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Our forums are rife with people discussing modifications that they are either doing or intending to do. There are clearly two camps: the modders and the purists. And there are those sitting on the fence. Neither camp is incorrect. And I don't think we should be trying to resolve the tension between the two. That's what makes the conversations here so darn interesting So when @Rob S called me out for pushing the "stock car" camp in drives, it forced me to rethink if I really have a true purist's machine. Having just completed a year at Carnity and owning my car, I've driven roughly 3,400 km off-road (thanks Gaia) in that time. And this coupled with Rob's shoutout, I felt like it made a good moment to reflect on what I've added to the car in that time, and answer the question - "is my car still stock?" To help bring some gradation to this, I'm going to employ the SAMR Model. The model is designed to study technology integration in the classroom, but the core strategic construct can be applied to vehicle upgrades too. After all, everything we do is integrating technology in various ways. Broadly speaking, technology integration is broken into two pillars - Enhancement looks to find direct substitutes or add-ons that don't fundamentally alter the core technology being used. For example, adding offroad lighting in any place that was not a light before, is augmenting a new use out of a previously unused area. Similarly, if you swapped out a Philips H4 Halogen bulb with an Osram one, or an LED one, you haven't physically altered the bulb housing or the reflector/projector setup. Transformation changes the design and/or definition of the part being used. For example, if you use an All/Terrain (A/T) tyre instead of a Highway/Terrain (H/T), you have fundamentally altered the part beyond it's core design. Therefore, an A/T tire is a modification. For our purpose, I will be using "Augmentation" to refer to Enhancement, and "Modification" to refer to Transformation. Here are all of the changes I've made over the past year of owning my Nissan Patrol (Y61) Long Wheelbase "Super Safari". *The priority coding is intended for you, and not for me. I can tell you for certain that the speaker upgrade was the single greatest thing I did. With this lexicon, it is clear that I've made four (4) modifications to car in the past year: A/T Tires, Fog Lights, Entertainment Head Unit, and Speaker System The truth is that the only true purist who can say they are driving their car as is would be somebody who has only installed a bash plate and is still running the H/T tires the car shipped with. Beyond that, almost every car has been modified from its original state in some way. And therefore, I'm not really driving a stock car anymore. But what long-term purists are constantly trying to help the modders avoid sinking their money into upgrades that are masquerading as significant incremental performance, but are instead purely aesthetic. And aesthetics are deeply personal. What looks good to you may not appeal to me, and vice versa. And secondly, pragmatic purists are trying to help modders stop and reflect about what is a true performance gain. Gaining 30bhp on a 250bhp car is a 12% performance gain. Your real, at-the-wheel bhp figures will be even lower. For example, if your car weighs 2,950kg and produces 271bhp; a 10bhp incremental lift will deliver a 3.7% gain in Power-to-Weight Ratio (PWR). But if you carry an additional human being weighing 50kg, this gain will go down by 2% to 1.7%. A half-empty fuel tank of 60L is already ~22 kgs lighter. So performance gains are notoriously difficult to get right unless you make the associated weight savings as well. And manufacture rated horsepower numbers are never the real at-wheel delivered power. And lastly, seasoned off-roaders (who actually care) are trying to ensure that anybody investing in a modification is "investing" in an upgrade that they know will fix a continued and replicated gap. Not being able to climb one or two times is not enough reason to tune your engine and get suspension upgrades. But, understanding the concepts of rebound and compression, and isolating how they affect your driving control when you try to negotiate steep or uneven climbs is. A seasoned offroader is just trying to impress upon you to invest the time and experience it takes to isolate where the real gain will emerge from. So, with these caveats and voices in my head, what might then, be further upgrades that I'm looking at in the future, you may ask: Aftermarket Shocks + Longer Springs (High) This will be my single biggest modification to the car, and I'm doing a ton of research to get it as close to right as possible. And I still may not do it for another year. The only real time I have felt the need for better shocks are when trying to build enough momentum over uneven dunes. In places like Iftar Bowl, when you climb from the right-hand side, there are a few humps in the get-go that my stock suspension just rebounds too much over. This leads to a lack in control and a fear that the bouncing front will rub the nose as I try to climb. If I take my ego out of the picture for not doing the climb, I don't actually really need the fancy Remote Reservoir or Dual-Shock setups. I can then instead look to make a suspension upgrade that will give me the ability to significantly increase my payload, increase comfort over rocky trails and corrugations, and account for additional weight in the front to prevent any nosediving. Cabin Drawer System (Medium) is a "redefinition" because it requires removing the third row of seats, and physically altering the space For all the things I want to stow away, and not have to constantly ratchet down. Dual-battery system (High) If you see above, I have a ton of lights If I add any more, and a fridge, and a rig to power any devices while camping, I will need an additional battery. One of the things that most of us never do when we add extra lights is to check for the current draw. Please do that, whenever you add additional electronics. This includes your entertainment head unit as well. And what are upgrades, I don't think I will be getting any time soon or at all: Beadlock Rims: I may even downgrade to the classic silver Nissan Rims on the Safari. The true benefit of using beadlocks is so far lost on me. If I was to truly upgrade my rims, I would go for forged wheels to reduce weight while increasing strength, than prioritise bead grip. Roof-rack: I don't currently see the full value in installing a roof-rack. I will only do this when I've exhausted the internal cabin space. The roofs of cars are not rated to carry the enormous loads that we subject on them. Furthermore, if weight distribution is not done correctly on the roof, it will significantly alter the center of gravity of my car. Exhaust Mods: As I live with a sportscar that is plenty loud to wake up the neighborhood, and is being tuned for the track, I prefer the "sleeper" silence of the Patrol. I've also gone to extreme lengths to deaden the internal cabin to hear music at the levels I like so getting louder outside seems counter-productive. Will this kick off another debate? I sure hope so. Like I said, that's what makes these forums so darn interesting. [ 🐵 ]

@ASAD. I couldn't agree more with your approach. We all learn from the upgrades we make. And I can safely say that you've got a fine looking - and most importantly, performing - Prado in the process. The warranty process is a confusing one and I think it definitely confuses me to no end. On every trip to Nissan, I get a different explanation of what my "parts warranty" covers and excludes. So this only exasperates me further. I do fully agree that the confidence and safety, an upgraded suspension will give to any car is worth it, as long as you know what it is doing, and how you can dial it in. I see many offroaders heading offroad with Remote Reservoirs who've never dialed in their settings to know what works best. But those who do, are maximising the impact of this worthy upgrade. @Mario Cornejo - your SWB was the example I always looked at when I started out in Carnity. Because, you're also an avid camper and offroader who doesn't restrict himself to drives to spend real time out in the outdoors. This makes any upgrade you make so in tune with your needs beyond just pure performance. For example, thanks to you and @Gaurav, I prioritized the Front Differential Reinforcement ahead of other upgrades because it now gives me the peace of mind until I go in for a shocks+springs upgrade. And yes, can't wait to meet soon to discuss. I'll be away traveling over the next month so will definitely catch you some time in late August

Where do I start with a reply on this one @munkybizness! and how do I keep a reply short . . . let me try! Part of the joy in being in a "car" club and seeing members every few weeks is to see how they have individually adapted/modified/personalized their "pride and joy". I smile when you say stock, because every time I join you on a drive a notice something a little different about your car . . . . . . I like your description and split of modifications but I am going to politely disagree with you on the subject of those monster front lights! I've seen them in the light and the dark, definitely not an augmentation, definitely a significant change and modification haha For me I look at anything as a change from "stock" as a modification (a bit like the UK insurance firms do!), and put these into 3 (though I sub-divide 1 into to parts). Need, Want, and Waste. its also important to note that it also depends on how much of a dedicated off road vehicle you have, and what you bought before you got the bug! 1. Need - if you have a car with 4 low and decent HP then there are only 3 (edited 4) things that falls into the category. Decent flag Mount, so you cant attach a proper flag! BashPlate to save the radiator / bumper and for those with newer 4x4s that follow the trend for bigger wheels and lower profile tyres, Some new Rims and Larger profile tyres. (edited - 4th, decent tow hooks if you dont have.) 2.a Want (sensible) - For confidence and/or less hassle. A/T Tyres with bigger profile if you own an older car, Auxiliary fan for transmission cooler in the summer if you car is susceptible. Kill switch for ABS / traction control. The Bumper cut I did on my prado was the single best thing I did. I no longer caught the bumper edges and it stopped my hesitation and over cautious driving. Along with the bashplate this change gave me much confidence and completely transformed how I enjoyed my time in the desert. Ive ended up fitting a Snorkel because I'm fed up of vacuuming out the airbox every weekend in the middle of the apartment parking! 2.b Want (less sensible)- To make time in the desert more enjoyable, or just for fun, or maybe just for looks, or because you have always wanted it! Some of us always wanted to have that loud exhaust, that remap, those fancy lights, the Wide wheel track, the lifted jeep. Many of us in UAE are here for a defined or limited period, the cost of modifications and labour, along with insurance rules mean for many of us this is the only time and place to do it! 3. Waste - For those new to the desert and 4x4 life, this list will depend on where you sit on the above. Reserved for Mods that are likely to make our cars worse. . . . . Lift springs without matched damper on a car with sufficient ground clearances, or maybe Beadlocks wheels, maybe a pedal commander, Open "oil based" air filter kit. PS - I was never going to be in the "1. Need" camp and moved quickly to "2.a Want (sensible)" and now probably in "2.b Want (less sensible)"

Great topic @munkybizness. I would argue that there is no such thing as purists in off-roading, every offroader has had to in your words either had to augment or modify depending on his/ her or the cars needs. Therefore the judgement on whether someones driving stock will also depend what the other person thinks is essential for offroading and that stems out of mainly 2 things: tyres and suspension. I will come to these later. Another factor that I believe plays significantly is the state of your car. E.g. like yourself, many members in our club have bought new cars and how much they can tamper with the stock car depends on how much modification does the agency allow for it to still cover warranty. This i believe plays a big part in decision making. For others like me, who are driving older cars can go crazy with any modification possible or pick and choose as they like without thinking much of how you will deal with the agency. I started offroading with my 10+ year old car and having already clocked +250K Kms. Even then, i wanted to keep my car stock for as long as possible. The 8mm bash plate and flag mount were the first enhancements i got done, i would call them essentials even if you like to hit the dunes occasionally with light offroading. For me, after the essentials came the bumper trim. The essentials hardly altered the look of the car so I tried to maintain my stock bumper look and front skirt for as long as possible thinking it would be ok if i was careful. And up until my fewbie drives, it was perfectly fine but as the pace went up so did the risk of hitting the bumper. It came to a point where i was more worried about damaging my bumper than enjoying the drive and thats when i decided to have the bumper trim. The bumper trim opened the flood gates for me 😝. Once the car lost its family looks, i could basically do whatever i wanted with it. I did get the some offroad lights with the bumper trim. My next upgrade were the wheels, this was only triggered after a few pop-outs. I went on to get the method beadgrips just for this purpose. Though if i were to redo this, i wouldnt have changed my wheels in the first place, i bought them out of only frustration of having pop-outs, a couple of them only btw but they were enough for me to think the problem was the wheels rather than the way i was driving. My last upgrade was the suspension and safe to say the most satisfying one. I wont go into details as this is the most widely discussed topic in offroading communities as well as in carnity, the choice of whether a suspension upgrade is required or which one suits you or your car is very subjective and depends on how much you can or want to spend . But all i can say is that it has given me the confidence to push the car more and not worry about it bouncing everywhere, so in a way it has added to its protection.

This is an awesome suggestion for many of us who have a spacious vehicle. The workaround to the above is to upgrade the current battery from 65/70 AMP (standard specs) to 80/90 AMP. Over the number of years, I keep upgrading my car battery as a test phase. A recent upgrade was to 90 AMP (maximum amp available for light vehicle battery size), my mechanic advise if my 110 AMP alternator fails soon, then we can bump that to 140 AMP (if needed). So far it's been 7-8 months and the 90 AMP battery is doing fine with all additional light, music and winching electrical requirements.

Well done @ASAD. to have the acceptance of wrongly done mod, that many offroaders don't even realize let alone come forward to share with others. Bravo. Beadlocks can be essential for hard-core offroaders and rally drivers, but for regular weekend off-roaders if you tweak your driving style and be in sync with the correct PSI, you may have an accidental pop-out once in six months. Which is not a big deal.

Well, not sure where to start, but by just agreeing that it is a great topic. The approach I took was a bit different: decided on the Y61 SWB, researched about the most common / possible changes, I then concentrated on suspension and safety. Mostly, I think that carrying with changes is part of the off road fun. Hope we meet in a drive soon for a conversation on the subject. Cheers!

The point about power source is 100% correct. In a light-hearted way, I am winding @munkybizness up. I say they are too big and too much of an improvement he needs to move them from augmented change to modification

Thanks @Gaurav and totally agree there. I feel its important to share experiences that can help others with their own decision making. Again these choices are very personal so anyone who chooses a certain upgrade may have a good enough reason to do so. And just to elaborate i didnt get the beadlocks but sort of hybrids called beadgrips which have inner grooves that grip the tyre and not allow it to slip off the wheel when deflated. Why would I have chosen differently or lets say not choose at all? 1. they are the same size as my stock wheels i.e. 17”. So I got no advantage when it came to side wall. For others who are looking to change rims, downgrading size from 19 or 18” to 16–17 wheels may be one advantage they are looking for. 2. The beadgrips allow you lower psi but not as low as beadlocks, and by low i mean you are not very far off from what you would have in stock wheels anyway. If you are too low, there is a risk of sand going into the grooves and then the tyre starts leaking or worse you risk a popout if it hits a hard bump. Anyone whos had experience with getting the beads sit back on the grooves will tell you what a nightmare it is. They are easy to fix in a tyre shop with high pressure compressors no in the middle of the desert. So yes, i reduced the risk of a popout but now I run a risk that if I do have a popout or leak I might as well just swap the tyre rather than trying to fix it. If you are looking to change your wheels anyway the beadgrips do provide a good alternative to beadlocks in the same price range as other normal aftermarket wheels. But my reason to get them was just to avoid popouts, that can still happen if i am reckless. The advantage that i think they did provide is they have a 1” offset which compensated well when i got the suspension done. Didnot need any spacers.

Dear Mayank @munkybizness, Great topic. I'm always against major mods to the car which was designed by competent engineers who has designed a machine keeping a balance between weekend funs with offroading and daily use. I don't like to make any mods before understanding how its going to benefit me and my driving style. I have tweaked a little bit here and there to squeeze out a little but no major mod till now. The 1st mod was putting wider tires which I believed will help me to have an advantage. Now I have gone back to the stock tire size as increasing the width only increased the weight of the tires and I didn't gain any significant advantage and increased the rolling resistance. When engine temp became a problem I made the fan clutch a little tighter enabling it to engage faster and run more efficiently. Of course the shock absorbers were changed to Bilsteins which was again Nissan's choice for their offroad version and anyways my stock shocks were really bad. I have put 4 additional lights on the roof top under the impression that they will give me better luminance during night drives but due to poor brackets and placement defects I don't use them much. They actually aid me in finding where my car is parked in a parking lot as they rise above most cars and helps me in identifying where my car is parked. Another reason I don't use them is the limitations of the alternator which really cannot cope up with the high demand. Looking out for a higher rated alternator which can cope up with the supply demand. Of course higher rated alternator fix needs a higher rated battery terminal cables. I'm not against any major mods but believe me they are not worth it. The amount of money we spend doesn't justify the performance. At the end of all the mods you get a machine which you no longer recognizes and cannot use much.

Congratulations @varunmehndiratta 😊

Well done @varunmehndirattacongratulations , look forward to be following you...

Congrats @varunmehndiratta Well done. Hope to join one of your convoys soon. Love your trip posts and briefs😊

Congratulations @Sunny84 for reaching the Fewbie 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. FEWBIE Drives Attended (Indicative) Minimum 5 Newbie drives are required within last 3 months for Fewbie promotion. What you'll learn Basic dune and sand reading Self-recovery techniques Shoveling at right place Crawling out of difficult situations Blip Blip - Coordinate steering and gas control Basic side sloping and hill climb Basic ridge riding and criss crossing Basic control over technical dunes Slightly faster pace desert driving Ability to manage stuck/refusals with radio Learn to control and avoid fishtailing Never fight or challenge gravity Skills required Enthusiastic and positive attitude Willingness to learn and help others Presence of mind and attention to detail Car Worthiness Any 4x4 vehicle with low range gearing Suitable approach and departure angle Off-road gear required Safety flag, tire deflator, tire pressure gauge, shovel, fire extinguisher, medical kit, radio (walkie-talkie), air compressor. Drive teamwork Manage second lead and sweep positions upon request Intuitive and proactive to support Trip Lead Observe recoveries and offer help, when needed Drive Joining Join Newbie and Fewbie drives Forum participation Active participation on the forum Share drive experience + feedback Share drive pictures in the gallery Post trip report after the drive

@Rob S guess you forgot to mention how you got convinced of those dobinsons?? 😂😂

The speaker and amplifier upgrade was the most satisfying upgrade I have done. My car is a daily drive and I travel between 300 to 400 kms daily and it gives proper entertainment and refreshes my mind and takes away the fatigue listening to all the great songs

Dear Desertnauts there is a saying in Italian that goes "meglio pochi ma buoni", that is "better few but good ones". This is certainly the case for this drive, with 2 Support Team members - @munkybizness and @Ranjan Das - and an experienced Intermediate @ASAD., taking on the majestic star-dunes between Shuwaib and Madam/Badayer. A small pack of off-roaders thirsty for climbs, dips, criss-crossing and side sloping, on sand that seems to have returned to an almost pristine state, thanks to the dramatic drop in drives in this often overcrowded area, and the help from some strong winds. Departure is from the Bezhad Ranch site, just off of E55, connecting Al Madam with Shuwaib. Meeting time should be as close to 3:30PM as possible, with the goal of leaving well before 4:00PM. The challenges offered by this area may be compounded by the softness and depth of the layer of sand freshly blown by the recent winds. We'll start the drive with the following posse order: @munkybizness in Second Lead @ASAD. at #3 @Ranjan Das in Sweep. Positions wil be shuffled throughout the drive. Looking forward to seeing you tomorrow. Have a restful night.

Congratulations @varunmehndiratta .

Bravo @varunmehndiratta great achievement! 👏👏

Congrats @varunmehndiratta. Well deserved!

Congratulations @Sunny84enjoy your new level

Congratulations @varunmehndiratta

Congratulations @varunmehndiratta .. well done my friend

Can't forget the drive with yourself @Islam Soliman and @Looper during Ramadan. Looking forward to make some unforgettable memories. Thanks.

Congratulations @varunmehndiratta. Jeep power 💪

well deserved @varunmehndiratta! hope to join one of your drives soon!

Congratulations @varunmehndiratta, very well deserved👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

While good marshals scale our skills, having the right company that you can look at directly in front of you gives you so much more to glean off of. And sharing convoys in my Newbie & Fewbie drives with you around meant that I had some of the best examples to emulate. Now, the sticker says it too. Congratulations @varunmehndiratta and I look forward to joining more convoys (in your lead) soon. P.S. We're also yet to blast loud Punjabi chunes on the airwaves

Congratulations @varunmehndiratta enjoy and spread your wings now on the Carnity’s way 👍. Your last lead was fantastic

Congratulations @varunmehndiratta for reaching the Expert 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. EXPERT - Carnity Exclusivity The expert level will offer you continuous improvement in your overall development by alternating between the lead and supporting the drive every week. This way, you will still learn and advance your knowledge by supporting other trip leads in different terrain to understand the complexity and challenges involved and practicing independent lead and convoy management. Carnity Benefits Full access to Carnity without any paid subscription. Join any drive in the “Manage” tab. Carnity Contribution Committed to driving with Carnity off-road club only. Lead a minimum of 6 weekend drives per quarter (3 months). Forum contribution to earn Carnity points. What you'll learn Navigating with or without GPS on the fly. Trip planning, safety exits, and recce skills. Response to vehicle breakdown and accidents. Skills required A resilient, calculative, and rational thinker. Self-reliance, positive attitude, and forward-thinking. Kind, selfless, and considerate of others’ concerns. Car Worthiness Capable 4x4 vehicle with a 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, Floor jack and jack board, tire repair kit, toolbox, tie-down straps, fluids. Drive teamwork Lead Fewbie, Fewbie Plus, Intermediate, or Extreme drives. Inspect the vehicle for safety before the off-road drive. Support all other level drives, proactively. Drive Joining All Levels. Forum participation Active participation in the forum. Share drive experience + feedback. Share drive pictures in the gallery. Post trip report after the drive.

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. MUST READ AND TOTALLY AGREE: COVID19 Precautions Ban from Carnity Off-road Club Two Way Radio Guidelines Drive Details Level: Fewbie Plus and Above When: 08 July 2022 Friday Meeting time: 5:15 AM (SHARP - Without any exceptions) Meeting Point: https://goo.gl/maps/vTrkgA6vTqRBHFYP8 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: 9:15 AM PS: COMPRESSOR ONLY DRIVE. LIMITED SPOTS AVAILABLE: Limited to 10 cars only. RSVP will close on Thursday - 2:00pm 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 Calendar below

All I wanted to say @Gaurav is a better amp battery will prolong the death of a battery when its not charged properly by a competent alternator. The OEM battery is enough if you have an alternator which can power up the battery as per demand. But ultimately the battery will die if the alternator cannot cope with the power demands you subject the car. Light mods are taken lightly until you end up in the middle of no where with a dead battery

Definitely, hope you're well now and see you soon on the sands. Thanks

Congratulations @Sunny84 very well done and i am looking forward another fun day together.

Ready to rumble 😜🤙

Great news @Sunny84, well deserved look forward to driving with you on a Fewbie drive 👍

Congratulations @Sunny84

Well done @Sunny84, congratulations on your promotion

Congratulations @Sunny84! Enjoy the new level 😎🚀

Congrats @Sunny84 🎉🎉

Congrats @varunmehndiratta. Looking forward to drive with you sometime.

I thought I’d start a new topic regarding general advice with the Ram. Predominately I am concerned with progressing into Fewbie (and maybe even beyond) territory with the vehicle ‘as is’. It’s taken a beating in newbie level drives and even though I am officially now a fewbie I am fearful of risking it just yet. So, I just wanted to highlight the pitfalls of this car for other owners or potential owners. - the front bumper is super low, which makes approach/departure angle awful. The stock ‘bash plate’ has taken a beating and I’ve been quoted around 8k to get something decent put on there. It requires a whole front bumper change - the electronic transmission sucks! Coming out of 4L when trans temp is high is impossible. After any tug the 4wd system gets temporarily disabled - there is no ability to disable side airbags. The fuse for them is connected to the ECM. Removing it would disable the whole car - the break over angle is awful due to the long wheelbase. Prepare to crest many many times That being said, it’s so fun smashing round the desert in a big V8! It’s very capable in deep soft sand, rarely gets bogged down, and of course it’s weight and inertia helps to get through some very tricky spots. If any seniors have advice on dealing with these issues mentioned above I’d appreciate it, but I don’t think the car ‘as stock’ would be able to handle a fewbie drive.

Great drive @Srikumar, sorry it had to be cut short but hopefully you will have your car sorted for our next dose soon @Waqas Parvez you did amazingly well as 2nd lead, keeping up with Sri is no small feat @munkybizness great show of your skills all round, no wonder you have have been inducted in the support team and bet wont be long before you start leading as well @Matt.T & @Ranjan Das thanks for helping me out with the refusals and finding the way back when i took the wrong turn @Vaibhav @Zed @Mus_hus78 great driving guys, hope to catch you all again soon.

@Srikumar Thank you for the amazing drive. Pace and Switches were at a another level. We had an a strong convoy with SL @Waqas Parvez who did an amazing job by informing about the terrain . @Zeddriving his monster and being right behind my back. @munkybiznessbeing the Star of the night with an amazing support and being gentle on tugging you that almost went to sleep. @Mus_hus78 driving his pajero beautifully . @ASAD.having sand shower with just a small refusal @Matt.T and @Ranjan Das flawless driving at the back and supporting.

You have given both question and answer in your comment. One doesn’t need a 4 hr drive to judge a driver - if that is for a promotion to next level. Main objective is spot on ( considering this is a hobby for many) Forget the promotions , take your time to learn and then enjoy the levels as you progress with the challenges, involvement, attitude and the friendship as u get along. Heat is severe but that’s what makes you a better driver , once the winter sets in 😀.

Done one newbie ride with carnity and a couple drives with some friends in the same car you have, 100% spot on so far on what you said. Break over angle is horrible , Been thinking of a few suspension lift mods already but would most likely affect the warranty and I don’t want that just yet.. Banged the skid plate one too many times already, front bumper is too low, level kit? Maybe.. also not sure on that just yet, aftermarket bumper options are design ur own locally for as u said 8k ish or ADD bumper for about 11k from the US, too expensive eventually may end up costing like a trx with what I have in mind .. thanks for starting this post im curious to learn about the car more and what can be done. The traction control button on 15 second hold seems to turn off stability control yet it still does have some traction controlling function which I think the fuse is the only option to completely disable ?