P.S. I have also read Tintin & Wasif's useful posts about essentials one should bring along when off roading, and also the items necessary for each 'level' within the club- I'll work on getting these asap!

Mabruk! - Congrats!

Rear tow point is required, and you'll be using that from day one LOOOOL

Skid plates are good, but really depends how you drive. They are protection from smashing the front bumper and what's behind it (radiator) into sand dunes from excessive speed. If you drive with due care you can be OK without them. Sometimes it happens when drivers go above their ability level - if you follow the club newbie drives, you won't need to worry as they will take you on rounded dunes suitable to a beginner. Worst thing you can do is go out with people who enjoy scaring newbies and who push them off the deep end: not a good idea. It's like taking a guy who's skiing for the first time, and 'friends' launch him down the blackest, iciest slope just for a laugh. But guess who's not laughing! You're in good hands with uaeoffroaders 8)

Shukran PR!

I'm so happy with it! I also owe everybody who has replied on this thread (as well as many other in different threads of this forum) for helping me to find the right vehicle and in guiding me during my moments of confusion!

I'm so looking forward to getting involved with this club, getting to know you all in person and joining in with as many trips as possible!
Seems like there's one every Friday from around 15:00ish judging by the past events... that's fantastic!

I've been looking at the Club Indemnity agreement (as well as all the other pdf's I could find!) and am wondering what you guys do for the bit that says:

"- I did register my name with an offroading recovery service (i.e. IATC)"

Now given that my car is the age it is, off-roading beyond 5 metres away from paved road is not covered in my insurance (RSA), so where exactly do I register for a service like this?
I had a look at the IATC website but couldn't really find much.

Any advice regarding this?

I'm also going to try and find tow points (ideally both front & rear) for the pathfinder, and really want to get them fitted ready for this coming Friday's trip.
I also saw that I'll require a flag + pole, the pole I understand where to buy from, but what kind of flag exactly is it that I need?

Thanks!

meerkatdrummer wrote:I'm also going to try and find tow points (ideally both front & rear) for the pathfinder, and really want to get them fitted ready for this coming Friday's trip.

I also saw that I'll require a flag + pole, the pole I understand where to buy from, but what kind of flag exactly is it that I need?

Hey, Joe -

Both front and back recovery points are a MUST before you can bring your car on one of our trips. If it works out that you can,t have them ready for next weekend, it will be disappointing, but do come along anyway as a passenger! Come out and meet the gang.

Regarding the flag, any piece of fabric will do! I,ve seen everything from a national flag to a child,s t-shirt to a Chinese wind-sock to a home-made flag with the driver's name. The only limit is your creativity!

Excellent news mate, glad you got it sorted out in the end!

A couple of points on your recent posts.

Don't get aluminium anything when it comes to protection, recovery or safety equipment which will require the vehicle's weight or power to be involved. Steel all the way. Aluminium may be lighter, but is also more flexible and will bend/break if you hit something hard enough, where as steel will mostly just bounce off of what you hit. If the aluminium does bend it could end up crushing vital parts of the vehicle (such as radiatior, brake lines, pipes and such) and leave you stranded.

For the recovery points. Check the whole front and rear end first before you go and get something fitted as you may find some already there. I know some models didn't have them as standard equipment but a lot of people had them installed as aftermarket parts as they knew they woul dbe heading into the desert with them.

Also, don't get them installed by just anybody. Go to a trusted shop that is used to doing such things as a badly installed recovery point can be fatal to the person trying to recover you or those you are recovering as you are basically attaching a 1 kilo metal hook to a gigantic sling shot!

Otherwise, enjoy your new ride and take your time. There's no need to buy anything for your first trip, but a flag is helpful and recovery points are a must. No recovery, no fun!

Dont forget to bring dinner for all of us on your first drive out with us, thats a tradition here

Thanks Denasor!

Good to know about the flag!
Yes, just in case I don't get the tow points sorted by Friday I shall definitely come as a passenger!

Tintin- thanks for the advice regarding aluminium, good to know!!
But as you say, it's not necessary just yet...

Regarding tow points, I'll double check my car first, but I'm pretty sure there's nothing there... In which case I shall need to find some!

Is there anywhere I should look for them specifically? Or do the garages out here just have suppliers that'll find what's required?
Also are tow points compatible across the board when it comes to manufacturers or are they specifically made with makes/models in mind?
As yet I don't really know any garage enough to know what they're capable of- is there one that you trust that I could take it to when I find the parts? Thanks!

Wasif- great tradition! What kind of food do people normally bring, and in what quantity?! I'm afraid I don't know how to cook meat as I'm vegetarian, so I hope people don't mind whatever I can think of to make!

Thanks again!

EDIT: Also, just want to make sure about off road recovery service as stipulated in the agreement before going on trips- where do I get this? Who do you use? Thanks!

For the recovery points, just get on your back and slide your head under front and then back - you are looking for two bolt holes ready-drilled into the chassis or bumper frame. They are next to each other, no more than an inch apart, and they are usually located just behind the bumper, not deep inside (since you need to hook your tow rope on them without crawling under every time).

Of course, the above is assuming there aren't already recovery points installed, otherwise you should spot them pretty easily LOL

Once you find those two bolt holes, you get a garage to arrange for something like this, which bolts into the holes:



Or something similar - the garage should know.

Whatever you do - no welding or cutting the chassis! That will cause inspection problems.

Nothing like this:

meerkatdrummer wrote:What kind of food do people normally bring, and in what quantity?! I'm afraid I don't know how to cook meat as I'm vegetarian, so I hope people don't mind whatever I can think of to make!

Ignore Wasif, Joe. He,s just fishin for a free burger.
Let us feed you on your first time out. Please be our guest; it,s our pleasure.
Just get yer car ready and join us for the fun.

Denasor wrote:Ignore Wasif, Joe. He,s just fishin for a free burger.
Let us feed you on your first time out. Please be our guest; it,s our pleasure.
Just get yer car ready and join us for the fun.

\

LOl there goes my free burger !