Frederic

Shogun is indeed the UK name. Montero is not smaller than the Pajero though, they are identical. The smaller sibling was the Pajero IO. The new montero sport is a different car of course

https://www.desertcart.ae/products/47075192 these are the magnetic pads I bought. I only have one thick black cable running along the side of the windshield that goes to the engine bay. Doesn’t bother me during the drive. I hook up the lights by using a regular three pin household power plug.

Hahaha that’s just the reason I crank up my volume. I always get anxious over every little squeak. I want my commute to be stress free. Being a big music fan, my only time and place to listen properly is my car.

http://shop.adventuredrivendesign.com/index.php?route=product/product&path=73&product_id=114 There is a growth of followers and enthousiasts on the Montero in North America due to its availability, low price, and capabilities as overland truck. I’m following lots of hem through my Instagram. It might be worth enquiring via these platforms. The Montero should be the same as Pajero, as the name was the only thing that didn’t got accepted in Spanish speaking countries 😂

Don’t see the issue, as I mostly drive with very loud music. But I’m always aware of my surroundings in case an ambulance or something would be coming from behind.

Totally agree. The logo 4x4 does not mean much anymore these days, as many of these cars are AWD, but do not possess lockers or low gearing, making them almost useful for our deserts.

I've had the chance to see one of the workshops in Ras Al Khor that prepares and cleans vehicles to be sold. They pull out the carpets, seats, and afterwards you won't find any traces behind that this car has been in the desert, so looking for traces of sand is in many cases not a fair reference. Personally i don't mind buying a car that has spent some time in the desert, but in this oversupplied market where you can find one that's used as a lady-driven school crawler for the same price, i'd rather go for that option. Selling a car that has been used as regular off-roader will affect your selling price, there is not mistake about that. And that's probably one of the reasons many of us are driving depreciated 20 year old vehicles in the club On a side note, what is "offroad use" ? * Taking the car for camping trips with family on sand trails ? * Dune bashing and flying on Faya ? both are considered offroad. The first one will not hurt your 4x4 as it should feel at home doing these things. The second one is another story that our senior members can reiterate too 😉

Exactly ! My 5year old son is crazy about Mustangs, so my plan is to take one for a drive on a 'boys only' trip

Maybe he meant side sloping

Great topic ! We always train to use the P.A.S.S method, which is easy to remember: Also worth remembering that you cannot use ANY extinguisher for any type of fire, there are different types of extinguishers, categorized in classes: A typical extinguisher for car will be dry powder if i remember correctly. So take note when you buy one

Correct, but all off-road LED lights will be in the 6000K range probably.

I love that WJ '99 of yours... Give it some love and some dirhams it needs and you'll have a great offroader !

Good topic and i think it covers most tips. In my former life being a DJ i was always on the road in the early morning hours. The first 20 minutes when i took off was ok, but then fatigue starts to kick in, especially in the winter when your car heater is on. I'd take the nearest available exit, and take a small 30min powernap, followed by a walk around the car and a coffee. That always did the trick. Be aware that after very long periods without sleep, you will enter a stage where you are suddenly not tired anymore, and feel perfectly fine to drive. But at one point you'll fall asleep without realizing in a split second. A friend of mine who was a sales guy and did very long drives once told me the story that his car went off the highway and he woke up with the car upside down on a piece of farmland next to the highway. Luckily he survived and just broke his arm, but he kept telling me NEVER felt it coming as he kept ignoring the earlier signs from the hours before and then entered the state of being awake and not tired at all. Same thing with RedBull and others.... it delays your fatigueness, but it will hit back eventually, and then it will hit you hard..

I saw the rims are different, and I would suppose the original ones would be sitting with a collector in his garage, and not in Rashidiya ? 😄

From what I’ve seen from udrive they won’t deliver cars to you, so yes when you park the car nearby the office (has to be public parking space), you have the risk that someone else takes it. You’re not paying for it anymore anyways. Depending from where your office is you might find other udrive or Ekars in the nearby area, either a walk away, or a colleague can drop you off to the nearest car. For me in jebel Ali area, not so many cars are there, and I keep the car in front of the factory building. But chances are low that someone else will grab it.

Anyone tried above services and can compare both ? I've tried Udrive three times now and although the registration app was a hassle to work in the beginning, now it seems to work fine. I've seen the Google reviews and was shocked to see the many complaints and issues customers have. I've yet to give Ekar a try. Their Google reviews look a lot better. I use these services to have a car to use when my other car is in for service. Its cheaper than taxis and i prefer driving myself anyways. You pay per minute so its quite economical.

These are fakes, defo not the real ones...

Yeah i've seen a white/silver one when i used to live in the Springs a few years back. I was amazed to see the car as i had no idea who or what Fisker was and stood for. I can imagine repairing this must be a nightmare.... Maybe Santana was on his way to Maria

Just my two cents but this is the kind of mod I would never recommend doing. On modern cars where remote start is built-in from the factory, there are lots of requirements and checks before the ECU actually starts the car. If these aftermarket things are being installed by a guy in a dark alley without proper knowledge or workmanship on soldering and crimping, your most critical wires will be left exposed and messed with. Like @Rahimdad mentioned, it wouldn’t be the first car that burns down due to these mods.

We can definitely put that in one sentence: “ i received my salary and went to get some beers and a movie, but I maxxed out my credit cards and got a nasty call from the wife” 😂

@Rahimdad thanks again for the fantastic lead in the beautiful area 53. Some areas were proven to be a bit tricky with soft patches and all of us had to stay on our toes a bit, which is actually a good thing when driving at night. @Gaurav your skills as first sweep are something I really look forward to learn in the near future. Your fast reactions, anticipation, clear communication, and the ability to stay calm and composed is what makes a true crew member. Thanks for the assistance and company on this adventurous night. Thanks to the rest of the team for keeping the spirits high, even after consecutive stucks or refusals. The more time you will spend with your car the more you will feel it’s strengths, weaknesses, and you will learn how to apply either a feather touch or a full lead foot on the pedal at the right appropriate timing. Idem ditto with keeping distance which like Gaurav bhai mentioned needs constant adjusting based on the terrain, overall pace, and person in front of you. @Shamil when I announced that I didn’t see you in the convoy anymore you seemed to got lost. Don’t be afraid to immediately announce on the radio that you don’t see any team members anymore and best to stop the car and walk to the highest dune nearby. We’ve all been in similar situations and I know it feels a bit scary. see you guys soon !