US Full Size Pickups

[jezzaaa]

Hi all,

Hope you're all well. Not been on here for a while!

I've been looking at adding a 4x4 toy to my garage for a while now...I think I may have posted something on here a while back asking about off roading ability etc.

I've decided that I do want a pickup truck, and not a jeep/prado/FJ etc. I know they're not the best things off road, but I just want one, and it'll probably be good enough that my meager skills will never approach its limits anyway.

So Bin Hamooda and Al Ghandi both said that the law changed a year or so ago and that now they can register it in my (non Emirati) name with no problems. And I've called the insurance company, and the quotes are pretty reasonable.

But...I really want to lift it and put big wheels on, and I'm getting different reports from different people. Bin Hamoodah guy said if you modify it at all the police will confiscate it! Al Ghandi said they can fit a 6" lift and huge wheels before delivery and it's no problem to register in Ab Dabs.

Has anyone here got experience of modifications etc and how the police are with regard to them?

Thanks in advance,

J.

[Chilli]

My local mate had a hugely modified Jeep...Massive wheels etc, and her never had a problem....up until last year. The RTA wouldn't pass it. He had to take it home, lower it and put smaller wheels on. Of course, once it past the mods went back on again.
Looking at the amount of modified cars on the road (illegal tints included) I doubt the bib will be bothered. Still, 'doubting they will be bothered' and risk losing your motor are worlds apart.

[jezzaaa]

Chilli said:

My local mate had a hugely modified Jeep...Massive wheels etc, and her never had a problem....up until last year. The RTA wouldn't pass it. He had to take it home, lower it and put smaller wheels on. Of course, once it past the mods went back on again.
Looking at the amount of modified cars on the road (illegal tints included) I doubt the bib will be bothered. Still, 'doubting they will be bothered' and risk losing your motor are worlds apart.

Hi Chilli - this is my concern. As usual, there's no consistency, and everyone has a different story. And of course wasta plays a significant role for the locals who seem to be able to do as they like.

I reckon I just need to keep it down to a minimum...so maybe a 2" lift and with new wheels and tyres...so I can swap back to the standard rims for registration. Then it probably won't draw too much attention, provided someone else with a standard truck isn't ahead of me in the queue!

I do think having it done by Al Ghandi with approved GM kits before delivery might be a good idea. Firstly, they'll have to register it for me before I give them the money! Secondly it'll have warranty cover.

Edited to say, how much grief must it have been for your mate to lower it again!!

Edited by jezzaaa on Tuesday 21st May 14:00

[shirt]

AFAIK, dealer fitted accessories are ok with tasjeel. if they query it, you can show them the delivery invoice and all will be well. certain models and special editions will come fully kitted out. i head al tayyer have a glut of unsold specced out f-150s from a cancelled military order.

other dodges include going to certain tasjeel's. i use the one in the port [only accessible if you have a pass] and last time i went i did so 30mins before closing on a thursday. they gave me an advisory for my tow bar but ignored everything else. richb has a similar dodge for his mgb, takes it to the HGV tasjeel where they don't smog test.

[jezzaaa]

shirt said:

AFAIK, dealer fitted accessories are ok with tasjeel. if they query it, you can show them the delivery invoice and all will be well. certain models and special editions will come fully kitted out. i head al tayyer have a glut of unsold specced out f-150s from a cancelled military order.

other dodges include going to certain tasjeel's. i use the one in the port [only accessible if you have a pass] and last time i went i did so 30mins before closing on a thursday. they gave me an advisory for my tow bar but ignored everything else. richb has a similar dodge for his mgb, takes it to the HGV tasjeel where they don't smog test.

Interesting...tactics!! Ok thanks guys...I think getting the dealer fit stuff is the key as you say. It's just annoying that I have to pay double for the same stuff from them!!

[shirt]

depends what you want to do. i have 33x12" tyres, 4" lift and aftermarket bumpers. none of it was done by the dealer and i've passed 2 tasjeel inspections already.

for 1000aed you can register pretty much anything without a rollcage.

[jezzaaa]

shirt said:

depends what you want to do. i have 33x12" tyres, 4" lift and aftermarket bumpers. none of it was done by the dealer and i've passed 2 tasjeel inspections already.

for 1000aed you can register pretty much anything without a rollcage.

Hi Shirt,

I've been told is that Ab Dabs are a lot more strict than Dubai...again, it's hard to know who to believe of the people in the showroom who offer opinions, but I do of course believe you! I have just had a conversation with the accessories manager at Bin Hamoodah, and he has been told that it's actually lowering kits that Ab Dabs don't allow...and that lifting kits are allowed, in his words, provided the chassis is not altered. How you do a lift kit without altering the chassis is hard to know...but I guess he means cutting or welding. He's going to call the traffic dept and get this confirmed. He reckons you can go up to 4" lift without chassis mods, and that's plenty for me. I'll update you all if he comes back to me.

Cheers all,
J.

Edited by jezzaaa on Sunday 26th May 15:02

[shirt]

best bet it to identify which models you're interested in and join a US forum where there will be a wealth of info. on lifted suspension. gen up and choose what works for you but be aware of:

- buying quality kit. there are known issues with certain manufacturers. i.e. rubicon polybushes being made of cheshire cheese.
- lifting alters your driveline angles, so you'll need to spend money here too.
- if fitting big wheels consider twin steering dampers and look at upgrading ball joints, bearings as well. bashing about the desert fks things up quickly.
- as kit may work out cheaper but the shocks may be crap. i heartily recommend bilsteins
- anything that comes out the mouth of a UAE salesmen wrt product quality and application. i hope this is a given!

in my experience, the aftermarket sales guys here don't know st. ramy4x4 in deira were about the best. its worth looking at quadratec, summit racing etc. to compare the price of the kit in the US vs UAE.

see if you can blag a ride in a modified truck beforehand. imagine driving it everyday. on the road there WILL be times when you wish you'd taken a taxi.

[jezzaaa]

shirt said:

best bet it to identify which models you're interested in and join a US forum where there will be a wealth of info. on lifted suspension. gen up and choose what works for you but be aware of:

- buying quality kit. there are known issues with certain manufacturers. i.e. rubicon polybushes being made of cheshire cheese.
- lifting alters your driveline angles, so you'll need to spend money here too.
- if fitting big wheels consider twin steering dampers and look at upgrading ball joints, bearings as well. bashing about the desert fks things up quickly.
- as kit may work out cheaper but the shocks may be crap. i heartily recommend bilsteins
- anything that comes out the mouth of a UAE salesmen wrt product quality and application. i hope this is a given!

in my experience, the aftermarket sales guys here don't know st. ramy4x4 in deira were about the best. its worth looking at quadratec, summit racing etc. to compare the price of the kit in the US vs UAE.

see if you can blag a ride in a modified truck beforehand. imagine driving it everyday. on the road there WILL be times when you wish you'd taken a taxi.

Hi mate ... thanks for the info...I know nothing about this stuff! The using it everyday thing isn't a problem as I'll still have the Camaro for that. And I will be doing some desert offroading, but I'm likely to be very gentle. All my mates do it in standard FJs and Prados so I'm guessing we're not too extreme.

J.

[shirt]

ok. in that case i would just advise not to go too mental as to be a couple of steps above the perfomance of your mates' cars. you're fked if you get stuck where noone can come help!

[thb]

Just bag yourself a Raptor and be done with it - all the kit you need and decent looks, and they hold their value well.

Be warned, driving a US-size pickup takes a bit of getting used to and going to the mall is an arse...

[jezzaaa]

thb said:

Just bag yourself a Raptor and be done with it - all the kit you need and decent looks, and they hold their value well.

Be warned, driving a US-size pickup takes a bit of getting used to and going to the mall is an arse...

I'd love one of them...but it's more money than I really wanted to spend.

[jezzaaa]

Hey chaps,

I got one at last!

Went for the Ford F-150 in the end...and I'm really pleased I did. Aside from some of the questionable interior plastics, it's a much better designed cabin and looks really smart. It came already lifted with big wheels, so no warranty issues as they supplied it new with all that on it.

All my problems were resolved by Premier/Al Tayer re registration ... but I had to convince them that they should talk to the traffic department. After that it was all plain sailing. Actually, I was pleasantly surprised how good the guys at Premier Motors were. Once I paid 1000dhs holding deposit last Wednesday, they shipped the car over from Dubai on Monday, and I drove it away that evening!

I've been over to MotorTech in Mussafah and he's going to do an exhaust and some other bits. Really chuffed

Thanks for all the help and advice.

J.

[jezzaaa]

These are pics of it when it was still at Ras al Khor. I've removed the stupid light bar and changed the grill back to a big chrome one. Looks much better

[jezzaaa]

[dxbtiger]

So wrong but oh so right!

[Chilli]

THAT is brilliant!

[yorky500]

Oh yeah. We just picked up a silverado 2007 model. Mostly stock except for the side exhaust and 20" rims. Already to pull the trigger on a 6" lift kit from the USA, just need to speak to the store and ask about shipping

[Rubymurray]

Loved the look of these ever since I first saw them at Al Tayer!

Trying to convince the wife this would be more practical than the Edge she insisted we bought!

[jezzaaa]

Cheers guys...I've got to stop planning mods before I go too far and it looks like a local's car