Leaderboard

Well I did it! I took the plunge and parted with some $$$ to upgrade the stereo. I mentioned previously the number 1 priority was to have my GPS interface on a bigger , clearer screen. I went with the Sony xav-5000 and was eager to try it out . Tonight I had the opportunity to do so and I have to admit I was very impressed and thought it a huge improvement. Aside from the physical size (6,95inches) it also has a crystal clear screen and easy to zoom functions. I followed the track easily and could quickly identify more technical areas that weren't suitable for the drive (fewbie) . It made a huge difference to me (as a lead) In the past I would have to stop and zoom in on the phone to read the dunes, not anymore though. My iphone is also relieved as it's no longer flying around being smashed to pieces Note of caution, I needed to upgrade the rear camera too as the unit is 12v and the stock camera is 6v, this added an additional 300 to the cost. p.s. aside from navigation functionality, the additional bells and whistles are handy too. I love that it reads my messages from whatsapp etc and can compose them too via Siri.

The more you practice the more you get better in this particular masterpiece “Ridge Rider “ and sooner or Later you become an elegant “crest breaker “ knowing where your wheels exactly are ... and later you will be climbing and descending high long ridges in a snake like path along the shape of the ridge ... so refined in the exact power coupled with smooth steering and literally it feels like a Captain steering his boat 😅

We are observing and learning the techniques from some of the best off-roaders! Ridge riding is always a tricky affair requiring balance between control and power! I still remember the lesson from @Ale Vallecchi in my newbie drive on this very dune where he literally stood on the ridge guiding us as we went pass inches away from him! 👍🏻👍🏻 And working on it on subsequent drives with @Foxtrot Oscar @Chaitanya D

Please see this nice approach 👌 Thomas , Hisham , Soni and Kashif , definitely not mine though 😜

Welcome @Vicente Angel Antelm Albel ! The name Pajero might not be the best in Spanish but they are brilliant off-roaders! See you soon in the sand !

Hello everyone, My name is Vicente, I´m from Spain and have lived in the UAE for the last 10 years. Always been on the asphalt side of this country until Miguel and Luis took me to the dunes. Joining this group is very exciting. Hope to learn to enjoy the desert and feel confident driving my Pajero.

That looks amazing Angela, you'll need to demonstrate that to me this weekend ! You mean to say SIRI understands what you are saying ? I always thought it was behaving like this elevator that could not understand "ELEVEN" 🤣

Congrats @Luca Palanca Falsini looking forward for drive with your lead!

Bravo @Luca Palanca Falsini!!

Congrats @Luca Palanca Falsini. Well done!!

Yes they are very good in sand until you keep moving, climbing or side sloping. Due to the tread pattern they are not so good for self-recovering and very risky on road and "CATASTROPHIC" on wet roads. I never used them, but had a very close desert safari guy who shared all these info. Owner of that company is my cousin and he use AT tires on his Patrol SWB.

Teach me to take videos @Mohamed Seidam. I would love to record videos of the drives to keep it in archives. @imranaasghar81 is doing a good job with his incredible contraption and salutations to him. Right now only into still photography but would like to upgrade to videography.

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: 4 Mar 2021, Thursday. Meeting time: 3.30 pm (SHARP - Without any exceptions) Meeting Point: - Margham https://goo.gl/maps/27ScMPXZD95y5Eyz8 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: 6.15PM P.S. Only join if you have a compressor to inflate your tires after the drive. Please RSVP on the link below

Nothing to laugh about @Chaitanya D. If you would have seen the recovery in Umm Al Quwain beach I had to because it was a stuck - A real stuck you would have spanked my ass and the gentleman who helped me. It opened my eyes. I had to learn how to drive on sand terrain. I joined @Carnity. Here I'm learning from masters. If I tell you a secret can you believe? Recently told my wife get the belt hole driller as I lost much of my waist size. From 125 kg I dropped down to 118 kg in 2 months. SHOVELLING IS BETTER AND MORE FUN THAN WORKOUTS IN A GYM.

Apologies to @Hisham Masaad and @Veedooshee I have the drive at absolute maximum capacity in order to rectify my mistake . This is a one time only happening and absolutely will not be repeated . Thank you for your understanding although disappointed @Ahab Shamaa won’t be joining us I’m also relieved he dropped out 😅

I remember @GauravSoni

Hi everyone, I have added those who were first on the waitlist for their 2nd drives. The waitlist as of 3/3 @ 3:08pm is as follows: @Francois Germishuys @Hisham Masaad @Veedooshee All for second drives. If anyone can't make it let me know asap @asifk @Jun Zamora @siddharth maheshwari @GauravSoni @David Ortells @Ilya Golubinsky @Islam Soliman @Ahab Shamaa @MUHAMMAD Kashif RAZZAQ @Ashok chaturvedi Late withdrawals will be frowned upon 😝

Hello, Due to an unexpected task, I wont be able to join this drive. My apologies.😌

Dear Friends Baskaran P.R @Baskaran P.R Nitin Mohan @Nitin Mohan WaYan @WaYan Thomas Fumarola @Thomas Fumarola Rawad Bahsas @Rawad Bahsas Marky B @Marky B Kieran McKeown @Kieran McKeown Werno @Werno Ammar Naji @Ammar Naji Alistair Mattock @Alistair Mattock luis mantecon @luis mantecon Roger K @Roger K Chaitanya D Shamil @Shamil Thanks for signing up for this drive. Lisaili offers some nice baby technical dunes where your skills will be tested , and you can always improve on what you have learnt. Be prepared for some tight turns, sharp drops (which can technically break - small or big), supersoft sand and pockets where you will improve as a sand driver. We will off course do the regular play areas in open dunes once we clear this part, have fun and exit. Please note 1. Follow COVID precautions strictly - No compromise on this ! IF you are seen with out masks, socializing, not maintaining distance you will be escorted out of the drive. 2. Mandatory off road gear - Off-road flag, shovel, deflator, compressor and a programmed radio. If any one is missing then you will not be allowed to drive! 3. Please arrive on time, so that we can spend maximum time available driving. Deflate your tires - 15 psi for regular tires - 12 psi for off road all terrain tires Please be acquainted how to disable ABS, Airbags and Traction control in your cars, and do it before the drive. You can switch them back on once the drive is completed. Convoy listing will be announced soon See you all, cheers!

Congrats @Luca Palanca Falsini

@Luca Palanca Falsini congratulations. Well done

@Luca Palanca Falsini Congratulations!

Congratulations @Luca Palanca Falsini, very well deserved.

@sertac the description says limited to 10 drivers but the event says RSVP limit reached at only 7?

Well done Luca - enjoy the new freedom

Grande @Luca Palanca Falsini.

Congrats @Luca Palanca Falsini

I was very intruiged by these sand tires or balloon tires. I met a UAE National who had a Nissan Patrol with the Shaheen Tires on so I asked him regarding how he feels with these on. His response was very detailed. He said firstly because there is a very thin contact area with the surface, they are a nightmare for balancing and alignment. There are very few people in UAE who will balance these for you. Still when you start in the morning they feel very floaty and unstable till they warm up. In winters and rain as @Gaurav bhai said is very unstable. But on sand as long as you have momentum it's good. But people misunderstand as the UAE Nationals like to fill it with 70 PSI and drive it on 2 wheels since its like a balloon so easier to handle on 2 wheels.

Woo hoo! Welcome to the Expert Club. We'll deserved @Luca Palanca Falsini. Congratulations.

Thanks for the video @Mohamed Seidam . @Foxtrot Oscar these short drives are awesome way to unwind for the day or the week! Thanks again for an absolute pleasure of a drive!

Very well deserved @Luca Palanca Falsini, hoping to be on many more drives with u as I still remember how nice that last drive was...😃👍

Well done @Luca Palanca Falsini

Thank you everyone. Very useful information to make my choices a little easier. Now just to find the perfect vehicle. 🤞

Thought this might help also, I was planning to do this, guess now is the time. 😄 https://wranglerjkforum.net/threads/how-to-install-esp-kill-switch-on-a-jeep-wrangler-jk.26099/

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 Levels) When: 5 Mar 2021, Friday. Meeting time: 6:30 AM (SHARP - Without any exceptions) Meeting Point: Mahafiz Tree Shade - https://goo.gl/maps/Tj9WXKFDYB43KpWZ9 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, willingness to learn and your own compressor for tyre inflation. Approximate finish time: 1030 AM End Point: Faya LIMITED SPOTS AVAILABLE: Limited to 15 cars only. 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 EVENT

Dear @Foxtrot Oscar Little confused. I cancelled Friday morning drive to join this one, do i still need to be on WL?

Thanks @Foxtrot Oscar and yes someone kindly drop out, much appreciated 😬✌🏼

Sold my Jeep TJ

@Gaurav @Frederic @Rahimdad @Wrangeld @Asif Hussain @Thomas Varghese advise where to get origional parts at best price ???

Hey buddy, please take me off the wait list. I won’t be able to make it anymore. thanks

Nice video , thank you 😊

Drive report It’s always a pleasure and tonight was no different . We started off on the familiar sands of Murquab gently making our way through the dunes ever mindful that @antonio was experiencing his first fewbie drive . As we tackled some low and gentle ridges it was apparent that both @Antonio Jimenez Williamsand @Rob Harpercould handle getting on top , keeping control of their steering and maintaining just the right amount of momentum to stay on the ridge. Well done guys! We were soon faced with the high and long dunes that provide excellent opportunities for side sloping . @Antonio Jimenez Williams had a refusal and we decided he should deflate his tyres to see if it helped. It did and Antonio was back in the game. After about 1 hour or so of exploring Murquab we crossed the Sabka and took the familiar track to Solar park. After a short while we headed into the dunes to the right of the track , here we were presented with a different challenge , small dunes but not too tight . However, they still required a degree of finesse to navigate them. Satisfied that all in the convoy were handling the drive I asked if they were suitably challenged and the response was that we could up the pace slightly although , I was very mindful that this was a fewbie drive and Antonio was being suitably challenged . I decided to keep the pace as was and hunted for more challenging dunes . We found more beautiful long dunes, some with steep climbs and soft sands which met with a couple of refusals but nothing major. As we reached the more advanced slopes with their mighty slip faces we darted up, slipped down and crossed atop them with the entire convoy coping well. @Antonio Jimenez Williams , you did very well today , I know you felt the step up from newbie, but you handled it all well . Just be mindful to steer down and never ever fight gravity unless you want your car to end up on its roof. @Rob Harper , you didn’t put a wheel wrong all night. You took everything in your stride and handled your car very well. @Gaurav Soni @MUHAMMAD Kashif RAZZAQ , @Thomas Varghese and @Hisham Masaad you all had impeccable drives. Thank you , it’s always a pleasure to lead you guys . Very special thanks to @Veedooshee for doing a perfect job as second lead. Further thanks to my henchmen @Mohamed Seidam and @Islam Soliman who kept a watchful eye on the entire convoy and were always on hand to give advice and help out. Your assistance on my drives is always greatly appreciated and very much needed . Thank you gentlemen Once again, thank you to the entire convoy for indulging my adventurous ways and following my lead. Until our next adventure !

Congratulations @Luca Palanca Falsini 👍

Congratulations @Luca Palanca Falsini

Very well deserved @Luca Palanca Falsini

Congrats @Luca Palanca Falsini!

Congrats @Luca Palanca Falsini

Please add me to waitlist, 1st drive @Rahimdad

Waitlist as of 28/2 @ 8pm @Ilya Golubinsky 2nd drive @Islam Soliman 2nd drive @Ahab Shamaa 2nd drive @MUHAMMAD Kashif RAZZAQ 2n drive. As it stands it looks highly likely that you will be able to join

Okay so here is what I have found. Firstly we need something like the pic below , which is available online and can be installed by any decent audio place (or yourself if you are handy) Then the dilemma really begins. There are aftermarket units that have CarPlay (for IOS lovers)and I've been recommended both Sony and Pioneer. The choice is very much dependent on your own needs. I personally want an upgrade to the stock system for better screen clarity and primarily for Gaia GPS. Therefore, screen quality(resolution) and ease/response of the touchscreen, is important and I still want all the features of the current system. With the units I have seen you simply attach your phone via usb and the device will mirror the phone. Therefore Gaia etc will work. I did look at some aftermarket navigation receivers but they don't appear to allow you to add maps. I'm all for Waze and Google but not when I'm up to my neck in sand in the middle of Lisalli, Therefore that option would appear to be obsolete. (please anyone correct me if I am wrong) Below are 2 units that other Xterra owners have recommended Sony-XAV-AX5000-Stereo-Receiver Pioneer-AVH-210EX