Frederic

Fantastic 2-day adventure @Looper ! I was delighted to be a part of it and enjoyed surfing at the back. During the refusals i purposely allowed a bit more time for shoveling and crawl control exercises as the weather was splendid and we had good shovelers with us It was a bit challenging towards the back as the sand was moist and clumpy and left huge crosstrack walls, which meant going sideways often threw the car completely out of balance. @Ishak probably felt it too. Nevertheless we had great fun and every drive teaches us something. You selected a very nice area, and it goes to show we should not give up on the Marmoom area too easily. There is always something to explore and this is what shows your skills as a lead. See you all soon in the sand !

Welcome back @Probir Mukherjee!

Well done @karim hamandi !

Well done @Stuart G !

Congrats @Ben Lee!

Sad to see this one going @Lawrence_Chehimi and also sad work has bogged you down. That's a fantastic looking clean Xterra and the new owner will be very lucky !

I've updated the link just now. Perhaps it was a small pinpoint issue.

I wouldn’t be surprised that the mechanic has installed the timing belt wrong, and perhaps it’s a tooth off, which could explain the crank noise. In any case I would not recommend to continue driving it. Put it on recovery and get it towed back to the shop. This clearly looks as if your mechanic did something wrong.

DRIVE DETAILS Very few places on Earth can rival the mesmerizing beauty of Liwa, nestled within the Rub' al Khali, the vast expanse of the Empty Quarter – the largest uninterrupted desert on the planet! Embark on a thrilling two-day adventure that promises to unveil some of the most immense sand dunes you'll ever encounter! 🐪🌄 Immerse yourself in the raw beauty of nature, far removed from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Camp beneath a blanket of stars, serenaded by the sounds of the wilderness. Share stories around a crackling campfire, bonding with fellow adventurers over shared triumphs and tales of adventure. Yet, traversing the expanses of the world's largest desert demands respect and preparation. This expedition entails a challenging off-road journey, offering breathtaking vistas at every turn. Brace yourself and your vehicle for an unforgettable test of endurance and exploration! Planning: *Meetup at 8 AM in Khanoor: https://maps.app.goo.gl/rnGP9hxzHzt12Ewf7 Decimal Coordinates: 23.08584, 53.61100 * Full Day Drive, making our way towards Moreeb dune. * Set up camp around 6 PM and enjoy the evening together. * Exit at Moreeb Dune the following morning around 10 AM. Considering its seriousness to keep you and your vehicle safe, these strict rules will be applied to all. DRIVE PREPARATION: Your car should be in 100% pristine working condition, so double or triple-check everything. Full-size spare tire with a lug wrench to match your wheel nut size and it's depth. For aftermarket rims - Your lug wrench also needs to match the wheel nut depth. As it's a long full-day drive, so catch up with enough sleep beforehand. 5-10 liters of water per person. Snacks for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and next day breakfast. Keep your car as light as possible by packing what is truly essential. Fully charged radio with spare battery and all other required off-road gears. Full main tank and 1 additional 20l jerrycan. DRIVE DETAILS: Level: Fewbie Plus and above When: 8 and 9 Feb 2025 Starting time: 8:00 AM (SHARP - Without any exceptions) Starting Point: https://maps.app.goo.gl/rnGP9hxzHzt12Ewf7 You can come early and camp at the same starting point if you like. (you can head inside on the same dirt track) Last petrol station with washrooms and food is ADNOC LIWA (977): https://maps.app.goo.gl/CqSnCNUTfUwySN2Y7 Last Petrol station near the starting point is ADNOC KHANOOR: https://maps.app.goo.gl/oxVfp85mBCdrWF6e7 Type of Car: Any proper 4x4 with front and back tow hooks and 8-10 inches of ground clearance. Approximate finish time: Between 10AM and 11AM the next day. LIMITED SPOTS AVAILABLE: Limited to 10 Fewbie Plus and above drivers. 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. RSVP HERE

Thanks guys for joining today ! The plan was to explore an area where i noticed sizeable dunes, nearby the well-known Desert Rose Safari camp: https://maps.app.goo.gl/y11DiJwxcEYh8m2H9 As this was quite far out from where we started, this meant a bit more sabkha driving than usual, and swallowing up the bushes where needed In the end, it resulted in a 60+kms track where you guys can be proud of how well you managed it. It contained some tight technical dunes, some larger dunes where we could wake up our engines, and some areas that had lots of crosstracks. The pleasant weather made it nice to do some shovel work as well, so we didn't shy away from that. Thanks for @Emanueland @Ishak for their support as well ! I wish you all a good last couple of days of 2024 and a blessed and healthy 2025 !

Will add you @Sheho as @Amal Sunil had signed out. See you tomorrow!