Frederic

Drive Report I still remember my first drive with Carnity. We met up near Pink Rock and planned to do short introductory Newbie drive. Things went the other way when multiple cars got stuck and we ended up shoveling each car out for quite some time and it was late in the afternoon by the time we exited. I had an absolute blast and loved the physical aspect, camaraderie, and felt part of a family from day one. Today was a drive that went ultra smooth, and that is courtesy to all of you as you guys and gals came prepared, all listened to our instructions perfectly, and found the perfect rhythm and continuous momentum. As i mentioned in the debriefing, not every drive will be a smooth as this, but having a difficult drive can be fun as well and will bring new learning experiences. @Enrico Biscaro you came with your new ride and sailed through every dunes effortlessly. I hope you liked your first "club" drive and see the fun we have as a collective. Keep it up ! @Aaliyah Mohammed you brought a beautiful orange Jeep to our drive which you have mastered brilliantly. Your approach, lines, momentum were all super smooth. Well done ! @Brian Dev you hade some minor refusals at the beginning, but after deflating a little bit further down you've found your groove and drove really well today ! @Jins John you brought the legendary Land Cruiser today, which is due to its size not the easiest car to learn the art of offroading, but apart from some minor refusals you were in total control and did great ! @Ajit John with your experience on two wheels in the sand, having 2 additional ones surely helped today. Well driven ! A big thank you to my wonderful support @M.Seidam who kept a close watch on all of you. You live and breathe the Carnity spirit completely, as all of our newbies feel well looked after and supported, and it's that confidence that will make them grow week after week and become a better offroader / team player / club member. Thank you !! Moving forward you all will be joining the Newbie drives and not an Absolute Newbie drive anymore. Drives are announced every Sunday at 11 am, and they go live on Sunday at 7:00 pm. Due to the high demand, these drives get full in about 10 minutes, so please be online at 7 pm to book your spot. If you miss a spot, put your name on the waitlist asap. Generally, by Thursday with dropouts everyone does get a spot if they have waitlisted. For the next drives, please bring along a deflator, pressure gauge, flag, compressor and radio as a minimum. Learn to deflate your tires and checking them precisely Learn to fix a flag on your car Learn to program and fully charge your radio Also like I mentioned during the debriefing, join the Carnity Whatsapp Drive Notification to get the latest updates on the drives, so that you can RSVP on time for the next weekend's drive. Please have a look at below topic which describes the tools needed for every level. There is a separate tutorial inside which explains which radio we recommend and how to program them: (Please do not buy the Baofeng 888S spare radio we gave you, as these cannot be programmed without a special cable and software). Please have a look at below grading structure that explains various off-road levels: See you guys and gals soon on the sand again. Take care. @AMBATI we did not see you on the drive today. I hope everything is fine ?

The Golden Camel single cylinder is the one I purchased when started off-roading and later gave it to Vanessa. She’s still using it every week and never broke down. (Fingers crossed). I’m a bit handy so whenever something breaks I’ll tear it apart and make one good compressor out of 3 bad ones 😅

Choosing the Right Air Compressor for Desert Off-Roading in the UAE Off-roading in the UAE desert requires lowering your tire pressure to improve traction on soft sand. While some exits conveniently lead to nearby petrol stations where you can reinflate your tires, this is not always the case. For that reason, carrying a reliable air compressor is an essential part of any off-road recovery kit. It is one piece of equipment you do not want failing when it is time to head back onto the tarmac. Depending on your tire size and the type of compressor being used, reinflating tires can take anywhere from 2–4 minutes per tire to more than 25 minutes for a full set. Under the UAE’s intense desert heat, minimizing inflation time becomes more than just a convenience — it is an important factor for both comfort and equipment longevity. In this article, we will look at some of the key technical considerations when using an air compressor and explain what to look for when purchasing one. Heat Management: The Biggest Challenge The primary challenge with air compressors is heat generation. Compressing air creates friction between air molecules, and this process naturally produces significant amounts of heat. The temperature increase is most noticeable around the piston head, but the air hose itself can also become extremely hot during operation. This is why most quality compressors are equipped with cooling fins and a short metal outlet pipe designed to dissipate heat before it reaches the rubber hose. Even so, compressors should always be handled carefully after use, as certain components may become hot enough to cause burns. It is completely normal for a compressor to heat up during operation, especially when running continuously or operating in high ambient temperatures such as those experienced in the UAE desert. To reduce overheating and extend the lifespan of your compressor, it is recommended to: Keep the compressor in the shade whenever possible Avoid running it continuously for extended periods Respect the manufacturer’s specified duty cycle Allow the unit to cool down between inflation sessions when necessary Understanding Compressor Performance One important factor often overlooked is that inflating a single tire at a time can limit most compressors to an effective airflow of approximately 70 liters per minute (LPM). Even if a compressor is rated for higher output, airflow resistance from a single tire valve can restrict performance, forcing the compressor to work harder and generate additional heat. For high-performance compressors with greater airflow capacity, using a dual-hose or four-hose inflation system can significantly improve efficiency. Inflating multiple tires simultaneously reduces overall runtime, lowers operating temperatures, and makes much better use of the compressor’s available airflow. This setup is especially beneficial for vehicles equipped with larger off-road tires, where inflation times can otherwise become lengthy and demanding on the compressor. What to Look for When Buying an Air Compressor Choosing the right air compressor for desert off-roading is about more than simply buying the most powerful model available. Reliability, durability, and real-world performance are far more important when you are regularly inflating tires in harsh desert conditions. Below are some of the key factors to consider before making a purchase. 1. Warranty and Brand Reputation A quality compressor is an investment, and a reputable manufacturer should stand behind its product with a solid warranty. Premium brands typically offer warranties ranging from 4 to 5 years, which helps justify the higher purchase price and provides peace of mind for frequent off-roaders. Unfortunately, long warranty periods have become less common in recent years, making brand reputation and after-sales support more important than ever. 2. Airflow Output (LPM / CFM) Compressor performance is usually measured in either: LPM (Liters Per Minute) CFM (Cubic Feet Per Minute) As a reference: 2.3 CFM ≈ 65 LPM In general, higher airflow means faster tire inflation. For most off-road applications, compressors delivering 50 LPM or more will perform adequately, while larger tires and multi-tire inflation systems benefit from significantly higher output. However, comparing compressor specifications is not always straightforward. Manufacturers do not always use the same testing standards: Some advertise airflow at 0 PSI (free air delivery) Others provide ratings at 40 PSI, which places a much greater load on the compressor This means that published numbers can sometimes be misleading, and real-world performance may differ significantly from what is printed on the box. 3. Duty Cycle Air compressors generate substantial heat during operation, which means most units cannot run continuously without periodic cooling. The allowable runtime before cooling is required is known as the duty cycle. Manufacturers may express this in different ways: Time-based rating: Example: “20 minutes per hour” Percentage-based rating: Example: “33% duty cycle” In both cases, the meaning is essentially the same: the compressor can operate for approximately 20 minutes within a one-hour period before it should be allowed to cool down. This becomes particularly important for drivers who go off-roading frequently or who need to inflate larger tires. Exceeding the duty cycle repeatedly can quickly lead to overheating, reduced lifespan, or permanent compressor damage. 4. Hose and Accessory Quality The quality of the included accessories is often overlooked but has a major impact on usability and durability. Pay close attention to the quality of: The coiled air hose The pressure gauge The clip-on air chuck Poor-quality fittings and hoses are common failure points and can become frustrating during repeated desert use, especially under high temperatures. 5. Automatic Pressure Shut-Off A useful premium feature is an automatic pressure shut-off system. This function allows the compressor to stop automatically when the inflation trigger is not engaged, reducing unnecessary strain on the motor and limiting heat buildup. It also makes operation more convenient and efficient during multi-tire inflation. 6. Electrical Protection Features Quality compressors should include built-in protection systems such as: Inline fuse protection Thermal overload protection These safety features help protect both the compressor and your vehicle’s electrical system in the event of overheating, excessive current draw, or electrical faults. While these protections are generally standard on premium models, cheaper compressors may omit them entirely. Below a typical specs example of a Bushranger Black Max: Duty cycle is 30 minutes @40psi at 24°C ambient temperature. Obviously the ambient temperature will be much higher for us here in the UAE, so you will need to take that into account. Keep the compressor in the shade while using (or even on the inside of the car if possible) and keep your engine running. These compressors are rated to work most efficiently at 13.8 Volts, so your alternator should be running. Below i will be going through most of the brands we have encountered in the club, and how we can rate them: Premium Brands (****) Brands like ARB, Bushranger, TJM, Dobinsons, and Mean Mother, are the most famous premium brands that will be providing a quality unit that should last years. ARB and Bushranger/Viair have the advantage that you will find spare parts for them, so if you are interested and savvy, you can rebuild your compressor later on. Price range of these compressor is from 750 AED upwards up to 2500+AED. The main reason why they cost more is due to the quality of materials used, higher duty cycle of their compressor, and of course marketing as well. ARB ARB has the single cylinder unit for about 1000AED, while its big brother will be around 2,700AED. They have by far the best quality of hoses and gauges, and these units should last many years if being well taken care of. MeanMother The Mean Mother Adventurer is the only brand/model we know of in the UAE that offers 5year warranty, hence this model has become very popular in our off-roading community. You will find the Adventurer III model for around 750AED (150lpm), but now there is also the Adventurer IV which is having slightly better performance (180lpm) and costs about 999AED. We have heard about a few models failing but were replaced within warranty. Bushranger / Viair Bushranger/Viair has a range of different models with output ratings from 52lpm up to 72lpm. (Black Max for 800AED and Max Air III for 1120AED). The Max Air III has an automatic pressure shut-off. Their compressors are extremely reliable, but i have never been impressed with their yellow plastic coiled hoses and clip-on, except for the black hoses they use on the old SuperMax and the newer Max Air III model. Their smallest model (RV Air for 599AED) is the minimum in terms of output flow (52lpm) and will take quite some time to inflate your tires, but should work fine. Dobinsons Dobinsons have the Zenith model (170 lpm) that is being sold for 999AED. Quality looks top notch with good set of accessories and backed by a premium quality brand. Midrange Brands (***) Golden Camel The "Golden Camel" brand with its red compressors, sold in single cylinder and double cylinder models are fantastic performers for the price (200 AED for the single big cylinder 160lpm, and 280AED for the double cylinder compressor (300 lpm). Yes the hoses break, the electrics fail sometimes, and it won't be the most reliable compressor, but for that price it's worth a try if you want it. You will find the hoses also separarely in DM, and if you are a bit handy with a soldering gun you might make an attempt to replace the switches or solder a wire back on. They now even have a mighty big 4-cylinder unit, which pumps out an impressive 300lpm. The problem nowadays is that you have even "fake" Golden Camel compressors, who look 100% identical, but their quality is even more of a question mark. I recently bought one and it started overheating and shutting off after only two tyres. The vibration coming from the compressor makes me wonder about the tolerances used in the manufacturing process. On the other hand i also have a single cylinder Golden Camel that has been going strong for 3 years now and never failed. Vitaly Vitaly is a brand that basically re-labels these Chinese compressors and sells them at a higher price in hardware stores like ACE and Speedex. Again they are a bit of a gamble and the only advantage you will have is you will get at least 1year warranty through these stores. T-Max These compressors are looking very similar to the DM Single big cylinder compressors and the Mean Mother Adventurer. There is a smaller 72lpm unit and a big 150lpm unit. Prices are similar to Vitaly, and T-Max seems to be a reputable Australian brand, so perhaps the build quality will be a slight notch above the DM compressors. Volcano I recently stumbled upon this brand via a shop in Ajman. They are manufactured in Taiwan and manufacture compressors for high end brands as well. Their biggest compressor model is the B850 which is being sold for about 650AED. Have seen them on sale in DM as well. They come in a sturdy box, with decent hose (like the Bushranger top model) and have a pressure gauge with automatic cut-off. Flow rate is 98lpm. Brands/ Models to avoid: -The smaller "Golden Camel" Compressor. Absolutely worthless. Also sold under the "X-Cessories" brand name. -Mini compressors to connect to the cigarette lighter: Will last only a few drives. Not made to inflate weekly from 15 to 35psi, unless you want to wait for 25mins or longer. Will overheat easily because of this. These are made for sedans and bicycles. The Black and Decker and Michelin models seem to work better, but it will take you upwards of 25 minutes to inflate your tires. If you happen to have one of those, i strongly recommend to only inflate to about 25psi you can then drive to the nearest petrol station and use their compressor. If you are in the market of buying a new compressor, i hope this article can shed some light and useful information that will guide you in the right direction. As you can clearly see, inflating tyres on a 4x4 in the summer heat requires a big powerful compressor that can quickly inflate your tyres before overheating or shutting down.

Convoy Overview 1) Frederic - Mitsubishi Pajero SWB Blue - Crew @Frederic 2) Enrico Biscaro- Mitsubishi Pajero SWB Silver - AN @Enrico Biscaro 3) Aaliyah Mohammed - Jeep Wranger SWB Orange -AN @Aaliyah Mohammed 4) Brian Dev - Suzuki Grand Vitara Gray - AN @Brian Dev 5) Jins John - Landcruiser LC200 Silver - AN @Jins John 6) Ajit John - FJ Cruiser White - AN @Ajit John 7) Ambati - FJ Cruiser Blue - AN @AMBATI 8- M. Seidam - Xterra White - Advisor @M.Seidam If you haven't watched the Absolute Newbie briefing video yet, please do so now as it's a perfect introduction to our club and its basic guidelines. Don't forget to bring a tyre deflator / pressure gauge and small compressor to re-inflate your tyres after the drive. We will be using the radio channel #1: 446.006 Mhz. For the ones that have no radio yet we will be providing a spare one. In case of emergency you can contact me on "056 504 26 32" See you all tomorrow at 5AM !

Congrats @Zixuan Huang - Charlie and @Jerry Han ! Thanks to you guys we have reached 50 nationalities in our club !

Its not harmful, and you can clean it yourself easily with a brush and a cloth. Make sure to inspect your air filter after every drive as it clogs up really fast.

Fantastic ! See you soon !

Welcome to Carnity Offroad Club @Brian De Villa ! Great to see a Suzuki Vitara in the club ! About Friday: The Absolute Newbie drive is tailored to members who join us for the first time, and where we can guide you through every step along the way into becoming a confident Offroader. You will be amazed at your own progress and soon you will be doing things with your 4x4 you have never even imagined ! We have an Absolute Newbie briefing video which you should definitely watch a few times, and which will give you the essential basics and make you feel more comfortable behind the wheel coming weekend. Please take your time to go through this video prior to joining us. MUST WATCH: NEWBIE VIDEO BRIEFING On this drive topic, please introduce yourself a little bit, and include the following info: 1) Which 4x4 are you bringing ? 2) Do you have any prior off-roading experience ? If so, where and how ? 3) Does your 4x4 have front and rear towpoints ? This is a very important point and i want you to inspect your towpoints to make sure they are not completely corroded or loose. We want to be able to recover your car from any angle safely in case you get stuck. For your first Offroad drive we request you to bring the following items: - Pressure gauge with deflator, as we need to deflate your tyres to 15psi. - 12V Air Compressor to inflate your tyres. We will be ending our drive nearby a petrol station but unfortunately their compressor is out of service. Hardware shops like ACE, Speedex, and Dragon Mart have plenty of options from 200AED up to 1500AED. After this drive, you will become a Newbie level driver, and then you will be needing additionally: - An Offroad flag. - A UHF Radio (walkie-talkie), programmed to our frequencies. - A proper shovel. If you have any of these items already, all the better, please bring them along. Do not hesitate to ask your questions if any !

Welcome to Carnity Offroad Club @AMBATI! The Absolute Newbie drive is tailored to members who join us for the first time, and where we can guide you through every step along the way into becoming a confident Offroader. You will be amazed at your own progress and soon you will be doing things with your 4x4 you have never even imagined ! We have an Absolute Newbie briefing video which you should definitely watch a few times, and which will give you the essential basics and make you feel more comfortable behind the wheel coming weekend. Please take your time to go through this video prior to joining us. MUST WATCH: NEWBIE VIDEO BRIEFING On this drive topic, please introduce yourself a little bit, and include the following info: 1) Which 4x4 are you bringing ? 2) Do you have any prior off-roading experience ? If so, where and how ? 3) Does your 4x4 have front and rear towpoints ? This is a very important point and i want you to inspect your towpoints to make sure they are not completely corroded or loose. We want to be able to recover your car from any angle safely in case you get stuck. For your first Offroad drive we request you to bring the following items: - Pressure gauge with deflator, as we need to deflate your tyres to 15psi. - 12V Air Compressor to inflate your tyres. We will be ending our drive nearby a petrol station but unfortunately their compressor is out of service. Hardware shops like ACE, Speedex, and Dragon Mart have plenty of options from 200AED up to 1500AED. After this drive, you will become a Newbie level driver, and then you will be needing additionally: - An Offroad flag. - A UHF Radio (walkie-talkie), programmed to our frequencies. - A proper shovel. If you have any of these items already, all the better, please bring them along. Do not hesitate to ask your questions if any !

Sorry to hear that @Gerrit Bus Get well soon ! I will remove your RSVP. Welcome to Carnity Offroad Club @Ajit John ! The Absolute Newbie drive is tailored to members who join us for the first time, and where we can guide you through every step along the way into becoming a confident Offroader. You will be amazed at your own progress and soon you will be doing things with your 4x4 you have never even imagined ! We have an Absolute Newbie briefing video which you should definitely watch a few times, and which will give you the essential basics and make you feel more comfortable behind the wheel coming weekend. Please take your time to go through this video prior to joining us. MUST WATCH: NEWBIE VIDEO BRIEFING On this drive topic, please introduce yourself a little bit, and include the following info: 1) Which 4x4 are you bringing ? 2) Do you have any prior off-roading experience ? If so, where and how ? 3) Does your 4x4 have front and rear towpoints ? This is a very important point and i want you to inspect your towpoints to make sure they are not completely corroded or loose. We want to be able to recover your car from any angle safely in case you get stuck. For your first Offroad drive we request you to bring the following items: - Pressure gauge with deflator, as we need to deflate your tyres to 15psi. - 12V Air Compressor to inflate your tyres. We will be ending our drive nearby a petrol station but unfortunately their compressor is out of service. Hardware shops like ACE, Speedex, and Dragon Mart have plenty of options from 200AED up to 1500AED. After this drive, you will become a Newbie level driver, and then you will be needing additionally: - An Offroad flag. - A UHF Radio (walkie-talkie), programmed to our frequencies. - A proper shovel. If you have any of these items already, all the better, please bring them along. Do not hesitate to ask your questions if any !

A nice article to get introduced to Astrophotography and Time lapse recording: https://www.canon.com.au/explore/astrophotography-timelapse-tips-from-matthew-vandeputte

The Pajero 3.8 models are great, but there is only one unfortunate thing, and that is the automatic upshifting in tiptronic. This was an issue with most Pajeros up to 2011 if i remember correctly. It's not the end of the world, but for Intermediate drives where you want to keep the car in the same gear when climbing a big dune, it's quite annoying.

Welcome to Carnity Offroad Club @Gerrit Bus ! The Absolute Newbie drive is tailored to members who join us for the first time, and where we can guide you through every step along the way into becoming a confident Offroader. You will be amazed at your own progress and soon you will be doing things with your 4x4 you have never even imagined ! We have an Absolute Newbie briefing video which you should definitely watch a few times, and which will give you the essential basics and make you feel more comfortable behind the wheel coming weekend. Please take your time to go through this video prior to joining us. MUST WATCH: NEWBIE VIDEO BRIEFING On this drive topic, please introduce yourself a little bit, and include the following info: 1) Which 4x4 are you bringing ? 2) Do you have any prior off-roading experience ? If so, where and how ? 3) Does your 4x4 have front and rear towpoints ? This is a very important point and i want you to inspect your towpoints to make sure they are not completely corroded or loose. We want to be able to recover your car from any angle safely in case you get stuck. For your first Offroad drive we request you to bring the following items: - Pressure gauge with deflator, as we need to deflate your tyres to 15psi. - 12V Air Compressor to inflate your tyres. We will be ending our drive nearby a petrol station but unfortunately their compressor is out of service. Hardware shops like ACE, Speedex, and Dragon Mart have plenty of options from 200AED up to 1500AED. After this drive, you will become a Newbie level driver, and then you will be needing additionally: - An Offroad flag. - A UHF Radio (walkie-talkie), programmed to our frequencies. - A proper shovel. If you have any of these items already, all the better, please bring them along. Do not hesitate to ask your questions if any !

Waitlist as per 27 July 2021 1) Ranjan Das 2) BipinM 3) Humayun Ghias 4) Joseph Sebastian 5) Alexander Alcala

Sure Gautam, I’ll put you on the waitlist. Hey @Mikhail Lukichev sorry to hear you cannot make it but we will be definitely using your tips and hints and hope we can meet soon again !

As an experiment we are doing a short Fewbie drive this weekend in Khatim. Based on that result we will decide if we can expand this further.

Hi @ShereenMK unfortunately due to the curfew imposed we are severely limited with options for AD drives. We will first experiment this weekend with a short Fewbie drive to see how this goes. As you are aware the curfew is until 5AM in the morning, and with the summer heat we need to be able to exit by 09:00, so that limits the timing and no marshals can be on the road in Abu Dhabi before 5AM. Stay tuned and bear with us while we are looking for solutions and hope this curfew will be lifted soon.

Yeah i was afraid of that. We will be finalizing on the meeting point by this weekend ( i will be scouting the area). In any case if we decide on a different meeting point it will be similar or same distance from Maliha as Wadi Shawka. I will go and check out Buraq Dam this weekend.

Hi Sam, i was planning to do a recon this weekend do verify this as well. Will get in touch with you.

The Carnity Offroad drive is scheduled in Maliha-Fossil Rock from 8PM till 11PM after we will quickly inflate and head out to Shawka dam.

Very true... nothing better than to sit back and relax and let our eyes gaze at the starry sky !