Max Trax at the cape

[darren]

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

[yogi]

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

[McGirr]

Yogi

You never had to use them as you had a human max trax called Tim the winch bitch !!!

mark

[Offroad 4x4 Accessories]

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 

[Markss]

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.

[JethroT]

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

[yogi]

Beer ........ never hear of the stuff

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

yogi

[darrenh]

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.

[DAZnBEC]

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

[darren]

Thanks everyone, keep your thoughts comming

[dno]

Ha Daz what brand winch are you using ?

[geoffnvi]

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 

cheers
Geoff

[BigJules]

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.

[Gunna Do]

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.

[sako]

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

[DAZnBEC]

Here you go Darren,

[D4D]

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.

[darren]

Daz. I know what that hole is like, i had to winch there too

[Gunna Do]

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?   

[Gunna Do]

The new version come with their own leashes for easy retrieval.

That would be easy retrieval of the Max Trax not the vehicle obviously! 

[Teabag]

My opinion only. Not worth the coin and just another gimmick.

[ryangus]

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

[SteveandViv]

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....

[Beachman]

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.

[4wd26]

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