anyone used the cheap traction pads on amazon?

bradze

bradze

Forum Member
Joined
May 27, 2012
Messages
85
Location
yelm, wa
it doesn't seem like the Maxtrax or Tredz traction boards are worth $300. i was thinking about just using cut up milk crates but i found these and they're not too expensive. can even be used as a wheel chock which is cool. [ame="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01BI80R2S?psc=1"]https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01BI80R2S?psc=1[/ame]
 
yeah, the ones i linked to basically are milk crates, just not ghetto looking.
 
I've used them once, burrowed from a guy with an old FJ cruiser. He loved them. You have to take of much more gently with them as any excessive wheel spin just pulls them under the tyre with out moving the car. He said you have to take of slowly in low range to get the car up on the tracks, stop, shift to high range and then take off normally. I just spun them under my wheel the first time as Forester low range is terrible :p but once you're familiar with them they grip the tyre better and are longer, plus they use less room.
 
Is it auto or manual? Doesn't really matter, they just mean don't take off in a hurry
 
The ones Nachaluva bought of ebay are copies of the Treds that I have. I would not recommend the soft recovery tracks as in deep soft sand they will probably just get spat out by wheel spin.
In the four years I have had the Treds I have never needed them myself but last year within the first hour of the Big Desert trip they were used by my fellow travellers 3 or 4 times. In one of the recoveries one of the Treds was push at least 2 foot under the sand and required a fair amount of digging to find it.
 
I saw the FJ cruiser use the soft tracks at least 6 times. Was a very soft beach and he was having a lot of trouble getting into position to tow an L series out which was buried to the axles. His soft tracks worked for him every time with his low range. If you have an auto you might be able to take off slow enough, but I wouldn't recommend them for a manual subaru as you have to slip the clutch too much.

Maxtrax work great on Subaru's, I've used them hundreds of times. (yes I get bogged a lot, part of the fun) If you're not buried to the axles then they get you out easy first time. I'm sure any of those plastic tracks will work great.
 
i have a cvt or auto if you prefer. i guess ill be better spending actual money
 
bradze said:
it doesn't seem like the Maxtrax or Tredz traction boards are worth $300.
Click to expand...

that came up in another thread too…
bradze said:
are either worth the price? how do DIY milk crates made into traction boards compare? maybe already mentioned, didn't read all 5 pages.
Click to expand...

watch this [ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nJ8U2C-2jU4"]milkcrate vs rug vs Maxtrax vs Treds[/ame] and tell us which product you think won

Bear in mind that taking 30% or more, of the air out of the tires has a HUGE benefit to get out of sand. This strategy relies on carrying a Tire Inflator
91AzWiG02qL._SL1500_.jpg

and Tire pressure gauge and deflator.
I like these Staun 2
5A13ABE1-1EFA-4BDC-A7A0-1976CC9B5A81_zpskjequoy6.jpg

this is another option
129_1212_10%2btire_deflator_shootout%2bcurrie_ez_deflator


Even with Maxtrax, if the tires are at full pressure and there is more deep sand ahead, the vehicle will drive out of one hole, and sink into the next one, until air is removed from the tires.. [ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z1QP1C6fZ_c"]watch this video to see that happen[/ame]

that vehicle is a VW Syncro Doka
the front diff has a Viscous Coupling, that Subaru also uses. The VC sends power to the front wheels when the rear wheels spin faster, which is why the vehicle drives low in the back when he is powering out of the soft dry sand at the end of the day.

The sun is setting, and the pressure is on to get off the beach before possibly being flooded at high tide. Note that the Maxtrax definitely saved him, twice!

he started at 45 psi, dropped to 20psi and got stuck again after coming off the matrix. He then dropped to 14psi and drove out after launching off the Maxtraxx.

now watch the percentages.. 14 psi is 31% of his street pressure

in my Outback, that would mean the 30psi street pressure (which rises to about 33 in actual use), would need to be deflated to 10psi in order to drive over sand as deep as the video.

that also suggests that you might not need the Maxtrax in the first place, if you know in advance, and the tires are aired down for deep sand before driving into it..

otoh, Maxtrax are very convenient when stuck in a small patch of deep sand that acts as an obstacle on a roadway that does not have long deep sand sections.. Maxtrax in that situation can save the effort of airing down and back up again.

another option mentioned
Robbks said:
Good for sand and mud by the looks of it

TO20868_1.jpg
Click to expand...

I respectfully disagree, but have not tried them

my take on the DEEP sand recovery options is that stiff devices like Maxtrax are more effective than things that bend
 
Last edited:
i ended up buying smittybilt traction boards. $150 pr, i got a whole set for less than i wouldve paid for 2 maxtrax.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top