Wrangeld

THIS DRIVE IS NOW CLOSED To the Amazing Eight @Rinelle Sanaani @Lucky sAm @Febin Frederic @Chaitanya D @Jolly Abraham @asifk @Najeeb Mohammed @Kalahari. Friday Afternoon will see you assisted by the Musketeers @Srikumar and @Jeepie as we wind our way from 2nd December Cafe to Big Red by Badayer and Al Madam. Please see below the convoy numbering as it stands today, subject to work commitments and anything unexpected happening on the morning drives. We will be using Carnity Radio Channel 4 during this drive. Please make sure your radio is programmed and set for the right frequency as we will have no time to set up radios before we leave. One of the great benefits of starting the drive at 2nd December Cafe is that we can enter the dunes immediately so, please deflate once you arrive, put up your flag and be ready to leave. The weather report says it will be hot, hot, hot! So, the less time spent by the side of the road waiting, the better. Breifing will be given on the radio. Our advice is to deflate to around 13PSI (depending on your vehicle), slightly less more than you deflate in the Winter months because the sand is soft, and gets even softer during the day because of the heat. If you are driving a morning drive as well, you will feel the difference between the two and that little bit of extra connection with the sand will help you float better over the sand. Please make sure your compressor is in good working order, and that you have all the required tools [boring reminder for the third time I know, but still essential]. Should anyone have any problems, have to sign out for any reason or have any questions, please do not hesitate to raise them here. Looking forward to a fun, challenging and scenic drive. See you soon in the sand.

Will be delighted if you can make it @Kalahari. Please do keep us updated. There is 100% a space for you on this drive if you can make it.

I'm horrified. The bastard child of my bastard child's mother's niece.

@syed salman raza ... just read pages of this BS. Your mechanic is playing you. Get to DED immedaitely. It's a 2005 TJ! None is going to steal it (I should know, mine is a 2004 TJ) and the immobilizer can be bypassed easily. Get your money back. Go to Barry. Get it sorted. We need to see you out in the sand.

Good Morning @Rinelle Sanaani @Lucky sAm @Febin Frederic @Chaitanya D @Jolly Abraham @asifk @Najeeb Mohammed The Magnificent Seven! Hopefully all your plans for Friday are confirmed and you are preparing mentally for another day out in the dunes. A few housekeeping items to cover, just to make sure we have no problems when setting off. Tools and Equipment: We will be checking that you have all your Fewbie equipment before we leave. If you don't have it, you'll have driven to the 2nd December cafe for nothing. That means, a flag pole with a flag, a shovel, a compressor among other things. That also means tow points in good order - not just to stay in place on the car but also not cut the tow rope that someone might kindly offer to use to pull out your vehicle from the sand or off a crest. Get yourself right mentally: Fewbie PLUS, means faster pace, less announcements about the route, and an expectation from the other people in the drive that you can both drive yourself out of or away from problems. Refusals and stucks are part of the challenge, but you also need to be at the top of your game and be focused and ready for more challenging routes than before. Night driving: A small part of the drive should be taking place in the dark this week - assuming that we feel that the convoy knows how to handle that additional factor and we will not end up digging people out until midnight. Night driving conditions are different to the daylight in a number of ways. Most obvious, it's dark. This means you need to pay much more attention to where you are going and that the convoy is still together. Never lose sight of the person in front or behind. You do not need to have extra lights, but it helps. How long we drive at hight will be determined by how many stucks we experience. The less stucks, the more time practicing this new skill. To assit the Magnificent Seven, your Four Musketeers @Srikumar @Ale Vallecchi @Jeepie and myself will be there to help and guide whee needed. As ever a big thanks to them for briniging their experience and skills to the drive. If you have any questions or queries about what to expect, please add them here in this thread. Have a great day. See you soon in the sand.

I have a 2004 model. Not US spec. It is a brilliant toy for the desert. I would buy that in a heartbeat if the price was max AED15k. My experience is that this engine is rock solid. It has a brilliant power to weight ratio. Don't pay for the mods that have been done. You have no idea if they are any good for the type of driving you want to do. Be prepared to be driving a noisy, bumpy vehicle until you hit the desert. Additionally, I know you like to bring family and friends. This is not a vehicle where the people in the back sit comfortably (on or off road!). If you intend to bring your required kit, you will find that the space in the car is cramped and you will fast fun out of space. We drive with our back seat folded up all the time so we can get the equipment in (compressor, ropes, tool kit, shovel, etc all takes up sapce). On the cover. A canvas top will make this very hot to drive during the summer. We have a removable hard top and even with that the heat that refelcts inward from the roof is quite substantial. So make sure that the A/C is really working well otherwise you will fry. Open top seems a great idea until you are sitting waiting for a recovery to clear or you find yourself in a sand shower as you dig into the dune. Check the radiator and the fans at the front. REALLY WELL. That's the point in a jeep where you need to be sure that all the work is done and done well as jeeps overheat. If there is a modification there, it's worth a lot more than fancy tires or shovels on the bonnet (BTW that would be the fitst thing to go if this was my car. I do not want ever to risk a shovel hitting me head on because for some reason it came loose). Test drive it in the sand, not the road.

Absolutely, me and @Jeepie are up for adventures to pastures (or deserts) new.

I think that they got the design right. It harks back to the original Bronco which was always a short stubby off roader and then got bloated by design over the years. This looks visually much better in proportion. Will it survive out in the 'Wild' - OK it's tested, but I have my doubts that it will be the perfect vehicle. If anyone wants me to test it, however, happy to give it a go!

Great article @Frederic which covers all the 'hard' issues of which vehicle. Someone looking to start driving also should think a little but about the 'soft' side as well. What do I mean by that? For many, their street car is their pride and joy and suitability probably also needs a few more filters: Risk of damage: Off roading is inherently risky. While at Carnity we always try to make sure that the drive is as safe as possible, if you are going to get frantic because of the risk of your bumper or some other part of the car being ripped off - your car is probably not suitable. Cost of damage: Tied to the above is that the sort of damage cars will receive off road is normally (but not always) cosmetic. If you would think about immediate repair and the parts of your SUV are very expensive [think here a new front of back bumper] - your car is probably not suitable. Dirt, dust and sand: Your vehicle is going to get dirty out in the wilderness, inside and out. If you are worried that the napa lamb leather will be ruined by sand or dust and it's going to frustrate you that you can never really get all the sand out after a drive - your car is probably not suitable. Know your car: You will need to know how to over ride a few systems in the vehicle that are there on tarmac for your safety. You'll be disabling air bags, traction control, ABS. If the idea of that horrifies you or you don't want to spend the time looking through the manual understanding how to do that - your car is probably not suitable. I don't want to turn anyone off the idea of coming for a drive (quite the opposite) but you'll simply not be relaxed and enjoy your experience if you are worried that something might happen to the car [and that's before we even start to talk about the different strains on the mechanics of the car to which it will be introduced in the desert]. If you do decide it's for you, we can promise fun and a really amazing new experience for both you and your vehicle.

If someone in the seniors in Carnity told you to try different gears instead of D, then I am not going to contradict them. We do normally advise drving in D because yes, your vehicle also needs to learn - especially a modern computer chip driven vehicle like your Y62. As you apprecaite, the biggest obstacle the majority of Y62s will ever see are the speed humps at Spinneys. Even if you are driving the car daily to work on tarmac, it's unlikely you will ask it to take anywhere as much strain as it takes working in the desert. So, yes, the car needs to get used to your driving style and the fact that form time to time you ask it to work considerably harder than usual. By using the semi manual box (tiptronic) you prevent the engine maangement chip from learning what it needs to do. It can learn for instance that when the engine is hammered (to get through a sidey) it needs to change down a few gears quickly so that the power can be delivered at the right time. In D it can learn, if you change gears it cannot. The second bit you got 100% right. Two hands on the wheel, focus on the sand and your momentum you'll start to feel how to be much smoother in the drive ... and then in those moments you need to force the car, like a big uphill, take control to stop the engine from taking an easier route - because it cannot see what is ahead. I will be interested to hear from you if this works or not.

Carnity is really focused on empowering people to drive stock vehicles in the desert. Unlike a lot of clubs there's no modifications needed to get going - and I think you've been on drives where the owner brought even their AWD vehicle, because we are quite committed to letting as many experience off road driving as possible. One observation, we propose everyone drives in D rather than using tiptronic for a reason. If you use the tiptronic your car cannot learn what to do in the desert. It has no idea that it needs to change gear because the going is getting tougher, because you decided you know better than the car. The thing is that the car shold learn with you. 'Max response' might not be the best solution. More power is usually less successful in the long run than more finesse. If you are climbing a dune, that different, force the engine into a low gear because you need the torque/traction etc, but for most situations in which we drive, once your car learns what to do, you will find it more relaxing (and I think you'll improve your skills) when you focus on power delivery and line. I say this having never driven a Y62 but having watched you on a couple of drives. You have done a great job so far, so sharpening up on these types of things will take you to the next level and put you in better harmony with the car.

I love the idea of the two of you @Lorenzo Candelpergher and @Chaitanya D having this discussion and sharing experiences, as this is what the forum is all about. @Lorenzo Candelpergher with great power comes great responsibility! From what I see of your driving, you are using power more than momentum and because you have so much of it, you can often power your way out. It's what I did at the start of this journey as well. These days, I try to test myself by for instance setting a limit to for instance keep my rev meter below 2000 and spend a lot more time looking at the line I want to take. As a fewbie, you have the experience to decide if the line that was driven before you is optimum for your vehicle. If you think it is already too churned up for instance, try a little higher or lower. This will not only help you, but also the people in the convoy behind you who can suffer from having to follow the route after you ploughed on through.

Good Morning @Rinelle Sanaani @Lucky sAm @Febin Frederic @Chaitanya D @Jolly Abraham @asifk @Najeeb Mohammed @Kalahari and thank you for signing up for the Fewbie Plus drive on Friday. We are already almost half way through the week so hopefully (for you) your plans will not change, because Friday promises to be an interesting, challenging and exciting drive. The plan is to start at the 2nd December Cafe and make our way to Camel Rock & Pink Rock. If it's not too busy we will get a chance to play on the dunes, but we do need to keep in mind that these are some of the most visited spots by 4x4 enthusiasts in Dubai/Sharjah and they are often crowded. For that reason our plan is to continue, across the dunes to reach Big Red in Badayer. It's quite a distance to cover. The objective is to have sunset around Big Red and then use the last of the light to find our way to exit, enjoying a short night drive so that you can get used to that experience before night drives start in earnest. What to expect during this week's drive? It's Fewbie PLUS - so we will look to ratchet up the pace as well as starting to develop criss crossing techniques now that all of you have proven yourselves well capable of mastering the up and over technique without cresting (most of the time). As ever, we will be flexible and if the soft sand starts to cause problems we will look for alternative options. No question that around Big Red, the sand is soft at the moment. Last weekend, we lost time on drives because of some car problems so please make sure that your vehicle is in good condition, that all the fluids are topped up and most importantly that your tow points are in good condition and appropriate for the type of strain they might be under in the desert. Also a reminder - this is planned as a compressor only drive. Please make sure you have a compressor with you. Re routing because someone does not have a copressor seriously limits the exit options which is why, if you don't have a compressor, you won't be driving. Big thanks in advance to @Srikumar and @Ale Vallecchi , the additional seniors on the drive. If you have any questions or queries about what to expect, please add them here in this thread. Have a great day. See you soon in the sand.

Bro - you have been one of those kind, friendly supportive people making this journey so special and enjoyable. I am 100% sure that it's a matter of weeks till you get your deserved promotion, which I am sure would have been much quicker if your car had not played us a few times. You are truly a gentleman among gentlemen and I am not going to forget, ever, your kindness in saving the day when my friend Matt came over and you offered to lead the drive just so we did not let him down. That's the sort of man you are and why you get all the plaudits you do.

Thanks for being the Second Lead on the drive this week. Was nice to know you had my back ... as ever.

It's mutual @Brette all I can say is that I have a big smile on my face every time I see you on a drive. It's been a pleasure getting to know you, drive with you and I really look forward to more opportunities to continue that in the future.

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. Drive Details Level: Fewbie and above - (Min 5 Fewbie Drives with Carnity) When: 17 Jul 2020, Friday. Meeting time: 5:00 PM (SHARP - Without any exceptions) Meeting Point: 2nd December Cafateria - https://goo.gl/maps/vGCC6yzhhdpqedmG7 Action Plan: Evening drive till about 08:00 – 08:30 PM 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), face mask, rubber gloves, enthusiasm and willingness to learn. Please also make sure you have all the equipment required on board as a Fewbie. THIS IS A COMPRESSOR ONLY DRIVE. IF YOU DO NOT HAVE A COMPRESSOR, PLEASE DO NOT SIGN UP FOR THIS DRIVE. IF YOU ARRIVE AND HAVE NO COMPRESSOR YOU WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO JOIN THE DRIVE. Approximate finish time: 08:00 – 08.30 PM End Point: Near Big Red https://goo.gl/maps/BLSDDqSpA7P7MLBq7 LIMITED SPOTS AVAILABLE: Limited to 12 cars maximum. RSVP will close on Thursday - 9 AM. 1 Lead Marshal + 2 or 1 Senior Members + 10 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. Members that do not confirm the terms of the COVID requirements will be removed from the RSVP list. 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 CALENDAR

A quartet of leaders, friends and people who have set the high bar to which I aspire saying such kind, supportive and caring words is truly humbling. To live up to your example, to follow in your road tracks and to be able to play a small part of the leadership team casting such a benevolent shadow over everyone within this club is where I aspire to be. @Frederic I still remember on our first or second drive you gave us a shovel as we had none in the car. A simple act of selfless kindness that exemplifies everything about what you bring to this club. @Rahimdad You have a nice way to show your feelings too! COVID has denied all of us the warmth and comforting feeling of an early morning Rahimdad hug and I think we all miss it - because our Superman has the capability to help us all feel better, more confident, more capable and experience the joy and grace you bring to everything you touched. @Ale Vallecchi Indeed. I think I was looking quite enviously that day thinking ... wow, these guys are amazing. I was correct. You set an incredibly high bar to follow and I learn from you at every turn and twist: be it following on your tracks in the sand, or how you meticulously plan your drives and breifings. @Xaf yes, I share my opinions, possibly more vocally than others. On the other hand, your professionalism and strive for more knowledge and skill constantly reminds me that this game is much more than getting into the vehicle and hoping to plough through what ever obstacle we might face. To coin a phrase, I will happily be your wingman any time. I am not going to pretend that I am anything but delighted to be given the trust of this rank. @Jeepie I said it before, and I will say it loud and proud out here again. Thanks for not only joining me on this journey but grasping it with two hands and showing us all your incredbile potential. We are a pretty good team (and when I get a car of my own being in your convoy will be the greatest pleasure I could have) and are both individually growing in this game. But I am not going to forget that you really are a trailblazer in the club. First ever Woman at Expert level, and as Rahimdad said, setting an example to all the other women (and men) that you are just as competent, just as capable as everyone else - it will nonetheless be amazing to see when you post your first all women drive! There are a lot of members in your wake looking up to the amazing example you set.

No less than yours ... 2 drives every week. You'll be there soon.

Thank you Shiju. Hope to drive with you soon.

Everyone ... thanks so much for the good wishes. Since joining this club in November the seniors @Gaurav @Rahimdad @Srikumar @Frederic @Asif Hussain @Emmanuel have been so committed to helping me and @Jeepie get more and more out of the off road experience and supporting us to advance to what is now unbelievably Expert level. To the others that have truly supported along the way on this amazing journey @Ale Vallecchi @Javier M @Brette @Xaf @Shamil I cannot thank you enough. To the members of Carnity on drives we were on, on drives we supported and drives we led and for those of you to meet on drives in the future thank you for making hobby so rewarding and so much fun. See you soon in the sand.

The One For Newbies Second trip out of the day, and a change of position and perspective. As I had led the Fewbie drive in the morning @Jeepie took driving resposibility. We intended to switch at some stage ... but that's another story. With an Absolute Newbie drive, it takes longer to get going. For people who have never ventured off road before, understanding all the informaiton, buying all the kit, understadning what needs to be done once you arrive can add to the excitement. So, having helped @Lisa Pemberton and @Siobhan to deflate and remove the necessary switches and fuses, a good briefing by @Gaurav and a welcome back to the sand for @tjsingh, we were under way. I have said it before that we still remember our first day out in the sand, and the terror/excitement/fun of that first drive, taking the car to places that we could not imagine. Seeing/hearing first timers, absolute newbies on this first drive brings back all those memories. While new to Carnity, it was clear that @Heisem has driven before. With @Yousef Alimadadi as 2nd lead for the first time and @tjsingh sweeping we set off as centre forward for the drive hoping for more benign conditions than we faced in the morning. I find it interesting that the sand in two deserts 50km maximum apart can be so different. Everything went swimmingly well until TJ started having overheating problems with the car. @Gaurav asked if we could lead the convoy for as long as it took to get TJ safely exited from the sand and return - to which we glady agreed. I really like team work and here was another great example. @Jeepie taking on the challenge, @Veedooshee giving up the driving seat to let Fewbie @Anish S take up sweep and the rest of the convoy, @VipinShetty and @Biju Abdul slipping into place to make the change easier and safer to handle. Once Gaurav returned (and @Veedooshee sweeping with Anish assisting by her side), we continued on our way until, with the light fading, we exited. For some, this might not have been the most exciting or challenging of drives ever - for the absolute newbies, it probably was: and that's how it should be. No matter how much experience you have, there's always something you can learn from being on a drive - and sometime more on a drive you think will be 'easy' than one you know will be more of a challenge. See you soon in the sand.

Post COVID of course 😜

A little when under the pylons but otherwise not too bad. Motorola not Crony.