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Equipment Tests > Maxtrax
Maxtrax
Issue: September 2009
Words and Photos by Robert Pepper
Some things are coloured like gold. Some are worth their weight in gold. Maxtrax are both.
When a vehicle is bogged on soft ground it lacks a combination of flotation and traction. Maxtrax are recovery ramps designed to solve both problems. We've had a set of four on test for a while now, and used them in actual recoveries as well as a few intentionally set-up situations. So far we've only used the Maxtrax in sand, but we will be trying them in mud and snow, and against their major competitors. However, we've done more than enough for an interim report.
To use the Maxtrax you first dig away enough of the vehicle so it isn't hung up on its chassis, but experienced sand drivers rarely bog this far down even if they can't proceed. If there's no or little bodywork touching the sand then the vehicle is ready for the Maxtrax. Simply dig a small trench in front of each wheel, position each Maxtrax against the tyre and make sure they will press flat under the vehicle's weight. Then, very slowly, idle up and out. There may be some brief wheel spin as the Maxtrax is brought under the tyre, but it's very safe and simple. On flat ground it's easy, but we used four Maxtrax to get a heavy LC100 up out of an off-camber slope, and also my Defender up a hill for a test. During testing we bogged the Defender right to the sills and then tried to drive out with Maxtrax at 45 degrees. Not recommended, but we do this for our readers! The Defender very nearly made it before slipping back and burying a Maxtrax, which broke under the abuse. However, even when broken the Maxtrax was still able to operate effectively, and this was a difficult situation for testing only. Since that test the material has been revised and is now much less prone to fracture.
We also appreciated at this point the bright orange colour, and handles built into the side, which allowed us to first locate and then retrieve the Maxtrax from their burial site. The knobs on the surface not only improve traction and make the units useable when wet, but also make tying down on a roof-rack easy as just a couple of ocky straps are sufficient to keep them secured. We also used the Maxtrax as a pre-built ramp for others to drive up, simply laying them on the ground end-to-end.
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Our testing proved the Maxtrax really do work, and we were certainly glad we took them on our sand trips. A set of two would definitely be useful, but we've found four is more effective and required for really difficult situations. If you're going to store two you may as well store four, which brings us to the main disadvantage of the Maxtrax, namely where to put them. At 1220 x 340 x 80mm and 3.8kg each they are ideally sized for their purpose but unfortunately not small, and when used are sandy or muddy. There is a bag, but that doesn't solve the storage problem, which unless you have a ute will probably see the Maxtrax on a roof-rack or just cross-rails. Then there is the cost at $295 a pair. Not cheap as you read this, but think again when you're attempting to recover a vehicle bogged to its sills. The Maxtrax do not wear out, and neither do they break when used correctly so they are a long-term investment, and one that many 4WD clubs should consider for their shared equipment pool. Those driving trailers on sand may well find a set being the difference between mobility and a long wait. While Maxtrax are simple to use the company provides extensive documentation and videos which are worth watching to understand the concept and the most effective techniques.
In some situations the Maxtrax won't be required, as you could simply snatch out. However, that doesn't always work well on sand and we'd argue a Maxtrax recovery is far safer, as well as often more effective and quicker. Another technique is just to do more digging and air down to 8psi or so which also works well. Even so, Maxtrax makes recovery simpler and faster, a bonus when there's an incoming tide or a lot of cars to work through. In any case, sometimes you're in too deep and too soft for anything other than a traction ramp, and in those situations we have no hesitation in recommending Maxtrax as a recovery device.
Words and Photos by Robert Pepper
Some things are coloured like gold. Some are worth their weight in gold. Maxtrax are both.
When a vehicle is bogged on soft ground it lacks a combination of flotation and traction. Maxtrax are recovery ramps designed to solve both problems. We've had a set of four on test for a while now, and used them in actual recoveries as well as a few intentionally set-up situations. So far we've only used the Maxtrax in sand, but we will be trying them in mud and snow, and against their major competitors. However, we've done more than enough for an interim report.
To use the Maxtrax you first dig away enough of the vehicle so it isn't hung up on its chassis, but experienced sand drivers rarely bog this far down even if they can't proceed. If there's no or little bodywork touching the sand then the vehicle is ready for the Maxtrax. Simply dig a small trench in front of each wheel, position each Maxtrax against the tyre and make sure they will press flat under the vehicle's weight. Then, very slowly, idle up and out. There may be some brief wheel spin as the Maxtrax is brought under the tyre, but it's very safe and simple. On flat ground it's easy, but we used four Maxtrax to get a heavy LC100 up out of an off-camber slope, and also my Defender up a hill for a test. During testing we bogged the Defender right to the sills and then tried to drive out with Maxtrax at 45 degrees. Not recommended, but we do this for our readers! The Defender very nearly made it before slipping back and burying a Maxtrax, which broke under the abuse. However, even when broken the Maxtrax was still able to operate effectively, and this was a difficult situation for testing only. Since that test the material has been revised and is now much less prone to fracture.
We also appreciated at this point the bright orange colour, and handles built into the side, which allowed us to first locate and then retrieve the Maxtrax from their burial site. The knobs on the surface not only improve traction and make the units useable when wet, but also make tying down on a roof-rack easy as just a couple of ocky straps are sufficient to keep them secured. We also used the Maxtrax as a pre-built ramp for others to drive up, simply laying them on the ground end-to-end.
read on below advertisement
Our testing proved the Maxtrax really do work, and we were certainly glad we took them on our sand trips. A set of two would definitely be useful, but we've found four is more effective and required for really difficult situations. If you're going to store two you may as well store four, which brings us to the main disadvantage of the Maxtrax, namely where to put them. At 1220 x 340 x 80mm and 3.8kg each they are ideally sized for their purpose but unfortunately not small, and when used are sandy or muddy. There is a bag, but that doesn't solve the storage problem, which unless you have a ute will probably see the Maxtrax on a roof-rack or just cross-rails. Then there is the cost at $295 a pair. Not cheap as you read this, but think again when you're attempting to recover a vehicle bogged to its sills. The Maxtrax do not wear out, and neither do they break when used correctly so they are a long-term investment, and one that many 4WD clubs should consider for their shared equipment pool. Those driving trailers on sand may well find a set being the difference between mobility and a long wait. While Maxtrax are simple to use the company provides extensive documentation and videos which are worth watching to understand the concept and the most effective techniques.
In some situations the Maxtrax won't be required, as you could simply snatch out. However, that doesn't always work well on sand and we'd argue a Maxtrax recovery is far safer, as well as often more effective and quicker. Another technique is just to do more digging and air down to 8psi or so which also works well. Even so, Maxtrax makes recovery simpler and faster, a bonus when there's an incoming tide or a lot of cars to work through. In any case, sometimes you're in too deep and too soft for anything other than a traction ramp, and in those situations we have no hesitation in recommending Maxtrax as a recovery device.
