Zed

Congrats @Kailas 👍🏻

Dear @Foxtrot Oscar kindly put me in Waiting List as this will be my 2nd drive for weekend, would love to explore areas near Love Lake. Happy to assist as sweeper at the back if needed since I’ll have the heavy Y62 for this drive 😊

Request to Mr @Srikumar , kindly keep this level Newbie as I’m driving the Nissan Y62 and trying to avoid world war with my wife 😂

3 hours ago, PaoloMaraziti said:

I think the difference for unvaccinated is only when you’d need to do a PCR in Abi Dhabi (day 4 ?) …. Which is irte lava y if you enter just for the day 

@PaoloMaraziti @Gaurav i have confirmation from someone passing yesterday that the border structure is there (cars still slowing down to not crash into posts) but nobody is manning them nor checking for any Al Hosn. The Vaccinated Remark is for entering malls and government buildings... some restaurants also ask for Al Hosn as proof of vaccines but some don't check... 

16 minutes ago, Naveen Raj said:

@Zedbro long time no see….. what happnd?

ol' Land Cruiser will be in the garage for some time, when we opened the Transfer Case for inspection, the Center Diff Shaft & gears need replacing, and the latest one is failure on the rotors of the transfer case oil pump 😭  * see photos:

1. Center Diff Shaft & Gear issues

2. Transfer Case Pump issue causing oil not to be circulating to the gears 😭

@Asif Hussain bhai, will you return to the same starting point? was thinking of leaving my mall crawler and tag along in @Mus_hus78's car...  been missing the drives and Mustafa offered me to be his co-pilot / radio DJ 😁

1 hour ago, Looper said:

Due to the demand in Bronco, dealers are adding dealer margins. The prices here are too steep upto AED 30-40k more than the RSP in US.

Now I know why there are similar cars available here but people opt to import from USA 😂

here it is 👇, Ford Bronco spotted in Dubai 😀

Abdulla Jaafariعبدالله الجعفري on Instagram: “New Ford bronco spotted on Dubai Road ahead of its release in the market. #ford #bronco #newbronco #dubai #uaecars #dubaicars”

40 minutes ago, Frederic said:

Now with the weather cooling down, we will be able to do another session very soon. Hope to see you all back !

Thanks @Frederic for arranging, the Astronomer encounter confirmed that we're at the right spot... it was cloudy from sunrise to 9am in DIFC area so maybe the clouds from last night are in the city now 😅 Looking forward to winter Lens Club events, i hate conversations being cut so next time definitely do a Combo with Camping so we can talk all night while watching the sky ☺️

Cloud messes up the stars photos, so enjoying Perseids via AR for now, hopefully the clouds shall pass soon 😅

I'm in the wide open area near the trees, having fun playing with the iso settings, caught a straight trail of light... could be a plane, but cos i traveled all the way frm abu dhabi, i'll just call this a "meteor trail" for now 😂

2 minutes ago, Niki said:

Have a wonderful evening all!  
@Zed @samamara I received a rejection for my move permit  

Youtube it is for me this evening!  

Tough luck @Niki, I didn't know they would reject people cos my friends said theirs were accepted... maybe lots of people already applied hence they enforce some limit on the permits... let's hope next time bro: Leonids in Nov and Geminids in Dec 😊

On 4/20/2021 at 9:00 AM, Wade Pat2 said:

Swapped weak 2 pinion front diff carrier with TJM carrier.

Welcome back bro @Wade Pat2, my 2002 comes with the "stronger" 4-pinion front diff and last week it broke down 😂 But I guess it was just wear & tear... anyways the more reason to put in new 4.88 NitroGears (expecting end of Aug to arrive) ☺️

15 minutes ago, Niki said:

@Zed this is amazing info!! I am with the family and sneaking out may be a challenge 

@Niki in case family permit is denied, here's the 3rd best option 👇🏻 all you need is an iPad from your bed 😁

10 minutes ago, Niki said:

@Frederic o have to drop off this trip!! 🥺 am in Abu Dhabi now until Friday!

Hey bro @Niki all is not lost, i've heard people apply for movement permit for Thursday night/Friday midnight 12-5am and was approved. Try these if you still have the spirit:

1. Download Abu Dhabi Police app, click Favorite Service > Add, search for Movement Permit. Then fill in the details, important is correct phone + correct license plate. Sample screenshot below.

2. Go to Al Quaa Milky Way Spot here https://goo.gl/maps/QFTzWKW1h7QK3gpx6, it's gonna be 1.5hrs drive so plan ahead. Go a bit deeper further where the sedans won't park next to your car, but don't go deep into the desert, I can tell you Al Quaa is full of technical & bowls 😂

3. Decide afterwards whether you want to camp until 5am, or you want to use your permit and go home ☺️

AD Police app:

Al Quaa Stars taken from Normal iPhone: (tells you the very small amount of light pollution there)

Thanks for organizing this with detailed itinerary Director @Frederic 👍,  I confirmed attendance since I already booked hotel for overnight in Dubai. Eventhough I broke my LandCruiser's Front Differential, this doesn't stop me from attending the meteor shower (taking the backup Y62 for a ride besides mall parkings 😄) . Sadly I will miss your Newbie Night Drive though, since I'm so used to the LC100 I don't feel confident anymore driving the Stock Y62 to any desert... it seems the stars are not aligned for this night drive 🙈 

8 hours ago, Naveen Raj said:

What an amazing drive, thanks @Frederic for giving a taste of fewbie plus drive, I am starting to feel more confident in riding the narrow ridges and advance side sloping and moreover I now understand to control my car better knowing it’s capability.

Awesome bro @Naveen Raj this is why you gotta keep the weekly momentum to attend the drives 👍🏻  You will soon  reach FewbiePlus I'm sure... although we still need to see how you handle bowls later 😁

39 minutes ago, Josh T. said:

Can’t believe I miss this one! 
 

how's the bumper @Josh T.? Hope you were able to sort it out for future drives... unless you're shopping for second-hand 4x4s now? 😊

@Looper  Part Number 171309 

Most Australian Offroad shops have it, example here.

Just use ShopAndShip to ship it to your Australian address then forward it to Dubai

On 7/24/2021 at 5:21 PM, Frederic said:

Wonderful article @Zed ! 

thanks @Frederic & @Anoop Nair, i'm in fact inspired by Fred's technical-but-for-laymen articles. I'm already thinking my next article: 4LO Explained 😂

54 minutes ago, Asif Hussain said:

You guys deserve the praise.. awesome performance. Ridge riding was just a peice of cake for you guys really commendable. See you all soon.

Thanks @Asif Hussain bhai for leading today. Ridge riding experience is a result of following you, Sri and Fred's multiple drives 😁 Looking forward to more challenges & training 😊

17 minutes ago, Naveen Raj said:

thanks @Zed @Karthikeyan Govindarajanfor helping me in the stucks and refusals. 

we always own up to our mistakes bro @Naveen Raj, that's what Principal Asif taught us 😂😂😂.  My car is like 911 bro, call me anytime you're stuck 😅

10 minutes ago, Frederic said:

 

@Zed @Gaurav @munkybizness @Niki What you say ?

i'm in, spoken like a true Director, keeping the option open for only-driving, only-meteorhunting and whoever wants both 😁👍🏻

6 minutes ago, Gaurav said:

@Zed are you coming to Dubai, as in Abu Dhabi due to night restriction you can only stargaze from your balcony.

@Gaurav PCR has never stopped me from coming to Dubai, if this thing's on I'll spend my Marriott points to stay overnight in Dubai 😅

Congrats @Zixuan Huang - Charlie , might see you for some Fewbie Plus drives...

1 hour ago, munkybizness said:

Hello everyone, the Perseids Meteor Showers began on July 17th and will continue until they peak on the nights of August 12th and 13th with up to 60 trails per hour.

https://www.timeanddate.com/astronomy/meteor-shower/perseid.html

https://www.travelawaits.com/2683734/perseid-meteor-shower-august-2021/

Coincidentally, 12th August is declared UAE Public Holiday for a good long weekend https://gulfnews.com/going-out/uaes-next-public-holiday-when-is-hijri-new-year-1.1627193460855

But according to @munkybizness's links, it will only be visible from 22:00 until 04:00, so the right plan would be:

1. Night drive à-la Srikumar starting at 9pm night on Wed 11th Aug or Thu 12th Aug.

2. Stop for stargazing at 12 midnight

3. Those who want to go home, exit. Those who want to stargaze more, do camping 😅

@munkybizness  if they did, it's probably to save cost to make similar features for both Europe & Middle East. According to European Union Law Regulation No 48 of the Economic Commission for Europe of the United Nations (UNECE) — Uniform provisions concerning the approval of vehicles with regard to the installation of lighting and light-signalling devices [2019/ 57] (europa.eu)  :

5.1.5 Reversing Lamp color is White and Rear Fog Lamp is Red

6.4 Minimum 1 Reversing Lamp mandatory

6.11 Minimum 1 Rear Fog Lamp mandatory

So to fullfil above requirements, they probably make 1 Reversing Lamp White on the Left + 1 Rear Fog Lamp Red on the Right.

Below photo is Honda (Japanese) and it only has 1 Bright Red Rear Fog Lamp. Test your Y61 rear fog lamp and post pics please 🙂