Niki

🤜🏽🤛🏽 I really love spending other people’s money …. I think it’s a no regret investment and so glad you enjoying it already!

@munkybizness many congrats on the upgrade! that's a superb setup and no time wasted from discussion->install!

welcome @Felix Obst. I am naturally an apprehensive driver (not into extreme sports or challenges, with it taking me 10years of living in Dubai to take up this hobby) and what I valued most about Carnity's approach and specifically their marshals', there is never any pressure to perform a climb if not comfortable! I have sat out the 'fun' whilst others have had their time doing these climbs and only attempted when I have a sense of confidence! So as you join the club, you take your time building your confidence back and know there is no judgement or expectation other than that which you want to put on yourself. @Gaurav mentioned the laws of nature ... i will add what is also expected is that you must leave ego's at home ! no matter your car, your previous history off road, your Carnity rank - everyone can get stuck (so help out and be patient) and never to push or demand of others what you can or want to do in your car! It is humbling being part of convoys where our most experience drivers join newbie/fewbie rides just to support ... with Marshalls spending more time with shovels than driving to support and educate! Look forward to joining a drive with you soon and have fun as you restart this hobby!

@Roger K no worries and that is 100% the right move. even if you isolate and repair, the car will be a far easier sale when you are ready for that (and just put it up on a Land Rover Facebook group as it will sell instanstly and you will secure a lot move vs private/dubizzle. Don't give up the sand driving dream just yet - i know its not 'throw away' money, however there is a Marshal's car on sale who is sadly leaving the country. He has looked after it as if new and will get you through the year with close to zero cost (hopefully) and when you come to sell it on will be far easier than the LR3 also!. This doesn't happen often so hopefully it could be an option.

Like Alex mentioned it maybe something simple. For me I had a rattle and it ended up being the stock jack and tools plus the built in hose for the compressor rattling around gently … so an annoying sound but not very loud. A short strip of Velcro for the tools worked a charm and I used some non slip rubber mats to line where the air hose sits and that has removed all the rattle.

@Russ you are always asking the right questions! we should finally set up that 'show and tell' thread were we can have our set ups paraded! cannot wait for @Alex Raptor to finish his setup and @PaoloMaraziti and @Hisham Masaad to magic up some solutions for the FJ. @PaoloMaraziti an alternative to the big bag was the following i found from Smitybilt . i ended up cancelling my order as due to covid, it was taking 3 months ... but a duffel/bag setup anchored in the trunk is a smart option. i feel like @Ahab Shamaa hasn't bought something new in a while... look forward to being corrected.

happy birthday @Kailas - i have heard those born in August are the most able and skilled off-roaders ... amongst many other qualities. have a great day celebrating 🍻

@Wrangeldthanks….. again! Long periods of radio silence, free flowing convoy and a drive led with humor and supportive throughout! This is now your ‘signature’ … I think it’s time we replace Mr.Technical …. Suggestions welcome and the best title will win a prize was a pleasure to be part of this convoy - @Alex Raptor flawless again in CF supporting all and I even got a turn to have a tug! @Alain Canivet-Abikhalil SL duties again for you and yet again, perfectly managed! @munkybizness I think you are being hard on yourself… near 4 hours with one rope and a few reattempts .. considering the soft sand and being at the tail end - I’d say a strong drive and as you’ve already called out .. an opportunity to build on our skill with the throttle and steering controls. @Pierre de Maigret right at the back with soft difficult tracks and you running the stock FJ tires! I salute you in how you drove… also getting to see the magic of A-trac was well worth the mini crest! Consider that when/if you move to true AT tires - your may find driving too easy! @Christopher Assal was a pleasure being on a drive with you again… even though you seemingly got dressed in the dark and accidentally picked up your wife’s bright pink leggings/socks - they should become your go-to desert driving gear as you were immense! thanks for the support with the limited stucks we had. @Abdul Rafay-S at your age I hadn’t even mastered parallel parking and here you are effortlessly managing a fewbie! I genuinely thought your dad was driving and there is no bigger compliment than that! @S Jacob @Ehab @Damien Ranjit - look forward to a being on a convoy with you all again soon!

@Roger K I got rid of my LR4 last year having spent a fortune on the AC which still struggled after 1000’s spent. And numerous times having the air suspension / compressor changed (2 x airbag and 1x compressor). The AC was the biggest issue for me… replaced everything that could be replaced and it still struggled >40degrees. There is a very old thread in this forum that walks you through how to diagnose the suspension issue and in many cases can help you identify a relatively affordable fix… the problem is not a single garage will offer that or worse still fix the small issue but charge you for a full replacement. I went through the dealership then 3 LR4 specialists and suspension was a rip out and replace option each time. I had the car for near a decade and do miss it as there is much to love however… if you plan to get rid of it next year are you sure you want to pour in a lot of money now then likely harm it further in the dunes and have to spend more next year prior to selling. if you have an option to sell it now - pick up a less desirable Pajero (also 7 seater)… throw it around the dunes and sell it next year for likely a loss similar to or less than a suspension and AC repair for an LR4! (Not very helpful I know but I decided to get rid of my beloved LR4 and miss the car but not for driving in the dessert … I am forever grateful I didn’t keep it for the Offroad driving which was the original plan!) I have not found a single LR specialist in Dubai I would recommend as affordable/fair price … there are some that I consider professional and did revisit post warranty/service pack- happy to share their details 0551092859 summary - I would recommend a repair on your car for it to be an everyday cruiser but not to then take it to the dessert for off-roading … if the final year you want to enjoy on and Offroad- bite the bullet, get rid of it now and pick up a Pajero (if you need 7 seats) or an xterra if not (many options for a sensible price now and likely easy to offload next year). I nearly went the coil suspension route just to bring the car to the desert but know the electronics will limit you (traction control etc) and the knowledge that a single small issue will likely wipe out the value of a 13 year old car! Again sorry that’s not super helpful in relation to your actual ask- but as a fellow LR4 owner, loving owner from new .. with a desire to drive Offroad.. just wanted to share my choices and rationale

Hey @imranaasghar81check out this topic posted by Fred on the Gaia app

wow - you will genuinely make the most of this investment knowing you are holding a library in true lossless quality. The ground Zero Amp with DSP is awesome and i just wish i went that route (it wasn't available in the store so guess what - they didn't even mention it as an option). Ground Zero was sourced locally (drop me a whatsapp and i'll share the supplier 0551092859). That said, it is painfully obvious in the UAE you only get advice and info on what they have ready to sell you... so this store is back to holding Rockford and Hertz so are pushing that (all are great however reinforces the value of you doing your own research!) My opinion - please wait for the headunit that you genuinely want... even if its 6 months on the stock feeding the amp etc... its better to just get it right vs changing multiple times or having any regrets, especially seeing the care you take to go lossless and research the right setup. @Frederic is genuinely the audio guru with competition grade setups in his youth so once he's back from holidays def catch some time with him to go through specs/designs. ps. for my sins i was a student in the late 90s so trance and apache indian is in my library but i can longer move as fast so tastes have changed to match my pace!

@topgear I purchased the H4 size pro5000 there is an even brighter set, the pro9000k however I couldn’t find out if these are street legal in UAE so didn’t gamble. If they are, these would be a better option. 100% you will benefit from these when doing a night drive … all the advice given by the marshalls was spot on, in that if you are mid convoy you really don’t need additional lights … bumping up the weak stock headlights works perfect!

Thanks @Gaurav for bringing me into this conversation…. I now have stereo envy … Hey @munkybizness I have to say you are making the best first mods … audio! We spend longer on tarmac than the dunes and being able to enjoy our music makes every journey better! Apache Indian and trance music… I am personally grateful I am not your passenger 🤣 but that’s for a different thread (the Spotify play list discussion). I went the path of Ground Zero products (speakers and amp). These are not in the same pedigree of Hertz … and that’s why I have envy! You have put together a great set of options and the fact you have a sensible budget for sound deadening is testimony to good research! The y61 is basic by design and the sound deadening is critical! I decided against a subwoofer even though I love bass! So I went with the largest mid range component set up that would fit the door so put in 8” in the fronts and was only able to fit 4” in the rear! If you likewise will not have a sub, do consider sizing a pair of your speakers slightly larger to offer a nice level of bass. Also a 4 channel amp is ideal as if you add a sub later on a seperate amp is easy and recommended. a seperate GPS module is potentially overkill but not an expensive add and I have one in the FJ! That said I use the phone via CarPlay to run Gaia and never have lost signal … I don’t use it to navigate yet as am just following the car in front and blindly trust the marshalls 🤣 .. so if you are genuinely navigating yourself then I would add the gps module from garmin! Headunits, I wouldn’t have previously classed pioneer above alpine/kenwood/Sony for headunits .. I have typically considered them equals. However I didn’t spend time researching actual headunit as stuck with the built in unit (not out of choice). Wireless Apple CarPlay is desirable but if not an option a 500aed add on achieves the same (avoid Amazon options and I will share details if you need that later). I would avoid a headunit that project out of the dash for exactly what @Gaurav warned about - sand etc! When the weather improves and we drive with the window down, sand will get everywhere and it’s impact is real to our electronics etc.. I like your midrange option above- top end is wasted for our desert cruisers in my opinion. If you consider a larger component setup for the fronts to bring you a decent amount of bass without a sub! You have an enviable setup! As for lights … I personally decided to wait even longer and just changed the weak standard bulbs to some high powered philips ones and get a decent spread when in the middle of the convoy! I sneak in behind or in front of @Alex Raptor or @Lakshmi Narasimhan in any convoy and you are not short of light pollution … they both throw out 20-30k of lumins for fun!

Wooohhooo @MUHAMMAD Kashif RAZZAQ !!! Many congrats and super happy for you! 🎉🎉

Many congrats @Rizwanm2 🥂🥂

Hi all, I have added a selection of the pics to the gallery I took at the bowl/playground where we had Islam’s radiator troubles. Not all of us played so apologies for only getting shots of the few that did have fun! @Islam Soliman thankyou for sharing your experience and very happy to hear the radiator is fixed within a day of the issue! my fav is the one below.. what a fun drive and next time I will give these climbs a try… inspired by you all!