TRED Recovery Tracks ... a maxtrax alternative?

I wonder has anybody used these Recovery Tracks. I have never found myself in a situation, where I have had to dig myself out in the past 10 years and 320,000 kms of travelling. But that doesn't mean it ain't gonna happen.

I am about to do a solo run along the Trans Line and in the area between the Railway Line and the Eyre Hwy, I am Looking at these things as a bit of insurance. I don't spend much time looking for sand to play in, but one never knows what situation one may find them in.

My question is, am I doing the wrong thing in looking at an option that is $100 cheaper than the MaxTrax, which if I was hardcore, would be my first option.

Thanks
Laurie
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Reply By: Idler Chris - Vic - Tuesday, Mar 24, 2015 at 23:21

Tuesday, Mar 24, 2015 at 23:21
Which track or tracks are you thinking of? Not a lot of sand south of the rail line. I have maxtrax do not know about Treds. As I have a Cruiser (read heavy) I went with the maxtrax. If you ever travel as one vehicle these are great insurance and they give you the piece of mind to tackle a track that you otherwise may not.
Went along the rail line last year from Zanthus to Deakin and there was heaps of water. It got drier as I went east. The roads south between Zanthus and Forest where wet and boggy. I eventually went south at Deakin, a few puddles but no problems.
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Reply By: Phil B (WA) - Wednesday, Mar 25, 2015 at 00:15

Wednesday, Mar 25, 2015 at 00:15
Hi Laurie
I haven't tried Treds - I have used MaxTraks for years and swear by them. I have tried a number of other brands and styles and found then when bogged in mud the mud acts like grease. From photos online the design of the Tred shows it doesn't have the number of and the depth of points for the tyre to grip on like MaxTraxs does.

See photo below for issues regarding slippage.

Spend the extra money and get the best - Supercheap and BCF currently have them on special at $275.




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Reply By: Louwai - Wednesday, Mar 25, 2015 at 09:31

Wednesday, Mar 25, 2015 at 09:31
Laurie,
I have a 2011 Troopie. I've had a pair of TREDS for a couple of yrs. Have used them in sand only, on both Fraser & Moreton islands.
They have worked perfectly each of the 3 times theat they were used. I have absolutely no issue with them.

I have used Max Trax & find tham also to be very good. Personally I could not find any difference between the 2 brands in the way they did the job.

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Reply By: Allan B (Member, SunCoast) - Wednesday, Mar 25, 2015 at 11:01

Wednesday, Mar 25, 2015 at 11:01
Hi Laurie,

I carry a pair of MaxTrax but have yet to need them under the Troopy. I have used them successfully under a couple of other vehicles on Fraser Island. There were no competitive products when I bought mine so had no alternative to consider, however looking at Treds and others they were cheaper but not as solid.

A consideration of recovery devices is that one may be say 20% cheaper but may not perform when needed so is actually worthless, therefore skimping may mean that you carry the device around Australia for no good reason. Being 20% dearer is simply insurance.

There are some comparos to be found if you Google 'MaxTrax vs. Treds'.

There are some reports of these being stolen from vehicles so it is sensible to secure them with a lockable lanyard.
They can disappear under sand during a recovery so it is wise to attach a length of brightly coloured rope before use to aid in locating them. In fact, you could tie them to the towbar with a length of rope to save wading back into the bog to recover them.

I expect to need mine one day for a mud recovery and from comments I have seen they can be difficult to remove from the mud and to clean following recovery so I am considering drilling a couple of 6mm holes at the apex of each cone to break the vacuum whilst removing from the mudhole and when cleaning.
Cheers
Allan

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Reply By: The Landy - Wednesday, Mar 25, 2015 at 11:28

Wednesday, Mar 25, 2015 at 11:28
I grappled with the question of Max-Trax versus the alternatives when Aldi had recovery tracks on sale for $95 a couple of years back.

I bought the $95 Aldi special which are yet to be used. Mind you, I don’t always believe that cheap is the way to go, or more expensive is best, but inclined to buy the best for the job, usually.

What swayed my decision was that up until that time I had nothing in the vehicle to assist with the type of recovery that this type of gear may be called upon to be used – which meant that if I had been stuck somewhere I would have been using sticks, branches, rocks, anything available in the surrounding environment.

I rationalised whether the $95 Aldi special would do any worse in that case than having to improvise with what was available…

I guess time will tell whether I was better off with the extra $200 in my wallet, which, incidentally, Mrs Landy has relieved me of and converted into another pair of shoes…

So the Aldi pair got the thumbs up from Mrs Landy, that’s for sure!


Cheers, Baz – The Landy
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Follow Up By: Allan B (Member, SunCoast) - Wednesday, Mar 25, 2015 at 11:47

Wednesday, Mar 25, 2015 at 11:47
So Baz, The Aldi special actually cost $95 plus $200 = $295.
What is the price of MaxTrax??
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Allan

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Follow Up By: The Landy - Wednesday, Mar 25, 2015 at 12:01

Wednesday, Mar 25, 2015 at 12:01
Without doubt, the same or similar, of course the difference, if I broke it down into an equation would look like this.


Max-Trax = Baz, The Landy happy


Aldi = Baz, The Landy moderately happy + ((Mrs Landy + new shoes) x extremely happy)


I was never good at maths, but I can spot the difference!

Cheers, Baz
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Follow Up By: Allan B (Member, SunCoast) - Wednesday, Mar 25, 2015 at 12:38

Wednesday, Mar 25, 2015 at 12:38
Hmmmm, Yes Baz, I can see the difference. Maths is one thing but well founded logic may be a wiser choice.
Mind you, I hope Mrs Landy's new shoes are up to it when you need to walk 10km out from a hopelessly bogged vehicle! You will have a few hours to discuss relative fiscal priorities. LOL
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Follow Up By: AlbyNSW - Wednesday, Mar 25, 2015 at 13:52

Wednesday, Mar 25, 2015 at 13:52
Or if the shoes she bought have a decent sole you may be able to throw them under the wheels to assist traction.

Even better if they are bright orange
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Follow Up By: Allan B (Member, SunCoast) - Wednesday, Mar 25, 2015 at 13:58

Wednesday, Mar 25, 2015 at 13:58
Hahaaa Alby.

Definitely bright orange.
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Follow Up By: The Landy - Wednesday, Mar 25, 2015 at 18:29

Wednesday, Mar 25, 2015 at 18:29
Oh, don't worry, plenty of logic in Mrs Landy getting the shoes, besides, who said I'd be walking anywhere!

But jokes aside, it would be good to see some comparisons "in the field" - a myth busters type test.

How would they go in a head-to-head test? Would one work substantially better versus the other, or would performance be similar, especially given other factors should as driver skill would play a part.

Whoops, Mrs Landy is taking too much of an interest in this...

Cheer,s Baz
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Reply By: Les - PK Ranger - Wednesday, Mar 25, 2015 at 11:52

Wednesday, Mar 25, 2015 at 11:52
I have Maxtrax.
Have used them for my own rescues a few times of some pretty bad beaches, work brilliantly . . . but have used them many more times for rescuing others :)

I drive with people that have TREDS, and they are also great for use in sand.
Have never had to use mine for mud, or seen others used in mud.

I don't have probs with desert sand, only the SE SA beaches when they're REALLY bad, so maybe you just don't really need them ?

I have seen pics on various forums of cheaper type recovery devices that are split right down the middle, or bits broken off, and I believe you have to watch leaving them on racks in UV light for longer than necessary (like a short trip itself) otherwise, should keep inside vehicle or in canvas bag (which is good to put them if dirty too).

You will break / burn knobs off any of them without care.
Should only use tracks while using 2 low, and easy does it.
Of course a little digging at the front of the wheels with a spade or the track device itself, will help drive out very easily 99% of the time.

Laurie, when you say 'a solo run along the Trans Line and in the area between the Railway Line and the Eyre Hwy' are you following the rail corridor ?
How far, from where to where ?

I would like to do this from Maralinga crossing to top of Googs later in the year, but conflicting reports about it being closed to all but rail maintenance crews, and others that say no signs saying no access, and cross paths with crews out there and it's all ok ?
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Follow Up By: Member - Laurie K (WA) - Wednesday, Mar 25, 2015 at 12:06

Wednesday, Mar 25, 2015 at 12:06
The plan is to drive out to Rawlinna for the muster (it's been on my list for 3-4 years), and then travel on towards Forrest, following both the rail line and/or an inside road which is 3-5 kms from the rail track, and then meander down towards Eucla, and possible follow the Old Coach Road west.
It's a filming trip, and I have the rail side of it researched and planned. The rest is how I feel when I wake up in the morning, and which way the Cruiser points the nose.
I had thought as an alternative, returning via the tracks along and below the scarp towards Esperance as well, and if that happens, that is where I feel the Treads/Maxtrax may need to be utilised.
We plan to continue the project later in the year exploring into the SA side of the Nullarbor, covering the Old Eyre Hwy and Maralinga and others.

cheers
Laurie
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Follow Up By: Allan B (Member, SunCoast) - Wednesday, Mar 25, 2015 at 12:58

Wednesday, Mar 25, 2015 at 12:58
Les, I have driven the track adjacent to the rail line from Ooldea (coming out of Maralinga) east past the top of Googs Track and on through Kingoonya etc. This is not the rail company service track which is restricted but an adjacent track put in by Telstra for the optic cable. It has no restrictive signs and I am not aware of published restrictions. A nice drive. I would use it again without hesitation.

The track is firm sand and in fine condition, smoother than some bitumen roads.

I guess that this Telstra track runs all the way to Kalgoorlie but I don't know about west of Ooldea. I do note that the latest Hema maps still carry a note stating "Trans Access Road between Haig WA and Lyons SA is officially closed" but this has been the map note for some years before Telstra went through.

I'm sure others will have better information.
Cheers
Allan

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Follow Up By: Les - PK Ranger - Wednesday, Mar 25, 2015 at 13:46

Wednesday, Mar 25, 2015 at 13:46
Allan, thanks VERY much for that info, makes my planning day, it does :)

Very much want to do the MAralinga tour with Robin Sept, then drive across and come down Googs for the trip home to ADL.

I was also going to ask Robin to confirm if I can raise him on the phone sometime later about the Mara group tour questions I may have.
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Follow Up By: Allan B (Member, SunCoast) - Wednesday, Mar 25, 2015 at 13:56

Wednesday, Mar 25, 2015 at 13:56
Les, It was Robin Mathews (and others) who assured me that the track from Oolgea to Googs was OK to use but there was no discussion about the western section from Rawlinna. Robin would be the bloke to ask but it is difficult to get him on the phone. Email may be necessary.

Member 'Stephen L' would also probably know and may drop in.
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Allan

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Follow Up By: Les - PK Ranger - Wednesday, Mar 25, 2015 at 14:10

Wednesday, Mar 25, 2015 at 14:10
Cheers again Allan, that even betterer :)

I am sure I'll be able to get onto Robin before our preferred Sept trip, hope to get 6 - 10 vehicles happening ex ADL.

Hard to get 4x4 Earth crew to pony up, it does look exy (and I suppose in some ways it is for a couple, and on top of travel cost etc) but I am trying to get them to look under the surface at the quality of the tour, the ammenities are pretty good, etc.
It was Stephens Mara tour posts that got me keen on doing the Mara trip.
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Follow Up By: Member - Laurie K (WA) - Wednesday, Mar 25, 2015 at 15:20

Wednesday, Mar 25, 2015 at 15:20
The road from Rawlinna to Kalgoorlie is a formed dirt road. The Connie Sue starts from Rawlinna. I'll be able to give you an idea of the section Rawlinna to Forrest (Restricted from Haig to Forrest) in a few weeks time.

cheers
Laurie
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Follow Up By: capnbazza - Tuesday, Mar 31, 2015 at 00:47

Tuesday, Mar 31, 2015 at 00:47
Re the Trans Railway track. We travelled along this road from Kal to Rawlinna. Well formed road and quite smooth for the bush. At Rawlinna we were advised not to go any further East as the road was railway property and heavy fines would apply. We decided to head South to Cocklebiddy. Distance 156km, time to drive took 12 hours, towing a Follow Me Outback camper trailer in a Pajero. Worst track ever travelled on other than the "short cut" to Dalhousie Springs from Mt Dare
If we didn't have a Hema H6 I thing we would be still out on the Nullavour somewhere. There is no "well marked" track anywhere until one gets close to Cockelbiddy. Would not recommend the track from Rawlinna to Cockelbiddy, should have taken our chances and gone onto Forest.
Look forward to reading your report if you do the trek.
Cheers
Capnbazza
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Reply By: Member - Laurie K (WA) - Wednesday, Mar 25, 2015 at 12:12

Wednesday, Mar 25, 2015 at 12:12
Thank you everyone for your thoughts.
Just one other question, if you have just one set, do you use them on the front wheels, or the back. I would have thought the front, to lift the nose out, otherwise you are pushing sand in front of the wheels. Am I correct, or is the drive from the back more important? Or is it whatever the situation demands?
More than one question actually, but what else would we do with our time? :-)

cheers
Laurie
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Follow Up By: Les - PK Ranger - Wednesday, Mar 25, 2015 at 12:25

Wednesday, Mar 25, 2015 at 12:25
Yep, front.
Usually you have momentum and your back tyres will come onto the tracks and get you further on then.
Drive to a point where you are safe, then return for tracks.
Make sure you have a metre long tape on them, mostly for beaches where they can disappear, never to been seen again !!
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Reply By: brushmarx - Wednesday, Mar 25, 2015 at 12:47

Wednesday, Mar 25, 2015 at 12:47
I have had a set of Maxtrax for 3 years and never had a use for them, so can't comment on them versus other brands.
There are comments about having a length of rope or similar to help find them if buried which makes sense, but I have heard that a few metres of rope tied between the maxtrax and the vehicle means they get towed out to where the vehicle can stop and this prevents having to trudge back through the mud/sand to get them out. Obviously the rope would need to be positioned to avoid wrapping it around the wheels or axles.
Is this a feasible practice or urban myth?
Cheers
Ian
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Follow Up By: Allan B (Member, SunCoast) - Wednesday, Mar 25, 2015 at 13:09

Wednesday, Mar 25, 2015 at 13:09
Well Ian, I proposed the 'towing out' practice although I have never needed to do it....... yet! I have heard of others doing it but cannot repudiate the possibility of urban myth.

I do positively know that it was a practice in the very early days in South Australian sandy deserts for some vehicles to use lengths of coconut matting laid ahead of the wheels with the rear end tied up to the back of the tray so that the matting looped and was drawn out of the boggy area to be then rolled up and stored.

I can however imagine that a rigid object such as a MaxTrax could fly wildly behind a scurrying vehicle and be something of a hazard.
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Allan

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Follow Up By: Les - PK Ranger - Wednesday, Mar 25, 2015 at 13:50

Wednesday, Mar 25, 2015 at 13:50
Ian, I wouldn't do that, they can literally disappear in soft sand, bloke I know personally had the happen on an Eyre Pens beach, he dug, and dug, could not find one of them !!

That would make a fine anchor, or worse become a missile, or just snap a light rope etc.
A short walk back is nothing after getting out of a sand trap, and I guess mud . . . although not nice to have to walk in again, I figure you've already been in it a while digging etc, what's another small walk :)
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Reply By: Triggy - Wednesday, Mar 25, 2015 at 19:39

Wednesday, Mar 25, 2015 at 19:39
I recently bought a set of TREDs for an upcoming trip to Lincoln and Coffin Bay NP's. I managed to get them on special for $171 for the pair from Rays Outdoors. The 2 factors that convinced me to go the TREDs: 1) they were cheaper than the Maxtrax and reports I have read and seen on youtube etc showed they performed as well as the Maxtrax. 2) lifetime replacement warranty if they break. (That's why I bought them from a reputable store and not ebay. Easier to take back, if necessary ). Have heard stories where cutomers have had TREDs replaced, no questions asked, and Maxtrax wont/haven't replace damaged product.
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Reply By: Member - Stephen L (Clare SA) - Wednesday, Mar 25, 2015 at 22:12

Wednesday, Mar 25, 2015 at 22:12
Hi Laurie

What ever you go for, they can be a real life save. I have MaxTrax and they are fantastic.

That bog that Phil was in is not a real Bog, as you could have got out like this...lol, after all, look how clean that person is with the MaxTrax....





Now when you get into a real bog when travelling Solo, this is what you never want to see......not the car like that but me just in jocks and T shirt....lol









Have fun and keep out of the mud



Cheers


Stephen
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Follow Up By: Member - batsy - Thursday, Mar 26, 2015 at 07:57

Thursday, Mar 26, 2015 at 07:57
You must have been really solo Stephen as there was nobody pushing. MickO would have had a "pusher" & probably would have already tackled her in the mud.(Jees that's done it.)

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Batsy
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Follow Up By: Allan B (Member, SunCoast) - Thursday, Mar 26, 2015 at 10:15

Thursday, Mar 26, 2015 at 10:15
Hi Stephen, Those sheets of roofing...... lucky that you had Fiona with you..... it is amazing what women carry in their handbags! lol
Cheers
Allan

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Follow Up By: Allan B (Member, SunCoast) - Thursday, Mar 26, 2015 at 10:23

Thursday, Mar 26, 2015 at 10:23
Stephen, Do you have any knowledge of the Telstra track west of Ooldea/Watson? See Laurie's first post and responses above.
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Allan

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Follow Up By: AlbyNSW - Thursday, Mar 26, 2015 at 10:57

Thursday, Mar 26, 2015 at 10:57
That's not roofing iron Alan, that is Mrs Landy's new footware Baz bought her......practical and very stylish.
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Follow Up By: Idler Chris - Vic - Thursday, Mar 26, 2015 at 11:34

Thursday, Mar 26, 2015 at 11:34
Obscene pictures, where is the moderator?
Oh I forgot you are a moderator.
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Reply By: slave - Saturday, Mar 28, 2015 at 14:59

Saturday, Mar 28, 2015 at 14:59
We used Treds to get us out of a couple of sandy situations last hear in NW WA. Did the job in dry sandy tracks and damp beach sand.
Would I buy them again ? yes no problems.
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Reply By: Member - Laurie K (WA) - Saturday, Mar 28, 2015 at 16:01

Saturday, Mar 28, 2015 at 16:01
Thank you again everyone. I have purchased the Tred version. I have learnt a bit from your replies.

Happy Easter and drive carefully.

cheers
Laurie
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Follow Up By: Member - R-Sup(WA) - Thursday, Apr 02, 2015 at 00:54

Thursday, Apr 02, 2015 at 00:54
Hi Laurie, where did you end up getting the Treds from and how much (if you don't mind me asking). Cheers, Craig
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Follow Up By: Member - Laurie K (WA) - Thursday, Apr 02, 2015 at 15:32

Thursday, Apr 02, 2015 at 15:32
G'day Craig

Supercheap in Albany. I bought the 800mm ones, $188 currently on special. I think the longer ones are about $229 or thereabouts. I also bought the carry bag.

cheers
Laurie
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