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Subframe drop done 👍, took a day and a half to install but well worth it I think. Did a f+ drive with @Ale Vallecchi on Sunday to test and suspension seams to move a lot better with the new UCAs and trailing arms. Didn’t lift wheels anywhere as much as previously. bit of a full on job to install yourself in the Dubai summer 🥵 but thanks to @Bravoechofor your help. (Only had to get the angle grinder out for one old mount bolt 😂, and to modify the air filter housing) comparison photo to a standard SWB added

It moves a lot better and it’s performance is stronger now that the Paj has the DNA of a Y61 but you knew I was going to say that 😜.

Dear Sand Sailors Thanks for RSVPing for the drive. We have a really solid convoy with some regulars and some friends I haven’t met in long time. I am really looking forward to see you all this weekend - for an adventure through the crazy dunes of Shuwaib. Believe most of you have been to area, for those new to it - Shuwaib is known for its crazy steep climbs and some scary drops. Last time we were there, we scaled around 1.3Km of climbs - let’s see where we land this time. So gear up for a fun adventure. Some tips before we meet this weekend 1. Ensure your vehicles are in perfect health. 2. Unless fully convinced about yours and your vehicles climbing ability, avoid passengers for this drive. Keep the vehicle light and mind free of distractions. 3. Ensure your off road gears are in order. 4. Most important of all, ensure you are well rested and hydrated for the drive. Let sat night be the Friday night this weekend 😀. See you all this Saturday. @Gertjan @Arda Yagcioglu @Beide Worku @Hugo @Jaro Tuzinsky @Brett Eicher @Mohit Gurnani @Zulfikhar Naiyar @Salim Akhtar @Mark B

It is, and the Patrol shines in this kind of trips.

@Davie ChaseWe will be calling you now Davie Falcon Eye 🦅

great to hear, and I am glad that my eyes are still ok as I did not see transmission fluid on the stick as we only had half a cup full, good lesson not to push a bad situation, as if we had kept trying we could have done damage to the planetaries etc.. Glad it all worked out for you and you are getting it fixed quickly, look forward to seeing you in the sand again very soon .

UPDATE : - The issue was brittle transmission hoses. When everything was re-connected and topped-up with full transmission fluid, everything worked. However, an overnight stay at the garage showed fluid leaks. Hoses are getting replaced as we speak. Should be ready later this afternoon

Beautiful @Frederic , looks like a an amazing trip. Got me thinking..

Looks like a great trip and I’m sure the Patrol did it with ease @Frederic

Amazing and detailed trip report for letting poor ppl like us enjoy with words and pictures. Very well planned Fredy, ofc your level of planning is always meticulous, but I like the idea of the whole round trip to cover a long drive from both sides is very intelligent. I did it in a messed-up way due to unexpected changes. @Frederic and @Vanessa8580 enjoy your well-deserved break and drive safe.

Some Photos Continued: Wadi Darbat Bottom: Becoming more challenging here: Wadi Darbat Hike and Wadi Trail: https://goo.gl/maps/MnAjvjHvznTCvrM79 Thumrait to Rakhyut Canyon Road: Unforgettable.... Fazayah Beach: https://goo.gl/maps/8EkfwGxVaM4XxAQm6 Ain Khor Waterfalls:

Trip Update: Date: 19-23 July 2023 Country: Oman Region: Salalah Places visited: Ain Khor Waterfall: https://maps.app.goo.gl/VhkiroCBds1aboVBA?g_st=ic Ain Athum Waterfall: https://goo.gl/maps/vRFZeT5bW3RALAzQA (nice but busy) Unknown Sinkhole: https://goo.gl/maps/eCxEbE7WMFtLzi2J8 (very nice) Tawi Attair Sinkhole: https://goo.gl/maps/oYu7mPJpbUQz4h7x6 (not that great due to limited visibility) Baobab Forest: https://goo.gl/maps/GHma7FRiF6fJNviL6 (nice little hike with manmade pool in the forest). Gravity Hill: https://goo.gl/maps/XPCmajKSpWNJaK4a8 (realized too late we were driving on the opposite side of the road). Ifalqoot Beach: https://goo.gl/maps/pyDuPvTHgvc5GuFs9 nice cliff with viewpoint (no beach). Shipwreck: https://goo.gl/maps/ECr9jsxYju41XFHH9 unfortunately the trail became inaccessible halfway due to the mud and big rocks. Wadi Darbat Hike and Wadi Trail (approaching from the North, as we tried from the regular entry from the south but there were long queues with too many visitors) start here: https://goo.gl/maps/KeEJDYrvWNXXVKx28 park here: https://goo.gl/maps/MnAjvjHvznTCvrM79 you can hike further down up to the viewpoint: https://goo.gl/maps/eoaLijXZQcdVE3gt5 unfortunately, there was no waterfall to be seen but the hike is really fun. Wadi Darbat Bottom Hike: https://goo.gl/maps/LFhn1gRFtUHJuZkU6 Leave the car at the parking and start the hike. Challenging at some places but real good fun ! Ain Razat: Cave, botanical garden, and picnic area. Nothing special and too busy: https://goo.gl/maps/6eXnjqo4yTZ7XXiv9 Mughsail Beach: https://goo.gl/maps/rQ5dBJFvpWf2z192A no swimming was allowed due to very rough sea. Mughsail blowholes: https://goo.gl/maps/SJTAKqRxrJXUWXDa9 (nice to visit but very busy). Mahsood hidden beach: https://goo.gl/maps/V9mCCsLU1FwhWjji7 (definitely recommended). Start from here and follow the wadi trail: https://goo.gl/maps/E7DgL75BkKjALY5A8 Fazayah Beach: https://goo.gl/maps/8EkfwGxVaM4XxAQm6 Start from here and follow the dirt track: https://goo.gl/maps/gFeLnckfS6iBZKcp6 Thumrait to Rakhyut Canyon Road: This was a stunning Route 66 experience which takes you to the middle of nowhere, apart from some tiny villages and beautiful out of this world canyons. There are a couple of military areas and checkpoints as this is not too far from the Yemen border so stay on the existing track. 50% of it is tarmac while the other 50% is a gatch track. Start from Thumrait and follow road 45 all the way down to Rakhyut. There are stunning beaches in that area. We were not able to reach them as it was getting late and extremely foggy. Absolutely amazing drive... Some photos: Up in the mountains: Baobab Forest: https://goo.gl/maps/GHma7FRiF6fJNviL6 In need of a car wash.... Along Road 47: https://goo.gl/maps/aGvtdXSrMW6YDWgH7 Mahsood Hidden Beach: https://goo.gl/maps/V9mCCsLU1FwhWjji7 Wadi Darbat Bottom Hike, the easy part: https://goo.gl/maps/LFhn1gRFtUHJuZkU6

Trip Update: Date: 18 July 2023 Country: Oman Border crossing at Al-Ain Meyzad: https://goo.gl/maps/dfTBdaLyCXjAiZ1P6 Do not bring drones, two-way radios, alcohol, or any other illegal items! We sorted out our e-visas beforehand online (29A for sponsor and 29B for dependents), 5 OMR per person. The border official told me there’s a free visa for GCC residents somehow. Not sure if he meant online or on arrival. Crossing the border was very smooth and a matter of minutes only with a short visual check of the car. Make sure to get car insurance coverage for Oman and get the “orange card”’ from your insurer. This is just a piece of paper in Arabic that states your car is insured for Oman. Make sure the vehicle is under your name. I’ve seen an occasion where the guy was barred from entering because the car was under his wife’s name, and she was not with the group. Vehicle on car loan will need clearance from the bank I heard in the past. Not sure if this is true or still valid. Region: Nizwa - https://goo.gl/maps/EVo2Gx8e5fuGmots8 Known for: its fort and adjacent souk, a beautiful palm tree-lined city nearby the majestic Al Hajar mountains. Somehow it felt a bit cooler here than Dubai already. View from Jebel Hatt (2000m elevation): You can follow the tarmac road and climb all the way until this viewpoint: https://goo.gl/maps/NzuvpEsNyG6QX9rz6 If you fancy some decent off-roading trails, you can go from here all the way to Rustaq via Snake Canyon. https://goo.gl/maps/SXnWP6YEKvRWkrz19 We skipped this due to lack of time and the unpleasant weather (40+ degrees C). Courtyard of Al Bustan Inn, a cosy small hotel which we booked for one night: https://goo.gl/maps/PpKW2dpNavRXctSw5

For many, Oman is tucked away somewhere in a corner of the Middle East, and even though you might have heard abouts its beauty, its hospitality, and its variety, it is quite large and takes a bit of preparation to explore. We decided to take a road trip over the last couple of weeks in Oman and it was no coincidence as to why we chose July. Every year, the Khareef (monsoon) blesses the Salalah region with clouds, rains, and turn the region into a green paradise. That includes daily temperatures around 26 degrees, and a lot of fog. As we were trying to escape the Dubai summer heat, we reckoned this was a great trip worth taking as we talked about it for years but kept postponing due to COVID and other issues. The main plan looks like this: Dubai to Nizwa: 420km to cover in Day One. Enjoy Nizwa old town, and Jebel Hatt/Akhdar. Nizwa to Salalah: 876km to cover in Day Two. 7 days exploration around entire Dhofar-Salalah region. (wadis, trails, beaches, etc..) Salalah to Duqm: 676km to cover on the 10th day, following coastal road and few stops in-between. Duqm to Sur: 518km on the 11th day, mostly along the coastal road, with planned stop at the Sugar Dunes. Sur to Dubai: 654 km on the 12th day, along Muscat, stopping on the occasional sinkhole but no wadis. (we explored those in 2019) Important Notes: 1. As we were traveling with one vehicle only, we were careful with off-roading and stuck to gatch tracks and existing trails as much as possible. 2. The drive from Nizwa to Salalah is long and boring (not scenic). You'll find petrol stations along the way where i recommend keeping your car always topped up. The temperature was +40 degrees, and you don't want your car to breakdown on this road so make sure it's serviced and fully inspected before embarking on this trip. 3. The main road that goes through Salalah is the Route 47, also called Sultan Qaboos Road. Although this is a stunning road and perhaps even one of the most beautiful roads in the world, the fog made the visibility in many places almost impossible to drive. Especially once the elevation exceeded 350m it became very difficult to drive, and the cows crossing the streets on the mountain villages did not help either. This also meant that some of the waypoints we wanted to visit closer towards the Yemen border took hours to reach and we even had to skip a couple of them. 4. Military checkpoints. The Dhofar region has a couple of military checkpoints. We did not face any issues but needed to carry our ID's at all time. 5. Rain, and lots of it. I was happy we got new tires installed two weeks before the trip, and the car underwent a full inspection as well. At times we could not even distinguish the color of the car anymore as it got so dirty from all the mud. Luckily carwashes were easy to find. 6. The Salalah region is predominantly Sunni, while the rest of Oman is mostly Ibadi. Throughout Oman we were advised to dress modestly and even then, we got a lot of curious stares and looks It felt like being back in Saudi in many cases (restaurants with family section, etc..). But overall, the people are very friendly and helpful. Further in this topic i will shortly describe the areas / waypoints we visited, with some photos to visualize the experience (although difficult). Stay tuned for more trip updates!

@Nilakantan Erode did you managed to get the used Prado. I am thinking to sell mine, and move to a new car for off roading. Pls DM me if you are interested. 😀 All Experts can I please have your views on Toyota 4Runner TRD Pro. A friend of mine has imported a new one from US as its not sold in GCC. I am considering buying that and have 2 more options - Jeep 392 / Ford Bronco Raptor. I would use the car for 70 % onroad and 30 % offroad.

Thank you @Benjamin looks will have long convoy, your support will be good along with @Looper

Hey @Hisham Masaad I’ve added myself to your waitlist. If you need any support on your longer convoy I would be happy to help

Hello, This will be my first drive with this club. My car is a 2009 4 door pajero 3.8. I have all the mandatory equipment mentioned.

Oh wow @Stumpy Paj looks awesome.

Hi Hisham , this will be my first road trip with you guys , excited to do it. My car is a Green Jeep 2 doors Sahara Wrangler 3.8 2009. I do have flag, radios and tires inflator. Best Regards

Great to know @Arun Menon. Thanks for the update, and glad it is minor issue. After the promotion, not sure will see you next week end 😅

Dear Frederic @Frederic Thank you very much for sharing this detailed long round trip in Oman . The chronological display along with these stunning pictures is just outstanding . been to Oman 🇴🇲 several times at least once or twice a year but never beyond muscat for family ( bro in law visits ) , but after seeing your post you made me to brain storm a visit longer and further . regarding the cars on bank loan , I remember our Honda in 2012 trip was still on bank and wasn’t asked at the boarders for bank permission or something related . This country is definitely huge and full of beautiful areas to explore which is worthy spending the time to plan and execute with family cheers and regards 👍🙏

Amazing post. I need to plan it for next year definitely, alone or in the group. Will be happy to join this initiative. I've seen some posts in other clubs people getting together and organizing trip to Salalah. I am sure many of the Carnity members will be happy to be part of trip like that, regardless how much it will cost.

Thanks @Frederic, it is an excellent and informative post. For lazy bums like me who can't plan anything it is a boon.

Hey @Frederic amazing post and good to see these pics. Planning a trip early august. Did you had a chance To camp around these places - or preferred all in Hotels? Was thinking of camping one of the nights, seems some restrictions in place in these areas. Any advice/suggestions.

Thank @Davie Chase for the report, saving my time, and go direct to thank you first of all, for supporting the drive and for the effort to get the car of @Arun Menon out safely. Margham has changed, more bushes, similar to other areas, and very much smaller dunes, with soft sand in some areas. Smaller as well, after building the fence around the new petroleum activities, but still nice and good enough for new off-roaders to practice and enjoy. Different to many NB drives, we did not have much refusals and stucks, great NB drivers. Weather temperature was really nice, it is only the sandy wind was not allowing to enjoy the low temperature. All did great job, till unfortunate incident of the xterra of @Arun Menon, which i am hoping will be fixed fast and less cost. @Issam Atra @Vishnu Ramankuttyamazing AN members, you both did very well as a first drive for you, keep it up. @Haneef Thayyil @DTG @Pavel Pashkovskiy @Amir Amiriglad to meet you again, every thing was going smooth. Hope you checked the tyre @Haneef Thayyil and all good to go for the next drive. Many thanks @Pavel Pashkovskiy for the coffee as usual. Congratulations @Amir Amiri for the new car, was a smart move to repalce with FJ. I am sure you are feeling the difference now. Big thanks for @Theo09 and @Arda Yagcioglu for being greet SL and SW. Look forward to see you again.

@Hisham Masaad thanks for a superb drive today morning, great way to spend a Sunday morning with such like minded people and in such great company. Superb second lead from @Theo09 listening and responding well to Hishams instructions making slight alterations to the route to keep the convoy flowing well. The middle order team drove fantastically well allowing the convoy to flow seamlessly with only a couple of refusals and no real stucks to talk about it, great job guys @Issam Atra @Vishnu Ramankutty @Haneef Thayyil @DTG @Arun Menon @Pavel Pashkovskiy @Amir Amiri our sweep for the day @Arda Yagcioglu did an amazing job, very informative which allowed us to keep the convoy on track and moving forward. Last minute issue with @Arun Menon Xterra which invoked great team work from @Hisham Masaad and @Pavel Pashkovskiy to reconnect the trans hose that had come off allowing the fluid to escape. We topped her up with the little trans fluid that we had amongst us, but to no avail. so then it was all literally all hands on deck (car) to pull, push and shove the xterra out of the soft and onto the hard, we then had a short tow onward to the exit and homeward bound, the teamwork is what makes carnity special and never ceases to amaze me, well done to all and thank you to all for a job well done. @Arun Menon please let us know how you get on with our car once you have the diagnosis etc. See you all in the sand again very soon