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On a regular basis, we get requests from the more "modern" SUV owners if their car is suitable for offroading in the desert dunes. There have been many new vehicles introduced in the market that are sold as All Wheel Drive vehicles, and the showroom will be filled with banners showing this car drifting through the Arabian deserts, enticing the potential owners and making them believe they can take on any terrain. Within Carnity, we are openminded about accepting SUV's as long as they have sufficient ground clearance, and have proper tow hooks so we can recover the vehicle safely. But after a few drives, some owners might come to realize that this vehicle is not the right match for offroading, and that those banners in the showroom didn't tell the complete story. Below i will highlight a few main factors that might help in new potential offroad vehicle owners make the right decision based on their wishes of type of terrain they'd like to concquer. Ground clearance Ground clearance describes the distance from the ground to the lowest point of the car. In offroading this is important, as a vehicle with ground clearance below 8inch (200mm) might get stuck on boulders, or bushes, or other things you might come across once you go offroad. Less ground clearance also means that as soon as you sink in the sand it will be much harder to recover yourself as your vehicle's underbody will be immediately resting on the sand. Approach and Departure Angles For dune driving/bashing, the approach and departure angles are essential to know and understand. If you approach a dune, you might hit the front bumper if you have insufficient approach angles, and when descending, a too low departure angle will scoop up the sand and might break your rear bumper. Most stock offroad vehicles will have an approach angle of 30-40° and a departure angle of 25-35° - Toyota Landcruiser Prado LWB: Approach angle 30.4°, Departure angle 23.5° - Mitsubishi Pajero LWB: Approach angle 36.6°, Departure angle 25° - Jeep Wrangler SWB: Approach angle 44°, Departure angle 37° - Jeep Wrangler Unlimited: Approach angle 42.2°, Departure angle 32° - Landrover Discovery Sport: Approach angle 25.°, Departure angle 31° - Nissan Xtrail: Approach angle 17.2.°, Departure angle 25° - Nissan Pathfinder R52: Approach angle 14.7.°, Departure angle 22.3° As you can see in above specs, certain SUV's will have issues with low approach and departure angles, with the resulting risk of damaging or breaking the bumpers. Fitting bigger wheels or a lift kit / suspension kit will improve the ground clearance and also the approach and departure angles. Overall Performance The Hp/Ton ratio will help to understand how the vehicle will be able to get through the terrain. For light offroading, most vehicles should be fine as long as your expectations are realistic. Anything below 80hp/Ton will most likely struggle on soft sand, crosstracks, but again it will also depend on the skills of the driver. Types of Offroading in the UAE Hard gravel, desert farm tracks (LIGHT OFFROADING) Any vehicle with AWD or 4x4 should be able to deal with this terrain. You can deflate to 25psi on desert tracks to increase flotation, but be careful with low proflle tyres and the fact that deflation will decrease your ground clearance. Wadi driving, Rocky Roads, Mountains (MEDIUM OFFROADING) In this type of offroading, your ground clearance definitely comes into play, and the approach and departure angles will also make the difference between succesfully crawling over a boulder, or hitting it with your bumper. Low profile tyres are definitely to be avoid in this terrain, as it might puncture or damage the sidewalls and/or rims. Dune driving, Dune Bashing (EXTREME OFFROADING) The most thrilling of the three types , where all above factors such as ground clearance, angles, and performance all play important roles. This is where SUV's will just manage on Newbie levels, but from Fewbie level onwards one or more of the mentioned factors will become a major hurdle (power, angles, or clearance). So whenever you look at changing your vehicle, or when someone asks you "Is my vehicle suitable for offroading ?" you might want to look at above factors and clearly ask him if he wants to drive on farm tracks, or wants to go dunebashing.

Good Morning @Rinelle Sanaani @Lucky sAm @Febin Frederic @Chaitanya D @Jolly Abraham @asifk @Najeeb Mohammed @Kalahari and thank you for signing up for the Fewbie Plus drive on Friday. We are already almost half way through the week so hopefully (for you) your plans will not change, because Friday promises to be an interesting, challenging and exciting drive. The plan is to start at the 2nd December Cafe and make our way to Camel Rock & Pink Rock. If it's not too busy we will get a chance to play on the dunes, but we do need to keep in mind that these are some of the most visited spots by 4x4 enthusiasts in Dubai/Sharjah and they are often crowded. For that reason our plan is to continue, across the dunes to reach Big Red in Badayer. It's quite a distance to cover. The objective is to have sunset around Big Red and then use the last of the light to find our way to exit, enjoying a short night drive so that you can get used to that experience before night drives start in earnest. What to expect during this week's drive? It's Fewbie PLUS - so we will look to ratchet up the pace as well as starting to develop criss crossing techniques now that all of you have proven yourselves well capable of mastering the up and over technique without cresting (most of the time). As ever, we will be flexible and if the soft sand starts to cause problems we will look for alternative options. No question that around Big Red, the sand is soft at the moment. Last weekend, we lost time on drives because of some car problems so please make sure that your vehicle is in good condition, that all the fluids are topped up and most importantly that your tow points are in good condition and appropriate for the type of strain they might be under in the desert. Also a reminder - this is planned as a compressor only drive. Please make sure you have a compressor with you. Re routing because someone does not have a copressor seriously limits the exit options which is why, if you don't have a compressor, you won't be driving. Big thanks in advance to @Srikumar and @Ale Vallecchi , the additional seniors on the drive. If you have any questions or queries about what to expect, please add them here in this thread. Have a great day. See you soon in the sand.

Good topic, and depends on vehicle to vehicle. The Generation 4 Pajero for example is known for its rather slow gear change behavior in D, and while for Newbie drives this is acceptable, the moment you start doing Fewbie drives you'll notice that it will be up or down shifting JUST at the moment you don't want it. So Tiptronic at that moment becomes the better option. Like we always say, you can offroad with any car in the desert ONCE you totally understand and know the car and learn to live and work around the flaws the vehicle has. We've all been there.

Carnity is really focused on empowering people to drive stock vehicles in the desert. Unlike a lot of clubs there's no modifications needed to get going - and I think you've been on drives where the owner brought even their AWD vehicle, because we are quite committed to letting as many experience off road driving as possible. One observation, we propose everyone drives in D rather than using tiptronic for a reason. If you use the tiptronic your car cannot learn what to do in the desert. It has no idea that it needs to change gear because the going is getting tougher, because you decided you know better than the car. The thing is that the car shold learn with you. 'Max response' might not be the best solution. More power is usually less successful in the long run than more finesse. If you are climbing a dune, that different, force the engine into a low gear because you need the torque/traction etc, but for most situations in which we drive, once your car learns what to do, you will find it more relaxing (and I think you'll improve your skills) when you focus on power delivery and line. I say this having never driven a Y62 but having watched you on a couple of drives. You have done a great job so far, so sharpening up on these types of things will take you to the next level and put you in better harmony with the car.

I love the idea of the two of you @Lorenzo Candelpergher and @Chaitanya D having this discussion and sharing experiences, as this is what the forum is all about. @Lorenzo Candelpergher with great power comes great responsibility! From what I see of your driving, you are using power more than momentum and because you have so much of it, you can often power your way out. It's what I did at the start of this journey as well. These days, I try to test myself by for instance setting a limit to for instance keep my rev meter below 2000 and spend a lot more time looking at the line I want to take. As a fewbie, you have the experience to decide if the line that was driven before you is optimum for your vehicle. If you think it is already too churned up for instance, try a little higher or lower. This will not only help you, but also the people in the convoy behind you who can suffer from having to follow the route after you ploughed on through.

Dear @Chaitanya D, If I change the rims, it will be only with the ones recommended by Nissan, ie 18" with 265/70R18 tyres, as I totally agree with you that nothing should be done on the car that may void the manufacturer's warranty (also for insurance reasons). Many have advised the move and even @Gaurav was suggesting me to consider shifting to a high prifile tyre some posts back to reduce pop-out risks. Meanwhile I have also discovered the existence of "inner beadlocks" (see https://ok4wd.com/inner-air-lock-inner-air-lock-pneumatic-inter-ina208100). They seem quite an interesting solution, for which I would be curious to hear some advice from anyone who had any experience with it. Having said this, I totally believe my problem, as you suggest, is mostly about using too much power instead of momentum, which is something I am trying to improve. I think I got much better than in the beginning, but I sense it is mostly a matter of accumulating a sufficient number of driving hours, in order to gain confidence on going a bit faster and learning to let go when momentum is lost rather than flooring the throttle... For this In the next rides I was considering the possibility to ask someone behind me to accept mounting my GoPro on their bonnet so I could see my own driving from behind and be able to assess what I am doing right or wrong. See you on the sand. L

We shall never talk about it again.... PS i bought a USA spec 2007 FJ Cruiser TRD in Saudi Arabia some years back... SAME PROBLEM 😅

Great article @Frederic which covers all the 'hard' issues of which vehicle. Someone looking to start driving also should think a little but about the 'soft' side as well. What do I mean by that? For many, their street car is their pride and joy and suitability probably also needs a few more filters: Risk of damage: Off roading is inherently risky. While at Carnity we always try to make sure that the drive is as safe as possible, if you are going to get frantic because of the risk of your bumper or some other part of the car being ripped off - your car is probably not suitable. Cost of damage: Tied to the above is that the sort of damage cars will receive off road is normally (but not always) cosmetic. If you would think about immediate repair and the parts of your SUV are very expensive [think here a new front of back bumper] - your car is probably not suitable. Dirt, dust and sand: Your vehicle is going to get dirty out in the wilderness, inside and out. If you are worried that the napa lamb leather will be ruined by sand or dust and it's going to frustrate you that you can never really get all the sand out after a drive - your car is probably not suitable. Know your car: You will need to know how to over ride a few systems in the vehicle that are there on tarmac for your safety. You'll be disabling air bags, traction control, ABS. If the idea of that horrifies you or you don't want to spend the time looking through the manual understanding how to do that - your car is probably not suitable. I don't want to turn anyone off the idea of coming for a drive (quite the opposite) but you'll simply not be relaxed and enjoy your experience if you are worried that something might happen to the car [and that's before we even start to talk about the different strains on the mechanics of the car to which it will be introduced in the desert]. If you do decide it's for you, we can promise fun and a really amazing new experience for both you and your vehicle.

Yip, same for my Prado - had to manually flip between 3rd and 2nd gear, or lose all momentum in sideys. With Xterra I also prefer to drive manually, rather than D, as down-shifting is just too slow (and will require full throttle).

I was looking some information about the truck and i just noticed it is not 4x4 model so lets all pretend like i never ask about this truck How the world Toyota built a truck and named it TRD Off Road Package but it is 2WD

Will be joining only if i can manage to buy a car till friday

@Wrangeld, I don't think I was told not to drive in D by any Carnity senior. I think it was in some other group or some youtube videos I watched, but I definitely see the benefits of driving in D based on this discussion. I'll definitely try as I am fully focused on improving my skills. Thanks for the insights, it is great to have a chance to have feedbacks and suggestions from the whole group. I love these exchanges.

If someone in the seniors in Carnity told you to try different gears instead of D, then I am not going to contradict them. We do normally advise drving in D because yes, your vehicle also needs to learn - especially a modern computer chip driven vehicle like your Y62. As you apprecaite, the biggest obstacle the majority of Y62s will ever see are the speed humps at Spinneys. Even if you are driving the car daily to work on tarmac, it's unlikely you will ask it to take anywhere as much strain as it takes working in the desert. So, yes, the car needs to get used to your driving style and the fact that form time to time you ask it to work considerably harder than usual. By using the semi manual box (tiptronic) you prevent the engine maangement chip from learning what it needs to do. It can learn for instance that when the engine is hammered (to get through a sidey) it needs to change down a few gears quickly so that the power can be delivered at the right time. In D it can learn, if you change gears it cannot. The second bit you got 100% right. Two hands on the wheel, focus on the sand and your momentum you'll start to feel how to be much smoother in the drive ... and then in those moments you need to force the car, like a big uphill, take control to stop the engine from taking an easier route - because it cannot see what is ahead. I will be interested to hear from you if this works or not.

Hi @Wrangeld, I always thought I was the one that had to learn and for this reason I was told not to drive in D in order to understand how different gears play in different situations. I'll give it a try, from what you write I understand you suggest D everywhere except when climbing uphill, so to be able to concentrate on other driving matters (power / line).

Dear @Chaitanya D, I have no intention to do any other upgrades/modifications than changing the wheels/tyres, after having already installed skid plates. Regardless of budget implications, I am indeed against upgrades such as suspension lifts, wheel spacers, etc. as these imply a deviation of the performance of the vehicle from the intended one on-road as per the manufacturer. Even the inner beadlocks are something I may consider only if they are fully approved by RTA for on-road use. I chose the Nissan Patrol as a good compromise for normal on-road / off-road family use. Should I become an off-road freak, really willing to push it to the limit (which I doubt as I am driving in the desert for fun, it doesn't have to become an obsession about the car specs) I may venture, in the future, into buying a 2nd hand small and cheap car with proper off-roading specs, but I'd say this is way beyond the horizon now. What @Wrangeld says is what I am more and more realizing: I need to develop my skills in maximizing momentum and being more proactive in assessing the best line ahead. I hadn't thought about imposing to myself a limitation to the RPM, which I may do since the next ride. Another point I need to figure out is the right gear, as I tend very often to get down to 1st just to have the max response, which is probably not the best way to handle a 400hp / 560Nm torque car.

Hi @Lorenzo Candelpergher. I am not an expert but I was driving the same model y62 as yours , top spec with hydraulic suspension (HMBC), for may be some fewbie drives. I have been through all that has been going in your mind about changing tyres and rims, and once that happens you will think about suspension as the hydraulic is too comfort oriented and not performance oriented for the desert. To change the suspension to a performance oriented one , the hydraulic has to be disassembled at the agency and then you do the upgrade or changes in suspension. I would say please do check if changing rim size will void your warranty , as I felt your car was the 2020 new model.( mine is 2015 model , with the same specs - LE platinum). Why I am telling you this is I have already broken my UCA which was replaced under warranty and done a front axle overhaul .Just in case down the line you have to get something replaced under warranty then you have to be sure you dont do anything that voids it, parts and service for the Y62 are expensive. Some things I observed from being exactly behind your car were - you were pushing it very hard relying on the V8 (it is a vow feeling driving it!) , rather than using the momentum - especially at the time of pop out.I have made these mistakes and i realised it once I was getting to know how to handle it better. - I always kept the tyre pressure 15 or above considering the weight, not anything less . And I never had a pop out , probably i was lucky . I still miss riding my y62 in desert , may be some more drives and you will get to know how to ride it better.As I said earlier, I am not an expert but have given you a straightforward opinion from my little experience.I still drive and absolutely love it .Cheers !

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 in order not to jeopardize someone's health, and to ensure we can keep organizing these drives safely. MUST READ AND TOTALLY AGREE: COVID19 Precautions MUST READ AND TOTALLY AGREE: BAN POST Two Way Radio Guidelines Every Offroader brings his own radio, programmed to the frequencies described in below advice topic. We will not share spare radios or program your radio on the drive. If you need assistance in programming the radio, post a topic on the Carnity website with your questions and we will help you out. Make sure your radio is fully charged. It will be your only way of communication while driving. Before buying, please carefully read below advice so you are informed properly on which model / cost / shops... No radio = No drive. It is an essential tool and you should make sure you bring it on every drive and learn/practice how to use it. Drive Details Level: Fewbie and above - (No Newbie Allowed) When: 17 Jul 2020, Friday. Meeting time: 5:00 AM (SHARP - Without any exceptions) Meeting Point: Tawi Nazwa Farm - https://goo.gl/maps/LjPWf8DebrAuNSWg9 Action Plan: Morning drive till about 08:30 – 09:00 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), face mask, rubber gloves, enthusiasm and willingness to learn. Please also make sure you have all the equipment required on board as a Fewbie. THIS IS A COMPRESSOR ONLY DRIVE. WE WILL END THE DRIVE AT A POINT WHICH IS NOT CLOSE TO AN AIR LINE. IF YOU DO NOT HAVE A COMPRESSOR, PLEASE DO NOT SIGN UP FOR THIS DRIVE. IF YOU ARRIVE AND HAVE NO COMPRESSOR YOU WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO JOIN THE DRIVE. Approximate finish time: 08:30 – 09.00 AM End Point: 2nd Dec Cafeteria - https://goo.gl/maps/MxnMF2fHeGnKZ4vf7 LIMITED SPOTS AVAILABLE: Limited to 12 cars maximum. RSVP will close on Thursday - 9 AM. 1 Lead Marshal + 2 or 1 Senior Members + 10 Members. 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 THE CALENDAR

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 in order not to jeopardize someone's health, and to ensure we can keep organizing these drives safely. MUST READ AND TOTALLY AGREE: COVID19 Precautions MUST READ AND TOTALLY AGREE: BAN POST Two Way Radio Guidelines Every Offroader brings his own radio, programmed to the frequencies described in below advice topic. We will not share spare radios or program your radio on the drive. If you need assistance in programming the radio, post a topic on the Carnity website with your questions and we will help you out. Make sure your radio is fully charged. It will be your only way of communication while driving. Before buying, please carefully read below advice so you are informed properly on which model / cost / shops... No radio = No drive. It is an essential tool and you should make sure you bring it on every drive and learn/practice how to use it. Drive Details Level: Fewbie and above - (Min 5 Fewbie Drives with Carnity) When: 17 Jul 2020, Friday. Meeting time: 5:00 PM (SHARP - Without any exceptions) Meeting Point: 2nd December Cafateria - https://goo.gl/maps/vGCC6yzhhdpqedmG7 Action Plan: Evening drive till about 08:00 – 08:30 PM 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. Please also make sure you have all the equipment required on board as a Fewbie. THIS IS A COMPRESSOR ONLY DRIVE. IF YOU DO NOT HAVE A COMPRESSOR, PLEASE DO NOT SIGN UP FOR THIS DRIVE. IF YOU ARRIVE AND HAVE NO COMPRESSOR YOU WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO JOIN THE DRIVE. Approximate finish time: 08:00 – 08.30 PM End Point: Near Big Red https://goo.gl/maps/BLSDDqSpA7P7MLBq7 LIMITED SPOTS AVAILABLE: Limited to 12 cars maximum. RSVP will close on Thursday - 9 AM. 1 Lead Marshal + 2 or 1 Senior Members + 10 Members. 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 THE CALENDAR

Dear @Lorenzo Candelpergher, yes shifting down frequently is not a good idea for the Y62. Just D , sand mode, 4H with traction control off worked for me all the time. 4L and Diff lock in getting out of stuck situations if needed , rarely.

Thanks @Lorenzo Candelpergher for the discussion and I love it more because this issue of using Y62 as a offroading car has been something I tried to figure out, before I decided not to venture any further considering the huge costs and maintenance involved . I still was surprised when @Frederic mentioned me how well I was managing the Y62 in some technical areas in Qudra in one of the trip reports.What @Wrangeld is suggesting to you comes with practise and experience. Calculate how much you have to spend ( both in terms of money and time) changing all that you want and make your car a better off roader, keeping in mind all that which comes in terms of warranty, RTA passing and insurance.Even after that how much can you really push it when you go on from fewbie to morebie considering the size and weight of the car .There have been discussions on carnity in the Nissan patrol forum, and you can also look into patrol forum on line (https://www.patrol4x4.com/). Rethink , discuss with all the honest advise you will get here and then decide how you want to proceed with the modifications.Cheers!

Nearly shat myself just watching this video!! We had quite a few intermediate (I think!) ridge-riding and criss-crossing last weekend with @Ale Vallecchi and @Srikumar . While I managed them all (one at the 2nd attempt), I must confess I did not feel confident with any of them. My instinct was to de-accelerate once I crossed and then steer down quite aggressively - so definitively not as per the illustration of @Frederic above. I was actually contemplating afterwards how I could improve my technique - as "learning on the fly" (the Carnity way?) seems to push the safety margins a bit. Any chance for a bit more instruction on a future trip - maybe step-by-step show with running commentary? Or maybe I need to book one of the advertised one-on-one courses with @Gaurav (with a few extra sets of clean underpants and air-freshner)?

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 in order not to jeopardize someone's health, and to ensure we can keep organizing these drives safely. MUST READ AND TOTALLY AGREE: COVID19 Precautions MUST READ AND TOTALLY AGREE: BAN POST Two Way Radio Guidelines Every Offroader brings his own radio, programmed to the frequencies described in below advice topic. We will not share spare radios or program your radio on the drive. If you need assistance in programming the radio, post a topic on the Carnity website with your questions and we will help you out. Make sure your radio is fully charged. It will be your only way of communication while driving. Before buying, please carefully read below advice so you are informed properly on which model / cost / shops... No radio = No drive. It is an essential tool and you should make sure you bring it on every drive and learn/practice how to use it. MUST WATCH: NEWBIE VIDEO BRIEFING Drive Details Level: Newbie, Absolute Newbie and Above (All Levels) When: July 17 2020, Friday. Meeting time: 5:00 AM (SHARP - Without any exceptions) Meeting Point: 2nd Dec Cafeteria - https://goo.gl/maps/MxnMF2fHeGnKZ4vf7 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: 09:00 AM End Point: Tawi Nazwa Farm - https://goo.gl/maps/LjPWf8DebrAuNSWg9 P.S. Only join if you have a compressor to inflate your tires after the drive. LIMITED SPOTS AVAILABLE: Limited to 15 cars only. RSVP will close on Thursday - 9 AM. 1 Lead Marshal + 1-2 Senior Members + 13 Members. 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 THE BELOW CALENDAR EVENT

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 in order not to jeopardize someone's health, and to ensure we can keep organizing these drives safely. MUST READ AND TOTALLY AGREE: COVID19 Precautions MUST READ AND TOTALLY AGREE: BAN POST Two Way Radio Guidelines Every Offroader brings his own radio, programmed to the frequencies described in below advice topic. We will not share spare radios or program your radio on the drive. If you need assistance in programming the radio, post a topic on the Carnity website with your questions and we will help you out. Make sure your radio is fully charged. It will be your only way of communication while driving. Before buying, please carefully read below advice so you are informed properly on which model / cost / shops... No radio = No drive. It is an essential tool and you should make sure you bring it on every drive and learn/practice how to use it. MUST WATCH: NEWBIE VIDEO BRIEFING Drive Details Level: Newbie, Absolute Newbie and Above (All Levels) When: July 17 2020, Friday. Meeting time: 5:00 AM (SHARP - Without any exceptions) Meeting Point: Mahafiz Tree Shade - https://goo.gl/maps/Yku5BTg4T2pJUbhF9 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: 09:00 AM End Point: ADNOC Station Tayba - https://goo.gl/maps/hejHgLsYf2cxheoU9 LIMITED SPOTS AVAILABLE: Limited to 15 cars only. RSVP will close on Thursday - 9 AM. 1 Lead Marshal + 2 Senior Members + 12 Members. 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

O would have 2 concerns, American spec and topless in an Islamic country.

Hi Guarav, Just joined/subscribed (Hope it was succesful...) Anyway, keen to join Friday morning trip. Vehicle Details: Jeep Wrangler 2017 Experience: Some desert driving (usually just trying more and more challenging stuff until getting myself stuck I guess) need to learn from pro's. More experience with mountain/rocky terrain offroading. I confirm my vehicle has 8-10 inches ground clearance along with front and rear tow hooks. Looking forward to meeting/joining/driving... Hennie Schoeman

Hi Gaurav, Vehicle Details: Jeep Wrangler Unlimited 2019 Experience: I have driven with "Dubai Offroaders" probably about 15 times, but about four years ago and not in the new car. It will be good to get a refresher newbie drive. I confirm my vehicle has 8-10 inches ground clearance along with front and rear tow hooks. Looking forward to the drive. Cheers Neale

Hi @Gaurav, hope you’re doing well! I have driven with Fred last Friday in Al Qudra. Please find the details below: Vehicle: 2012 Land Rover LR2 Grey Experience: Last week with Frederic on Absolute Newbie Drive Ground clearance and tow hooks are ok Please let me know if anything else.. Hope to get a confirmation from you. Thanks, Sreejith

The price is based on how much the market or potential buyer wants to pay. So i think that's hard to say. If the car is in perfect technical condition, then it might be giving you lots of smiles and power for 25kAED.

Toyota US spec should be similar to a GCC vehicle i presume. But resale value will be lower (purchasing price also).

The Tundra is an amazing beast, and i also like those big trucks a lot. On the other hand i always felt this is more of an overlanding vehicle and less of a dunebashing vehicle due to the weight, but have seen them dunebashing too. Your petrol consumption in the desert will be mostlikely above 35l/100km so that might be the less fun thing.

@andy_macdxb your name has been added on the drive list. See you on Friday. @Heisem you are Wait list #1 and your name will be added once there is a cancellation from someone else.

Understood. As soon as a spot opens up, I will add your name.

There are several ways to cross a dune. We always start with the easiest which is straight up and straight down. Slowly but surely we test your side slopping technique and control. Once we feel you earned a reputation for doing it cleanly comes the most thrilling part which is criss crossing a dune. It is scary at first, but like everything else once you have perfected your technique you'll be craving for these opportunities. The one on one training is to help you conquer your fear and be more confident with the dos and donts of these tricks and more. You are most welcome to sign up for a module or the discounted 4 hours session to improve on your skills. @Ale Vallecchi is right in pointing out that the video posted is for extreme drives. But once you have done a few intermediate drives this will be a piece of cake you won't be able to live without.

@Kalahari I think you did very well. You did not show much hesitation at all. Surely, I feel there is always an element of uncertainty when you crest a dune, but it becomes less prominent in your mind as you practice more. The reference of the car in front of you certainly helps a lot, and with time the correct ways to approach, cross and exit a dune crest become more natural. Also, each car requires a certain type of feeling with the driver for her/him to become more secure in completing a criss-cross. So practicing (learning on the fly) is almost unavoidable. The clip you show is very advanced in my opinion, due the height of the dunes, their sharpness/inclination, and the speed (and control) required to sustain such ridge riding and crossing for so long. Of course the courses are thought to provide the opportunity to learn the technique, as you mention. But we can also find the opportunity to post a drive which can be almost entirely dedicated to the subject. That will provide the necessary repetitions that even after taking a tutorial will always be needed to go from theory to practice. You breach a good subject, which I am sure interest many, so stay tuned for something coming soon.

@Heisem you are waitlist#2. Also, I hope you are aware that there is another Morning Newbie Drive at Fossil Rock which is at the same time as this drive.

Different ways of crossing sand dunes Throughout the Carnity Offroad briefings you might have heard the terms "straight up and straight down", "side sloping", or "criss-crossing", and these are basically different techniques that we use in desert for crossing the sand dunes. Each come with its own risks and by learning and understanding the technicalities behind them i hope we can all learn faster and get more confidence in executing them. I hope below tutorial gives a more clear understanding on the subject and we can use it for future reference. 1) Straight Up - Straight Down Carnity Offroad Level: Newbie and Fewbies Description This technique is one of the very first we learn to apply when learning offroading. The trick is to approach the dune straight up with "JUST" enough momentum to make it through, but not too much to damage bumpers or cause a jump. One should always take into account the resistance that the sand offers based on different areas, and even more on different seasons. Most sand dunes have two sides - The windward side, which is the side where the prevailing wind blows on, and can be recognized by the wavy lines of the sand. This is the side where we ride on because the sand is more compacted and firm to drive on. - The slip-face side, this the softer backside (smooth side, no lines) of the dune which is generally not recommended to climb on, but this technique can later be learned as you advance through the off-road levels (slip-face attack). How to tackle It is advisable to start off at the bottom of the dune with applying a decent amount of power, and start letting go of the gas once you have climbed 75% of the dune. By that point the momentum should carry you further, and as soon as the car front wheel touches the crest, leave the gas completely or apply a bit of gentle braking when needed, to let you slide on other side of the dune safely. In fact the perfect technique is finding that right amount of momentum that you don't even need to apply brakes on the other side. Some gentle blips of throttle can help at the top to push you over the edge, as you learn and master this first step. If you run out of momentum going upwards to cross the dune, do not worry or panic, this is called a REFUSAL. Gently reverse and slowly come back in a straight line as you have climbed up. Announce on the radio that you have a refusal. Reverse up far enough so you can take a second attempt but this time with a bit more momentum. Risk Level: Low to medium. Approaching too slow will increase refusal and might cause stuck at the crest. Approaching with excessive speed might damage the bumpers or cause a vehicle to jump. Apply gentle throttle and slowly increase after learning. Take note that every dune is different and each approach will need to be made slightly different in terms of speed. Associated Risks: If you approach the dune too fast, more likely you will cause the bumper damage because your reaction time will be reduced substantially at very high speed. 2) Side-Sloping Carnity Offroad Level: Fewbie and upwards Description This technique is very fun and addictive, but it needs to be executed with a clear mind and a good experience on the behavior of the car. That is the main reason why this technique is only used from Fewbie level onwards. It is very critical to understand how gravity works and as we always says: " DO NOT FIGHT GRAVITY ". this applies to this technique most of all. When you approach a dune that you want to side-slope on, you need to carry enough momentum to get you through. This does not necessarily mean FULL throttle, because that depends on the type of dune. As soon as your car is on an incline, it will have the natural tendency to try to come down. The more momentum you carry, the further you will get. It is extremely important that you do not fight this by going higher up the dune at that point, but to steer down in a smooth way. Braking at this point is also very dangerous. While doing side sloping try to choose smooth path as possible and avoid stepping on rock, bushes or bumps that can bounce you and disturb the whole balance and tip you off or result in dangerous fish-tailing or tire pop-out at high speed. EVERY MOVEMENT OR ACTION YOU DO WHILE SLIDE-SLOPING NEEDS TO BE DONE IN A SMOOTH WAY, SUDDEN BRAKING OR EXTREME STEERING CAN LEAD TO ROLL-OVERS. Best practice: Always visually mark the entry and exit of the dune that you wish to do side sloping on. Stick to the initial plan as far as possible and exit safely. If you are new to this, then watch and observe how others have done before and try to replicate that as much as you can. The best thing to keep in mind is to think about "HALF MOONS" What i mean with that is that you should never make 90° turns during any kinds of these activities, but make smooth half moons during approaching dunes or crossing them. Risk Level: Medium. With proper training and guidance you can eliminate the risk of a roll-over for 95%, but one should always be aware of the risks involved and take all measures possible to minimize these. Keep both hands at the steering wheel and your full attention on the view ahead. Do not get distracted ! Associated Risks: If your vehicle is lifted more than 4 inch of OEM stock height then your 4x4 center of gravity will be less, and this will increase the risk of roll-over or flip by 50%. Same goes for bouncy (non-standard/rated) suspensions. 3) Criss-Crossing Carnity Offroad Level: Fewbie and upwards Description Criss-crossing is the art of riding the ridge of the dune and crossing over to the other side. Also here it is vital to understand that the approach towards the ridge, as well as the crossing over needs to be done in a smooth, half moon way. So basically you approach the dune along the length, you can stay on the ridge for as long as you want, but don't lose momentum at this point, or you will be crested lengthwise in the exact middle. Now the trick is to choose the right point at which you cross towards the other side. This feels scary at the beginning, but soon you will get the hang of it, and cross ridges without panicking at all. Make the criss-cross movement again in a half-moon method as seen below. Below picture shows the right and wrong way to criss-cross a dune. On the left side you will see that the approach is smooth and as soon as you cross over to the other side you gently steer down. Braking at this point is again very dangerous. In the right-side scenario, the angle of approach is very sharp, and during higher speeds this can result in a roll-over. EVERY MOVEMENT OR ACTION YOU DO WHILE CRISS-CROSSING NEEDS TO BE DONE IN A SMOOTH WAY, SUDDEN BRAKING OR EXTREME STEERING CAN LEAD TO ROLL-OVERS. Risk Level: Medium. With proper training and guidance you can eliminate the risk of a roll-over for 95%, but one should always be aware of the risks involved and take all measures possible to minimize these. Keep both hands at the steering wheel and your full attention on the view ahead. Do not get distracted ! Associated Risks: If your vehicle is lifted more then 4 inch of OEM stock height, then your 4x4 center of gravity will be less and this will increase the risk of roll-over or flip by 50%. Same goes for bouncy (non-standard/rated) suspensions. 4) Hill Climbing While this technique is not immediately necessary to cross dunes, climbing a mighty big dune will bring some fun and adrenaline in the equation. At first, you might feel intimidated and not sure if your car can handle this. With the right techniques at hand you can at least make a safe attempt and see how far you can get. This technique can be practiced from Newbie level onwards on small hills, and later you will learn to approach taller dunes from Fewbie level and up. Again it is extremely important to make a smooth "half-moon" circle at the top. If you run out of momentum and come to a standstill, DO NOT attempt to make a turn, but put your car in 4LO, and slowly reverse down the dune while keeping your wheels straight. The low gearing will help you in keeping that slow pace. As you begin to learn this, it's always advisable to make a smaller U-Turn to learn how your car reacts and how your mind reacts when you take the first turn on top of dune. This needs to be done with confidence and without any doubt or fear, so that you don't brake on top and do the complete U-Turn without braking and in a very smooth manner. Practicing on small U-Turn will build your confidence and after 5-10 small U-Turn attempt you can try higher and higher by understanding your vehicle dynamics and limitations. Risk Level: Medium. With proper training and guidance you can eliminate the risk of a roll-over for 95%, but one should always be aware of the risks involved and take all measures possible to minimize these. Keep both hands at the steering wheel and your full attention on the view ahead. Do not get distracted ! Associated Risks: If your vehicle is lifted more than 4 inch above OEM stock height, then your 4x4 center of gravity will be less and this will increase the risk of roll-over or flip by 50%. Same goes for bouncy (non-standard/rated) suspensions. Safety of all offroad enthusiasts is the most important thing. This is an extreme hobby that brings confidence, thrills, and people together as a family. We can only do whatever we can to make all safety instructions clear and concise but in end it's up to the offroader behavior to understand all risk and associated risk involve and enjoy safely. Open for any questions or comments !

As we have been respecting authorities guidance & Carnity COVID guidelines to resume desert drives with caution by keeping social distance and wearing mask at all times outside the vehicle Unfortunately few off-roaders have difficulty in understanding and abiding these guidelines. As published in the national newspaper of UAE, everyone need to understand that still there are no gatherings allowed and authorities are issuing fine for 10,000 AED for host and 5,000 AED for attendees. https://gulfnews.com/uae/health/people-caught-violating-covid-19-safety-instructions-prosecuted-1.1591381059748 If you spot anyone stepping out of the car not wearing a mask, please remind them on the radio immediately. As we all are in this together, so we all have to help each other to remind. Failing to abide below list of restriction will result in an immediate ban from Carnity Off-road Club: FIRST WARNING Minimum 1 month ban from joining any Carnity off-road Club drives. Written warning will be issued on your Carnity profile. SECOND WARNING Minimum 6 month ban from joining any Carnity off-road Club drives. Written warning will be issued on your Carnity profile. If you do not like these restrictions, please stay at home and do not join for any off-road drives. Every Carnity Off-road Club Member has to COMPLY WITH THESE COVID19 GUIDELINES FACE MASK IS MANDATORY, WHENEVER YOU STEP OUT - NO EXCUSES. LEARN TO CONFIGURE YOUR RADIO, before the drive. Nobody will teach you or exchange radios like before. Read the detailed instructions posted here - to configure. If you still cannot configure, ask on forum ahead of time. Click "TOTALLY AGREE" Emoji here before RSVP any drive or else trip lead will remove your name.

One of my neighbour is selling his Jeep Wrangler 2003 model ( AMERICAN SPEC) due to loss of job. I have a double mind of getting this. I would like to get advice from experts and those who are using the same type. There is no cover on top and no idea how much it will cost to get canvas or hard cover. https://uae.yallamotor.com/used-cars/jeep/wrangler/2003/used-jeep-wrangler-2-door-2003-1025113

I sold my Grand Cherokee last Saturday. I am actually looking for a Xterra but i came across with this Tundra. As i like big and bold vehicles it took my attention. This generation Tundra still doesn't look old. When i read the consumer reviews online, i saw good review only. Everyone talking about how reliable and easy to maintain this car. My question is generally i am staying away from US spec cars. Is it also applicable for a Tundra? When i want to sell it(i actually like changing cars yearly) will it go easily like a Xterra? https://uae.yallamotor.com/used-cars/toyota/tundra/2007/used-toyota-tundra-trd-crewmax-5-7l-2007-1029077

Hi, sure I have waitlisted you. You are currently Waitlist#2. Also it might be wise to book a place in the another morning Newbie drive (Fossil Rock) as well till a spot opens up on this drive.

thanks @Rahimdad for the advice, i will have a look and test drive tomorrow and update. Only concern about American spec.

Seems good, however I always had bad experience buying American spec cars. The 2003 model was one of the best Jeeps they ever produced with the Dana 44 Axles. However make sure you have a complete check and make sure it's not a 2WD. BTW the canvas roof will cost you around AED 1500 and a used hard top will cost you around AED 4500. However I have heard with these old vehicles the hard top does not fit due to the rubber cracking. Plus it will get pretty hot even with the AC on full blast. All the best.

Please waitlist me as CONFIRMED if possible 😉 or if anyone drops out because I already have friend @Nivin going for this drive

Thanks @Sreejith Sreenivasan for the info, this drive is for absolute newbie and though you have already driven once, so you should join another morning newbie drive in Sharjah. Same for you @h1fny please. Once you both sign in there, please notify me, so I can remove your RSVP from this drive. Thanks @Vineeth John Joseph @Neale Faulkner @Hennie Schoeman for the info and the confirmation. Please buy any tire pressure gauge (the minimum) for deflating your tires to 15 PSI. If you have radio (walkie-talkie) then please configure all 5 Carnity frequencies as listed in above tutorial. If not, I will hand you a spare radio for this drive. If you have shovel, flag and basic first aid kit, please bring it with you but it's not mandatory for Absolute Newbie drive. Please keep checking this space for more updates, prior to the drive especially on Thursday. @farazcan and @Enoch Mbatiah waiting to hear from you now.

Hi @Enoch Mbatiah @Sreejith Sreenivasan @Neale Faulkner welcome to Carnity off-road club. Please share your vehicle details - Make, Model, Year. Do you have any prior off-road experience? Confirm your vehicle has 8-10 inches of ground clearance along with front and rear tow hooks / eyelets.

I totally agree it is not exactly meant for dune bashing. I will be struggling because of the size a lot. When i think about my driving actually %90 i am driving on the highway. Also the petrol consumption is not that a big deal for me. My Jeep was 16/100km for my daily usage and at the desert i didnt calculate exact but it should be around 30l/100km. For resale value this is the cheapest one available now in the market. I spoke with the owner he is calming he is effected because of current situation thats why he is selling. Do you think it should be cheaper? I guess they didnt bring the Tundra here officially. All on dubizzle are import.

To clear your doubt about throttle response on Jlu, being an owner of one, i never felt this. i always use stick shift, not "D". mostly on 1st and 2nd gear, it conquers any tall dune like a champ. Jlu has better gear ratio than Jku (non rubicon models), that said you don't need any throttle response controller. instead you can get a good set of tires (not more than 33") for good traction and may be an axle back exhaust/cold air intake. i bolted my jeep with these. @Rinelle Sanaani drives a complete stock jlu and it is an absolute monster. Never underestimate a jeep !

Well done @Frederic for taking so much time to share this great off-road knowledge. Very well explained and documented with perfect diagrams and videos. Only thing I like to add for all new offroaders, learn and follow above instructions to the max but never fight the gravity. If you had a bad feeling for any side sloping, criss crossing attempt, exit safely and make another attempt rather than fighting the gravity. Small deviation of track can also cause lot of difficulty and push the car to the soft patch, in that case simply accept the defeat and exit down without fighting with mother nature. Even experienced offroader do have refusal and repeat without any hesitation, that's the real fun and challenge of offroading.