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Offroading Equipment - What you need to have and where to get it.

Posted: Tue Mar 09, 2010 10:19 am
by Wasif Ahmed
There are a few essentials everyone must have to be a good, responsible and capable offroader.

New members keep asking about this so here is a list of what you need and where to get them.

1. Flag Pole with flag and suction cups.

For safety reasons a flagpole with a flag is an essential item to have for offroading. You can use a collapsable fishing rod that can be purchased from any CarreFour, Lulu or fishing accessory store. This then needs to be attached to the car using suction cups also known as "Glass Lifting Vacuum Cups" that can be bought from the hardware stores on Najda Street or Musaffah.

2. Air Compressor

An air compressor is a must. You can inflate your tires at the nearest gas station on the way out but what about when you have a Pop Out !

You can get a good quality compressor from either ARB in Musaffah or Ace Hardware. There is a Chinese make that is very good too and is available in Musaffah. Look for one with a high flow rate as that will provide the best help for a popout. Stay away from those available at CarreFour or LuLu !

3. Jack and Jacking Board.

You need to have a good quality jack and a wooden or metal plate to stand it on in the sands. A 12" x 12" x 3/4" wood or metal piece is what you need to have.You can also get a Hi Lift Jack Base Plate at ARB that makes an excellent platform for most jacks.

Your car jack might be good for street use but may not be sufficient in the desert so a Hydraulic Bottle Jack or a medium sized trolly jack is a good investment. Other Jack options are a high lift jack and all these are available from ARB or Ace Hardware.

4. Deflators & Pressure Gauge

You can get good quality Staun Deflators that can be pre set to deflate to any pressure required. These are very handy and are highly recommended and can be bought from ARB. There are some other types also at ARB which are popular too.

5. Recovery Equiment.

You will need a minimum of two rated shackles and a rated snatch strap. Both these items are also available at Ace and ARB. Please ensure you get quality rated straps and shackles as cheap options are also available but are not recommended.

6. Radios.

A set of good quality Motorola Radios or similar can be purchased from Dragon Mart. These are absolutely essential.Look at the specification closely before you purchase. Make sure the radio you get is specified as US GMRS/FRS type approved. The European version operates on different frequencies and they not compatible. Don't give too much consideration to the range that the manufacture boasts on the package as its a serious exageration. The infamous "chinese" radios have a highoutput power thus the higher range but these are not type accepted even thogh they do operate on the correct frequencies.

7 GPS

A good quality GPS is also an essential. Look for one that has an offroad mode. Ideally the Garmin 276C is what you need but you can make do with a Nuvi too. They can be purcahsed at all major electronic stores and from Amit GPS also in Mena Zayed who are the official dealers in the UAE.

Probably the most important feature to look for is the ability to "Log Tracks" or "Track Logger". This will allow you to back track your path in case you get lost or have to turn back due to any reason. It also allows you to download your track for future usage.

8. First Aid Kit.

These are available at most pharmacies and are a must. Better to be prepared than to be sorry.

9. Flash Light

Its is also highly recommended to have a flashlight in the car....you never know when you might need it.

10 Folding Showel

Also a must have to help in getting you clear from s stuck. Availabe at CarreFour or Ace

11. Industrial Gloves :

Its a good idea to have a set of these to use when you need to jack up the car or for any other

The above are the bare essentials you need to have in your car when you venture offroad. There are other things that you will also need like a good cooler to carry drinks, folding chairs and the list is endless.

You also need to check your cars to see if you have recovery points at both ends.

ARB Is located on the right just after you take the first ramp to enter Musaffah. Their phone number is 02 5553600

Ace Hardware is in Mena Zayed and their phone number is 02-6731665

printable link

Posted: Tue Mar 09, 2010 10:45 am
by Uncle
This should be a sticky :)

Posted: Tue Mar 09, 2010 9:24 pm
by tintin
Nice wasif, I have to say though. I have had a cheapo beapo compressor from Carrefour for almost two years and it has done wonders. Strangely it seems to keep on going even though I thought it would die after a few weeks.
Just my 2 fils like.

Posted: Wed Mar 10, 2010 6:45 am
by pseacraft
Great stuff Wasif! Just my 2 fils of add on in Red:
Wasif Ahmed wrote:....
1. Flag Pole with flag and suction cups.

For safety reasons a flagpole with a flag is an essential item to have for offroading. You can use a collapsable fishing rod that can be purchased from any CarreFour, Lulu or fishing accessory store. This then needs to be attached to the car using suction cups that can be bought from Musaffah.

"Glass Lifting Vacuum Cups" are the proper name - found out the hard way :) can also be found at the hardware shop on Nadja St opposite the Neyssun showroom. If you have a rear tire rack you can also secure the pole to your spare tire with straps or bungee's.

2. Air Compressor

An air compressor is a must. You can inflate your tires at the nearest gas station on the way out but what about when you have a Pop Out !

You can get a good quality compressor from either ARB in Musaffah or Ace Hardware. There is a Chinese make that is very good too and is available in Musaffah. Stay away from those available at CarreFour or LuLu !

Look for one with a high flow rate as that will provide the best help for a popout.

3. Jack and Jacking Board.

You need to have a good quality jack and a wooden or metal plate to stand it on in the sands. A 12" x 12" x 3/4" wood or metal piece is what you need to have.

Your car jack might be good for street use but may not be sufficient in the desert so a Hydraulic Bottle Jack or a medium sized trolly jack is a good investment. Other Jack options are a high lift jack and all these are available from ARB or Ace Hardware.

You can also get a Hi Lift Jack Base Plate at ARB that makes an excellent platform for most jacks.


6. Radios.

A set of good quality Motorola Radios or similar can be purchased from Dragon Mart. These are absolutely essential.

Look at the specification closely before you purchase. Make sure the radio you get is specified as US GMRS/FRS type approved. The European version operates on different frequencies and they not compatible. Don't give too much consideration to the range that the manufacture boasts on the package as its a serious exageration. The infamous "chinese" radios have a highoutput power thus the higher range but these are not type accepted even thogh they do operate on the correct frequencies.

7 GPS

A good quality GPS is also an essential. Look for one that has an offroad mode. Ideally the Garmin 276C is what you need but you can make do with a Nuvi too. They can be purcahsed at all major electronic stores and from Amit GPS also in Mena Zayed who are the official dealers int eh UAE

Probably the most important feature to look for is the ability to "Log Tracks" or "Track Logger". This will allow you to back track your path in case you get lost or have to turn back due to any reason. It also allows you to download your track for future usage.

Posted: Sun Mar 21, 2010 3:17 pm
by MB Hammer
Another item I won't go offroading without is cable ties, large size. Once drove off the desert with a housing kept in place by them, also great if your flag falls off!

Posted: Sun Mar 21, 2010 10:52 pm
by yousef911
thank you wasef for that information

Posted: Mon Mar 22, 2010 7:37 am
by tintin
It is always good to have some spare pipes, tubes, and hoses for the older rigs in the desert as you can never be too sure how old the parts are unless you have changed them yourself.
Also a basic tool kit is a minimum, such as spanners, screw drivers, knives, and some rope just in case.

Posted: Sun Mar 28, 2010 9:31 pm
by t_almagboul
Can you add one more thing to you lest swimming suit

Posted: Mon Mar 29, 2010 8:01 am
by tintin
Ha ha, and lets not forget a towel and rubber ducky. :p

Really though, a good tire iron for Siam tire popouts. AND A JACK PLATE JC