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Do you HAVE to have a 4X4 for camping in the UAE/Oman???

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1913

Posts

EW EXPERT

Latest post on 14 April 2012 - 20:41

We have done a lot of camping in both the UAE and throughout Oman over the last 10+ years. Whilst there are plenty of places that you could go in a regular car ( and the coast road from Muscat down to Sur and even on to Turtle beach is now a wonderful sealed road all the way) there are a lot more beautiful places you could go with a 4WD. It doesn't have to be huge. We have an old Isuzu Trooper which has done sterling service. Our second car is a Ford Escape (the smallest Ford 4WD). This has also been excellent and has done many wadi trips and even a days dune bashing.

edna.welthorpe36638

516

Posts

EW GURU

Latest post on 14 April 2012 - 19:50

Yes, "4x4" and "4WD" are just two different ways of saying the same thing, but just because a car has four-wheel drive it doesn't mean it's necessarily suitable for offroad use. As you say, you really need a 4WD SUV for the extra ground clearance necessary for offroading. You'll quickly learn that here in the UAE, when people say "4x4" or "4WD" they're almost always referring to an SUV. Because petrol is so much cheaper here, most people seem to prioritise buying a much bigger car than they could afford to run in their home country, which is invariably an SUV ;)

304

Posts

EW EXPLORER

Latest post on 14 April 2012 - 11:08

THanks ladies. I was aware of the difficulties of driving in the dunes (equipment, traveling in groups, needing correct driving skills) and actually don't want to do it, that's why I was hoping there was options not involving this, like the Oman mountains, beaches, etc. But I guess it looks like all the best camping involves off roading of some sort, even if not in the desert/dunes. Now I am confused though... I looked up 4X4 and apparently it simply means the same as 4WD. However I am sure some of the smaller 4WD cars would still not be suitable for this, it looks like you need not only a 4WD/4X4 but definitely must be an SUV as well?

edna.welthorpe36638

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EW GURU

Latest post on 14 April 2012 - 00:18

Always do this with another 4x4 with you Minimum recommended number of cars for safety reasons is usually three for offroad expeditions. As you say, all cars should carry all necessary emergency equipment. It's so easy to do things like remember the tow-rope but forget the bow-shackle.

edna.welthorpe36638

516

Posts

EW GURU

Latest post on 14 April 2012 - 00:07

As has been said, an offroad vehicle is essential for accessing many, if not most, of the worthwhile camping areas. You should also bear in mind that sand driving is a very definite skill that needs to be learned from someone with plenty of experience, and that if you go offroading there is a very good chance that you will damage your car. That's not to put you off, but just to get you into the right frame of mind. You need to be prepared to spend money replacing tyres or wheel rims and getting body damage fixed (or the occasional bent axle). Hopefully you won't need to, but damage can and does happen. Sand dunes are annoyingly soft when you're trying to walk through them, but you need to drive fairly fast to avoid getting stuck, and if you hit a small dune at the wrong angle the sand stops being soft and can easily tear your bumper off. The 4x4 clubs here typically recommend that people have at least two cars, one for everyday road use, and another for blasting around offroad; that way, if you damage your offroad car, you've still got something to take you to work or go shopping with after you've been towed out of the desert :)

5400

Posts

EW MASTER

Latest post on 13 April 2012 - 23:32

Yes! If much of your enjoyment of being here is going to involve camping off road, then start off with an off road vehicle! Buy a second hand one, you can get great bargains at auction or from Ras al Khor or even one of the distributors who sell used cars still under warranty! Enjoy!

298

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 13 April 2012 - 21:37

Practically, I'd say there would be a lot of Oman at any rate that you'd be unable to get to. Like the coastal road with the beautiful beaches. The turtle beach. A lot of the musandam peninsula etc. Some of Jebel Shams. These are must-go camping areas that you wouldn't be able to get to without doing some serious damage to a non 4 wheel drive. Wouldn't advice it if its your own car :D

Biscuit Maker55132

357

Posts

EW EXPLORER

Latest post on 13 April 2012 - 20:01

"hiking" gives the impression that the dunes are hard etc, in reality if it is soft sand it would be like walking in snow where you sink in, you wouldn't be able to walk more than a few dunes. Also you have to think about getting lost etc and losing your bearings. NO you should never do this, nor should you venture into the dunes on your own. Always do this with another 4x4 with you and with all necessary equipment to cope with an emergency situation (and pull ropes etc). Sorry but that sounds like a very bad idea!

304

Posts

EW EXPLORER

Latest post on 13 April 2012 - 19:56

Thanks. I guess we would just be taking a chance leaving the car, we wouldn't leave it ON the road - pulled off enough to be safe. Time Out even had a recommended camp site where you pull off the highway, leave the car, and walk in the dunes to a suitable camp site. It's what gave us the idea. We wouldn't go so far as to not be able to get back in case of emergency, and we have appropriate camping gear that is suited to hiking it around (lightweight tent, proper backpacks, etc.) What I'm really asking is if this is even possible in many areas, or if you must drive long roads that require 4X4 for a good majority of it. Into the mountains into Oman, for instance. Are the roads good enough for a Yaris to make it far enough that we could feasible hike to an ideal spot? Any other input? ETA: The whole point of buying a car is so we don't have to rent one. We can't really afford to buy a car for normal activities AND rent a car every weekend we want to camp, which hopefully is often. <em>edited by singingcanary on 13/04/2012</em>

Monkey Face44709

803

Posts

EW GURU

Latest post on 13 April 2012 - 19:21

Hi ladies who love the outdoors, I am looking to get a car and originally thought I'd have to get a used 4X4 because I really want to go camping in Oman and the Off Road Explorer says 4X4s are required for many of the trips. However OH thinks we can get a Yaris instead (we can get brand new, falls within budget) and just park roadside and hike in to wherever we want to camp. Is this reasonable, or are there many spots on the roads themselves (not just the dunes/beaches but the roads) that require the 4X4 and hiking all that way wouldn't be feasible? We are willing to hike a fair bit, we have fairly appropriate gear for it, but if we are way wrong about it... please let me know before I make a purchase I will regret! Thanks ladies. I can't wait to get camping =D Maybe just rent a 4X4 for the weekend to go camping? How can you safely just leave your car on the side of the road? How will you carry your camping gear? What if there is an emergency, how will you get out? This doesn't seem very practical!

304

Posts

EW EXPLORER

Latest post on 13 April 2012 - 19:10

Hi ladies who love the outdoors, I am looking to get a car and originally thought I'd have to get a used 4X4 because I really want to go camping in Oman and the Off Road Explorer says 4X4s are required for many of the trips. However OH thinks we can get a Yaris instead (we can get brand new, falls within budget) and just park roadside and hike in to wherever we want to camp. Is this reasonable, or are there many spots on the roads themselves (not just the dunes/beaches but the roads) that require the 4X4 and hiking all that way wouldn't be feasible? We are willing to hike a fair bit, we have fairly appropriate gear for it, but if we are way wrong about it... please let me know before I make a purchase I will regret! Thanks ladies. I can't wait to get camping =D

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