MaxTrax vs Pull-Pal
- Thread starter TexasTJ
- Start date
BIGdaddy
Expedition Leader
if you have a winch, a pullpal is a proven performer. It's heavy, but it's also bombproof.
I've never used a set of maxtrax, but I've watched dozens of vids of heavily bogged vehicles, be successfully recovered. A set of (4) of them carried on a set of thule bars, would weigh very little, and would be a very effective way of recovering one's self.
They, by design, could also be carried easily over to a someone else's vehicle in your convoy and used on their rig, too, without risking putting your truck in a position to get bogged.
There are some situations where a winch would be the best tool for the job (righting an overturned vehicle/moving a vehicle away from a tree it's leaning against/stabilizing a vehicle as it makes a descent/ascent/etc), but honestly, the maxtrax would solve a lot of issues related to lost traction experienced on your average overland/backcountry type off-highway excursion.
Personally, I think a winch, and a set of maxtrax would be the way I'd go. (Granted, I've already got the winch)
The socal deserts and foothills don't have a lot in the way of anchor points, but having carried and used tradtional PSP steel sand ladders for many years, and having seen first hand how effective they are, I think maxtrax is a lighter weight improvement on the older design
I've never used a set of maxtrax, but I've watched dozens of vids of heavily bogged vehicles, be successfully recovered. A set of (4) of them carried on a set of thule bars, would weigh very little, and would be a very effective way of recovering one's self.
They, by design, could also be carried easily over to a someone else's vehicle in your convoy and used on their rig, too, without risking putting your truck in a position to get bogged.
There are some situations where a winch would be the best tool for the job (righting an overturned vehicle/moving a vehicle away from a tree it's leaning against/stabilizing a vehicle as it makes a descent/ascent/etc), but honestly, the maxtrax would solve a lot of issues related to lost traction experienced on your average overland/backcountry type off-highway excursion.
Personally, I think a winch, and a set of maxtrax would be the way I'd go. (Granted, I've already got the winch)
The socal deserts and foothills don't have a lot in the way of anchor points, but having carried and used tradtional PSP steel sand ladders for many years, and having seen first hand how effective they are, I think maxtrax is a lighter weight improvement on the older design
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AFSOC
Explorer
Has anyone ever really done this? The logic seems sound but I have never heard of it being done first hand.
AFSOC
Explorer
Thanks for the feedback Frenchie. I have heard of "bury the spare" for years, yet I've never heard of anyone successfully extracting or even attempting an unstuck using the method. Glad you've tried it and that it is actually a viable option and not just an urban legend.
JIMBO
Expedition Leader
:sombrero: There's always these-
Course, if your vehicle likes to get stuck
snorkel it's never gonna be easy-
With my tires/gears/driving tech, I don't get stuck in snow/sand anymore, but I have used those Xtracs in snow too-
Mind your "Ps" and "Qs"-
:costumed-smiley-007:bike_rider: JIMBO
Course, if your vehicle likes to get stuck
snorkel it's never gonna be easy-With my tires/gears/driving tech, I don't get stuck in snow/sand anymore, but I have used those Xtracs in snow too-
Mind your "Ps" and "Qs"-
:costumed-smiley-007:bike_rider: JIMBO
BertCaldwell
New member
Just met Ben over at Outback Proven in Las Vegas, He seems like a good guy to deal with and he has all kinds of maxtrax on hand as well as all the accessories. http://www.outbackproven.com
And what do you use in a rocky desert, where digging is impossible, and there aren't trees for winching?
CruiserMog
New member
Pull-pal is FAR more versatile. Not even close in my opinion.
Last summer I was going through the same thought process - what to winch against in the Utah deserts or quick-mud stream crossings with no good anchors. I did my research and ended up with the pull-pal over sand ladders. Buying four ladders or Maxtrax is way more expensive and probably less versatile and if you're in a real bog you can pull out for most of the length of your winch line rather than resetting the ladders.
The Maxtrax seem to be pretty capable, but wow, that's some Ferrari priced plastic! At $75 each, I may have gone that direction but with less versatility in my opinion.
The Maxtrax seem to be pretty capable, but wow, that's some Ferrari priced plastic! At $75 each, I may have gone that direction but with less versatility in my opinion.
Yuman Desert Rat
Expedition Leader
Seems like a pull pal would be a lot easier.... Just saying....