Recovery wooden boards are cheaper and work just as good.

[9zero1790]

maybe we could spray paint them blaze orange so they appear to be mall ninja approved lol.

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[Danager]

I think these are the original traction boards. Grandpa had a long set of 2x?? With rubber tire tread (a tire with the sidewall cut off and laid out flat) on one side, bolted in place with the nut & bolt sticking out the other side. Growing up in Michigan, these were used in sand and in snow/ice.

 

[Radioman]

Lets see, so far we have:

1. Weight

Answer: Pfft... *looks at truck* Can't say weight has been a concern for me since ever.

2. Longevity

Answer: 1 is none, 2 is 1 - They are cheap, so I can just store like 4 of them on top of my rack.

3. Harder to Clean

Answer: Not sure I agree. Or if its true, just toss it in the junk pile and move on to the next one.


----

So thinking about it more, for a little more money I could DIY truckbed line them.

Go for it. Not many think of ways to get out of trouble BEFORE they are in it big time.

 

[AdamHarris]

 

[JACKSMYDOG]

Cons:

-Additional weight.
-Moisture absorption which adds weight and mold/rot. Even if sealed, UV exposure, strap wear, and any use will probably damage the finish and allow moisture in.
-Wood is slippery, even with texturing cuts and bed liner finish, maybe okay for low torque applications, but if you need some right foot, the traction may be inadequate.
-More storage room without nesting capability.
Heavier static weight, requires stronger securement system, especially if roof mounted. Things above the roof, experience the longest lateral travel distances and most extreme centrifugal forces.
-Stiff, no flex. This is the biggest draw back IMO. First, much like deflating your tires, the flex of the boards increases tire patch contact area, increasing friction, and increasing your chances of getting unstuck. Second, hard, stiff, heavy boards, tend to kick up when you put torque to them on uneven ground. A 4-5 foot board will definitely be able to dent your rocker, fender or quarters in the right circumstances.

Pros:
-Cheaper
-Double as jack base.
-better stack-ability for truck leveling for RTT/sleeping
-Stronger, less flex, for crossing longer crevasses than composite boards can offer.

IME recovery boards are something that if/when you need them, quality matters. It greatly comes down to how/when you plan to need them, if you are alone, if you are able to camp at location if you can't get out, etc. What level of recovery do you need, if you need it. If you wheel with 4 other trucks and 2 have winches with quality boards and other gear, wood may be an acceptable alternative. If you wheel alone, or building a bug-out vehicle, quality boards maybe the difference between getting home that night, or being eaten by zombies

 

[OFC Ranger]

I am pretty sure 2x lumber will have plenty of flex. Now you move up to 4x and yes I would agree.


Also you can easily waterproof wood with proper coating. Trick is drying out the wood prior to this.

 

[halligan1201]

Change my mind.

But seriously, any reason I shouldn't? 10x2 with nubs all over it. I think I have that in my scraps pile. I have sealer and some paint from the store might run $10 max.

They call them "WHACKtrax" boards which made me laugh.

I can make a wood version as intricate or simple as basic as my imagination will take me.

I think the biggest practical difference would be how the plastic ones can flex without breaking. Mine are the folding type so they work as well or better at leveling off the truck or a trailer as they do functioning as a traction board.

 

[Canadian Ranger]

Growing up, my father & grandfather used whatever they could find and threw under there. Spruce bows, rocks, logs, whatever. All they needed was an axe lol.
I have the cost, weight, and space issue solved by using a worn out snowmobile track cut into two pieces. Even better, I found one with metal studs in it. Anyone who pays money for something you put under a tire for added traction is crazy imho.

 

[9zero1790]

 

[CO2Ranger]

Personally I think the Martha Stewart version is the winner. Such a practical bag too:
MARTHA STEWART MTS-APSTA 24-Inch Heavy Duty Rubber Non-Slip Traction Aid Roll Out Grip https://a.co/d/3jj2lx6

 

[Trigganometry]

Personally I think the Martha Stewart version is the winner. Such a practical bag too:
MARTHA STEWART MTS-APSTA 24-Inch Heavy Duty Rubber Non-Slip Traction Aid Roll Out Grip https://a.co/d/3jj2lx6

Figures MS would take the one I have and make it puke ? green!

 

[subquark]

Lets see, so far we have:

3. Harder to Clean

Answer: Not sure I agree. Or if its true, just toss it in the junk pile and move on to the next one.

Just call on Soupie! I'll bring them to the dump for you! =)

Seriously though, I've only ever used wood. Being able to dig a hole under your frame to then stick a piece of wood in and then a jack saved me in a swamp and on the beach in a tidal flat.

The 18 year old in me loves the bright-colored rescue thingies but the old fart in me would want these if I was into function and bad-assery:

https://artemisoverland.com/products/aluminum-sand-ladder-16-x-60-pair

Or these for "flexible" ones:
http://pronghorngear.com/linktrac/

Now I'm seriously considering this bad-ass US-made linking beast-looking thing! I don't care about displaying it to others and this thing is nicely engineered and versatile.

See @AzScorpion, I'm now self-selling myself for what I need to order next! =)

UPDATE: Bah, LinKTrac may no longer be in business. Need to dig deeper (no pun).

There looks to be a plastic version, also made in the US, that could be good for some folks:

https://gotreads.com/traction-tools/

 

[subquark]

Personally I think the Martha Stewart version is the winner. Such a practical bag too:
MARTHA STEWART MTS-APSTA 24-Inch Heavy Duty Rubber Non-Slip Traction Aid Roll Out Grip https://a.co/d/3jj2lx6

LOL, pretty cheap price and I'm sure it's better than nothing! Who knew! =D

 

[Bullet]

I like to create things too. But I'm learning more and more my time is worth A LOT, so for the money... I'd go with these.

https://www.amazon.com/DIYTuning-Of...3&sprefix=recovery+board,aps,137&sr=8-15&th=1

 

[subquark]

All this chatter about recovery gear has made me want to upgrade my cheapo collapsible snow shovel! I've only had to use it a few times. The biggest was when my Scion was plowed into its parking spot at work.

It had been snowing hard and the parking lot plow guy boxed us all in with a good 3-foot tall by 4-foot wide snow bank. Out came my little shovel and 20 minutes later I was on the road. But it was not an easy dig (and it never is when the day's done and it's Miller Time! my last name btw, so especially near and dear to my heart). =D

This is my existing shovel, the friction lock can get icy and collapse, plus it's very short and a killer on the back.

I came across this expensive but top-notch avalanche shovel (because, you know, "overkill" is my middle name):

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B075MQY8KR

And this is the traction mat I'm leaning toward (would love to find a US-made one). This is predominantly for snow, so the studs on it are nice for ice. Since I'm 2-wheel drive without a locker, this type of mat looks reasonable for self-rescue (from snow banks and occasional summer use on muddy logging roads - no hardcore off-roading for Soupie!).

https://www.amazon.com/BUNKER-INDUST-Traction-Portable-Emergency/dp/B09J2HH8ND

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