Maxtrax vs knockoffs

Are the premium brand products by MAXTRAX worth the price tag? I can find other imitation products half the price, but dont want to regret my decision to save some cash when im stuck in the bog.

 

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/traction-board-review-tred-maxtrax-traction-jack-maxsa.470774/

 

I have the MAXSA knock offs and have zero regrets. Used them dozens of times.

 

I have some of the cheaper traction boards from Amazon and got to say it does what I bought it for. Will maxtrax last longer? probably. Do I wheel enough to justify the cost? Probably not.

 

X bulls have held up well. I don’t see the need to spend maxtrac price tag on them. Have only my used the boards twice in a two yr period both muddy situations with tires spinning. No damage done to them. Big advantage of the maxtrax is the way the stack. Much more low profile.

 

I use a couple of 2x6 wooden boards...

 

Whether or not you can justify the price is up to you. As for the longevity, I've used my Maxtrax a few times to help people and so as long as you don't spin your tires on them, they'll last you quite awhile. If you do spin tires on them, you can wear them out rather fast.

Personally, I'd look at a winch before recovery boards, if you can.

 

To the “broverlanders”, Maxtraxs are everything, but for those on a budget who need something that will simply work when it needs to, aftermarket boards will work fine above a certain price point.

 

I agree with you 100% they are great boards and worth the money. I would just rather invest funds towards other recovery gear such as a winch or quality snatch strap.

 

There is a noticeable difference in quality and longevity. I haven’t broken a maxtrax yet but I’ve broken six TREDs when used in the same conditions.

 

If you don't mind the weight a pair of metal serrated stair treads or grates about 4ft long will serve you well and they are less. Your tires will not spin on these!

I once buried my old 85 up to its axles about 20 yrs ago in saturated red mud. Had to walk a few miles and a resident had a pair and said "I've never seen these fail". Long story short my Toyota was able to pull out of that mud bog!

https://www.grainger.com/product/45...22378&ef_id=XHxvPAAABcHmsLfr:20190304002012:s


On might be able to find similar material at a salvage yard too.

http://www.gratingpacific.com/metal_safety_gratings/grip_strut_safety_grating.html

I'll probably buy a pair of Max Tracks though, still cheaper than a tow truck or Caterpillar rescue.

 

I tried shittibilt.. Broke both the first time.

Then bought maxtrax. They've been used a ton, did manage to break the end of one when the it got up on a rock in a strange orientation.

They are all part of the full kit. I had a winch and three extensions to get to the next closest tree clump...the first set of trees uprooted. Without the winch and Maxtrax, i would've spent a lot of time here.

This was in the Yukon Territory off the Top of the World highway...nobody was coming through to assist anytime soon. Glad i had a quality product.

 

If you get the maxtrax, though, make sure you get the bright orange ones and the cnc rack mounts for full broverlander street cred.

Funny thing is I would bet there are other companies out there that make just as good, if not better traction boards for a similar price. Maxtrax is just the most well known thanks to people like Expedition Overland, etc...

I've always found that a few logs, branches or rocks do quite well for my needs. And I can just find those on the trail and don't have to bring them with me everywhere.

 

There's a youtube test of maxtrax v. xbull ($90) and they are $56 on alibaba for 10 or more. They withstood every single test the maxtrax did. Only thing is, they don't stack as clean. I have the MAXSA Amazon boards and melted them on one side but it was user error. (Not me, the guy who was stuck in the sand). Anyway, I'd love maxtrax because they match my truck and stack neatly which is good for my OCD. I just ordered the x bull board though because at least they are black instead of orange and should still stack on my rack. We'll see.

 

I totally pulled this out of my arse btw, I don't know that for sure. It wouldn't be a stretch of the imagination though.

For sure there are several companies that make much cheaper versions that work "good enough".

 

See below from a previous post:

 

saw that.

never said they were the same.

 

For me, recovery gear is something that shouldn't be skimped on if you're going to remote places alone. Recovery gear becomes priceless if it means getting home or being stranded for days.