Gaurav

@Adel Muradov please come 30 minutes early by 10:30 PM so that we can do newbie briefing.

Looks like he bought it from Dragon Mart without a receipt or even a business card.

When he went back to complaint all the shops and faces look same.

That's why he is not replying here

Just now, Barry said:

just need someone crazy/drunk enough to ride it 

Oh we have you always to perfectly fitting that criteria, lololol.

You may start more early to avoid rush at border and also in case you waste time at border still be able to cover that second leg during daylight.

Plan break at every 150-200 kms as all fuel station are positioned that way, with 300 km you might not be in sync.

Dig some old salalah thread here and quote those people who have visited last year for latest update on fuel station, road, places etc.

OK guys, update on the issue: Oil sensor wiring got disconnected so rewire and solder it again and engine oil light flickering is completely gone now.

First of all have lot of fun, as its brilliant drive and I'm waiting since few years to repeat again without any luck.

Road and car safety tips for long road trip to Salalah:

• Check all fluids level constantly for few days prior to your trip, both before driving and after.
• Get all bushes, belts and hoses check from proper mechanic with expected remaining life.
• Carry the good size tool box, gloves, duct tape, mseal, cable ties, tie-down straps for safety.
• Inflate all tires at 35 when fully warmed up, means start with 32 and check after an hour to top up.
• Stop every 150-200 kms at every fuel station for 15 mins to check and rest yourself and car.
• Refuel at every gas station spaced roughly 200 kms away to avoid no-show in next station.
• Avoid high speed for long hours, keep it at 120-140 is good for engine and fuel efficiency.
• Take 8-10 hours sleep in advance for 3 consecutive day prior if you are planning to drive in one shot.
• Don't eat full stomach meal, you will fall sleep, no matter how much you were rested before.
• If you feel sleepy, pull over far away in barren land (either side) and take a nap, than pushing.
• Start at night so that you can reach Salalah before it get dark, as driving in night is bit risky as incoming traffic blinds you very much on one-way road. Starting from Dubai at night till Muscat is good well lit road, so you will hit that one-way road during daytime.

1 minute ago, Adel Muradov said:

Hi @Gaurav, this time I am going (Hopefully nothing will come out last min, like last time). I am not an absolute newbie, I am fewbie in another group. BUT I never went to desert at night, will do my best though to catch up with you guys. 

You are most welcome and after driving with us you will realize that nobody has to catch up in Carnity Offroad Club.

We all go, wait, drive and eat together. I can relate your feeling of catching up, as I learned my offroading with LC100.

41 minutes ago, Rahimdad said:

Wish you let me know earlier @desertdude, I already bought the nail polish remover, which is the only thing I can't use after this task is done and dusted. Already had a can of WD40.

Don't worry as acetone+atf still better than WD40 by two places.

If you open the stuck plug, it will pay you back in multi-fold. Hope this does the magic and Pathy gets new plug soon.

Just an idea: Maybe you can use torque wrench to limit the force than breaking the plug, so when torque wrench slips keep pouring the penetrating solution every 30 minutes. Only catch is to find the plug breaking torque.....! Shouldn't be very difficult though.

30 minutes ago, Javier M said:

Did I hear monster dunes? 

Yes you heard it right, maybe you can join in morning down fossil rock backside and will have quick spin in that beautiful area.

https://goo.gl/maps/3CmWxLkV1i6NjGT3A

As the weather begin to change for good, this might be the last night drive to enjoy this year, as now in night weather has become very pleasant with cool breeze. Time to enjoy chilled out desert drive in our much loved Mahafiz sandbox till the morning. If time permit and convoy response are favorable, we might continue play in morning at monster dunes after fossil rock area, if not we will end and exit.

This area offers a great mix of playable dunes and medium dunes to test your night driving skills. Depending on convoy strength and liking will plan the route to fit everyone's taste and capabilities.

Offroad lights are recommended for a night drive, but if you don't have you can still safely drive with your HIGH BEAM.

When: 08 Aug 2019, Thursday

Meeting time: 11 PM, the convoy will move at sharp 11:15 PM - "NO EXCEPTIONS"

Where: ADNOC at Sharjah - Kalba Road

GPS Coordinate: https://goo.gl/maps/CjXEpdPqn3NZ7Y8j7

Level: Newbie, Fewbie & Above (NO ABSOLUTE NEWBIE PLEASE)

Type of Car: Any proper 4x4 with front and back tow hooks and 10 inches of ground clearance.

Plan: Drive, train and enjoy till about 4 am and then break for snacks.

What to bring along: Snacks whatever you like with little extra to share, water, liquids, smiles, stories, enthusiasm and willingness to learn.

Approximate finish time: 5:00 AM

MUST READ: 

• Off Road Driving - Roles & Responsibilities
• Off road Driving Etiquette's
• Off-road Convoy Rules

Please RSVP on the below calendar:

37 minutes ago, desertdude said:

Accent?

No, Amaron

36 minutes ago, Javier M said:

On another off-road club I remember seeing a video where they were recovering a car, they guy was clearly going too fast when pulling and one of the recovery points broke, sending it directly through the other car's window. And they were blaming the recovery points as faulty. The stucked car had the axles covered in sand and this guy was pulling too fast. 🤨

Needless to say I did not join them, they obviously did not know what they were doing.

Actually people have ego attached to the recovery scenario that let their mind stop using the basic common sense, physics and math.

Also they assume if you fail to recover in small 10 tugs then you and your 4x4 is useless, and let someone show you how to do it.

Not many are bother to clear the sand around wheels and make a path or hole near the tire so that car can fall into the hole safely than jumping out and increasing the risk of flip.

46 minutes ago, Frederic said:

2) Never exceed 15-20km/h when engaging in a pull or tug. Do several smaller tugs and slowly buildup the force.

This single point is a GOLDEN MANTRA, even if you are stuck in a situation with underrated tow points, hook or ropes.

I remember giving more than 30 tugs to change the angle of Ford truck with my dinky Pajero.

Out here ppl give up after 3-4 tries and go as fast as they can, but its a same logic of blip blip recovery method, if you are moving even an inch at a time, you still have a hope to recover with the same intensity by giving constant slow powered tugs.

32 minutes ago, shadow79 said:

What you are trained on is only what you can handle nicely in the desert the learning curve starts from zero when the car changes

Well not from Zero, but from 50% onward again. And you will take couple of drives to get used to that new 4x4 response unlike months and years to learn offorading.

I have driven 6 different 4x4 for offroading in last 12 years.

Very impressive 

You can buy strap and use it as a bridle, just make sure its heavily rated.

I used my strap for long time and in some rigorous uphill pulls n tugs.

You can get liftek from Alico in shj.

If you recently bought this, which I think you must have after your recent civic purchase, just go to the shop and complain.

If it's old then DIY debugging is a good idea.

Which brand is that, share some model info so we can dig into it.

5 minutes ago, desertdude said:

I said Armada not Patrol. That Armada weighs almost the same as the Y62 and around the same power as the V6 patrol. And the Armada was never built to be a tough offroader. So the comparison is more than valid

Theoretical yes, but when have you last seen or driven Y62 (STOCK) doing wonders....?

We have had 3 patrol in 2019 and 2 broke the bumper, 3rd was intelligent matured driver and went back home with same bumper.

Due to tons of electronic control, I have seen even V8 struggling and what Adel mentioned here I can totally relate to.

If it was doing wonder as Y61 VTEC then why would Nissan brought back Y61 VTEC VTEC for shababs.....?

Thanks a lot @Frederic.

@shadow79 please download this and get ready to read it with popcorn and green tea.

Don't tell me now where do you get workshop manual for $10, Fred got you one for free, so you better make use of it now.

Sorry dude, this was over 10+ year story now and you might be right at that time but not with Patrol weight.

@Adel Muradov there is no doubt you have very capable 4x4 but due to its pedigree now mixed with luxury+mall crawler audience and that makes it very heavy, more electronically controlled gizmos, computers, sensors. Patrol Y62 will always find it difficult to catch up on extreme drives like the one you just mentioned.

However that gap is very marginal - if you hone your offroad skills like if FJC can do 100, then your Patrol can match upto 80-90 in capable hands. So don't worry too much about that level and little gap IMHO, first focus on learning and "practicing" the basics without breaking your 4x4, rest all will follow.

On the contrary, for being a good offroader you need slightly underpower 4x4 than desert toy that can take you anywhere with a touch of throttle. You won't learn real offroading that way.

These are the pics and video

Thanks for the lovely trip report.

I, Saleem and Jaleel went on Friday evening with half working tire rod end and link rod compiled from used parts lying in saleem garage. This made it fine to exit and drive back home.

Just ordered the new ones now and also the set of all rear bushing, as one of them is making little clack clack in dunes. So hopefully will get everything sorted within this week.

Just checked the present engine oil age and it has done 2552 kms so far and changed on May 8, less than 3 months ago.

Usually I change anywhere after 5K-6K kms as it has 10K life, also check the oil color and smell looks nice and crispy, little darker now but matches with 2500 kms use.

As a first rule, I think if after all the sensor and grounding check is done, I should change the oil and see if it happen again. Wht do you guys think....?

I am using this same oil since 8 years without any issues and on the contrary, every time I changed engine oil some disaster happen from knocking noise to busted engine. Even the habtoor lukoil also failed after 3-4 offroad drive and started producing loud knocking after 1000 kms, changed back to Mobil 1 - 0W40 - everything went straight. So I am sorry, I wont change the engine oil.