Anyone used TRED Recovery Devices?

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

I think only the stud pattern can been patented.

Finally some logical info re Maxtrax and Patents. Let's get it right: Maxtrax - although a great product - couldn't own the rights to 'plastic tracks to aid in vehicle recovery'. They own a certain design, based on patterns, lengths etc. Claiming they own the rights to any form of plastic track that aids recovery and looks similar is like saying a single company owns all and any form of blood-test. It's a load of crap. Patents and copyrights have a fair degree of specificity. 'Plastic Recovery Tracks' is not specific.

I'm all for other companies trying to be competitive and introduce a new, similar product. If the TREDs didn't look so darn ugly i'd consider them. But heck, if your stuck in sand or mud, you at least want your recovery gear to look good I'm currently waiting the next 20% off sale at Super Cheap or BCF. I need a set of Maxtrax before the 2012 GTG!

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I'm currently waiting the next 20% off sale at Super Cheap or BCF. I need a set of Maxtrax before the 2012 GTG!

MLC has 2 sets. Save your bikkies and just steal one set while he sleeps.

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

MLC has 2 sets. Save your bikkies and just steal one set while he sleeps.

Nooooooooo!!!!!! My plan has been revealed!!!!

[AJ120 Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close AJ120]

Yes competition will drive down prices, but in the ebay age whare everything is price compared to what's on ebay the quality gets driven down at the same rate as the price!

I also find it interesting that we have such knowledgeable people here that they understand how much it cost to develop, test, design, manufacture, distribute Maxtrax, they also seem to have an excellent grasp on what is a reasonable amount of money for a inventor / business person to earn from their product and as such can come to the conclusion that they are overpriced and we are being ripped off!

I wish I was that smart, but unfortunately I am just a guy that cracks rocks, so what would I know

Cheers Andrew

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

Kaka, itsall about size for you isn't it

More so my wife...



Luckily I was born in Africa..

[Ozpat Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Ozpat]

I also find it interesting that we have such knowledgeable people here that they understand how much it cost to develop, test, design, manufacture, distribute Maxtrax, they also seem to have an excellent grasp on what is a reasonable amount of money for a inventor / business person to earn from their product and as such can come to the conclusion that they are overpriced and we are being ripped off!Cheers Andrew

Yes, Andrew. What average Joe sees in Maxtrax is a pair of plastic boards at an inflated price compared with something similar on fleabay or Ray’s outdoors for half the cost and does the same job. What he doesn’t see is a highly engineered, well designed strong but light and closely stacked extra long, where it counts, pair of boards manufactured with stabilised plastic compound that will go the distance for many years exposed to the elements and that engineering doesn’t come cheap. With the side handles and the length you could probably use them as a stretcher if the need arises. So how good really are the opposition.

Cheers, Jim.

[Fabes Member Find all posts View Profile Close Fabes]

Here's their website

http://www.tred4x4.com/

[Ozpat Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Ozpat]

Here's their website

http://www.tred4x4.com/

Not knocking Tred as rubbish but they felt heavier to me, so extra weight to carry. (Can't see any info on it) a bit shorter and bulkier and yes uglier, but it's not a beauty contest. I also suspect they aren't as aerodynamic on the road due to profile. There are other less worthy contenders out there but Tred would be my second option if price was right. And there's nothing wrong with healthy competition.

Cheers, Jim.

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The Maxtrax is only 50mm longer than the TRED1100. There is a TRED800 at $199.
Just saying.

[MidLifeCrisis Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close MidLifeCrisis]

The Maxtrax is only 50mm longer than the TRED1100. There is a TRED800 at $199.
Just saying.

50mm is 2 inches. 2 inches can be the difference between a great experience and a total let down in performance. Just saying....

[MidLifeCrisis Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close MidLifeCrisis]

Yes, Andrew. What average Joe sees in Maxtrax is a pair of plastic boards at an inflated price compared with something similar on fleabay or Ray’s outdoors for half the cost and does the same job. What he doesn’t see is a highly engineered, well designed strong but light and closely stacked extra long, where it counts, pair of boards manufactured with stabilised plastic compound that will go the distance for many years exposed to the elements and that engineering doesn’t come cheap. With the side handles and the length you could probably use them as a stretcher if the need arises. So how good really are the opposition.

Cheers, Jim.

Don't tell Iantz they double up as a stretcher. His first aid kit is already dodgey enough

[FlyNdrive Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close FlyNdrive]

I also find it interesting that we have such knowledgeable people here that they understand how much it cost to develop, test, design, manufacture, distribute Maxtrax, they also seem to have an excellent grasp on what is a reasonable amount of money for a inventor / business person to earn from their product and as such can come to the conclusion that they are overpriced and we are being ripped off!

I have an intimate knowledge of how much it takes to develop, test, design, manufacture, distribute, market, and sell MAXTRAX. There are some things Kirk at TRED never had to pay for....

Development...Brad had an idea when he was stuck on the beach and was about to lose his vehicle. He came up with an idea and stuck with it and most of all...took a risk. Not Kirk.... He already had a business, saw someone else's product and took that product to a designer (or was contacted by one of the 20+ Chinese companies making copies of MAXTRAX) and said make a copy of these but change them a little.
Testing.... the proof of concept, first CNC concept, first molding test, several materiel tests, and final product testing
Development...The molding dye costs several tens-of-thousands of dollars and Brad has have to do this twice.
Patent protection and trademarking... done in several countries to make sure people like TRED don't make everything spent a waste.

On top of that when MAXTRAX felt they can do better they spent the development and testing amounts all over again to make a better product that are more efficient and easier to use. There are vast improvements from the MAXTRAX original to the Mark 2 MAXTRAX we see now. Improvements in strength, material, UV protection, and the ability to add accessories. Yes, MAXTRAX also has something else...accessories like mounting pins, rear wheel harness, fixing and linking straps. On top of that several people (including Craig...I've been meaning to get a set of mounts) make mounting solutions that are product and vehicle specific.

On top of all of that they give back to the off-road community by sponsoring events like the PradoPoint GTG.

TRED didin't earn the discipline...they copied an already brilliant product and left it at that. There are no articles in Australia 4WD Action interviewing him or the products he developed. They aren't praised in probably every off-road magazine in Australia...MAXTRAX is and are endorsed by almost every expert in the off-raod community around the world.

[FlyNdrive Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close FlyNdrive]

Forgot to mention who else uses MAXTRAX.

ADF
Norforce
US NAVY SEALS
United States Marine Corps
US. Air Force,
US NAVY
British Army
and several others.

They have been battle tested in Afghanistan and Iraq, and have crossed Siberia in winter. They have been used in the Dakar Rally, Taupo 1000, Rallye Aiche des Gazelles in Morocco, Australia Safari, and are the "Official Recovery Device of the Baja 1000". They are common in the Mojave, Sahara, Atacama, Gobi, and Western Deserts. That's a testament to how good they are.

[MDS69 Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close MDS69]

My god there is some bitching in this thread.

Whilst Maxtrax might be the market leaders they don't own the market. I am sure if there is an issue there will be copyrights etc to protect their intellectual property. Tred are just seeing a place where they might be able to make some money by offering a cheaper product that may or may not be of a lesser quality, I don't know because I haven't seen their product.

This happens everywhere in our hobby, compressors, rear drawers, suspension, rear wheel carriers, tyre plug kits, fridge/freezers the list goes on.

It is the same with camper trailers, you get the high end soft floor at $40k and there is a chinese version at the other end of the price range for $5k


Just out of curiosity how much are Maxtrax sold for in the USA. This isn't a loaded question I am just interested to know if it is the same as ARB in the states. I ask this because everyone carried on about ARB's pricing in the USA when they are an Aussie company and items are cheaper there than they are here.

BTW I have a pair of Maxtrax and have spent about $6k in ARB stores.

[FlyNdrive Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close FlyNdrive]

No bitching. Just explaining how the originator had to pay $100,000 and more than copy cats and that's why they are cheaper.

MAXTRAX retail for US$299 in the US, but can be found for US$290 with free shipping from Sierra Expeditions.