|
|
03-21-2014, 05:49 PM
|
#21
|
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2007
Location: East Bay CA
Posts: 1,078
|
Re: Alternative to MaxTrax? Smittybilt Element
But seriously.
Any every see these used?
http://www.frontrunneroutfitters.com/re ... yzPOtxg6T8
Look very stowable, and usable for other stuff. Put some bindings on and you have a snowboard.
I'm a burlap and/or carpet kinda guy myself. Some of the videos I've seen have convinced me that it was the Maxtrax use as a shovel that was the determining factor. My buddy once got his majorly stuck 30' class A out with just a shovel and carpet and junk he found laying around. But if I could get other uses out of them, like the carpet and burlap, hmm.
BTW, anyone here every get together and do a group buy of fiberglass grating and then chop it up into chunks for sand ladders? I kinda doubt one length could hold a van, but maybe two stacked could bridge a rut sized hole.
__________________
2001 Ford E250 Sportsmobile with Salem-Kroger 4x4 conversion
|
|
|
03-21-2014, 08:41 PM
|
#22
|
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2007
Location: East Bay CA
Posts: 1,078
|
Re: Alternative to MaxTrax? Smittybilt Element
OK, what about this as an alternative?
http://www.floorandmatstore.com/store/p ... BLACK.aspx
I've seen this stuff used (you can rent it) at construction sites. I didn't realize it was made from HDPE though, and I thought it would be too slippery for vehicles. You can probably get some cheaper at Tap. Maybe some studs and holes for traction. Some guys have used HDPE underneath vehicles for skid plates. It's amazlng tough stuff. Might be hard to cut, drill or work with though; dunno.
__________________
2001 Ford E250 Sportsmobile with Salem-Kroger 4x4 conversion
|
|
|
03-22-2014, 10:22 AM
|
#23
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: California
Posts: 1,012
|
Re: Alternative to MaxTrax? Smittybilt Element
Anybody interested in a group buy if I can figure out how to get these aluminum ones? Straight conversion is about $120 for the 6 foot model.
http://sandladder.net/
__________________
2006 E350 6.0PSD 5R110, SMB 4X4, RB-50, ARB lockers front/rear, Aluminess galore, AMP steps.
Callsign KK6GIY
|
|
|
03-22-2014, 11:31 AM
|
#24
|
Site Team
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Turlock Ca
Posts: 10,409
|
Re: Alternative to MaxTrax? Smittybilt Element
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tapatio
Anybody interested in a group buy if I can figure out how to get these aluminum ones? Straight conversion is about $120 for the 6 foot model.
http://sandladder.net/
|
You think those will handle the weight of a heavy van?
__________________
2006 Ford 6.0PSD EB-50/E-PH SMB 4X4 Rock Crawler Trailer
Sportsmobile 4X4 Adventures.......... On and off road adventures
|
|
|
03-22-2014, 12:55 PM
|
#25
|
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2007
Location: East Bay CA
Posts: 1,078
|
Re: Alternative to MaxTrax? Smittybilt Element
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tapatio
Anybody interested in a group buy if I can figure out how to get these aluminum ones? Straight conversion is about $120 for the 6 foot model.
http://sandladder.net/
|
Yeah, but what's shipping from Budapest? Probably killer.
There are some here in the US, and made here too: http://www.okoffroad.com/stuff-sandladders-aluminum.htm
They don't have the nifty weld on design the guy in Budapest has but that could be done.
Or these folks, who seem to have every type of Marsden mat known to man: http://www.calumetindustries.com
I thought about getting a quote once, but then ended up getting aluminum ramps for a car I was hauling on a trailer. I once used them to load a heavier car, probably close to the max of 5K for my ramps, and they worked fine. http://www.discountramps.com/truck-trailer-ramps.htm
Depending on your van's weight, you might need something beefier. And they can obviously be used for bridging.
__________________
2001 Ford E250 Sportsmobile with Salem-Kroger 4x4 conversion
|
|
|
03-25-2014, 01:37 PM
|
#26
|
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2007
Location: East Bay CA
Posts: 1,078
|
Re: Alternative to MaxTrax? Smittybilt Element
I got a response from the fellow at Front Runner (a good sign in itself...sorta hard to get some offroad vendors to respond).
He said the sand ladders they sell that I noted above are made from "ultra strong composite fiberglass laminate." I think that equates to something like this: http://www.spaceagesynthetics.com/files/Technical.pdf
And the specs are truly impressive. About as light as the MaxTrax and associated clones, but dead flat, which means usable for other things and easier to store. Performance wise, dunno. But I'm not too sure about any of these products.
__________________
2001 Ford E250 Sportsmobile with Salem-Kroger 4x4 conversion
|
|
|
03-25-2014, 05:21 PM
|
#27
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2009
Posts: 1,220
|
Re: Alternative to MaxTrax? Smittybilt Element
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ocsmb
|
Those are 1/10th scale for radio controlled cars.
__________________
Len & Joanne
The Green TARDIS
|
|
|
03-13-2015, 07:18 AM
|
#28
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: SoCal
Posts: 463
|
Re: Alternative to MaxTrax? Smittybilt Element
Quote:
Originally Posted by photographix
Thanks for everyone's input! This forum is the best!
I just ordered 2 pair of TREDs at https://www.sierraexpeditions.com
There's a coupon code at http://retailmenot.com for free shipping on orders over $99 at Sierra Expeditions. Expires 4/30/14. I'd post the code, but it may be a no-no.
If there was a code for sending commissions, I'd have used it. Sorry, REF!
|
Hey Photographix,
Looks like you bought these TREDS about a year ago.
Have you had the chance to use them?
How are they from the durability standpoint?
How did you mount them?
Thanks!!
__________________
__________________
George ><>
2005 5.4L E250 RB50 4x4 SMB
2000 4Runner Limited 4WD
But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8
|
|
|
03-13-2015, 11:53 AM
|
#29
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: California
Posts: 1,012
|
Re: Alternative to MaxTrax? Smittybilt Element
Here's another option from ARB that looks interesting. The mats could also double as a shower or door mat.
http://www.amazon.com/ARB-Bushranger...s=sand+ladders
__________________
2006 E350 6.0PSD 5R110, SMB 4X4, RB-50, ARB lockers front/rear, Aluminess galore, AMP steps.
Callsign KK6GIY
|
|
|
03-13-2015, 12:40 PM
|
#30
|
Site Team
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Southern New Mexico
Posts: 10,179
|
Re: Alternative to MaxTrax? Smittybilt Element
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tapatio
Here's another option from ARB that looks interesting. The mats could also double as a shower or door mat....
|
Interesting. Some advantages and some disadvantages in storing rolled up tractions aids compared to rigid ones. I think if you can secure them outside, I'd rather have rigid ones, but rigid ones are large. It's great to have choices.
Personally I don't think I'll need a mat style traction aid for my Bronco (1/2 weight of an SMB, and nice WIDE tires), but I can also be cheap (unless its a cool toy, in which case don't tell my wife how much something costs), so I will sometimes carry rolled up strips of carpet with me. Also makes for a little bit of cushioning when laying on them while working on your back under a rig.
Herb
__________________
SMB-less as of 02/04/2012. Our savings account is richer, but our adventures are poorer.
|
|
|
|
|
Posting Rules
|
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off
|
|
|
|
» Recent Threads |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|