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03-18-2014, 04:41 PM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2013
Posts: 468
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Alternative to MaxTrax? Smittybilt Element
I want to get a set of sand ladders, or maybe two sets, but I'm not sure. A couple q's:
Is one pair of ladders enough for most situations? Not planning on rock bending, I just want to get out of soft desert sand, since we usually travel alone. (I have a Quigley 4x4.)
MaxTrax are about $300/pair. I see that Smittybilt has a similar product for $150/pair. Does anyone have the Smittybilts?
Here's a link to the Smittybilts:
http://www.4wheelparts.com/Winches-Winc ... =S%2fB2790
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DesertBoat ...has been SOLD. Sad to have seen it go.
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03-18-2014, 07:40 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Boulder, CO.
Posts: 2,554
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Re: Alternative to MaxTrax? Smittybilt Element
I just picked up a pair of Tred tracks, about $150. We'll see, but gets pretty good reviews.
http://www.tred4x4.com/index.php/about-tred
__________________
'03 Ford E350 7.3L Diesel
(de)SMB'd Custom RB-50
Quigley 4X4 w/Deavers & Agile Offroad's R.I.P. package
CCV High Profile Pop Top
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03-18-2014, 10:40 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2013
Posts: 468
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Re: Alternative to MaxTrax? Smittybilt Element
Where did you get the TREDs? It looks like the only distributor in the US is TJM, and I can't seem to find them on their site.
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DesertBoat ...has been SOLD. Sad to have seen it go.
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03-19-2014, 06:49 AM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Boulder, CO.
Posts: 2,554
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Alternative to MaxTrax? Smittybilt Element
I found them at Slee off road, a local shop specializing in toyota off road stuff but they have a lot of great overland gear. Go to recovery gear/recovery kits
http://www.sleeoffroad.com
Also found them here:
http://www.sierraexpeditions.com/index. ... il&p=12721
I should really start getting royalties from all these companies....
__________________
'03 Ford E350 7.3L Diesel
(de)SMB'd Custom RB-50
Quigley 4X4 w/Deavers & Agile Offroad's R.I.P. package
CCV High Profile Pop Top
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03-19-2014, 07:36 AM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2012
Posts: 163
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Re: Alternative to MaxTrax? Smittybilt Element
The Smittybilt are on Amazon. You may want to read the reviews though. 5000# vehicles seem to crack them up pretty good, can't imagine what our 8,000-10,000# rigs would do. Might be why some pay the $300..."you get what you pay for"
http://www.amazon.com/Smittybilt-279...=Element+Ramps
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Steven McKenzie
Madison, WI
2013 E350 EB-44, V10 6.8ltr
Toyo LT285/70 R17
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03-19-2014, 08:05 AM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2013
Posts: 468
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Re: Alternative to MaxTrax? Smittybilt Element
Quote:
Originally Posted by 4MacFam
The Smittybilt are on Amazon. You may want to read the reviews though. 5000# vehicles seem to crack them up pretty good, can't imagine what our 8,000-10,000# rigs would do. Might be why some pay the $300..."you get what you pay for"
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Thanks, good to know. Interesting that both MaxTrax and Smittybilt say they are rated for 7700 lbs.
The link I posted had two 5-star and one 1-star reviews. That said, 9 reviews isn't much of a data pool, but it looks to be trending downward.
It appears that wheelspin is the main enemy of these things no matter who makes them.
__________________
DesertBoat ...has been SOLD. Sad to have seen it go.
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03-19-2014, 12:21 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: California
Posts: 1,012
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Re: Alternative to MaxTrax? Smittybilt Element
Quote:
It appears that wheelspin is the main enemy of these things no matter who makes them.
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If you are buried up to the axle you will need to get the tracks under the tire either by digging or lifting the wheel on top. If your axle is resting on dirt/sand/mud there's no downward pressure on the tires and therefor no pressure on the tracks. They all work just fine if you let off the gas before digging in too far. Having a hi-lift with the tire lift-mate is the best tool when that happens.
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2006 E350 6.0PSD 5R110, SMB 4X4, RB-50, ARB lockers front/rear, Aluminess galore, AMP steps.
Callsign KK6GIY
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03-19-2014, 01:15 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Seattle, WA
Posts: 1,061
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Re: Alternative to MaxTrax? Smittybilt Element
For my recent stuck adventure, I would have liked to have had 4 MaxTrax -- another pair would have been real nice for keeping my rear wheels afloat too. Even with rocks underneath, my rear wheels kept sinking back down into the muck after I set them back down after jacking & rock insertion. The MaxTrax spread the weight far for nice mud floatation.
I originally chose to get 2 MaxTrax because they fit nicely on my roof behind my solar panels without extending much above the solar panel height.
-- Geoff
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03-19-2014, 02:21 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Santa Barbara, CA
Posts: 1,841
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Re: Alternative to MaxTrax? Smittybilt Element
Right you are, Geoff. Because of your excellent writeup and this thread, I just ordered a pair of Treds to backup the pair of MaxTrax I already own. I do travel alone often and always wanted to have four of those type of things.
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03-20-2014, 12:40 AM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2013
Posts: 468
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Re: Alternative to MaxTrax? Smittybilt Element
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!
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DesertBoat ...has been SOLD. Sad to have seen it go.
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