BajaNomad - Recover Boards or Tracks

Recover Boards or Tracks

KRB - 4-30-2021 at 06:10 PM

I am poking at buying some recovery boards or tracks to help in launching and retrieving a boat from the beach. Any of you off roaders have a recommendation on a brand?

To me they all look the same but vary in price from less than $100 to over $500??

JZ - 4-30-2021 at 06:19 PM

I have MaxTrax mounted to the side of the truck.

I'm sure you can get cheaper, but you often get what you pay for.

David K - 4-30-2021 at 06:23 PM

or... just let more air out of your tires! :light:

Paulina - 5-1-2021 at 05:35 AM

We use two WW 2 ******* Mats to retrieve our panga when airing down isn’t enough.

P>*)))>{

On Edit: for some reason the name of the landing mat is being edited out of my post. Let’s try to spell it creatively and see what happens. “Mars + ton”

[Edited on 1-5-2021 by Paulina]

mtgoat666 - 5-1-2021 at 06:17 AM

Quote: Originally posted by KRB

I am poking at buying some recovery boards or tracks to help in launching and retrieving a boat from the beach. Any of you off roaders have a recommendation on a brand?

To me they all look the same but vary in price from less than $100 to over $500??

The plastic ones sold to off-roaders are short and spendy.
2x8 lumber will do the trick, for temporary stable tire track...
Also, you can get landing mats or traction mats at some military surplus.

pacificobob - 5-1-2021 at 06:53 AM

the real military surplus one are available in steel. [ check the military surplus sites] the aluminium ones are super rare.
the modern plastic ones are a "daddy's helper" waste of money ..IMO.
i always carry a plastic bucket for a hundred reasons...one of which is wetting sand
to gain traction. some use door mats, gunny sacks ect.
the plastic ones may have the benefit of making you look like a baja badass.

[Edited on 5-1-2021 by pacificobob]

pacificobob - 5-1-2021 at 06:56 AM

Quote: Originally posted by David K

or... just let more air out of your tires! :light:

who didn't see that coming?
valid council however

advrider - 5-1-2021 at 07:01 AM

If you aren't going to lug them around in your vehicle, I would do as Goat suggested. Some pressure treated 2x8 with expanded metal or carpet nailed/glued would work good. You could use some metal stair treads from the scrap yard hooked together as well?

Mr. Bills - 5-1-2021 at 07:06 AM

I recently encountered a Canadian snowbird in San Felipe who reported great success using worn out snowmobile tracks as traction mats.

Apparently they come in sections which are the perfect size.

mtgoat666 - 5-1-2021 at 07:24 AM

Other products I have seen that work are horse stall mats, and scrap conveyor belt.

pacificobob - 5-1-2021 at 08:11 AM

the conveyer belt sounds excellent. if laid flat it would use minimal space.

mtgoat666 - 5-1-2021 at 08:27 AM

Quote: Originally posted by pacificobob

the conveyer belt sounds excellent. if laid flat it would use minimal space.

Every time I have gotten stuck I have used floor mats, scrap wood, sticks and whatever is on hand to get out. Why plan ahead with spendy/bulky material if garbage and floor mats will get you out?

RFClark - 5-1-2021 at 09:19 AM

We have 2 like this picture. I first saw them in Africa, a South African was carrying a pair that he made from old tires.

The pair we have came from Amazon! I’m not impressed with them especially when your wheels dig in! Lowering the pressure and the water bucket work way better.

Spend the money on a good battery powered air pump!

B2494A56-91E7-41AA-92D1-6D910FC99B1E.jpeg - 112kB

motoged - 5-1-2021 at 11:07 AM

Quote: Originally posted by David K

or... just let more air out of your tires! :light:

But that doesn't look as cool parked at Starbucks... :biggrin:

Lots of folks are over-equipping themselves for day outings or weekend camping....and want to look like hardcore "overlanders"....

I have seen $200,000 motorhomes with that backpack garbage/collect-all bag hanging off the back. Here is a video showing how to mount the bag despite the disclaimer of "don't do this":
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hzsg9JfHX3A.

If you need those instructions, lord help you outback.

Low-tech often works better. Some folks carry a few shingle sheets. :light:

[Edited on 5-1-2021 by motoged]

pacificobob - 5-1-2021 at 11:10 AM

Quote: Originally posted by motoged

Quote: Originally posted by David K

or... just let more air out of your tires! :light:

But that doesn't look as cool parked at Starbucks... :biggrin:

or...parked in front of your hairdresser

motoged - 5-1-2021 at 11:24 AM

Well, there is "the real thing" .... and then the wannabe posers.

Emperor's clothing kinda thing.

The rig in the vid looks designed for the application....and the guy knows how to chill....before he aired down .... and mosied on.

Cliffy - 5-2-2021 at 07:40 AM

I used to use plain ol chain link fencing'
Carried rolls of 2 foot wide sections that I laid on the sand.
Could drive right over it and never sink in.

Also good if you get stuck in a hole
Just jack up the vehicle, fill the hole and lay down the fencing
You can drive away and then pick up the fencing.

[Edited on 5-2-2021 by Cliffy]

Mr. Bills - 5-2-2021 at 08:12 AM

Quote: Originally posted by KRB

Maxtrax run $299/pair and are generally considered a top-of-the-line commercial recovery board.

X-Bull seem to get decent reviews among the "off brand" commercial recovery boards and run about $100 on Amazon.

Maxsa are in between at about $150.

The primary difference between price points is thickness, weight and how they store. There are also differences in the particular plastics employed, with some of the more expensive brands claiming greater resistance to damage. Maxtrax will nest together better than the other brands which makes mounting a pair of them substantially easier and considerably less bulky than the less expensive alternatives.

When airing down wasn't enough I have used old shingles, blankets, boards, tires, sage brush and anything else I could scrounge. They all work in a pinch. However, there is a lot to be said for the convenience of a tool designed for the job, especially when one realizes that one has become a septuagenarian, so I now own a pair of Maxtrax recovery boards which I will carry on the back of my 4WD Sprinter on trips when I plan on beach camping and/or anticipate exposure to soft sand. I've heard they work well serving double duty as leveling boards in camp. We will see.

StuckSucks - 5-2-2021 at 10:29 AM

del mar - 5-2-2021 at 10:54 AM

the Corona was a surprise!

surfhat - 5-2-2021 at 12:19 PM

It always seems to be beer thirty for the Aussies.

The cheaper versions if doubled up would provide enough strength and cost less than a single pair of the Maxtracks. That they stack together is another plus.

Whether any of these would hold up on a 8,000 lb. Sprinter van is another question entirely.

Years ago, I carried ******* Matting sp? with my Ford 4wd van. It came in 10' long pieces that I cut into four 5' lengths.

It was carried on my full roof rack and I only needed it one time when I sank to the axle north of Todos Santos. Getting stuck in the first place was my fault for turning to sharp when I should not have. Duh.

After a bit of digging and sliding four of these 5' sections under each wheel, I drove right out of that pit without a problem. Yes, I did lower the tire pressures to begin with.

They were heavy and rusty. Aluminum would have been a better choice, but there was not a choice at the time that I found.

These same traction pieces also saved me on the East Cape one time in my 2 door 4wd Montero when I dropped down into a large depression in the sand and I could not drive out of no matter how low my tire pressures were. The sand was particularly soft and of a different grain make-up that had me wondering if Im would get out at all. I ultimately did with the help of these rusty old military traction pieces.

These modern plastic stackables are an improvement by far. They could be a bit longer though, or at least have that option.

If I ever needed them again, it would be the plastic versions. I had often thought of powder-coating these old steel metal pieces. The weight though remains a negative, unless one's vehicle can handle everything we bring along.

Peace, love, and fish tacos needs to be all of our mantra, and sadly it appears to have disappeared with certain posters expressing their often all too convenient biased opinions on just about everything relating to red vs. blue.

The off topic thread should be employed much more, for those who don't come here every day for others myopic viewpoint. We have enough of that exposure everywhere else in our lives.

We all love Baja and its people for what they freely give us when we go down. This appeal is worth just that and nothing more. Trolls are gonna troll. That is what they do.

Taking medical advice from anyone on this forum is a fools errand. I wish all of them would be sequestered in an off topic section so we could once again enjoy Baja Nomad for what it was and could be again.

Politics has no validity, or it should not have, on this forum. Managing this site is hard enough, and Doug is to be respected for not giving up with all the crap that shows up here on occasion.

Perhaps I am in the minority, but I don't come here for political reasons, ever. I wish others would do the same. It was not always this way a decade ago. Peace, love, and fish tacos. May it once again prevail here.

sredish - 5-2-2021 at 02:42 PM

Actiontrax with the bolts built into it. Contact them, KC is the owner and super cool.

RFClark - 5-2-2021 at 05:45 PM

The problem with filling holes and putting stuff under the tires is getting the damn rig out of the hole in the first place!

This is the easiest way I've found after 50 years of jacking and shoveling! The bag jack works with exhaust or the air pump. I have both!

I carry a few 6 gal water cans too!

6532AD3C-1405-4AB2-81E4-FD7767ED30B9.jpeg - 82kB

6532AD3C-1405-4AB2-81E4-FD7767ED30B9.jpeg - 82kB

[Edited on 5-3-2021 by RFClark]

mtgoat666 - 5-2-2021 at 06:26 PM

Quote: Originally posted by RFClark

The problem with filling holes and putting stuff under the tires is getting the damn rig out of the hole in the first place!

This is the easiest way I've found after 50 years of jacking and shoveling! The bag jack works with exhaust or the air pump. I have both!

I carry a few 6 gal water cans too!

[Edited on 5-3-2021 by RFClark]

I get stuck maybe once every five years. That beach ball looks like an expensive toy that would never get used, looks like it would be most useful for a fool that gets stuck every week.

BTW, easy to get a jack under a vehicle stuck in sand: dig small hole, place board and bottle jack (or floor type jack), and jack off! :lol:

Don Pisto - 5-2-2021 at 06:29 PM

Quote: Originally posted by mtgoat666

Quote: Originally posted by RFClark

take it from a true wanker! :rolleyes:

advrider - 5-2-2021 at 08:11 PM

surfhat, I couldn't agree more about taking the politics else where!

I also wish they would make a set of tracks that were hinged for double the length. I've used all matter of stuff, sleeping bags, brush, scrap wood and floor matts. I will add some kind of tracks to the new Baja rig when I build it.

JZ - 5-2-2021 at 08:34 PM

Quote: Originally posted by RFClark

An off-road floor jack is better if you ask me. Ours mounts to the top of the rack on the truck.

RFClark - 5-2-2021 at 08:59 PM

Can’t really how often I’ll use it to get unstuck as our rig is really light and has a winch. It’s usually someone else who we’re helping out of a hole! I have a farm jack too. I use it mostly on the ‘64 Dodge 4X4 to change tires.

The bag seemed useful for moving heavy things like boulders or trees. It’s like a fire extinguisher. How often do most people use those? But it’s a b-tch to need one and not have one!

It’s like a sand anchor how often do you use one but if you need one and don't have one!

[Edited on 5-3-2021 by RFClark]

Twotall70 - 7-30-2021 at 03:29 PM

Cheap Chines winch.

David K - 7-30-2021 at 03:36 PM

I say, why not just not get stuck in the first place, or even if you do, let out more air!

Russ - 7-30-2021 at 04:30 PM

Anyone mention a tow rope or strap in all this? Maybe a winch...

John Harper - 7-30-2021 at 04:45 PM

Quote: Originally posted by Russ

Anyone mention a tow rope or strap in all this? Maybe a winch...

What do you attach it to in the sand if you don't have another vehicle? Even a handy rock or tree is probably a faint hope. I guess a sand anchor like JZ says? Or, bury a spare tire? That's sounds fun on a hot desert day.

It seems DK's advice is most prudent. Luckily, there wasn't any sand on my latest foray in Wyoming. But, a couple muddy spots were enlightening.

John

[Edited on 7-30-2021 by John Harper]

motoged - 7-30-2021 at 06:44 PM

Far better solution..... :light:

JZ - 7-30-2021 at 08:09 PM

Quote: Originally posted by Russ

Anyone mention a tow rope or strap in all this? Maybe a winch...

I travel with a snatch strap and an offroad floor jack. It's a Pro Eagle like this one.

[Edited on 7-31-2021 by JZ]

motoged - 7-30-2021 at 08:23 PM

Ya, but Lencho settled for just the snatch .... more functional. :light:

AKgringo - 7-30-2021 at 08:39 PM

Quote: Originally posted by motoged

Ya, but Lencho settled for just the snatch .... more functional. :light:

Hmmm.....This from a guy that was so offended when I made a similar, flippant remark about "Wonder Hussey"! :?:

motoged - 7-30-2021 at 10:09 PM

Quote: Originally posted by AKgringo

Quote: Originally posted by motoged

Ya, but Lencho settled for just the snatch .... more functional. :light:

Hmmm.....This from a guy that was so offended when I made a similar, flippant remark about "Wonder Hussey"! :?:

Yep....knowing it would entertain some Nomads..... seems some Nomads appreciate the adolescent perspective .... if you can do it, it must be okay

[Edited on 7-31-2021 by motoged]

John Harper - 7-31-2021 at 05:24 AM

I carry a recovery strap and bolted a scissors jack to a 2x10 for stability. Haven't had to use either, luckily. But, my charger/starter and portable compressor both saw use in Wyoming.

John

WestyWanderer - 7-31-2021 at 07:41 AM

4 strips of old carpet that are a foot and a half wide and the length of your bed work great. Leave them laying in your bed and if you need them you got them. If you have an 8 foot bed then you have 4 8 foot long recovery boards with you at all times, gives you a long runway to get a little speed. Anything that is rather short might work at first but most of the time as soon as you get off of them you’re stuck again.

David K - 7-31-2021 at 09:04 AM

Quote: Originally posted by WestyWanderer

... Anything that is rather short might work at first but most of the time as soon as you get off of them you’re stuck again.

EXACTLY! So make your vehicle drivable in sand.. by letting half the air pressure out of the tires! This is also why you need a good air pump to refill them. This is also great with a tire plug kit so you can fix flats, easily!