Words + Photos By: Marina Bruce
Over the summer, the local press reported a number of off-road drivers becoming stranded in the desert and requiring rescue by the UAE Police. Whilst the off-road “season” in the UAE is November to March, when the weather is at its coolest and the sand in its best condition, many dedicated off-roaders drive all year round and return safely to tell tales of exciting adventures a world away from malls and beaches. Part of the reason for their safe return is that they are aware that they are entering a very inhospitable environment, and prepare and plan accordingly.
Some of these risk management measures I’m detailing here are common sense, but in the excitement of packing up the picnic equipment and heading to the sand, it can easily be overlooked. This list is not exhaustive, but if followed it will help make your recreational off-road trip a little bit safer.
Don’t go off-roading on your own
A golden rule for inexperienced off-road drivers and even those with intermediate driving skills is to go with the right people. Ideally you will have a minimum of three cars, with at least one driver having a good number of off-road trips under their belt and be experienced in recovering stuck vehicles.
A great way to gain experience is to join an off-road group; there are a number of great clubs in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Al Ain and the contact details for some of these can be found in the appendix of this magazine.
Prepare your car thoroughly
It’s vitally important to make sure that your car is in tip-top condition, particularly the cooling system. Servicing should be up-to-date with no outstanding problems and you also need to ensure that you have recovery points front and rear.
Check that your tyres are in good condition with no nicks or cuts in the sidewall and no leaky valves or slow punctures – this goes for your spare too. You’ll need a jack with a wooden or metal board to place it upon, as sand does not offer a stable surface to support it and the weight of your car. One vehicle should have a compressor, even if you plan to reinflate at a gas station after the trip. If one of the convoy has a pop out or loses air in a tyre then you will be glad of it!
Take some adjustable spanners, screwdrivers, duct tape and cable ties with you as well as a pair of work gloves, just in case you need to make some minor running repairs.
Not all 4x4s are equal – I’ll go into far trickier terrain in my Nissan Patrol than for instance, a Ford Explorer or a Kia Sorrento – and it’s important to choose a route suited to the cars to avoid straining their engine/gearbox/drivetrain.
Ensure someone in the convoy has recovery equipment
Not all cars in the convoy need a full array of safety equipment but at least one should have a good quality, rated, recovery kit. A tow strap is fine for pulling cars on the blacktop, but in the desert, a rated snatch strap will minimise stress on the vehicles and increase the chances of a successful recovery. If someone in your convoy has a winch this is very useful to have, but please make sure they know how to use it properly and safely – there are many good tutorial clips on Youtube.com.
Other items you should include in a safety/recovery kit are rated shackles, fire extinguisher, first aid kit, a shovel and a tyre gauge.
Take time to prepare at the deflation point
Tyres should be deflated to at most 15psi, most experienced drivers run on 12psi or less but this depends on the tyres, the weight of the car and the type of terrain you are exploring. Don’t leave it to guesswork – get a good quality tyre gauge to ensure you are running on optimal pressures. You will be able to drive further in 2WD with your tyres deflated than in 4WD with road pressures.
If possible, take some walkie-talkies (using authorised frequencies) so the convoy can communicate. It also helps the following cars negotiate obstacles safely if everyone has an off-roading flag and pole – this can be as simple as a fishing rod, flag attached, tied onto the spare wheel with bungee cords although many off-road suppliers sell reasonably priced flags and whipcord style poles.
Take at least one GPS
Ensure at least one car has a GPS which is capable of telling your current position – even if you aren’t going far off the road – and that the owner knows how to use it properly.
With this information you may be able to call a friend or the authorities to assist you if needs be – it’s extremely hard to describe where you are in the desert without it. Sometimes it’s very difficult to pull a car out of the desert in the dark, so it’s often best to lock it and leave it overnight but not before you mark its location on your GPS so you can find it in the morning!
Pack adequate provisions
When you head out to the desert, make sure you have enough food and water for the length of your trip, plus at least six hours spare. You never know what you might encounter out there, delays due to unexpected situations are common and the welfare of the drivers and passengers is paramount. Although we can survive for a few days without food, it’s a good idea to take some snacks with you such as crisps, nuts and don’t forget the original desert survival food – dates.
Take lots of water with you preferably in small bottles. It is easy to break large bottles for instance, if you go over a bump way too hard you might shatter these and lose your water supply.
Leave your route with a friend
Leave details of your trip with a friend, including entry point, likely intermediate and exit points, as well as the time you expect to be out of the desert. This way if you are overdue they can raise the alarm and can advise your rescuers where to start looking.
And if the worst happens
If you do get seriously stuck, breakdown or have an accident, and there aren’t enough cars/spare seats in the rest of the convoy to get you out safely, stay with your car. Whatever you do, don’t try to walk out of the desert unless you know there’s a village or camel farm in a very short distance; in the summer that could be as little as a few hundred metres. We are lucky in the UAE that there is very good rural mobile reception but as you often have to walk up the nearest high dune to get a signal, take a small rucksack full of water and snacks to sustain you.
If it’s very hot and your car’s engine isn’t running (and therefore you have no AC), then dig yourself a hole under the car so you can lie there in the shade until help arrives.
And a final word
Please don’t let the risks deter you from venturing off the blacktop as the desert is a wonderful place to drive; those who are aware of the dangers and know how to minimise the risks can explore this amazing terrain year-round quite safely.
Marina Bruce is The Desert Diva – read her blog at www.thedesertdiva.com
Oasis Offroad is a free to join offroad club based in Al Ain offering family trips and overland adventures in the beautiful sand dunes of Al Ain and beyond. Their website is www.oasis-offroad.com and their Facebook page is www.facebook.com/OasisOffroad
