Niki

15 minutes ago, Gaurav said:

You mean to ask, how times he went for suspension.....!

@Niki might help answer part of it.

@Gaurav Lol 🤣 🤣

 @PaoloMaraziti I am proudly wearing @Ahab Shamaa shocks mentioned when this thread started .. these were the Fox 2.5” DSC external reservoir shocks!  I benefited from his heavy weight front end (talking about the car I promise!) .. his bumper, winch and lights passed the rated weight for the coil over fronts so Ahab did an Ahab, wasted no time and upgraded further! He now wears dual shock external bypass radflo setup.!  I’ll allow him to share his experience but what I can state - never seen him smile as much in his car than recently… jumping, climbing and looking even more menacing!

as for the Fox… I absolutely love these and the adjustability is legitimate and allows for an easy tarmac setting and then dialed up in a few seconds for the dunes.  Not planning for a change in bumper or a winch yet so see these as my long term companion.  Massive improvement vs my stock FJC! 
 

1 hour ago, PaoloMaraziti said:

Doesn't happen to you guys @JeromeFJ , @Niki, @Hisham Masaad ?

@PaoloMaraziti I do recognize the experience you mentioned about the car holding the gear longer than needed and forcing us down vs taking the full slope or climb. 

I did manage climbs okay in D, doing Iftar Bowl relatively straightforward in D however i found for climbs, momentum lost with bumps was the killer.  So better suspension helps, subtle left-right steering and also doing a first pass to find the bumps and second run to slow just before a bump and then floor it.  Flooring it on the approach for climbs doesn't always help as the moment you hit air or start the bouncing, you likely have lost the climb.  I do suspect being in manual will help me with larger climbs but haven't had that opportunity yet to experiment! 

For slide sloping - if you were further up the convoy (near the front) then it gave a better chance find a higher line and therefore able to run longer.  further back, even with good intentions to make it up higher on a dune, the previous cars tracks and the slipped sand made it difficult. and ridge riding mid dune i always accepted exiting earlier... i have felt the gear-hold experience a lot on these side slopes but am looking forward to AD dunes to keep practicing.

I have heard the Pedal Commander @Hisham Masaad - addresses the lag in our cars and potentially allowing a more controlled shifting.  I have also heard that feathering the throttle between 4-5k+ rpm can help keep you on a slope... but i have never tried this.

many congrats @GauravSoni - well deserved!!

@Janarthan what a treat!  Thanks for the challenging and fun drive!  Lengthy periods of radio silence tell of the challenge and concentration needed!  Learnt loads from you and @Foxtrot Oscar 🙏🏽 … felt like a student throughout!   
 

@TT_Dubai great to see you again and flawless SL.  @Abdul Rafay-S making these drives look effortless!  The convoy was superb throughout.. and the breaks to cool down the cars were welcome and in beautiful spots!  @Enrico Biscaro your drive report shows how self aware you are and humbling to see self reflection and learning published for all to benefit from!  Thankyou! 

@Hilal Sharafudeen  & @Gilbert Khalil your first FB and you both were flawless!  Text book self recoveries, such a positive and fun energy and cannot wait to join you all on a ride again soon.  

added a few pics to our gallery - Enrico love your landscape shots and I have been expirementimg with monochrome in the gallery.  

The one below reminds me of that feeling when your sibling dresses better and works out more than you! 

Perfect advice from @PaoloMaraziti 

when you look at the cars, the stock tires are Dunlop Grandtrek AT22 - these are highway tires and not Offroad even though they carry the AT label.  So don’t be put off if you see these on the car (or if the seller attempts to claim these are All Terrain tires).  Don’t change to genuine AT until you have driven a few times with stock tires - the leads when setting the convoy order do also consider your tires and position you to compensate.  

@Wrangeld @Ale Vallecchi and @Emmanuel (edited  ) are the infamous Marshals going everywhere in highway treads!! Showcasing skill/experience/control over mods is real! 
 

@Chinthaka Ruwanmany congrats indeed!! 🎉🎉

@Alain Canivet-Abikhalil many congrats and well deserved!! 🎉🎉

many congrats @Dodi Syahdar - what a great recognition and look forward to joining a drive with you again soon! 

Absolutely well deserved!!! Congrats @Alex Raptor !! we are a better convoy whenever you are part of it! 

24 minutes ago, Gaurav said:

Hahahah, I feel its Japanese "non" engineering design issue.

Never had this issue with German, UK and US brand of cars.

we Japanese car owners see this as 'features' that highlights our cars 'serviceability/repairability'  

thanks for all these tips guys.  @topgear also see this from the video i sent

 https://fr.aliexpress.com/item/1005002434786686.html?spm=a2g0o.cart.0.0.7c403c00TqqX7G&mp=1

Hi @Ale Vallecchi - can you pls add me to the waitlist for a 2nd drive 

18 hours ago, Mehmet Volga said:

Special callouts to our fresh fewbies @Adam James and @Jason Grima. Unbelievable performance at the tail of such a convoy! Bravo!

@Mehmet Volga you are absolutely right - I was able to watch over both from the back and knowing at the end this was actually there first full FB drive - even more impressive!  Every refusal was self recovered and I'll share some further feedback:

@Adam James initially you had a few minor refusals and what I could see, this was due to 'easing' off the throttle as you climbed to cross a dune (maybe you didn't want to carry to much speed once at the top which is natural) = Immediate lost momentum..  That said as the drive went on - not a single further refusal and i could see you really used the throttle further up each climb and easing off at the right time!  Throttle management practice for 4 hours is going to help you massively for your next drives.  (ps. stick to the FJ for these drives and keep your pinup defender for the overlanding  ... )

@Jason Grima due to the line you took and limited momentum climbing, it meant you couldn't make the ridge of a few dunes.  Perfect was how you stopped at the moment you felt you had missed the chance to make the ridge, not forcing your car up (the learnings from your first pop out).  this meant you never fishtailed, you had an easier self recovery option and no risk of a further pop-out.  To correct this, try and take a higher line up a dune you want to cross so as you approach the ridge, you have natural momentum to ride it and cross.  This is made harder further back in a convoy as tracks are churned however with a bit of extra momentum its def possible.  Don't change how you reacted as that's textbook!

Both of you will keep hearing the importance of 'momentum', 'throttle management', 'steering control' and 'lines to drive' - the drive yesterday was a 4 hour master class on building on these skills and you both were 'brilliant' .. 

On 8/29/2021 at 3:47 PM, topgear said:

I shall investigate further and update here if I discover anything new. I should check the left compartment where the stock jack is stored.

@topgear not sure if you resolved the rattling … I found this video that may be helpful if still investigating 

https://youtu.be/ptGmKzmkrtg

@Wrangeld that was a ‘Richards Greatest Hits’ drive …. All your signature moves - radio silent first third, surprise technical middle run and closing with a faster pace joy ride!  Combine that with the puns, dad jokes and tv references … you can officially tick all the boxes!  

super convoy, great support from @Mehmet Volga  and special kudos to @Alex Raptor as being a SL in the raptor, following richard with his mid-pun reroutes cannot have been easy!  
 

@Ale Vallecchi sadly I couldn’t secure time away to make this trip!  Have a great time out there and look forward to joining your lead again soon! 

@Islam Soliman I am in @Wrangeld convoy and he suggested maybe we meet up with you… if so I am very happy to get stuck, crested and beached to allow the GoTech group to shovel away!  #teamWork  

@Islam Soliman don’t be put off by the current turn out… I’ll be on your next one of these, that I promise and many of us love these type of drives and challenges! 

@Ale Vallecchi would it be possible to add me to the drive with confirmation tomorrow?  I am still trying to negotiate the calendar to join 🙏🏽

@Christopher Assal has a set of the new Michelin ATs on his SS.  Worthy addition to your list! 
 

I have read the AT3 4S may be slightly lighter than the G015s (do a quick check online for your size) - these two are seemingly the most popular in our club - I have the G015 and love them (off and on road).  Bead locks give that added security however are not essential - if you have the budget and/or want to change the look of your rims then why not… else hold out and enjoy the ATs on stock. 

Cannot leave a drive like this without a post-drive message! 

@Gaurav massive thanks for the trip!  You trying to 'down-sell' the drive didn't work for our sign ups but maybe some other groups read that, as it felt we had Iftar bowl as our playground for near 45 mins with minimal interruption!! 

Immensely grateful to @Brette and @Hisham Masaad as i can fully understand why this area is usually the domain of FB+/Int, so many potentially opportunities to split convoys and forced re-routes etc.  None of which happened today and much of that is to the quality and discipline of convoy but also these two in support!  

Amazing performance by everyone!  not a single driver (either 1, 2nd or more attempts) was left without concurring the bowls and i learnt so much watching you all and appreciate @Gaurav marshalling us to the top and down safely each and every time!! 

@munkybizness special shout out to you, having learnt after the ride the experience you had near 10 years ago!!! Even more impressive that you kept re-attempting each time taking the council of the leads and getting to the top! onwards and upwards for you now! 

The suspension test track for a few KMs was a brilliant end to a great morning and we were all envious of @James Thorn with his air suspension at that point!

hats off to all the drivers - I got a lot of confidence and learning watching you all as it has helped me out of my comfort zone (i have previously avoided drives with big climbs  ) 

I tried to get a few pics of each and every car  ( gallery ) at Iftar Bowl 

See you all on the dunes soon! 

Just now, munkybizness said:

Thanks @Niki - you were the critical catalyst 

🤜🏽🤛🏽 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. 

21 minutes ago, topgear said:

@Niki you are now being the devil to hold @Ahab Shamaa to the "happy spending" mantra 😆

 

Do any of the FJ-ers having rear door rattling issues ? 

I have been hearing some intermittent rattles from the rear. I have checked the suspension arms and what have you under the carriage and have cleared out my trunk to locate the source of sound. I deduced that it would be the tailgate door but still not 100% sure. Hence checking here for advice since some of you have mentioned that the lower hinge of the tailgate door is weak. As an FYI, except for the spare tyre (and flag pole), I do not mount anything on my tailgate door. 

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.