Coming back here as being inspired by the Molle solutions, I had a local fabricator copy an online set of baskets I had seen, with thick enough aluminum to secure items in the future and use the space above the wheel wells more effectively.   

Just sharing here as this thread had a lot of contributors plus inspiration for me and will set up a mirror of this on the FJ forum as hijacking the ‘X’ forum, though fun, isn’t fair  

 @Watteau the garmin ordered for the family car (thank you for this recommendation… perfect product for that daily driver).

@Goutamthe Mai70 ordered for the desert car  … ideal companion for the dunes and weekend use! 

2 minutes ago, Goutam said:

Mai 70 has inbuilt battery and records while parked. I have connected it to the cigarette lighter so it records for sometime before switching off, but if it connected to the mains then it will continue to record. 
I should have said I use the footage for the videos but it is a normal dash can only. it has good night recording capabilities.

See some online reviews on it before you decide. If you want to test I have a spare one as well. 

Many thanks again @Goutam!! Went straight to amazon and it seems a great fit! They have the hard wired kit as mentioned and ticks all the boxes!  Will try and find the combination with front and back recording… thank you again!  Super helpful knowing a real world experience!  Also really kind of you offer to loan the spare unit! I will not need to take you up on that offer but it’s hugely appreciated 

Many thanks @Goutam.  I am actually looking for the family car (not Offroad.. however now you have me thinking about both 😱🤣😳) 

let me look up the Mai dashcam.  I wanted one that would have a very wide recording angle and offer battery saving (prevent discharge) and accident detection so would trigger a recording if it noticed a potential accident) .. had an incident before ramadan with Valet parking and a few close calls recently so thinking it’s about time. 

@Hisham Masaad if you need any support transporting/delivering these - i am happy to pick a batch up and deliver to those I am on a drive with next weekend (assuming we are not on the same  ) 0551092859

Again massive thanks for this generous offer (not just the timber but the fact you sacrifice your weekend cutting/prepping these for the rest of us!!  

@Frederic late THANKYOU ... really appreciate you making the time to lead these trips for us!  I really enjoyed the evening and was so much fun just hanging out in such a spot ... add to that a stunning moon and a lot more learnt.... another perfect "Lens Lovers Club" evening.  

Looking forward to the next one! 

@Hisham Masaad @PaoloMaraziti I purchased a Dometic Fridge that I have set in the middle seat at the back.  It’s easily accessible from the front however I do have disproportionally long arms?

It’s designed to be held down by the seat belt and stays nicely in place having driven with it for 4 drives now.   It doesn’t cool heavily and my experince is endure the drinks are already cold … then the fridge works great keeping it that way! (Maintains -20 vs interior temp)

I have seen online someone install a Prada Centre console fridge but I felt it looked too large and may get in the way when driving (elbows). 

@Lorenzo Candelpergher @Ale Vallecchi you make a great partnership!  
 

Lorenzo you challenged us all and I tip my hat and fully compliment plus admire how those at the back end of the convoy managed as the tracks worsened!  
 

I usually consider the SL role the best seat in the house however on this drive it was likely a very challenging role and kudos to @Arman … as you mentioned he was flawless … and fast as @imranaasghar81 will attest
 

this was a stunning drive visually, though we didn’t get to admire the views for too long.  The occasional breaks were very welcome.  The distance covered and pace doesn’t reflect the joy of this route!  
 

#1 pls do partner again and schedule part 2 of the drive

#2 pls do consider not making it an ‘extreme’ (that’s a selfish ask I know) 

#3 make this a permanent addition to the carnity roster/routes 

I have added a few pics to the gallery. 
 

great to be amongst old and new friends on this drive and look forward to many more

@Hisham Masaad please do keep one aside for me  thankyou. 
 

@Russ you likely know or have noticed there really isn’t an open market here and as such not a competitive market.  There a single firm that sells each car brand and zero competition at the forecourts.  

Same plays out for supplying mods/gear.  The benefit of this is that the price of the item (compressor,etc) will likely be identical no matter where you get it installed so you just have to find a workshop you trust.  
 

For ARB, they also have set up direct presence in the UAE, they have a small shop front in international city and zero website presence… join them on Instagram to see their deals and pricing (they did some great promo’s for their fridge line up!)

below is the compressor of choice amongst this time sensitive, privileged, sun-shy, mod hungry bunch!! And the ARB add on to allow Bluetooth and mobile setting of PSI. 
 

9 minutes ago, Islam Soliman said:

Not just @Watteau; Now I have 4 names already targeted 🤣🤣

assume you are referring to the following @Islam Soliman? 🍻

#1 @Ahab Shamaa

#2 @Watteau

#3 @Hisham Masaad

#4 @Lorenzo Candelpergher for starting this

Waitlist #1 @Frederic 

Many congrats @Sunil Mathew 🎉

6 minutes ago, MUHAMMAD Kashif RAZZAQ said:

@Wrangeld I will be available as a support member if needed, though I won’t be driving, rather I’d be a passenger 😂

@Abdul Rafay-S this is the moment to get a little payback and insist you dad this time ‘move into low gear’ if he is tiring walking up the dunes and shoveling  

#fatherSonGoals!  Cannot wait to have this moment with my lad!  Have fun and be gentle on your dads car! 🙏🏽

21 minutes ago, Pacific said:

Missed the drive @Ale Vallecchi  ,but whatever happens for good,  the drive shaft was damaged ,will get back tomorrow and ready to in dunes soon. Thank you. 

Am so glad you are not out for too long @Pacific and also a shout out/kudos to  @Watteau for insisting we check back with you on the noise early on in the drive … much better exiting early I suspect!  You did miss an awesome trip but I see a trilogy in the making for this route so hope to see you out there soon!  

Many congrats @Wade Pat2 🎉

Many congrats @Abdul Rahman AK 🎉

Hi 

Does any member have experience and recommendations for a Dash Cam.  I am looking into option for the daily driver, providing a front and rear recording.  Currently lost in the Amazon.ae options and would value any real world experiences and recommendations 

thanks 

Thank you @Ale Vallecchi for bringing us back to the savannas of RAK. This was no remake, it felt like a true sequel and a completely new drive.  This was far more intensive a drive than the original newbie trip which had no ridge riding and a path which didn't deviate from the tracks of the locals.

I enjoyed this trip for completely differing reasons than the original (the original was the most scenic drive I have been on to-date) with this drive feeling like we were adventuring/exploring the region and master ridge riding on forgiving (not to tall and relatively flat) but bumpy and difficult long range dunes.  

I truly wish we started with the mountain side so the folks that had to leave early could experience the magic of the region.. it felt like the ultimate finale/happy ending for a drive and still my favorite location of any drive!  Massive thanks again @Ale Vallecchi for scouting this region and taking us there again.... I would sign up instantly if we could visit that side for a full drive - being on tall dunes that become mountains, driving towards mountains landscapes,  soft and virgin sand and the incredible slip faces to play... those final 30-40 mins were my highlight and I only wish we could spend a few more hours there!

I took 'look for a tree for shade' too the extreme and ended up near the end of the dirt track so didn't get to say my farewell to the convoy - the group were amazing and I managed to get some pics of your slip face antics on the gallery.  

To close - this was the first ride where I experience the 'Holy Trinity'  in one convoy!! 😃🙏

1. FJC (stock FJ Cruiser) 
2. FJX (FJ eXtreme) 
3. FJA (FJ Adventure X)  

#savannas

 

#HolyTrinity

#greatTiming! 

Todays attempt using the same setup ISO 100 | F/11 | 1/125 | 200mm | Nikon D3300

Below was a heavy crop but as you said @Frederic, there was plenty resolution/pixels to still make it work out ok. 

🤦🏽‍♂️ That taught me  you are not enquiring about driving in low range… you looking for guidance on the locked diff option!  I should not have replied lol…. You did ask for experts (apologies Lakshmi)!  Though I have now learnt Pajero Offroad gear options!! 

@Lakshmi Narasimhan here is how Toyota guides on the use of Low Range (a bit more conservative than Mitsubishi) 

1 minute ago, Frederic said:

Nice ! Your Nikon has 24MP you can probably crop it a bit more without losing too many pixels. 
 

My zoom lens is budget too, the Sigma 70-300 is probably my least loved lens as it has no O.I.S so it’s basically useless unless you put it on a tripod and use the 10 seconds delay timer to avoid the camera lens from shaking when i push the release.

Good point!! The pic I attached was cropped in approx 25% already but I think I can go further!  And telephoto lens without stabilization…. Thanks for this reminder, I’ll try and find one which is stabilized so that it can get used a lot more (or happily use the 200mm)