Gaurav

Convoy Numbering:

1. Gaurav - Silver Pajero
2. bunty_and_pops - White Wrangler
3. Vipin Shetty - Jeep Grand Cherokee
4. Magellan - Brown Pajero
5. Janarthan - Silver Xterra
6. Anish S - White Pajero
7. Jeepie - Green Wrangler
8. Rajeevan Vickneswaran - Blue wrangler
9. E.C. TAN - Grey Wrangler
10. Tbone - Black Xterra
11. siddharth maheshwari - White Jeep Wrangler
12. Mahmoud Hamzawy - Brown Prado
13. Ale Vallecchi - Grey FJ Cruiser

Welcome @VipinShetty to Carnity offroad club, as one time exception I can add you to this drive due to @Nikola Bozovic exiting after the drive is closed.

Please make sure that your Grand Cherokee having 8-10 inches of ground clearance alongwith front and back tow hook. @Brette might share some advise for bumpers to make it safe for dunes.

Please click on totally agree on this drive post and BAN post, once you read all the covid precautions.

Make sure your radio is set to above frequency and go through the newbie briefing video (above) for your and your vehicle safety.

Drive is closed now

Radio Channel: 1 - (446.006'25) Please make sure it is working fine and fully charged.

Convoy Numbering:

1. Gaurav - Silver Pajero
2. bunty_and_pops - White Wrangler
3. Magellan - Brown Pajero
4. Nikola Bozovic - White Pajero
5. Janarthan - Silver Xterra
6. Anish S - White Pajero
7. Jeepie - Green Wrangler
8. Rajeevan Vickneswaran - Blue wrangler
9. E.C. TAN - Grey Wrangler
10. Tbone - Black Xterra
11. siddharth maheshwari - White Jeep Wrangler
12. Mahmoud Hamzawy - Brown Prado
13. Ale Vallecchi - Grey FJ Cruiser
    
    @MUHAMMAD Kashif RAZZAQ and @Bashar Hafez
     
14. MUHAMMAD Kashif RAZZAQ - (Removed from the drive, for not agreeing to the COVID19 precautions)
15. Bashar Hafez - (Removed from the drive, for not agreeing to the COVID19 precautions)

Keep your distance when deflating and do not "gather" upon arrival. Deflate your vehicle and step back in the car so we can convey the briefing over the radio. 

Make sure you have a deflator, flag, and your radio.

See you tomorrow !

1 hour ago, Colin Jordan said:

@Rahimdad That sound fantastic! Im always up for the challenge think it will be alot of fun!

That truck is quiet capable as we have tested in Qudra, once.

@MUHAMMAD Kashif RAZZAQ @siddharth maheshwari and @Bashar Hafez if you do not agree on this "BAN post" by 6 PM today, unfortunately I have to remove your names from the drive calendar.

@Janarthan @Rajeevan Vickneswaran @siddharth maheshwari @Bashar Hafez @Magellan @Nikola Bozovic @bunty_and_pops and @MUHAMMAD Kashif RAZZAQ Please click on totally agree on this drive post too. Thanks.

Thanks @Xaf for good point of consideration.

Were you in dunes and/or in a pocket or on a flat surface with bit of sand?

I have these and they have never worked in dunes, but on flat surface, once.

23 minutes ago, desertdude said:

This is indeed a very old trick LR has used over and over again. The Discovery series I is nothing but a Range River Classic with a less luxurious and more utilitarian body shell. The Series II is also nothing but a P38a Range River with a less luxurious and more utilitarian bodyshell. Only this time the went around the other way and dressed up a Discovery as a more "sporty" range rover

And u forgot the biggest disaster of the century - "Dressed up Defender"

Hi @Fayad Abdul Karim welcome to Carnity.

I have gone through your discussion and inputs with others here. If I'm in your place, I will go with @Frederic route to try and tackle 1 or 2 issue - start from low value repair first and work your way up to see if you can live with the others or not.

Even then if you decide to sell off the car, you can probably get better resale as it will show 5 problems instead of 10.

Give your best and see how far you can take it - at least you will have a satisfaction of giving it a try.

What might seems like a 15,000 AED fix from quick look, if you plan wisely you might save a big chunk on unwanted repairs, fake mechanics and unwanted parts, that every workshop love to throw in to maximize the estimate.

Start with your point 3. Wheel alignment and go to 3D lazer wheel alignment shop to spend 100 in place of 50, but will get the job done in one attempt. Sit on that guy head and explain your problem clearly, as many issues can be spotted with those micro variance that mechanics might not able to spot it.

Recently I had a loud clunk while hitting hard brake and mechanic guessed from brake cylinder to drive shaft etc. I went to alignment guy and they pointed that lower arm two nuts are loose and they cannot align unless I get those fixed. It was a 5 minutes job for mechanic to tighten lower arm nuts and it cured that hard brake clanking immediately. Bottom line, do not underestimate 3D lazer wheel alignment guys and go at the time, when they are free, so you can explain and they will use their head to diagnose.

Then for point 1 and 2, get two opinion from good workshop, I can recommend these two shops listed in carnity business listing with 5 star ratings.

https://carnity.com/business_listing/car-services/general-service-workshop/hot-wheels-auto-repair-workshop-r1035

https://carnity.com/business_listing/car-services/general-service-workshop/euro-spec-automotive-solutions-r1109

@Asif Hussain if you have any good workshop reference in Abu Dhabi, please share.

For point 4, jerking gear. Check the gear oil level first. Drive the car for 30 minutes and then put in reverse, and engage the hand brake. Step out and check the gear oil level if you have dipstick. If its low, get it topped up. If its dark or brownish color, get it changed with gear oil filter too. If gear oil is recently changed then gear is running on its last leg and soon it will need a rebuild (Dexol in Dubai and Hoorani in Shj are your best bet for gear overhauling) or replacement from scrap (with guarantee).

For point 5, when you get the next service done, check or change the spark plug as it maybe worn out or one or two plugs might be running with increased/decreased gap - installation error, if mechanic dropped those plug while installing.

For point 6, 7 and 8, you can source cheaper used parts from Sajja sharjah scrapyard. These 3 businesses deals in Hyundai scrap.
https://carnity.com/business_listing/car-spare-parts/used-parts-scrapyard/al-nejoum-korean-used-cars-spare-parts-hyundai-kia-ford-cadillac-r1106

https://carnity.com/business_listing/car-spare-parts/used-parts-scrapyard/jebal-alandalus-used-auto-spare-parts-trading-r1180

https://carnity.com/business_listing/car-spare-parts/used-parts-scrapyard/ali-abdul-jabbar-used-auto-spare-parts-trading-r1113

@siddharth maheshwari @Bashar Hafez @Magellan

Please read and click on totally agree on the BAN topic, URGENTLY. Everyone has to comply, it's not optional.

10 hours ago, Tbone said:

In what thickness should I go for a skid plate in Xterra? Any recommendations on where I can get an aluminum ones? 

6 or 8mm is ideal.

Well done, congrats @Shadab Khan.

Hope you and your family have happy and safe drive for years to come.

And btw, I was busy whole day and wanted to reply that please dont be scare and too crazy about used cars in UAE as majority of them are good and in reasonably re-usable condition and not like your salt lake rotten cars.

Take it easy, enjoy and i'm sure after few years you will have different experience of owning cars in UAE.

Soon action cam, cameras and mobile companies will launch GCC specs too.

Many many happy returns of the day.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MARJAN

@Jeepie have a blast and have a wonderful day and year ahead.

1 hour ago, Srikumar said:

I feel it's not just the power, but other factors like gear ratios that also matter. All the power in the world but a messed up gearing doesn't help in long hill climbs.

A straight 6 engine giving only 190 hp but having the right gear ratio can also do the Iftar bowl climb from the center. See the video.

Totally agree on the gearing issue. 

I had 2006 Nissan Patrol SWB in 2008 and it never climbed up Bidayer, let alone IFB and Faya, because 4.5 liter engine in patrol was not having same gearing as in 4.8 liter engine.

50-60% pink rock - Max Climb.

1 minute ago, Shadab Khan said:

This one doesn't, it'll cost me 1000 AED to get the tow hooks attached from what I found out online.

Nope, that's not what I meant to attach tow hook on a non-tow variant.

Instead buy the variant that has tow hook as that is reasonably offroad ready, in terms of ground clearance and all.

These non-tow hook variant are so low that on road side gravel you will damage the lower lip or the bumper skirting.

Btw, I think someone mentioned here if you are going for Jeep Grand Cherokee go for that version that has two stock tow hook in front bumper.

Offroad advice:

• In UAE, there are majorly three level of offroad activities:
  1. Beach, little road side sand, gravel track - Any Car, SUV, even 2 Wheel Corolla is acceptable. Because its so busy place that if once in a blue corolla get stuck then 5 people can push the car out in no time.
  2. Desert - Drive through real desert dune - bash it or drive it - your choice - Needs a "PROPER" "SERIOUS" 4x4 with LO gearing and not an imposter or soft-roader, that will die on its first to second drive itself.
  3. Mountain: Normal SUV with good ground clearance can scale half of mountain trails here, but for steep inclines and big boulder negotiation you need proper 4x4 with LO gearing and lift kit.

Family advice:

• Most families get excited with offroad name but their enthusiasm decline after first few drives, mainly because in Type 2 and 3 level offroad (explain above) driver gets the thrill and adventure. Passengers doesnt enjoy that much but come to accompany the driver (moral support / love).
• I have tried this with my wife - she lasted 5 drives.
• I have tried this with my Parents - they lasted 2 drives.
• I have tried this with my 6 yo Son - he lasted 2 drives.

I am not saying that all families (spouse, parents and kids) are same but there is a high probability factor that they might not buy-in in your offroad weekend plan all the time.

Keeping above in mind, buy what you can enjoy and matters most to you as a driver, offroader, etc. If your family, joins in, that's a bonus for you.

So def don't buy offroader now. Test the water of offroad and family intake with this mid-range vehicle. And once you get better clarity on both front, go for a proper offroader (20-30K) and you will love that car - THE MOST.

Spray some water and phones are back in 10 sec. AC cooling take up to 2 minutes, water cools the best.

23 minutes ago, syed salman raza said:

RTA put fine on me if before 6 am I am on the road ,they have camera monitoring now very strict

 

That camera episode was there in those 24 hr rule.

Two week back, 4 cars were late to reach home, 3 in Dubai and 1 in shj and none of us got any fine. As it was a genuine emergency that we were recovering a car in the desert, so we all took plenty of photos and videos to prove (in case).

I'm only sharing my personal opinion, to how to save 5-10 minutes on both sides, rest is your choice.

OK, I have an idea for 15 minutes. Start 5-10 min early as you will take this to get out to the main street or out of the building parking etc. For another 5-10 mins inform trip lead, and he can make one-time exception.

Which part of Abu Dhabi are you coming from?

One word advice: Don't.

Luxury niche that you opted with 30K budget will be your and your wife most horrible nightmare, because that is the time German and UK cars here in UAE goes to end of life cycle after 150-200K km in UAE weather.

Best is to buy such cars when under warranty, i.e. under 3 years with 100-150K budget.

Second best buy - borderline safe or risky, just out of warranty and drive for a year or two and then sell it before it start giving too much problems.

Unless you are like @desertdude who knows LR in and out and knows how to even work in most cases, please don't get in to this.

Just to put my thoughts into justification, call all guys and start checking how much money they have spent in last 1 or 2 years, be it with premier motors, outside BMW or LR specialist and then you yourself will walk away with this idea.

From where you are coming and what's the latest time you can make it to meeting point, if coming from home?

16 hours ago, Rizwanm2 said:

i understand maxtrax is not ideal for crested situation or soft sand. but what about a stuck in a ditch or bottom of a bowl. 

You can buy them and try, for once in a year or two moment.

I totally agree with Richard, that they are pain to store. I do have folding one and they always failed to work and only impressed me once on rocky terrain to recover a car who was slipping on gravel badly. @Rahimdad might remember his treasure hunt event in 2010 to put a flag on pylon track, that was tricky for novice 4x4 drivers.

For sand, self recovery techniques + 10 dhs shovel is more than enough. Event for the cresting.

10 hours ago, desertdude said:

I always found the ZJ with in the inline 4.0 pretty anemic and a mismatch for it. The the 4cyl for the Prado.

I remember Gaurav had a ZJ with the magnum V8 in it. That thing was pretty fast and powerful. But as far as I can remember even he didn't like it too much and got rid of it pretty fast.

Yup, sold within 3 months.