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It is no mystery that off-roading takes a heavy toll on your vehicle. In this topic we will discuss the preventative and corrective measures you can do to minimize the risk of your 4x4 breaking down in the desert. While below steps will not remove the chances of breaking down completely, it will at least reduce the potential significantly. Preventative - Pre-Drive Checkup This preventative check takes only 15mins and will take away a lot of the potential issues you can come across. It does not take away the need to get your car serviced but is merely a quick first inspection before heading out into the desert. 1. Check your oil level on the dipstick. If the level is too close to the minimum level, or the oil is appearing too black, replace the engine oil. We generally advise you to replace the engine oil: * at 80% of the normal recommended km. (for example change your oil at 8,000km instead of 10,000km) in case you are an occasional off-roader. * at 50% of the normal recommended km when you are a hardcore high level dune basher. How to Read an Oil Dipstick - AutoZone We always recommend using fully synthetic oil only from a well-known brand only (Mobil1, Castrol, Amsoil, Redline). Our cars deserve only the best if we push them to the redline on regular basis ! Make sure to run the engine for 5-10mins first so the oil is at the right temperature and viscosity before turning off the engine and taking out the dipstick. 2. Check your coolant level. The overflow tank will have a min. and max. level line. Coolant level should be within this range. Coolant should be replaced every 50-60,000kms with the recommended type of coolant for your 4x4. 3. Check your air filter. Off-roading will clog up your air filter quite soon, so inspect it before every drive by opening the air filter box and taking out the filter element. Take out the filter and gently tap it on a soft surface. The majority of the sand will come falling out. * If the filter element is paper-made, better to replace it every 20,000km. * If it's made of a nonwoven fabric or material than can be cleaned you can clean it with a gentle water pressure and let it dry (having a second filter at hand is very useful so it has time to dry out). In case of an oiled filter, you will need to follow the recommended maintenance of these filters religiously which includes oiling the filter after cleaning it. PS always make sure the close the airbox properly. In some vehicles it's a bit tricky and you don't want to have sand getting inside ! Make sure all the clips are on and there is no misalignment. Even the mechanics often make this mistake when being in a rush. 4. Check for any loose hoses or leaks. While you are under the bonnet, have a close inspection at the air intake hose to make sure there are no cracks, and look for any suspicious signs of leaks (often you will find a leak as the sand sticks to it). 5. Check the pressure of your 4 tyres. If you inflated it properly on the previous drive, then the tyre pressure should still be the same. If you notice that 1 tyre has a lower pressure, it could mean there is a slight leak. Either from the valve stem, or a small puncture. You don't want to drive in the desert with a leaking tyre as this will be a recipe for regular pop-outs. 6. Battery. It is visually not possible to inspect the car battery, but after about 1 year you might start seeing signs that the car doesn't start on the first go. A good tip is to pass by a service station like Autopro which is generally next to the gas station and ask them to perform a battery health check. They have a special device that will show you the battery health in about 2mins. If the result is below 50-60% i would recommend replacing it. Those devices are available on Amazon as well: Car Battery Tester - YUNGU 12V Battery Alternator Analyzer Load Tester Starter and Charging System Tester Battery Analyzer for Cars Motorcycle Marine Truck and More : Amazon.ae: Automotive 7. Dashboard lights. Do you have check-engine lights? Better get them looked at by a professional mechanic. These are indications something is wrong and it should not be ignored. If you are a bit technically inclined, get yourself an OBD scanner tool that allows you to read out any DTC (fault codes). 8. Clutch. In case of manual gearbox: if you noticed the play of the clutch pedal has changed recently, like feeling a lot softer, this is a clear indication something is wrong. Do not go off-roading with a faulty clutch ! 9. Underneath the car and your parking spot. Have a look underneath the 4x4 itself. If you see lots of sand sticking in some area nearby the engine and/or transmission, this means you have an oil leak somewhere. While in old cars small leaks are acceptable, in newer ones this should not be tolerated. Check the parking floor as well, as this will give you an indication if you have a coolant leak or other oil leaks. During The Drive 1. Keep an eye out for overheating signs. Stop the car immediately and inform the convoy if your engine or transmission is overheating. 2. If you made a nasty hit, ask the convoy to stop for a minute. Step out and inspect the front of the car including radiator, bash plate, and verify if you have any leaks. If you can spot it early enough most probably it can still be fixed and we don't have to drag your 4x4 out of the desert. 3. Understand your 4x4. With every drive you will gain experience and you will learn from pushing the car how much it can take and for how long it can take this. The more you are in tune with your 4x4, the quicker you will spot any potential issues. Post-Drive Checkup This can be done while inflating your tyres. 1. Open the bonnet and check for any loose hoses or leaks. Same as in step 4 mentioned in the pre-drive checkup. 2. Check for any debris underneath the car. Especially after having driven in bushy terrain. 3. Check for any leaks underneath the car. 4. Inflate the tyres back to normal pressure. 5. On the way home, turn off the radio and listen to the car itself. Suspensions squeaks or rattling noises means you'll need to take it to the mechanic to get it inspected. Long story short. If you look after your 4x4, she/he will look after you and you will be able to enjoy this sport with less head-aches and costly repairs. Make sure to do your due diligence in selecting the right service/repair shop as well that doesn't cut corners but understands that as an offroader you want your car to be in the best possible condition technically. Please do share your own experiences and tips !

An amazing and insightful post as always. Nothing less to be expected from you @Frederic! This is an important point that I learned when I was just starting out. When you're driving in wet sand (post rain) areas. Sand also sticks to the under chassis - axles, transmission, sump guards etc. Hence, when you've done about 4 to 5 drives, it's a good thing to also get your under-chassis pressure washed to remove any sand that's caked on. In my case, it was so thick that kerosene had to be used to loosen the grime and re-primed.

This would mean i have to get my mechanic for all my drives as a passenger!

squeaking is mostly bushings, not related to the shocks... though the top part and lower part have eyelet bushings to bolt onto the frames. If your shock bushings are metal, use PTFE spray to lubricate the top & bottom eyelets first before going back to the installer. Another source of squeaking is Upper Control Arm balljoints, this is easy to check by lifting the car up and slowly lowering it down. Or in absence of high jacks / lift machine, by standing on the front bumper and bouncing it up & down 😂

@Looper fantastic videos! Now I live outside of the UAE (no more desert driving 😞) these videos mean even more to me, and capture the essence of those mornings/afternoons/evenings/nights in the sand 👍

@Frederic thank you for it. Especially for the post drive checkups, personally i didn't realise how this part is important. Appreciate your complex overview and advices.

Hi @Benjaminyes you might want to get that checked out, but on the other hand i had exactly the same issue when i got my Rancho shocks installed. The squeak came from the mounting bushes that somehow needed to settle a bit. The noise dissapeared after 2-3 drives on its own.

one of your epic drives @Frederic!!! no wonder its a housefull!! m sure the convoy ( who ever makes it) will love this scenic course!

Actually best practice is to go to manual car wash after every last drive of the day (so if you drive both Saturday & Sunday you should wash the underbody Sat night & Sun night). I asked my mechanic why I had to replace 2 steering pumps within 6 months and 1 steering rack within a year and he said both parts were cemented with hard-dried-sand and told me I must have forgotten to wash the underchassis for a long time 😂

@M.Seidam Wishing you a nice day , is it possible to starting little early to be able to finish early say we can finish by 11pm . thanks essam ibrahim

Welcome back @JeromeFJ !!

Great! The wife enjoyed the scenic ones, so I suppose she'd enjoy this one too. I've added myself to the Waitlist

On a recent drive, our friend's Jeep went into Limp Mode with these OBD error codes: We will talk about P2110 which basically means certain conditions have told the Computer (ECU/ECM) to tell the Electronic Throttle Body to go into Limp Mode (reduced RPM and restricted gearing). In the above scenario, P0776 is probably the condition that triggered the Computer, but it could be other conditions. Anyways, when a Jeep goes into Limp Mode, you will notice that Zeus has thrown the bolt at you: Jeep has these "hidden pedal dances" , the famous one is when you get Oil Service Light and you can tell the computer to forget about it and remind me 5000kms later. The Jeep Pedal Dance to tell the Electronic Throttle Body to "mind your own business, I need to go home (or garage) is: 1. Insert key to ON but DON'T START ENGINE. 2. WAIT 10 seconds for some warning lights to disappear. Check Engine Light (CEL) may remain, and that's fine. I'm talking about other lights like Battery light etc. 3. SLOWLY PRESS gas pedal within 10 seconds all the way down to the floor. 4. SLOWLY RELEASE gas pedal within 10 seconds all the way up. 4. Turn key to OFF position 5. Now turn key to ON and START ENGINE. 6. Test if Throttle Body is not in Limp Mode by pressing gas pedal. 6. Repeat if Bolt Check Light still on.

This is the video from last week's Morning FB+ Drive at Nahel with @M.Seidam, @Zed and @Ishak. Hope you enjoy the video.

DRIVE DESCRIPTION From the outskirts of Sweihan on the E16, drive West along the dune cordons, pass the Tilal area, cross the sabkha to the south, and continue West on the high dunes, try to find the Sweihan Pond, continue on the white sands of Fayah and exit on the E75 side. High dunes, soft sand, hot temperatures... you know what to expect ! MUST READ AND COMPLY Off-road Flag Guideline Two Way Radio Guideline Off road Driving Etiquette's Emergency details for all off-roaders Off Road Driving - Roles & Responsibilities Drive Details Level: Intermediate and Above When: 10 June 2023 Saturday Meeting time: 5:45 AM (SHARP - Without any exceptions) Meeting Point: https://goo.gl/maps/Mf11NJccmLJrgbEv5 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: 10:00 AM 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, enthusiasm and willingness to learn. Mandatory off-road gears: Tire deflator, tire pressure gauge, compressor, walkie-talkie radio, off-road flag, shovel, first-aid kit and fire extinguisher. LIMITED SPOTS AVAILABLE This drive is limited to 10 cars only. RSVP will close on FRIDAY - 12 PM If the RSVP is full, you can add your name to the waitlist, once anyone drops, you will be moved to the RSVP list. RSVP will close a day prior to preparing a convoy 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 below calendar

Drive Plan In the olden days, Bedouins travelled across the UAE and used various crucial landmarks that had an oasis as resting points and to resupply with water and food. Al Dhaid Oasis was one of the most well-known, and the fort was built to protect it from outsiders. We will be using backroads, farm tracks, and wadis, to make our way similar to the Bedouins did. This first session will start from Al Dhaid Oasis and will take us to Dibba Al Hisn beach. This will not be a dunebashing drive, rather an exploration on existing trails, dunes, and mountain trails, with the occasional piece of tarmac. Please take note of this. If you have done overlanding drives with us before than you will have a good idea on what to expect. There is no need to bring your offroad flag, and we will only deflate to 25psi at the starting point. MUST READ AND COMPLY Offroad Flag Guideline Two Way Radio Guideline Off road Driving Etiquette's Emergency details for all off-roaders Off Road Driving - Roles & Responsibilities Drive Details Level: Fewbie and above (all levels) Meeting time: 7:00 AM (SHARP - Without any exceptions) Meeting Point: Nearby Al Dhaid Fort: https://maps.app.goo.gl/NSNwm4EmxZCQ5paS9?g_st=ic 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: 11:00-12:00 AM P.S. Only join if you have a compressor to inflate your tires after the drive. LIMITED SPOTS AVAILABLE: Limited to 10 cars maximum. RSVP will close on Saturday - 9 AM. If the RSVP is full and you wish to join, please mention your name on the drive thread to add on the waiting list Latecomers will be returned back - without ANY EXCEPTIONS. Members without RSVP will be returned back - without ANY EXCEPTIONS. Members that do not confirm the terms of the COVID requirements will be removed from the RSVP list. Please withdraw your RSVP, if you aren't joining, so your spot can be taken by others. Repeated no-show members after RSVP will have their account suspended for a month. Please RSVP on below calendar

Nissan Xterra silver 2 Front and 2 back Recovery point Off Road Flag Radio

10 drive with other club. No drive with carnity

Hello @essam ibrahim I wish really but I have some commitments that will bring me tight to 9 pm to meeting point . Apology 🙏

Really good post @Frederic always ensuring to check up on your 4x4 is essential to safe driving. I do have a question though; since I got the hurricane shocks and doing daily offroading they do squeak, never thought it was an issue. maybe I should go back to AM.Wrangler to get them lubricated or something?

This drive is 3rd drive… you’ve been on the 1st drive under the TTT name!

Don’t forget to carry spinach!!!! @DP1011

@GauravSoni I will celebrate 1 yr of my last TTT drive with you😁, which was exactly (almost) 1 yr ago! 18 June 2022, where u called it Game of 2000! (rpm) . Thoroughly looking fwd to this! 1 more vote for best intro of the month✌️! @Carnity! Totally agree with @M.Seidam!!

Hi @DanielN ! The scenic drives are very similar to overlanding. This time we won’t be spending too much time in the dunes but head out further into the mountains and there’s a bit of tarmac also involved to get to the point where we need to be.

Well Done @GauravSoni , with a Total Ascent of 520 meters and Max Elevation of 300 meters, for sure you have created one of the most exhilarating track for an Intermediate that starts from As-Saad nearby 👮‍♂️ police station and ends in An-Nabbagh 🐪 camel race track nearby Paratta Street cafe 😜 I'm amazed what you've pushed your 3.8L Pajero through, truly a testament that the right driver knows the strategies to get through the terrains he has experienced 👍 For those Intermediaters who want to re-live the experience, save this coordinate: 24.29542, 55.59138 That is the coordinate for the highest dune we climbed at 277m @Vaibhav sorry about your Jeep, you can tell Trading Enterprise (or Western Motors) that the Error Code it was throwing was Transmission Error P0776 that triggered Limp Mode P2110 and P2118. You can save the article below to reset your Electronic Throttle Body to get out of Limp Mode next time. But it seems you have Transmission issue, solve it in the order: 1) If under warranty ask for Transmission Replacement, the whole gearbox + valve body 2) If dealer refuses, ask them for Transmission Fluid Flush and check Trans Pan for metal shavings. If got metal shavings, ask for a free Transmission Rebuild. 3) If no metal shavings, ask to replace all Solenoids in the Valve Body 4) While they have the gearbox down, tell dealer to check wiring harness from Computer to Transmission, since since P0776 High could also mean wiring issue. @DP1011 do you have the 8-speed or the 5-speed bro? If 8-speed try driving in 4L-5th gear and if 5-speed try driving in 4L-3rd gear. Since you didn't re-gear, you now have to shift down to get more torque than the stock setting. We should sneak into a Newbie or Fewbie drive to play with the gearing and find your sweet spot bro 😁 @Looper great Second Leading, nevermind the joke Second Looping, don't take offence from these brutal Intermediate barbars 😄 It's never easy especially if your Marshal is going fast then slow-down, or hasn't decided to take left or right 😁 Eventually without you, that first car wouldn't have been winched back on track 😂 @Gertjan @Jaro Tuzinsky @Chris Wing the FJ Amigos. Chris is finally proving that the Black FJ is so much better than the Beige FJ 😜 Gertjan and Jaro are now A-TRAC masters whenever their FJs get stuck 👍 Prado Brothers @Waqas Parvez @ASAD. great driving as usual, always enjoyed your creative multiple tries whenever we found a play area 👍 Waiting for your Instagram videos on these... @Benjamin Not bad for a 3rd Intermediate drive, am sure you're getting the hang of it. No refusal with that Jeep and watching you play Catch-me-if-you-Can with the Yellow Looper and 2 Prados means you have mastered to be one with your machine and learning to enjoy higher-level drives 👍 Finally my Sweeper Brother @Mario Cornejo , that complete headers to exhaust system just screams beautifully in every climb-to-the-highest-dune moments. Man, I wish I'd bring the Insta360 to record your actions... oh well, that means I should join your drive again next time 😁 Until next time folks, that was a great convoy indeed.

Thankyou all for joining me in my exploration of the amazing dunes of AD. @Gertjan @Jaro Tuzinsky @Waqas Parvez @Mario Cornejo @DP1011 @ASAD. @Benjamin @Chris Wing @Zed @Looper@Vaibhav We had some amazing time driving through some of the most beautiful area comprising of technical, Ridges, Soft patches, Long climbs , side slopes and everyone responded so well to the challenge. It was a great team effort to get @Vaibhav jeep restored with some magic trick by @Zed!!! i had my fair share of stucks requiring a tug and then a winch by @Looper while everyone drove exceptionally ( almost flawlessly). Thanks @DP1011 @Mario Cornejo and @Looper for brilliant support. it was a pleasure to see and hear the engines roar @Waqas Parvez @ASAD. @Mario Cornejo. i hope you all had fun as It was fun leading a super strong convoy! until next time! see you all in sand!!