Maxtrax Users Is it 2 or 4?

Like Stephen, I would think 4 would be twice as good as 2 but also twice the cost and twice the weight. Maybe not much extra weight but every kg counts, especially in boggy conditions. They are certainly less weight (and less cost) than a winch and I cannot imagine how Stephen would be able to use a winch in the photos above.

Haven't needed to use them yet on my vehicle and hope I don't encounter Stephen's mud bog, but have loaned them a couple of times to others bogged in sand on Fraser Island where they worked very effectively.

Went for a "Sunday drive" last year and was directed down a track in the Conondale NP that "all the locals use as a shortcut". Had no recovery gear on board and was amazed that we got through the muddy logging track safely. Now, like Stephen, we never leave home without them.

Sorry Ross, I didn't address your question. Two would be a great help but four to be sure, to be sure, as my mate Paddy would say.

Hi Allan

We have been across the claypan countless times over the years and knew what the conditions would be like and the detour that would have added around an hour to get to Peoppel Corner. Fiona wanted a lunch break, but I said we are only 5 minutes to Peoppel Corner, we will have it there...............WRONG!!!!!!!!!

The track to the far left looked quite solid, so we headed out to the left with a small soft section around 300 metre from solid ground. At this soft section, there was a small boggy section in the track that would have been no trouble, but other vehicles before we came through decided to go to the right and then directly into that very nice boggy section that I wanted to keep well clear of. Well, you know what mud is like and the moment that we hit the section, I had no control of the vehicle and where it wanted to go, and I was just railroaded and the car just followed the tracks to the right.

I then knew immediately that it was now a very serious situation, and try as I did to get back to the left track the car just wanted to go straight into the bog. I immediately put it back to second and put it flat to the floor and I was getting further into the bog and at one stage I even thought that I might get through. Clearance was now my enemy and the diff was now leaving a very deep rut in the mud. 20 metres from more solid ground and it was out of puff and down it went....' bleep ' were the kind words.

I tried to go forward, but the vehicle was now a very big anchor, so out with the shovel, and that mud was hopeless. I was slowly getting the length of the Maxtrax backwards, but the moment that I was clear of them, down I would go down again. At our pace of recovery, I could have made it out by ourselves, but I planned on taking around 6 or more hours to get out, meaning carrying our swag and cooking gear to the outer side for a camp that night.

A vehicle at the edge of the lake stopped, so I got on the UHF and asked for help, which he greatly offered. Two and a half hours later, Fiona finally got to have here lunch break at Peoppel Corner.

As for having a winch, this was the view looking to the other end of the Lake, still over 600 metres away, so there was no sold point that I could have used if I did have a winch (apart from digging a deep hole and using the spare as a anchor point)




Cheers


Stephen

That was a great photo titled I always prefer a sand bog.

Also like the recovery clothes - I have sort of given up on overalls and keep a pair of worn out shorts and shirt in a plastic bag these days with understanding that they can just be thrown out - keeps the wife happy.

Yes Stephen, MaxTrax are great but there comes a point............!!!
That's why I also carry a snatch strap plus a winch extension strap.
I'll relate my Subaru bog story when I see you!

Hi Robin and Allan

Yes don't you just love those nice mud bogs. The only picture that I do not have is the foot ware that I then drove to Peoppel Corner in........those good old plastic supermarket bags, one size fits all size feet....LOL well at least they kept most of the mud out of the car. Like I said Robin, give me a sand bog any day, at least it is a clean recovery, you can lay on yours side by the car to clear sand from the diff and under carriage of the car, as well as easy clearing of sand from the tyre area.

Allan, I always carry also 2 snatch straps as well as an equalising strap, as well as very well rates shackles. One picture that Fiona took, but the impact would not be shown on the forum was the mud and bog was deeper than the running sideboards on the Prado, so that will give you some idea of just how deep the mud was. When I first tried to get out, my driver side door had to clear a path through the mud first so I could get out.


Cheers


Stephen