Mr. Emergency Traction Track
- Thread starter CuStOm
- Start date
lowrider_rt2000
Observer
YES! I used mine for sand with my Jeep and snow with my car. Worked great! I bought 3 sets last year from Walmart. For some reason they were on clearance rack for $9 a set.
sent from inside my Wj
sent from inside my Wj
Please feel free to share your opinion. Your best attempt at an unbiased one would be nice but you obviously have wisdom to share. Is the sigh because it makes you realize that your plastic is excessively expensive or is it because you cannot even believe we're discussing this?
MAXTRAX
Supporting Sponsor
You raise a valid point, so I'll try to provide some wisdom as to why we wouldn't ever make anything like this.
A recovery board needs to have a few things in order for it to be effective:
Excessive grip that interlocks with the tire's tread pattern. This allows forward movement to take place on the board itself, in even the worst conditions.
A rigid, yet flexible design that distributes weight, and allows the vehicle to be moved up and out of the sand, mud, or snow, ETC. that it's stuck in, not just drag it through.
(These would just conform to your tire once they got any weight on them, which in situations like snow and mud would mean they'd be dragged under the tire, provided they got any grip)
A design that takes advantage of the loose surface to provide stability to the ramp. With teeth and a hollow underside MAXTRAX stay put in loose ground, allowing the energy transferred by your wheels to be translated into vehicle motion, not ramp movement.
Those are just a few things pertinent to the difference in design between the two.
Our 'plastic' is expensive, but we tried over 100 different formulations to create the best product we possibly could. I wish it was cheaper to produce. We have almost $100 in engineering-grade nylon and manufacturing before it hits our warehouse...in Australia! There's a reason we're used by the Australian Defence Forces, U.S. Navy SEALs, and other elite special forces units.
AFBronco235
Crew Chief
I think for what these boards are ACTUALLY intended for, they are a good buy. Would I use them to get across Africa, no, but for the daily commute after a snow storm and plow trucks have smoothed and packed the snow down on the road, they work just fine. They are NOT meant to be used in the most extreme conditions. What they are intended for is to give a car enough traction on a packed surface but slippery surface to make it out without being towed. I don't know how much snow you get in Austrailia, but the most common accident during a snow storm is usually low speed collisions on iced over or packed snow roads where little to no damage occurs, but the spinning tires of a stuck car cause the surface snow to melt and then freeze into ice. This is where the whole floor mat and sand bag idea comes into play, but as said, that is NOT safe. A simple and cheap plastic grid on the other hand, properly used, will get said stuck car out of its predicament.
I'm not saying Maxtrax wouldn't do the same thing, or that they are overpriced for the quality that goes into them, but for a guy who'd ONLY use it for getting unstuck in the situation I just described, they are kinda stupidly overpriced and that is the market these mats are meant for. Its more a matter of "the right tool for the right job". After all, how many cars now a days can fit a set of Maxtrax boards in the truck.
I'm not saying Maxtrax wouldn't do the same thing, or that they are overpriced for the quality that goes into them, but for a guy who'd ONLY use it for getting unstuck in the situation I just described, they are kinda stupidly overpriced and that is the market these mats are meant for. Its more a matter of "the right tool for the right job". After all, how many cars now a days can fit a set of Maxtrax boards in the truck.
TravelinLight
Observer
I would agree with AFBronco on this one. The majority of people on this board would be able to get by with them on their adventures but prefer the look of something bolted to their vehicle. I am looking to by a MaxTrax set for my rig when funds allow but these would be a good alternative to have in a pinch.
Look at most build thread talking about what gets bolted on a truck are the most popular here and not much follow up afterwards on what the rig was used for. Just a build request of what can be purchased from the sponsors in any of the mags with few trips or specific type of offroading being the reaso. I would say these would get most people out of a pot hole in the mall parking lot which would be their main AO.
Let the flame response come on with this observation.
Look at most build thread talking about what gets bolted on a truck are the most popular here and not much follow up afterwards on what the rig was used for. Just a build request of what can be purchased from the sponsors in any of the mags with few trips or specific type of offroading being the reaso. I would say these would get most people out of a pot hole in the mall parking lot which would be their main AO.
Let the flame response come on with this observation.
Ducky's Dad
Explorer
I carry MaxTrax on my main truck now, because last fall I got myself seriously stuck and kicked myself hard for not having them. Would have been a long night in the desert if I hadn't found another truck to use as a winch anchor. I'd carry a set of the Mr. Emergency Traction Tracks in my other truck, because they are better than having nothing but a shovel, especially if I could find them for $9/pair as a closeout. FYI, those things come in two sizes.
My MaxTrax are bolted flat on the roof rack because there is no room left in the bed of the truck. I'd rather not have anybody notice that they are up there, but it also means I don't have to unpack the truck to deploy them when I do get stuck. It's not about looks, it's about what works.
My MaxTrax are bolted flat on the roof rack because there is no room left in the bed of the truck. I'd rather not have anybody notice that they are up there, but it also means I don't have to unpack the truck to deploy them when I do get stuck. It's not about looks, it's about what works.
Ozrockrat
Expedition Leader
Forget about recovery. After the last couple of Expo's a set of these would make a great floor mat to keep all the mud out of the camper and you could also use them for a shower floor.
But if Maxtrax would warranty their product for the weight of my truck they would be the first addition I would make. Sure would be better than the blown tire treads I had to use in Baja.
But if Maxtrax would warranty their product for the weight of my truck they would be the first addition I would make. Sure would be better than the blown tire treads I had to use in Baja.
MAXTRAX
Supporting Sponsor
Unfortunately we have to warranty for the bulk of our users who are recreational 4WDs.
How about I offer you a personal, one-time-only warranty against cracking or breakage for the weight of your truck? We've tested them with military 6X6s, Humvees, semis and fully-loaded expedition campers with no issue, I wouldn't expect to have any issues with your vehicle.
Ozrockrat
Expedition Leader
Check for an inbound PM. I am going to need a few sets in Australia and a couple of sets here (USA). Hmm I wonder if they can be part of my luggage. Throw them in a snowboard bag and the airlines might not care.