Srikumar

XJ is a simple vehicle. I think you can get the original MOPAR parts from Trading Enterprises and if not available in stock they will order it. But lot of the parts can be put from other makes (also called Tejari).

In your budget you should be able to get the Pajero 3.8 SWB. Most of the Pajero's are hardly taken off road so you might get a clean one. But try to stay away from the 2009 to 2014 models as they have a peculiar up-shifting problem in tiptronic. If you are checking Cherokee look for the Cherokee XJ (1997 to 2001) models, they are quite rugged. Dont look at the later models. Difficult to get a clean one, but you might get lucky. You will have to do some work on them to reduce the overheating issue. Further, many might agree on this forum that the older vehicles, i.e., prior to 2004 were better built for offroad use than the later versions.

Good one

This happens after struggling for many days to get the seats folded and finally reading it on another country forum. Sharing it here helps in building a knowledge in a local forum

I am mostly in Basel. Looking forward to you leading us.

@hummerh3 yes, i got one done from @shadow79. You can check with him as well. he runs his garage in Ajman and he has solved the overheating issue in my Cherokee XJ

you will have to get one fabricated to match the original radiator dimensions. There are many companies like Dolphin Radiator and Sabah Radiator who do this job. Alternatively you can also goto a small fabricator and give your original radiator and he will be able to fabricate one for you.

Its more of a technique issue. First ensure that the back rest inclination lever is fully pulled and the back rest angle has come to the default position. The trick is that while you are doing the first part of the folding with the back rest almost down, you should start the second folding as well. If you are doing the first fold completely then the second fold will not happen. Try to do both the fold in a single motion. It should work. Let me know how it goes.

@Gaurav please be specific that you need the tool box with the contents else most likely you shall just carry the empty toolbox home..

Thank you @Asif bhai for posting a great looking drive. I am most definitely in. Let's roll

What a wonderful day!! Started with some beautiful weather which kept getting better as we were reaching the meeting point. Big thank you to Gaurav bhai and Rahim bhai for training us over the past several months and giving us the confidence to lead a convoy. After my first briefing as lead, we entered the desert and were welcomed to the sight of quite a few gazelles. Rahim bhai was so excited and that at one point he went searching for the gazelles. The terrain offered a lot of opportunity for side slopping and though I was kinda apprehensive about ridge cutting I think we still had a very good drive. @Atif bhai joined us for his second drive with Carnity and he managed himself extremely well in a challenging terrain. @baselsm83 joined as second weep and was keeping a watchful eye both on the convoy as well as towards the end on Rahim bhai's petrol tank . After a good first half we settled for breakfast and then we realised that Rahim bhai trusted pathy had a fuel leak from the fuel cap. So we decided to safely exit as the weather was getting warmer as well. We were treated to a group of camels as we were exiting and at one point they started chasing us. Thank you to @Gaurav for watching my back, guiding me wherever needed and ensuring that the entire convoy got through safely.The beauty about leading a convoy is that you can use your imagination and there is always something unexpected which is the main challenge. I had a couple of nasty bumps, but Gaurav ensured that he modified the route a bit so that the rest of convey kept moving smoothly. As usual a big thank you to Rahim bhai to help with the sweep duties. I started the day with a big smile and as we went through the desert it ended up as an even bigger smile. Thank you Carnity for this day. It was truly a memorable day.

The drive time has changed to 7:00 am. Thank you Atif bhai for the valid point raised

This is the set of dunes that I am proposing

Since its been about 2 weeks from the last desert drive, my mind was getting restless. Guess am completely infected by the desert bug, so after discussing with Gaurav, I though of posting a desert drive. idea is to meet up somewhere near Al Hayer and then drive to Nahel. From google maps it looks like an interesting terrain. I have not been to this area, so it would be great if someone can suggest a meeting point . Plan is as follows: When: 29 September 2017 Meeting time: 7:00 AM, convoy will move at 7:15 AM Where: First ADNOC Station while exiting from E66 onto E20 GPS Coordinate: https://goo.gl/maps/ncY7BeVTct12 Level of drive: Fewbie - Expert - Advance - (absolute newbie and newbie as passengers only) Type of Car: Any proper 4x4 with front and back tow hooks and 10 inches of ground clearance Plan: Early morning drive from Al Hayer to Nahel What to bring along: Morning breakfast - whatever you like with little extra to share, water, liquids, smiles, stories, and enthusiasm. Please RSVP on below calendar

If you are serious about offroading at the budget of 10-15k you could possibly also look at the old Nissan pathfinder, Cherokee XJ, or a 3.5 LWB Pajero. But 3.0 SWB Pajero should do fine just as well

check this post to help set the frequency, else there will be someone to help you at the deflation point. 2 way Radio (Walkie Talkie) frequencies

@Atif I have been going for the night drives this entire summer without any additional lights and as long as I followed the car in front it's been quite simple. Yes, if you are leading the convoy you would definitely need the additional lights to see the way forward.

Brilliant drive with some nice challenging terrain. Thoroughly enjoyed it esp. the second half of the drive. Thanks @Gaurav for leading us through this terrain.

I am most definitely in. Looking forward to it. Just a question..how do you manage Al Faqa to Camel Rock without hitting the tarmac? Regards Srikumar