Recovery Gear

Ian,

Please accept this in the spirit that it is given.
The Maxtrax have protrusions (knobs) that give the tyres something to bite on whereas your product appears to be flat. How would it go when bogged in wet slimey clay and trying to climb out of a hole?


Cheers
Pop

Hi Pop
Thanks for your question.
We considered a number of different ways of engaging the tire. They all had their limitations; anything fixed on, ripped off, anything sticking up risked damaging the tire (if the driver let the wheel slip). We also found that anything sticking above the surface of the plate formed a place for mud (more so than sand), to accumulate, compounding the traction problem.
We found the simplest approach was the best with a simple hole; mud/sand pushes through as the tire rolls over it. The tire deforms into the hole and grips the plate around the internal edge of the hole. This works even if the tire is inflated to ‘road pressures’.
The key to this working was to get the hole size correct, if the hole is too small, tread on the tire doesn’t engage enough, if the hole was too big, the plate could easily deform.
We settled on a round hole because other shapes (anything with corners) form stress points as the plate flexes. (The same reason portholes on ships are round, no corners to focus stress cracks).
By using a form that did not stick up above the plate, also meant that the plates would nest (stack) into a very compact space.
Being travelers ourselves we saw it as important to make the plates so they occupied the being minimum of space in or on a vehicle.

Oh my goodness, I have been waffling on again, time to go.

Thank you once again for your comment.

BR
Ian T2

IanT2
from the looks of your product the hole is larger than that in the traditional steel marsden matting. dont know if that makes a difference but we have found that marsden matting is pretty usless if placed smooth side up in muddy conditions as the tyres just slip and dont grip and you slide sideways off the panel
however flip it over so that the protruding section (resulting from the holes being punched into the metal not laser cut) provide excellent grip as the tyres then have something to grap onto.
wonderful stuff we would have many vehicles and tractors still bogged if not for the 4or 5 lenghts we have up the farm.
One of my uncles used to tell about landing bombers on airstrips made out of marsden matting in mud up to a foot deep in Italy during ww2.
cheers
Howard

Hi Howard
Thanks for your note. The reason the tyre would not have gripped conventional Marsden matting from the top it that the holes were radius downwards, so there was no distinct edge to the hole. As you rightly state it was a punching process (that is why it is some times referred to as Pierced Steel Planking [PSP]). This radius gave it more rigidity, but as you have said there was nothing for the tire to grip, as the edge curved downwards.
With this product the tyre can grip on to the edge of the hole, whilst at the same time forcing any mud or sand out of the hole.
The great rigidity in Marsden matting was probably needed if you were landing Halifaxs and B29s on them.
It is very cool that there are some planks in use!
BR
Ian T2

Have a look on the HiLift website. You will find a picture of this accessory - it fits in the wheel spokes/cut outs/vent holes and is the most useful thing if you do not have dedicated hi lift jacking points. Had one for years and would never be without it.


Hi-Lift Lift-Mate (LM-100)
Lift Directly from the Wheel - Plastic Bumpers and Extreme Lift-Kits Are No Longer a Problem.
Many trucks and SUV's have larger tires and/or lift kits that require extensive lifting height ability from the bumper jack. The Lift-Mate is designed to operate in a manner that allows the vehicle wheel to be lifted directly from the wheel, greatly reducing the amount of travel up the jack bar needed to lift the wheel in an adequate and safe height.

Lift-Mate Features & Specifications:
•Lift Capacity: 5000 lbs. (2273 kg)
•Rubber-Coated hooks to protect the wheel
•Rubber pad for protecting the tire and wheel
Hi-Lift Product Testimonials
"Another great item to have with you. It will help you re-position the vehicle when stuck on an obstacle."

Works perfectly on my Patrol.

Thanks all! Some ideas worth considering-I will definitely take a look at some of these.
Cheers, Carreen

Hi Longtooth,
Can you please post that hilift website, I did a quick search but don't think I got the correct one?
Thanks, Carreen

Hi Carreen, Have a look here.
http://www.hi-lift.com/accessories/index.html
Longtooth

Thanks so much!!

Thanks Peter, We have the long handle shovel, and will get a snatch strap and dragging chains, just not sure whether to get a high lift jack also. Carreen

Hi Carreen,

Excellent post by Wayne and Sally and I strongly endorse the points made. Without wishing to sound offensive, recovery items aren't "last minute" items to add to the packing list - they are something that should be planned and factored in well in advance. Ask yourself where are you going that you think you may need a recovery, and then ask "Do I really need to go there - or do that?" That question is part of any good 4WD training.

Recovery gear is potentially lethal and requires practice to use safely and successfully. A shovel is safe, and maxtrax are probably OK on safety too. If you do get a snatch strap make sure you have rated shackles and know how to attach the strap safely to rated snatching points. And keep the kids well away from any snatching operations.

Have a great trip

Cheers,

Val

Hi wayne,most people would'nt know what a pelican pick was, ah memories

Another endorsement for Wayne and Sally's advice.

The things I won't leave home without are:

Shovel, the type has varied from time to time but any is better than a bare hand.
Compressor - mine is mounted in the vehicle but they don't have to be.
Pressure gauge one that is easy to read.
Tyre repair gear including bead breaker. You should practice this before you go. Take a tyre off a rim in the back yard. You'll be surprised how much fun it is.

Ohh! Last but certainly not least; that special little roll of paper

But the most important of all is a bucket full of common sense, I think it is still leagal in most states.

When I started out 4wding I knew nothing but I was prepared to learn. I often jumped in too quick and made things worse. Then a wise man said to me "When you get stuck, boil the billy and have a cup of tea." It gives you time to properly assess the situation and develop an escape plan. If your real lucky someone comes along and helps you out. You share a cuppa and make a friend at the same time. I met a Danish couple that way up on the Cape in 99.

He also suggested the above list of goodies. All the rest are luxuries.

Duncs

P.S. I should have said .... "Rated TOW Strap and Bridle"

Hi Val,
Thanks for your comments, they are greatly appreciated.

Grundle,
I hope they are fond memories of the pelican pick .......... I hope ... lol

Duncs,
Many thanks for your comments also...... and trying not to get busted under the chit chat rule ........... I'm trying to recall if we have bumped into each other.
If not, I hope we do soon.

Cheers,
Wayne & Sally.

Not a note to you Motherhen, but a bit of general Maxtrax info.

I've also used them, and find that if you do get stuck on a beach, soft sand, for example, you can generally keep going once you are back 'on top' of the surface.

You have your momentum, and with already lowered pressures (or drop them further still before driving out) you should be ok in most cases.

Most people have one pair, so them under the front wheels and your momentum should see your back wheels carried onto them too for further range.

Of course you've tried backing out in your tracks already, but if you are obviously stuck, use Maxtrax early (not when your diffs are on or into the sand) and always dig some sand out in front and back to enable good forward movement.

Ensure no braking to stop for (any) trax recovery, just let the sand naturally stop you, don't build up that 'berm' of sand in front of the wheels or you might get stuck again.

I learned that you should be in low range to avoid burying Maxtrax deep and thereby not getting as much launch from them.
Also this negates possible tyre damage.

Oh, and they are usually under $300 retail, but sometimes BCF, Supercheap, and others will have them on special, got mine for $280, someone I know got theirs from BCF for $265 !
Great insurance for that or even the normal price, because they usually work so quick to get you out of potential danger (think incoming tides especially).

I have also made up some planks with a tek screw grid pattern, to drive out onto once the Max get you out, another 1.2m distance.
Haven't had to try these yet, but figure I'd put them out on the flat sand maybe 10 foot in front if it looked really soft.

You can also make the milk crate option, cutting out the base and 4 sides of 2 crates, and using heavy duty zip ties, make a track to do similar to Maxtrax.
Cable tie them with enough slack to enable them to fold up in a Z pattern for storage.

The good thing about this option, is you can tie the crates off to your tow bar with some cord, and keep going, just pull them along behind you to firm ground.
Maxtrax are sometimes a bit buried for that, and might be damaged if try to pull along behind.

I've heard people swear by hessian bags, filled with sand from the spot you're bogged (front digging out makes sense), then just empty them again after.

Also shadecloth strips folded over double, carpet strips (especially if you can use them in the camper annex etc, gotta love double use items !), even the car mats from the vehicle !!

Sorry for the long response, but I love sand driving : )

Cheers,
Les

Hi Les,another option is to buy Versi leach drain panels.400x500,4 sides. Same as milk crate.cost $45 per mtr. Cable tie 2 panels together.$45 will give you 8 panels.I have just used them as leach drains and bought them at a cement product supply place.

Hey there Grundle,

Just googled that (images), not a lot came up but think I found them, the pattern looks more even than milk crates.

There's probably a lot of other items out there that could be used too.

Cheers,
Les

Hi Les

We used them under the rear wheels, and it was in stones here not sand and much harder to dig. Believe it on not, the Max Trax were well and truly buried, even in the stones. The idea of a rope and a float for water wouldn't have helped either.

Getting a bit of momentum helped - that was when the other people arrived as said - "it's OK, there's another caravan there" - so they sunk and blocked our exit. Down again we went again :(.

After getting two lots of caravan off the stones, the rest of the day was spent pumping up tyres - we had two compressors and both overheated.

Image Could Not Be Found

Mh

Ahhh, you don't forget those events do you ?
Those stones look as bad as sand, and probably worse becasue they'd move much easier !

Thanks Hoopy Ape,
I too trust my gut feelings or women's intuition I call it. Never lets me down!
Good luck with the ankle!
carreen

Hi Wayne and Sally,
Lol hubby didn't buy anything so he still needs to sort that one out but we don't think we will get a high lift jack.
Carreen