Tried my Maxtrax out on saturday.

[KAKADAZ Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close KAKADAZ]

Myself and four other cars headed out on saturday for some 4x4 fun. At one stage we got separated and I ended up on my my own on a very soft beach and yes got very very stuck...I had just bought my maxtrax so thought i would whack them (pair only) under the fronts and have a go...Well as you see on the various internet videos it was that good my car simply leapt up and out and gave me the momentum to drive up about 10 meters to hard ground, I picked up the Trax and off I went. They are the best $275 I have spent and cannot rate them enough.
No I don't sell them etc etc just love them because they saved my ar$e.

[samo Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close samo]

Re: Tried my Maxtrax out on saturday.

they are a bloody good idea, i have tried mine out and im very impressed, cheap insurance. cheers samo

[ntp Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close ntp]

Re: Tried my Maxtrax out on saturday.

...where are the pics!!!

[RobA Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close RobA]

Re: Tried my Maxtrax out on saturday.

Just a polite observation based on experience that these are not a magic bullet. It very much depends on the condition of the sand. At Beachport last year we managed to drive the MaxTrax vertically into the sand, great fun digging them out, as the sand was so soft. The only way out was by winch. So don't get the idea they are the answer as they ain't

Regards

RobA

[RobA Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close RobA]

Re: Tried my Maxtrax out on saturday.

Just a polite observation based on experience that these are not a magic bullet. It very much depends on the condition of the sand. At Beachport last year we managed to drive the MaxTrax vertically into the sand, great fun digging them out, as the sand was so soft. The only way out was by winch. So don't get the idea they are the answer as they ain't

Regards

RobA

[ntp Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close ntp]

Re: Tried my Maxtrax out on saturday.

I don't think anyone has ever stated these were 'a magic bullet' for every recovery situation. :?

Refer: Maxtrax

BTW, how did your Maxtrax fail you? What were the circumstances and how did you apply them? Like every recovery method/tool, none are 100% guaranteed.

IMHO, they are pretty good for a lot of situations. But, like any good boy scout, you should always be prepared by having a variety of 'recovery options' available to you. But for their price, ease of use and broad application - they're pretty damn good though.

[alternative Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close alternative]

Re: Tried my Maxtrax out on saturday.

Just a polite observation based on experience that these are not a magic bullet. It very much depends on the condition of the sand. At Beachport last year we managed to drive the MaxTrax vertically into the sand, great fun digging them out, as the sand was so soft. The only way out was by winch. So don't get the idea they are the answer as they ain't

Regards

RobA

Definately agree Rob they are not a subsitute for being prepared, the "smashed shell" sand down there just goes down forever, 7-8psi and a bit of digging down around the Robe area has never failed me yet.

[beached Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close beached]

Re: Tried my Maxtrax out on saturday.

Best 300 bucks I have spent 2 yrs ago. Have used them extensively on the beaches, mud tracks and they have worked a treat to launch the boat on the sand also.
They stay on the roof wherever i go !

[KAKADAZ Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close KAKADAZ]

Re: Tried my Maxtrax out on saturday.

I'm certainly not under any illusion that there a magic wand but in the very few situations I have been stuck in my prado Maxtrax would have got me out. I was stuck a month ago on a beach in Jurien which took four guys digging about an hour to free and the one car that wasn't stuck couldnt get enough momentum to even pull the snatch tight let alone yank me out. This latest bogging (there's only been two) was worse and my convoy was a fair way away. I used the maxies and was free and on my way in 5minutes if I didn't have them my only other option was Put another car at risk of getting nice and stuck too. I believe a range of recovery tools are needed but for the price and ease of use I can't think of another as good. I would put them at number one first buy item especially if you live in sandy WA.

[Mark from Brisbane Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Mark from Brisbane]

Re: Tried my Maxtrax out on saturday.

I have two, and have used them on Stradbroke and Fraser...no "magic bullet" but I don't have a winch and the twice I got bogged they got me out both times without the need to get winched or snatched by another vehicle...they are the very first thing on the roof rack when I got off roading...by the way yet to use them in mud yet so that could prove interesting.

[Snaga Wishing I was lost Find all posts View Profile Close Snaga]

Re: Tried my Maxtrax out on saturday.

by the way yet to use them in mud yet so that could prove interesting.

My first set (the first gen MkI's) got McBain out of this mud...


and my MkI, gen II's got me out of this slop...


So I'd say they work in mud

Brad WILL NOT put a winch on his trucks (cruiser and Dmax) as he DOES think they are a magic bullet and I have seen him get out of a very scary position on the side of a Stockton Beach dune (something I probably would have reached for a winch if one was available).
Compared to the price of other 'self recovery' devices ie. winch, they are great value for money and work in numerous situations.

[William Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close William]

Re: Tried my Maxtrax out on saturday.

I'm writing this post from the Murray river which has been absolutely pissing down rain today and is expected to continue throughout the night. At this moment the dirt around my tent and car is so slippery I can't even walk on it without having a walking stick to balance on. Those muddy tracks on the way out will be a big obstacle to tackle tomorrow, I'm sure all our recovery gear will be put to the test - including the set of maxtrax I brought along.

Cheers

[Snaga Wishing I was lost Find all posts View Profile Close Snaga]

Re: Tried my Maxtrax out on saturday.

I'm writing this post from the Murray river which has been absolutely pissing down rain today and is expected to continue throughout the night. At this moment the dirt around my tent and car is so slippery I can't even walk on it without having a walking stick to balance on. Those muddy tracks on the way out will be a big obstacle to tackle tomorrow, I'm sure all our recovery gear will be put to the test - including the set of maxtrax I brought along.

Cheers

Hope you have a waterproof camera

[William Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close William]

Re: Tried my Maxtrax out on saturday.

I have a go pro HD I guess I should report back with what happened this morning lol :lol:

Luckily the heavy rain turned into a drizzle after about 2am so the tracks weren't hellish but that's not saying they weren't bad! We were a group of 10 with 4 vehicles, a 70 series troopy towing a tinny, two 150 Prados and a brave Aurion. The troopy got bogged twice and had to winch out, friends stock 150 got bogged in a gutter and was snatched out by the troopy and my new recovery hitch was christened by snatching the aurion in 4 different places as well as towing it through most of the track to the main road. I was impressed with the performance of my 150 as it didn't get bogged! I had the tyres down to 30psi and the footprint it made was substantially larger. I could probably have gone lower but I needed a baseline as a comparison for future runs. Centre diff and rear airlocker were engaged and I used low range...

No the maxtrax weren't used. The troopy had gone "the long way" which was easier to get to the campsite before the rain set in. The "short way" was through a mud hole that the troopy got bogged in on day 1. The Maxtrax wasn't used as the long way had become very soft and there was some distance to firmer ground. The maxtrax wasn't used for the 150 in the gutter as its easier to recover the car with a strap (would save me the trouble of having to clean them too!). As for the aurion, it was pretty much tethered to me, so luckily the maxtrax wasn't needed.

After this experience, I'd have to say that the maxtrax aren't much use in situations like mine where there's a recovery vehicle. I would have used them if the snatching and winching needed a firmer/grippier track, where I'm confident they will deliver. I would have given them a go if we weren't leaving, the last time I used them I just threw them in the river to get the clay-like mud off it. It's just troublesome to have to strap a pair of mud logged maxtrax to roof bars.

I hope the videos turned out alright! I might post a couple of pics later

Cheers