Recovery Boards

How much/often have you used recovery boards and in what situation? Or are they more or less a fashion statement on the truck?

 

I've used them ... maybe 30 times? I like to camp on sand and hit the dunes with my SxS and ATV. I have a full set of four. I also snow camp a little bit, and even if I'm not using them on my vehicle, I'm using them on other peoples'. We've also combined sets from multiple people to bridge a slippery spot on a trail (placing in one rut for 30 feet or so, spaced a few feet apart). And I've also used them to help level my camper but that's not exactly what you are talking about. Oh yeah, and they make decent shovels in the snow/sand.

 

I've only had to use mine a couple times, but they came in handy, and one use is enough to justify the price for me. I've used them to bridge washout cracks in trails that would have stuck me since I don't have a locker. I've also used them a few times to get out of snow as well. They also work well as a preventative measure. I'll lay them out on off camber muddy slopes just incase there's no traction to prevent sliding/rolling down. I've also snapped off brand boards, so maxtrax all day long for me.

 

I can certainly see them coming to the rescue when off-roading. But most of the ones I see here in the mega concrete jungle we call Atlanta do not have a speck of dirt on them, so draw your own conclusions.

 

I do wash mine more than I wash my truck... but I agree, most probably never see the dirt, rock, sand, snow, or even pavement (which they are still handy on in the ice).

 

I bought a knock off brand from Amazon because I mostly do dirt and gravel trails that are easy to moderate in difficulty and I never really need them. I haven’t had to use them yet.

I occasionally drive in sand which is where I would expect to need them, if I ever do. I keep them in the bed of my truck in the carrying case they came with because I don’t care to look “cool”. I have windoors on my bed cap so I can access them from multiple sides if I ever need them.

 

Used them a few times in the mud and slippery rocks, and around 20 times in deep snow. I'm usually wheeling in a group. If there's a particular obstacle that poses a problem for everybody, laying down traction boards for the whole group to pass is faster than winching or kinetic rope. The trail may be too tight for a rope pull, etc.

 

My maxxtrax have been used a maybe 6 times this past winter for helping people out of snowy spots.

They live hidden in the truck as a snow shovel/get out of a pickle device but I have yet to get stuck myself.

 

Funny how many of the people with "recovery" devices spend more time recovering others than recovering themselves.

 

lol since grabbing a set I've never needed them for my own vehicle, though my Gambler 500 Hyundai has a set like 99% for looks, because it was funny to have traction boards on my Maxima first and have lived on the roof of my Santa FE ever since.


though i am the one my friends go to guy for repairs when teeth get chewed off by someone spinning tires. bulk bolts nuts and flat washers. ill see if i have any pics

 

It's pretty true. Last big recovery my buddy and I did, we were in our SxSs heading up the pavement since the roads were super slick and snow covered on the way to the actual trailhead. We knew it was bad so we stopped and unloaded early. While we unloaded a dude in a ram 3500 crew cab on street tires blew past us towing a 20 foot trailer with a big built jeep on it. When we got up the road, we found a traffic jam as the truck had spun sideways across the road with the tail of trailer at the cliffs edge, and the nose of truck in the ditch against the embankment. Blocked everything. Had about 4 rigs trying to get out, and 8 or more wanting to get to the trailhead. It took our 6 maxtrax and my buddies 4500lb UTV winch (anchored to a random jeep) and we were able to get them outta the way so we could go riding. Was the first time we had ever seen a broken maxtrax. That truck was way heavier than the boards are rated for. Who knows how long the road woulda been blocked. When we got there the jeep was trying to pull the guy out and all he had was a rats nest of a 3500lb ATV winch mounted to his steel bumper...

 

Bad recovery is dangerous. More than just "How lon would it have been blocked?", one could ask "How long before a SAFE recovery could have been accomplished?".

 

We're both trained. 4x4 Search and Rescue and my buddy has run countless recoveries with them, and on the trail. We kept everyone well away from any danger. No risk of vehicle going off cliff side. I wish we had pictures, but we just did it and got it done. Left the friends/family with us down at the beginning of the traffic jam to keep them outta the way, so they didn't get pics either.

 

For the OP in case "bad recovery is dangerous" does not quite catch on ...
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/kingman-az-man-died-in-offroad-recovery.774094/

Also for the OP to select traction boards ...
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/traction-board-review-tred-maxtrax-traction-jack-maxsa.470774/
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/not-payin-300-for-recovery-boards-nope-so-whats-left.796093/

 

The buddy I was with, he has a friend with a tailgate mounted to the wall in his garage. Has a trailer ball embedded in it. No joke, they can, and have killed people. Proper recovery safety is very important. Classes are available. My buddy teaches a BASIC recovery class at an offroad event we co-host.

 

Not gonna lie, mine are primarily for looks. However, I plan on doing more camping in remote areas soon. It's more of a "I'd rather have 'em and not need 'em than need them and not have them" sorta thing for me.

 

So true in my case. I’ve winched out quite a few people stuck out in the desert, but never myself.

However, when I first started offroading in a beater Montero, I got hopelessly stuck and a couple dudes in a jeep bailed me out, and I never forgot it. I always pay it forward now

 

I keep a pair of maxtrax on my truck at all times, but hidden and mounted inside the bed, not on display.

I've only needed to use them for myself once, luckily. I've used it maybe 5-6 times to help other people get unstuck, usually in the Vegas desert coming back to CA when traffic is extremely heavy and people in basic econoboxes think they can tackle the dirt roads to bypass traffic.

Most notable recovery was a guy in a 2008-ish BMW 5 series. he'd almost made it to the end but got stuck. Tried to use my boards first, but his tires were bald and he ended up grinding down a few nubs because he gassed it hard vs trying to slowly crawl out. Ended up winching him out.

 

I have knock off Amazon ones I got a few years ago I believe they are fieryred brand, They have held up very well and work great. I only use them during ice fishing season since I fish by myself 99% of the time. When I get stuck they make for alot less digging and fucking around, probably used them 20 plus times. I don't need anyone's help out there if I have them. The amount of unprepared people on lake winnipeg is amazing to me. They get stuck without proper gear then run to Facebook for help

 

On wheeling trips, I keep the boards loose against the tailgate for easy access. If the bed is empty, I use a Jeep cargo net hooked to the D-rings to prevent the boards from sliding forward. When you're getting stuck 6 times an hour, you don't want to be dicking around with thumbscrews or keyed locks.