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Rob S

Enthusiast
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Posts posted by Rob S

  1. @Islam Soliman’s drives are always great! Thanks again for leading us in the sands. 

    As we skipped the technical section and headed to the long range dunes i was wondering if Islam was feeling okay! But, he saved that suprise for the end and made sure the convoy at opportunity to practice shoveling!

    well done to @Paul Zietsman and @Zubair and great to meet some new and old faces in the mixed convoy!

     

    • Thanks (+1) 1
    • Haha (+1) 2
  2. Thanks @JeromeFJ for another great morning on the sands! Well done to @Haitham Khattab in SL and @Richard Franks in sweep! Also special mention for @Waqas Parvez for his guidance from towards the back of the convoy!

    rest of the convoy drove superbly with limited refusals. Well done. Was also great to see some old faces and new! 
     

    Only managed 2 pictures, but they are great even if i do say so myself 😂

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  3. 2 minutes ago, Thomas Varghese said:

    I have to disagree with you on light mods dear @Rob S. They may seem essential when you drive in places too dark at night but from my experience when you add additional lights you need to provide a better power source to power them up. The OEM alternator doesn't have that much power to supply the discharge from the battery when you switch them on. Getting a higher rated AH battery is not going to help you when you switch on the aux lights for long. Very soon the battery will tell you it doesn't have the 12V to keep your car running ok. This is an area where no one has dwelled into. As @munkybizness said even adding an amp and running it demands more power from the alternator you have to consider this when adding additional lights. Sadly higher rated alternators are not available in local market. Even if you find one there are additional mods to be made when you fix that alternator. As is the case with every mods you need to research and study how its going to impact the systems in your car when you veer off from OEM specifications and then implement it. Otherwise you will find yourself using a jumper cable to start your car once you stop it.  

    The point about power source is 100% correct. In a light-hearted way, I am winding @munkybizness up. I say they are too big and too much of an improvement he needs to move them from augmented change to modification :) 

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  4. Where do I start with a reply on this one @munkybizness! and how do I keep a reply short . . . let me try!

    Part of the joy in being in a "car" club and seeing members every few weeks is to see how they have individually adapted/modified/personalized their "pride and joy". I smile when you say stock, because every time I join you on a drive a notice something a little different about your car :)  . . . . . . I like your description and split of modifications but I am going to politely disagree with you on the subject of those monster front lights! I've seen them in the light and the dark, definitely not an augmentation, definitely a significant change and modification :) haha

    For me I look at anything as a change from "stock" as a modification (a bit like the UK insurance firms do!), and put these into 3 (though I sub-divide 1 into to parts). Need, Want, and Waste. its also important to note that it also depends on how much of a dedicated off road vehicle you have, and what you bought before you got the bug!

    1. Need - if you have a car with 4 low and decent HP then there are only 3 (edited 4) things that falls into the category. Decent flag Mount, so you cant attach a proper flag! BashPlate to save the radiator / bumper and for those with newer 4x4s that follow the trend for bigger wheels and lower profile tyres, Some new Rims and Larger profile tyres. (edited - 4th, decent tow hooks if you dont have.)

    2.a Want (sensible) - For confidence and/or less hassle. A/T Tyres with bigger profile if you own an older car, Auxiliary fan for transmission cooler in the summer if you car is susceptible. Kill switch for ABS / traction control. The Bumper cut I did on my prado was the single best thing I did. I no longer caught the bumper edges and it stopped my hesitation and over cautious driving. Along with the bashplate this change gave me much confidence and completely transformed how I enjoyed my time in the desert. Ive ended up fitting a Snorkel because I'm fed up of vacuuming out the airbox every weekend in the middle of the apartment parking!

    2.b Want (less sensible)- To make time in the desert more enjoyable, or just for fun, or maybe just for looks, or because you have always wanted it! Some of us always wanted to have that loud exhaust, that remap, those fancy lights, the Wide wheel track, the lifted jeep. Many of us in UAE are here for a defined or limited period, the cost of modifications and labour, along with insurance rules mean for many of us this is the only time and place to do it! 

    3. Waste - For those new to the desert and 4x4 life, this list will depend on where you sit on the above. Reserved for Mods that are likely to make our cars worse. . . . . Lift springs without matched damper on a car with sufficient ground clearances, or maybe Beadlocks wheels, maybe a pedal commander, Open "oil based" air filter kit. 

    PS - I was never going to be in the "1. Need" camp and moved quickly to "2.a Want (sensible)" and now probably in "2.b Want (less sensible)"

    • Like (+1) 5
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    • Well Done (+2) 1
  5. Thanks @Srikumar for leading us through the dunes in the night! what an experience! As my first proper night drive, I learnt quickly how easy it is to lose the track and a need to follow the car in front much closer, while still making sure to do it safely. tough learnings, and big thankyou to @Ashok chaturvedi for looking after us at the back when we got detached from the rest of the convoy! Looking forward to seeing you all again soon! 

    • Like (+1) 4
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  6. Thanks for leading the group on another great morning out @JeromeFJ, it is always a pleasure to be part of your convoy! and thanks @Looper for ensuring the convoy was safe at the back.  It was also good to meet some new faces @Emanuel @Zulfikhar Naiyar@FiNaR @takeshi sobue @Gerrit Busand also see some familiar ones @Suresh K @RiaanJH@Paolo Pellegrini.

    Although I have been driving mostly Fewbie+ and Intermediate lately, it is always nice to step back down to Newbie and Fewbie drives and encourage others to do the same every now and again. With a bit slower pace, it gives opportunity to learn not through doing, but observing. So, having done so, I wanted to share a brief summary.

    1) Be careful where you stop . . . . especially as the sand is getting softer, positioning your car correctly when stopping is important to make sure when the convoy gets going again, we don't have multiple stucks. A few members had a few moments (including myself, requiring the first rope recovery of the day). Ideally, always try to stop on a flat or decline and not on a crest!

    2) Self Recovery is encouraged at Carnity, and a key learning for us all. Although at times we took the rope out it was mainly due to the heat and the delayed start. Almost all the stucks the convoy faced could have been resolved with some more shoveling. @Emanuels was very close to self recovery from his cresting, and we were successful with @Zulfikhar Naiyar after he deflating his tyres further. 

    3) Momentum Momentum Momentum and gravity. After recovering @Emanuel, @Suresh K didn't have enough space to build the right momentum and by trying to steer up only slowed the car further resulting in a stuck. Here, it would have been better to have reversed more to start with, or looped round. This is all part of the learning process and you will get it right in the future.

    4) Looping round and exiting earlier is not failure, and its something that carries no shame in the desert. At one point, I could see each car struggling a little bit more over one criss cross as the line got tracked. When it was @FiNaRs turn, as soon as his car lost momentum he immediately steered down, looped round and tried again. This resulted in no awkward stuck, no pop out and the convoy could continue without stopping. Well done.

    Thanks again @JeromeFJ for leading us and @Looper for the support!

    • Like (+1) 2
    • Totally Agree (+2) 4
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