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Hi @Gaurav i have changed to Mobil 1 engine oil two weeks before as per your advice, its bit costlier but i could feel the difference in engine noise and no over heating in off roading. Thank you.

Good afternoon Qudra Quadranglers, Wednesday evening and an update as promised. @Jeandre Bezuidenhout @Nivin @Christian Andras @David Ortells @Islam Soliman @Ahmed Farghaly @h1fny @Tero Vallas @Heisem @Nabil Bishara (reserve @marks) We will be approaching Qudra from Bab Al Shams. Some of you have already started the drive from this spot before and this is a reminder that the start point is another 17km from Last Exit, so please add that to your drive planning so we are all ready on time. There are no street lights where we start deflating so please make sure you have a torch or other light so you can see your valves. It will be dark when we start. The drive starts with a track for the first 10 - 15 minutes before we hit the dunes. It should start to get light as we get to the dunes. If everyone is on time and we can leave promptly we will get into the dunes as quickly as possible so that we can do a bit of dark running. It's a completely different experience so worth getting up that 10 munutes earlier. Once underway, and depending on the convoy performance we will try to cover as much ground as possible and play the dunes, as well as do a little training on cross crossing. As fewbies, it's also important that you can handle technical dunes, so we will spend a little time crossing through some technical areas: The better you are in technical dunes, the easier you will find the more challenging drives because the secrets learned here of excellent power and control ratios will 'train' you for more challenging dunes complexes in other areas. With luck we can motor through multiple dunes, eventually making our way off road back to Last Exit and inflation. Any questions - please post them here. Anyone not able to come please let us know now as there is still a wait list. See you soon in the sand.

Hi, I am Abhilash. New to desert drive. I have my Pajero-2016-White. I had done a desert driving Class With Galadary. The back and front towing hooks of my car are in working condition. Do we have any contact number in case we need to contact or emergency. if yes, please provide.

After using the Protec Extreme 5W40 over the last year, I’ve switched to Mobile one 5W40 and noticed the valve lifter ticking disappeared.

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 !

Indeed. It’s the sand that causes the squeaking and washing is the proper solution. Grease will mute the sound but it catches the sand even more and traps it and sand in anything that moves isn’t good.

Congrats to @Ali Abas Ali for being Nationality number 40 in our Club ! Same for @Abu Muhammad !

This is a very exciting plan @Ale Vallecchi, if I wasn’t leading another drive at the same time I would definitely have loved to join!

Dear @Kalahari, @J J and @Rinelle Sanaani. Thanks for joining the drive. For you and those undecided Intermediates out there, a few words about the drive. We have visited this previously neglected area a few times lately, with other Carnity convoys, plus 2 of my leads. Now that we have become more familiar with the does and donts of this terrain, the goal of this trip is to bump it up a notch, and execute a more speedy drive, navigating Lisaili's long range dunes all the way to Solar Park, then beyond it, through a small technical area, back on more long range dunes, through the Qudra basin, toward the Bab al Shams road. The drive would stretch through most of the north-western Dubai desert region: a longer trip, which becomes possible only at higher off-roading levels, requiring less "acrobatics" then a bowls' tour in Badayer or Big Red, but more speed and endurance skills. Looking forward to seeing you (registered and yet unregistered drivers) on Friday morning.

Good Afternoon Qudra Quadranglers, @Jeandre Bezuidenhout @Nivin @Christian Andras @David Ortells @Islam Soliman @Ahmed Farghaly @h1fny @Tero Vallas @Heisem @Nabil Bishara (reserve @marks) Congratulations on your choice of drive on Friday morning. The Qudra area has a lot of different challenges: from long wide dune plains to short technical dunes and everythign in between. It is also an area that can be easily ramped up or toned down depending on the ability of the convoy. For this reason, be ready Friday for some slide sloping, dune crossing and technical dune navigation that will challenge your skills and get you ready for more difficult conditions and dunes. Myself and @Brette the other senior on this drive are looking forward to seeing everyone. The plan is to play on the wide dunes for as long as we want, weaving back and forth and practicing criss crossing before making our way back to the Qudra lakes and dune complex. A quick reminder - if you don't have the right equipment with you, you don't drive. More to come. As ever, if you need to driop out of the drive, please advise ASAP - there is at least one driver eager to replace you in case you cannot make it.

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. Drive Details Level: Intermediate and above When: 28 Aug 2020, Friday Meeting time: 5:00 AM (SHARP - Without any exceptions) Action Plan: Long range dunes and some technical areas, side cresting, ridge riding and crossing, faster pace. Meeting Point: https://maps.app.goo.gl/gWpiP3f7oRxKpotd9 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 THIS IS A COMPRESSOR ONLY DRIVE. WE WILL STARTING AND ENDING THE DRIVE AT THE SAME POINT, WHICH IS NOT CLOSE TO AN AIR LINE. IF YOU DO NOT HAVE A COMPRESSOR, PLEASE DO NOT SIGN UP FOR THIS DRIVE. IF YOU ARRIVE AND HAVE NO COMPRESSOR YOU WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO JOIN THE DRIVE. LIMITED SPOTS AVAILABLE: Limited to 10 Intermediate and above drivers. RSVP will close on Thursday - 9 AM. 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. Repeated no-show members after RSVP will have their account suspended for a month. PLEASE RSVP ON THE BELOW CALENDAR

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. Drive Details Level: Fewbie PLUS (= minimum 5 drives done at Fewbie level with Carnity) When: 28 Aug 2020, Friday. Meeting time: 5:15 AM (SHARP - Without any exceptions) Meeting Point: Al Faqaa Gazel Farm - https://goo.gl/maps/GBJyQEdSpdAoTiFY6 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), smiles, face mask, rubber gloves, enthusiasm and willingness to learn. Approximate finish time: 09:00 AM End Point: Solar Park THIS IS A COMPRESSOR ONLY DRIVE. PLEASE DO NOT SIGN UP FOR THIS DRIVE UNLESS YOU HAVE A COMPRESSOR. ANYONE ARRIVING AT THE DRIVE WITHOUT A COMPRESSOR, FLAG, PROPER SHOVEL AND DEFLATION KIT WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO JOIN THE DRIVE. ALL TOW POINTS WILL BE CHECKED BEFORE DEPARTURE. LIMITED SPOTS AVAILABLE: Limited to 12 cars only. RSVP will close on Thursday - 9 AM. 1 Lead Marshal + 1-2 Senior Members + 10 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. Repeated no-show members after RSVP will have their account suspended for a month. PLEASE RSVP THE BELOW CALENDAR EVENT

Hi my name is Jason I have 2005 jeep wrangler this would be my first desert drive with Carnity and I barely have any off road experience Back and front hooks are fine

confirmed 👍

DRIVE UPDATE @Ali Abas Ali @Syed Raza Hussain @Sarath OK @tcarrimjee @Imran Ali Khan @Sherif Adel @Senthil Kumar @jodha singh shekhawat @Abhilash Nair @Adith Lobo As you all are joining for the first time for offroading, so please make sure that you vehicle is in pristine condition. Please check your vehicle Engine oil condition and level Coolant level Check your tires Check your spare tire and its lug wrench Remove any unwanted stuff from boot or the backseat Strap or secure loose stuff in your car, as they will bounce while offroading For your first drive, you don't need any off-road gears other than tire pressure gauge and a tire deflator, that you can get from any fuel station or tire shop, easily. Practice at fuel fuel station on how to deflate your tires and if needed we can still show you on the meeting point, if you need our assistance for deflation, please arrive 15 minutes early. We will provide you the spare walkie-talkie radio for your first drive only. From the second drive onward you need to start bringing your own off-road gears: Radio Safety flag Shovel Air compressor - for joining drives that usually doesn't end at fuel station. If you have any of existing offroad gear, please bring it along to seek our advise after the drive.

Thanks for updating. See you next time. @Nitin Mohan you have been added on to the attendee list. Please confirm.

Thanks @Gaurav, hope to c u on Friday then

As per COVID precautions it's maximum 3 in a car. Also you can get shovel from any hardware shop near your house for 15-20 dhs or from Dragon Mart, ACE Hardware or Speedex. Please find the list of mandatory off-road gear at newbie level after the first absolute newbie drive: Safety flag Tire deflator Tire pressure gauge Shovel Fire extinguisher Medical kit Radio (walkie-talkie)

Hi @Gaurav, can I take my family for this drive? Total 4 members. And I don't have a shovel with me. Is it a must have tool?

Hi @Gaurav I withdrew the Friday newbie evening drive to pink rock. Upcoming Family commitment. Please give the slot to another enthusiast. best regards mohamed

@Shiju Manuel thank you so much for the detailed info. I will check there.

Thanks @Adith Lobo Please RSVP the calendar here by hitting the "Going" tab in dark grey color

Hi, I have driven only for the Khaleej times drive and I am new. I will be driving my Prado 4.0 V6 2017 Tow hooks are in proper shape Regards Adith Lobo

You can and should get 10W-40 fully synthetic in Castrol, Shell, Total but you cant get one in Mobil 1 as they have 0W30 in fully synthetic range. 15W40 hard to get as its mostly used in bikes. Your desert warrior oil, seems pretty good with 1000 C reference, although hard to believe it as I have never heard any engine oil that can withstand beyond 250 C (500 F) even from hi-end royal purple, Redline motor racing engine oil. So it could be some marketing jargon and require proper reading of what 1000 C reference shell actually meant. 10W40 from Redline is for 295 AED in Amazon. Remember DO NOT BUY mineral, semi synth and blended products as for high temperature off road use fully synthetic is bare minimum. Little plus minus with spec as per your Pajero owner manual is acceptable.

Hi @Nitin Mohan good to see you back. You are waitlist#1 at the moment

It's pretty easy to set up a cheap and basic small volume still using a pressure cooker and some copper brake pipe. When you have finished distilling your water you can distill other things in it too.

As per Toyota, 100k service includes Check installation of driver’s floor mat Inspect and adjust all fluid levels Inspect wiper blades Replace engine coolant Replace engine oil and oil filter Rotate tires Visually inspect brake linings/drums and brake pads/discs Additional Maintenance Items for Special Operating Conditions Driving on dirt roads or dusty roads: Inspect ball joints and dust covers Inspect drive shaft boots (4WD) Inspect engine air filter Inspect steering linkage and boots Lubricate propeller shaft Re-torque propeller shaft bolt Tighten nuts and bolts on chassis and body Driving while towing, using a car-top carrier, or heavy vehicle loading: Lubricate propeller shaft Re-torque propeller shaft bolt Tighten nuts and bolts on chassis and body

hi this is Ajay Shekhawat I Have Nissan Xtera 2013 First time i going with carnity 2 time red dune hatta road and 1 time fosil rock expriance. front and back towpoint is perprct. thanks

Hi my name is Ali Abas I have 2007 4Runner V6 This will be my first desert drive With Carnity I had a two hour desert driving Class With Galadary And a little bit self driving on the sand The back and front towing hooks of my car in working condition

Hi. My name is Tariq Carrimjee I will be driving a Nissan Patrol 2017 Silver car. Back and front tow points are perfect. This is my first drive with Carnity. I have driven off road with friends, and multiple Gulf news fun drives, but do not have any formal training, and hence looking forward to this drive. Thanks,

Hi @Abhilash Nair welcome to Carnity Offroad Club. For first timers or Absolute Newbies, they can join this drive

Hi Srikumar, I am new to carnity. Can I join this trip.

@Frederic I liked The “ Dune surfing” or riding more than bashing too 🏄🏻‍♂️

Thank you @Frederic really very well appreciated.

I would say go with 15W-40 fully synthetic oil from a reputable company like Shell, Total, Castrol, Mobil, etc. And since you are doing 2 drives every weekend, get the oil and filter changed in intervals of 5000 km instead of 10000 km. The best is for you to buy the oil and original Mitsubishi filter and go-to any garage who will charge between AED 20-30 to get it replaced. You would need about 5-6 litres of oil for each change, so buy 2 gallons the first time and from the next 2-3 oil changes you will need to buy one gallon only.

Done (Y)

Welcome to Carnity offroad club. Please read the drive post and RSVP the calendar.

Hi @Gaurav, Please count me in. Thank you

@Anish S you need to see the grade of oil considering the ambient temperature. For this time of the year 15W-40 is the recommended grade for your Pajeros. You can reconfirm with your owner's manual. The Shell off-road warrior oil doesn't cover this range, so it's of not much use to you.

Hello Everybody, 120K service is due for my Pajero 2012. Did you try this engine oil 'Shell Helix Offroad Warrior? Any feedback?

Best news of the day 😎 Thanks a mil

@Javier Lucero you have been added on to the drive. See you on Friday at 5:00 AM

Hi @Chaitanya D. Thanks for advising. Hope to see you next time.

ABS kill requires the fuse to be removed from the fuse box in xterra (as per the map) which dont have ABS switch on dash, but it tends to light up some warning signs on dash. Best is to install a ABS kill switch which many garages do (about 50 to 100AED )considering that you will be driving it off road frequently.

Another one to explain further.

And those some need to be shot for giving false information to spoil engines for increasing their livelihood. After all this is what you get from an "electrician" and not a mechanic or a technician. All researchers, scientist motorsport industry and multi billion dollar corporations are really stupid......? As the price difference from the cheapest and the most expensive oil is a 100 or 200 dhs for 5000 kms = 2 or 4 fils/kms. NO ONE SHOULD DRIVE THE CHEAPEST OIL FOR OFFROAD VEHICLES IN UAE. PERIOD. Check the below video explaining the basics of engine oil and importance of using fully synthetic engine oil for extreme conditions (offroad) and in extreme temperatures (UAE). @Asif Hussain my highest recommendation is to switch to "Fully Synthetic 5W30" engine oil of any "reputed Company" which claims for 10k kms, but change at 5,000 kms if you are driving your Xterra for offroad. Mobil 1 (the best), Castrol, Shell, are all good brands to trust. During offroad in summer, when car runs warm (slightly above normal temp range) then Engine oil breaks down much faster and mineral oil will lack in providing good all round lubrication during those warmer times and might fry engine internals. That's why going for fully synthetic is highly advisable and changing at half life because you are touching extreme temperature every week. Race cars change engine oil before every race because engine oil test really comes in play at high revs and in high temperatures.

Well done @Frederic for taking so much time to share this great off-road knowledge. Very well explained and documented with perfect diagrams and videos. Only thing I like to add for all new offroaders, learn and follow above instructions to the max but never fight the gravity. If you had a bad feeling for any side sloping, criss crossing attempt, exit safely and make another attempt rather than fighting the gravity. Small deviation of track can also cause lot of difficulty and push the car to the soft patch, in that case simply accept the defeat and exit down without fighting with mother nature. Even experienced offroader do have refusal and repeat without any hesitation, that's the real fun and challenge of offroading.

Front end squeaking while at low speeds and turning which eventually gets worse and causes vibration at high speeds is most likely due to your Ball joints in the Upper Control Arm. Nissans are notorious for that. Making any car off-road capable or not depends on a variety of factors. Lift, Power, Bigger/Wider tires, offroad rating of those tires, suspension travel length, anti-sway bar kit etc. Even with limiting factors, one can always offroad by knowing the limits of your car. I mean, there isn't a machine out there that can climb near 90* verticals for 1000s of kilometers! There's always a limit on the offroad capabilities of a car.

The noise is from the OEM suspension, brackects and rear flat bed springs, you can get lithium grease from most motor shops, this will get rid of the noise for a bit. For a permanant solution upgrade the entire suspension to a higher grade. Bilstein comes highly recommended as the off-road version in the US comes the Bilstein 4600. Nissan Xterra is Not an SUV it is a CUV and was used by the US army to replace the humvee's for a short period of time. Also, the xterra is a car made for modding and upgrades. The only weakness is that the gear tends to heat making uphill climbs a bit of a challenge, replacing the OEM with a performance Oil Cooler with Resevoir will fix the problem. I would also recommend category 4 spark plugs for more power as they run cooler. (Agency sells platinum plugs with codings 4A,5A, 6A , if the 4 is not available us the lower number as it is cooler). The last recommendation for a big difference (not major) is replacing the OEM airfilter and Oil Filter with ones from K&N. The oil filter will run at about 70 DHS and air filter at around 350-400 Dhs max.