Frederic

Like all hobbies, there's always equipment available for all budgets. Since i started looking around on Souq, ACE, Ramy, Speedex, DM, and many others, i've come across utter crap but also pretty decent stuff for an affordable price. If in doubt, google around a bit or have a look on Youtube. Most decent brands for offroad gear will have reviews about users in SA, Australia, US, or other offroad markets. Here goes my two cents: Compressors Bought two models from Xcessoires (ACE homebrand). The Grunter and Big Grunter if i am not mistaken.They are poorly made but do the job. Recommend to upgrade the hoses and supply wires as these fall apart after using a few times. Imho they cost way too much as these are just rebranded Chinese compressors. You can find the identical ones in DM at half the price. Ended up buying the Camel Brand 160lpm compressor in DM and so far is much better. I don't like using the yellow spiral hoses so i bought separate rubber hoses with pressure gauge. No experience with ARB, VIAIR, Bushranger, or other more high-end brands yet. Although read tons of reviews about them. Like engines, there is no replacement for displacement. The bigger the compressor, the less longer it will have to work, and the cooler it will run. Ropes You have a few options here: Either you go for an industrial type of sling which you can find in almost any hardware / general trading shop. This one will get the job done fine as tow rope and also as recovery rope if you are a bit careful. They cannot deal with heavy tugs because they don't stretch. You should AVOID the 40dhs tow ropes from the gas-stations at any time. They are made to tow a car along the road, NOT for recovery in the desert. They will snap if you sneeze at them. A very good price/quality KINETIC recovery rope is the AOR brand one. You'll find them in Ramy, Speedex, ACE, etc.. Price is around 370dhs if i am not mistaken. Mind that i mention KINETIC, that means it stretches up to 20% and that recoil builds up massive amounts of energy. I love kinetic ropes but be careful with them. Shackles AOR also makes the soft shackles which i highly recommend. Metal shackles will work fine and i also use them if needed, but always carries a bit of risk. Try to get rated ones as they should be better than the cheap ones from DM. Shovels Shovels were mentioned a few times before on Carnity. Buy a full size labourer/gardener shovel with wooden handle. I also carry a AOR aluminium one which works fine too. For the offroad drives i take them both along. It might indeed be good to have a separate thread for buying and selling stuff (like a market-corner).

Good question, I’ll check with the mechanic.

Exactly....told the same thing to the mechanic last night 😀

Ok so we traced and found a decent Japanese low mileage import 3.0 engine. I came to know that it's available either as engine only (+/- 4000AED) or as a complete unit with transfer case and manual transmission (5500AED). I'll probably opt for the second option as my third gear synchro was already on its way out and i'd like to keep the engine with transmission "married" as one piece. We're still negotiating prices but at least we have some options now. Fingers crossed

Countersteering at high speed and the sand seemed very soft in that area (backside of the dune?)

Thanks, i got a front bumper from him a while back, will check availability.

Thanks, i might enquire for the 3.0 SOHC 24 Valve version instead of the 3.0 12Valve, depending on the availability. Most of the info on the internet do not always specify availability for GCC markets.

Thanks buddy. I’d love to go for the 3.5 but that might involve lots of extra costs and mods.

Another small inquiry: * According to the wise internet, the second generation Pajero 6G72 3.0 SOHC developed 146HP. The third generation came with a 3.0 SOHC giving 182HP. Given the fact mine is a 2.5 Gen (blisterfender) i am not sure which of the two my engine really is, and i am afraid the workshop might plonk in a "older" generation 6G72.

Thanks. The workshop guy asked me if it was worth doing costs on a 1999 car. The car was fuming but for a little while i was too. He apologized immediately and i don't think he will every ask me that question again 😖

Mystery oh mystery buddy... drove to work this morning like always on normal speed and not redlining. Suddenly started to misfire and massive white smoke. Towed it to the shop and after firing it up again coolant spat out of the exhaust. No hoses broken, temps were fine and stable.

I wish it was only that. Car was fine this morning. I nearly reached work in Jebel Ali when it started to misfire and massive white smoke came from the back. Engine did not overheat. Towed to the workshop and fired it up again: after revving it a bit the white smoke came back accompanied by green water. So it’s a done deal I’m afraid.

Instead of knocking I got coolant coming out the exhaust this morning 😓 probably the head gasket is gone. Workshop is more keen on putting in another engine instead of doing the head gasket work. They’ve yet to open it up so let’s see where we’ll arrive. No off-road drives for a few weeks I’m afraid.

Thanks guys. My next PM will be a full fledged one.

Great car. I just kept imagining Rick and Morty driving this 😂😂 sorry for the non-fans of this show 🤪

When starting the '99 Pajero in the mornings, i sometimes hear a slight hissing noise coming from behind the brake pedal. As soon as i touch the brake pedal slightly (barely a millimeter) the noise stops, and sometimes comes back after a minute. Eventually it disappears. Car brakes fine and pedal does not feel spongy or too hard. Could this be the brake booster diaphragm or leaky vacuum line ? Is it something that needs urgent attention or could i schedule an inspection with my next PM (in 3000kms) ? Thanks !

Aha ! That's the relay and not the fuse

On most of these foglights, the ground (-) is connected to a metal part of the foglight frame. So this could be a ground issue. Check if the foglight is properly mounted. Oh and if it's halogen i hope you did not replace the bulb with your bare hands ? If so then i would burn up immediately or very soon. Always use gloves or paper towel when plugging in a halogen type of bulb.

Great video!