Thread: Not bad for a freebie eh!

Nice job very good of u to do that

You have the D1 the wrong way around on the trailer - the engine weight should be at the front to enhance stability.

Originally Posted by garrycol

You have the D1 the wrong way around on the trailer - the engine weight should be at the front to enhance stability.

Quite right but we had two issues to contend with.
First of all the gearbox was broken and it only had reverse gear...hence I had to drive it onto the trailer backwards.
The other problem was that the trailer Jockey wheel was jammed and I couldn't lift it. We tried to put some more weight towards the front of the trailer but the jockey wheel was in contact with the floor!
I drove the car and loaded trailer back to my place at 80kph to be on the safe side.

Can I ask what life is like for foreigners in the UAE? I've heard both positive and negative stories. If you're buying cars you must be planning to stay long-term. Would you recommend it?
I ask because I have a friend who has just gone to Qatar for work and I'm curious to see how he goes.

Hi Mick.
It can be a bit of a mind blower since all countries here have different rules and regulations. To complicate matters more there are a different set of rules within each of the 7 Emirates that make up our country that is The UAE.

For example. In Dubai an expat can own as many different cars as he wishes...but in Ajman (where I live) I can legally only have one car in my name. I had to get special permission from the Police to own two cars...and now I have to go begging for a third title to be added to my name.
Different Emirates have different rules on whats allowed and whats not. In Abu Dhabi steel bumpers like ARB are banned...but everyone has them fitted. It's only when you take the car for it's yearly road worthy check that you have to remove the ARB and put the standard one back on again...it's nuts!

On my Disco 1 V8 I have a black sticker on the bonnet to reduce glare from the roof mounted spots...it has to be taken off each year for the test and then re-applied.
In general...anything that's not Original fitment from the factory will fail the road worthiness tests! Even roof racks are banned for the test...so we take them off for twenty minutes...go for the test..get the pass certificate...and then go back home to put the roofrack back on.

I've been in Saudi Arabia and UAE since 1991 and love it here despite the crazy goings on. But it's not for everyone I can tell you that. People with short fuses need not apply for work in the middle East and it's important to remember that we're guests in their country so no matter if I think they've got it right or wrong I have to accept it and keep my mouth shut!
I'm fully aware that I'm one of the lucky ones here with some very worthy connections in Royalty...but I still have to tow the line and behave or I'll be pulled up on it.

Qatar is extremely small.....you can walk across it in a single day! I've been there for the 4x4 cross country racing and was happy to get back to UAE where we have a much more active off road scene.