The engine hummed beneath me, a low, patient growl waiting for daylight. In the cool hush before sunrise, the desert outside Dubai feels like it's holding its breath. The dunes-those impossibly smooth, wind-brushed waves-are a darker silhouette against a sky that blushes from indigo to pale peach. You don't come to the desert at dawn for speed alone. You come for the sensation of space, the humbling scale of it, and the strange, tender beauty of a landscape that so many people imagine only as harsh and empty. In truth, it is anything but.
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Quad biking in the Dubai desert at sunrise is as much about light as it is about motion. When you set off, helmet clipped and visor down, the air is startlingly crisp.
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Sand squeaks under the tires as you roll forward, the grains still cool from the night. Your guide gestures toward the soft ridgelines and offers one final tip about throttle control. Then, like a flock of birds lifting as one, the group spreads into the open and that first inhale of freedom is real-you feel it across your shoulders, in your hands, in your ribs.
At dawn, the dunes are forgiving. They have not yet heated into a furnace; tracks from nocturnal creatures are etched clearly-fine stitchings along the slopes, a quiet reminder that this place is alive even when we are not. You learn quickly that riding on sand is a conversation. Hard-packed flats invite a burst of speed; soft crests insist on patience. The quad responds best to a delicate balance-weight back on the climb, weight forward on the descent-gentle corrections rather than brute force. You discover that success is less about domination and more about rapport, the kind you build with any living thing or changeable terrain.
And then the sun lifts. It rises quietly at first, a shy coin on the horizon, and the dunes wake up in layers: lavender shadows thinning into apricot, then the unmistakable Dubai gold. The entire world seems to warm by a few shades.
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Climbing a tall ridge and pausing there, engine ticking softly, you look out and realize how fluid the desert really is. Wind has painted the sand with ripples so precise they seem mechanical, yet every line is the work of chaos and time. Far off, the city will already be something else-a forest of glass and steel catching a different light-but here, the day is new enough to feel like a clean page.
There's a rhythm to a good sunrise tour. It starts cautious, the group learning the dance of the dunes, then stretches confidently, carving arcs that align with the natural contours, and finally settles into moments of stillness. These pauses aren't mere breathers; they're part of the experience. You pull off your gloves and feel the air change.
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Someone laughs in that unguarded way people do when they're surprised by joy. A thermos appears. Arabic coffee is poured into small cups, fragrant and slightly spiced. Dates pass from hand to hand. Quad Biking Dubai Photo Stops . The sweetness lingers on your tongue while your eyes do what they came to do: absorb a horizon that's doing its best to be infinite.
If the desert strips away noise, it also magnifies essentials. Safety is one-there's nothing casual about the pre-ride briefing. You learn how to read the sandy textures, why you approach steep lips at an angle, why you give the rider ahead space. In the early light, the visibility is forgiving, but the dunes have their own illusions-shadows can make valleys look deeper or shallower than they are. The guides, often desert veterans who know this terrain with a nearly instinctive precision, keep a watchful eye while also encouraging a little bravery. It's enough to remind you that adventure and respect belong together.
Culturally, there's something quietly profound about visiting the desert this way. Dubai's present is often summarized in superlatives-tallest, largest, fastest-but its soul reaches out into these open spaces, where older rhythms persist. If you're lucky, you might glimpse a camel caravan crossing a distant ridge, graceful and faint as brushstrokes. Or you'll pass a Bedouin-style camp where lanterns glow like low stars. In those moments, quad biking feels less like a thrill-seeker's diversion and more like a modern way of meeting an ancient place-mechanized, yes, but still mindful.
By mid-morning the sand begins to lift heat back into the air, and you understand why sunrise is the hour for this. The ride returns toward the start point and you find you've acquired a new sort of awareness-your eyes track the subtle gradients, your hands correct without thinking, your body remembers the pitch of each descent. Dust dances in the light behind you in an elegant little storm that vanishes as quickly as it forms.
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And when the engine quiets completely, the silence that replaces it is startling in its fullness, like a bowl brimming with sound you can't hear because your own thoughts have quieted to match it.
There are photographs, of course. People pose with helmets tucked under arms, or stand at the crest of a dune with their footprints scalloped behind them. Yet the image you keep is the one you can't capture-the private understanding that you were part of a landscape in motion. The desert does not stay put. Wind reshapes it hourly. Your tracks are a temporary script written across a page already being rewritten. There's comfort in that. It says something about the impermanence of the marks we make and the joy of making them anyway.
Back in the city, the day stretches ahead. There are breakfasts to eat, schedules to keep, elevators to catch. But the desert clings. You carry a secret of cool air and warm light, of engines purring against silence, of gold folding into blue. Some adventures leave you with facts-how fast, how far, how high. A sunrise quad biking tour in Dubai tends to leave you with a feeling instead: that you woke up inside the landscape, and for a brief, luminous hour, you learned to move with it.
About Off-roading
Activity of driving on unsurfaced roads or tracks
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A Land Rover Defender 90 off-roadingA Unimog U1600 off-roading4WDs at Fraser Island beach, Australia
Off-roading is the act of driving or riding in a vehicle on unpaved surfaces such as sand, dirt, gravel, riverbeds, mud, snow, rocks, or other natural terrain. Off-roading ranges from casual drives with regular vehicles to competitive events with customized vehicles and skilled drivers.[1]
Off-road vehicle
[edit]
Main article: Off-road vehicle
Off-roading in Dubai, UAE.
Off-road vehicles are either capable of or specifically developed for off-road driving. These vehicles often have features designed specifically for use in off-road conditions such as suspension lifts, off-road tires, skid plates, snorkels, roll cages, or strengthened drivetrains.[2][3]
Tools
[edit]
Recovery board
High lift jack
Snatch strap
Types of recreational off-roading
[edit]
Dune bashing
[edit]
A 5th-generation Ford Bronco dune bashing
Dune bashing is a specific form of off-roading performed on sand dunes.[4]
Dune Buggies, Sport-utility vehicles, and ATVs are often used.[5] Vehicles driven on sand dunes are often equipped with a roll cage for safety in the case of an overturn. The tire pressure is often reduced to gain more traction by increasing the footprint of the tire and lowering the ground pressure of the vehicle on the sand, comparable to a person wearing snowshoes to walk on snow without sinking.[6] Some cars are equipped with beadlock wheels, which allow tire pressure to be lowered even further without risking separation of the tire and rim.
Upon entering the desert, it is customary for drivers to meet with a pack of other vehicles and a group leader before proceeding. The group leader then leads the pack through the stunts in a single file line. The rationale for this technique is to prevent drivers from becoming disoriented and getting lost.[6]
Off-road racing
[edit]
Main article: Off-road racing
Desert racing
[edit]
High-speed racing in the desert includes chases and racing at maximum speed through rough desert terrain with numerous pots and bumps. Drivers often use rear-wheel drive and 4-wheel drive trucks with long-travel suspension and wide stance between the front enlarged tires, which maintains optimal stability at high speed. These types of trucks are often called Trophy trucks or PreRunners.[7]
Rock racing
[edit]
Rock racing involves driving over rocks, but unlike rock crawling, does not specify penalties for striking cones, backing up, or winching.[8] In addition, rock racing incorporates a level of high-speed racing that is not characteristic of rock crawling.
Rallying
[edit]
See article: Rally
This section is an excerpt from Rallying.[edit]
Petter Solberg driving a Subaru Impreza WRC on gravel at the 2006 Cyprus Rally, a World Rally Championship event
Rallying is a wide-ranging form of motorsport with various competitive motoring elements such as speed tests (sometimes called "rally racing" in United States), navigation tests, or the ability to reach waypoints or a destination at a prescribed time or average speed. Rallies may be short in the form of trials at a single venue, or several thousand miles long in an extreme endurance rally.
Depending on the format, rallies may be organised on private or public roads, open or closed to traffic, or off-road in the form of cross country or rally-raid. Competitors can use production vehicles which must be road-legal if being used on open roads or specially built competition vehicles suited to crossing specific terrain.
In most cases rallying distinguishes itself from other forms of motorsport by not running directly against other competitors over laps of a circuit, but instead in a point-to-point format in which participants leave at regular intervals from one or more start points.
Mudding and mud plugging
[edit]
See also: Mud bogging
Land Rover Series III mud plugging
Mudding is off-roading through an area of wet mud or clay, leading to extremely low traction and problems with moving forward.[9] The goal is to drive as far as possible without getting stuck.[10] There are many types of tires that are often used for this activity, including balloon tires, mud-terrain tires and paddle tires. The activity is popular in the United States, although it is illegal on public land due to the environmental impact.[11]
Mud plugging, as practiced in the United Kingdom, refers to the motorsport of classic trials, where the main objective is to complete a challenging course of (mostly unpaved) roads and (often muddy, and frequently uphill) off-road terrain.[12]
This form of motorsport is one of the oldest to survive to this day, dating back at least to the 1920s.[13]
Jeep Rubicon rock crawling
Rock crawling
[edit]
Rock crawling involves driving over rocky terrain, with the goal of getting as far as possible with the fewest penalties. Penalties are received for striking cones, using a winch to get unstuck, going out of bounds, and going in reverse. These rules lead to the sport being technical, with drivers having to plan ahead to reduce the penalties they receive. Vehicles used for rock crawling are usually modified with different tires, suspension components that allow greater axle articulation, and changes in the differential[14] gear ratio to obtain characteristics suitable for low-speed operation for traversing obstacles. Commonly, rock crawlers have a "spotter", who is an assistant on foot by the vehicle to provide information about areas out of the driver's field of view.[15]
Competitive trials
[edit]
All progress is made at low speed and the emphasis is on skill rather than on finishing first, although trialing can be highly competitive. There are three traditional forms of off-road trialing. During some competitive events, such as the Turkey Run in Idaho and other events around the United States, point systems may be used to determine rewards.
RTV trialing
[edit]
RTV (Road Taxed Vehicle) trialing is the most common form of trialing. As the name suggests, it is for vehicles that are road-legal (and thus required to pay road tax). This excludes vehicles that are highly modified or specially built. RTV-class vehicles can carry a wide range of suspension modifications, as well as off-road tires (provided they are road-legal), recovery winches, raised air intakes, etc. Vehicles on RTV trials are usually best described as "modified from standard"—they use the standard chassis, drive-train, and body that the vehicle was built with, but are fitted with a wide array of modifications to assist in the trailing. Whilst modification is not necessarily required for an RTV trial, at the very least the vehicle would be expected to have some underbody and over-the-body protection such as skid plates or roll cages, often made from durable stainless steel, aluminium or mild steel. RTV courses are intended to be non-damaging and driven at little more than a walking pace and a course properly laid out would be drivable without damage. However, the terrain usually includes steep slopes, water, side slopes, deep ruts, and other obstacles that could potentially damage a vehicle if mistakes are made or poor driving techniques are used. As such, the use of modifications can increase the chances of success.[16]
RTV trials usually take place on farmland, a quarry site, or at a dedicated off-road driving center and are usually organized by a dedicated trialing body (such as the All-Wheel Drive Club or the Association of Land Rover clubs in the UK, or by a vehicle owner's club. The course consists of 10 to 12 "gates" marked by two garden canes (sticks) and are vertically placed. The gates are just wide enough to get a standard vehicle through. Vehicles start in a stagger, proceeding one by one, and are deemed to have cleared a gate if at least one of the front wheel hubs passes between the canes. The vehicle's attempt ends when it comes to a stop (depending on the exact level of skill the trial is aimed at any stopping may end the attempt, or a few seconds may be allowed). Long-wheelbase vehicles are usually allowed to perform a three-point turn if needed, providing the driver declares where the turn is going to be made before they attempt the course (this puts a strong emphasis on ground-reading ability). This can also be called a "shunt", where the driver has to attempt a gate and then shout "shunt". They are then allowed a space of one and a half car lengths to reverse and line the car better to enter through the gate[17]
The course between the gates is a "section": between the start line and the first gate is "Section 1", the part between the first and second gates is "Section 2" and so on. An RTV course is often laid out so that each section is progressively more difficult, although this is not always the case. If a driver fails to complete Section 1 they are given 10 points. If the attempt ends in Section 2, 9 points are awarded, etc. A clear round results in gaining only 1 point. A day's event will consist of many different courses and the driver with the lowest score is the winner.
Since the terrain covered in RTV trials should be well within the capabilities of any reasonably capable vehicle (even in standard form), these trials emphasize driver skill and ground-reading abilities. Skill and experience have a larger bearing on success than having a well-equipped and modified car.
CCV trialing
[edit]
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Non-legal Cross-Country Vehicle
Cross Country Vehicle (CCV) trialing is the next step up from RTV trialing and is open to non-road-legal vehicles, which greatly increases the scope for modification. The terrain covered will be of greater difficulty than that found on an RTV trial. Since there is a risk of touching rocks and trees with the bodywork,[18] CCV trialing will usually require more careful use of speed to get the vehicle across certain obstacles will attempting to mitigate the risk of vehicle damage. Whilst no trial is intended to be vehicle-damaging, mistakes and accidents are inevitable. A standard-specification vehicle would not be expected to be able to complete a CCV course, but it would still be possible.
The event is run along the same lines as RTV, with a course made up of cane-marked gates.
Suzuki SJ based trial car, showing an external roll-cage
CCV trialing differs greatly from RTV trials in the vehicles used. Since CCV judges adopt an "anything goes" attitude, CCV trials rely on having the correct vehicle to a much greater extent than in an RTV trial. Competitors can design and build vehicles that are much more optimized for off-road use, than in the lower ranks of trialing. CCV vehicles have powerful engines, high ground clearance, light, minimalist bodywork, and good approach and departure angles. For many years, in the UK, the ultimate CCV vehicle could be built by taking the chassis of a Range Rover, removing the body, cutting the chassis down to an 80-inch wheelbase, and attaching it to the body of a Series I Land Rover, retaining the Range Rover's V8 engine and coil-spring suspension in a light, maneuverable body. In recent years, the value of early Land Rovers and Range Rovers has risen to the extent that this is no longer practical. CCV trailers now usually base their vehicles around Land Rover Defenders or a standard 100-inch chassis from a Range Rover or Series I Discovery. The Suzuki SJ series of vehicles also make good bases for CCV-spec vehicles. Some vehicles are specially built, taking the form of light "buggies" with tractor tires and "fiddle" brakes (fiddle brakes give the ability to lock a wheel, which enables much better turning, better control descending hills, traction control by slowing or locking the spinning wheel) for the best performance.
Vehicles are required to meet certain safety regulations. Roll-cages must be fitted and be built to a suitable standard, recovery points must be fitted front and rear and fuel tanks must meet certain standards. A 4-point harness for all occupants is required and a fire extinguisher is recommended.
Off-roading events
[edit]
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Driving a Triumph Bonneville during an offroad event
In some countries off-road activities are strictly regulated, while others promote cross-country off-road endurance events like the Dakar Rally, Spanish Baja, Africa Eco Race, Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge, Russian Baja Northern Forest, King of the Hammers, San Felipe 250 and Baja 500 & 1000, which are a test of navigation skills and machine durability. Off-road parks and motocross tracks also host several events and may be the only legal place to off-road in the area.
Criticism of ORV use
[edit]
Environmental impact
[edit]
Off-road vehicle impact in SW Utah
Off-road vehicle use on public land has been criticized by some members of the U.S. government[19] and environmental organizations including the Sierra Club and The Wilderness Society.[20][21] They have noted several consequences of illegal ORV use such as pollution,[22] trail damage, erosion, land degradation, possible species extinction,[23] and habitat destruction[24][25] which can leave hiking trails impassable.[26] ORV proponents argue that legal use taking place under planned access along with the multiple environment and trail conservation efforts by ORV groups will mitigate these issues.[27] Groups such as the BlueRibbon Coalition advocate for the responsible use of public lands for off-road activities.[28]
Noise pollution is also a concern[29] and several studies conducted by Montana State University, California State University, University of Florida and others have cited possible negative behavioral changes in wildlife as the result of some ORV use.[30]
Some U.S. states have laws to reduce noise generated by off-road and non-highway vehicles. Washington is one example: "State law requires off-road and other non-highway vehicles to use specified noise-muffling devices (RCW 46.09.120(1) (e) maximum limits and test procedures). State agencies and local governments may adopt regulations governing the operation of non-highway vehicles on property, streets, or highways within their jurisdiction, provided they are not less stringent than state law (RCW 46.09.180 regulation by local political subdivisions)".[31]
Mojave desert controversy
[edit]
The U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM) supervises several large off-road vehicle areas in California's Mojave Desert.
In 2009, U.S. District Judge Susan Illston ruled against the BLM's proposed designation of additional off-road use on designated open routes on public land. According to the ruling, the BLM violated its regulations[32] when it designated approximately 5,000 miles (8,000 km) of off-road vehicle routes in 2006.[33] According to Judge Illston the BLM's designation was "flawed because it does not contain a reasonable range of alternatives" to limit damage to sensitive habitat, as required under the National Environmental Policy Act.[34] Illston found that the Bureau had inadequately analyzed the route's impact on air quality, soils, plant communities and sensitive species, such as the endangered Mojave fringe-toed lizard, pointing out that the United States Congress has declared that the California Desert and its resources are "extremely fragile, easily scarred, and slowly healed".[34]
The court also found that the BLM failed to follow route restrictions established in the agency's conservation plan, resulting in the establishment of hundreds of illegal OHV routes during the previous three decades.[32] The plan violated the BLM's regulations, specifically the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (FLPMA) and the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA).[33] The ruling was considered a success for a coalition of conservation groups including the Friends of Juniper Flats, Community Off-road Vehicle Watch, California Native Plant Society, The Center for Biological Diversity, The Sierra Club, and The Wilderness Society who initiated the legal challenge in late 2006.[34]
Roadless area conservation
[edit]
Many U.S. national parks have discussed or enacted roadless rules and partial or total bans on ORVs. To accommodate enthusiasts, some parks like Big Cypress National Preserve in Florida, were created specifically for ORVs and related purposes. However, such designations have not prevented damage or abuse of the policy.[35]
Public statements
[edit]
In 2004, several environmental organizations sent a letter to Dale Bosworth, Chief of the United States Forest Service, and described the extent of damage caused by ORV use, including health threats to other people:
It is well-established that the proliferation of off-road vehicles and snowmobile use places soil, vegetation, air and water quality, and wildlife at risk through pollution, erosion, sedimentation of streams, habitat fragmentation and disturbance, and other adverse impacts to resources. These impacts cause severe and lasting damage to the natural environment on which human-powered and equestrian recreation depends and alter the remote and wild character of the backcountry. Motorized recreation monopolizes forest areas by denying other users the quiet, pristine, backcountry experience they seek. It also presents safety and health threats to other re-creationists.[36]
In 2004 the Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia listed several problems that result from ORV use in natural areas. From the Environmental News Service article:
Scalia noted that off-road vehicle use on federal land has "negative environmental consequences including soil disruption and compaction, harassment of animals, and annoyance of wilderness lovers.[37]
Several environmental organizations, including the Rangers for Responsible Recreation, are campaigning to draw attention to a growing threat posed by off-road vehicle misuse and to assist overmatched land managers in addressing ORV use impacts.[38] These campaigns in part have prompted congressional hearings about the growing impact of unmanaged off-road vehicle use.
The House Natural Resources Committee Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands held an oversight hearing on "The Impacts of Unmanaged Off-Road Vehicles on Federal Land" on March 13, 2008.[39] A second hearing on off-highway vehicle (OHV) management on public lands was held by the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee on June 5, 2008.[40] The Senate committee hearing was convened to find out why the agencies are failing to grapple with the negative impacts of off-road vehicle use on US public lands and what the agencies might need to start doing differently. For the first time in perhaps a decade, members of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee grilled leaders of the Forest Service and the BLM about why off-road vehicle use is being allowed to damage America's national treasures.
Taking center stage in the discussion was the "travel planning process", a complex analysis and decision-making procedure to designate appropriate roads and trails. Both the Forest Service and BLM have been engaged in somewhat similar travel planning processes now for years, but some of the committee members didn't seem to think those processes were going along so well. "The BLM has identified travel management on its lands as ‘one of the greatest management challenges’ it faces," stated committee Chairman Jeff Bingaman, D-NM. "Likewise, the Forest Service has identified unmanaged recreation — including ORV use — as one of the top four threats to the management and health of the National Forest System. Despite these statements, it seems to me that neither agency has been able to successfully manage off-road use."
"Existing rules for managing off-road vehicles are not being enforced," Bingaman added, and the agencies are ignoring unregulated use "with significant consequences for the health of our public lands and communities, and adverse effects on other authorized public land uses."
Off-Road Vehicle Damage
Negative environmental effects caused by a motorcycle to a portion of the Los Padres National Forest
Damage that occurred when vehicles left the posted trail in Anza-Borrego Desert State Park
In gaming
[edit]
Main page: Category:Off-road racing video games
Video games that allow users to off-road include Forza Horizon, Dirt Series, MudRunner, Grand Theft Auto V, Dakar Desert Rally, and the MotorStorm series.
See also
[edit]
All-terrain vehicle
Amphibious vehicle
Approach and departure angles
Baja Bug
Breakover angle
Dirt Bike
Dual-sport motorcycle
Game viewer vehicle
Mountain bike
Mud bogging
Overlanding
Ramp travel index
Ride height
Side-by-side
Trophy truck
Further reading
[edit]
Environmental Hazards of Dune Bashing
References
[edit]
Notes
[edit]
^International Organization of Professional Drivers(PDF).
^The Jeep Guru. "Why Are Jeep Rubicons So Expensive?". Rig Rebel. Archived from the original on 2023-10-01. Retrieved 2021-10-20.
^"15 of the Best Off-Road Vehicles You Can Buy". MotorTrend. 2021-06-09. Retrieved 2021-10-20.
^Thompson, Macaulay (2022-04-04). "All You Need to Know about Dune Bashing in Dubai - Travel Dudes". Retrieved 2023-09-24.
^"Sand Duning and Off-roading in the Desert - Surf The Sand". sand-boarding.com. 5 September 2020. Retrieved 2022-06-08.
^"Prerunner Building 101". Off Road Xtreme. 2018-06-20. Retrieved 2019-09-23.
^"When Rock Crawling Turned Rock Racing". DrivingLine. 2015-04-30. Retrieved 2023-09-24.
^United States Forestry Service. "Willamette National Forest". Retrieved 19 May 2013.
^"Muddy Run Raceway Rules". muddyrunraceway.com. Archived from the original on 11 January 2017. Retrieved 1 September 2016.
^US Gov't. "USFS". Retrieved 19 May 2013.
^Nulty, Leo (2015-02-04). "Sporting Trials (Mudplugging)". Motorsport.ie. Retrieved 2025-04-10.
^"History of Trials". Stroud and District Motor Club. 2018-03-08. Retrieved 2025-04-10.
^Deysel, A. J. (2019-11-11). "Differential Gear Ratio to Tire Size Guide | Modifind.com - Off Road". Retrieved 2020-02-17.
^"Off-Road Spotting Basics: "Left. No, no your other left!"". RoverGuide. 2011-12-29. Archived from the original on 2016-04-02. Retrieved 2018-01-19.
^"Come Ride With Me! Daily Life with a Lifted Jeep Wrangler JK (Video) - The Fast Lane Truck". tfltruck.com. 11 January 2018. Retrieved 2018-01-19.
^Gambino, Joe (2020-12-13). "Off-Roading 101 - Driving Tips and Equipment". Rogue Fabrication. Retrieved 2022-02-19.
^"CCV - Cross Country Vehicle". nero.org.uk. Retrieved 2023-11-11.
^"USDA Forest Service - Caring for the land and serving people" (PDF). fs.fed.us. Archived from the original on November 19, 2004.
^"Sierra Club Conservation Policies". Archived from the original on December 1, 2006.
^"Off-Road Vehicles and Public Lands: A National Problem". Archived from the original on December 14, 2006.
^Wolfe, Christopher; Buck, Brenda; Miller, Aubrey; Lockey, James; Weis, Christopher; Weissman, David; Jonesi, Alexander; Ryan, Patrick (November 2017). "Exposure to naturally occurring mineral fibers due to off-road vehicle use: A review". International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental Health. 220 (8): 1230–1241. Bibcode:2017IJHEH.220.1230W. doi:10.1016/j.ijheh.2017.07.003. PMID 28778427.
^Rice, Kathleen C. "National Collection of Imperiled Plants - Pholisma sonorae". Center for Plant Conservation. Archived from the original on 4 November 2012. Retrieved 8 June 2012.
^"Mojave lizard may get protection; off-road vehicles are cited as threat". Los Angeles Times. 12 January 2008. Archived from the original on December 4, 2008.
^"Officials seek to protect desert reptile". Las Vegas Review-Journal. January 11, 2008. Archived from the original on December 5, 2008.
^"Recent questions and answers". CarrierAdda QnA. Archived from the original on July 11, 2015.
^Rogers, Jedediah S. (2013). Roads in the Wilderness: Conflict in Canyon Country. University of Utah Press. doi:10.1353/book41428. ISBN 978-1-60781-312-5.
^"Addressing the Ecological Effects of Off-Road Vehicles | the Wilderness Society". Archived from the original on 2008-11-28. Retrieved 2009-01-19.
^"The Impacts of Off-Road Vehicle Noise on Wildlife". Archived from the original on 2010-12-25.
^"Frequently Asked Questions about Noise Pollution -- for Local Government" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-02-07. Retrieved 2006-10-27.
^ ab"Off-road Routes in Mojave Desert Found Illegal". wilderness.org. Archived from the original on 2012-04-15. Retrieved 2009-10-09.
^ ab"Judge rejects federal plan for SoCal desert routes". mercurynews.com.
^ abcSahagun, Louis (September 30, 2009). "Judge rejects U.S. management plan for California desert". Los Angeles Times.
^"Caribbean-Florida Water Science Center (CFWSC)". Archived from the original on 2006-09-22. Retrieved 2006-10-18.
^"Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility: Off-Road Wreckreation - Home". Archived from the original on 2008-05-09. Retrieved 2010-01-09.
^"Committee on Natural Resources". Archived from the original on 2008-03-26.
^"U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources". www.energy.senate.gov.
Bibliography
[edit]
Allen, Jim; Weber, James J. (2021). The Four-Wheeler's Bible: The Complete Guide to Off-Road and Overland Adventure Driving (3rd ed.). Beverly, MA, USA: Motorbooks. ISBN 9780760368053.
External links
[edit]
Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Offroad driving.
Media related to Off-roading at Wikimedia Commons
Man-made erosion, The National Trust (UK)
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About Sandrail
Lightweight off-road vehicle
Sandrail at Dumont Dunes CA 2011
A sandrail, also called a sand rail, rail, or sand car, is a lightweight off-road motor vehicle specifically built for traveling in sandy terrain. Synonymously referred to as dune buggies, a sandrail is a type of speciality vehicle.[1] They are popularly operated on actual sand dunes. Sandrails can be driven on other types of terrain but are designed specifically for sand.
History
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Sandrail, 1973Sandrail frame advertisement circa 1978
At the end of World War II thousands of soldiers returning from the war had spent years driving Jeeps, tanks, and half-tracks with few or no roads. Having an increased disposable income, these GIs formed the original core of off-road enthusiasts. Initially, they used surplus Jeeps and cut-up cars to build their off-road vehicles. Soon these "off-roaders" discovered that with little more than a skid plate, they could get a stock air-cooled Volkswagen Beetle to go almost anywhere.[2] Throughout the 1950s the sport continued to develop.
In 1958 Pete Beiring of Oceano, Calif., took the body frame or "pan" from a damaged Volkswagen and shortened it into a new machine that eventually became the precursor to the dune buggy. This eventually led to the first production dune buggy called the "Sportster", which was developed around 1960 by the EMPI Imp Company. It was an angular sheet metal vehicle built on a stripped-down Volkswagen chassis. Many others followed including the ever popular Meyers Manx design.[3] Dune buggies had a style all their own with fiberglass siding and other "heavy" body features.
As the late 1960s and early '70s approached, enthusiasts developed lighter and more powerful sand vehicles capable of ascending steeper and higher dunes. Many started experimenting at home by building super light weight vehicle frames from metal tubing, often without a roll cage. Many were nothing more than a frame, engine, transmission, wheels and one or two seats. Because of their versatility, light weight and simplicity the air-cooled Volkswagen engine and transmission were the power plant of choice for many owners. By placing the motor and transmission in the rear of the frame it allowed the front of the sandrail to remain extremely light and thus able to "float" over the sand dunes. An added value of placing the engine in the rear of the vehicle was that heat created by the motor did not blow into the face of the driver and passengers. From the 1970s forward, sandrail builders continued to push the delicate balance between weight and power.
Body style
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Dumont Dunes sandrail video
When it comes to serious sand dunes, most off-road vehicles including those with four wheel drive are relatively top heavy and can only safely climb or descend steep hills with a mostly perpendicular approach to inclines or downhills. In the case of driving up a steep sand dune, many would simply "dig-in" and get stuck.
Sandrails are ultra lightweight vehicles often weighing in at 800 and 1500 pounds (≈363 and ≈680 kg). They typically use high flotation smooth or farm implement front tires and special rear paddle tires, allowing it to skim over the surface of the sand without getting stuck. A sandrail has a low center of gravity, permitting it to make tight turns even on the face of a sand dune.
Sandrail frames are built from a tubular space frame chassis that incorporates an integrated roll cage. The distinction between a sandrail and dune buggy or sand car is that the sandrail will rarely have windows, doors, fenders, or full body panels. The sandrail will also be a lighter weight vehicle compared to the sandcar. On most sandrails, the engine is typically at the rear. Some sandrails also use a mid-engine configuration. This design offers favorable weight distribution and traction, which is very desirable for dune "hill-climbing".
Engines and fuel
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170HP Volkswagen mid-engine performance sandrail engine.Note that the engine air intake filters have been unscrewed from the intakes for either cleaning or display purposes (See the two vertical pipes closest to the camera at the center-right of the image, and the second set of pipes in the background).
Originally becoming popular in the 1960s, sandrails used lightweight air-cooled engines like the Volkswagen engine from the VW Beetle and Porsche (~200 pounds) or the Chevrolet Corvair, Mitsubishi Minica and Cosworth DFV (~350 pounds). Because of the availability of affordable parts, the Volkswagen engine continues to be the mainstay of many sandrails today. At some point in the late 1970s in the wake of the Ford Pinto product liability cases, the first alternative engine was sourced from the Pinto, primarily the 2.0L and 2.3L. More recently, some enthusiasts have turned to lighter weight water-cooled engines such as the Subaru boxer or GM Ecotec engines.[4]
The need for more power comes from necessity and desire when driving in steep sand dunes. This has driven sandrail engine builders to add performance features to engines such as the stock (24 to 50 horse power) Volkswagen engine. These include: larger pistons, turbochargers, dual racing carburetors, fuel injection, and high performance cylinder heads. Some performance engines can run on premium unleaded gasoline. However, many high performance engines must use racing fuel or fuel additives. A high performance sandrail Volkswagen engine can produce well into the 170-200+ horse power range and as high as 700 horse power with methanol fuel.[5]
Most sandrails use a manual transmission, although automatic transmissions are used as well.[6][page needed]
Accessories
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Early sandrails often consisted of little more than a steering wheel, brakes and accelerator. However, today an entire industry is built around all kinds of accessories such as HID and LED headlamps, radios, passenger communications headsets and GPS navigation devices.
Other applications
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US Navy SEAL sandrail, 2010
Some states in the USA, such as Arizona and Utah, allow the registration of sandrails and other primarily off-road vehicles for "on-road" use. In these states, sandrails registered for on-road use usually must meet the minimum insurance coverage required by normal vehicles.[7] Additionally, they may require modifications to be road worthy. These requirements typically include a wind shield, turning signals, and license plate. These requirements may vary by state.
Sandrails have been employed by US state authorities, the United States Border Patrol and even the military. They are still in use today by the Navy SEALs. The military design of these vehicles is based on the Chenowth Advanced Light Strike Vehicle model and have been modified for a third seat above the engine to control a .50 caliber machine gun and other armaments. State authorities, such as rangers at sand dune parks sometimes employ sandrails, removing the passenger seat to convert the sandrail into a makeshift ambulance with a stretcher.
Although sandrails are primarily designed for the sand, they have been successfully used on "soft pack" dirt, mud and even snow. Some of these types of applications usually require the use of off-road type tires versus "sand" tires. They are typically not well suited for rocky terrain due to their mostly limited suspension and lighter duty frames.
Safety
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Accidents most often occur in collisions with other off-road vehicles, and are frequently the result of not being seen. In many dune areas, all sand vehicles (motorcycles, quads, sandrails, UTVs and sandcars) are required to use an eight-foot antenna whip and flag. This is critical to being seen by other vehicles as a driver traverses from one dune to the next.[8] Most sandrails employ a variety of safety features for the driver and passengers. The most common is the use of a three-point safety belt system. Many sand rails also utilize roll bar padding and fire extinguishers. More advanced safety features sometimes include: arm and wrist restraints, netting for large frame openings, automatic fuel cut-off switches and horns. Additionally, the use of eye protection (goggles and ballistic-grade glasses) is considered a necessity. Finally, the use of helmets while "duning" is increasing due to the advances in performance. Sand associations along with state and federal land management agencies work to provide dune safety information through pamphlets, online and in classes.
Future, industry and associations
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Sandcar at Silver Lake Sand Dunes
Due to its economical cost to build and maintain, access to new parts and good balance between weight and power, the sandrail continues to be used by many enthusiasts today.[9] However, the heavier and typically more powerful sandcar now represents another style for duners.[1] This style often employs mammoth cars weighing several thousand pounds and using highly advanced suspension systems and transmissions coupled with large performance V8 engines such as the latest GM LS engine series, Ford Coyote engine series or Range Rover engine series.
Associations such as ASA hold events throughout the year in some parts of the country for sand racing and hill climbing. Additionally, these associations provide representation for enthusiasts with legislators and land management officials.
References
[edit]
^ ab
Brandt, Marlin (February 18, 2012). "Informal survey of 100 people at Dumont Dunes 2012".
^Hibbard, Jeff (1983). Baja Bugs & Buggies. HP books. pp. 2–3. ISBN 978-0-89586-186-3.
^Dune Buggy History. "Dune Buggy History". Dune Buggy Archives.
It was an amazing experience driving through the desert with a 4x4, having a great dinner in the camp with good entertainment. And our driver Mohammed was awesome: very friendly, always pointing out interesting things to see and thankfully very skilled when driving through the dunes.
Arabian Nights Tours Camp in Abu Dhabi, UAE, offers an immersive desert adventure experience. Located in the heart of the Arabian desert, the camp provides guests with a traditional Bedouin-style setting, complete with comfortable tents and authentic decor. Visitors can enjoy a range of activities, including dune bashing, camel rides, and sandboarding. The camp also features cultural entertainment such as belly dancing, henna painting, and traditional music. Guests are treated to a sumptuous buffet of Arabic cuisine under the stars, making for a memorable and picturesque desert experience. Arabian Nights Tours Camp combines adventure, culture, and relaxation in a stunning desert landscape.
Desert Safari Dubai - Dune Buggy Rental & ATV Quad Bike Tours - Marasi Drive - Dubai - United Arab Emirates, Lake Central Tower 4th Floor - Office 404 مراسي درايف - الخليج التجاري - دبي - United Arab Emirates
Desert Safari Dubai - Dune Buggy Rental & ATV Quad Bike Tours - Marasi Drive - Dubai - United Arab Emirates, Lake Central Tower 4th Floor - Office 404 مراسي درايف - الخليج التجاري - دبي - United Arab Emirates
Desert Safari Dubai - Dune Buggy Rental & ATV Quad Bike Tours - Marasi Drive - Dubai - United Arab Emirates, Lake Central Tower 4th Floor - Office 404 مراسي درايف - الخليج التجاري - دبي - United Arab Emirates
Desert Safari Dubai - Dune Buggy Rental & ATV Quad Bike Tours - Marasi Drive - Dubai - United Arab Emirates, Lake Central Tower 4th Floor - Office 404 مراسي درايف - الخليج التجاري - دبي - United Arab Emirates
Desert Safari Dubai - Dune Buggy Rental & ATV Quad Bike Tours - Marasi Drive - Dubai - United Arab Emirates, Lake Central Tower 4th Floor - Office 404 مراسي درايف - الخليج التجاري - دبي - United Arab Emirates
Desert Safari Dubai - Dune Buggy Rental & ATV Quad Bike Tours - Marasi Drive - Dubai - United Arab Emirates, Lake Central Tower 4th Floor - Office 404 مراسي درايف - الخليج التجاري - دبي - United Arab Emirates
Desert Safari Dubai - Dune Buggy Rental & ATV Quad Bike Tours - Marasi Drive - Dubai - United Arab Emirates, Lake Central Tower 4th Floor - Office 404 مراسي درايف - الخليج التجاري - دبي - United Arab Emirates
Desert Safari Dubai - Dune Buggy Rental & ATV Quad Bike Tours - Marasi Drive - Dubai - United Arab Emirates, Lake Central Tower 4th Floor - Office 404 مراسي درايف - الخليج التجاري - دبي - United Arab Emirates
Desert Safari Dubai - Dune Buggy Rental & ATV Quad Bike Tours - Marasi Drive - Dubai - United Arab Emirates, Lake Central Tower 4th Floor - Office 404 مراسي درايف - الخليج التجاري - دبي - United Arab Emirates
Desert Safari Dubai - Dune Buggy Rental & ATV Quad Bike Tours - Marasi Drive - Dubai - United Arab Emirates, Lake Central Tower 4th Floor - Office 404 مراسي درايف - الخليج التجاري - دبي - United Arab Emirates
What is the best time for Quad Biking Tours Dubai?
Morning and evening sessions offer the best conditions for Quad Biking Tours Dubai. Morning tours provide cooler temperatures while evening tours feature stunning sunset views over the dunes.
What types of quad bikes are available for Quad Biking Tours Dubai?
Our Quad Biking Tours Dubai fleet includes COBRA Single Seater quad bikes for beginners and standard Single Seater Quad Bikes and powerful Yamaha Grizzly models for experienced riders.
Where do Quad Biking Tours Dubai take place?
Our Quad Biking Tours Dubai operate in stunning desert locations including the Red Dunes Lahbab Desert Al Awir and Al Qudra areas offering varied terrain and spectacular scenery.