see what's beyond the lakes, and learn the art of offroading at the same time ! This area is a very versatile playground for Absolute Newbies on their first offroad adventure. If you have already driven in sand before, then you can learn more from experts having decades of off-roading experience in the UAE. This area offers a good mix of playable long set of dunes and broad ridges to test your off-road control. Drive is open for all 4x4/4WD/SUV/AWD vehicle having 8-10 inches of ground clearance and front and rear tow hooks. You can bring your family, friends and kids, but if you are absolute new to sand offroading we advise you to drive alone first to learn off-roading without any distractions. What you'll learn: Introduction to off-roading Desert driving basics and etiquette Desert driving tips, techniques, myth and best practices Off-road and safety gear familiarization and recovery procedures Vehicle orientation, risk analysis, deflation and outdoor safety advice First time with Carnity Off-road Club: Please share your vehicle details - Make, Model, Year. Do you have any prior off-road experience? Confirm your vehicle has front and rear tow hooks / eyelets. Why should i join? We will teach you how to self-drive off-road safely and learn the best offroad driving and recovery techniques. If you have already driven in sand before then you can learn more from experts having decades of offroading experience in the UAE. This area offers a good mix of playable long set of dunes and broad ridge to test your off-road control. Can my vehicle do this ? This drive is open for all 4x4/4WD/SUV/AWD vehicle having 8-10 inches of ground clearance and front and rear tow hooks. If in doubt please first announce your questions on the drive thread so we can advise you further. Any stock 4x4/4WD are most welcome, you don't need any modified vehicle. Can i bring passengers ? Yes of course, but if you are absolute new to offroading it is better to drive alone first to avoid any distractions. Learn More About: Carnity Off-road Club STRICTLY: For ABSOLUTE NEWBIE who are driving for the first time with Carnity. MUST READ AND CLICK TOTALLY AGREE ON THE BELOW COVID19 PRECAUTIONS TOPIC MUST WATCH: NEWBIE VIDEO BRIEFING Drive Details Level: Only for "ABSOLUTE NEWBIES" or first timer with Carnity off-road club When: 14 Aug, 2020 Friday. Meeting time: 5:00 AM (SHARP - Without any exceptions) Meeting Point: Al Qudra - https://goo.gl/maps/ZgS2Gqam9PcsxWR48 Type of Car: Any proper 4x4 with front and back tow hooks and 8-10 inches of ground clearance. What to bring along: Deflator and Pressure Gauge, Loads of water, snacks (for yourself), face mask, rubber gloves, enthusiasm and willingness to learn. Approximate finish time: 09:00 AM End Point: Qudra Parking LIMITED SPOTS AVAILABLE: Limited to 15 members only. RSVP will close on Thursday - 5PM. 1 Lead Marshal + 2 Senior Members + 12 Members. If the RSVP is full and you wish to join, please mention your name on the drive thread to add on the waiting list Latecomers will be returned back - without ANY EXCEPTIONS. Members without RSVP will be returned back - without ANY EXCEPTIONS. Please withdraw your RSVP, if you aren't joining, so your spot can be taken by others. TO RSVP ON THE CALENDAR

Hi @Srikumar I have a dodge durango 5.7 Hemi. Please advise if the car is eligible for desert drive.

@Sreejith Sreenivasan Congratulations!!

Congratulations @Frederik Bisbjerg for reaching the Fewbie Level with Carnity Offroad Club. Based on your previous advanced off-road experience with Qatar 4Wheelers and today's 1:1 desert driving course with @Frederic you have demonstrated skills required deserving this new offroad rank. Looking forward to seeing you growing further and helping others to learn the art of offroading in a safe environment. Once you have all the required off-road gear, you are most welcome to join the Fewbie Level Drives with Carnity Off-road Club. P.S. Trip lead might deny your participation if you don't have required off-road gear. Fewbie: Number of drives 10 (16 Newbie + Fewbie drives) Level of drives Willingness to learn + Enthusiasm + Basic dune reading Off-road gear Flag, deflator, tire gauge, shovel, fire extinguisher, medical kit, radio, compressor. Drive teamwork Observe recovery from a safe distance and offer help when needed Drive posting/joining Join newbie and fewbie level of drives only Forum participation Active participation on forum. Share drive experience + feedback on forum and pictures in gallery Forum participation and helping with community spirit is recommended for faster upgrades at all levels. Please make sure your Carnity user profile is always updated with all the Emergency contact details.

Congratulations @Jeandre Bezuidenhout. New level, new challenges await you. Keep up the learning and progress.

Congratulations @h1fny. Welcome to a new level with new things to learn and practice. Enjoy.

Congratz @topgear...

It's the torque curve that matters not the outright top end. V8s provide almost a flat torque curve even from down low in the rpm range. It's the 6 and 4 cylinders that can muster torque only at the top end. Plus it has the advantage of the hydraulic adjustable height control which gives it a pretty good lift without having to spend on mods. And the 2005 plus models have the hp bumped up to 275 horses. Just to give the OP some inspiration these are just the regular ass 4.5 inline 6 cylinders I use to drive,

Rav 4 is alright but not really an offroader. LX470 is good, it's basically a Land Cruiser and has great resale on top everything and comes with Lexus reliability. And great on road too. But some here measure a car with only one metric and that is how high a car will climb a particular dune. Everything else secondary. But IMO unless your only aim is to wining dune climbing competitions then it's not the car for you. But if you like to dune bash up till a pretty advanced level its a great car. And that's just my opinion

Please share with other Off-roaders, friends, relatives in the Al Qudra area.

@Frederic Please remove me from the waiting list as I got a place at a second morning drive with Guaram. Thanks!

1. Which 4x4 do you drive? - Jeep Cherokee Limited 2007 2. Confirm your vehicle has a front and rear tow hook - Yes 3. Do you have any previous offroading experience? - No For your first offroad adventure, please bring along a deflator and pressure gauge. Yes, I have

@Frederic I dont get it, why did you remove me from the group? Can you add my on the waiting list then...

@Probir MukherjeeI just bought the Baofeng UV5R at AED70 from Dragon Mart about 2 weeks ago. I have used it for 2 drives, so far so good. The only comment is to make sure that you press the talk button for 1-2s before you start to speak. Very good value for money for AED70

Add my name in waiting list please

Hi, please add me to the waitlist! Thanks a lot!

Thank you @Chaitanya D for the response. You must be right about the availability, two of the garages nearby have told me too that this mode is not available now. I am waiting to hear from one garage at Rashidiya too and if not available I will go for the AT Geolander G015. Thanks.

Can you please add me to the wait list? Thanks

Hi @Gaurav I am currently using Maxxis (on road preferred) tyres since a few years and was planning to change tyres after a newbie drives. Just last week I am being promoted to Fewbie and was planning to post my query for a good tyres in our forum as suggested by @Emmanuel I am happy to read all these old posts about the same. I already had eyes on Yokohama geo lander after seeing @Srikumar and now more than convinced to go with Yokohama Geolander A/T-S I am not able to find a good party to buy and get it fixed and also get wheel alignment done. It would be great if any suggestion of a good one cost effective but who knows the stuff. I want to do this before this Friday drive. Suggestions welcome please.

congrats @Frederik Bisbjerg!!!

Well deserved @Tero Vallas !

Congrats @Frederik Bisbjerg ! You’ve done great on your training course today ! Hope to see you soon on one of our drives. In the evening most probably 😜

By far the best drive ever since I joined the club. @Srikumar thanks for the great effort and hands on lessons today. Cheers. See you all soon.

@Edgar can you add me in the waiting list..