Frederic

Very good topic @Looper ! I agree that desert-driving photography is a bit tricky. I use full frame Canon EF with 24-105mm L series which is a good overall range but quite heavy to carry along. The fact that it has optical stabilization is a must in my opinion if you start to zoom in completely, and on a 300mm that would be definitely even more the case. (we are using it handheld and not on tripod). The Sigma 70-300mm with IS is a better and more cost-effective option and also less bulky. Aperture is indeed lesser of an issue as there is plenty of light available. Even too much at times. I've seen plenty of your photos on the forum, and how you nail them every time is impressive as my camera is quite old and is not that great for the quick shots (5D mk2). It takes time to get focus right and there's never enough time when cars are zooming past

@babaski@BIBIN THOMAS@Pierre de Maigret@Glenn W@Thejas Uthran@topgear@Bashar Beasha@Dorian Zissi@Rajiv Sam@DTG@Arun Menon@Haneef Thayyil@Harshal@Abhilash Kottakkal @Chaitanya D @DP1011 Thanks to everyone for joining yesterday! I hope you enjoyed the laidback atmosphere and had a safe trip back home. Great support as usual from @DP1011, @Chaitanya D and @Rajiv Sam ! You’ll find some nice pics in the drive gallery ! See you soon in the sands again !

Relive video: https://www.relive.cc/view/vYvrVzEEExv GPS Track: Check out this trail from @Wikiloc! https://www.wikiloc.com/offroading-trails/shj-scenic-drive-3-emirates-140635213 (SHJ- Scenic Drive 3 Emirates)

RSVP IS NOW CLOSED @babaski@BIBIN THOMAS@Pierre de Maigret@Glenn W@Thejas Uthran@topgear@Bashar Beasha@Dorian Zissi@Rajiv Sam@DTG@Arun Menon@Haneef Thayyil@Harshal@Abhilash Kottakkal Supported by @Chaitanya D @DP1011@Rajiv Sam You guys are all confirmed for the drive tomorrow. The convoy list can be found below: As mentioned before, this will be a gentle overlanding drive, not a dune-bashing drive. The aim is to enjoy the scenery, cross some dunes, and take it easy. We will be using Walkie Talkie Radio Channel 2: 446.031 Mhz @Haneef Thayyil@Abhilash Kottakkalif you have no walkie-talkie or did not program it yet, no worries i will provide a spare radio that you can use for this time. An offroad-flag is usually mandatory to have on your vehicle. As this is your first drive with us, we can make a one-time exception if you do not have one yet. However please get this sorted as soon as possible. Make sure to watch the Absolute Newbie briefing video posted here on the drive topic to ensure you are prepared. When you arrive at the location you can start deflating to 15psi. If you need help with that we will definitely be nearby to assist you. I usually arrive well in advance. In case of any issue on the way to the meeting point my mobile is 0 5 6 5 0 4 2 6 3 2 See you all tomorrow !

@Theo09the reason you need to keep the wheels on is because they: 1. widen the footprint 2. during the lifting you are never 100% directly underneath the jacking point, and you will notice that the floorjack slightly moves forward or backwards once you start lifting the car. This is good as it ensures the floorjack is not lifting at an incorrect angle. It's like during the time that jack will "settle" and put itself in the correct position and angle. Little bit difficult to explain but you will notice it clearly when using the floor jack.

Well done @Mohit Gurnani !!

Hi @AtulR! Many FJ cruisers come with the standard roof bars like this: Are these the ones you will install, or are you talking about something like this: These are crossbars that you can mount on the original roof rack system. There are plenty aftermarket options brands like Thule, Rhinorack, and few others.

DRIVE DESCRIPTION Considering the scorching temperatures, this will be a gentle overlanding / desert drive throughout the various terrain Sharjah, Umm al Quwain, and RAK has to offer. Bring your camera and let's explore together ! We request every member that joins this drive to go through the below information and strictly follow these guidelines, etiquettes and responsibilities. MUST READ AND COMPLY Environmental Policy Offroad Flag Guideline Two Way Radio Guideline Off road Driving Etiquette's Emergency details for all off-roaders Off Road Driving - Roles & Responsibilities First time with Carnity Off-road Club: Please share your vehicle details - Make, Model, Color, and Year. Do you have any prior off-road experience? If yes, pls share details. Confirm your vehicle has front and rear tow hooks/eyelets. Advise if you don’t have a programable radio and safety flag. MUST WATCH: NEWBIE VIDEO BRIEFING DRIVE DETAILS Level: Absolute Newbie, Newbie and above When: 15 thJuly 2023, Saturday Meeting time: 4:00 PM - Sharp (Without any exceptions) Meeting Point: Batayeh Farm Track: https://goo.gl/maps/wVRWfBhKKidwhzCy5 Approximate finish time: 8:00 PM approx Type of Car: Any proper 4x4 with front and back tow hooks and 8-10 inches of ground clearance. What to bring along: Loads of water, snacks (for yourself), smiles, enthusiasm and willingness to learn. Mandatory off-road gears: Tire deflator, tire pressure gauge, compressor, walkie-talkie radio, off-road flag, shovel, first-aid kit and fire extinguisher. LIMITED SPOTS AVAILABLE This drive is limited to 12 cars only. If the RSVP is full, you can add your name to the waitlist, once anyone drops, you will be moved to the RSVP list. RSVP will close a day prior to preparing a convoy list. Latecomers will be returned back - Without any exceptions. Members without RSVP will be returned back - Without any exceptions. Please withdraw your RSVP, if you aren't joining, so your spot can be taken by others. Repeated no-show members after RSVP will have their account suspended for a month. PLEASE RSVP ON THE CALENDAR

Thank for joining on this drive @Alphin Aloor@Tom V@Gok Krish@Srikumar! As soon as the sun started to settle, we headed South to explore and see what was in store for us in this mostly unknown desert. As expected we found bushes, and lots of them ! Apparently a few ghosts along the way as well Some areas proved to be quite technical, and the low gear was often the only rescue to get through the powderish soft sand. Where i could, i chose to zip through existing farm tracks so we had some relief from the bumpy terrain. We exited close to Rashidiya, and i think this was a kind of overlanding / rocking / rolling desert drive that might be worth exploring during daylight as well. Below a screenshot of the track we did: Enjoy the rest of the weekend and see you soon !

I only have a couple of those during the day. In the office we have a pretty good machine, while i prefer making my own at home.

That's indeed one heck of a milestone ! Well done @Ale Vallecchi ! hope you can keep blessing us with your adventurous and unique drives !!