Leaderboard

DRIVE REPORT Dear Desert Wanderers, My last drive as lead had been exactly 30 days ago, so I came to this drive with some concern whether I was actually going to be up to the task, given that the 1st edition of the 1km ascent quest had created a lot of expectations. I must say I really enjoyed the drive today and it was great to be back again on the sand. It was a memorable drive, with endless challenges that put everyone to the test. We started very early this morning: by 5am sharp we lined up the convoy. I feel it was maybe a bit too early, as we had to drive for 45 mins before the sunrise. We indulged a bit in the small dunes between our entry point and the 1st group of dunes of Area 53 next to the Dubai - Hatta Road, but we couldn't possibly spend 45 mins there, so I decided to aim to the top climbing in total darkness. Not exactly the easiest way to start the day, but certainly an effective way to make sure everyone was fully awake! 😂😂 We started having refusals right away at the very first climb, I guess mostly because of the additional challenge with the darkness and because of the abrupt ramp-up of the technical level that today's ascents implied. Even if with some hesitations, the convoy made it to the top 3 times in a raw on the first group of dunes: it was the perfect warm-up for the day. We progressively moved across 11 different areas of big dunes, everytime climbing from all sides and making sure we left our tire marks on every available bowl. The first 2 hours were not easy, as we had to deal with several refusals, mostly with the two Pajeros, whose underpowered engines with undesidered upshifting demanded their drivers, @Danish Mohammad and @Lakshmi Narasimhan, every drop of their driving skills to make it to the top.. Kudos to both for the extra effort! I could sense some frustration by the big and experienced guys at the back, whose desire to unleash their endless horse power was often dampened by some stucks and refusals at the front and even more by my occasional decisions to abort and reroute (or restart from the bottom) when things were getting too troubled at the front of the convoy. @Watteau was very vocal when he asked not to give up and to make sure the cars at the back could have their fair chance to make it to the top. I know my choices may have disappointed, @Watteau or @Abu Muhammad, but the point for me was that ALL drivers (and cars) today had to make it to the top and I believe that is what happened 80% of the over 40 straight bottom-to-top climbs we performed today. In that 20%, we gave up or rerouted to continue having fun without wasting too much time being overly ambitious. The sand was tricky today, with lots of unusual pockets and patches of very soft sand caused by the unusual winds of the last weeks, combined, in the 1st part of the drive, with an immense number of tracks everywhere. This is where most of us had our good share of refusals and stucks, which required a great deal of brilliant self-recoveries, including the spectacular ones by @Danish Mohammad and @Mario Cornejo in deep bowls and with great inclines. I wasn't equally good and needed help shoveling to get out of a crest. Just to make sure we didn't miss anything, we also had repeated overheating issues and two pop-out for my myself and @Dodi Syahdar! What a day! The drivers in the front didn't have the horsepower nor the experience of the big guys in the back, and I must say I was proud to see the enormous improvement in self-confidence and actual car handling that @Danish Mohammad achieved trough-out the drive as he shifted to 2nd lead. It is only by being challenged a bit beyond our comfort zone and by our mistakes and struggles that we become better. Well done, my friend! I must say I was also a bit disappointed to see how convoy discipline today was often neglected.. Impatience to climb and not to lose momentum often led to a split convoy or to overtakes and confusion, to the extent that we had to slow down and reorder the convoy multiple times. I still believe, as frustrating as this may be, that if a car in front struggles, those behind should avoid overtaking and should patiently allow as many attempts as may be required for whoever has difficulties in a specific passage.. In the last two hours of the drive we drove more, stopped less and enjoyed fantastic, virgin dunes that repaid us of all the waiting, digging, rerouting and struggling of the first two. The climax of the day for me was the stretch at and after Suhail Dune, where we had a quick photo stop: With some concerns about overheating and running out of fuel for some cars, we then headed towards Iftar Bowl, where we took 3 full rounds back to back before eventually making our exit. We drove for 4h and 35 mins, covering 68.6km at an average moving speed of 16.7km. As far as the goal of the day is concerned, I'm glad to say that - despite all setbacks - we hit the 1670m ascent mark, which is 100m than last month. See the analysis below: Congratulations to @Mario Cornejo (you'll conquer that high bowl) @Danish Mohammad (full throttle!!) , @Ranjan Das(great new Rubicon!), @Lakshmi Narasimhan(Iftar Bowl is now yours), @Ilya(a walk in the park for an Expert like you), @Watteau(we did get to the top, eventually), @Dodi Syahdar("when I enjoy the drive I get a pop-out", you said 😂😂😂😂😂), @Abu Muhammad(we were all inexperienced IM drivers at some point!) and big big thanks to @M.Seidam and @Hisham Masaad for their outstanding support at all times. See you at the next stuck!

Congrats @Lorenzo Candelpergher for nailing the definition of "Great Leader". To take the whole convoy from point A to point B. I salute you with my utmost respect, for taking everyone together (a difficult task) to achieve your goal than leaving a few (easiest task). Secondly to support the new driver or weaker car to push beyond and PROVE IT in the end. Well done, BRAVO. 👏

Trip Report We had a beautiful full-house turnout blessed with extra support and some higher-level members making a very distinctive convoy mix to start the weekend night drive. Topped with I was driving Fredy's little blue with manual gear added additional fun and challenge to the night. Thanks, @Frederic for joining to support me after your morning AN drive. Everyone showed up on time and started deflating and getting ready for the drive much before 10:00 PM meeting time. As we started on time we have had very good scope to achieve the pre-decided end at Bidayer without altering or any cut-short. All the newbies from @AbdullaB, @Nafiz, @munkybizness, @Daniel Yang and @Peter Hager drove exceptionally well considering the night drive is a bit scarier for newbie level due to limited view. And like I said on the drive, while learning off-roading don't get demotivated with your stucks and refusals, instead learn from them to grow further. Everyone gets stuck, as that's the nature of this hobby, so simply enjoy, learn, move on and repeat. Thanks, @Looper for your second lead support, that was very helpful to navigate throughout. @Fabien Monleau and @Abdul Rahman AK it was good to see you both for the first time and hope you have enjoyed the relaxed fun of Newbie level drives. @Ben84 and @topgear it was good to see you both after a long time and it was a pleasure to drive with you both securing the tail end with confidence. Many thanks, @Rizwanm2, @M.Seidam and @Jeepie for the wonderful support and help to keep the whole convoy intact and moving at all times.

Just to reflect the atmosphere on the drive Plus, I can now teach how to "stop" in a nice position

With enough sleep in the biological tank, I’m just waking up to last night’s experience. As my first night drive, I was a fair bit anxious and nervous going in, so much so that for the first 5 minutes in, I completely forgot how to turn on my high beams. Fortunately, @Rizwanm2 ensured that I had a floodlit stadium view of the desert landscape unraveling ahead of me. If I have him on my tail, I’ll never need to get additional lights 😎 It was a pleasure to finally put a face and voice to @Gaurav deftly guiding us away from sand walls aplenty. And to top it all off, seeing you work that shovel for what felt like an eternity has inspired me to get back in the gym. Climbing Pink Rock with you providing additional vocal power on the radio helped to get me up there - nerves intact. And to @M.Seidam, your shoveling technique is fascinating . I’m going to steal it with pride. Thank you gents & lady (in your stunning TJ?) for another exciting drive!

Fewbie Plus Lisaili's Backdoor - Drive report "Sometimes we plan a trip to one place, but something takes us to another" - Rumi Dear Desertnauts What started as a drive with a clear, yet untested, plan, led us to the opposite end of the planned exit point, and unexpectedly back to where we started. And this happened not because of any problem encountered on the way, but rather because of the great off-roading performance by the whole convoy. We started before dawn next to Lisaili's camel track, entered its outskirts just after the track ended, and directed ourselves much more east than the usual track, in the direction of Margham first, then Murqab's. Unexplored by me, the route served up some surprisingly challenging dunes, with lots of bowls, small "sabkha" like flat surfaces, and numerous shrubby trees, both dead and alive, that made this segment very interesting. Once in Murqab, we enjoyed riding the tall, bushy dunes, criss-crossing from north to south. We also had the bonus of meeting @Wrangeld Richard's convoy, coming from the opposite direction, executing a perfect fly-by, closed by @Lorenzo Candelpergher's Rubicon. Meeting a convoy of fellow members always reinforces the family feeling of our club. After Murqab, past the sand track toward Solar Park, we re-entered Lisaili's plateau. Until this point we had had just one tug, and very few refusals, some of which by me, on the very soft ridges left by the wind blowing from the unusual south-eastern side, creating a bit of a "step" of soft sand on the dunes' hard face. Given the great performance by the whole convoy, once arrived at the Lisaili's pylon track, we all agreed to push the drive to a slightly higher level, directing it back to Lisaili, crossing the slip-faces of the long range dunes, all the way back to our initial entry point. The drive continued almost uninterrupted, even though the glare on the white sand was very strong, and reading the dunes had become not easy. Everybody performed perfectly, pulling off a long and very smooth drive. Great Second Lead by @Ranjan Das, perfect Anchoring by @Kalahari, and a cleanly executed Sweep by @Shehab Alawadhi. Great driving by @Matt.T, @Alain Canivet-Abikhalil, @Ashok chaturvedi, @Chinthaka Ruwan, @Niki, and @Russ. The day ended after 99.3 Km, driven at an average moving speed of 29Km/h (23 Km/h total), after 3:27 hours of driving, and only 56 minutes of stops, most of which to fix flags, and take well deserved brakes 😅. Thanks to all the members. Enjoy the week, and see you soon in the sand

Trip Report Everyone loves a challenge and this goes for trip leads as well. Area 53 is a challenging terrain for the best offroader and to take Fewbies there was a challenge I most definitely was looking forward the whole week. Everyone met on time, and as we are at the end of July the sun does rise closer to 5:40 AM. So after a little bit of waiting and briefing we headed out to explore Area 53. We entered through some of the smaller dunes to reach the base of the pyramids and everyone managed quite well. As we attempted the first staircase climb we did have a couple of refusals which was expected. A bit of rerouting and circling and the entire convoy started moving again. Being a Fewbie convoy, I tried going up to about 70% height on the pyramid dunes, as the higher you go, the exit at the top of the dunes can get even more challenging. Since we couldn't exit from the top of the pyramid dunes we had to descend and started going around it and had to go through some more closely spaced dunes. A popout and a couple of refusals, but nothing major and everyone managed to get through that area quite well. As it was getting warmer we decided to take a more flatter route towards Super Bowl and IFB. I would have loved for the Fewbie convoy to have a go at Super Bowl, but unfortunately there were a couple of other convoys in that area driving at high speeds and hence we decided to move towards Iftar Bowl. Once we reached IFB the climb was so enticing that no one could stop with a single one. Everyone made more than a couple of attempts and it was great to see everyone roar all the way to the top. Big congratulatation to the entire group of Fewbies @Zixuan Huang - Charlie @Aisha S @Anoop Nair @Sunil Mathew @Charbel @Abdul Rafay-S @Tareck @Rjducos @Adhir Saxena for being brave enough to drive through Area 53. That is seriously a big achievement. And as you grow in confidence and driving skills, you will learn to love this area even more. Finally a huge shot out to @Hisham Masaad@Nivin for watching over the entire convoy and continuously assisting shen needed. Your wonderful support permitted me to be a bit more adventurous at times and make the drive challenging for the entire convoy. See you all soon on the sand.

Dear @Abu Muhammad, I don't think there should be any additional requirements. We've all been inexperienced Intermediate drivers at some point and we've all had bad days, while not all of us have 100+hp/1000kg power to weight ratio under the hood. We all drive to become better drivers and I think one of the best things of today's drive was precisely that those who most struggled, in the end succeeded toghether with the rest of the convoy and that not a single time we left anyone behind, making sure the weakest car could always make it to the top as everyone else. This is one of the best things in @Carnity, in my opinion.

At every drive level, you would always have drive members with different experience. That's why we call it a team sport at Carnity. Plus everyone is a new IM at some stage 😉

I have found couple of reasons for my frequent pop-out 1. My tyre pressure, my guage was faulty one, it showed higher readings by 2-4 psi, so in reality i was deflating too low. 2. Approach angle, even though try to follow the car in front, i realized to take the right angle for my car, its weight and my tyres. and in todays drive I made corrections to these and got positive results. Small adjustments huge difference in performance!!!

Totally agree with @Gaurav Bahai Adding more to that just enjoy it no matter what level of the drive is . Yesterday I totally enjoyed the newbie style and I always have some thing to bring back home along, if nothing at all it’s more than enough a smile at my front door .

Just a small suggestion to add, as @Lorenzo Candelperghermentioned when there is a refusal ahead we should hold our positions in order so that it will be easy to start again, lets not lineup side ways in very narrow track with soft patch. I have learnt a lot in today’s drive both do’s and dont’s.

As usual @Lorenzo Candelperghergreat drive full of fun but to be honest for intermediate drive the performance were poor and disappointing specially at the beginning with too many refusals and simply keeping the convoy in order. Just a friendly suggestion for such drive there should be a “Minimum Intermediate Drive”requirements. Have good weekend friends. Will see you 🔜 on the Sands.

@Ale Vallecchi yet another experience to drive under your command. The visibility conditions were not the best as the colour of sand terrain and the horizon was near same. I am visiting my optician to find out if there are some tinted sun shades for my glasses.I believe a red tint helps to distinguish the sand. Some crosses of crest with incline and coming out were difficult to make out. The whole drive was near incidence free except for a couple of tugs and spades maybe not more than few minutes each. Loved watching the gazelle and camel herds, though holding 4th position.. the first 3 cars are lucky and scare them away but still could see their tails disappearing.The sand was still blowing hard and had to deep shower for another afternoon drive. Appreciate everyone's contribution.. seems all are good and safe drivers. @Kalahari CF and @Shehab Alawadhisweep did full justice to their position. Look forward guys next week.

@Ale Vallecchi thanks again for yesterday’s drive, easily one of my favorites so far in terms of distance covered, terrain, speed and continuity. Great driving by all! The impromptu decision to head back to Lisaili was a good one! Thanks to all who supported and see you all soon.

Great drive @Srikumar, and as a first time experience to Area 53 and Iftar bowl, this drive has given me lot of confidence to attempt hill climbs. I was keeping an eye on my coolant temp which was hitting 115 degC at times and was doubtful whether i would make it up the iftar bowl, but since we had some rest time in between to cool down, i did not face any issue. thinking of an extra fan to be installed by today, and probably a different thermostat which opens at 85Deg instead of the stock 95DegC. Sad that we could not attempt super bowl due to crowding in the area. Amazing support by @Nivin as CF and @Hisham Masaadas Sweep. Good job at SL @Zixuan Huang - Charlie Thanks @Tareckfor the video

Choosing the Right Air Compressor for Desert Off-Roading in the UAE Off-roading in the UAE desert requires lowering your tire pressure to improve traction on soft sand. While some exits conveniently lead to nearby petrol stations where you can reinflate your tires, this is not always the case. For that reason, carrying a reliable air compressor is an essential part of any off-road recovery kit. It is one piece of equipment you do not want failing when it is time to head back onto the tarmac. Depending on your tire size and the type of compressor being used, reinflating tires can take anywhere from 2–4 minutes per tire to more than 25 minutes for a full set. Under the UAE’s intense desert heat, minimizing inflation time becomes more than just a convenience — it is an important factor for both comfort and equipment longevity. In this article, we will look at some of the key technical considerations when using an air compressor and explain what to look for when purchasing one. Heat Management: The Biggest Challenge The primary challenge with air compressors is heat generation. Compressing air creates friction between air molecules, and this process naturally produces significant amounts of heat. The temperature increase is most noticeable around the piston head, but the air hose itself can also become extremely hot during operation. This is why most quality compressors are equipped with cooling fins and a short metal outlet pipe designed to dissipate heat before it reaches the rubber hose. Even so, compressors should always be handled carefully after use, as certain components may become hot enough to cause burns. It is completely normal for a compressor to heat up during operation, especially when running continuously or operating in high ambient temperatures such as those experienced in the UAE desert. To reduce overheating and extend the lifespan of your compressor, it is recommended to: Keep the compressor in the shade whenever possible Avoid running it continuously for extended periods Respect the manufacturer’s specified duty cycle Allow the unit to cool down between inflation sessions when necessary Understanding Compressor Performance One important factor often overlooked is that inflating a single tire at a time can limit most compressors to an effective airflow of approximately 70 liters per minute (LPM). Even if a compressor is rated for higher output, airflow resistance from a single tire valve can restrict performance, forcing the compressor to work harder and generate additional heat. For high-performance compressors with greater airflow capacity, using a dual-hose or four-hose inflation system can significantly improve efficiency. Inflating multiple tires simultaneously reduces overall runtime, lowers operating temperatures, and makes much better use of the compressor’s available airflow. This setup is especially beneficial for vehicles equipped with larger off-road tires, where inflation times can otherwise become lengthy and demanding on the compressor. What to Look for When Buying an Air Compressor Choosing the right air compressor for desert off-roading is about more than simply buying the most powerful model available. Reliability, durability, and real-world performance are far more important when you are regularly inflating tires in harsh desert conditions. Below are some of the key factors to consider before making a purchase. 1. Warranty and Brand Reputation A quality compressor is an investment, and a reputable manufacturer should stand behind its product with a solid warranty. Premium brands typically offer warranties ranging from 4 to 5 years, which helps justify the higher purchase price and provides peace of mind for frequent off-roaders. Unfortunately, long warranty periods have become less common in recent years, making brand reputation and after-sales support more important than ever. 2. Airflow Output (LPM / CFM) Compressor performance is usually measured in either: LPM (Liters Per Minute) CFM (Cubic Feet Per Minute) As a reference: 2.3 CFM ≈ 65 LPM In general, higher airflow means faster tire inflation. For most off-road applications, compressors delivering 50 LPM or more will perform adequately, while larger tires and multi-tire inflation systems benefit from significantly higher output. However, comparing compressor specifications is not always straightforward. Manufacturers do not always use the same testing standards: Some advertise airflow at 0 PSI (free air delivery) Others provide ratings at 40 PSI, which places a much greater load on the compressor This means that published numbers can sometimes be misleading, and real-world performance may differ significantly from what is printed on the box. 3. Duty Cycle Air compressors generate substantial heat during operation, which means most units cannot run continuously without periodic cooling. The allowable runtime before cooling is required is known as the duty cycle. Manufacturers may express this in different ways: Time-based rating: Example: “20 minutes per hour” Percentage-based rating: Example: “33% duty cycle” In both cases, the meaning is essentially the same: the compressor can operate for approximately 20 minutes within a one-hour period before it should be allowed to cool down. This becomes particularly important for drivers who go off-roading frequently or who need to inflate larger tires. Exceeding the duty cycle repeatedly can quickly lead to overheating, reduced lifespan, or permanent compressor damage. 4. Hose and Accessory Quality The quality of the included accessories is often overlooked but has a major impact on usability and durability. Pay close attention to the quality of: The coiled air hose The pressure gauge The clip-on air chuck Poor-quality fittings and hoses are common failure points and can become frustrating during repeated desert use, especially under high temperatures. 5. Automatic Pressure Shut-Off A useful premium feature is an automatic pressure shut-off system. This function allows the compressor to stop automatically when the inflation trigger is not engaged, reducing unnecessary strain on the motor and limiting heat buildup. It also makes operation more convenient and efficient during multi-tire inflation. 6. Electrical Protection Features Quality compressors should include built-in protection systems such as: Inline fuse protection Thermal overload protection These safety features help protect both the compressor and your vehicle’s electrical system in the event of overheating, excessive current draw, or electrical faults. While these protections are generally standard on premium models, cheaper compressors may omit them entirely. Below a typical specs example of a Bushranger Black Max: Duty cycle is 30 minutes @40psi at 24°C ambient temperature. Obviously the ambient temperature will be much higher for us here in the UAE, so you will need to take that into account. Keep the compressor in the shade while using (or even on the inside of the car if possible) and keep your engine running. These compressors are rated to work most efficiently at 13.8 Volts, so your alternator should be running. Below i will be going through most of the brands we have encountered in the club, and how we can rate them: Premium Brands (****) Brands like ARB, Bushranger, TJM, Dobinsons, and Mean Mother, are the most famous premium brands that will be providing a quality unit that should last years. ARB and Bushranger/Viair have the advantage that you will find spare parts for them, so if you are interested and savvy, you can rebuild your compressor later on. Price range of these compressor is from 750 AED upwards up to 2500+AED. The main reason why they cost more is due to the quality of materials used, higher duty cycle of their compressor, and of course marketing as well. ARB ARB has the single cylinder unit for about 1000AED, while its big brother will be around 2,700AED. They have by far the best quality of hoses and gauges, and these units should last many years if being well taken care of. MeanMother The Mean Mother Adventurer is the only brand/model we know of in the UAE that offers 5year warranty, hence this model has become very popular in our off-roading community. You will find the Adventurer III model for around 750AED (150lpm), but now there is also the Adventurer IV which is having slightly better performance (180lpm) and costs about 999AED. We have heard about a few models failing but were replaced within warranty. Bushranger / Viair Bushranger/Viair has a range of different models with output ratings from 52lpm up to 72lpm. (Black Max for 800AED and Max Air III for 1120AED). The Max Air III has an automatic pressure shut-off. Their compressors are extremely reliable, but i have never been impressed with their yellow plastic coiled hoses and clip-on, except for the black hoses they use on the old SuperMax and the newer Max Air III model. Their smallest model (RV Air for 599AED) is the minimum in terms of output flow (52lpm) and will take quite some time to inflate your tires, but should work fine. Dobinsons Dobinsons have the Zenith model (170 lpm) that is being sold for 999AED. Quality looks top notch with good set of accessories and backed by a premium quality brand. Midrange Brands (***) Golden Camel The "Golden Camel" brand with its red compressors, sold in single cylinder and double cylinder models are fantastic performers for the price (200 AED for the single big cylinder 160lpm, and 280AED for the double cylinder compressor (300 lpm). Yes the hoses break, the electrics fail sometimes, and it won't be the most reliable compressor, but for that price it's worth a try if you want it. You will find the hoses also separarely in DM, and if you are a bit handy with a soldering gun you might make an attempt to replace the switches or solder a wire back on. They now even have a mighty big 4-cylinder unit, which pumps out an impressive 300lpm. The problem nowadays is that you have even "fake" Golden Camel compressors, who look 100% identical, but their quality is even more of a question mark. I recently bought one and it started overheating and shutting off after only two tyres. The vibration coming from the compressor makes me wonder about the tolerances used in the manufacturing process. On the other hand i also have a single cylinder Golden Camel that has been going strong for 3 years now and never failed. Vitaly Vitaly is a brand that basically re-labels these Chinese compressors and sells them at a higher price in hardware stores like ACE and Speedex. Again they are a bit of a gamble and the only advantage you will have is you will get at least 1year warranty through these stores. T-Max These compressors are looking very similar to the DM Single big cylinder compressors and the Mean Mother Adventurer. There is a smaller 72lpm unit and a big 150lpm unit. Prices are similar to Vitaly, and T-Max seems to be a reputable Australian brand, so perhaps the build quality will be a slight notch above the DM compressors. Volcano I recently stumbled upon this brand via a shop in Ajman. They are manufactured in Taiwan and manufacture compressors for high end brands as well. Their biggest compressor model is the B850 which is being sold for about 650AED. Have seen them on sale in DM as well. They come in a sturdy box, with decent hose (like the Bushranger top model) and have a pressure gauge with automatic cut-off. Flow rate is 98lpm. Brands/ Models to avoid: -The smaller "Golden Camel" Compressor. Absolutely worthless. Also sold under the "X-Cessories" brand name. -Mini compressors to connect to the cigarette lighter: Will last only a few drives. Not made to inflate weekly from 15 to 35psi, unless you want to wait for 25mins or longer. Will overheat easily because of this. These are made for sedans and bicycles. The Black and Decker and Michelin models seem to work better, but it will take you upwards of 25 minutes to inflate your tires. If you happen to have one of those, i strongly recommend to only inflate to about 25psi you can then drive to the nearest petrol station and use their compressor. If you are in the market of buying a new compressor, i hope this article can shed some light and useful information that will guide you in the right direction. As you can clearly see, inflating tyres on a 4x4 in the summer heat requires a big powerful compressor that can quickly inflate your tyres before overheating or shutting down.

@Srikumar this was my first drive with you and I definitely enjoyed it! as you said this area is challenging for fewbies but we all managed well. looking for new drives with you! And thanks to @Hisham Masaad and @Nivin, it's always reassuring when driving with you guys

@Lorenzo Candelpergherwhat a fun filled drive it was today. Even though there were quite few refusals, you have paced it perfectly and made the drive very interesting. The second half was absolute fun, tall dunes, nice criss cross and ending the drive in Iftar bowl was icing on the cake. I truly believe that carrying the entire convoy is team effort and definitely you have done that well as a lead and demonstrated its a team sport. Personally it was very satisfying drive for me in total, with Iftar bowl and without popout. Truly amazing support team and entire convoy did very well. Thanks to every one for joining and having raised your tolerance level. Hope we get to enjoy once again reload of the area soon!!!!!

@Lorenzo CandelpergherDear sir.. I hope, I did not miss the opportunity here. There were 2 drivers who dropped out. Anyway hope everyone had a great drive.

Sorry but one of those sleepless nights with a small baby.

Thank you @Srikumar for taking up a fewbie drive in area 53, the experience is entirely different than any other fewbie drives, and never expect to be the SL for my first drive in area 53. The sand in the area is softer, and I have to use 2 of my prevous HT tires due some serious damage to the AT ones, I felt the reduced traction after first few small climbs and the refusal, I further aired down to 11 PSI. After hitting a tiny pocket's rim, I of course had my first ever pop-out to one of the 11PSI HT tire. With the help of the team (many thanks to all of you!!), the pop-out got fixed quickly. It was really surprising to see so many cars in the same area of a desert at the same time, perhaps there were nearly 100 cars in the area? I got to see a wild blackout Armada leading a covey, a crazy loud FJ covoy, several of the American Toyota specie 4Runner bouncing in Middle East desert, and Wranglers that look like pros but have zero knowledge on momentum and gravity. I think it is definitely not easy to drive behind me this time, refusals and all that. If I were myself driving behind, I would be cursing the me in front already. @Aisha S has surely done well, and did not get disturbed much. This drive has indeed challenged my cofidence and made me doubt my ability, but the learning is tremendous. Hopefully my next visit to area 53, I will bring more solid cofidence and ability to tackle this area. It was good to have you all in this drive and special thanks to the support team member @Nivin and rescue mission team leader @Hisham Masaad See you next time! Few pics uploaded. @Charbel can you whatsapp me for the video of you climbing the iftar bowl? 0528402096

@Gaurav Thanks for leading the drive and ensuring everyone is safe. I also appreciate your advice at the end of the drive. @Jeepie Thanks for your support and advice at the back of convoy It was my first night drive and it was indeed a very interesting experience. I enjoyed it tremendously and I certainly slept well when I got home after the drive.

85 is too late even. Look for 70-76 degree thermostat, if it exists in Jeep (I'm sure it will be). Pajero stock thermo open at 85 and low temp opens at 76, both available from dealership. Rem, thermo opening and closing is at slow motion and not an instant electronic on/off switch. 76 degree thermo start opening at 76 degrees and will take a minute or two to fully open by the time temp will rise to 80-85 degrees.

Can you explain that @Abu Muhammad, what do you mean by "minimum intermediate drive" to join an IM🤔🤔??

@Vanessa8580 can you please reload this drive more frequently!!!

@varunmehndiratta no sweat dear...

Sorry @Ashok chaturvedi had taken permission from wife and the maid, however baby was just in too naughty a mood yesterday for both of them to handle. 🙂So had to step out at last min.

Thanks All for the great Drive. Pictures are still few and far between, but I will eventually figure this thing out If you will provide me with your e-mai dress I can upload and share with you the original files thank you

thanks @Frederic & @Anoop Nair, i'm in fact inspired by Fred's technical-but-for-laymen articles. I'm already thinking my next article: 4LO Explained 😂

@Ashok chaturvedi, if @varunmehndiratta had announced earlier his intention not to come you would have been the next in line, but since he sent a message at 3am, there wasn't much to do.. The other dropout was taken by @Lakshmi Narasimhanwho had precedence in the waiting list. You missed a good drive, but there will be many more!

Thanks @Tbone for leading a flawless drive this morning and to @Janarthan for the support in sweep! It was a new experience to climb Pink Rock at daybreak! The sands have a beautiful red hue but is deceptively soft at places. Throw in elevation climbs and drops means a pretty exhilarating morning! Thanks for regularly checking on the drive pace and difficulty. It demanded full concentration and good momentum throughout. But as we are an abbreviated convoy we could keep a tight knit and cover some good ground, finishing at Big Red. We saw one or two other convoys but otherwise we had the playground to ourselves! Special mention to @JamesThorn who performed superbly for a first fewbie drive. It was definitely one of the more challenging fewbie drives so every reason to be chuffed! A couple of pics in the gallery. Sorry I totally messed up my camera settings so I have just seen some shots are a bit blurry...😅

Hi All missed the actions..just a query @Lakshmi Narasimhan @Danish Mohammad were you trying the area in M or D mode that it was leading to upshifting? Asking it as read somewhere that vehicles automatically upshift even when on M mode (haven't experienced it yet). Personally I have not been able to go through Area 53 or Shuwaib in D mode on my Jeep, however understand many manage to do so..so just a bit curious. Also Jeep gang - @Ilya @Lorenzo Candelpergher would really appreciate your feedback - do you manage to push through your beasts in D mode in this area (especially the climbs and descents) or switch to M while handling steep climbs. Just trying to understand if I am relying on my Jeep too much. Also have you experienced upshifting while in M mode on your Jeep.

Thanks @Gaurav for a wonderful drive. It was quite fun drive. The drive was one of those types that I like most. I never before enjoyed a night drive as much as of last night. It seemed like @M.Seidam @Jeepie and especially @Rizwanm2had few refusals to take care of. I like refusals in night drives, (sorry to say that) for it gives me time to enjoy the tranquility of the desert in the night. Being behind the lead I can only comment on my drive. It was my first drive with my new lift and 2nd one with the new tires and I am still new to the changed driving stance. Crossing dunes seemed a lot more easier yesterday, without the usual scooping of sand. I was however a bit worried if I might have a pop out as it happened a couple of times in my last drive and I was driving in a slightly sedated manner. My first refusal occurred due to the lighter gas than it was required and the recovery issues seemed to be due to 4 wheel drive not engaging properly, since you mentioned that my front wheels were not moving. In my last drive I had a “Service 4WD” message pop up and it came at the fag end while exiting and wasn’t sure what it was doing. Apart from that one time I did not seem to have any issues for rest of the drive. And the second refusals was because I have to live up to my new profile name, and take some loops to come back on track. I just slipped out to the other side of the ridge as I suffered a momentary lack of concentration, since I was looking at my son; who was asleep by then - if he was comfortable or not. PS: It is important to be able to keep adequate distance while observing what the lead/driver in front is doing, one of the skills everyone must practice. This will help to assess how to proceed with tackling the terrain, while giving enough time and space to not getting oneself stuck back to back in a difficult situation.

I have a 70mai air Compressor along with my onboard ARB one for when I have to top up air because I deflated more or to level the tires after a drive. This one goes into the cigarette lighter and auto inflated to the set pressure. It also shows pressure in .1 increments. I have OCD that all my tires have to have the same pressure on my car center console screen, else I pull my hair out or have sleeplessness. 🤣

Congrats @Aisha S. Well done!!

Congrats @James Thorn. Well done !!

Definitely a fun drive with great support from @Tbone and @Janarthan that made it possible. Along with the support from @TT_Dubai that mare my first Fewbie drive very memorable and looking forward to the next one !!!

@Looper give the number below a call/WhatsApp. He has the ARB air gun itself. +971 55 248 1803 hth … ps without a tank the air gun will ‘pulse’ air vs a continuous stream.

Have u look for something like this from ARB or at least if ARB makes any adapter that can go in between. Due to different companies standard and market they serve such male/female coupling adapters are always challenge to find.

Thanks @Frederic for the wonderful drive.It was really fun and leaned a lot. Also thank @M.Seidam for all your help and advice especially on refusals.

Thank you @Ale Vallecchi for an amazing drive. It's nice to discover new places and new pathways like the ones you took us through in the first part of our drive. You definitely bring us more confidence and techniques for ridge riding. Pretty much enjoyed every moment this morning. Impressive distance we crossed that required a lot of attention and reaction. And as per the LRDG motto Non Vi Sed Arte Thank you @Ranjan Das @Kalahari and @Shehab Alawadhi for the support and guidance. @Matt.T @Ashok chaturvedi @Chinthaka Ruwan@Niki @Russ Beautiful to see all of you guys this morning !

thanks @Srikumar for this challenging yet super exciting drive this morning. had a lot of fun and learning today. that would not have been possible without the help of the support team @Hisham Masaad, @Nivin, @Zixuan Huang - Charlie and the group of amazing drivers. i posted few pics and videos in the gallery. see you in the next one !

Thank you a lot Frederic @Frederic for leading the absolute Newbie drive today. Indeed it was a super smooth morning being blessed by the “shy” sun along with super spirit and enthusiasm among all the new comers today who did just more than great in their day one reminded me of my own indeed. @Enrico Biscaro @Aaliyah Mohammed @Brian Dev @Jins Johnand @Ajit John thank you for making this day so beautiful by being on time , your careful attention and fantastic driving and I hope to see you again soon. Stay save wishing you lovely week ahead. Here comes a humble relive hope you enjoy and some snaps in gallery

Dear Desert Wanderers, this RSVP is now closed. Please find below the convoy order for our drive: @Mario Cornejo, @Danish Mohammad, @Ranjan Das, @Lakshmi Narasimhan, @varunmehndiratta, @M.Seidam, @Ilya, @Watteau, @Dodi Syahdar, @Abu Muhammad, @Hisham Masaad: this drive is going to be very demanding from a technical point of view, both mentally for the drivers and mechanically for the cars. It will require your full and undivided concentration at every step, especially when we will reach elevated positions on steep slopes, so make sure you come well rested and hydrated and that and you don’t have any reason for being distracted. Also, please consider carefully if you wish to bring passengers along with you. We will be using Carnity Channel 4 (446.08125Mhz) Our meeting point is confirmed at Al Badayer Exit - E44 Dubai - Hatta Road - https://goo.gl/maps/JkhE9hDwve8mkkU99 See you tomorrow morning, ready to go (i.e. already caffeinated, deflated, flagged and briefed) by no later 5:00am (sharp), so make sure you make it to the meeting point at least by 4:45am.

Great work Tarek! Thanks

@Rjducos @Sunil Mathew @Anoop Nair @Aisha S

First time with @Srikumar and first time in Area 53. I was under the impression that Area 53, Super bowl, Iftar bowl etc were strictly FB+ and IM territory. Was surprised to see Area 53 in an FB ride..so didnt want to miss the chance, and ended up as the first sign up 😀👍 Looking forward to it and 🤞🤞🤞

In addition to your list and Rubicon, lc70 series also have the option with part time 4wd and F&R locks, for part time 4WDs, when 4H/4L engaged, power to F&R is locked at 50:50 already hence no central diff lock is needed LC70 series In China, people are so obsessed with locks, they consider more locks = better offroadability, hence there are several options in China with part time 4wd and F&R locks, the costs from 130k AED Great Wall Haval H9, positioned against Prado Great Wall Tank 300 BAIC BJ40, BAIC used to own Jeep's factory in China🙃 They all proper 4x4s with frame and low range gear, but only 2.0T/2.3T engines with power to weight ratio more or less around 100, which is considered as underpowered in desert driving. All those cars indeed beat their competitors (originals) in most of offroad scenaries just because of the locks. Tank 300 is a recent product and I think the engineers probably thought about desert driving under extreme heat: Central display setting to keep engine fan rev high all the time Thermostat can be taken out without removing any parts, just like removing a fuse from fuse box Havel H9 & BAIC BJ40 are also available in UAE, without lockers sadly 0-0 (I didnt see the car but neither of dealers marketed diff locks as selling point)

This is an amazing effort @Zed to enlighten everyone with your recent differential enlightenment. Just a small add-on on few points for better clarity. Point 4: Center differential engagement comes standard when you switch to LO gear. Second, you can use center differential in high using HLC (Hi Lock Center diff), hence in most cars, there is no button labeled as center diff, one can use center diff either in HLC or in LLC 4X4 gearing. Point 5: Rear diff-lock will only help to get unstuck if any one of the rear wheels still has traction. If both rear wheels are in the air or deep inside the sand then the rear diff-lock won't be able to help much. Point 7: Jeep Rubicon has all three diff and plus sway bar disconnect option with a flick of a button, that can work wonder even when the vehicle is crested with all 4 wheels in the air. Sway bar disconnect will drop the front wheel lower by a couple of inches and increase the chance of self-recovery if cresting is not on razor-sharp blade.