Biju Abdul

Hi @Frederic please put me in waiting list.

Hi @Emmanuel please can you put me in waiting list?

Thanks a lot @Ale Vallecchi for another wonderful drive today. Being at the sweep position was a different experience to me, though not sure if I did justice to it’s responsibility 😀. Thanks to @Brette for managing all refusals and recoveries 👏🏻👏🏻 so well, I had no stress at the back. @Ale Vallecchi you have showed your kindness so well today by spending so much energy and time on trying to save the Gazelle, despite the fact that what happened to it was a normal survival fights within wildlife. Special thanks to @Heisem for finding an option to report this to Dubai Muncipality. All of us could practice ridge crossing quite well today and I am sure that all of us could step up our skills on this very important skill today. Excited to hit the dune next week for more such challenges. I am uploading some pictures and the trip track video similar to what @Islam Soliman did.

Hi @Ale Vallecchi the recovery rope i have is not kinetic one and I don’t have soft shackles, thought of buying it from fewbie plus level. I am attaching the ones I currently have which is brand new and never had to open yet.😀. Hope it’s fine for the drive tomorrow and I hope to get the kinetic rope and soft shackles before the next drive.

Yes @Frederic it was a lovely drive “Insta-drive” I really enjoyed the technical dunes track we did, “ car in low pace but our brain in fast pace “ 😀 The Diff lock recovery boosted my already High pride of owning a FJ 😎😁 Overall it was a great drive with our captain @Frederic and a lovely convoy.

Hi @sertac check for Gaurav’s note in below topic.

I don’t have much knowledge about this Brand. Is it All Terrain? There was a post where Gaurav had listed tyre recommendations based on some facts, please check it out. My experience with Geolander G015 is satisfactory so far.

This means old promo is over. Still price sounds ok considering the authenticity. Hope they offer you free wheel alignment for 1st 10K and also free wheel rotation till warranty (check this). For an alternate pricing query, you may check online or enquire through https://www.myzdegree.com

Yes @Gaurav I recently got 4 Geolander G015 2019 Juma Al Majid for AED 1328 for my FJ. I got the last set from dec 2019 tyres but 2020 batch would cost higher. Anyways it’s worth checking with them for any running promo since I believe they are a strong distributor of Yokohama. Hi @andy_macdxb you can reach Richard at +971504660765 from Juma Al Majid Sharjah.

Hi @Emmanuel I did RSVP here by mistake, please ignore and you can remove me from the list. Sorry for that.

@Ale Vallecchi today’s drive was fantastic and the happy face of all of us at the exit point is the testimonial of the same I guess. Thank you so much for making us practice ridge crossing at safer dunes and especially with your live commentary, feels much more confident now to practice this further. Needless to say, the convoy management was very good today, thanks to @Chaitanya D @Rinelle Sanaani @Febin Frederic and I feel they share great sync in communication. @Ale Vallecchi overall this was my best drive so far and I would say this till I have the next best drive with you 😁😉 maybe next Friday ? 😉

Thank you @Asif Hussain. But I had confirmed to the workshop today for 10 mm aluminum skid plate and will get it installed tomorrow. Hope it’s fine too?

Thank you @topgear @sertac @Srikumar for the advice. A known workshop guy in sharjah suggested 10 mm aluminum (as opposed to steel for lesser weight) which protects the base more area than current base plate. The cost is 1200 aed including labour charges. I will go for it thanks.

Hi During my last Friday drive at Al Qudra, the base plate of my FJ 2013 model, got completely bent while recovering on reverse. I had to get it removed as fixing this back doesn’t seem to be a good idea now. I have shared pictures of the plate and the view from down now. My request for an expert advice is about 1) whether a similar base plate is advisable (keeping in mind that this was done by dealer themself for a few years of FJ models and not directly from Toyota)? 2) is it ok to continue off roading (mostly desert for now) without this plate? Picture shared with view of base. 3) is it required to have such extra protection, either another base plate of this kind or other types of skid plates available outside in the market (steel / aluminum) or its a nice to have stuff? I would appreciate guidance from my fellow Carnity members or our expert leaders please.

Hi @Tbone yes I managed to reach home with the bent guard plate holding on to two Nuts 😀. Thanks a lot to you, @Kalahari @Najeeb Mohammed @Jeandre Bezuidenhout @Shiju Manuel for the great support when in need. Hi @Ale Vallecchi it was a great start and your technical briefing and making us try sample ridge crossing was getting really exciting but unfortunately my car knocked me down in the middle. But I must say that the drive from that bowl to the exit point was really thrilling cause of the condition for survival that “no refusals and no room for reverse for me 😁”. Hope to join your convoy soon to learn more and practice.

Hi @Emmanuel I think I didn’t communicate it well. I was referring to briefing or small demo (on sand) about the general techniques similar to details and illustrations shared in Frederics article. I have seen some videos of this kind of briefing by some clubs, so thought it would be very helpful for all of us in any levels as we progress in learning. I have a YouTube video link for a reference but please let me know if I am allowed to share it here. Obviously this video is of time before covid, so it’s an open briefing with people closer than 2 meters distance 😀. Maybe a line up of convoy in cars with Our leader at our line of slight (demo on sand 😎) and the briefing on radio.

Hi @Frederic thank you for your response. I am in total agreement with you, I too enjoy smooth rides in the desert and enjoy nature and not a fan of stunts, though I am not judging those who enjoy it. By feeling the comfort level we are getting out of this knowledge (theory), can we think of getting some short briefing by Marshal about what we are planning to do in each drive? As we know that the theory really helps when you learn the same by practicing. I know the covid situation makes it challenging for an open briefing but maybe a line up of convoy in cars with Not Allowed at our line of slight (demo on sand 😎) and the briefing on radio. Just a suggestion because it would really help us to learn faster and safer.

Thanks a lot @Frederic for the excellent write up with illustrations. It helps a lot to understand these basic things for people like me who have no idea of these jargons of dune drives. Feeling more confident now to hit the dune in future with this awareness. That “half moon circle” Logic is really interesting way to keep in mind. May I also ask about dune bashing and how it’s done safely? Also we see many performing spinning of their cars in flat surface while taking fast turns and rounds. Are these done in 2WD or some other techniques?

Thank you @Nivin finally I got it done from Juma Al Majid sharjah same person Richard. It was the last 4 piece left with this price. Can’t wait till Friday to hit the dune with it. 😀

My tire size is P265/70R17, anyways I will check with them.

Thank you @sertac and @Nivin for the guidance. The price seems to be very good. I will reach out to them. Thank you very much.

Thank you @sertac hi @Nivin can you share the contact please? I would like to get it done before this Friday drive.

Thank you @Chaitanya D for the response. You must be right about the availability, two of the garages nearby have told me too that this mode is not available now. I am waiting to hear from one garage at Rashidiya too and if not available I will go for the AT Geolander G015. Thanks.

Hi @Gaurav I am currently using Maxxis (on road preferred) tyres since a few years and was planning to change tyres after a newbie drives. Just last week I am being promoted to Fewbie and was planning to post my query for a good tyres in our forum as suggested by @Emmanuel I am happy to read all these old posts about the same. I already had eyes on Yokohama geo lander after seeing @Srikumar and now more than convinced to go with Yokohama Geolander A/T-S I am not able to find a good party to buy and get it fixed and also get wheel alignment done. It would be great if any suggestion of a good one cost effective but who knows the stuff. I want to do this before this Friday drive. Suggestions welcome please.

Thanks a lot @Srikumar for a wonderful ride. Yes totally agree that we did a lot of side slopping this time and I guess almost everyone got so comfortable with it by now. It was a great experience to ride as second lead, I had to be so focused because I shouldn’t be judging the challenge in front of me by seeing how seamlessly you pass through it 😀