What Traction Boards/Mats are Everyone Using?

[flyer92]

Never needed these until I recently moved to SoCal, and have seen a vast array of products at an equally vast array of prices. Domestic production costs notwithstanding, I'm stunned at the prices for two pieces of plastic. Any reason why folks eagerly pay $200+, when well-reviewed products exist like this?

Amazon.com: X-BULL New Recovery Traction Tracks Sand Mud Snow Track Tire Ladder 4WD (Red,3gen): Automotive

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[CAJeep]

Ronny Dahl (you tube) did a recovery board comparison.

 

[WreckEm711]

I go back and forth on this, as I want something that's reliable and high quality, but sheesh it's SUCH a markup that it's hard not to say screw it and buy the cheap Chinese knockoffs.

The Maxtrax definitely hold up better to abuse over time, but it's usually stuff that I'd never use them for that they hold up best to.

My primary concern is that I've seen some instances of the more rounded Xbull nubs not grabbing tires as well and seeing people just spin and spin on them, but supposedly the newer generation of their boards fixes that.

 

[flyer92]

Great video...many thanks!

 

[XJ-99]

I ordered a pair of these from https://gotreads.com/

Not sure if they are any better then the solid ones, but I like that they can fold up and store easily.

 

[MrMischief]

I use none. For here in Colorado I don't see a use for them. With very little sand or mud here the only other place to use them is snow. But when I've seen people try to deploy them in snow they all seem to break. I don't want to say that they're garbage, they seem to have their use, but for the price that name brand ones demand and a strong possibility that they'll be ruined in one use (either from a tire spinning on it or the board just snapping) I think the money is better used to help fund the purchase of a winch.

 

[Oncorhynchus]

I use none. For here in Colorado I don't see a use for them. With very little sand or mud here the only other place to use them is snow. But when I've seen people try to deploy them in snow they all seem to break. I don't want to say that they're garbage, they seem to have their use, but for the price that name brand ones demand and a strong possibility that they'll be ruined in one use (either from a tire spinning on it or the board just snapping) I think the money is better used to help fund the purchase of a winch.

OP is in SoCal so I assume beach and high desert and chaparral scrubland are the terrain. In the sand you can get a sand anchor and attach the winch but in desert or scrubrush or washed out arroyo the possibilities for winching are limited.

 

[MrMischief]

OP is in SoCal so I assume beach and high desert and chaparral scrubland are the terrain. In the sand you can get a sand anchor and attach the winch but in desert or scrubrush or washed out arroyo the possibilities for winching are limited.

I can see that, and perhaps traction boards work better in those environments than what I have seen. But for the winch, you could always just use your buddy's rig as an anchor, right?

 

[flyer92]

SoCal here too, mostly desert and scrub, which is why I've been considering these boards. Certainly, it is always possible to use a buddy's vehicle as an anchor, but I prefer to be self-sufficient and only rely on others as a backup. Just doing mild to moderate offroad stuff in a stock 2-door JL, and really don't plan on putting the boards thru the sort of abuse shown in the video. I realize it's better to be prepared for the worst, but not sure I really need $300 worth of plastic when I can probably get similar utility for much less $$$.

 

[MRH512]

I ordered a pair of these from https://gotreads.com/

Not sure if they are any better then the solid ones, but I like that they can fold up and store easily.

I have these as well. So much easier to store in the cargo bay that having to bolt something on the exterior. Actually had to put them to some use in February when Texas got ice blasted...

 

[Larrymuld]

I ordered a pair of these from https://gotreads.com/

Not sure if they are any better then the solid ones, but I like that they can fold up and store easily.

I’ve assist several people on the beach with these. I love how easy they stow in the Jeep.

 

[flyer92]

Been on the fence about gotreads because I'm not 100% confident in folding traction mats. That said, they appear to be a decent balance of functionality, price, and portability, which is critical for limited space in a 2-door JL. Just concerned about the durability of those hinges.

 

[Larrymuld]

Been on the fence about gotreads because I'm not 100% confident in folding traction mats. That said, they appear to be a decent balance of functionality, price, and portability, which is critical for limited space in a 2-door JL. Just concerned about the durability of those hinges.

I keep them stored in the Jeep and rinsed them after each time I had to use them.

 

[Odyssey USA]

I ordered a pair of these from https://gotreads.com/

Not sure if they are any better then the solid ones, but I like that they can fold up and store easily.

YouTube channel Overland Bound just had a video on these in snow. He thinks the problem is you can’t forcefully dig in and wedge these under the tire like the boards. Single use too.

 

[flyer92]

Wow, I hadn't seen anything about single use. If that's the case, definitely not worth $129, when I can get reusable XBull boards for just under $100. Thanks for the info.

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