MySwag.org The Off-road Camper Trailer Forum
General => Previous Member Trips => Trips, Tracks, Touring and Reports => 2011 Cape York Members Trip => Topic started by: darren on July 25, 2011, 02:23:06 PM
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In the few snippets of photos that have been released its noticeable that there were quite a few sets of max trax taken. I noticed this when i was up there last year too.
As quite a few got stuck through some of the crossings i was wondering if they found their maxtrax helpful?
Any photos of them in use too would be great
Thanks
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I had a couple of set's but but never got to use them. They are supposed to be good for mud and sand ..... I had them mainly for self recovery on the sand.
yogi
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Yogi
You never had to use them as you had a human max trax called Tim the winch bitch !!! ;D
mark
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It was going to be WAY to much effort to get them off the roof Mark, and i would of had to put my beer down. Much easier to use the winch :cheers:
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me and 3 others were "stuck" on one of the ascents out of the beach on Fraser at Orchid Beach, and there were several cars all trying to get the 3 of us out. Basically we couldn't go up the "up" ramp as it was badly washed out, so the only option was to go up the "down" ramp. 3 sets of max tracks were put down and it didn't help any of the cars.
So in the end, we joined 3 snatch straps together (with joiner thingies) and with lots of caution all 3 cars were carefully assisted up - just in time for the very high tide to start lapping at the bottom of the ramp.
So, that convinced me not to buy them as they provided no assistance whatsoever - possibly due to the tyres just continuing to slip on the sand that was on the max trax.
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That's thrown my theory out the window.
I thought they'd be great in the sand and I've seen heaps of then bolted to roof racks up the beach.
I look forward to hearing some positive recovery stories.
Regards
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Beer ........ never hear of the stuff ;D ;D ;D
I think they have there uses as every recover device.
Flat powdery sand ..... I think they could work just fine.
Short slippery hill climb ...... I think they could work just fine. (for cars with out lockers and a big right foot)
To put in that spot that is just too low or soft or not enough grip ..... I think they could work just fine.
There just a plastic board with some man made grip and use them accordingly and you can't go wrong .......... think that's all you need recovery wise and well your going to be in trouble 8)
yogi
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Max traks are the best thing since sliced bread on sand. I have some but never used them on my vehicle yet. All the use so far has been from others. 2 of other these times have been the ice man servicing frazer island with 1 plus tonnes of ice on toyota utes. The secret is to get the tyre pressures down and drive on to them slow and steady with out wheel spin. repeat as necessary.
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Hey Darren, I borrowed a set to get myself out of the Gunshot crossing. The mud was thick and a 12000 pound winch doing a double line pull just wasn't doing it, so I jammed some Maxtraxx under the front and with the combination of them and the winch we made it out.
I'm at work so will post some pics tonight.
Daz
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Thanks everyone, keep your thoughts comming
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Ha Daz what brand winch are you using ?
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It does make a huge difference how they are jamed under the tyres and how much contact pressure the tyre can exert. We took my set up the beach to test them last year after purchase. It took a few bogged attempts to extract myself, but after a little while i worked out the best way to use them (not after using way too much right foot and burning some of the plastic nobblies off :'().
I had a set on the camper for good measure, but like Yogi, didnt use them as it was too much issue to get them free :laugh:
cheers
Geoff
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We used them to recover a well bogged 200 on Stockton. Saved a bunch of digging, though we had to dig to find one of the tracks afterwards. If I owned any, and I'm not rushing out to buy some, I'd be putting a length of coloured rope on them to pull them out of the mud and muck afterwards.
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Seems to be a bit of a common thing, that people bolt, tie down, and lock these things onto there vehicle or camper so well, that when they need to use them, it's too much trouble to get them down.
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I was trying to decide whether to buy one or two pairs of Maxtrax, however after reading the feedback so far I might spend the money on something else.
Thanks for the info
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Here you go Darren,
(http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd42/Dazza78/155.jpg)
(http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd42/Dazza78/160.jpg)
(http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd42/Dazza78/235-1.jpg)
(http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd42/Dazza78/240.jpg)
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If I owned any, and I'm not rushing out to buy some, I'd be putting a length of coloured rope on them to pull them out of the mud and muck afterwards.
The new version come with their own leashes for easy retrieval.
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Daz. I know what that hole is like, i had to winch there too
(http://myswag.org/forum/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=3209.0;attach=23197;image)
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We watched a guy stuck in Gunshot just around the corner from that last lot of pics, he was hopelessly stuck and had tried all sorts of things to get out under his own steam. As a last ditch effort at self recovery, he spent about 10 minutes unbolting and unlocking his Max Trax off the roof rack, dug them in infront of his front tyres, tried driving a few times, but he didn't move an inch, did sound like he tore a few of the lugs off the Trax though, or wore a few grooves in his front tyres. He pulled the mud caked things out of the mud and rebolted and locked them back on the roof rack. It was a gentle pull by another vehicle and this bloke was out.
This is the first and only time I have actually seen a set of Max Trax unlocked and unbolted from the top of a vehicle and actually used in anger. Hhhhhhhmmmmmmm? ???
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The new version come with their own leashes for easy retrieval.
That would be easy retrieval of the Max Trax not the vehicle obviously! ;D
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My opinion only. Not worth the coin and just another gimmick. ;D
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They're definitely not a gimmick, they have their moment, just like a winch. Biggest problem is misuse, just like a winch. Not cheap, just like a winch... etc, etc.
Used correctly, and they can have you up and going very quickly, and on the beach on your own with no winch points, this can mean the difference between Contuining your journey or a very expensive recovery - or worse!
There's been plenty of times I've chosen a snatch or winch over the Maxtrax, but often they are a godsend. Just another quiver in the bow for me.
Sent from my phone using Tapatalk
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I used mine up at Vrilya Point after turning around I got bogged. A quick additional air down and one Max under each rear wheel and that;s all that's needed to get you going again. We did try using ours during our Wenlock recovery. They weren't so good in mud but then again the mud was DEEP.... ;D
(http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb36/Steveandviv/PICT0045.jpg)
(http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb36/Steveandviv/PICT0046.jpg)
(http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb36/Steveandviv/DSCF2582.jpg)
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Last year we spent a week at Inskip Point near where the barges leave for Fraser and the sand was dry and soft. At the time the Green barge use to offer Maxi tracks to bogged 4WD who were going to use there barge.
When used correctly, it made the countless daily recoveries look effortless and probably saved marriages and clutches. (Some unhappy looking wives & kids stuck in hot sand even before making to the barge to start there adventure)
I ended up speaking to one of the barge guys about the Maxi tracks and he said they need to replace the Maxi Tracks every couple of months as they just wear out from too much right foot melting or ripping off lugs.
After what I saw, in my eyes they aren’t a gimmick in sand.
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I borrowed a set, and once I used them went and bought myself a set- saved me on the beach at Fraser
there are a couple of provisos that I have noticed with using these things.
MT tyres work best- some think on sand HT tyres work- so you get bogged in the sand with HT tyres there is NO tread grip in the tyres to use the maxtrax effectivly= waste of money
At are only a little bit better.
Also used at coffs in some deep ruts where the diff was stopping progress
just my thoughts- used correctly they work well
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I used mine up at Vrilya Point after turning around I got bogged. A quick additional air down and one Max under each rear wheel and that;s all that's needed to get you going again. We did try using ours during our Wenlock recovery. They weren't so good in mud but then again the mud was DEEP.... ;D
(http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb36/Steveandviv/PICT0045.jpg)
(http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb36/Steveandviv/PICT0046.jpg)
(http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb36/Steveandviv/DSCF2582.jpg)
Steve
Do you think rolling back in your grooves, moving the mound and letting your tyres down would give the same result?
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Did all that mate. We were at 20 psi up to the point, this was a soft spot. As you know I am up the beach a lot in Broom and Leveque so I think of my self as quite experienced in sand. With the Camper on I just couldn't get the roll going as you suggested so it was down to 15 and it took 2 mins to get the trax under the rear. Low 2nd and out - easy
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No worries mate.
Thanks for that
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They're definitely not a gimmick, they have their moment, just like a winch. Biggest problem is misuse, just like a winch. Not cheap, just like a winch... etc, etc.
Used correctly, and they can have you up and going very quickly, and on the beach on your own with no winch points, this can mean the difference between Continuing your journey or a very expensive recovery - or worse!
There's been plenty of times I've chosen a snatch or winch over the Maxtrax, but often they are a godsend. Just another quiver in the bow for me.
Sent from my phone using Tapatalk
OK, gimmick may be poor choice of word but they are not a new concept by anymeans. Sand ladders and the like have been around for decades and yes, are used to great effect but these, again IMO have just been marketed better etc. Doesn't mean they are bad or anything the like but there are many similarish units out there for far less cost........This takes nothing away from those who have them and love them. I have seen them in action and work but have also seen cheaper sand ladders by Bushranger do the same thing.......They do look pretty though.... ;D ;D ;D
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I'm with Steve here, we only used the max trax when we got stuck on the climb out of the Wenlock. Both Steve's set and my set were used, with little to no assistance given, because the mud was so deep and thick. Both sets had a few nipple rubbed off, due to little traction on them. I believe they work great on sand and it sounds they work ok in mud, if it is not deep and thick.
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Thanks for the comments,
I've travelled the beaches for 20 years without any problems, however now that I tow a 1300Kg Camper Trailer maybe I need something like the Max Trax or the Sand ladder.
I'm always careful how and where I drive with the trailer on, but there will be a time when I have to turn where I don't really want to and with open diffs I could soon be in the doo doo.
Regards Geoff
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I was thinking of Maxtrax as well since I do a lot of sand driving, but to be honest whenever I get into trouble I've always been able to get out by simply dropping pressures.
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I was thinking of Maxtrax as well since I do a lot of sand driving, but to be honest whenever I get into trouble I've always been able to get out by simply dropping pressures.
It's amazing what letting your pressures down to 10 PSI will allow you to drive on. Even the very softest of sand.
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It's amazing what letting your pressures down to 10 PSI will allow you to drive on. Even the very softest of sand.
Totally agree, I got into a bit of trouble at Inskip point once where the truck was down to the axles with camper in tow. 5 min worth of clearing out sand in front of the tyres and dropping them down to 8 PSI I just drove straight out. Drove about 50m clear of the soft stuff then pumped them back up to 16 PSI, no problem.
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I used my bro in laws max trax when we where last at exmouth. I turned around at the beach and the camper got hung up on a rock (so to speak) the cruiser just couldnt get enough speed or traction to pull the camper over it. Aired down to 20psi as well (should have tried lower), so we thought we'd get the max trax a go. Straight over the rock first go :laugh: Although we had to use the trax all the way off the beach so it certainly isnt the easiest job to move 1 1/2 meters and reset the trax 10 times. I tried to be as gently of them as i could since they werent mine and they where brand new, but we still managed to damage a couple of the traction lugs - they need to be a bit tougher if you ask me. Perhaps they should look at moulding some steel or ali tips into them?
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I have used these before, they worked well in filling in ruts
http://lifttrax.com/
GG
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Hi Max Trax are great I have even used them to recover a tow truck stuck in the mud.
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I borrowed a set, and once I used them went and bought myself a set- saved me on the beach at Fraser
there are a couple of provisos that I have noticed with using these things.
MT tyres work best- some think on sand HT tyres work- so you get bogged in the sand with HT tyres there is NO tread grip in the tyres to use the maxtrax effectivly= waste of money
At are only a little bit better.
Also used at coffs in some deep ruts where the diff was stopping progress
just my thoughts- used correctly they work well
I would say without a doubt the less tread on a tyre the better they work on sand.
Unless you have masive amounts of power and rmp then paddles would be nice..
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I have used these before, they worked well in filling in ruts
http://lifttrax.com/
GG
Hmm they look pretty good actually, and I personally (which means I am allowed to be wrong) think they would work better than Max Trax. The price aint too bad either!
short video (no sound needed) here: http://lifttrax.com/multimedia/
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I was thinking of Maxtrax as well since I do a lot of sand driving, but to be honest whenever I get into trouble I've always been able to get out by simply dropping pressures.
I do as well and have up at Cape Leveque one night. The thing was it took me 1.5 hours of digging at 5 psi when I think if I had of had some thing like the Trax it may have been a shorter recovery. That is really my point, they can save time IMO.