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

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.

agree as i said above......

I think you would only have to get the rope caught around the prop-shaft or wheel just once to reconsider the "walking" idea.

KISS

So I just found out I can get GRP grating, 38x38x38 (thicker than the 30mm sold as "4x4 matting"). A 1220x3660 sheet which should yield 5 or 6 pairs. Making them about $160/set based on a sheet and 5 sets.

I got a set for Christmas, and they are a good product.
I haven't had to use them yet (no bad thing!) but I think they will be quite effective no matter the surface.

the rope thing, those worried about it getting caught, could always try bailing twine instead of actual rope, its very strong but if anything did happen to get snagged, the twine will break, so no damage done to anything.

The rope thing is actually tought on desert driving technique and deep sand condition courses. I've not seen it done with Maxtrax, but the old aluminium "sand ladders" as used on the Camel Trophy would have a good length of paracord tied to their fronts and looped outwards away from the wheels and then tied to the tow bar. I've seen it done down the middle under the car, but the propshaft would scare me as well.

The theory is that when you manage to get rolling and maintain momentum you want to avoid stopping and the sand ladders will ultimately end up following you at a safe distance as they are dragged along untill you've cleared the soft section (or untill you bog again as is usually the case in the Namib!).

The paracord does snap now and then if the ladder digs in and I would defintely not try it in rocks or where there are roots and snaggy bit to catch the lot up.

So ultimately everybody has valid points, but I can see this working if you are on a very soft section of beach on your own (spot the problem in that statement...!)

Cheers,

Lou

Rope is very useful on maxtrax in sand and mud. I don't tie it to the vehicle though. Just put it to the side to assist with locating the maxtrax if they get buried.
Much easier to leave the wife and kids behind to recover the maxtrax while you drive off to find solid or dry ground.

I've used mine more on other vehicles and mostly in sand. A very safe and quick way to get a vehicle moving again. Great for self recovery where winching is difficult.

if your worried about the rope getting caught on something, your doing it wrong.

red is the maxtrax
blue is the rope

sometimes the soft stuff doesnt end for 1000m.
thats 10min walk each way plus trying to remember where they got left.
personally i dont like leaving a $250 item 1000m behind me half in the sand where they can be stolen or damage another car.
if they do damage another car, who they going to blame... you would be liable.