Sand Recovery - MaxTrax or Bushranger Sandtrack

[LiveFreeAndRoam Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close LiveFreeAndRoam]

Hi Guys,

I asked this in another thread, but I think it needs its own topic.

Anyway, here goes...

I have successfully used the MaxTrax, but I find them a little on the expensive side and difficult to pack. I have seen the Bushranger SandTrack, but have no first-hand experience with them. They are about 1/2 the price of MaxTrax and seem to be easier to pack and handle.

I would appreciate hearing from anyone who has used the SandTrack.

Thanks,
LFaR.

[Signature035 Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Signature035]

I have the Maxtrax, and find them a much better alternative to me snatching other people (less strain on my vehicle) when on the beach.
I haven't seen the Bushranger product so can not comment. As for storage I strap mine to the Cargo barrier, when doing day trips, don't take up too much room there, or on the roof when doing longer trips.

[sclater85 Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close sclater85]

my experience with jaming stuff under the wheel you need something with grip and rigidity so i would have to go the maxtrax on this one, haven't used the product but seen them in use and pretty impressed, yeah big and cumber sum but your next alternative is a winch and ground anchor

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I used these sandtrax once, they simply rolled up under the wheels then we had to dig them out ops:

[LiveFreeAndRoam Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close LiveFreeAndRoam]

Thanks once again guys! Man, I can't get enough of this forum and I'm still waiting for my rig!

I used these sandtrax once, they simply rolled up under the wheels then we had to dig them out

Oh, I can understand how that might happen. Of course that YouTube video in my topic post, made it all look so easy.

Seems the MaxTrax will prove to be more reliable for recovery, which is the #1 priority anyway. I'll just add MaxTrax to Santa's list... if I can fit it on there

LFaR.

[adds Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close adds]

I have seen both in videos and like the look of the max tracks. What is the price of them both?

[KMKPrado Member Find all posts View Profile Close KMKPrado]

maxtracks

I believe the sandtracks are around 60-70 bucks each and the Maxtracks are $295 at TJM

[LiveFreeAndRoam Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close LiveFreeAndRoam]

I spoke with my ARB dealer here on the coast, and as per Team Piggy's experience, the salesman said (without any prompting on my part) don't get the Sand Tracks as they roll up under the wheel during recovery.

So that makes two identical comments. That's enough for me to go with higher-cost option that always works, rather than the lower cost option that sometimes works.

The MaxTrax online are $315 delivered, at ARB they cost $310. Seems there's not much haggling to be done for these. If I pass by a TJM dealer, looks like I'll save $15 at best.

Cheers,
LFaR.

[Brissy4me Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Brissy4me]

You could always go to the nearest show (4x4/camping etc) and see if you can get a show special. :idea:

[Snaga Wishing I was lost Find all posts View Profile Close Snaga]

Contact Dave @ http://p7offroad.com.au/special_prices.shtml he sells the Maxtrax and I think he's having a Christmas special... he's posted a price on the overlander forum I think.

[Byrnsie Member Find all posts View Profile Close Byrnsie]

The recently held Sydney Outdoors Adventure Show (which was really lame), had a MaxTrax stand selling them for the bargain price of $295. :shock: I picked up a set as a 40th birthday present for my brother in law the week before for $290 from 4WD Megastore (TJM) Kings Park. 8)

Cheers - Byrnsie

[Brissy4me Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Brissy4me]

The recently held Sydney Outdoors Adventure Show (which was really lame)

Yes it was . It was one iof the bigest ripoff shows I have been to. :evil:

[LiveFreeAndRoam Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close LiveFreeAndRoam]

A MaxTrax success/failure/sucess story (Sorry no pics - we were too busy with the recovery).

Firstly, I want to mention the unbelievable great service from MAXTRAX.

I lost one MAXTRAX during a recovery (full story below). Despite losing one, I was totally sold on the product after several successful recoveries, and decided to replace the one I lost and buy another set (of 2). I contacted them via their website with a plan to buy 3 tracks, and asked how I might avoid losing a track in the future. Brad McCarthy responded with some tips and generously offered me a replacement 2nd-hand MAXTRAX that he would send along with my order. i.e. he sent me a 3rd one free of charge and no preempting by me! (It all arrived today, which has prompted me to write this up).

I am so so so impressed - I never put stickers on my car, but the MAXTRAX one is going on (and that will break the ground for a pradopoint sticker too )! BTW, the 2nd hand MAXTRAX looks brand new to me.

Talk about a company backing their product; totally unreal.

In my email discusion with MAXTRAX, they mentioned they had lost a track in a similar way when they were testing the product at Indian Head, only to recover it at low tide the next day. Though, they had not heard of anyone losing one in this way, all the years since.

The suggestion they gave me was in really soft conditions, attach a leash to one of the holes and lay it out of the track so it doesn't become fouled during the recovery. That way, we should always be able to find it via the leash.

Next time in the super soft stuff, I will use the leash.

A big thanks to MAXTRAX. It was all good fun, though I must admit, I would have been much happier not to have to worry about the incoming tide!

Following, is a trip report of sorts. Apologies, this is a bit lengthy.

A Tale of Easy Times, Desperation and Recovery

Day 1: My family was at Wooli at Easter and we effortlessly travelled along Wooli beach at low-tide. Albeit, we set the tyre pressure to 20psi to make it easier on the Prado.

Day 2: Fished a gutter with my Dad late afternoon, with the tide coming in. Some bites, but no fish. We headed North looking for another gutter but as the distance between the rising tide and sand-cliff was narrowing, I decided to turn around. At this point, I became quite stuck!

No worries, pulled out the MAXTRAX and after several attempts, we were on our way. We were both very impressed with the MAXTRAX!

Day 3: Other adventures.

Day 4: Spurred on with some great adventures under our belts, we headed out for an early morning 4WD. It was supposed to be a pleasant 1/2 hour drive along the beach. We knew the tide was coming in, but there was plenty of medium-firm sand and it still had a couple of hours before high-tide.

We passed the area that we became stuck on Day 2, and pushed on. Soon, it was time to head back and once again we became stuck :!: :!:

This sand is real soft. A footprint sinks about 5cms, but when we had momentum on our side, it didn't seem to be a problem. Now, without momentum, the car sank quickly with the slightest acceleration. (Yep, checked we were LL and locked; tyre pressure was now 18psi).

Once again, pulled out the MAXTRAX and we were making steady, but slow progress. The tide seemed to be rising awfully quickly by this time!

We called our son who was driving another Prado, and he headed toward us to provide some additional security, in case the tide was going to beat us! I connected my snatch-rope and tow-rope to ensure the recovery vehicle stayed as far as possible from the soft stuff and laid it all out with the bridle, in anticipation of his arrival. I then got straight back to work trying to free ourselves. Meanwhile the family were all busy digging etc.

This is where the situation started becoming a tad desperate...

Every time we used the MAXTRAX, the car reversed back a few metres , but with such soft sand, gravity also slid us down toward the water by about a metre :shock: !! The safety margin between us and the rising tide was quickly disappearing :!:

No worries, my son will be arriving soon. We'll just keep working... except a few minutes later, I learned my son was bogged. Oh, bugger :!: I was now relying soley on the MAXTRAX. I had my tyres at 18 and was ready to go as low as 15 if needed.

After two more attempts to pull out of this quick-sand, one of the MAXTRAX disappeared! I mean like a giant sandworm swallowed it. We kept working, gathering debris and digging out sand, and watching the tide rising. The family were digging in search of the lost MAXTRAX - but without success!!!

Without a 2nd vehicle and now down to one MAXTRAX, one wave washed up to the tread of my front wheel. We were now in quite a bit of bother. :shock:

I kept clearing sand and laying out the debris, which I hoped would offer more traction. I was getting ready to drop the tyres to 15psi, then the call comes in; my son was now driving toward us once again.

Like all good tales, this one has a happy ending.

In the end, the recovery was very straight-forward. It only required towing (i.e. no snatching) and we were on our way once again; albeit minus one MAXTRAX . I hope the person who finds it knows what to do with it! I will be writing my contact details on the new MAXTRAX I now own.

As I mentioned earlier, I told my story to the boys at MAXTTRAX and when I bought two more MAXTRAX they shipped me a 3rd one for free; no preempting on my part. What a generous company.

Good travelling and good stories to you all.
LFaR.

[MUMSRIG Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close MUMSRIG]

Wow, thats pretty good hey!

I'm impressed.

Mitch

[Snaga Wishing I was lost Find all posts View Profile Close Snaga]

Great to hear a positive after sales story
And even better to hear the recovery had a happy ending...

BTW.... which beach was this