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Having a basic compass in the car is also a recommended. In case you think you are lost in the desert, try to find the highest dune nearby and walk to the top. In Dubai or Sharjah MOSTPROBABLY you'll see a road or pylons nearby that you can use to navigate towards.

Finally after long wait my search for desert warrior came to conclusion with this beast. Happy with purchase and can't wait to get back to sand. 😀 Special thanks to @Barry for the inspection and advices.

Moonshooters Good Morning, @Jun Zamora, @Tero Vallas, @Jeandre Bezuidenhout, @David Ortells, @Lorenzo Candelpergher, @Jolly Abraham, @jodha singh shekhawat, @Ashok chaturvedi, @Miguel Ibarbia, @Ilya Golubinsky ( @Shiju Manuel, @Jeepie, @Kalahari The plan this week is to shoot for the moon. The idea - to start at Nawi farm and see the sun go down high up on the dunes of Big Red or the other dunes nearby and exit with a short night time drive. With such an experienced convoy, we should be able to push both the pace and complexity of the drive to practice side sloping and criss crossing on some of the most inviting dunes ranges in our region (or at least the region in which we are permitted in these covid times - where we cannot enter Adu Dhabi). It's is lunar month moon end, so we will hope to see the last slivers of the moon for this month form up high. More information to follow as well as a some nice additional 'features' planned for this drive. Have a great week. See you soon in the sand.

Desert driving dictates Essential knowledge regarding safety and under this later comes communication and directions, thanks to the current technology which became within the grasp of everyone Nevertheless the very basic “ primitive “ knowledge for the cardinal directions is of no substitute to our smart phone. When all things go out of order regardless of reason then here comes the basics when you find your self in the middle of no where ! i am sure that all know it as I do , but to figure it out I personally found this simple video explaining how to find your direction so useful for me and I loved to share it with you sand wanderers cheers 🌷🚙😎

FJ Cruiser is having a fuel pump recall for 2014 FJ. Al Futtaim Toyota had replaced it for free last week although my car is out of warranty under the recall campaign. I did some research on the recall and below is what i found. The cars that might be applicable for Middle East from the list below would be Avalon, Corolla, Land Cruiser, Tundra and Camry. Worth checking if you or your friends have these vehicles. https://www.courtesytoyota.com/toyota-fuel-pump-recall.htm Toyota Vehicles impacted by this fuel pump recall 2017 & 2018 & 2019 Toyota Sienna 2014 Toyota FJ Cruiser 2018 & 2019 Toyota Avalon 2018 & 2019 Toyota Sequoia 2018 & 2019 Toyota Corolla 2014 & 2015 & 2019 Toyota 4Runner 2014 & 2015 & 2019 Toyota Land Cruiser 2018 & 2019 Toyota Tundra 2018 & 2019 Toyota Tacoma 2018 & 2019 Toyota Highlander 2018 & 2019 Toyota Camry

You can enjoy free drive through movies here.. Aljada Movie Night Unnamed Road - Sharjah https://maps.app.goo.gl/khQxdM3Dd68xoPhC7 VID_20200915_201024.mp4

now is not the time to sell a car in my opinion. Keep rolling it and take it easy on her, and give it the maintenance it needs/requires. You should be easily getting another 120kms out of it.

In addition to that at the end when the hit happened the driver said calling the name of the FJC owner : Why not Say something ? .... meaning that they had some sort of possible communication that could be used ( radio , phone what so ever ) for worming .... still neither being warned not to proceed by the FJ nor being asked for clearance by the one that hit !! ( active communication ) ,And each one relied on the silence as “clearance “ ( passive communication ) in Desert no place for “ passive” communication at all ! Same apply for other safety measures like flag , horn , hand language ... etc when applicable

Congratulations @Lorenzo Candelpergher. Really a champion all rounder. Very happy to see you make it through with your Y62. It's not an easy task, but surely your persistence and flexibility has earned you your new rank. This is where the fun gets over and you need to get your hands dirty. Wishing you nothing but the best.

Congrats @Lorenzo Candelpergher

Congratulations @Lorenzo Candelpergher 👍

Complimenti @Lorenzo Candelpergher. Well earned!! Hope to see you very soon for an Italian connection drive 🟩⬜🟥

SMOOTH OPERATORS - Bab al Shams Newbie Drive Report Not used to leading Newbie convoys, I chose an area that allows to drive smoothly for quite a long stretch, with multiple exit areas, and a relatively forgiving terrain (yet with the opportunity to increase the challenge according to the convoy's potential). All drivers responded brilliantly, completing the excursion with minimum refusals, and only one stuck (quickly dealt with). Congratulations to @Mahmoud Hamzawy for executing his first Second Lead with precision and care, and to @David Ortells for his support at Center Forward, from which he guided the few refusals, and the only recovery. Perfect drive by the Jeep contingent (@Andrei, @Hatim Patharia, @Vijaysekhar, @Shaaz Sha and @Arun Mathew), the other component of the FJ pack @Christian Andras and @Anand Nataraj, the lone XTerra driver: well done all of you. A special mention goes to @Hardik Mody, for managing with great attention his Montero (the less "desert oriented" car of the bunch), overcoming his initial hesitancy, and crossing all obstacles with good care and ease. Finally, special thanks to @Wrangeld for his always vigilant presence, which this time was made easier and more relaxed by the convoy's discipline and smooth driving. Smooth is the word that comes to mind more often when describing this drive, as smooth it was. This should not be taken for granted on a Newbie drive, considering we also traversed a couple of quite tricky technical areas, where I was expecting many more complications. Apparently less "scary" to a greener driver than the big, tall dunes, these technical areas are everywhere in the desert, and their crossing will need to be mastered just as much as the apparently more fun crossing of famous, more spectacular landmarks. The convoy did brilliantly, finessing its way through some small but treacherous steps, without damaging bumpers, digging itself into soft sand, or needing any major redirection. The other technical skill we practiced on the long range dunes of this sector was side sloping, which also went....smoothly, with only a couple of refusals, due to soft sand. My congratulations to the convoy, as I did not see any of the fishtailing, sliding off the dune, or fighting gravity that sometimes are seen at this level: all cars took the correct approach, used the right momentum, and exited with good form. We also enjoyed a bit of night driving, in the last part of the itinerary, through the mud formations and the sand track toward the exit. The statistics testify the smoothness of this drive in terms of its length and speed: 45.4 Km., driven at an average moving speed of 23 Km/h, in 2:34 hours time. Good Job everybody, and see you soon.

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 and above (No Newbies) When: 18 Sep 2020, Friday. Meeting time: 4:30 PM (SHARP - Without any exceptions) Meeting Point: Murquab: https://goo.gl/maps/VvHKcjX4TjrUGHxC7 Action Plan: Evening drive till about 08:30 PM 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. Please also make sure you have all the equipment required on board as a Fewbie - Proper shovel, deflation kit, flag. THIS IS A COMPRESSOR ONLY DRIVE. 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. End Point: Al Qudra Road nearby Solar Park LIMITED SPOTS AVAILABLE: Limited to 10 cars maximum. 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. 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 below calendar

Proud new member of a new MM...Haven't tested it yet, but seems sturdy!

Hi @Ale Vallecchi I did that eons ago

Congrats @Rizwanm2. Time to change the car in your profile 😁 See you on the sand

Hello @Frederic, would you please pull me out from your waiting list, I am included to other drive. Thanks in advance.

Technical Service Bulletin Check more here recalls for Toyota, updated since 2018. https://carnity.com/recall/toyota

Congratulations @Junaid Sayeed for reaching the Intermediate Level with Carnity Offroad Club. Looking forward to seeing you growing further and helping others to learn the art of offroading in a safe environment. Please make sure your Carnity user profile is always updated with all the latest Emergency contact details. P.S. Trip lead might deny your participation if you don't have required off-road gear. INTERMEDIATE Drives Attended (Indicative) Minimum 10 drives are required within last 6 months for Intermediate promotion. (Drives can be a mix of Newbie, Fewbie (50%) and Fewbie plus, depending on your adaptability, learning progress and Marshal’s feedback) What you'll learn Basic GPS and navigational skills Basic tow rope and winch recoveries Extreme side sloping and long hill climb Tall dunes ridge riding and criss crossing Precise control over technical dunes Fast pace desert driving Skills required Adventurous and thrill seeker but in a safe manner Level headed under stressful situations Responsible, dependable and accountable Car Worthiness Capable 4x4 vehicle with low range gearing Suitable approach and departure angle High profile tires Off-road gear required Safety flag, tire deflator, tire pressure gauge, shovel, fire extinguisher, medical kit, radio (walkie-talkie), air compressor, tool kit, rated recovery rope and 2 rated shackles, GPS. Drive teamwork Manage center forward position with Trip Lead’s permission Learn/assist recoveries under Trip Lead’s supervision Re-route convoy and coordination, when needed Learn to lead small portion of Intermediate drive under Marshal supervision Drive Joining Join Newbie, Fewbie, Intermediate and Exploration drives only Forum participation Active participation on the forum Share drive experience + feedback Share drive pictures in the gallery Post trip report after the drive

@Lorenzo Candelpergher Congratulations!

Congratulations @Lorenzo Candelpergher 👍🏼

That means it was a TSB as they get to wait for car to come back for service. Recalls done for critical component failure and usually dealer HAVE TO CALL the owner to schedule an earliest appointment.

Agreed that it is the car manufacturers' responsibility even way after the warranty period. Whilst I appreciate the FOC replacement under the recall campaign, I would appreciate a bit more proactive actions like publicizing or reaching out to car owners via telephone messages to tell them to schedule an appointment for the replacement regardless whether they service with the agency or not. For my case, I discovered it by chance when I showed up for a regular service. Upon further research, apparently, if the fuel pump is faulty, it may just cut fuel supply and the car will just stall. Will be a tricky situation in the desert, esp in the middle of some sort of maneuver.

Congrats @Junaid Sayeed, looking forward to sharing the fun of the next intermediate drive as newly promoted intermediates.

Congratulations @Junaid Sayeed. Heard so many great things about you and your sour experience with the Jeepers. Hope you find your ideal off-road family in Carnity.

I am not able to attend this drive, so Congrats to the first one on the waiting list!

Congrats and well deserved @Lorenzo Candelpergher

It’s really more than ever to abide to precautionary measures , MASK is one effective one of them

You have earned it. Congratulations

if you are looking for clean xterra, you have to be very proactive on your search. offroad versions are sold within 1-2 after posting. Even non offroad version clean cars are sold within days. but very careful, there are lot of lemon cars as well. good luck... ✌️

Really hope this help, curb COVID spread now and bring figures down.

Congrats @Lorenzo Candelpergher!!!

@Lorenzo Candelpergher tjis is great news and well earned and deserved. Looking forward to using your newly promoted status on the drive Friday.

Congrats @Lorenzo Candelpergher!!

Congrats @Lorenzo Candelpergher. Well done.

Thanks @Ale Vallecchi for a wonderful evening. It was well managed and for me the real challenge started after the sun setting as till then it was a relaxed drive through a very scenic route. A couple of nasty stucks one of which I was guilty brought the entire team together. 😁 Even with the blockage of the preplanned route, you managed to scout an alternative route which for me was the main highlight. Well done.

RUMBLE IN THE JUNGLE - Sea to Mountain Exploration drive's report Exploration was the goal, and explore we did. The drive's idea was to find new locations, off the beaten track, with potential for providing new learning experiences for the members, and the possibility of honing less developed off-roading abilities. This first exploration aimed to find a way from the sea to the mountains of RAK. To face such daunting task, we thought of filling up with some munchies at Barracuda's Thunder Road Grill, before setting off into the little known territory. After meeting up with the rest of the drivers by the Emirates Motorplex, just in front of UAQ's russian plane relic (see link above to witness its last landing), we ventured into the "savannah" like environment that characterizes the first kilometres toward E611. The plants here benefit from the high water level seeping through from the sea, and belong to botanical families which thrive on soils high in salinity. Vegetation is very abundant, mostly of creeping ground plants (gourds), or low bushes, both thorny and succulent. The sand dunes are very low, and covered, for the most part, by the abundant vegetation. Occasional higher cordons rise from the low plain (we are actually below the sea level here), with small goat and camel farms perched on their tops. Even these low dune cordons are tricky to navigate, due to their tightness and the presence of numerous steps and pockets. Moving toward E311 the bushes leave more room to groups of taller Ghaf trees, which become quite abundant once across the highway, giving the area a more forested look. Goat farms, herds of camels, and some small sabkhas, white from the evaporation of saline water, separate E311 from a large, very irregular, cordon of dunes (almost a plateau), beyond which E611 is occasionally visible. Playing on these dunes proved to be a small challenge, due to their tight and unpredictable nature: yet play a little we did, practicing some side sloping in a deep send bowl, with a big Ghaf tree in its middle. With E611 in sight we drove along the eastern side of the sand plateau, on a track jammed between the trees and the dunes, until we found ourselves on an elevated sand ledge, dotted with gnarly trees, where a couple of major stucks on the very churned sand forced us to make a prolonged stop, just while dusk turned into night. That's when the Rumble in the Jungle begun: the whole group came into action, some shoveling, some tying double ropes to the cars, others literally clearing the ares from the sturdy shrubs, or illuminating the very tight spaces where the recovery manoeuvres were taking place. After the successful group recovery effort, the delay meant we had to find our way out of the area with an exiting night drive, looking for, and trying to follow, very faintly marked tracks, away from the fenced area close to E611, and back toward E311, on the other side of the sand plateau. After a couple of failed attempts we did manage to climb the tallest dune of the day (and night), and reached the exit point: it was 4:46 hours after departure, with 38.6Km on the odometer, driven at an average moving speed of 16 Km/h. My hat goes off to all the drivers, for managing very smoothly a very difficult and unusual terrain: good job @Kalahari, @Pancho, @Desert Dweller, @Chaitanya D, @Srikumar (special thanks for your guidance and assistance during the more difficult moments of the drive), @Najeeb Mohammed, @Rinelle Sanaani (you missed the fun night part of the drive), and the Pajeep duo (@Jeepie and @Wrangeld), for brilliantly navigating at the back, on very challenging tracks. See you all soon for Sea to Mountain Part 2: from E611 to Al Khail, at the foot of the Hajar Mlountains. In the meantime, have a great week.

Thank you @Nivin

After a weekend of slow paced, finesse driving, here comes the long trek, high energy adventure. Fast, but not furious, as safety always comes first. The longest possible drive without crossing borders, from the boundary with Al Ain (Faqa) to almost Dubai city limits (Qudra Parking). Four fun areas to cross: Faqa (the "arboretum", northern side), Little Sweihan, then up toward Bab al Shams quadrant of Qudra, and finally Qudra proper. Bring your concentration (we wish the convoy to move in unison), nerve (criss-crossing will abound) and stamina (we hope to drive for about 4 hours....inshallah). More news in a few days.

Thank you guys !

Thank you @Ale Vallecchifor the great drive, it's my first time as second lead (hoping I covered the role well), I was quite stressed in the beginning but as we move forward I enjoyed being second lead, following an expert Marshal like you was amazing with your informative instructions for me to change the route and come to a safe area with the convoy, I had one small refusal which was self managed quickly and one stuck on a flat surface (because I stopped on soft sand area on inclined surface) thanks for @David Ortells who helped me out quickly The night ride was amazing See you next drive

@Ale Vallecchi great marshaling so all went well . I personally like the quick brief with the small model car on how to overcome difficulties if it arises. All the convey members were great and loved the sunset view. @Gaurav teaching helped me to deal with the hotoil sign which came up and sorted with minimal time. @Wrangeldthanks for always being there for help . See you guys soon and happy driving 🚗