Frederic

February 26

@Sreenath G @Fares Adel @ozgu @Menon @Talal H @Srilakshman Karthikeyan @Hani Howeedy @Juzer Talib @Premjit Vappala @Jerry Han @Haneef Thayyil @Richard Franks

Thank you all for joining last Saturday. My aim was to explore this area in a slight different way. As the sand was hard it allowed us to move a bit further into unknown terrain and you guys rocked ! Hardly any hiccups and that meant we could cover some good distance and enjoy the scenery.

We did some side-sloping as well but at times the hard sand really felt slippery,so we needed to be extra cautious.

Whoever is interested in the promotion to Fewbie level, after having completed 5 Newbie drives, can apply here:

REQUEST YOUR PROMOTION

Hope to see you all soon again in the sands !

February 23

Good morning all !

RSVP IS NOW CLOSED FOR THIS DRIVE

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Please find the convoy setup for tomorrow's drive.

We will be using Channel 2 - 446.031 Mhz as walkie talkie channel.

Please ensure to bring:

* proper shovel, radio, safety flag, first aid kit, fire extinguisher, compressor, pressure gauge/deflator.

* smiles and patience to learn

See you tomorrow !

February 20

During periods of unstable weather, the driving conditions in the desert change severely. Especially rain and heavy winds transform the dunes and will demand changes in your dune driving style.

In this topic we will try to provide helpful tips to both leads and club members on how to prevent incidents when driving in this type of terrain.

There are three main weather variables that we will cover.

Heavy rains
Heavy winds, sandstorms
Foggy conditions

Heavy Rains

Off-roading during heavy rain should be avoided. It limits the visibility in the convoy, and the convoy should either halt and wait for the rains to stop or continue slowly to move towards another place where there is less rain.

Driving in the dunes after rains might look very easy; the sand feels like concrete, but there are several issues that arise:

1. Tire pressure will need to be increased to mitigate pop-outs. If you drive on 10-12 psi, you will need to bring it to 15-16psi.

2. Cross-tracks, often found in busy desert areas, become more dangerous as driving in them might throw off the balance of your 4x4.

3. Ridges will appear fine but can crumble at the slightest impact. Additionally, along the length of a ridge you might suddenly find severe drops as where the rain gushed down and took a part of the dune with it.

4. Sabkhas can become mud pools. A sabkha or salt flat can look innocent, but after severe rains you might sink down while driving over it. Always approach a sabkha closer to vegetation or closer to the dunes, so you have a way to escape in case you start to sink down. When you approach with a convoy, let one vehicle go first and identify how deep his tracks in the sabkha go before following.

5. Sudden sharp steering will be penalized with a pop-out or even vehicle flip. Your 4x4 will slide more in the wet sand and there will be more slip. Drive extra carefully and do not overrate your skills.

6. Layering. During periods of rain, the absorption rate of the sand will depend on various factors, so as a result you might come across a dry-looking first layer, followed by wet portions of sand underneath. The combination of these two, being ripped open by our tires, will result in different traction at different locations. This unpredictability will make your 4x4 behave differently, and extra caution and focus will be needed throughout the drive,

How layering would look like:

image.png.3fd539bbf1f0637c08047db667ee9728.png

Wet dunes, with colour variations that reflect the amount of water it carries in each location:

image.png.0afd070a9d88804893914909a8dc2cb3.png

Heavy winds, sandstorms

During heavy winds / sandstorms, the terrain will undergo drastic changes. Apart from the limited visibility, which means you better halt the convoy, the dunes itself will shift and there will be temporary changes to the sand and ridges which makes the terrain very unpredictable to drive in. A small blowhole on the backside of the dune will now carry a lot of fresh sand and will make you sink in immediately.

After heavy winds, and due to the sand shifting, there might be old vegetation popping up from underneath, which together with wet sand will form clumps and might cause pop-outs.

image.png.4738fef6a2edc0e81e18eeaf7e651009.png

Foggy conditions

Especially in early mornings, fog can be a dealbreaker for an enjoyable off-road drive. Due to the limited visibility, it will be too dangerous to start driving with your convoy. You might need the help of your AC to dry down the inside cabin a bit in order to increase visibility. Give it some time for the fog to clear up.

image.png.88360e289bfc5266da9e40bbbf555351.png

February 20

33 minutes ago, Amr A said:

looking forward to this one

@Amr A @AlexM Abu Dhabi boys are checking in

February 20

RSVP will be opening on Feb 26th (Monday) 7PM..

February 19

Well deserved @Alphin Aloor ! Let the VTC roar !!

February 18

We request every member who joins this drive to go through the information below and strictly follow these guidelines, etiquette, and responsibilities.

MUST READ AND COMPLY

First time with Carnity Off-road Club:

Please share your vehicle details - Make, Model, Color, and Year.
Do you have any prior off-road experience? If yes, pls share details.
Confirm your vehicle has front and rear tow hooks/eyelets.
Advise if you don’t have a programable radio and safety flag.
MUST WATCH: NEWBIE VIDEO BRIEFING

Drive Details

Level: Newbie and above (all levels)

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

Meeting Point: https://maps.app.goo.gl/sp8T29kJGFPGXVeo9

Decimal Coordinates: 24.637184, 55.487971

Type of Car: Any proper 4x4 with front and back tow hooks and 8-10 inches of ground clearance.

What to bring along: Loads of water, snacks (for yourself), smiles, face mask, rubber gloves, enthusiasm and willingness to learn.

Approximate finish time: 11:00 AM

P.S. Only join if you have a compressor to inflate your tires after the drive.

LIMITED SPOTS AVAILABLE:

This drive is limited to 12 cars only. RSVP will close on Friday - 9AM.
If the RSVP is full, you can add your name to the waitlist, once anyone drops, you will be moved to the RSVP list.
RSVP will close a day prior to preparing a convoy list.
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.

Please RSVP on below calendar

February 16

Hey @Matt - monkeywrench we organize Liwa drives as regular off-road drives during the winter. But to go and spot this challenge or Dakar as a club is also a good idea 👍

Don’t underestimate the area and don’t go alone in this type of desert, it’s remote terrain. Unless you can spot the convoys perhaps from closer to the road or at certain crossings where you have salt flats.

February 15

6 minutes ago, Alphin Aloor said:

Thanks @Frederic- i thought CB meant onboard.

I'm looking for an onboard UHF radio.

Ah yes, onboard you will have UHF an VHF models you can purchase. Be careful to remove it during crossing into Oman as they are in fact illegal. Even within UAE you would in theory need a permit as you are broadcasting at a higher wattage.

Simon has an onboard model and once you have the permit you should be good to go.

February 15

14 minutes ago, Alphin Aloor said:

Sorry if it already exists - are there some forum discussions on CB radios somewhere? Looking to get one for my setup.

Not here on the forum, as CB is not really used in UAE. @Simon Dcorrect me if am wrong.

Ham radio enthusiasts here are usually broadcasting in the VHF 145Mhz freq range.

Anything that is not in the PMR446 frequency range, will require you getting a permit. Simon has obtained this and can provide more info on CB vs VHF vs UHF.

UAE National Frequency Plan new 2020 En pdf.pdf

February 13

As you can see in above topics, you will be needing a floor jack if you want to fix a pop-out or replace a tire in the desert. Get some thick wooden planks (like scaffolding planks) as well that will be used as a base to put the jack on.
If the ground is really stable enough, a good quality bottle jack would also do, but it’s less stable.

Uni-Jack is a light and stable option too, as it’s a bottle jack with a jack stand built onto it.

February 13

February 13

IMG_6969.jpeg.a061d60223ace450b85b77aa13afd2b3.jpeg

22 minutes ago, SamyB said:

Hey folks,

I think we're all in the same boat with our tiny cup holders, right? I just came across some cup holders that look like they could fix our problem. But there's a catch – it looks like the company is all the way in Australia, and they only ship to Australia and New Zealand. Does anyone have any ideas on how we could snag these in the UAE?

Thanks a bunch!

SamyB

February 12

Hi @Islam Soliman I think Dubizzle is not perfect, but also there are not that many alternatives. If you follow the main principles of not chatting outside the Dubbizle chat area or providing your bank details, nor engaging in conversations with potential buyers that don't even live in the UAE, you should be ok.

See below some more info:

I've heard about Dubicars, Bayut, etc.. but i am afraid all are same concept.

Another option is to visit car dealers but that's usually even much more of a headache. Always better to try to sell your vehicle to a private person as it will fetch the best price. Car dealers will only give you a rock bottom offer as they have to clean, inspect, and resell with warranty + their commission.

February 9

44 minutes ago, GS periwal said:

Hi there,

thanks for detail. Can you pls paste pick up Google corrdinate here, as above link is not working for me.
thanks in advance

Starting point- not pickup. Sorry for type

Decimal coordinates (you can copy paste this in Google Maps):

24.3825833, 54.9865278

Google Maps link:

https://maps.app.goo.gl/QWvXhqpEtpRr3tBx7?g_st=ic

February 9

DRIVE RSVP IS NOW CLOSED

image.png.f256ef546bb93aa95d8b8cc3889747f6.png

@Vijay Cowlagi @EbrahimZAF @Tbharahsheh @Menon @Rohit Deginal @GS periwal @kevin @khlief @Mehmet Volga @Andrew John Melvill @Rahul6157 @Prithvi Raj @Nizar Shawwa @Hani Howeedy @Juzer Talib @Sandeep Nayar @JohanE @Abdullah N @Islam Soliman

Please find your convoy positions for tomorrow posted here above.

We will use Carnity Channel 4 - 446.081 Mhz on our two-way radio. If you do not have a radio yet, please do let me know, i can provide a spare that you can use for this drive.

In case of emergency, i can be reached on 0 5 6 5 0 4 2 6 3 2

See you all tomorrow !

February 9

Good morning @Tbharahsheh and welcome to Carnity Offroad Club !

Kindly provide a quick introduction:

Please share your vehicle details - Make, Model, Color, and Year.
Do you have any prior off-road experience? If yes, pls share details.
Confirm your vehicle has front and rear tow hooks/eyelets.
Advise if you don’t have a programable radio and safety flag.
MUST WATCH: NEWBIE VIDEO BRIEFING

February 6

https://www.patrol4x4.com/threads/wiring-up-original-map-lights.176530/

February 6

Oh yes there will be definitely canbus or Nissan proprietary bus system for the ECU communication around engine and dash. For the roof liner trim lights they usually hardwire this to keep things simple. But on more recent cars nowadays it’s bus systems all over the place.

February 6

1 minute ago, munkybizness said:

@Bravoecho, @SamyB - you need to get 2x Front Dome/Map lights, 1x Rear Dome/Map light (Second row), and 1x Trunk Dome/Map light (third row).

Look for CANbus/Canbus-compatible LED lights. You can choose them in White (6500K) or warm white (3000K) color temperatures. They are easily available in car mod shops (Deira) or Dragon Mart.

Canbus compatibility is key as most dome lights have three settings - Always on, Always off, On-when-door is unlocked. For the switch lever to activate the light in these three modes, the light must be compatible to take the signal message from the CAN bus.

As @Gaurav has suggested, popping off the dome of the in-ceiling lights is quite pain-free. For best results, I recommend always keeping a plastic/rubber scraper or pick so you don't accidentally damage internal parts or your roof lining with scratches and/or color transfer from the tool.

Super Safari has CAN BUS ?
all this time I thought my car to be ancient, with the three switches (always on / off / on via door) would be done via simple wiring.

February 6

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!

image.png.618c382df8e1a0dadedcad3edf5c0128.png

image.png.ad45c187ac6d8ceaadd07f48d9253424.png

Planning:

*Meetup at 8AM 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 6PM and enjoy the evening together.

* Exit at Moreeb Dune the following morning around 10AM.

Considering its seriousness to keep you and your vehicle safe, these strict rules will be applied to all.

Maximum of one passenger allowed - No exceptions.

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 its 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 in advance.
5-10 liter 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.
Gas tank and jerry can should be full upon arrival. (see fuel requirement below)
Last petrol station with washrooms and food is ADNOC LIWA (977): https://maps.app.goo.gl/CqSnCNUTfUwySN2Y7
Last Petrol station nearby the starting point is ADNOC KHANOOR: https://maps.app.goo.gl/oxVfp85mBCdrWF6e7

Fuel requirement for every 4x4:

Full main tank and 1 additional 25l jerrycan.

Drive Details

Level: Fewbie Plus and above

When: 2 March 2024

Starting time: 8:00 AM (SHARP - Without any exceptions)

Starting Point: https://maps.app.goo.gl/rnGP9hxzHzt12Ewf7

Decimal Coordinates: 23.08584, 53.61100
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 nearby 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.

What to bring along: Loads of water, lunch, snacks, face mask, enthusiasm and willingness to learn.

Approximate finish time: Between 10AM and 12 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 for lead - Frederic

RSVP HERE for lead - Gaurav Soni

February 6

13 hours ago, EbrahimZAF said:

Hi My Name is Ebrahim Ismail, I’ve done the Beginer course with Gaurav last week (Excellent Instructor and Experience) I have subscribed to Carnity off-road club (Annual Subscription)

I understand drive would be live at 7pm only however I’m presently getting n error “To Join Carnity Drives you must be an active subscriber to Monthly/Annual membership” not sure if this is simply due to drive not being active yet or due to a hiccup on my account. As this would be my first newbie drive would not want to miss out

Thanks

Great to see that @EbrahimZAF! No doubt, under the expert guidance of @Gaurav you have the basics very well taken care off.

See you coming weekend !

February 5

DRIVE DETAILS

The Fayah area, located just across the Dubai border, never fails to impress off-roaders with its pristine white dunes. Join us to explore this area and make our way further south !

We request every member who joins this drive to go through the information below and strictly follow these guidelines, etiquette, and responsibilities.

MUST READ AND COMPLY

First time with Carnity Off-road Club:

Please share your vehicle details - Make, Model, Color, and Year.
Do you have any prior off-road experience? If yes, pls share details.
Confirm your vehicle has front and rear tow hooks/eyelets.
Advise if you don’t have a programable radio and safety flag.
MUST WATCH: NEWBIE VIDEO BRIEFING

Drive Details

Level: Newbie and above (all levels)

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

Meeting Point: https://maps.app.goo.gl/rB3gFoySRgubPPUW7

Type of Car: Any proper 4x4 with front and back tow hooks and 8-10 inches of ground clearance.

What to bring along: Loads of water, snacks (for yourself), smiles, face mask, rubber gloves, enthusiasm and willingness to learn.

Approximate finish time: 11:00 AM

P.S. Only join if you have a compressor to inflate your tires after the drive.

LIMITED SPOTS AVAILABLE:

This drive is limited to 12 cars only. RSVP will close on Friday - 9AM.
If the RSVP is full, you can add your name to the waitlist, once anyone drops, you will be moved to the RSVP list.
RSVP will close a day prior to preparing a convoy list.
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.

Please RSVP on below calendar

February 5

10 hours ago, Aser said:

Dear Gaia gurus, I recently started recording tracks and I found that after driving for a couple of hours if we do a long break, when I come back to the car (using a dedicated phone with no sim) I find the app stopped recording and the track was saved automatically.

I was able to merge the tracks editing the gpx files but it is a pain to remember to pause/resume the recording...

Is this normal behaviour? Am I missing something?

Hi @Aser this usually happens when the phone overheats. Some phones heat up quickly when being charged and if they are close to the windshield. Perhaps try to see if you can mount the phone in front of an AC vent, or try to keep it away from the sun. My previous phone (Samsung) was very sensitive to this, while my recent one (Honor) hardly ever hangs due to heat.

February 5

Drive Report

With the early sunrise, our 3 courageous convoys met up at three different locations. Since we had 30+ signups which would be a nightmare to gather at one meeting point, i decided to go for 3 different locations, but with the aim of all getting together at one point on a huge sabkha, where we could all meetup with the entire group and have some laughs and photos.

Since we were all together, why not get into some action ? Upon arrival @Hani Howeedy hit a tiny tree stump that was sticking out of the sabkha and it punctured the tire in the sidewall. With the great help of many team members like @Ali-M, @Ahmed Wagdy, @Srikumarand @Gaurav, we quickly installed the spare and resumed our journey.

We decided to stick together with all three convoys for part 2 as they had to follow the same track anyways. We had some good challenges and dune climbs along our way to the mountains, where donkey's were laughing at our foolishness, but nevertheless we fought through and reached Wadi sidr. As by now we encountered some delay, a few members decided to opt out for the wadi part, and made their way back to Dubai.

Wadi sidr occasionally has water pools which makes for an interesting crossing. Unfortunately, yesterday the pools were tiny but nevertheless it was great fun, and we exited in Asimah (north of Masafi). The original plan was to head out towards Wadi Sena and head out into the mountains, but time was running out so i decided to go for wadi sidr only.

I must thank @Srikumar and @Vanessa8580 for stepping up and leading a 2nd and 3rd convoy, which made it possible to do this adventure with a big group. Sure we had delays, stucks, and refusals, but we have lots of stories to share for years to come

Thanks @Gaurav for the camaraderie and help along the drive, and for being Sri's co-pilot (Samir you are killing us!!!)....😁

@Ranjan Das @Bjoern @Brette thanks for all the great help and support throughout the drive !

Fantastic driving by all of you, and no doubt we all learned something. 20psi in the dunes is not easy, but we made it out !

You can find our photo gallery below:

Newbie - Scenic Sands & Wadis - UAQ - 04 Feb 2024 - Carnity.com

See you all soon again in the sands or wadis !

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