Using Maxtrax in Sand

Sand recoveries can be very difficult, especially when you have a high tide which gives you limited room to work with. Even worse, if your car is near the water edge and the tide is coming up, you want to get it out of there as fast as possible. The traditional way of recovering your four wheel drive would be with a winch or snatch strap, but now there is an alternative; Maxtrax. Snatch straps and winches require careful rigging (to rated points) and put a considerable amount of stress on both vehicles when you are pulling them out. The risk of something going wrong is much higher than using Maxtrax.

To top it off, you will get a four wheel drive unstuck on the beach with Maxtrax in about half of the time it takes to rig up a snatch strap or winch correctly. There is no risk of anything breaking, and there is much less stress on your vehicle.

Steps for recovery on the beach when using Maxtrax:
- Check your tyre pressures. If they are above 15 PSI you need to let them down!
- Identify which direction you want to drive out. Sometimes you are better off driving out in reverse than forwards, depending on the situation.
- Use the Maxtrax to dig a small amount of sand out of the way of your tyres (in the direction you are going to drive). This should create a little track for the Maxtrax to sit in.
- Place the maxtrax in the track and ensure they sit at no more than 30 degrees of angle.
- Get back into the car and place it in low range, and 2nd gear (or reverse if this is the case). Slowly take off (ensuring the wheels don't spin) and your tyres will grip onto the Maxtrax.
- Drive to firm ground and then pick the Maxtrax up.

These steps can be done incredibly quickly, and you don't risk injury or damage to people or vehicles. Whilst the explanation might seem a little too simple, it really is just like that. You will be amazed at how fast and simple it is to get a four wheel drive out of soft sand! What is even better, is that you can use these in the snow and mud, as well as when you go to launch a boat. They distribute the weight over a larger surface area ensuring that your rear wheels don't sink when you are launching or retrieving the boat!

If you want to know if these are really worth their money have a look at Maxtrax Review and for more information see Maxtrax MKII

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Maxtrax Review

If you have done much four wheel driving before, there is a good chance you will have heard of Maxtrax. If you haven't ever heard of them, then you need to read on! Maxtrax are a unique recovery device made out of engineer's grade nylon. In essence, they are tracks which you push under your tyres when you get stuck. You simply drive onto them and you are out of trouble in no time at all. They are by far the fastest way to get out of a difficult situation, and they require very little effort. Rather than having to get out and rig up a winch and snatch strap (which are also more dangerous) you are able to get out on your own.

If you are four wheel driving on your own, which many people do when they are touring these are the perfect piece of four wheel drive recovery equipment. Maxtrax are light weight, and can also be used as a shovel. The great thing about Maxtrax is that you can use them in a variety of situations. If you are stuck on the beach or in the sand dunes, these work brilliantly. They also work well in the soft mud that four wheel drivers love to play in, and the snow as well. In fact, have a look at some of the photos of Maxtrax; they are used throughout the world in many different situations and terrains. Even in four wheel drive competitions you will see these being used; the proof is in the pudding.

Maxtrax come with pins, meaning you can bolt them down onto your roof racks with ease. You can also buy bags to carry them, so storage is no longer a problem. Recently they have begun to sell straps in which you can join several of the Maxtrax together. This means if you get to a particularly difficult section you can lie several out in a row and drive through it without any problems. It also helps to keep the tracks in a good condition. Nothing is worse than driving along a track that has been ripped up by the previous vehicle!

Maxtrax are sold throughout the world, and my personal review gives them top marks. They are truly the best money I have spent on four wheel drive recovery equipment, and they get used regularly. You can purchase these throughout the world too.

If you want to find out more about these great tools have a read of the Maxtrax Review and for general information, photos and videos have a look at Maxtrax

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