Recovery Boards

I'm in Utah and in the desert a lot and unfortunately I've had to use them a few times when things didn't go as planned. Probably once or twice a year for me.

 

measure your lugs grab some bolts and a couple washers like a bigger flat one, and some that fit just under the nut you use. drill though the bad lug, and shave down the nub if any is left put bolt though, replacement lug that isnt going to burn off when someone smashes the gas!

 

Mine turned into being used to level the truck when camping in the RTT

 

great idea actually. I'll have to get around to doing that, luckily only a lugs were ground down, not very many at all.

 

Just remember that the metal teeth may chunk your tires instead of melting the boards. It's a trade off of what you'd rather have as a point of failure. As long as you're careful, you'll be fine. Put someone else on them, and there goes a few of their lugs hahaha.

 

So far mine have been purely for show.

My intended use is just to level the truck when we camp, but have always been able to find good ground.

Second intention is for winter here in OHIO. Precaution incase I or someone get stuck in those big every 5 years or so storms.

I hope to never use them, but good to know for piece of mind.

 

I actually throw one of my two sets in my wife's car when the weather turns towards snow. JUST IN CASE!!

 

Traction boards for people ... Yaktrax, available at REI/Dicks. I kept mine in the glove box when I lived in Columbus: https://yaktrax.com/shop-all/shop-all/pro-traction-device-women-s-15-5-men-s-14.html

 

I have used them in the sand dunes in Baja Mexico.
I was on oem tires and had not aired down enough.
Mine are under my tonneau cover and not visible, so not really for show.

If i was strap them outside for showoff, I would have my wife bedazzle them with pretty pink diamonds and pearls.

 

I have a set of 4 of Maxtrax, they are beat to death and about 3 years old. But to be honest I've never used them to recover myself. This summer I got a friend out and then a City worker that was stuck off the side of the road. Mine have only been used on my truck to level it at camp.

 

I bought a cheap set, have used them mainly on other people I come across who are stuck. They live in their carrying case and in the back most of the time. I'd recommend them for sure.

 

https://missamymay.com/2014/07/19/a-beginners-guide-to-bedazzling/

 

I keep them mounted in my bed topper out of sight, use them pretty often snow wheeling for myself and others.
IMO they should be anyone's first recovery gear.

Cheaper and safer than a winch, faster to deploy, can be used to maintain momentum, they can be used where there arent any winch points. Etc

If you are looking for "overlander" gear to make fun of, look at hi-lift/farm jacks

 

Yeah I see those bright shiney red jacks bolted to Jeep hoods all the time. Again, I'm sure they have their moments where they are real life savers, but most looked untouched.

 

For the longest time I had no idea what they were strapped to people's trucks. They always look bright and shiny.

 

I bought one when I first started building out my truck thinking it would come in handy on the trail. I have yet to use it once....thankfully I bought mine used lol so at a heavy discount.

 

The day that I am in the middle of nowhere and finally use the boards after 10 years I will consider myself a genius for having them.

 

Lol i'd say the boards are a better purchase than the Hi-Lift

 

I've used my farm jack more as a winch, then most things. but I also have had one since I was a teen but farm kids using farm jacks aren't weird. thought I've used it more at my home to pull stumps and fence posts then i have in years.

 

Yeah in your case it's probably more handy. I'm (unfortunately) a city boy living in a townhome with barely even a front yard to speak of lol.