Rahimdad

Thanks @Wrangeld for your beautifully written trip report. Never get enough. Wish I could just read on and on.

@Wrangeld well put, I could not have written a better report if I tried. Truly yesterday tested our patience, skills and judgement. Can't thank @Wrangeld, @Jeepie and @Ale Vallecchi enough for being so thoughtful to come rushing to our assistance. @Xaf was also very cool, calm and helpful during this whole drive. @Gaurav bhai although posted the afternoon drive but was there to support @Frederic drive in the morning but had the presence of mind to check the list to make sure all made it out safely after the last 2 really tough hours. Hats off to a brilliant team effort.

Welcome @Muffy Acidwala. Looking forward to seeing you tomorrow.

@treks only off-roaders can answer that question.

Welcome to Carnity @sheri Please provide us the following information: * Which car 4x4 are you driving ? * Any prior offroad experience ? * Are the towhooks on the front and back available and in good condition ?

@andy_macdxb I have a Pahy 2001 model R50. It is capable, but little under powered 3.3 litre engine. Much prefer the 3.5 litre post 2002 models. Nevertheless it has allowed me to do most things except high steep climbs which in not on my to do list. I am not sure about the Japan specs, as long as it's anything close to our specs here with a proper 4 high and 4 low gear plus the same powerful 3.5 litre engine and is left hand drive it should be good.

Incorrect @desertdude. We've been in some nasty bowl in places close to Dubai and Sharjah with no mobile coverage Etisalat or Du. Always dicey to go out alone.

Wow @Hariharan well prepared. Looking forward to driving with you.

Good share, but I will never recommend to go out to desert alone. If you're stuck in an area without mobile coverage your app will not work.

Welcome @Gordon Grimmond, glad to have you. Can you please clarify as I have not seen a JR Cruise from Toyota yet. Does it have atleast 10 inches ground clearance and are the tow hooks in the front and back in good condition.

Welcome @E.C. TAN. We will try our level best to heal all your previous scars. You're in good hands.

@Nacho no question is stupid. So go ahead and ask all you want. We love people who are willing to ask and learn.

I love @Nacho. Welcome to your offroad family. Like @Gaurav mentioned as long as you're ready to learn there's a lot of fun in store for you and your JKU.

@Gregory Perkin welcome to your offroad family. Nice to know that you're already a sandoholic. Will make sure to show you the safety aspects and techniques of this art called offroading.

@Mostafa Taha thanks for sharing, sounds like a great deal.

@Colin Jordan the Ram is my all time favourite truck. I always recommend you take out your ride and do the modifications which you require rather than taking some educated guesses from a few. Having a lift kit is better than a levelling kit as the levelling kit is a bunch of coil spring spacers which makes your ride more uncomfortable and bouncy with a risk of spoiling the drive line. I can see that there is a plastic part which forms the lower lip of the bumper, removing that will give you a couple of extra inches of clearance. A proper 2 inch or 2.5 inch lift kit will do a much better job, but than again you will need to offset the tires by an inch to get the center of gravity right and bigger tires to support the lift kit. I will not recommend steel bumpers as it increases the weight of the vehicle, but a proper steel bumper with some rubber up front will not effect the passing of the car, steel bumper on its own will mean RTA will end up failing the car. I would still request you to take it out for a couple of newbie drives with the plastic at the bottom of the bumper removed and try it out before you come to a conclusion.

@Mostafa Taha, all tire shops are reliable, just make sure the manufacturing date is not too old. @Gaurav bhai can explain that further.

Congratulations @Szymon Stankiewicz. Welcome to a whole new world of wonders.

@Denizzalbayrak congratulations. Now you're spoilt for choice.

Congratulations @balaji0007. Well deserved, real learning and fun begins now.

@Denizzalbayrak as long as the level is newbie it will be more or less similar level. Only terrain and time will be different. Choose one that suits you best as per timing or area.

Trip report. I loved to read and live the experience through the eyes of the many who were in attendance. Not too much to add from my side but here is what I can share from my point of view. Waking up on working days can be a real drag for me, but my wife is puzzled as to how I wake up before the alarm even goes off on a Friday morning. The truth is the excitement to meet up with the many friends and make some new ones on the way. After having been through most of what UAE has to offer in terms of off-road adventures over the past decade, it's the people which gets me excited. It was a pleasure to see so many smiles as I arrived, all itching to taste the sands, some for the first time while others who want more. So without delay we headed out to the grounds where we could have our brief, deflate and final preparation before heading out to the wilderness. After the brief we deflated and in my excitement I forgot to fix my flag. It didn't take me long to realize though and we were off. @Rizwanm2 sorry you had to leave, hope your wife is feeling better now. Since @Rizwanm2 had to leave my second lead was now @Febin Frederic who did very well on the 2 occasions I found myself in trouble to lead the convoy through a safe route. Following him was our return champion @Jamy B. who has just found her ride in the form of an Xterra. I could see her not getting carried away and applying everything from the brief during the drive. She was more keen into learning her way with her new ride which is a brilliant thing to do. @Kalahari was next and with his Prado looked to me like a Silver Surfer just gliding through the sands. I'm very impressed with the way you handle your ride, doesn't seem like your first or second time out. Following him was @Najeeb Mohammed who drove his FJ, couldn't really see much of you deriving, however was impressed with the fact that you made it to the Pink Rocks without switching off traction control. Hope you found it easier with the traction control off. @Emmanuel was my centre forward to help out the convoy and keep the convoy in motion. Next came @Nizam Mohammed with his white FJ. Hope you have your tire sorted out after your encounter with The Rock. No I don't meant Dwayne Johnson, it one the one which met his tire on the way up to Pink Rocks. @Chaitanya D was next and managed well with his tank he calls the Nissan Patrol Y62. @Jorge Stepniak Felippe was to follow, sorry if we got the pronunciation of your name incorrect, we will definitely try our best to get it right the next time. @Jihad Hachem was more than sporting, sorry for being tough, but have seen so much over the years that safety is paramount. Glad you understand. In the sweep duties was @Mahmoud Hamzawy with his son. While he was keeping the convoy safe and moving with regular updates, his son was keeping us entertained. As is my habit for Newbie drives, I start with easy tracks for all to get used to their vehicles over some small dunes and work up the difficulty level for all to enjoy and learn from their experience. Climbing the Pink Rocks and descending from the other side is the toughest part on the menu, but almost everyone did it without any issues. As we rectified the issue of a burst tire by replacing it, we descended the Pink Rocks to head to the cafeteria nearby. Here we inflated and had the shade in which we could sit, relax, share some snacks and discuss our days activities. Fortunately we were first to the finishing line soon joined by the convoys of @Srikumar and @Frederic. With the Friday prayers time we parted our ways, but still with a promise to meet again as we continue to learn and support each other. See you all soon.

@Gaurav has converted me to a believer in Yokohama Geolanders ATS. It costs around AED 450/- a piece. Great comfort for on road with little humming noise due to its thread pattern but blessing once you are off-road.

I only have the grass in the boot of my Pathy, this guy takes it all too seriously.

@Wrangeld wow. What a write up. Truly Liwa is an experience. Being level headed and calm at all times with full concentration is a must. But the intermediate level is something you and @Jeepie have earned. Now you will be the mentors the newbies and Fewbies will be following toattain the level to experience the grandeur of Liwa.