Let’s take a break for a quick Kit Chat…
Getting stuck is part of off-roading, and if you haven’t gotten stuck yet…you will. There lots of ways to get yourself unstuck, but there are LOTS of factors to consider. So many factors actually that we have two Recovery courses to go over it all.
What equipment you use will depend on what type of terrain you are stuck in, and whether or not you are alone or with another vehicle.
In this chat we’re discussing traction boards. Like with every type of recovery equipment, they also have their pros and cons. A big question you have to ask yourself is, how often will you really need them? Well, that depends on your terrain. If you find yourself driving a lot on sand or in deep snow, you may want to seriously consider some type of traction board system, and spend some big money on them if you anticipate needing them a lot.
If you rarely find yourself on sand or snowy terrain, or perhaps you just want to have them for one big road trip, maybe consider buying a cheapo set off Amazon. Once again though, you get what you pay for. If you buy a cheap set, don’t expect them to survive beyond 1-2 uses, and they won’t like the cold at all.
Traditional traction boards are very handy in both sand and snow conditions, can be used as shovels, they can help bridge small crevasses, and can be used as ramps up steeper ledges which may be better than stacking heavy rocks. Your back will appreciate that. But they tend to be fairly large and clunky, and they take up a lot of space in your vehicle. It’s for this reason that a lot of off-roaders and overlanders prefer to mount them on the outside of the vehicle. They also come with a very wide range in cost and quality.
The biggest name for traditional traction boards is MaxTrax, and although they are very expensive at well over $350 for a pair, they come with a lifetime guarantee, they are stackable, and on some models you can replace the teeth. On the cheaper side, you can find generic ones on Amazon for as little as $70 but don’t expect them to hold up well. Still though…a disposable solution for under $100 is still much cheaper than getting towed out of any situation. Keep in mind though that if you live in a colder climate, plastic gets very brittle in very cold temperatures, so a cheap set will very likely break the first time you use them.
Another option to consider is GoTreads. This is a foldable system which takes up a lot less space inside your vehicle, and due to their design, they follow the contours of the ground instead of sticking up into the air. They aren’t cheap coming in at $300 for the XL kit but they do have a lifetime warranty, and I’ve found them easier to use. They are great for the overlanding crowd because they make great leveling devices with up to 4″ of lift, which can be the difference between a good nights sleep or a miserable one. Yes you can use traditional traction boards to level your vehicle also but not quite as effectively.
Now I do own both styles of traction boards, but I do prefer the GoTreads style more overall. Having said that though, I don’t generally carry either on a regular basis. In the winter though, I will put the GoTreads in the back of my Jeep because I find myself on snowy roads a lot. Now my first choice to recover either myself or someone else is always my winch, but sometimes I may not have the room to use the winch, so traction boards may be more practical.
Important note: All traction boards, regardless of what type, are poor choices in mud. The thicker the mud, the worse they perform, and as they get pushed down into the mud, you may never be able to retrieve them.
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