@tex
Officer Cadet
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Hoping a spot opens up. 😊
Congratulations Shamel!!
I personally have the Montana a like it, but it has some bugs as it uses the Android software and I run a Mac for my personal laptop. The Basecamp software crashes on occasion, and connecting to the Garmin isn’t always reliable. It is also not the most user-friendly interface. I’ve had mine for almost 4 years, so they may have upgraded the software/screen since then.
I pay $30 US/yr for the Garmin service that let’s me download as many satellite images as I want to store on the unit. I have downloaded all of Liwa and most of the places I have driven with DO. The satellite images can be essential in the desert if you’re in a tight spot. We used it on a night drive to discover our way out of a bunch of camel camps with fencing in the dunes.
Creating tracks and uploading to the Garmin is relatively easy using Google Maps. There is also a website that has free world-wide user-sourced road maps for the Garmin and they are more accurate than the Garmin maps usually.
As I said above, the Garmin has a few quirks and it isn’t the most user-friendly system. There are a ton of features that I don’t even use (camera, etc.), but the unit is reliable. Pierre and I went on a trip together and his Orux stopped working for some reason, probably due to a software update issue (?) he mentioned, but the same thing could happen to the Garmin. It’s great to have a backup!
Congratulations everybody!!
Congratulations guys!!
Excited! Been out of Dubai the past 3 weekends and need some SAND!!!
Will confirm is I get the FJ back.
Unfortunately can’t make it this time. China/Taiwan work is calling instead.
Have a blast everyone!
Congratulations John! Well deserved!
If the comments here haven’t killed your dream and you’re still looking for that Jeep, I may have the one for you! It’s definitely a weekend car and is set up for the desert! (It’s the one in the profile photo)
2002 TJ
– lifted with steel bumpers – can’t kill it, I’ve run over bushes (unintentionally of course) with no harm done
– offroad lights
– large BFG tires
– manual transmission – great for the dunes
– lot of other upgrades
– driven all over UAE (including Empty Quarter) and into Oman (Wahiba Sands, etc)
– I’ve repaired almost everything there is to repair on it already (i’m an engineer and like to keep things working)
Once you get the hang of driving it, it’s very difficult to get it stuck in the dunes.I’m thinking to consolidate my vehicles, so considering to sell. Let me know! The registration on the Jeep is due up in a couple of weeks, so this could make the process easier. Send a note here and I can run through the rest of the details.
Darin
Great idea Joe! Any chance you’ll do it in the next two weeks? 😀
Hi Baher,
I would love to join the drive but I have a flight at 9:30 pm and need to be back to my place by 5 pm in the Marina.
– Whats the estimated time of returning to the road and where will that be?
– Will there be a road crossing for me to bail early if the drive lasts past 4 pm?I know being in the desert is unpredictable of course…
Thanks!
Darin
I have the Monterra and it’s an impressive unit. I bought it in Dubai at Adventure HQ about 1.5 years ago for about 2500 AED. It runs on Android and also has wifi so you could get your email, etc. and load any apps you want onto the device. It only lacks a sim card, so no calling.
I have found a website with free road maps all over the world for Garmin devices (built by Garmin users by uploading tracks). I can find and post the link if people are interested (it’s on a different computer). I occasionally have issues with a corrupt file, but usually they work really well and have a lot of landmarks displayed.
The best part about the Monterra (and I believe the Montana as well) is using the Garmin service to download satellite images. They are geolocated and the resolution is quite good (I can see specific trees, dunes, etc.) and you can see exactly where you are at when you’re driving in the desert. I can zoom in to see if there is a gap in the fence I can squeeze through. It’s $29.99 USD per year and worth every penny. It works through the Garmin Basecamp software on your computer mentioned above. It takes awhile to download images, but I consider it brilliant.
The biggest downside to the Garmin’s is the user-friendliness. The instructions are non existent and it’s not easy to search for a destination. Keep your other GPS technology for driving on the road, and use the Garmin for off-road and hiking.
Hi guys,
Unfortunately I am not having the same experience with Splendour. My Jeep has been in their shop since last Wednesday (Feb 3) for the checkup and to check some misfiring. They found the issue on Thursday, gave me a verbal quote, promised a formal quote on Saturday and return on Sunday, but are so unorganized that they haven’t even sent me a formal quote for the work (it is now Monday, Feb 8).
On top of that, today the verbal price went up from the verbal price I got on Thursday.
I have tried calling them mulitple times over the past few days, always getting a “we’ll call you back response” only to not actually get a call back. Instead I’ve showed up several times to get information, but nothing seems to be moving forward. A lot of promises with no delivery.
I am now at a loss at what to do because I need my jeep to finish some checks and packing strategy before I take it to Oman this Thursday morning for the Wahiba Sands dune drive. This is becoming a total fail.
Anyone have an idea? Alternative? The jeep needs a new coil to be ready for Wahiba Sands.
Darin
Hi Ajay,
I’m currently signed up for this trip for Group 2 on Adventure Oman Facebook page, but would love to join Group 1 if I’m allowed. I haven’t been to Wahiba sands so I’m super excited to see and drive it.
Darin
