Niki

@Srikumar 🤣😂 I am counting down the days as that feel like a statement said to a ‘free’ man!

Hey @Ahab Shamaa ... @Ale Vallecchi actually is first on my Xmas list. I think I was the definition of a total newbie, I had no experience even airing down my tires and he, with no judgement just made it so easy from me! As a first interaction with a group I lucked out having him there to help! If he’s a whiskey man I also may need to x2 the order for sure. Now adding you and @Najeeb Mohammed I may move to date Champaign instead to ensure I have some aed left to buy the kids something Cannot wait to join you on a drive @Ahab Shamaa don’t rush to the new level!! If you able to could you also share details of where you picked up your set of tires on our FJ forum (the thread I followed with yourself and Gaurav was intentionally cryptic I know ) also I clearly don’t know much... holding the traction control switch turned traction control and vsc offf (not abs) and I suspect it was the vsc kicking in that I heard (not abs!) you were right ... just read the manual. My car the airbag light stays on permanent ... not sure if that’s by design as when buying they added a few Offroad dealer fitted stuff (dual fuel tank, compressor, flag pole and flag bracket).. maybe they disabled the airbags knowing the intended use? Again I am learning from absolute basics so will double check with the dealership over the week! for the TPMS I plan to ask them to remove and place a standard valve in its place ... didn’t get to play with the fuses this evening so will also give that a try! thank you for the welcome and constant support! Never met before but the support is that of friends on this group! Grateful 🙏🏽 I’ve seen some more drives just posted so better let the wife down again and get myself booked for next Friday!

Another great tip! Will try that this evening. The calorie burning may explain why your shovel was so heavy!! I had to use 2 hands to move it 😂 ... to be a good citizen the next trip we do together I will be sure to keep the Dunlop’s on

@Gaurav thank you 🙏🏽 awesome advice spanning near a decade is incredibly helpful. The current tires are only a month old so I will look to sell them on as may still attract interest and are flawless... ease the pocket when moving to rapidly upgrade to Yokohama G015. as we have another car as the daily driver I am less concerned about road noise so will invest in the Yokohama - I searched briefly and see you had this conversation in a previous thread where you also gave some tips on suppliers (rough location in Sharjah) so I will follow those .. again thank you - the whiskeys I owe you are mounting up ... I may just send you a bottle in advance

@Rahimdad really nice of you ... so happy to get through the absolute newbie session and it was a blast !! the bug bit me some time back and if it were not for covid I would likely have started earlier in the year... the intro session just reinforced the interest and cannot wait to make it a true hobby! Some negotiations at home are the current biggest challenges (tougher than a pop out). your advise was spot on ... holding the switch made the two lights come on and so feel a little silly but am glad I asked and grateful of this community to respond so quick and patiently... I will for sure look to pass any learnings on to the next set of newbies! Ps I am not competent OCD but the wife is and though this is not the main driver, likely every time she will get in there (trying to keep limits on that) I know it will be a conversation topic that doesn’t end well for me. @Asif Hussain do let me know your solution / experience. At present I am contemplating just disabling it permanently vs maintaining the sensors. Having a gauge and air compressor, I find I may have enough to manage without (did so with the previous car). looking forward to having an experience like @Atif had after learning the magic of that button. look forward to future drives with you all

Many thanks 🙏🏽 (again) @Gaurav. My mechanical/technical skills are clearly not a strength (also removed from my profile 🤣). Just holding it down a few seconds did the trick and disables both traction control and ABS. I was actually thinking to disable/remove the TPMS ... for 10 years I’ve not had it on another car and relied on visual inspection and ride to make sure was safe to drive so feel would easily work just as well ... and now owning a compressor and gauge .. well I almost fee the TPMS is a distraction. look forward to seeing you again very soon, hopeful the morning rides with coffees or evening with bbq open up again soon and I’ll exchange details next time so I can get join you for the whisky promised

<<edit - I realize I will not qualify for the drive as I will not hit 3 drives by 27th ... look forward to the next one. Please feel free to remove me from any wit list to bump up others. >> thanks Hi, can I be added to the wait list! Thanks

@Gaurav 3 years on from this post, would you still say this holds true regarding recommendations! And I am lol reading about my stock Dunlop’s making it to the bottom of the list I was tempted to run the tires I have for a reasonable period (through Newbie levels) and then invest in an upgrade as my first spend... however my recent experience makes me feel it may be wise to change earlier vs later!? Opinions welcome!

Hi again my first and last trip as an absolute newbie is over! Couple of asks to this community to help ready for future drives 1. reducing the tire pressure for the ride, having a pop out (likely due to my clumsy maneuvering) and then the subsequent tire cleaned out, the Tire pressure monitoring sensor (TPMS) broke and I now have a permanent warning light on the dash (all 5 wheels are monitored so even if I switch out with the spare this error remains). ask: do I simply ignore the dash error or should I plan to remove the sensors and have regular valves installed? Would this enable deflation safely to a lower value (as no devices sitting inside the tire?) 2. ABS kept kicking in on the first drive ... it’s not a pleasant sound but didn’t limit my driving as I was on a beginner level. Ask - does the ABS kicking in have an impact on the car so I should arrange a kill switch to protect the brakes /mechanical side. Or can I just keep going at this beginner level as it’s just an inconvenience vs a longer term problem ps. Showcasing how basic my mechanical knowledge is ... the car included a skid plate so my previous post was not acted upon! Learnt this as the pop out was being fixed by hero @Ale Vallecchi and @Gaurav Thanks again community... niki

@Gaurav @Ale Vallecchi thank you both for a memorable first desert driving experience! I would definitely have preferred not to experience a pop out on my first drive however learnt so much from that experience!... all it may have cost me is a bottle of whisky! 🥃 I am truly grateful for having you both there for that moment! Thankyou from the baby FJ toy car all the way to the radio chatter about bbq - what a fun group this was to be a part of! excited to take the next step and be just a ‘newbie’.. learnt a lot about my car and it’s tires 🤦🏽‍♂️ ... felt in such safe hands under the guidance and support of Ale and Gaurav! have added a few pics from the morning and to the rest of the gang-I apologize again for delaying your experience but it at the least allowed a few of us to get to know each other 😃

@Frederic i should have remember it was your thread! thank you for all the support you and the senior members provide to us newbies.... cannot express how easy you make this process for folks who are doing these things for the first time - all while you have a day job, family, a drive to enjoy yourself etc!

Excited to join my first drive! Went through the videos last week and the FJ has an inbuilt compressor and a flag pole plus bracket (screw hole on the roof) set up as I suspect desert season stock when I bought it I have a radio ready and charged.. will tune in the frequency soon! maybe you can tell I am little excited ... 10 years here and finally I will get to experience the real dubai (a small intro I know). I have the 5aed valve removal tool (though I paid 15aed in Ace so feel like I got the expat tax ) ... have a pressure gauge and finally have already set my alarm as that may be the hardest part for me! see you all on Friday and good luck those taking the trip to dragon mart ... though in the guide in this forum I think someone shared the location of the store!

Thank you everyone for the advice! I being new to Toyota and FJs are learning all about the massive choices in independent garages out here! With my previous Land Rover experience, general garages were a mistake and finding a specialist made all the difference. Apologies admins as I now know the rules on promoting product/garage and appreciate this as it ensures genuine discussions. I have all I need with regards advice ... and will now explore Al Quoz and beyond 😂 to learn about the options available for me! Wish me luck and see you on the dunes soon I hope!

@Ahab Shamaa many thanks and if you could share the place you got your work done I will drop by as it seems a more suitable option. The 900aed option was an AOR branded skid plate set so was very tempting (brand and price) but having a custom made thicker and potentially lighter version is a no brainer. Thank you all above and below who replied with experience and guidance! Helping a newbie like me massively and a testament to this forum and community! Hope in the future I can offer support to others like I have received already!

Thank you @Chaitanya D ... the 8mm advice is taken and I will be looking to find suppliers in Dubai over the coming week. Peace of mind is almost priceless when I think about the alternative as you mentioned.

@Brette many thanks ... first time shopping for skid plates so I am currently going to the well ‘marketed’ spots... will shop around a bit more and good to know it can be done for 1k! Appreciate the quick response and reality check that risk is there no matter driving style

Hi all, As I get ready to joint the newbie session and pick up the recovery gear, radios etc. I came across this offer for 4mm skid plate full (front, mid and tank), 900aed fitted. I am struggling to confirm if 4mm is enough protections. The offer is great and I know I am not planning any extreme trips or driving to the limits so am keen for advise. thanks again all. Posting again to ensure I follow the rules (apologies admins)

Many thanks and I am waiting for Sunday to register on the newbie first and then get in as many weekly rides as I can. Really look forward to meeting you on the dunes and again appreciate the welcome!

Hey Ahab! Thank you so much for this welcome and guidance.. exactly what I needed. Love that FJ forum community and so happy to have found this group for fellow UAE owners. mines also a daily driver and weekend toy (once I complete the 1k miles running in ) I’ll prioritize going through the forum vids etc as recommended. I played with 4high at the hidden beach ... I’ll look to find a safe place to practice low and atrac ... amazing to hear how effective it can be in the dessert. I hope we get to join a drive together soon.. once I get confident and through the intros. lots to learn from this forum so will keep myself busy today

Hi all Am a new member and recently purchased a new 2021 spec FJ cruiser that I am desperately trying to get through the 1k miles run in period excited to join the beginner sessions and would welcome fellow FJ owners recommendations/guidance/warnings. I am keen to ‘explore’ the desert vs dune bashing or extreme off-roading... looking forward to start my journey with you all. thanks niki