Some un-stuck gear

[garyhaupt]

Saw an interesting bit of kit yesterday...

http://www.maxsainnovations.com/foldable-traction-mats/

I was looking at some options for getting un-stuck and Go Tread was suggested, which lead me to a bunch of these mats, some of which were not so good. But..then the MAXSA company showed and hoo boy...lotsa stuff. But...what I wanted and bought were these.

If, you happen to go shopping for these things...read the fine print. They don't all come with two mats..like Go Tread..only one. I used Amazon.ca to buy...free shipping.


Gary Haupt

[profdant139]

In the Sierra near Tahoe, we once got stuck in very deep soft leaf litter that looked like solid dirt (but it wasn't). In order to escape, we ended up "paving" a trail out of the soft stuff by using flat rocks carried from a nearby hillside. (It was a lot of work, though.)

[Gjac]

LenSatic wrote:
We just carry short pieces of 2x6s and strips of 1/2" plywood. We use them for leveling but did get unstuck once using the plywood. Also handy for crossing deep ruts. We haven't, but you can also tack carpet on them.

LS

I found that by laying branches across deep ruts helps also and layers of palm fronds for fine sand.

[garyhaupt]

avoidcrowds wrote:


If you use Lynx Levelers, you get 8¼" x 82" of traction for about $30. Granted, the Lynx are not fastened together, but it seems like they may do a pretty good job in most situations, for less $$ (and I can tie them together if I really need to). Since I have 4 sets of Lynx already, I can throw the cubes in if I go off-road. I would not have thought about those, though, without this thread.

Lots of interesting products out there for situations we hope we don't encounter very often. We have to encounter them sometimes, though, to keep life interesting!

Good thought..the Lynx. If a person is stuck, sometimes we don't think of the obvious.


Gary Haupt

[garyhaupt]

I got my mats today..thank you Amazon.ca...thought I'd share.







They see rough and tumble enough. Certainly pack up small for storing. So..I am happy with them.


Gary Haupt

[avoidcrowds]

Okay, just to throw another option out there, which came to me as I read this thread, and looked at all the links you guys provided.

If you go with the Maxsa, you get 5½" wide and 23" long for ~$25. What I like about that is the joints, so you can put it down and climb out of a hole, if you are buried in sand. Try to put a straight, hard traction mat in front of the rear tires if they are sunken, and you may not get them into position.

If you use Lynx Levelers, you get 8¼" x 82" of traction for about $30. Granted, the Lynx are not fastened together, but it seems like they may do a pretty good job in most situations, for less $$ (and I can tie them together if I really need to). Since I have 4 sets of Lynx already, I can throw the cubes in if I go off-road. I would not have thought about those, though, without this thread.

Lots of interesting products out there for situations we hope we don't encounter very often. We have to encounter them sometimes, though, to keep life interesting!

[garyhaupt]

Phil...that kinda stuck can just happen, right? Look out to the left for split second and that soft shoulder will drag a person right in. Why that hasn't happened to me is due to my lighting fast reflexes and Sharon's screams.

I also presume that my 4X4 will walk me out of that. And if not..we'll try the new mats and then some shag carpeting.


Gary Haupt

[pnichols]

garyhaupt wrote:
I was looking at some options for getting un-stuck ...

Gary, what kind of stuck are you talking about? The Canadian kind or this kind? 😉

[LenSatic]

We just carry short pieces of 2x6s and strips of 1/2" plywood. We use them for leveling but did get unstuck once using the plywood. Also handy for crossing deep ruts. We haven't, but you can also tack carpet on them.

LS

[garyhaupt]

You are right about the Amazon pricing, in the US. The Amazon.CA pricing is a for much better product, manufactured to Canadian standards, which, as everyone knows, is much much higher n better. Like our beer.

The Maxsa are available at Amazon. Ca..the PTT's are not.


Gary hic Haupt

[agesilaus]

OK I have to confess that I'm not attuned to getting stuck in the snow since I live in Florida. It did happen to me once, in Yosemite, about 40 years ago heh.

Those Maxsa mats can be had for a lot less off Amazon ($25):

Maxsa

The comments seem to indicate that's for two of them, but they only get a 3 star rating. One with a 4 1/2 stars is this 'Portable Tow truck'

PTT

[Gjac]

ScottG wrote:
I can tell you that carpet remnants don't work in the snow. It just shoots them out the back.

Just found that out while trying to get my tow car out of my driveway. It took me 3 days to dig and remove the ice from under the tires after returning from Fla. The carpet ended up under the MH. I bought something like Gary posted after I got stuck in sugar sand in Fla that I keep in the tow car. I have not had to use it yet but am sure it would crack when your tire is sunk into ice.

[ScottG]

I can tell you that carpet remnants don't work in the snow. It just shoots them out the back.

[garyhaupt]

agesilaus wrote:
You can use carpet remnants, preferably shag carpet. Get some strips about 10-12 inches wide and just roll them up and bungee cord or tie up the rolls. That manufactured one probably works better but the carpet strips are cheap or free.

I suspect you are right..but where's the fun in that? Now, I am gonna have some cool gear to show-off, not some old carpet all tied up in blue plastic cord.

And...as I thought about what I just typed..wet, soggy, filthy rolls of carpeting don't work for me.


Gary Haupt

[agesilaus]

You can use carpet remnants, preferably shag carpet. Get some strips about 10-12 inches wide and just roll them up and bungee cord or tie up the rolls. That manufactured one probably works better but the carpet strips are cheap or free.