Recovery wooden boards are cheaper and work just as good.

[JACKSMYDOG]

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.

Maybe we have a different understanding of flex. I've used 2x10 ramps and boards across 6-8 foot gaps with only a few inches of flex. Here's a ~2 foot gap, and the board is almost of the same radius as the tire, providing a foot or more of contact.

The cuts and traction grips you cut into the board will greatly reduce it's strength and increase likely hood of breaking under load. With only 1/4" cuts into both sides of a 2x will leave 1" of board remaining.

Waterproofing is easy enough to start, but with time as the boards are exposed to UV, and thermal expansion/contraction cracks will form and draw moisture in. The more complex your traction cuts into the board, the harder it will be to get good waterproofing, and faster the elements will degrade the finish. Any flex flex will also create cracks for moisture intrusion.

If you use the boards, in mud/dirt/stone/gravel they will get damage get scratched and again draw moisture in.

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[9zero1790]

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-Off-road-Traction-Recovery-Updated/dp/B09Q8PSBV1/ref=sr_1_15?crid=2ITENODFBSXAI&keywords=recovery+board&qid=1660576473&sprefix=recovery+board,aps,137&sr=8-15&th=1

wow thats a good price.

 

[9zero1790]

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

shovels are worth the weight in gold when you need one. i make fun of people with the lil folding shovel not much bigger than my hands... if they really needed to dig out the vehicle with it they would be hating life lol.

 

[lazynorse]

I rescued my mailman stuck in ice and snow with GoTreads, the foldable traction boards. Bought for my Subaru adventures, will keep for my Ranger adventures.

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