@gregs167
Officer Cadet
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Was a great drive. Not too many stucks in the fewbie convoy. Was good to see you all. Also got a chance at my first lead which was great.
I did end up with someone’s foldable spade though. Not sure whose it was. Could have been from last week as well?! If your missing one let me know.
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Was a great drive. Not too many stucks in the fewbie convoy. Was good to see you all. Also got a chance at my first lead which was great.
I did end up with someone’s foldable spade though. Not sure whose it was. Could have been from last week as well?! If your missing one let me know.
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Great write up. the picture isn’t the best quality, but it almost captures all those technical dunes we saw as we entered that final valley.
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Enjoy guys. Sorry for my absence. Garage still has my car but I’m getting a new engine. So should be back better than ever shortly!
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Great reports by the other drivers. I just wanted to add a few comments specifically on the dunes.
Near the entry point there where many technical (and irregular) mid-small sized dunes that would be good to test any drivers skills and their quick responses. Then after crossing a sabka the dunes became larger and organised in more regular lines of Faqaa type dunes. As we neared the intended exit point we encountered a huge set of dunes with amazing ridges and bowls. This area was great to play in as you could loop from ridge to ridge in a real flowing style. It felt a lot like Sweihan here and advised by Joe these set of dunes go all the way to Sweihan! As we neared the exit the dunes became smaller-medium again with a few sharp ridges as well as rolling faces so you could actually pick up quite a lot of speed and was a great finish to the drive.
In short. there was a great variance in the dunes and would be interesting for drivers of every level.
I would be happy to go back there again and as Joe had mentioned it could be a good idea to include this in the usual rotation of drive locations.
Oh, and I didn’t see one other car 🙂
I had a flat last week. I always carry jump leads and managed to jump my car from place to place for a day (I thought I didn’t have time to get a battery). Then at 1am on a week day that stopped working also. I called in dial a battery (which was free on insurance) they managed to start it with one of those portable starters (when I had already tried jump leads with different cars).
The next day I got a new battery and portable starter from dragon mart. Now I want the opportunity to test it for something other than charging my phone…..
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:thanks:
For anyone now heading out to the 2dec meeting point. The underpass (which google maps will take you through) just after labhbab is flooded and full of mud. While passable, I’d recommend staying on the hatta road and doing the next u turn.
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Just my 2 cents, but i haven’t had too many ground clearance issues driving a stock Jeep JK for the past year. I believe the stock ground clearance is just under 9 inches.
Certainly for the newbie, fewbie and most of the intermediate drives (1-2 Stars) I have had no issues with ground clearance as the style of driving does not require a lift. In such drives whenever the car does belly out, it is probably because there was a more appropriate way to approach a dune rather than it being an issue with ground clearance. In fact I have heard some more experienced drivers comment that this is the best way to learn to drive offroad (with a less capable car), as this teaches you to drive correctly without the car compensating for your mistakes. Furthermore, as already stated n this thread a lifted car has a higher center of gravity and is therefore more likely to rollover, which makes a lifted car more dangerous for a first time driver.
Only recently after joining more advanced drives have I started noticing ground clearance issues. This is primarily when cresting on the peak of the dune. Due to this I am now thinking of getting a lift. Furthermore, I am looking at only getting a 2-3 inch lift (probably 2.5) due to the center of gravity issues and the additional mechanical considerations required for a higher lift regarding control arms, tracking bars and other geometry.
To cut my point of view short, I do not think a lift is required (or possibly even advised) when starting offroading and when going on more advanced drives a high lift may not be necessary. Yet this is just my thoughts and experience which I understand may differ between points if view, style considerations and preference.
Looks like a good trip. The fingers (legs?) of the dunes look far smoother than i was expecting!
Thanks guys. always good fun.
Thanks guys. Much appreciated. Hopefully i can help the group out after all the help i have recieved.
Just to update if anyone comes across this post in the future and considers going.
It was a good day out. Really interesting. it was a longish drive there (just over three hours from Dubai) but it went by quickly. There is a mind-numbingly straight road that continues for 40 mins on the run into Liwa, however, this was redeemed by the curvy (almost alpine style) road on the final lead up to the event which which would have been great fun in a sporty hatchback.
At the event it was a bit chaotic. Buggies quads cars just driving everywhere. better watch out where you park your car so you’re not boxed in. There are also many shops and stalls in addition to shisha and restaurants. Despite what i have said above i was surprised at how well organised the vent was. All of the event info and announcements were in Arabic, but this isn’t surprising considering 90% of the people there where Emiratis.
There are many events (motorcross and drifting etc) but i only saw the main one up the big Moreeb dune. the cars they are are crazy and you can hear them throughout the valley. i would say only 1/3 cars actually made it up the track as otherwise the engine was torn apart by its own power, set on fire, failed gearchange or even rollover.
I didn’t camp but the drive back was fine.
I took some photos on my phone (but they were pretty rubbish) and i have found a video that sets the scene perfectly.
Hey yea I won’t be camping. Is just something different and interesting to try out in the afternoon/evening.
No idea how crazy it is as I haven’t been before but from a best guess might be slightly ‘unorganised’.
Thanks guys. Helps going out with a great group!
