Skills honed in snowy Iceland put to use in UAE

This content was originally posted in 7DAYS UAE website at: Skills honed in snowy Iceland put to use in UAE An Icelandic firm that turns 4x4s into Arctic adventurers may seem a little out of its natural habitat in the UAE. However, Arctic Trucks ME is proving sand and snow have more in common than you might think. The firm, which opened up in the emirates in 2010, specialises in modifying vehicles for harsh environments, such as the desert or glaciers, building up a global reputation since 1990. Among those who have come knocking at its door are Toyota and the team from hit BBC motoring show Top Gear. Together they set out for the North Pole in one of the series most well-known escapades. Now, after five years of building up the business in the UAE, the firm is branching out with an off-road club and trips to Iceland to learn how to drive in the snow. The types of modifications Arctic Trucks ME specialises in include wheels, tyres, suspension and cosmetics. Many of the parts are made by or for the firm, so you can have a 4×4 that looks different to the other modified cars on, and off, road as other firms tend to use parts from the same importer. The Toyota Prado driven by Hjalti Hjaltisen, general manager of Arctic Trucks ME, is testament to this, having received a thorough make-over, including suspension, fenders, lights and paint. However, Hjaltisen admits the firm took a while to adapt to the heat. “There’s a lot of similarity between sand and snow,” he says. “These two sports activities both require you to modify your car and that’s what we know. “We had a tendency at the start to try to copy and paste what we knew from Iceland. It took us a while to realise that you have to specialise for sand and for the market.” Hjaltisen adds: “The main difference between snow and sand is that here you need much better suspension because you use smaller tyres and you need much more horsepower, whereas in the snow you use balloon tyres, which give you a lot of suspension, and then you need a lot of torque. “If you are climbing dunes, the more speed you have and the more power you have, you go up. In snow it doesn’t work, you have to have patience to get the flotation on the snow then you have to maintain that. If you hammer everything at full speed then you’ll come down, it is like sailing a boat – you have to find that balance.” Many people view modification as expensive. However, Hjaltisen says the key is to understand what you want from your car. “You can start with changing the suspension a little bit. You can spend from Dhs5,000 to Dhs50,000 on suspension. With the 50,000 one you can jump off a roof but that doesn’t mean a normal person in a family car wants to jump off a roof. He just wants to go into the desert.” He adds: “The key for us is safety, road handling and after-service. For customers who come to us it should be headache-free. “If something happens you can always come back and we will sort it out.” Arctic Trucks has launched an off-road club for anyone who is new to the hobby. Hjalti Hjaltisen, general manager of Arctic Trucks ME, says: “Our feeling was that there was a lot of people out there who don’t want to join the big clubs, they just want to go occasionally and don’t want to do anything crazy. “So, we thought let’s establish a club and invite anyone who wants to go but keep it mainly focused on newbies. Just go easy, have fun.” The club will meet every month throughout the winter and it’s free to join in. However, places must be booked by calling 04 885 5151 or emailing info@arctictrucks.ae.   Iceland Adventure  If you fancy driving on snow then Arctic Trucks can make that happen. Off-roading enthusiasts can join a team of experts on a tour of Iceland from March 10 to 14, 2016, where they will learn how to drive in different types of snow, through rivers and in other off-road conditions. “Only a few people have had the opportunity to sit behind the wheel of a powerful 4×4 in one of the world’s most unique places,” says Hjalti Hjaltisen, general manager of Arctic Trucks ME. “This will truly be a remarkable experi­ence for local off-roading enthusiasts. After attempting the sandy dunes of the UAE, he or she will get a chance to tackle the icy caps and terrains of Iceland.” The trip costs Dhs16,900, including flights, accommodation and meals. For more details call 04 885 5151, email info@arctictrucks.ae or visit www.arctictrucks.ae simon@7days.ae Read the original story at: Skills honed in snowy Iceland put to use in UAE