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Dear Desert Drivers, Thank you for signing up for the drive next Saturday. I'm sure you will enjoy the Nahel environment. Starting from small to medium size dunes, we will progressively approach the high dunes of Sweihan. We might have some portions of technical areas, and occasionally use sabkhas to link between dunes cordons. I will indicate the convoy order and radio channel tomorrow by the end of the day. Until then, check your car and your gears. We have still a waitlist open, so let me know sufficiently in advance in case you modified your plans. Stay tuned for the next update tomorrow !

Sitting at the airport thought i would finally type quick article on my experience on prado suspension. I drove stock up till drive 6 or 7 of fewbie plus level, but started to feel the rear end was very “bouncy” when driving over multiple bumps. So, my aim of suspension focused on better “dampening” than going for “lift”. However, afterwards, i did notice benefit of the lift with ridge riding being much more fun without ploughing through the crest but riding above/on it! Because i was after better dampening mainly, and watching used prices of remote reservoir kits holding their value whilst traditional “twin tube” plummeting in value i decided to “invest once” and went for remote reservoir models. The added benefit here was that i could adjust to harder setting for desert, and softer for the road! WIN WIN! TYPES: ”spring lift kit/spacer” - cheapest option but doesnt help with dampening, so i cant recommend this option. Also, dont know a prado owner that has gone this route. ”twin tube” - a few options, the dobinsons ones are bright yellow so you cant miss them. Stronger that factory, usually matched with a stiffer spring with around 2inch lift. Around 3-5k dhs. “remote reservoir adjustable” - kings, radflo, rogue, dobinsons, pro fender all have options and range from about 6k-20k. My budget narrowed me into dobinsons or rogue, both around 9/10k. Low speed, high speed and rebound adjustable which i feel very important if car is also your daily driver! “Long travel” twin shocks - didnt even check the price or consider, but sometimes seen on prados but more often FJs. For these you need also lower arm kits as you have 2 dampers per side on the front setup. No real comments here as no experience. They do look cool though! THE EXTRAS: the main reason for actually writing this article, choosing the suspension was the easy part! Ill focus on dobinsons here as this is what i fitted but i believe its similar amongst others. Upper arms - lots of confusing info, do you need? General guidance was required if 2.5inch lift or above. Beneficial if over 1.5inch lift. As i went for 2inch lift i was caught in the middle. Benefits are: better clearance of springs for more “drop” and correction of caster angle. I felt having correct vehicle dynamics was important to me, so i went for a set! Diff drop - again, lots of confusing info, required for 2.5inch lift of above was the advice, though some garages say not required for 2.5inch. I went without and no issues or concerns as yet! tie bar spacers - very little about these “added extras”. 250-300dhs i think. Recommended to avoid tie bars clashing with other parts after the lift. I opted for a set of these too. After fitting garage told me they are very important. after 4-6months i can say i am really happy with the offroad and onroad performance and no regrets, Hope the above helps! tagging @Waqas Parvez and @ASAD. for their input having going through similar exercises!

Dear Desertnauts. On my way back to Dubai I'd like to send the last details about the upcoming drive. Good way to start the weekend, with a drive that seeks to be a mix of relaxation and excitement (we hope of the good kind, generated by speed and the skilled overcoming of obstacles and challanges). We will be departing from an open area just off the road from Lahbab to Badayer. From here we'll cross some areas marked by locals and camels' tracks, before engaging in a mixed terrain, with long range (yet not too tall) dunes, some technical areas, and finally a set of fun red sand bowls. The convoy will line up as follows: @Ignacio Quindós in Second Lead @Yaseen87 at #3 @premindra rajaram in #4 @Paolo Pellegrini at #5 @hugo #6 @Fabien Monleau will be the Center @Pieter Potgieter at #8 @Harshal #9 @Senthil Kumar at #10 @Karthik Raptor at #11, and @Waqas Parvez in Sweep. The radio channel will be picked before departing. Looking forward to seeing you all tomorrow. Have a nice day.

Not sure if this is the right place to post but I want alert ppl who are going to buy offroad flags I have been using the below "press and twist" design flag base from Black Hawk brand recently, very unpleasant experience. 1. Sand/Dust gets in and stuck between the base and pole during offroad, difficult to remove after. 2. Feedback from other driver that the tiny dot which prevents the pole from falling out could break. Many offroad garages are selling this type but try not to get this crap 🙁

Congrats Simon. You were great support last week.

Oh read the message and thought we were going to have some cake 😀wish him very happy birthday and a great healthy, fun filled life… enjoy the day, hope to see you on next drive 👍👍

Dear @salah2u. The Manage button is dedicated to all members in the Carnity Support and above levels. If you do wish to be evaluated and added for a Support role, please send your request through the usual promotions' channels, and it will be promptly looked at. Thanks a lot.

Mulțumesc @Alexanderrr, hopefully we will have another Sweihan adventure (but without the fog )😃

Now you are in ‘The Zone’… half of my work is done 😀😀

Since reading this it is going to be impossible to focus at work today! My body will be at my desk but my mind is in the dunes

Thanks @varunmehndiratta vroom vroom 😂 looking forward.

And wow we have our Truck in it .. welcome onboard @Beide Worku

Dear Sand Sailors @Werno @Jona @salah2u @Mahmoud Taha @Jessica Lambert @Joseph Raju @Gerrit Bus @Yusuf Esaf Thanks for RSVPing for the drive. What an awesome mix of rides and riders we have here - from new to Fb+ to experienced intermediates and that too with all makes of vehicles - actually, don’t think we are missing any options, perhaps a truck, let’s see we have may have new joinees over thr week. This is going to be some nice fun on the sand. I have been out of country and have missed the feel of sand for last two weekends, so really looking forward for this drive. Last time we were on this track, we covered around 75Km in 3.5 hours and that was not with intent for a fast pace drive. So let’s see what we can achieve with this awesome convoy we have here. No pressure, I think that was a NB or a FB drive 🤔🤔 Key elements to plan before Sunday. a. Take good rest before the drive. b. Hydrate yourself properly through the week, my ambition with this High speed Drive is not to even allow for time to drink during the drive 😀😀. Dubai 30x30 is starting soon, take this as a preparatory drive. c. Ensure your vehicle is in good shape. d. Check all your gears. High speed drive entails high speed fixing any issues as well and that requires all your gears to be in perfect shape. So sharpen up those shovels and wrap up properly those ropes. No radio, hmmmm it’s okay, drive back home from Last Exit can be exciting too 😀 e. Most important every day for rest of the week, before heading back to bed at night and as soon as you wake up, recite this Mantra atleast 3 times. “No Countersteering,No fighting gravity” ”No Countersteering, No fighting gravity” ”No Countersteering, No fighting gravity” Only those with recording of daily recitals will be allowed for the drive 🤣🤣 See you all on Sunday. Have a nice week ahead. Cheers

@Karthik Raptor U missed it by few seconds , now you can hope people giving car for service and not getting it back in time from Garage

Just like any other sport or hobby, off road driving too has it's own etiquette's. Often times these are not spoken out loud or mentioned in public to not to embarrass anyone. If you like to continue off road driving, you should know these basic offroad driving etiquette's and follow them. Pay 100% undivided attention to the instructions: Whether it's in briefing or on radio communication while recovering, give your 100% attention and if you cannot due to some incoming call or passenger distraction, ask them to repeat. Most of the instructions are given so that you can drive safely. If you still live in the mobile world or loud music or radio volume turned down, you will miss out on critical safety instruction that can end up breaking your 4x4 or bones, seriously. Follow the instruction PRECISELY: From as simple as deflate to 12-14 PSI, drive in HI gear, engage to LO as soon as you get stuck. These instructions have been given to YOU for YOUR safety and enhancing your offroad driving experience. If you deflate to 22 PSI instead of 12, you will have endless refusals, stucks and A/T Transmission & Engine will soon overheat. If you don't engage on LO as soon as you get stuck, you will lose the most critical surface area in which LO gear could have saved the day, rather than toiling in HI gear for first few minutes and making the stuck even more worst for your car. Acknowledge the message: Always acknowledge the radio messages as the reliability of radio communication is highly questionable. Step out and help: When you are stuck and someone is helping you, it's a BASIC MANNER to step out of your car and help the Marshal or senior member who is helping you. You can help them clearing the sand, fixing the rope or inspect the stuck or plan of recovery. Sitting inside a stuck vehicle and waiting is the worst and most offending thing to do. If someone is helping you to check tire pressure, then step out and observe, how to delate to precise PSI. Disclaimer: In some 1% tricky angles or situation, if you have a doubt or difficulty to come out, ask the Marshal or senior member: If its safe for you to step out? Please don't assume and sit inside. Observe and learn: Every stuck and recovery has a lot to teach. Observe and learn from your stucks and discuss with Marshals how to not to get stuck again in a similar way. If you don't observe and learn you will end up doing the same mistakes over and over again. Learn Vs Serve: All the knowledge and experience are there to help you learn offroading and not just to serve you. So that as soon as you learn, you start practising it and become more capable offroader and be able to help others in the future.

Dear @Arda Yagcioglu after reviewing your profile i'am afraid that your last drive in your rank was for quit a while ( 5 to 6 months ). in this case for your safety and the safety of others it is highly recommended not to drive in your existing rank ( intermediate ) and maybe it wound be more relaxing to get the feel of it back in couple of Fewbie/Fewbie plus. i hope you can understand. therefore if i can ask you kindly to remove your name from the wait list please. Cheers!

I have had to bow out from this drive as it is my grandson's birthday. And although we don't celebrate it at 6am, I am expected to be lucid and awake during the day 😁. Enjoy the drive. See you all on the next one.