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Showing content with the highest reputation on 10/11/2021 in all areas
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@Ale Vallecchi Thank you and congrats for a very well planned drive!. The convoy @Thomas Varghese @Sunil Mathew @Ashok chaturvedi @JeromeFJ, @Looper, @Matt.T, @Arman, @Lawrence_Chehimi, @Ranjan Das @Russ, @marks executed the Masterplan of the professor @Ale Vallecchito near perfection! a well deserved "LRDG" to all! This was indeed one of the longest drives ( in terms of distance) that i had previously driven. and having driven in a lot of the Long range patrol drives, i would say that this was one of the best ones! we all have experienced the skill focused drives like technical challenge, ridge riders, bowls of Area 53 in our journey to the Intermediate level. I believe that the LRDG drives focus on the perfect execution of these skills over and over and over again moving though different areas. so was this drives too easy? - if anyone felt it was, congratulations! you have moved up higher in your skill and in sync with your car. well done!! The drive was full of challenges which i believe did not look like challenge to many as they repeated them time and again in skill focused drives. On a side note: I am looking for a drive which will take us from the beaches on the east coast to the massive dunes of Liwa passing through soft red sand of Mahafiz, Faya , Bowls of sharjah to the long range dunes of lisaili , cutting across the terrain of Sweihan eventually landing at Moreeb! That would be a a perfect " LRDG" Drive with night halts to enjoy the star filled nights like a proper Bedouin lifestyle. I remember the Movie " Hindalgo" and would love to go on a adventure with our modern day " Mustang"!! Well done everyone!! looking forward for the next one!11 points
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Hi @Ale Vallecchi I don’t have a great deal to add to the comments already made. We are lucky that there are enough drives available to select ones that spur our interest, although one downside of Intermediate level is that there is generally only one drive per week, so perhaps the choice is less if you want to drive at a ‘higher’ level and have a choice of the type of drive you prefer.. Although my vehicle isn’t necessarily the most suited to technical areas, I enjoy the challenge of them and on Saturday to complete such a long distance without any issues at all is a testament not to the fact that it was ‘easy’ but rather I was at full concentration and not taking anything for granted. At the back we have the added challenge of soft churned up sand of course which always adds to the test! I appreciate seeing new areas and exploring parts of this country I never previously knew existed, so my message would be let’s keep trying to find new terrain and encounter whatever Mother Nature throws our way on any given day!9 points
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Hi @Ale Vallecchi - I have joined a number of your long range patrols and happy to offer my view as requested. Specific to your questions: challenges & ease: Yes and Yes. I personally joint the drives knowing this was not a drive for the obstacles/challenges, rather a long range, cross Emirate exploration. The challenge was different, the ease was necessary else we would not achieve the objective to cross almost the entire emirate of Dubai off-road should we delve longer in the play areas: No, not for me. The joy of the longer trip was the exploration and variation in terrain, obstacles and speeds. It felt as if we tackled dunes for the purpose of crossing them vs playing and this i liked as it kept to the theme of the drive. My personal feedback on this type of drive: Each lead brings their own character to a drive, as such, not all would enjoy or make enjoyable such a trip so I would resist from changing the formulae as the route combined with your approach on these trips is what makes it special. I Enjoy the running commentary, learning about the geology and geography of the regions we pass, intentionally looking for fauna and wildlife, having someone who has crossed/explored the vast deserts of Africa giving a guided tour of our sandpit - you are the special potion that makes this trip work (not the obstacles, challenges or distance). If you decide to adapt/evolve/change these long range patrols - we are happy to experiment with you. Thank you for reaching out for feedback - i look forward to joining a future 'patrol' soon.8 points
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Hi @Ale Vallecchi, I too echo some of the observations of fellow drivers as above. To answer your questions :- 1. Did the drive provide "expected" challenges ? - YES. Because the expectation for me as a participant in the drive is influenced or formed based on the pre-drive intro you usually give, with subtle hints sometimes or very clear/louder pointers otherwise. If the drive title has "long range patrol" border patrol" etc , we now know what to expect from such signature drives 2. Was it too easy ? - I would still answer with a half hearted YES, because i have experienced much more difficult/challenging/daring drives with you at lower levels. But again, this needs to be analysed with Q#1 above, wherein the drive plan is not to go through challenging crossings, but cover the distance, which in itself is another skill set requiring long , sustained concentration. 3. Should we have delved longer in play areas ? - As a personal opinion/preference, YES, again, but that is not what we signed up for, in the first place In short, the drive did 100% justice to the announced drive plan, while personal preferences of us drivers will surely vary, but as mentioned by Jerome, we are blessed to have a very wide variety of drives at @Carnity, and all of us will continue to get the drives at various levels of alignment with each one's personal tastes. This drive , for me was special, being my IM "baptism" and having driven 100+ km, in a new area, it also gives me a sense of achievement, with a subtle message that desert driving is not only about daring crossings, riding ridges , adrenalie rush etc . Looking forward and coming back for more!!8 points
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Dear Desertnauts. A quick rundown of tomorrow exploration. We'll meet and deflate on the side of E55, in the village of Biyatah, in the direction going from Al Dhaid to the small towns Al Lebsa and Kabir. From there we'll look for an appropriate entry point into the long range longitudinal dunes. We'll choose the radio channel on the spot. The convoy order will be the following: @Zixuan Huang - Charlie in Second Lead @Sunil Mathew in position #3 @Charbel at #4 @Thomas Varghese will be #5 @Anoop Nair #6 @Humayun Ghias is going to be #7, and @Shaaz Sha will Sweep. Meeting time will be 2:30PM; please consider the longer distance of the meeting area from Dubai, to reach as much on time as possible. Have a great night, in preparation for a relaxing (Inshallah) afternoon immersed in a typical, yet unusual, Emirati nature.5 points
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I love the long range patrol drives and had been a participant from the beginning except when I took the 2 month break. Love the way its an endurance drive both for the man and the machine. Driving non stop for 4 hours is the challenge5 points
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This is a really worthwhile drive for any vehicle, however for me driving a larger vehicle it has been "mission critical" to start to learn and appreciate the intricacies of technical dunes, sometimes deceptive, but always a challenge and a lot of fun and satisfaction when you look back and see what you have guided your vehicle through. I learn something new on technical every time I go out, most importantly it teaches me more and more about the dimensions fo my vehicle, the approach angles, the types of down slopes I can go down without bottoming out, where I might hit my bumper or get beached in a gulley. Also you won't find a better Professor than @Wrangeld to wrangle your way through the technical dunes.5 points
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Lmao - i previously believed the “it’s okay” … 16th year I am now wiser (and have the war wounds)4 points
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My "wow" reaction was for this part of your post!!!4 points
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Brilliant drive! @Lorenzo Candelpergher. amazing planning by you and perfect execution by the entire convoy. As far as i remember, as a newbie i never venturing into the winding bowls of Faya or the long range sidey play areas in Mahafiz. It was a beautiful track with ample of opportunity to learn basics of dune surfing! Thankyou for the planning this drive! As for the convoy, it was very nice to meet the new breed of so called "Newbies". This group amazed me with their driving skills and quick learning! kudos @Manish Kashyap for your Newbie "baptism". you drove well handling the blue beast!. its was a pleasure to meet the trio of @Joji varghese @eldose baby @Rsjiv Samuel well done boys ! i am sure you enjoyed With a small hiccup with your X, @Ferl Brownyou managed very to navigate well! as to your question, Xterra inherently has higher Power to weight ratio than a 3.8 LWB Pajero. You will slowly realize the potential of your car. @Waqar Sarwar it was charm to see you driving effortlessly ahead on me on the convoy following the line to the dot!. @Prakash Anoop we all have that royal stuck moment!. with clear instructions from Lorenzo, you managed to get out if the nasty bowl! well done. the Y62 boys! @Mohammed Mansoor @kiranshinde handled their ride beautifully, As Lornezo mentioned, it will be essential to come at terms with the dynamics of your car and he is one of the best person to advice you ( having driven Y62 for majority of his drives) @Raman_Dbx i am sure you had quite fun at the back and kudos to you and @Rsjiv Samuel for managing through the churned up tracks. Thanks @Rsjiv Samuel for sweeping the convoy with good radio communication. in the end i would like to just point out following three things from my vantage point 1. Have clear radio communication 2. Never overtake a stuck / refusal vehicle 3. maintain sufficient distance to maintain momentum well done boys! I have uploaded some pics of the beautiful Sideys for all! ( ps: i am not a good photographer so pics may not reflect the true nature of the driving skill . I am still learning on each drive!):) until next time!4 points
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Here is todays… inspired by recent ‘support team’ and ‘advisor’ graduates!
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Thanks Richard for sharing Becky's amazing photography. She definitely deserve lot of applause being the youngest photographer among all. Well done Becky, keep it up.3 points
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Dear Magnificent Seven Davie Chase @Davie Chase Raman_Dbx @Raman_Dbx salah2u @salah2u Vaibhav @Vaibhav Alexanderrr @Alexanderrr Shyam Menon @Shyam Menon JAISROCK @JAISROCK Delighted to welcome you to the technical skills drive planned for Friday Saturday. I will be supported by two of our most experienced drivers, meaning we can give some close attention to all attending, and we will have vehicles in the seniors that have the same sort of dynamics as the vehicles on the drive: I have an SWB Pajero - not quite a jeep, but similar. @GauravSoni has a LWB Pajero - not quite an LWB Jeep but close enough @Alex Raptor has a Ford 150 Raptor - same in scale as a Y62 The plan is to find some technical dunes in the Qudra area and spend a good few hours practicing driving through these difficult patches of dunes. We will get stuck - so you will get the added benefit of being able to practice endless self recovery!3 points
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Hi @Hisham Masaad saw this in the web, can't believe someone did it already!!! 😂 Take care and stay safe
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Dear @Ale Vallecchi I don't know what to reply for the message you put here. Right from the time I joined Carnity I look forward for your drives right from my newbie drives to fewbie, fewbie plus to Intermediate. I faithfully joined whenever I can for your drives. I enjoy from the beginning to the end. I agree you don't do jeep jumping in the desert which is suitable for me as my car is a daily drive. I am coming with you to explore the desert and drive with you and not to do stunts. I request you to continue doing what you are doing now. To tell you the truth I felt completely exhausted from the long drive. Please note this is not as a criticism. In fact this is what I wanted. To spend all my extra energy and come home dead tired. Please keep doing what you are doing now. This is more like an endurance test for me. Imagine covering all that distance in very technical area in that much time. Thankfully all the drivers performed extremely well with almost few refusals and a stuck of mine. By the time you instructed me to change the track I was already committed to that path whereas I always put a safe distance behind you all other times. That was too tight an area and I didn't want to lose sight of you as the sand was too bright to keep track of your tracks where you went and I paid the price. Thankfully @Ashok chaturvedi was ready with his ropes to lend a hand and recovery was easily executed under your expert guidance. To be shovelling under the blazing sun would have been a torture. I look forward for your future drives and will join whenever I can. Actually by carefully choosing the tracks and not attempting crazy stunts is what attracts me to your drives as I know I can enjoy without harming my car. I love my car and I don't want to sacrifice it to the sands.3 points
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@Ale Vallecchi I really align with what @JeromeFJ has said. I believe there is a place for each kind of drive. In terms of 'easy' I genuinely belive that when concentration is maintained and the convoy remains focused the errors are less. I quite like the idea that the drive is not only a drive but has a challenge to complete a route. I believe it is the case on previous drives Ale that we have not reached the target exit for whatever reason, which highlights they are not all 'easily achievable '. I look forward to the day we have an all day challenge to test concentration!!3 points
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@Zed since u also got y62, and many other members drive Nissan i thought of sharing my experience of how mine got fixed took it to Nissan dealership, they plug-in their computers, and the expression was they synchronised the ABS. It’s was fixed by computer, no parts were changed. what they also said if something of similar nature comes up after desert drive, give it few days and drive on auto and the system will automatically resync all sensors and what ever works with it. I had been driving off road for many years and also had few patrols, but never seen ABS lights in past. regards,2 points
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@Gaurav Thanks for your kind words. I am hoping she will get some good shots of the feast you have on your BBQ on Friday 😜2 points
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Thanks for the vote of confidence ... All day drive ... Saturday2 points
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Fog is always an uncertain weather condition depending on multiple factors. But since we are still facing warm weather, by delaying the start of the drive to 7 AM we would be extending it to 11:00 AM where we most likely have overheating cars. Hence the drive start timing for October month is kept at 6 AM. In the event of fog, the Lead would keep Safety in mind to decide whether its safe to drive or not and if necessary even delay the drive. Also, drives in November would start at 6:30 AM.2 points
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Hi @JAISROCK sure, if you completed the AN you are welcome to join.2 points
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Dear @Ale Vallecchi, for my part, what I like in the drives you propose is the exploration/ navigation part, the fact that we intend to reach somewhere, to travel in the desert, and not only climbing a high dune or circling a tight bowl. I like the fact that we use our vehicles capacities and our driving skills to navigate into the desert environment to reach a point, or travel far into one direction. Learning the specificity of the areas (geology, vegetation, wildlife, human activities) is also part of the interest. And doing so with an homogeneous convoy at FB+ or IM level just expands the possibilities. So yes, sometimes, it might look a bit "easy" because if you isolate 20 min of the drive, one might consider that this single portion does not bring so much difficulty, but the fact that this 20 min portion is repeated 15 times in the 5h total duration of the drive is a difficulty in itself, and keeping the concentration and awareness to be ready for this slip face a bit more steep @3:47, or this sudden sharp turn at the end of a ridge @4:38 is also part of the challenge. Having said so, I must admit, that I took the liberty in some occasions, especially in the Little Sweihan area, to go a bit higher than the car in front of me when the path was clear and the roller coaster fun was too tempting. Probably things that you see when you have a few cars in front of you to show the route, and when you don't have to worry with the navigation part. We are lucky within @Carnity to be offered with a wide variety of drives, We have other possibilities for breathtaking bowls or climbs! I definitely appreciate a lot these long exploration drives, and considering how fast your drives are filling in the calendar on Sunday evening, sure I'm not the only one !2 points
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Faqa to Ganthoot: Border Patrol Run - Drive Report The path of least resistance is the path of most allowance - Abraham Warning: this post contains self-criticism questions that I kindly ask the members to help me answer 🤭 As transpires from some post-drive comments, this was indeed "The" longest drive. For most members who joined, as well as for me. Spurred by a background in long-range trips, I have tended to push my drives longer than average (within the half-day time constraints we usually have). Yet, only a handful of drives made it over the 100Km mark, and only one was longer then 110 Km. This "Border Patrol Run" actually beat the previous record (BTW, on a similar Faqa to Qudra route) by 2 KM: 116 Km of total driving, in 40 minutes less driving time than the previous 114Km record. These drives express my philosophy of desert driving: getting from A to B in the shortest possible time, using all available off-roading skills in a safe manner, and being able to visit all the interesting spots along the route (beautiful dune formations, areas of peculiar vegetation, local fauna, geological features). To manage long distance drives, I tend to plan and commit to a "path of least resistance". As the saying goes, this should allow to achieve more, more easily. So, does this mean that these drives are easy ones? This is a question I often ask myself, vis a vis other drives I have done as part of a convoy, led with a more extreme orientation in mind (longer climbs, riskier crossings, taller side-sloping, etc.). Should I favor, at least at Fewbie Plus and Intermediate levels, more daring maneuvers (reaching for higher and faster criss-crossing, or attempt extreme side sloping)? I kindly ask the members who joined, either this or previous long distance drives, to provide me with their view and feedback to the question: did the drive provide the expected challenges, or was it too easy, in the attempt to last longer? Should we have delved longer in play-areas, and providing more challenges in terms of specific skills, at the expense of completing the planned itinerary? Your view will help me perfect my future FB+ and IM drives. Having said this, I must admit that I DID enjoy yesterday's drive a lot. The terrain of choice proved diverse as far as landscapes were concerned, and all-encompassing in terms of the skills necessary to manage it. The convoy behaved in an almost perfect way, both in terms of discipline (only one time the order was broken, when facing a delicate exit from a criss-crossing into a deep man-made track), and driving skills (only one pull off a stuck into an unavoidable sand bowl, and virtually no refusals.....hence my questions: was it too easy, or the drivers were just great?). Perhaps most drivers did not notice that almost from the beginning (except a short initial stretch in Faqa, and the final part of Little Sweihan) we crossed the cordons from the slip-face, hence the drive acquired an additional factor of difficulty. One small disappointment came from the deep man-made tracks we encountered and crossed in most of the Faqa segment. A limiting factor throughout the drive was also the blinding refraction of the sunlight off the sand, forcing me to reduce the drive's speed, in order to avoid dangerous blind spots. Other than these few issues, it was a great drive, covering, as we said, 116Km, in 4:14 hours of driving (with only 40 minutes of breaks), and with an average moving speed of 27Km/h (24 Km/h overall). My thanks for this record-beating drive go to @Thomas Varghese for the Second Lead (well executed, at the perfect distance to guarantee re-directions and corrections), @GauravSoni for anchoring the convoy, and @marks for the Sweep (glad you both saw relatively little action, and could concentrate on having fun). My hat comes off for @Sunil Mathew (I hope you enjoyed your IM baptism), @Ashok chaturvedi (welcome back), @JeromeFJ, @Looper, @Matt.T, @Arman, @Lawrence_Chehimi, @Ranjan Das and @Russ, all of whom drove almost in silence, which I take as a sign of concentration and enjoyment. Thank you very much for your participation. While I wish you all a great week, I am looking forward to your feedback regarding how to improve these IM drives, if you think some adjustments should be made.2 points
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The Carnity off-road club grading structure provides you with a clear road map for your off-road journey, recognizing offroaders based on their Capabilities, Skills and Performance. This lets you navigate your own path as you gain experience while keeping you, other drivers and your vehicle safe. Driving with graded routes maximizes the fun for everyone without causing any delays or pushing yourself or your vehicle beyond limits. With an aim of continuous improvement, we have clarified, improved and developed this new grading structure version 3.0. Club Member Subscribe to off-road enthusiast subscription. Joins the Off road Club. Introduce yourself in Absolute Newbie Drive. Share your off-road experience (if any) Share your vehicle details Share your off-road gears. Absolute Newbie Attend and successfully complete the first "Absolute Newbie" off road drive. Minimum Requirements: Any 4x4/SUV/AWD with 8 - 10 inches of ground clearance. Front and rear tow hooks (stock tow hooks/eyelet are acceptable). Tire deflator, tire pressure gauge and air compressor. You can transfer your existing off-road experience by self-declaring on the absolute newbie drive topic, so that trip lead can access your capabilities and promote you to the respective rank. OFF-ROAD PROMOTIONS ARE BASED ON THESE FOUR MAJOR CRITERIAS. Car Worthiness 25% Weightage Mechanically able and sound to take off-road stress Better approach and departure angles with safe center of gravity Reliable and capable vehicle with better power to weight ratio Driving Skills 25% Weightage Drives safe and responsibly without damaging any vehicle Drives reasonably well at par with others in the same rank Able to modulate driving as per terrain and convoy response Teamwork 25% Weightage Help and support others as per off-road rank and capacity Being respectful, considerate and tolerant even under stress Support in recoveries and share off-road gears, when needed Tactical Skills 25% Weightage Capable to self-recover from most common off-road situations Split second decision making with an ability to retreat Ability to sense and avert from imminent dangers NEWBIE Drive Attended Desert Driving Masterclass or previous off-road experience. What you'll learn Introduction to off-roading Desert driving techniques Advance vehicle handling Precise tire deflation and inflation Use of HI/LO gearing and differential lock Basic side sloping and crossing sand dunes safely Basic self-recovery techniques Basic radio communication skills Skills required Attentive and cautious Patience and tolerance towards others Clear communication and listening skills Car Worthiness Any 4x4/SUV/AWD with 8 - 10 inches of ground clearance Front and rear tow hooks (stock tow hooks/eyelet are acceptable) Off-road gear required Safety flag, tire deflator, tire pressure gauge, shovel, fire extinguisher, medical kit, radio (walkie-talkie), air compressor. Drive teamwork Follow the briefing and Trip Lead instructions Follow Off road Driving Etiquette's at all times No dangerous maneuver and stunts Drive Joining Join Newbie drives only Forum participation Active participation on the forum Share drive experience + feedback Share drive pictures in the gallery Update Emergency Contact Details under Carnity user profile Apply for Fewbie Promotion, once you complete a minimum of 5 Carnity Newbie Drives. FEWBIE Drives Attended (Indicative) Minimum 5 Newbie drives are required within the last 3 months for Fewbie promotion. After a long gap of 3 months of not off-roading with Carnity or a change of vehicle, you should join at least one Newbie drive, before resuming at Fewbie level drives. What you'll learn Basic dune and sand reading Self-recovery techniques Shoveling at right place Crawling out of difficult situations Blip Blip - Coordinate steering and gas control Basic side sloping and hill climb Basic ridge riding and criss crossing Basic control over technical dunes Slightly faster pace desert driving Ability to manage stuck/refusals with radio Learn to control and avoid fishtailing Never fight or challenge gravity Skills required Enthusiastic and positive attitude Willingness to learn and help others Presence of mind and attention to detail Car Worthiness Any 4x4 vehicle with low range gearing Suitable approach and departure angle Off-road gear required Safety flag, tire deflator, tire pressure gauge, shovel, fire extinguisher, medical kit, radio (walkie-talkie), air compressor. Drive teamwork Manage second lead and sweep positions upon request Intuitive and proactive to support Trip Lead Observe recoveries and offer help, when needed Drive Joining Join Newbie and Fewbie drives Forum participation Active participation on the forum Share drive experience + feedback Share drive pictures in the gallery Post trip report after the drive Duration: 3-7 days, to gather your feedback from all trip leads. Apply for Fewbie Plus Promotion, once you complete a minimum of 10 Carnity Fewbie Drives. FEWBIE PLUS Drives Attended (Indicative) Minimum 10 Fewbie drives are required within the last 6 months for Fewbie Plus promotion. After a long gap of 3 months of not off-roading with Carnity or a change of vehicle, you should join at least one Fewbie drive, before resuming at Fewbie Plus level drives. 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 Duration: 3-7 days, to gather your feedback from all trip leads. Apply for Intermediate Promotion, once you complete a minimum of 10 Carnity Fewbie Plus Drives. INTERMEDIATE Drives Attended (Indicative) Minimum 10 Fewbie Plus drives are required within last 6 months for Intermediate promotion. After a long gap of 3 months of not off-roading with Carnity or a change of vehicle, you should join at least one Fewbie Plus drive, before resuming at Intermediate level drives. What you'll learn Basic GPS and navigational skills Basic tow rope and winch recoveries Extreme side sloping and long hill climb Tall dunes ridge riding and criss crossing Precise control over technical dunes Fast pace desert driving Clear radio communication skills Advance recovery skills Self recover from dune crest Soft sand recovery Pop-out fixing Skills required Adventurous and thrill seeker but in a safe manner Level headed under stressful situations Responsible, dependable and accountable Car Worthiness Capable 4x4 vehicle with low range gearing Suitable approach and departure angle High profile tires Off-road gear required Safety flag, tire deflator, tire pressure gauge, shovel, fire extinguisher, medical kit, radio (walkie-talkie), air compressor, tool kit, rated recovery rope and 2 rated shackles, GPS. Drive teamwork Manage center forward position with Trip Lead’s permission Learn/assist recoveries under Trip Lead’s supervision Re-route convoy and coordination, when needed Drive Joining Join Newbie, Fewbie, Fewbie Plus and Intermediate drives. Forum participation Active participation on the forum Share drive experience + feedback Share drive pictures in the gallery Post trip report after the drive Duration: 3-7 days, to gather your feedback from all trip leads.
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Driving off-road is very interesting and entertaining experience but there are few basic things you need to check first before heading for your first off-road drive with Carnity Off-road Club. Every driver should know when to join for an offroad drive and when to pass until all below things are checked. VEHICLE Ground clearance: Minimum 8-12 inches under front and rear bumper is must. If your vehicle has 8 inches then you should be careful while driving and slow down while descent and approach to avoid any minor bumper damage. If your 4x4 have EAS (electronic suspension), lift it to the max height and then measure it. Also read the manual to know what is the max speed you can drive with off-road height, as many manufacturer limit up to 60 Kmph with off-road height, which is plenty in most cases. Knowing that limit is better in case you go above that speed, so you can lift it again once you slow down. Tow hook: Your 4x4 should have at least 1 tow hook in the front and 1 tow hook at the back, more the better. Also you should check the integrity of all tow hooks and its appearance, if they are shaking or rusted or missing a bolt, then get them fix before joining any off-road drive. Engine: Your 4x4 engine should be in perfect working condition without any check engine light or any warning lights on dashboard or leaking oil or coolant. Engine takes more stress while offroading so well serviced 4x4 performs better on off-road. If you recently bought the car and have no idea of last service, then its highly advisable to get the engine service before your first off-road drive. Gear / Transmission: Your 4x4 should have LO and High gearing option. AWD or SUV without LO/HI gearing option, generally not advisable for sand off-roading. If you have extensive offroading experience to tackle such vehicles then discuss it on the forum with the trip leader and see if they can allow such exception. Suspension: Your 4x4 vehicle suspension should be in reasonable and drivable condition. You can drive with stock suspension perfectly fine and then you can decide to modify it, if really needed. Any suspension lifted up to 5-6 inches are accepted, anything above 5-6 inches lift need trip leader approval before joining any drive to make sure if you have widened the wheelbase to lower the center of gravity in an orderly manner. Tires: Your 4x4 tires should be in good condition with enough tread and more than half life left. Tires nearing their end usually fail while offroading, so check for date of manufacturing shouldn't be more than 3 years. No visible cuts or lost tread chunks or cracking sidewall should be there. Fuel Tank: You should always join the off-road drive with full fuel tank, as all vehicle consume double or triple the amount of fuel while off-roading. You don't need to change the fuel type from special to super for off-road purpose, continue with your fuel type as per manufacturers recommendation. Sign up: Once you have checked all these above points then RSVP the drive calendar and post an introductory message on the drive post - sharing your 4x4 details, previous off-road experience (if any), so that trip lead can acknowledge and plan the drive accordingly. OFF-ROAD GEAR You don't need any off-road gear or recovery gears for your first off-road drive, but if you have a shovel, flag and a radio (walkie talkie) then please carry it with you. Rest all the off-road gears and recovery tools will be shown to you once you attend the briefing and you can read more about them here: https://carnity.com/advice/offroad/most-comprehensive-list-of-off-road-gears-and-recovery-tools-r81 OFF-ROAD DRIVE Always wear long sleeve and closed shoes (no sleepers) to avoid any injury or sun burn. Carry hat/cap/scarf, in case you need to spend long time under the sun. Carry plenty of water and soft drinks of our choice to keep you hydrated. Carry your camera mounts if you like to record the drive (no hand held). No carrying or consumption of any type of alcoholic drinks on the drive.1 point
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Congratulations @Gilbert Khalil 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 drive1 point
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I didn't understand why @Shaaz Sha being an advisor and an extreme driver is in the going list whereas he should be in the manage list.1 point
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I love your patience and sensible approach in analyzing things into right perspective and set your limits and goals. Congrats for SC and its wise to stick to Stage 1 to maximize engine usable life of 99 model, unless you rebuilt whole engine and upgraded internals too. Btw, ref to self recovering issue per last drive, I noticed you made a choice of Michelin which is good tire for road and sand as they are super light but they aren't good for self-recovery. If you really wish to have good self recovery capabilities then AT tires goes much before the diff-lock choice.1 point
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@Wade Pat2 the Ratatatata sound will only come on full throttle. Doubt you’ll do it on asphalt highway as it may attract the police or CID 😁, but here’s one way 👇🏻 to make that sound once supercharger is installed1 point
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@Zed hey Zed. Yea I made a deal with Marco through Facebook, been watching it for months. Few things aligned and I made him an offer. Guess he was tired of sitting on it. Spoke to the guy who built the kit and I think I got a decent deal in today's market. I think the one you qouted above is on Ebay for 12k right now. Crazy! I doubt I will be climbing anything bigger than Fewbie sized dunes honestly. Will be awhile before it gets here. Should be early Jan when I fly back to Dubai from leave. First level map is at stock TRD supercharger numbers and I plan to stay there. Like I said, not really needed for me so I plan to enjoy the project coming together along with the cool sound . Will share plenty pics once it's here. I may install myself but not sure yet.1 point
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Hyperama. SA shop.1 point -
Congrats Gilbert!! @Gilbert Khalil..see you soon!1 point
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Hi @Gilbert Khalil, great going... heartiest congratulations for the new level.1 point
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@Nathan Evans @varunmehndiratta @Richard Franks @Gilbert Khalil @Veedooshee @Ilya @Chinthaka Ruwan @Rawad @Anish S@Gaurav Sorry my upload was a little late as my subscription had expired but on the gallery now1 point
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We will have multiple convoy starting from different points. I will add you to the convoy whose starting and end points are same so that your friend can leave their car at starting point.1 point
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This got me in tears 🤣🤣🤣🤣1 point
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Im making this as my profile picture, this looks so good! Thanks Veedooshee1 point -
Thanks @Lorenzo Candelpergher indeed thoroughly enjoyed the drive and glad that all is well with my car and that I was able to finish the drive. Thanks @Gaurav Soni for the support, and congrats on a century of drives 👍1 point
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Thanks a lot for the wonderful drive @Lorenzo Candelpergher and @GauravSoni1 point
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Thanks a lot @Lorenzo Candelpergher and @GauravSoni for an amazing drive today. I can't wait to be back in UAE in November to join more drives, and continue to improve my skills.1 point
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@Zedthat looks awesome, will definitely give it a try😀. If there is no big bumps it shouldn't be an issue😂, running stock soft HBMC suspension.1 point
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Bro @Lawrence_Chehimi when you’re in Sweihan area, let’s go to the Patrol Bowl… local legend says this is where the locals test their stock Y61 before deciding to mod it 😁 Save this GPS loc for next time you’re visiting Abu Dhabi >> https://maps.app.goo.gl/pL8VHTQ7M7JCJbV38 PS: I’ve done this with my LC but not yet with my Y62 😅
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Newbie level. We are 02 adults + 02 kids, aged 12 & 5yrs1 point
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Two Way Radio Guidelines Every Off-roader 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. Within Carnity Offroad Club we are using a number of frequencies on the two-way radio. This is necessary as we have sometimes multiple convoys driving and broadcasting on the same frequency. With this functionality each convoy can select a channel that they want to use without interfering with others. The 10 radio frequencies are listed below: Below you will find the programming instructions for the most commonly used radios in Carnity Offroad Club. Please get yourself familiarized with your radio, as it's an essential tool for any Offroader, and this device is responsible for establishing clear and life-saving communication while venturing Offroad. If you are planning on buying a radio, make sure it is the UHF version and not the VHF version. We recommend the Motorola/Crony MT777, Crony CN888, or Baofeng UV-5R because of excellent price / quality ratio, Dragon Mart has many models, just make sure it has the ability to set the frequencies manually. Please do not buy a screenless model like the Baofeng 888S as it cannot be programmed without cable and software. Before getting into the real technicalities, some basic info on radios settings that you will come across: *STEP FREQUENCY: on the FM band, frequencies are spaced from each-other at a certain bandwidth. The Step frequency is basically the incremental change in your radio when you turn the rotary knob on top of your radio. When you program the radio to a certain frequency, you will need to make sure the appropriate step frequency has been set correctly. (see on the above frequency list). * PTT: Short for PUSH-TO-TALK: This is the button on the side of your radio that you push when you want to broadcast a message. * MON: Most radios have a Monitor button. When pushed you are basically monitoring the channel. If no-one is broadcasting you will just hear noise. But this is useful to set your desired volume. * SQL or Squelch: To make sure that your radio does not pickup every little signal, the squelch acts as a gatekeeper to only allow a broadcast on your radio when it is strong enough or nearby enough. If you encounter a lot of noise that's being picked up by the radio, try changing the SQL setting a little bit. A higher setting makes the radio less sensitive to noise. * RX and TX frequencies: RX stands for Receiving frequency, which TX stands for transmitting frequency. in Carnity we transmit and receive on the same channels. * DCS / CT codes: These are basically encryption settings that allow a user to make sure only radios with exact same CT codes can listen in on the chatter. As these settings are confusing and complex, they should not be used (CT should not be showing on your display). Programming the Motorola/Crony MT777: Note: This radio has 2 operating modes called "Frequency" and "Channel". To switch between these modes, keep the ENTER button pressed while switching on the radio. Pressing the VFO/MR button while you're in Frequency mode will bring you to the combined mode, which is basically a screen that shows both the channel and the frequency. You can use either one of these modes during operation. To Program the Channels: 1. Make sure your radio is switched off. 2. Press the Moni (black button on top of the orange one on your left side), and MENU key together while switching on the radio. 3. Wait for the set to display SELF (which means manual setup). 4. Press Enter and it will show the Channel number. 5. You can choose which channel to program by selecting it from the rotary selector knob on the top of your device. 6. Once you have the desired channel, press ENTER. 7. Type your first frequency you want to program. 8. Press ENTER on every setting below to go through the advanced settings and verify if they are programmed as following: (If above settings are not correct they can be changed with the rotary knob on the top keep pressing enter until your set displays the next channel to be set). 03=OFF (if a number is showing here, push the *Lock button until OFF appears). 04= Enter the same frequency as the one you want to program. 05= OFF (if a number is showing here, push the *Lock button until OFF appears). 06= OFF 07= ADD 08= HIGH(H) 09= NARROW 10=-------- 9. Repeat from Step 5 to program the rest of your channels. Very useful Youtube video below: method for adding a single frequency later on, without going through the whole SELF programming mode again: 1. Make sure the radio is in Frequency Mode. Type in the frequency you want to program. E.g 446.00625 2. Press MENU and then press the VFO/MR button. The channel number will start to blink. 3. Use the rotary selector knob to select on which channel you want to save this frequency. 4. Press VFO/MR button again to confirm and exit. Keypad can be locked by pushing the * LOCK button for a few seconds. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Programming the Crony CN888: Note: This radio has 3 operating modes called "Frequency", "VFO", and "Channel". You can toggle between these modes by pressing the orange Function button on the top left corner, followed by pressing 1 (Mode). Programming the radio as described below can only be done in VFO mode. 1. Switch on the radio. 2. Press the Function Key (orange button on top left corner). 3. Press 4 (STEP) until it shows 6.25. Press EXIT to confirm. 4. Now type the first frequency you want to program. Eg. 446.00625 5. Now press the # button. The Channel number in the corner of the display will start to blink. 6. Select with the A (up) or B(down) buttons to choose wich channel you want to save the frequency. 7. Press the C button. the radio will confirm by saying "SAVED AS RX FREQUENCY" 8. Press the # button again. The Channel number in the corner of the display will start to blink. 9. Press the D button. the radio will confirm by saying "SAVED AS TX FREQUENCY" Keypad can be locked by pushing the Function button, followed by the *F.L button. Programming the Baofeng UV5-R: When buying a radio like the Baofeng UV5R, many certain frequencies and channels are already programmed into the radio, but these are different from the ones we use in Carnity. As you will be programming 5 new channels onto Channel number 1 till 5, it is important to first delete these existing frequencies stored in those channels. You can do that as following: Step 1: Delete the existing channels from channel 1 till 5: 1- Switch on the radio 2- Press the MENU button followed by the buttons 2 and 8. (Menu 28). 3- Press MENU, and then use the UP/DOWN arrows to select which channel you want to clear. 4- Select CH1 and press MENU again, you will hear "delete channel, followed by confirmed". 5- Now go back to step 3 and do the same for the following channels (CH2-CH3-CH4-CH5). 6- Now all 5 channels are clear and ready to be programmed. Step 2: Set the step-frequency: - Switch on the radio - Press the MENU button and with the up and down buttons select STEP frequency. - Change this to 6.25 and press MENU to confirm. - Press EXIT to go back to the main menu. Step 3 Program the new frequencies in the radio: 1- Press the VFO button. You will hear the confirmation “frequency mode”. 2- Make sure the arrow is on the top line. If not, press the blue A/B button. 3- Type in the frequency you want to save. I.e 446.00625 4- Press MENU, followed by button 2 and 7 (menu 27). You will see MEM-CH. 5- Press MENU and now use the up and down buttons to select the channel you want to save it on. 6- Press MENU again to confirm. Your first frequency is now stored under channel 01. (receiving memory). 7- Press MENU TWICE again to confirm. Your first frequency is now stored under channel 01. (transmitting memory). 8- Press EXIT and repeat from step 3 onwards to program your remaining channels. Note: To program the Carnity backup frequency channel 5, you will need to set the step frequency to 12.5. When done, follow the same steps to program and save it under channel 05. You can either program these channels one by one into your radio, which is the easiest for you later on, or you can just enter the frequency without saving it. Some extra notes: Option 5 in your menu should be on Narrowband. Option 10 and 12 in your menu should be set to OFF (we are not using CT codes). BaoFeng_UV-5R_Manual_(1).pdf1 point -
Thanks @Janarthan there are lots of beautiful spots to camp in UAE. I would not share them but keep the best ones for yourself and close friends. As we are driving in the desert on a weekly basis, you can mark on your GPS a waypoint where you find an interesting spot: - Not too very far from a dirt track / exit point, especially if you have friends joining with less offroading experience. - Not on a typical route where most clubs drive. I saw a guy camping on the base of Fossil Rock last week. I don't think he slept much that night. - Not too close to a camel farm, as this can get a bit smelly. - Not in a wadi (too dangerous for flash floods). - Not nearby water (mosquitos).1 point
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With the tremendous increase in the number of COVID cases in the UAE, we all have to be responsible while off-roading. Failing to abide by any single precaution at any time during the drive, will result in an immediate ban from Carnity Off-road Club. ZERO TOLERANCE First offender - 1 Month Ban. Second offender - 3 Month Ban. Third offender - lifetime ban and report to authorities. COVID19 PRECAUTIONS 2.0 All Carnity off-road drives will be LIMITED to driving only: No Socializing and gathering allowed at any time. No break for taking photos, breakfast, smoking, etc. No exchanging of off-road or recovery gears. Wear a mask at all times, while outside your vehicle. For passengers restrictions, follow RTA or NCEMA guidelines. All passengers should be inside the car, at all times. Maintain a minimum of 2-meter social distance at all times. Sanitize your hands and recovery gear after use. PS1. If you and your passenger cannot sit inside your vehicle for 3-4 hours please DO NOT JOIN CARNITY DRIVES. PS2. A Member who has RSVP the drive is RESPONSIBLE and LIABLE for their passenger's compliance. PS3. The above precautions apply to everyone irrespective of their vaccination status or schedule. PS4. You can confidentially submit the photo of any offender by sending an email to [email protected]. How to comply Read the drive post before arriving at the meeting point, so that you know your convoy numbering and radio channel. Arrive at the meeting point and switch on your radio to the pre-set frequency of the drive. Stop your vehicle at least 10-20 meters away from each other. Deflate your tires, while wearing a mask, and then go back inside your car. All briefings will be done on the radio now, so pay full attention to a briefing for your own safety. After the briefing, fall in your convoy position just before the drive starts. While driving if you get stuck, announce on the radio and be inside your car at all times. Trip lead and/or support will guide you on the radio for self-recovery or tow-rope recovery. While there is a stuck or a refusal, everyone else supposed to be inside their car at all times. You can only take a bio-break during the drive, by requesting trip lead permission. Once the drive is over exit out to inflate by maintaining 10-20 meters distance from each other. While inflating, only the driver supposed to be out and with the face mask at all times. After the drive, you can talk on the radio for any feedback, suggestions or help you need.
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