Frederic

March 13

On 3/11/2024 at 9:29 PM, Jaswanthi said:

Hello @Gaurav

I will be driving a Xterra.

Is skid plate and kill switch a must for this drive?

Hi @Jaswanthi

Absolutely not. Bring the Xterra as you have it now

March 11

Congrats @Mark B! Start sharpening your shovel(s) ! 😜

March 5

Definitely not for beginner level

you can either do massive sideys on the flanks, or cross over the ridges that branch out.

March 5

For the first time, scientists have been able to determine the age of a star dune, one of the largest dune species. The Lala Lallia was formed in Morocco 13,000 years ago, and today it still moves slowly through the desert.

Star dunes such as the Lala Lallia (Berber for 'Highest Sacred Point') can grow up to hundreds of meters high. They are found in Africa, Asia and North America, as well as outside the Earth, such as on Mars. The Lala Lallia is 100 meters high and 700 meters wide and is located in the desert area of Erg Chebbi in the southeast of Morocco.

In the UAE, there are hundreds of these types of dunes, mostly found in the Al Quoa Region: https://maps.app.goo.gl/qaeHbLqc6zQyvV3f8

Such a dune is created by winds from different directions colliding with each other. From the ground, such a dune looks like a pyramid (hence the nickname 'pyramid dune'. But from the sky, the dune looks more like a star, because it flares out in several arms. By finding out their age, scientists can learn to understand the workings of those winds and better map the climate of thousands of years ago. Understanding how the dunes form also has a practical use in the construction of infrastructure such as roads or pipelines.

The Lala Lallia now appears to be 13,000 years old. That seems very old, but in geological terms, 13,000 years is pretty young. And to the researchers' surprise, the top layer of the dune was much younger, 'barely' a thousand years old. By the way, the sand that makes up the dune is much older: millions of years, in fact.

Scientists were able to determine the age using the technique of luminescence dating, in which they calculate when grains of sand were last exposed to daylight. According to the scientists, the dune formed relatively quickly, in 4,000 years. After that, the dune stopped growing for about 8,000 years, only to expand again in the last thousand years.

Because dune formation is so strongly dependent on the wind, a dune never stands completely still. According to the researchers, the Lala Lallia shifts fifty centimeters every year. Geoff Duller, a professor involved at the University of Aberystwyth in Wales, called the dunes "extraordinary" and "one of the natural wonders of the world".

March 4

DRIVE REPORT CONVOY 1

With the rising sun warming us up after a chilly night, we met up at the Khanoor entry point with two convoys eager to explore this "holy grail of terrains" for off-roaders: The Mystical Liwa !

After the briefing, where we emphasized this kind of terrain demands a humble approach and mental resilience, we set off and started making our way Eastwards. We had drafted a plan with waypoints to keep as a reference to fall back on, but the idea was to follow where the dunes were leading us, as in Liwa this is usually the only way through. After a couple of hours, i handed over the lead to @DP1011, as i wanted him to feel the joy of leading in this terrain, which he did MARVELOUSLY.

Throughout the day, we had a handful of refusals, zero stucks, and no rope or recovery. In almost 7hrs of driving in this challenging terrain, where low gear was sometimes the only way up or out. This says a LOT about the convoy, that was so in tune and capable, and of course the lead, who carefully chose his lines to keep the group safe from harm. Our tactic of letting the lead climb first to the platform of the dunes, and then giving the second lead the confirmation to follow, worked like a charm, and this allowed to avoid massive bowls and pitfalls.

@Rafey Hashmi you had your doubts about yourself and what the Jimny could manage in LIWA. Let it be put to rest for once and for always that it's always about the driver. The way you carefully chose your lines and built your momentum on bigger climbs was a sight to behold, and the skills that your little Jimny forced you to learn has turned you in a super capable off-roader !

@Alphin Aloor we all know what a heavy boat a stock Patrol Y61 is. Me too But look at how bloody capable they are. I slept comfortably in the Patrol the entire weekend, and the car is a blessing for this long journey. If driven the right way the Patrol is unstoppable and unstuckable. You proved it by not breaking a single sweat all weekend !

@Pascal you've done plenty of drives with us, and your skills are way up there, together with your calm approach and magnificent 4Runner. Always a pleasure to have you and your wife on any of our adventures !

@Richard Franks who is an Ex-Jeeper who moved to the Toyota world of no worries, proves once again how capable a stock FJ is, and how you navigated it seamlessly through this challenging terrain !

@AlexM and @Amr A both equipped with superb driving skills and green mean Jeeps, i love having you guys on our drives, as you both have a can-do attitude and back it up with so many drive skills.

@M.Seidamand of course his dear Abdallah, was an absolute delight to have you watching our backs and supporting us at each step.

We reached the camp around 4.45PM and took our time to setup. I was in touch with @GauravSoniand heard he ran into some technical troubles, but soon after we saw 6 knights in shining armor racing towards us, full of adrenaline and joy, and it looked they had a very different type of day but nevertheless turned it into a blast and A-Team Work ! Kudos to you guys for not giving up and i am looking forward to your drive report to tell us your stories !

The next morning, we cleaned up the camp, left by 9.15, and within 40mins we were on top of Moreeb, enjoying the scenery and taking photos that will help us remember this unforgettable weekend ! Most importantly we have to count our blessings for exiting two convoys, free of incidents. And that is what matters most. I am sure everyone drove home with a smile I know i did !

Thanks @GauravSoniand @Simon D for taking the second convoy and offering everyone a chance to experience this unforgettable drive. I will never forget the stories you guys shared about how the Pajero roared back to life after its surgery 😆

Below the actual track we did (black line was our draft, red is the actual track):

image.png.2d5f8bf33a2ce0e654f7c9209da6b286.png

Day one we covered around 76km in approx 8hrs total.

Day two we only needed to cover 10kms in 40mins to reach Moreeb.

March 4

Hi @SamyB, we can't give any specific names here (as promoting shops is not allowed on the forum). But the Nissan Patrol is a very easy 4x4 to work on or diagnose, so i would try sticking to any decent mechanic.

If it comes to performance upgrades, there are plenty in Al Quoz, Ras Al Hor, and Sharjah that specialize in turning the Patrol into a performance monster .

March 3

5 minutes ago, SamyB said:

@Frederic How to join a newbie drive?

We have weekly Newbie drives that are being posted here on Monday evening 7pm. You can click on the event and then click on “going” which will put you in the RSVP.

March 3

14 minutes ago, throttlejockey said:

Hello Frederic,

It's a Y62.

Ok. Power wise please don’t compare with a Golf GTI 😜. This is a 2500kg boat. Having said that, the Patrol is plenty capable to get you everywhere in the deser but it has a few design flaws. The bumpers are really low and soon you’ll be seeing them coming off during your desert drive. Most of the Y62 members here trim the bumpers to gain extra clearance and avoid them getting completely ripped off.
Apart from that, join us in a Newbie drive and we’ll teach you to unleash the Patrol power 😜

March 3

On 3/2/2024 at 1:03 PM, throttlejockey said:

Hello everyone,

I've been checking out the discussions here, especially about Offroad and Desert Driving, and I'm excited to get some advice as I dive into this new world. While I've driven small hatchbacks and sedans before, owning a 4x4 like the Nissan Patrol V6 2020 Base Model is a whole new experience for me.

I was originally looking to buy a Super Safari, but I found most of them were either beat up or way too pricey. Luckily, I found a 2020 Patrol V6 model with only 21,000 kilometers on it at a Nissan Pre-Owned dealership, and it checked out all right.

Now, I have a few questions for you all.

First off, I've noticed the Patrol feels pretty sluggish. I get it, it's got a V6 engine and it's a heavy car. But compared to my other ride, a Golf GTI, it feels really slow. In the past, I've added things like Open Air Filters (wont call them cold air intakes because of our Awesome Weather... lolz) and put in a decent exhaust or swapped out the catalytic converter for a better muffler to boost performance. Do you think I should do similar mods to the V6 Patrol? And if so, which ones? I've looked online but didn't find much for the V6 model specifically.

I'm also starting to explore the desert, though I haven't tackled any dunes yet. I know the Patrol isn't the best for dune driving, and I'm totally new to it anyway. So, I'm thinking of getting better tires that work well on highways and for weekend desert trips. I'm also considering lightweight wheels to help with the sluggish feeling.

I plan to make these changes gradually, both because of money and because I want to enjoy each upgrade as I go. I'd really appreciate your thoughts on these mods and any other suggestions you might have.

Thanks a bunch for your help!

Peace,

Hi @throttlejockeyis it a Y61 or Y62 ?

March 1

Option2 for camping is not advised, just went to check it out and it’s a steep gravel path.
If you want to camp nearby the starting point, just enter the Drive Meeting Point, enter through the gate and find a suitable spot.

March 1

20 minutes ago, Imran Asghar said:

Anyone arrived at option 2 yet? I just reached no one here wondering if the pin took me to the right place.

Start the fire 🔥😜

March 1

2 hours ago, AlexM said:

We will be driving from AD directly tomorrow, see you all at 8am! A gentle nudge to @Frederic for my 7em sticker, if you don't mind)

Oooops i will be driving straight from the office to AD tonight. Stickers are at my home 😪

March 1

13 minutes ago, Rafey Hashmi said:

Those who are arriving tonight to camp (including me), maybe we choose one of the options Fred mentioned and camp together? 😎

@Frederic

Good idea. I will be taking option 2 and camp nearby the starting point. Should be arriving there around 9-10PM ish...

March 1

CONVOY 1 IS NOW CLOSED

image.png.b14d3ad20683780f92355905f5ff6de9.png

@DP1011 @Rafey Hashmi @Alphin Aloor @MUSTAFA hussain @Salim Akhtar @Pascal @Richard Franks @AlexM @Amr A @Senthil Kumar @M.Seidam

We will be using Channel 2 - 446.031 Mhz.

See you all tomorrow morning 8AM at the starting point! Safe travels to LIWA !

March 1

Congrats Brette !!

February 29

I've seen it being installed (many custom offroad shops do it), by making a metal bracket that bolts onto the original third row mounting (if you have removed the third row, like many of us do).

Other options are under the front seats, or even behind the spare wheel.

Search on Instagram for "Patrol compressor" and you'll find plenty options

February 29

52 minutes ago, Deno Vikram said:

Hello Team,

Firstly thanks for the informative posts and some great advice on this thread.
That said, I was researching some budget options for a 2-inch lift and I heard rumors about workshops installing off-brand/non-proprietary coil springs(Australian make) on the Pajero stock shock absorbers that have the 2-inch lift.
I also heard from these workshops that this is a popular option in the offroad scene but I haven't met any myself.
For a casual offroader like me, is this a viable option? Has anyone in here gone this route?

The main question is, will this setup cause strain on the Pajero stock shocks during offroad/onroad drives?

As a note, I am not creating a separate post on this topic so everyone can get suspension-lift related info from this single thread.

Hi @Deno Vikram

That is indeed a budget option, but the problem is that your OEM shocks will be operating a little bit outside their normal height range. The strain can indeed lead perhaps to premature failure of the shocks, but on the other hand they are cheap and easy to replace.

I am also not sure about how the handling of the Pajero would be affected. The pajero by itself is already a bit of a wallowing boat and doesnt have the best handling as is, so this could make it much worse.

Let's see if any one else went for this option and what the overall feedback is. I would be more inclined to save up a bit longer and go for a Dobinsons lift kit that will give you improved handling.

February 29

23 hours ago, Gautam Banka said:

I have no issues with moving to @GauravSoni led convoy and am happy to give my mentor some company 🤗

Thanks @Gautam Banka would appreciate it ! It will balance out better

23 hours ago, Ranjan Das said:

Hi Fredric, i'm happy driving under both of you leads. Please feel free to move me as required.

Option 2 or 3 for me based on what time i am able to leave Dubai on Friday.

Thank you so much Ranjan. I will shift you to Gauravsoni his convoy as we are trying to balance out both convoys.

February 28

@Alphin Aloor @Pascal @Rafey Hashmi @Richard Franks @Gautam Banka@Amr A @AlexM @Asif Hussain @Senthil Kumar @Ranjan Das @DP1011 @M.Seidam

Waitlisted: @Imran Asghar @Salim Akhtar

As we have now 13 cars, and two waitlisted members, this will definitely be a challenge to make it across and execute the planned route. If anyone is willing and free to shift to the second convoy led by @GauravSoni (which has only 2 cars for now), please do let us know and you are free to shift to that convoy so ideally, we can balance out the total RSVP which will be more fun and will allow for a more fluid experience.

In any case, as mentioned before, both convoys will be doing very similar routes, and will meetup the same evening at the camp site.

February 27

Just now, AlexM said:

Thanks Fred. We are still debating with missus if we should drive directly from AD (which is manageable) or camp the night before. In any case we will be there by 8am.

Any chance you could share GPX for the whole route on Sat-Sun?

LIWA_2024 Draft.gpx

Sure, this is the draft route with the different waypoints. Reality might be slightly different of course, but this gives an idea.

February 27

@Sreenath G @Batuhan Kulac @Alphin Aloor @Pascal @Rafey Hashmi @Richard Franks @Gautam Banka @Amr A @AlexM

with the fantastic support of several Carnity seniors: @DP1011 @Asif Hussain @Simon D @M.Seidam @Ranjan Das @Senthil Kumar

Thank you all for signing up for another LIWA adventure !

@GauravSoni and myself are looking forward to plan an adventurous route, but there's a couple of things we want to highlight for those who have not experienced LIWA yet:

1. This is not a typical ridge-riding / dunebashing style of drive. The main reason behind this are the massive and unpredictable shape of dunes, and the remoteness from easy exit points. This means it's more of an exploration drive where we will need to navigate monster dunes, cliffs, and find our way through this challenging terrain with treacherous bowls and soft sand.

2. Your skillset will be tested on this drive, so as your patience and mental resilience. It's a long drive where we will come across plenty of challenges with re-routing, stucks, and refusals. All part of the fun of going to LIWA of course

3. You need to prepare yourselves but your vehicle as well. If it breaks down in this remote desert, it will be a massive challenge to pull it out. Hence, PLEASE check-check-doublecheck your tires, fluids, suspension, battery, and make sure the car is properly serviced and inspected. Breakdowns can always happen but prevention is the key here.

4. Make sure you carry enough snacks, water, and the necessary stuff to camp comfortably.

5. Make sure all items, and especially your jerrycan is properly strapped tight in the car.

6. Get enough rest beforehand, as tiredness can be extremely dangerous in this environment.

7. Enjoy the terrain but be humble, otherwise LIWA will make you humble. It's not the place for crazy stunts.

Having said that, i have no doubt we will be having a fantastic day out, and we can all gather at the camp on Saturday evening to share our stories.

Whoever has extra space for some firewood, please bring it along as we can make a bonfire to keep us warm

February 27

Potential Camping Spots:

OPTION 1. If you prefer to sleep in the car, and want to be nearby the ADNOC LIWA:

https://maps.app.goo.gl/S3iFtPUpegWJrbv78

OPTION 2. If you want to set up your tent nearby the starting point:

https://maps.app.goo.gl/cExrzT4HgyAY44Ve9

Follow the directions for the starting point to pass through the gate, then go a little bit right onto the sabkha.

OPTION 3. Camp deeper inside LIWA dunes for a tranquil night:

https://maps.app.goo.gl/phKVd7ySsSRX82dTA

Enter at this point and follow the dirt track that leads inside the dunes. It's a hard track with little bit of sand, where deflation is not needed. Guaranteed of a quiet night under the stars. GPX file in attachment.

image.png.9d4a3fcd2fe033483a8d729ee53445bb.png

Liwa Camp.gpx

Myself, i will probably go for option 2 and camp nearby the starting point and sleep in the car.

Feel free to let us know what your plan is. The third option is probably the most private one and there is plenty of space in that area to find something that gives you privacy.

February 27

8 minutes ago, AlexM said:

Is the start 7am or 8am, there are conflicting times in the description and calendar. 8am is better of course)

*Meetup at 8AM in Khanoor: https://maps.app.goo.gl/rnGP9hxzHzt12Ewf7

Starting time: 7:00 AM (SHARP - Without any exceptions)

Well spotted @AlexM. Moved all timings to 8AM as its indeed much better.

February 27

@Imran Asghar @Salim Akhtar as the convoy looks pretty full (incl manage tab), it won't be likely that i will be able to extend the convoy, hence i would recommend you hopping into Gauravsoni's drive, who is doing virtually the same route and we all meet up to camp on Sat.night.

February 26

49 minutes ago, AlexM said:

and now all Liwa hotels are suddenly fully booked, I wonder why) I guess driving there early or camping is the only option. Is anyone planning to camp the night before?

Definitely there will be a few members camping beforehand. With potential fog in the morning it would make sense doing so. Will post a location for a quiet camping spot soon.

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