Anyone have luck with “budget” traction boards?

Floor mats do nothing, other than take time an mess up the mats. This is not a useful suggestion imo.

Do you just not use a cell phone because back in the day they had pay phones and you can just use that?

Traction boards are amazing. Once you use them you realize all the stuff you 'try to make work', is just a PITA. Even if once in a blue moon, id rather get out of the ditch in 30 minutes with little effort and less damage. Than 2 hours with tons of effort and more damage.

I had cheap boards for 2 years, they worked well until they all exploded on one very stuck day

I have now upgraded to nice high quality boards, ActionTrax brand made in the USA. With metal studs on the tips, were you need the traction most. All other studs are replaceable with the same when you mess them up. Just some nuts, bolts, and washers.

Pics for effect. Recovery boards and a shovel got me out in 1 hour.

 

Agreed. I have those as well and they've done fine for me.

 

I've had good luck with the Maxsa Innovations Escaper Buddy... got them off Amazon. Have used them a few times to get other people unstuck in snowy conditions and the boards show little to no wear.

 

Floor mats do nothing? That's weird. I could swear that I've used them successfully before. But I'm sure you're right, you were there, not me.

I never said traction boards don't work. Of course they work. duh.

I just said that given that I've been able to successfully un-stick myself (as has *everyone* who has been wheeling for more than a couple years) without the use of a $400+ piece of kit, I'd say their "necessity" is, if anything, exaggerated.

Convenience? Sure.

Necessary? No.

And a winch probably would have gotten you out in 10.

 

I was 110% wrong.

 

I don't think a parking lot fluff piece from the local news station really does much to prove anything, one way or the other.

It's cool that's the one thing you've chosen to focus on, though.

 

Floor mats will work for some instances. Just depends how bad your stuck. They aren't going to compare to traction boards but in a pinch they may get you home. They worked for me once.

 

By the reaction of some people, you'd think I claimed that floor mats are better than maxtrax. I only mentioned floor mats in passing, as one of many possible alternative strategies.


I'm a cheap bastard, and I generally make a point to suggest that others consider not throwing money at a problem first, as is my own SOP. So if there is a way I can get unstuck that doesn't involve spending $400, I'll certainly give that a whirl first, lol... so far it's worked pretty well for me.

 

I will say not owning any of any brand is that cheap ones I can only imagine are better than not having any.

 

I've carried the Amazon X-Bull boards and used them a few times but this weekend I busted one up pretty good wheeling in the snow. Probably only the third or fourth time they were used in a recovery. I had liked them a lot especially for the price, but considering something a little more pricey now, but not ready to go and spend $ on maxtracks.

 

I got one from eBay, cost about 40bucks. For what im using its worth the price. Along as you don’t used it as bridge, the off brand should work fine

 

Well, I like my floormats, so I bought some x-bull recovery tracks. Anyone have any cheap mounting options? Not trying to spend $250-$400 on a molle rack to mount some $60 boards.

 

Thats decently stuck

 

If you don’t have rack or bed cover, I would just make some hardware mount to the bed rail.

 

Bunch of ideas in here
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/show-how-you-mount-your-traction-boards.480102/

 

Don't have a great picture but mine are literally zip tied to my rack with super heavy duty panduit straps. I'd have to cut them off to use them, but I have lots more zipties. And if someone steals them, oh well.

 

There are plenty of youtube reviews of the cheap brands including X-Bull. For the money and your usage, they are a great value. If you have $300-350 laying, then sure go with MaxTrax and deal with warranty claims, cost of returning the boards for failure analysis, and waiting for a replacement. I'm in the same boat as you and plan to buya X-Bull off Amazon/Ebay.

 

Vote for the X-Bulls from me! Can't attest to their use in snow but they've helped me a couple of times in the desert. And like someone else said, a $70 insurance policy and peace of mind is better than nothing if you don't want to drop big money.

 

People have a lot good ideas. I’m just too lazy, I have bed mat, I just throw mine under the mat. Lol