Wrangeld

Hi @rajeev chaubeychaubey just checked with our resident JGC expert. He said once you put it into sand mode, and if we take out the airbag fuse, you're good to go.

Hi Rajeev Don't drop out. We have JGC drivers in the club and will have a solution for you before the drive. Our concern is just to make sure that we can enable you to drive and have fun.

@Osvaldo Porto @camel dxb @Pag00 Thanks for signing up to the Absolute Newbie drive with Carnity on Friday Morning in Al Qudra. Osvaldo - can you tell us a little more about your Jeep - Any modifciations? Please check the tow points front and back Camel DXB - which engine in there in your Pajero? Any previous off road experience? Pag00 - I Cayenne!! We need to be sure of the clearance of the car above the sand. It has a claimed 9 inch clearance, so for a beginners drive like this should be enough. Please take a look at spoilers and mud flaps that are lower as these WILL be at risk in a desert drive. I don't ever want to dissuade anyone from driving with us on an Absolute Newbie drive, but I do want to be sure that you understand the risks because the Cayenne is not your average 'Off Roader'. We venture quite deep into the desert even on a drive like this. We also need to be sure we can get access to tow points both front and rear (even more critical with a vehicle like so we can help you get out of trouble). The same for everone else, we need to be sure you have accessible tow points that are in good condition. Please make sure you view the videos on the site and in the thread. I will expect that you have that information in your heads before we start. You'll alsol need to have a deflator and guage for the tires. Radios I will bring for everyone as it's your first drives. See you soon in the sand.

Kill switch not essential, but you must be able to turn off EPS & ABS. Otherwise you will struggle.

@Rowi Elsaid @rajeev chaubey @Dodi Syahdar Thanks for signing up to the Absolute Newbie drive with Carnity on Friday Morning in Al Qudra. Rowi - can you tell us a little more about your Jeep - Year, model etc Rajeev - with your JGC you need to be sure you can turn off all the electronics (kill switch) and that there are no low hanging body parts (like spoilers) that might get caught in the sand. It's a complete beast that you have but the electonics sometimes make it a beast to drive. Dodi - is the Raptor modified in any way? If there is a sport bumper probably best to remove this before you come. On all the vehicles, we need to be sure you have accessible tow points that are in good condition. Please make sure you view the videos on the site and in the thread. I will expect that you have that information in your heads before we start. You'll alsol need to have a deflator and guage for the tires. Radios I will bring for everyone as it's your first drives. See you soon in the sand.

topgear @topgear Archibald Jurdi @Archibald Jurdi Probir Mukherjee @Probir Mukherjee Vijaysekhar @Vijaysekhar Salarios @Salarios Veedooshee @Veedooshee Goutam @Goutam Andrei @Andrei Mikhail Lukichev @Mikhail Lukichev Anand Nataraj @Anand Nataraj Ashok chaturvedi @Ashok chaturvedi Anvar Sadath Bekal @Anvar Sadath Bekal Looks like this is the final list for the drive. Please read the comments in the thread. It is likely that we will not be joined by any other seniors on the drive, so I will be looking to some of you to step up to the challenge to be our 2nd lead, Centre Forward and Sweep. As we have some quite experienced Fewbies in the drive, I do not imagine that this will be a problem. The bigger challenge might be the equipment that is on board in this convoy, so I would appreciate knowing if there are members on the drive with: Kinetic rope Hydraulic Jack While i carry both of these as a matter of course, I would like to know who else has them in advance as it will help me decide convoy position. Also, no excuses, SHOVEL and RADIO. Looking forward to seeing everyone on Saturday ... See you soon in the sand.

HI Ashok, I think we have space for you what ever happens at this point - so I added you to the drive.

@Gaurav Soni @Anvar Sadath Bekal You both have a space on this drive if you would like to join. Please confirm.

@Gaurav Soni

topgear @topgear Archibald Jurdi @Archibald Jurdi Probir Mukherjee @Probir Mukherjee Vijaysekhar @Vijaysekhar Salarios @Salarios DANIEL NOGUEIRA @DANIEL NOGUEIRA paolo dassi @paolo dassi Veedooshee @Veedooshee Goutam @Goutam And our waitlisted drivers: @Gaurav Soni @MUHAMMAD Kashif RAZZAQ @Anvar Sadath Bekal Thanks for signing up for this drive. Rule 1: If you are intending not to turn up at the last minute, please do it now instead. As you see above we have at least three drivers looking to join the drive at the moment, and I will be disappointed if we get 'sorry the dog ate my car keys' excuses on Saturday afternoon because someone says you cannot come. Rule 2: Teamwork. Looks like there will be no other seniors on this drive so we will all need to pull together to get through if there are problems. I see a few familiar faces on the drive and will hand out the responsibilities later in the week. Special call out, however, to @Salarios - it's been far too long buddy. Rule 3: This is an unpredictable route. We pass a gas line from the gas plant and close by a property, where we need to be a little quieter on the radio than ususal so we may need to reroute and end up somewhere else completely than planned, or get there much quicker. But tha's all part of the fun, no? Rule 4: Equipment, don't bring a pea shooter to a gun fight. If you have a spoon instead of a shovel and your car is in trouble, don't be surprised when you have to use it to dig yourself out. At Fewbie level we really do expect that everyone ahs sorted out their equipment and (a personal bugbear of mine), flags!!! My flag does drop to the side a bit, but it does not fall off. Make sure your flag does not fall off. PLEASE. Rule 5: It's a fewbie and we will drive like a fewbie as long as the convoy can manage. That means we will be moving faster, will be takign more challenging routes and will be driving through technical dunes on which you need to be concentrating or you will soon be axle deep in soft sand. It's going to be fun because this are is one of the last around us that is not totally covered in tracks from other drives (or at least it was two weeks ago). That's about it. I am looking forward to the drive because it's a great convoy and I know that all of you want to have a fun last drive of the year. See you soon in the sand.

As the proud (former - for some reason my wife thinks it's hers!!!!!) of a TJ and also an SWB Pajero, here's my contribution. If I had had the money and could have found one that was unthrashed, I would have gone for the SWB Prado or the 4800 Y61. As it turned out, I could afford a Pajero or a Jeep and so with one jeep in the family already, I decided to go for something different. Why the Pajero - mine is a 3.8, and while it suffers from the dreaded 'upchage at 5200rpm' problem, that does not really become an issue too often because this thing has so much power that you don't notice. It's less direct than the Jeep. Translate that how you want - you can say as an alternative that the Paj is comfortable on an off road, and it's pretty much as capable. The Jeep runs on Gelolandars at around 9PSI and the Paj on street tires at 12.5 - so the Jeep is a bit more capable because of that, and being more rugged gets broken less. The body work on the Paj is plastic, so bits get broken a lot easier than the steel of the Jeep. Mechanically - the 4.0L on the Jeep feels indestructable as is the gearbox. It can take a hammering and come back for more. The Paj, less so. As an SWB both are a much of a muchness. I don't yet have any mods on the Paj, so it suffers more on ridge riding and crossing crests than the Jeep. A back plate will fix that. Truth is they are different sides of the same coin and I love them both. If I want a day out hitting the dunes and going straight up and down to my heart's content, I would take the jeep. It's fun and cheeky and can do stuff that I am not sure is capable in other cars big os small because you don't worry when it is under pressure because all that will happen is that the engine will overheat. With the Paj, I love driving to and from the desert in air conditioned comfort where i can hear myself think. I love the composed way it approachs the dunes and is unflustered by anything. Some days after say a newbie I am sort of questoining if we really went out into the desert because it was so comfortable and we never went over 2000rpm When it gets hammered, however, I feel for it because it seems to be saying, ever so gently. Please take just a little bit more care of me. I am tough but not that tough and yes I am small and prefectly formed but I would really like IronMan shocks and then I will really show you what we can do.

@Rahimdad not a story I knew and exceptionally moving to read. Keeping the flame alive is something that can be deeply personal and in your case deeply inspiring. It's the little things we do in life that make a difference. Big gestures make a splash which everyone notices and forgets. Small gestures repeated, again and again, like a smile to someone or a sincere thank you to the attendant standing in the bathroom you just used change lives. These actions that cost little more than a bit of time and thought have so much impact. Your acknowledgement of your brother is just but one of the thousands of small and large actions Rahimdad that we all feel from you and are blessed to which to be exposed to being in your company. You are for sure, our Superman, whether we see the T Shirt or not. And knowing the story simply makes you more so...

@AlexPol Hi Alex, You signed up for the Fewbie drive on Saturday. I understand that you are still a Newbie which means that unfortunately you are not able to drive on a Fewbie drive. For this reason, regrettably, I need to sign you out of the drive. Have a great day. Richard

Hi Veedooshee - as there is still room and this is your first drive you get a space ahead of the waitlisted drivers (apologies everyone else - but these are the rules!). You are added. Lookinf forward to seeing you after some time. All the best, Richard

@Gaurav Soni @Anvar Sadath Bekal @MUHAMMAD Kashif RAZZAQ You are all waitlisted, with pleasure. Currently only 7 sign ups so it looks good.

This drive is organized in full compliance with the COVID19 guidelines. We expect every member that joins this drive to go through below information and and strictly follow these guidelines in order not to jeopardize someone's health, and to ensure we can keep organizing these drives safely. MUST READ AND TOTALLY AGREE: COVID19 Precautions MUST READ AND TOTALLY AGREE: BAN POST Two Way Radio Guidelines Every Offroader brings his own radio, programmed to the frequencies described in below advice topic. We will not share spare radios or program your radio on the drive. If you need assistance in programming the radio, post a topic on the Carnity website with your questions and we will help you out. Make sure your radio is fully charged. It will be your only way of communication while driving. Before buying, please carefully read below advice so you are informed properly on which model / cost / shops... No radio = No drive. It is an essential tool and you should make sure you bring it on every drive and learn/practice how to use it. MUST WATCH: NEWBIE VIDEO BRIEFING Drive Details Level: Fewbie and Above (All Levels) When: 26 Dec 2020, Saturday. Meeting time: 2:00 PM (SHARP - Without any exceptions) Meeting Point: - https://goo.gl/maps/6pK1UqzSV7jQDZDy9 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: 06:00 PM End Point: Lisaili P.S. Only join if you have a compressor to inflate your tires after the drive. LIMITED SPOTS AVAILABLE: Limited to 10 cars only. RSVP will close on Tuesday - 9 PM. 1 Lead Marshal + 1-2 Senior Members + 12 Members. If the RSVP is full and you wish to join, please mention your name on the drive thread to add on the waiting 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 the link below.

@Armanthere are no guarantees in this life buddy! Normally the guys with the most experience or biggest car find that they are in the back.

@Shehab Alawadhiyou were brilliant. I really enjoyed working with you. I want to drive with you again, soon.

@Rahimdad a wonderfully poetic and wonderful description of the day drive. While you are far too kind in your words to me, I revelled yesterday in the wonderful memory that it was almost year to the day that I first went to Fossil Rock on a drive led by you and we had our first experince of the thrill and excitement of the descent from the rock, Having taken that route a few days ago on another drive, I can confirm that the descent is now more challenging than ususal and while a disappointment not to be able to take that route again today, the memories came flooding back of my first newbie drives with Carnity. This was a drive a year ago where we were still able to sit in a picnic area with tree shade and have breakfast together (and enjoy your legendary Aloo Paratha and Karak Tea). This was where i met one or two of the drivers, like yourself, that have become wonderful friends and a support group in all things inside and outside this club. For the Newbies on this drive: treasure these moments of learning from our Superman @Rahimdad. WIth his guidance and support, within a 12 month period i have the privilege of being a Carnity Marshal and have learnt so much about myself and my driving. And, as mentioned, I have made friends, that friendship made more dear because the relationship is built on shared values and experiences where we learn to trust each other and their judgment through facing challenges that are outside our daily work and comfort zone. See you soon in the sand

Join us to explore Al Qudra Desert to find what's beyond Qudra lakes And learn the art of offroading in a versatile playground for your first off-road adventure. You will learn to self-drive your vehicle from experts having decades of off-roading experience in the UAE. This area offers a good mix of playable long set of dunes and broad ridges to practise your off-road skills slowly but surely. Drive is open for all 4x4/4WD/SUV/AWD vehicles having 8-10 inches of ground clearance and (MANDATORY) Front and rear tow hooks (MANDATORY) What you'll learn: Introduction to off-roading. Desert driving basics and etiquette. Desert driving tips, techniques, myth and best practices. Off-road and safety gear familiarization and recovery procedures. Vehicle orientation, risk analysis, deflation and outdoor safety advice. First time with Carnity Off-road Club: Please share your vehicle details - Make, Model, Year. Do you have any prior off-road experience? Confirm your vehicle has front and rear tow hooks / eyelets. Why should I join? We will teach you how to self-drive off-road safely and learn the best offroad driving and recovery techniques. If you have already driven in sand before then you can learn more from experts having decades of offroading experience in the UAE. This area offers a good mix of playable long set of dunes and broad ridge to test your off-road control. Can my vehicle do this ? This drive is open for all 4x4/4WD/SUV/AWD vehicle having 8-10 inches of ground clearance and front and rear tow hooks. If in doubt please first announce your questions on the drive thread so we can advise you further. Any stock 4x4/4WD are most welcome, you don't need any vehicle modifications. Can I bring passengers ? Yes of course, but if you are absolute new to offroading it is better to drive alone first to avoid any distractions. Learn More About: Carnity Off-road Club STRICTLY: For ABSOLUTE NEWBIE who are driving for the first time with Carnity. MUST READ AND CLICK TOTALLY AGREE ON THE BELOW COVID19 PRECAUTIONS TOPIC MUST WATCH: NEWBIE VIDEO BRIEFING Drive Details Level: Only for "ABSOLUTE NEWBIES" or first timer with Carnity Off-Road Club When: 25 Dec 2020, Friday. Meeting time: 06:00 AM (SHARP - Without any exceptions) Meeting Point: https://goo.gl/maps/BYd56qA2tCUPTSCy9 Type of Car: Any 4x4/4WD/SUV/AWD with front and back tow hooks and 8-10 inches of ground clearance. What to bring along: Tire deflator, pressure gauge and compressor, Loads of water, snacks (for yourself), face mask, rubber gloves, enthusiasm and willingness to learn. Approximate finish time: 10:00 AM End Point: Qudra Parking LIMITED SPOTS AVAILABLE: Limited to 12 new members only. RSVP will close on Thursday - 5PM. If the RSVP is full and you wish to join, please mention your name on the drive thread to add on the waiting list Latecomers or members who are not on the RSVP will be returned back - without ANY EXCEPTIONS. Please cancel you RSVP if you cannot make it, so your spot can be taken by others. Please RSVP on below calendar:

@Ahab Shamaa - target market and segmentation will determine the consumers for the Nissan: I think that they are creating a soft roader which will appeal to a much wider market target segment than off roaders, who are attracted to the height and feel of a Jeep, but have zero need for the off road functionality. Nissan is a mass market manufacturer, more interested in selling more vehicles than worrying here about if the off raodign community is horrified that they create a car which is potentially underpowered for driving in the desert. We are potentially looking at this question through the frame of our limited experience [that the Xterra is an excellent off roader] and Nissan sees a much wider audience that will buy into the whole off road idea, without actually using it. Is the Xterra a strategic vehicle for Nissan, as a critical part of the range? And do Nissan expect to sell even one of the new ones to the off road community. Probably not - but they don't care. Look at what they did with the Pathfinder. It's gone from a capable off roader to a slightly bloated family cruiser. The result, less use off road, more sales globally. Jeep and Land Rover have an offroad heritage. To create a ridiculous off road version fits 100% with the brand values and history. They will catch their demographic by selling power (and even more power). So bottom line, you're probably right that Nissan are not that intent on positioning the car as a serious off roader. But then the number of serious off roaders is a lot less than the number of supermarket carpark vehicles.

We are all safe and back at home after what was an incredible drive. As promised, I did not make the drive easy. The route meant that you needed to scale heights, take slip faces in your stride and negotiate and navigate a number of tricky cross overs and turns. End result, we got to 500 mters from the end of our drive before there was any risk of soemthing going wrong, and in the end, even that stuck looked a lot worse than it was. So what to say to the incredible drivers from this morning? @Ken Hüüdma - brilliant 2nd lead. Controlled, careful and you rerouted where needed with ease. You really have that vehicle under your spell. @Alphin Aloor - once we got your tyre pressure sorted, it was a different drive for you. Considering it's one of your first drives, well done. You managed almost everythign thrown at you. @N@ved - it felt you were just a little tentative to start with and after that, you had the little jeep flying through everything with ease. Don't be scared to push it, it can take it. @Saneesh Thomas - you did really well and handle your Jeep with confidence. Don't worry that it cannot make it over the criss cross elements. A wheel might come in the air for a second but it will stay stable. @Abdul Rahman Abdul Kader - A great drive from you today. I think you understand the capabilities of the car well and are getting there with control. SOmetimes, you need to push a little more. I saw a few times when you did not take the high line. @Federico De Chirico - you've got just that bit more power and the diff lock to get you out of trouble. Both of them indicate to me you can push just a little harder on the gas. @Explored Dubai - almost got out unscathed today. I can see a massive growth and improvement each drive. You are learning more how to manage the car than let it manage you. @Danish Mohammad - I think that as you get more tired, as the sand got softer and as we got more into teh drive you started to get a bit tired. Not surprising becuase today was tough. But i can see the improvement. @Niki Patel - we are starting to see Niki uncaged! Now you start to see what your car can do, we see more and more confidence and capability to self recover and avoid those moments when things go a little wrong. Great drive. @Pickey Singh - I think that FJ is great car for you. In my humble opinion you still hold back a little on the power, but your control and your skill off road is getting better and better. I also love how you support everything and everyone on the drive. @Federico Galbieri - nicely criven, nicely controlled, nicely navigated. One or two problems because of churned sand, but a good solid drive and one that show us all that you are listening, observing and learning: and then applying. @Lorenzo Candelpergher - I sort of wish there was a medal for the best support it's possible to have on a drive. Simply put there is a 100% confidence in working with you on a drive. A lead cannot ask for or expect more. Perfection. @imranaasghar81 - aaargh! and it was all going so well. Apart from the little slip at the end a great day. Well done. See you soon in the sand.

We are using channel 1