Leaderboard

Dear Desert Wanderers, @Alex M, @Herman G, @Soap, @sands23a, @Zahid Sharif, @AHSANAWAN 123, @Luke K P, @khurramm, @Danie, @Kashx2, @Ana, @Diego, @essam ibrahim and @Sherry Jacob, @Andrew John Melvill, and @saumik1989 The RSVP is now closed for this drive. I am really looking forward to seeing all of you in the morning for a wonderful drive and if you have time a coffee and chat afterwards to get to know one another. Please read the pre-drive information below: Be ready at the meeting point by 06:30am (or before) with tires deflated and flag up. Please ensure your programable radio is on, fully charged and set to Channel 4 (446,081). Please also ensure your radio is pre-programmed to all 10 Carnity Channels in case we have to move channels at some point during the drive Carnity Two-Way Radio Frequencies - Off-road - Carnity.com For first timers to Carnity, please complete all of the mandatory readings and watch the video (accessed from the link below) before arriving at the meeting point for this drive. https://youtu.be/hP-2ah4Eyek A full pre drive briefing for the drivers will be conducted on the sand before we start moving your full attention will be required. Please ensure everything in the car is tied down and there are no moving objects, Ensure that you are using cargo straps and not bungy type restraints to tie your gear down. Please check all car fluids (Oil, Coolant, Screen wash Brake Fluid,etc), Tow hooks are essential front and rear and ensure no hanging parts below the chassis. Please ensure you come with a full tank of fuel (as near to full as possible). Ensure you have all the necessary gear for this drive level especially your tire deflator, pressure gauge, compressor, first aid Kit, fire extinguisher, safety flag and radio. (NO FLAG or RADIO = NO DRIVE) Meeting Point: https://maps.app.goo.gl/jrXFp27rNxMehda26 Convoy Order will be as below:

What can I say @Luke K P other than, flipping well done, Mate! It has been obvious from when I 1st met you that you would go all the way through the Carnity ranks! The fun, laughter and friendship that you bring to each drive has been one of the cornerstones of my growing love for the dunes and Carnity as a club! Not to understate your MacGyver skills for mechanical issues and your ability to deal with complicated recovery situations. Your path to Marshal has started, enjoy the ride! Cheers and see you on Sunday to celebrate in the heat of the yellow truck dunes!

Congratulations @Luke K P. It has been a pleasure driving with you as we progressed. Though most notably, working together as a team supporting a variety of drives together. We've had many learnings and experiences along the way and I'm fired up about our Leaders Lead training sessions in June. Looking forward to our next learning and leading experiences together. You're quite creative (a MacGyver of sorts) at finding field solutions to problems. Like using the GoPro suction cup mount last weekend to put up a flag for a new joiner that didn't have one.

Many thanks , will meet on time INSHAA AL LAH

@Kashx2, there is already some excellent advice on this thread. For my 2 cents worth, I have been driving a pajero for just shy of 18 months now. I can confirm the following: 1. Tire pressure is critical; the car needs to float over the sand and not drive through it, suggest that you go down to 11 - 12 on your next drive and I promise you will feel a change. Once you are comfortable at those pressures you can drop to 10. 2. Throttle control is a vital skill and can only be learned by seat time in the car. Knowing when to give a burst of power to "pop" over small obstacles and how early to go full throttle on longer climbs will come with time. Just as important is to know when to throttle back to keep your momentum at a safe level. It is all about managing your momentum. 3. The comments about Pajero lines is very true, some points on this. Keep high on ridges when climbing, buy this I mean try keep the car off the side slope as gravity will rob power. This little tip when at Iftar bowl a few months ago got me to climb to the top 3 times in a row when on my 1st two attempts I only made it about 70% of the way. Also search for slightly flatter ground or follow the contours to give your car a chance to get its momentum back. 4. Engine maintenance is also critical to keep power level optimum. When I had injector cleaning and new plugs done at the last major service, I could really feel the extra grunt from the engine. If you drive a lot in the sand shorten the service intervals as every 10 000 km if far too much for the amount of work the engine does in the dunes. Also check your suspension and wheel alignment on a regular basis. Most of all have fun and enjoy the learnings that this car will give you!

She will come around in parallel with your skill development. I got all the way to intermediate with my 3.5 LWB and she was brilliant once I learned how to drive her in the desert. She was stock except for the front and rear skid plates and AT tires. One point I noticed from the 2013 3.5 and switching to the 2020 3.8 is my 1st gear has a shorter range and I've had to relearn how to time shifting, extra momentum at the bottom of a hill climb, and to time a shift to 2nd or ease up on the gas just a bit to prevent the system from kicking in to dial back the power. Having spoken with @Aser about his diff gear change I will research if this is possible for my Pajero to give me more power on the low end of 2nd or a bit more runway at the top of 1st.

This is slick. nice… fantastic challenge. @Frederic you are ahead of me at the same place. https://www.instagram.com/reel/C6S-BUqrlg7/?igsh=YmVhd2JiYTBqejcz Al Rams Beach - https://maps.app.goo.gl/11qGHMzSfSWUL5VLA?g_st=iw i am answering the questions before seeing others replies.

Final Updated Convoy Order : 1. Seidam 2. @frederik.eistrup 3. @Mahesh_ 4. @Paul Eldho 5. @Shahid Mehmood 6. @Amr J 7. @waqar 8. @Shary 9. @Mahmut 10. @JC_E 11. @Sandeep N 12. @Luke K P

You can down shift from 2nd just at that sweet spot when you begin to lose momentum. Just ease up on the gas when shifting and let 1st take hold then give it gas.

Yes, go for 265/70/16. Perfect setup for your SWB Pajero. Bigger tire size might have rubbing inside the fenders with the original rims.

Don't get HT tires (Highway). Get the AT tires (All Terrain). Yokohama Geolander G015 model is very well known and performs great on Pajero

Thanks @Andrew John Melvill Car is getting fuel injectors cleaned right. One of the reasons I want to keep this car is the previous owner gave me all service records since March 2023 and all majors are done. I wanted to get new spark plugs but they were changed 16,000km (6 months) ago. And I saw the air filter was a bit grey so had that changed too. Throttle control, Ill need to focus on. I read on a Facebook group that they install Throttle booster for 250 aed, Im not sure if I want to get into that yet, did you need to install one of those or heard about it? I want to learn as much as I can with stock car. My front and rear tires are different brand/pattern and not old enough to be changed; however, since they are HT I think my next upgrade should be AT Tires since I was suggested by @Frederic above not to go under 13 psi, I had an eye on my steering last drive when i went to 13.5 to make sure I don't steer aggressively. So tomorrow I'll go down to 13 and keep my focus on throttle and steering. I grew up in Canada and outdoor fun was in snow so driving in the sand is a new fun which Im experiencing and to be honest the time I drive just takes my head out of this world and for those few hours I feel like a kid. So rest assured the enjoyment I have it covered! Thanks to all of you and Carnity team.

Updated Convoy Order : 1. Seidam 2. @frederik.eistrup 3. @Mahesh_ 4. @Paul Eldho 5. @Shahid Mehmood 6. @Amr J 7. @waqar 8. @Shary 9. @Mahmut 10. @JC_E 11. @Luke K P

@Luke K P congratulations mate! Well deserved. We have shared plenty of drives together and I’m glad to have been around to see your journey go through the ranks! now it’s my turn to follow your lead, most important thing is to enjoy every last minute of this learning process looking forward to joining you soon!

@Luke K P @Andrew John Melvill @Sam Selim @Aser @Giacomo @ChrisW @Beide Worku @Shahid Mehmood Apologies, gentlemen! It’s with a heavy heart that I have to dampen our excitement—the car decided not to go ahead with the drive plan. I wanted to ensure everything was okay, so I took it for a quick spin this morning. Just as I entered Qudra, I had a nasty stuck, As the car went into 2WD , warranting shoveling for a decent amount of time. . Even while driving back home on the road in 2WD, I noticed multiple warning indicators. The earliest appointment I could get is on Sunday morning. The only positive I can see is - For a drive like this, its better I had these indicators before we entered the desert on Sunday. Please considere this drive as technically not cancelled but just postponed .

Dear Friends Please note that RSVP is closed now for the night drive you need your stock ( high / low beam ) light only and offroad lights are not mandatory, if you have them its ok. note that the desert rules apply here , however just divide every thing by 2 ( will talk about it in the brief ) please get a good source of light and see where you step on try to avoid the shrubs while in break . please do check on your full gear as per level ( radio , flags and recovery points , without these we cant proceed to the desert ) convoy order as below 1. Seidam 2. @frederik.eistrup 3. @Mahesh_ 4. @Paul Eldho 5. @Shahid Mehmood 6. @Amr J 7. @waqar 8. @Shary 9. @Mahmut 10. @Premjit Vappala 11. @JC_E 12. @Luke K P see you all by 20:00 or bit earlier tonight inshallah

Thank you so much for the warm congratulations on my promotion to Advisor level! 🌟 I am incredibly grateful to all the marshals who have contributed to my learning, growth, and development over the years. Special thanks to @Gaurav, @Islam Soliman, @Frederic, @Vanessa8580, @Looper, @Simon D, @Ale Vallecchi, @JeromeFJ, @DP1011, and @Davie Smooth_Operator and several others over the years who have been instrumental in my journey. Your guidance and support have been invaluable. 🙏 I look forward to paying it forward even more in the coming months and years, helping others learn and grow along the way. Thank you in advance to everyone who will help me grow into a convoy lead through the new experiences we will share together. 🚗💨 Carnity is an amazing multi-cultural offroad club with great leadership, passionate about creating a safe environment for us to learn how to drive in the desert. This club has given us the confidence and experience to progress along our journeys, whatever our goals may have been. 🌍🏜️ See you on the sands soon! Thanks buddy. Looking forward to driving with you again soon! Thanks @Luke K P. It would be truly a memorable and a monumental feat of coordination for @Ishak, you and me to drive 100 together. I don't think there is a middle eastern version of the three musketeers though we could come up some really cool legend ourselves.

thx @Frederic i'll make sure to wear my most colourful lucky Keith Haring shirt for the training sessions. 😎

@Emanuel behind that super calm demeanor there is a true leader. From the start you've been a team player and were always willing to help out. Even though you fast tracked your way in the White Rino (customization wise i mean 😁) you've done plenty of drives and your skills show for it. I have no doubt the Leaders Lead Sessions will be a delight for you, and i am very much looking forward to be your second lead soon! (Finally the role gets reversed). Yallah!

@Ishak your attitude has been visible to us from the start. You never shy away from teamwork and helping out on every drive. I remember a drive where my coolant hose popped off, and before i knew what happened, you and @Dodi Syahdarwere already climbing in my engine bay and fixing the issue 😀. You've also worked on your drive skills and improved massively. Nowadays i see your Pajero floating over the dunes, completely in tune with the terrain. Extremely impressive ! I am sure you will excel in the Leaders Lead Sessions, and will make a brilliant lead very soon !

That's great. Don't give up on her. You should indeed always follow the lines of the vehicle in front of you, but during a climb you can deviate a little bit (20-30cm to find fresh clean sand). If you have HT tires, better not to go below 13psi. If you have AT tires, you can go a little bit lower up to 10-11 as long as you don't steer agressively. Always make smooth turns. Double check you tire pressure as well with a second pressure gauge (different brand or type) as we have seen up to 1.5psi deviation amongst many models. I would not clean the cat converter yet, this is not so common and would only be potentially useful for a car with very high mileage (how much is your mileage)? Try to get the spark plugs replaced and injectors cleaned. That usually helps a lot more. Also, keep an eye on other 3.5 Pajeros in your convoy, and have a chat with the owners. Perhaps even a small test drive in their car can reveal if there is really something wrong with the power. Yours is a SWB so it's already 250kg lighter than a LWB. @Mehmet Volga used to lead drives even in Sweihan with a LWB model, and that car was amazing (and stock). Apart from that.... momentum....momentum......momentum.... Build up speed to climb hills. It will never be a Raptor, but in the right hands you will drive in Liwa without issues.

@Luke K P congratulations. You deserve this level and hope to see you leading us soon.

Congratulations @Emanuel.. well deserved 👏🏼

I had the yokohama geolander g015 on my pajero. game changer. lightweight A/T tyre with very little noise when driving in pavement.

@EmanuelThank you for the reassurance. Yes I started with Tiptronic last two drives, I'm not sure if its good practice to go to second gear and then back to first when needed. Because if I don't go to second gear my speed (momentum) doesn't grow, if I go to second, after a bit of travel I have less power, so I got to go back to first. Is this ok to do for the car? If yes i think i need to learn when to bring it down to first gear so its not too late to lose momentum and its not too early to get a high rev. I only had the rear skid plate and am getting the front one installed today, besides these two I added a fan as suggested by the team and I think my next move with be AT tires. Will gladly take any recommendation on size and models if you have. Thank you.

Congratulations @Luke K P! Truly well deserved!!

Sorry @Benje_Junior, i am forced to drop out on this drive due to my car having issues. Thank you.

Congratulations @Sunstreaker for reaching the Fewbie Plus 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 PLUS Drives Attended (Indicative) Minimum 10 Fewbie drives are required within last 6 months for Fewbie Plus promotion. What you'll learn Advance dune and sand reading Advance recovery techniques Rocking and crawling to make path Learn to flatten/compact soft sand patch Self recovery from crest Advance side sloping and long hill climb Advance ridge riding and criss crossing Advance control over technical dunes Slightly faster pace desert driving FULLY control and avoid fishtailing Never fight or challenge gravity Skills required Enthusiastic and positive attitude Willingness to learn and help others Extremely attentive and focused while driving Car Worthiness Any 4x4 vehicle with low range gearing Suitable approach and departure angle Bash plate and skid plate protected 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, Fewbie and Fewbie Plus drives Forum participation Active participation on the forum Share drive experience + feedback Share drive pictures in the gallery Post trip report after the drive

Thank you @Luke K P @Aser @Ishak @Frederic @Andrew John Melvill @DP1011 @Davie Smooth_Operator @Gaurav for your kind wishes! Really looking forward to the new level and the challenges with it! Hope to see you guys again soon!

Okay, thanks Davie! Looking forward to tomorrow

PRADO and XTERRA outnumbering the Jeeps today! See you all tonight! cant wait. 😎

Massive Congratulations @Ishak, very well done! Your humble and quite attitude as well as a constant willingness to step in and help others when anything goes wrong has been awesome to witness! I have really enjoyed all of our drives together, from learning when I was a Newbie to floating and flying over the dunes together at IM level! All the very best for Advisor level and all of the fun and challenges it will bring! Cannot wait to be on one of the 1st drives your lead!

Huge Congratulations to @Emanuel, has been a real pleasure to drive with you on many drives to date, looking forward to many more! Your calm attitude, a strong dedication to safety on the sand and an obvious love for growing the Newbie and Fewbie members has been there for all to see. A great leader in the making! Enjoy your next level and progression to Marshal, while you keep the Pajero spirit alive!

Congratulations @Ishak. It has been a pleasure driving with you as we progressed. Though most notably recently, working together as a team supporting a variety of drives together. We've had many learnings and experiences along the way and I'm fired up about our Leaders Lead training sessions in June. Looking forward to our next learning and our leading experiences together. Maybe if the 'desert gods' (first heard this saying from @Frederic) allow, the three of us will drive our 100th drive together. @Luke K P

Congratulations @Emanuel.... great job!!

Bloody great news well done!!!!!!!!!!

Leading in the desert is one of the most rewarding and satisfying experiences — blending adventure, strategic thinking, and teamwork in a dynamic off-road environment. You will be learning the basics of leading in the desert in three different sessions: Leaders Lead – First Session is a structured training session designed for selected Advisors to begin their leadership journey under expert supervision. This program offers a safe, supportive environment to build your leading skills with clarity and confidence. You will be guided through three focused learning modules in session 1: Advanced Sand Reading: Learn how to interpret terrain and anticipate challenges Lead Route Planning: Master the fundamentals of designing efficient and safe routes Exit Strategy Planning: Understand how to assess and execute safe exit routes under various conditions This marks the beginning of your journey to becoming a capable and trusted desert leader — where every decision you make influences the safety, flow, and success of the entire drive. Throughout the session, you’ll be equipped with proven techniques, guided by experienced mentors, and supported in every step. The structured environment ensures you can learn the art of leading with clarity, confidence, and complete peace of mind — free from pressure or uncertainty. Level: Selected Advisors only - @Ishak @Emanuel & @Luke K P When: 1 June 2025, Sunday - First Session Meeting time: 3:00 PM, (Sharp, without any exceptions) Meeting Point: Al Lisaili - https://goo.gl/maps/UDzJ7FKT2Aq5HcyFA Type of Car: Any proper 4x4 with front and back tow hooks and 8-10 inches of ground clearance. Approximate finish time: 7:00 PM Please RSVP on the below calendar:

Wonderful journey awaits you! Congratulations @Ishak a well deserved move!

Congratulations @Sunstreaker 👏

Congratulations @Ishak well deserved let me know how I can help you on this new journey, you have a lot of fun, excitement and learnings ahead of you. Enjoy the journey 😁

Congratulations @Emanuel well deserved let me know how I can help you on this new journey, a lot of fun, excitement and learnings ahead of you. Enjoy the journey 😃

Great to see you guys get going on the next level- it makes me very happy and hope to drive with you all at the soonest. All the best. God bless.

The best thing you can do to yourself is to learn how to offroad with a Pajero. You master that and you will be able to fly through any track in any possible car. What @Gaurav mentioned to you about lines are the key and the secret ingredient. I used to have a Pajero and I was able to stay very close with the best of them. In the 2.5 years of owning the Pajero there was one or two hills i was not able to do. The pajeros are usually underpowered vehicles relative to their weight. What that means is that you have to compensate in skills what you lack in power. Once you become a true Pajero driver, you will see lines that no other driver can see. Remember me on this statement while it sounds too philosophical: "Not every Pajero Owner, is a true Pajero Driver". After some time and as your driving skills get sharpened, you will see lines that no other driver will see. This is unique only to "Pajero Drivers". Enjoy your discovery journey to mastering driving and not relying on machine power. Hope this helps !

Congrats @Sunstreaker !!

Dear Confirmed members @Luke K P @ChrisW @Giacomo @Aser @Sam Selim + @Andrew John Melvill ( Added you since this is your only drive I see for Weekend) Can you please revisit your plans, keeping in mind personal commitments and vehicle condition. and update RSVP if any changes to your confirmation , since we have 2 more gentlemen in Waitlist. ( @Shahid Mehmood @Beide Worku) Considering the terrain, and planned drive, I would like to keep it a short convoy and with confirmed members its already 7. A no-show would really be disappointing, unless last minute valid reasons . Thank you and looking forward for a great Sunday ahead !

@Mark B, you also have to take into account what your needs are. Beadlocks we’re designed for rock crawlers so they could air down large tyres (35s) so they could wrap around larger rocks and boulders and increase surface area and use the sidewall. Rock crawlers also go very slow. They are torque drivers. Then there’s dune bashing where if you get to a certain extreme level, a beadlock will give you that same peace of mind that your vehicle can air down and not pop out as you tumble from ridge to ridge, bumps and all. This is why you’ll also see Baja drivers use them. But, if you look at the Dakar rally which is the pinnacle of endurance that crosses many terrains, you’ll see that almost no teams use beadlocks. This is because, you can’t fix a beadlock on the go. Endurance and overlanders would rather have a forged and heavy load tyre that can be beaded on the go. They worry less about pop outs because a non-beadlock will enable them to fix it easily. Put it up on a jack, seat, air up, air down, go. So, I would look at your driving use case and where you intend to draw out the performance. If you’re planning to do high speed desert driving or rock crawling, a beadlock will give you peace of mind and allow you to air down without debeading if you suddenly land with too much impact. On the other hand, if you are planning to do long distance travel and want endurance and ease of operability, then a forged off-road rim that is load rated for your rig is the way to go.