Get a Grip!

An interesting Aussie invention came our way the other day, and we decided to give it a good test.
Called the MaxTrax, it is based on sand tracks which have been used by the military for years – and which feature on many pictures of cross-desert 4WD expedition vehicles.
However, unlike the sand tracks, which are made of metal – usually expensive aluminium – the MaxTrax is made of lightweight yet incredibly strong UV stabilised, flexible, super tough engineering-grade reinforced nylon.
Its makers claim it makes vehicle extraction and recovery a simple, one-person task for anybody, of any age, so we decided to put it to the test.
First, we had to get a vehicle firmly stuck – and we managed that quite nicely when trying to crest a dune during our test of the Subaru Forester in the previous pages.
The vehicle was firmly stuck at an angle of about 30 degrees, completely buried and sitting on its chassis.
Our immediate reaction was to bring up our backup vehicle, a Land Rover 90 fitted with a W arn winch.
However we decided this would be as good a test as any for the MaxTrax. If it could get the Subaru out, we’d be convinced!
And what an easy task it proved.
Using the MaxTrax as a shovel – each one weighs less than 4 kg, and has handles and a spade nose - we removed sand from behind the front wheels and enough from the back wheels to wedge each one firmly against the tread of each rear tyre.
It’s an easy one-person operation.
Then it was just a matter of jumping into the vehicle and reversing out.
The tyres gripped on the MaxTrax, and the Subaru extracted itself, the front wheels adding to the traction as they reached the MaxTrax just vacated by the rear wheels.
The MaxTrax was well buried in the sand by the time we’d finished, but there wasn’t a mark on it, and no signs of damage.
We were convinced, but when a chance came later to test it on a heavier vehicle – the 90 – we did so.
The Land Rover was completely bogged until the rear diff and transfer case were resting on the sand.
There was more digging this time as the vehicle has a much higher ground clearance, and this time we lodged the MaxTrax under the two nearside wheels as that’s where there was no traction.
Once more it was simply then a matter of driving the 4WD out. Quite amazing!
The MaxTrax was also developed to work equally well in mud and snow.
If you can’t afford a winch, or don’t want to fit one to your vehicle, the MaxTrax is a reasonable alternative for most situations.
It can also be used as a portable boat ramp - just lay your MaxTrax down, park on top, and load or unload your boat.
The RRP per pair is $537.40 and the carry bag is $114.00. The MaxTrax is now available from your nearest ARB store.