Thomas Varghese

kindly excuse me from the waitlist. My blood pressure is playing havoc and I think I need to give a break to off roading

I got the amplifier screwed down which was not as being a big amplifier if there are passengers sitting behind me then I have to push the amplifier to the front side to accommodate their legs. It was tight before and was not moving much but once after all the dune bashing and the battering it gets started to be loose and peep out from under the seat when we are going down the dune. All the rest is securely tied down. Made arrangements to detach the sub woofer and keep it home whenever I do off roading.

let the doctors come up with expert opinions @kolinrrj. @Tbone commented during his drive that if he doesn't do off roading his BP shoots up. The moment I reached home I checked and my BP levels were very down. I checked for 2 days now and its the same level.

Thanks @Chaitanya D. Sometimes I get distracted as many things are not secured properly inside my car and they keep flying around. The biggest trouble was my amplifier which was coming on to the brake from under my seat and troubling. It got fixed securely yesterday night. Now in the process of sorting out tow hook issue.

@Foxtrot Oscar I would like to waitlist and join the drive if anybody drops out and I get my tow hook issue sorted out by tomorrow.

Recovery of drivers not following tracks should be me when I went to check out on @Shehab Alawadhi's bridge situation and got perched up on a bush neither able to help him nor able to help myself. I couldn't help checking him out as I haven't seen a bridge situation in my life. As @Wrangeld advised me later that I should have left the car behind @Danish Mohammad and tried to walk up the steep dune to watch the spectacle sorry I couldn't do it. I can't stand for long time because of a varicose vein situation in my legs. Moreover I found out after @Tbone's drive that desert driving lowers hypertension and checked to find out that my diastolic pressure lingers at only 60 now whereas it was around the 90 to 95 mark as I'm a smoker and obese. I suppose these are real low levels and would like the doctors like @Mohamed Seidam or @Chaitanya D to comment about this phenomenon.

Don't worry. I will personally oversee the fabrication and fixing of the tow hooks. I'm a mechanical engineer even though I run an interior company. Moreover even for any work on my car I don't just dump the car in the garage and expect the mechanic to do the work. I personally supervise the whole job. I will take responsibility for the tow hooks. I know its a safety issue not only for me for others too. Hopefully all will like the job done. If I have to bring the car for inspection after fixing the tow hooks I can if location is given before joining another drive. Last time the tow rope slipped from the front tow hook as the original bend was slightly cut to accommodate the bash plate. We had done many recoveries in the past with the same tow hook after it was shaved a little. The rope slipped because of the angle the car had to be pulled out. To tell all of you the truth the only marshal who had commented on this tow hook issue after inspection is only @Chaitanya D for the back hooks. It was on my 1st drive with him and he said the back tow hook looks weak. The front tow hook was like this after I fixed the bash plate after my AN drive. There were numerous recoveries till now and the tow hook was good for all that. Now also it didn't break but the rope slipped out because of the angle of the pull. The same recovery point was used to pull me out from the stuck from a different angle and it worked.

I will post pictures of the fixed tow points by tomorrow afternoon. Today I can't fix it as got to drop and pick up my daughter for her 1st RTA road test. The tow points will be made out of 10mm steel plate and I have to give the car to the mechanic for atleast half a day as he has to drill the holes in the chassis for the 2 places where stock tow points don't come. Its not only the front tow hooks - the back one is also bent. So totally replacing the stock ones and adding 2 more.

In the stock front tow point of the XTERRA there is a place where the hook bend inwards. He promptly cut the bend to accommodate the bash plate. Anyways I have ordered 4 new tow points yesterday (front & back) and is getting fabricated today to be fixed. The back stock tow point also got bent and twisted after all the battering it took in the sands.

already getting fabricated. should be fixing it tomorrow. The bash plate fabricator had to cut the front hook slightly to accommodate the plate. Anyways the hook didn't break but the rope came loose as the hook length was small. We recovered again using the same hook only

I hope @Rob Harper got his exhaust jack patched up. That is one tool which is very handy in the desert. @syed salman raza has one too but didn't see it in action. I felt sad when he got the jack balloon punctured during the recovery. I think he needs extra protection to prevent future punctures in the jack like covering it with a woolen blanket. If it cannot be repaired I'm ready to share the cost of replacing it. He was a good Samaritan and I really appreciate how he offered the tool for the good of all. These small gestures imprint the character of a man who he comes into contact with. @Rob Harper is the man. I can never forget your kindness @Rob Harper without expecting any reward and its not fair you has to bear the cost.

@Anvar Sadath Bekal did you clean up the tire which popped out? @Tbone must have had lot of experience with pop outs himself as what he advised was true. I removed the tire which popped out and out came a handful of sand from inside and sticking on to the bead as well. After removing the tire from the rim I got it rinsed with water and the drive was so smooth thereafter. Hopefully this will stop further pop outs from that tire.

I like these pictures @Anvar Sadath Bekal

My finger is already on the trigger button to shoot for the RSVP.

My AN drive was only on Dec 11.

@Lakshmi Narasimhan I warned you this sport is highly addictive. Once you get past the fear of damaging your precious transport you will not stop and cannot stop. You will never get satisfied with the number of drives you had and will thirst for more and more. The only problem is this is a collective sport as you cannot venture out alone. Very soon your family will get tired of this and start making fun of you and gets sarcastic when you start loosening up your wallet for mods and gadgets you feel you will want to have to enjoy the sport.

I have seen a trail going past the RAK The Ritz Carlton Wadi resort and always wanted to explore there. Any marshal's in @Carnity have plans to organize a drive in that area? I suppose it should be a full day drive considering the distance. I probably went a km into that trail in 2020 June and backtracked as the road was going on an on into no idea where and was afraid I might get lost as I have no navigational skills.

This place looks like its near my office at business bay @Ale Vallecchi. Is it possible to venture out alone here and manage to get out. If yes I would be certainly there today.