Thread: MAXTRAX.........

I have had some made for local clients.
The 30mm thick I would not have considered as 'bridging' ladders but work great in sand and mud, and most that smaller lighter 4wds need. I carry a set on my camper, partly as rests for the tyres when on soft ground for levelling etc, and have used them in sand (actually on Big Red, recovering a Series 2).
I have used my set of 38mm ladders to get across a gully, and they easily handled the weight of my loaded RR, bent a lot as the weight of the vehicle was in the centre, while only the ends were on solid ground.
Horses for courses I am sure, but these are much more rugged than the plastic MaxTrax and like products.

They "say" they will be fine plus they have offered a guarantee and the price is right for the first set so there's not a lot to loose.

Over here in the west we've got these guys supplying a FRP grate (fibreglass reinforced polyester) that they claim will carry ANY 4x4 and support up to 3 tonne when used in a pair when bridging. They do however sell pretty much any dimension you might like!

Grating FRP Australia -

I've not used it myself, but if their claims are true these would be a closer replacement for the old aluminium sand ladders than the plastic "traction aids", and the price is about half of the retail price of a set of Maxtrax...

Having said all this I do actually own a set of Maxtrax, but I've not had an opiortunity to use them yet!

Cheers,

Lou

Originally Posted by mike_ie

I see this as being a lot of effort to save on simply getting out of the car afterwards and going back for them. Tied to a rope, I see the potential for them getting wrapped round something, or digging into the sand and folding up under the car itself. Put them on a long rope and theres the potential for them to bounce up like a ball on a string and do some nice panel damage.

GEE,

I think some of us are getting a little bit bogged down in the detail (pardon the pun) here !!!

I think putting them on a rope or strap is good idea if the circumstances are right, i.e having to stop to retrieve them means you risk bogging your self again or there are plenty of situations I can think of, mainly mud where walking back 20 - 30 m to retrieve these would be a major pain as well.

Now at other times, such as when you would use them to simply "pop" out of the hole you have dug yourself in, or there are obstacles on the track that could casue the dragging method to snag the maxtrax then do not attach them.

I can not recall disc2_dan saying always attach them or indeed leave them attached permanently. He just mentioned it as a handy hint he has seen used effectively.

If I ever one a set and find myself in a position to use this technique I am sure I will thank you for suggesting the idea. Otherwise it is just another useless bit of trivia I have collected along the great road of life.

Sometimes you can over think things, it is a blessing to be simple sometimes. A blessing I have a large does of.

Regards,

George

i have both MAXTRAX and the fibreglass grating..........

although by design they have different applications

fibreglass grating, mine have been retired for good as they are heavy, not easy on the hands and just a pain to use..plus i doubt i will ever need to bridge across something.

MAXTRAX, wins hands down for what i do.....light and easy to store, if i didn't tow a camper trailer on th ebeaches i probably wouldn't need the MAXTRAX, while i have them i will carry them a bit more just incase......

Grating FRP is who I'm getting some off. But the 38mm.

I have a pair to retrieve my jet ski off a Bass Strait beach where the trailer wheels were eroded too deep to easily extract even with my 6wd ARGO ATV . I have used them twice in beach driving with " no bottom shell grit,! " they suck in and stay put till a little ejection at the end!
They are essential in solo drives / replace desert ramps and high lift jacks and snatch straps mostly. But I still have afar and hand winch , snatch straps for longer trips whether solo or group! BDB

Total waste of money if you ask me, spend $20 at your local grain store and buy a dozen hessian bags.

cost next to nothing, weigh nothing, takes up no space at all, smells good, and bloody handy for all sorts of other stuff, heck you can even store your spuds or onions in them, and use em as a pillow.

get stuck , hop out , half fill a few bags with sand & chuck them under your wheels, out in a jiffy. & can never become a missile.

Work in mud too.